Simple Solution For Church Leaders: Smash the Image

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.

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Recent Studies

Catholics may be interested in results from some recent studies, including the following...

* A homosexual advocacy group says there are more 'gay and bisexual' characters on prime-time TV. They find the "steady increase in gay characters" to be "promising" and were also pleased about portrayals of homosexual couples 'marrying' & raising families and hope that these depictions will help Americans "come to accept and better understand" them. ABC (nicknamed by some as "gAy-BC") had the most "gay representation" with a reported 5% of characters being homosexual, while CBS has the fewest. However, CBS is committed "to diversity, including gay representation" and "intends to improve."

Reality checks...

Lev. 18:22: You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such a thing is an abomination.

Deut. 22:5: "A woman shall not wear an article proper to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's dress; for anyone who does such things is an abomination to the LORD, your God."

St. Paul, 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.

St Jude, Jude 1:7: Likewise, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding towns, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual promiscuity and practiced unnatural vice, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

* A new study has found that support for abortion is declining. Unfortunately, however the study says that 45% of supposed Catholics still believe that abortion "should be legal in most or all cases." Remarkably, even 26% who attend Mass weekly fail to adopt the pro-life position. Surprisingly, a reported 42% of Americans are unaware of Obama's pro-abortion position.

Reality checks...

"Those who give drugs causing abortions are murderers themselves, as well as those who receive the poison which kills the fetus." (St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church, circa 369 A.D.)

"Therefore from the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care, while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes." (Second Vatican Council)

"Can. 1398 A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication." (1983 Code of Canon Law)

Click Here for More ('Abortion is a Grave Sin')

* A recent study shows that 72% of Americans think too many children are in daycare. A relatively small minority (11-12%) of the survey participants thought it was "ideal" for mothers to work full time.

Reality checks...

"The children, especially the younger among them, need the care of their mother at home." (Second Vatican Council)

"[A] woman is by nature fitted for home-work, and it is that which is best adapted at once to preserve her modesty and to promote the good bringing up of children and the well-being of the family." (Pope Leo XIII, "Rerum Novarum")

"Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." (St. Paul, 1 Tm. 2:9-15, emphasis added)

"The man is a slave, in disgrace and shame, when a wife supports her husband." (Sirach 25:21)

Reminder: God's command to labor in Gen. 3:16-19 was issued to the man, while the words spoken to the woman were directed at motherhood.

[10/2]

Vatican launches counterattack regarding abuse scandal

In response to recent criticism over its handling of the priestly abuse scandals, the Vatican has issued a "defiant and provocative statement". The statement was read by the Vatican's permanent observer to the UN, Archbishop Silvano Tomasi. Some relevant points appear below.

* The statement indicates that problems in other 'churches' are "as big, if not bigger", noting the worse situation of Protestant 'churches'

* The vast majority of abuse cases have been homosexual in nature

* Research shows that the percentage of clergy involved is about 1.5%-5%

* Abuse of this nature is "far more likely" to be committed by family members, babysitters, friends, relatives or neighbors than by Catholic clergy

* Abuse is more common by school employees than by Catholic clergy

* The Church is "very conscious of the seriousness of the problem" and notes that abusers must be punished, potentially including removal from the clerical state

The statement concludes: "As the Catholic Church has been busy cleaning its own house, it would be good if other institutions and authorities, where the major part of abuses are reported, could do the same and inform the media about it."

Good advice, but not surprisingly, the Vatican's finger-pointing isn't sitting well with those outside the Church, some of whom are reportedly "dismayed". Also, the individual who accused the Vatican of covering up child abuse as well as violating several articles under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, said that the response did not contradict any of the accusations he made.

Although the points in the Vatican statement are truths which often go unreported, many Catholics are nevertheless likely to be displeased with the "we're not as bad as you" response. Rather, persons instinctively know that one single case of abuse - EVER - is one too many, just as a single cover-up of a single instance of abuse - EVER - is one too many. Although one Catholic newspaper assures us that these comments "do not represent, in any way, an effort by the Church to shirk its responsibility", it may be difficult for some persons to view the statement in this light. For many, it's way past time that guilty parties accept responsibility for their actions - without finger-pointing and without excuses. We'd be expected to do no less ourselves in Confession.

[9/29]

Politicized funeral?

One homosexual has happily quoted a prayer request read by a young relative of Kennedy during the former senator's funeral Mass this past weekend as "In a renewed season of hope, that my Uncle Teddy envisioned, we will rise to our best ideals and close the book on the old politics of race and gender, group against group and straight against gay. We pray to the Lord." Another source notes the prayer request aimed at passing a healthcare bill which was also read aloud from the sanctuary. Unfortunately, we can be virtually certain that there will be no reprimand from the Vatican over the politicization of the former senator's funeral.

[8/31]

Expect even more deafening silence

Yet again we may expect deafening silence from certain parties with an agenda. This time, the general public may be unlikely to hear about the results of a new six-year study on sexual "reorientation" therapy. The study concludes that "there is evidence that homosexual tendencies can be controlled and redirected toward normal sexual attraction." These results contradict the position of the American Psychological Association that homosexuality is not changeable. The researchers state: "In conclusion, the findings of this study would appear to contradict the commonly expressed view of the mental health establishment that sexual orientation is not changeable and that the attempt to change is highly likely to produce harm for those who make such an attempt."

This is not the first evidence which shows that same-sex attraction disorder is treatable, but the "agenda-driven ideologies" of various groups may be "governed by political interests rather than by scientific data." In other words, they would rather let a person suffer with this condition (including increased potential for depression and drug & alcohol abuse) than violate p.c. standards by telling them that help may be available. Is this not cruel?

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