Thanks a lot, sisters

The nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has thanked liberal religious sisters for their support of the recently passed healthcare legislation. The president of PP called the sisters' support "critical" and praised that the sisters "most importantly broke with the bishops and the Vatican to announce their support for [the abortion-expanding] health care reform." ["Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves." (Rom. 13:1-2)]

"Thou shalt shall not kill." (Ex. 20:13)

"Among all the crimes which can be committed against life, procured abortion has characteristics making it particularly serious and deplorable." (Pope John Paul II)

"[T]his horrible crime [of abortion]...will eventually draw down divine punishment on our nation." (Catholic Bishops of Iowa)

[3/27]

Highlights From Pope Benedict's Recent Addresses

The following are highlights from recent addresses of the Holy Father...

* The Supreme Pontiff reminded that "Charity is the 'greatest' gift, which gives value to all the others... In the end, when we find ourselves face to face with God, all other gifts will fail and all that will be left to last for eternity is love", and also reminded that "charity is the distinctive mark of Christians. It is the synthesis of all their lives, of what they believe and what they do."

* Pope Benedict noted that "Love is God's very essence, it is the meaning of creation and history, it is the light that gives goodness and beauty to the existence of each man and woman. At the same time love is, so to say, the 'style' of God and of believers, it is the behaviour of those who, responding to the love of God, order their lives as a gift of self to God and to neighbour"

* The Holy Father spoke on the saints & charity: "If we think of the saints, we recognise the variety of their spiritual gifts and their human characters. But the life of each one of them is a hymn to charity, a living canticle to the love of God"

* Pope Benedict recently confirmed his "forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain". He also spoke against dissent, telling the bishops of England and Wales that "In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free."

* The Holy Father furthermore criticized Britain's proposed Equality Bill that would impose "unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs", saying that the legislation "[in] some respects...actually violates the natural law". He also noted that "Fidelity to the Gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others - on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth." He instructed the bishops to "Continue to insist upon your right to participate in national debate through respectful dialogue with other elements in society. In doing so, you are not only maintaining long-standing British traditions of freedom of expression and honest exchange of opinion, but you are actually giving voice to the convictions of many people who lack the means to express them: when so many of the population claim to be Christian, how could anyone dispute the Gospel’s right to be heard?"

* Pope Benedict called for the bishops to be "generous" in implementing his recent provisions to make it easier for Anglicans to enter the Catholic Church, saying that the groups of converts "would be a blessing for the entire Church."

[2/1]

Quotable quote

The following is from an article concerning the LCWR, a supposedly Catholic group notable for liberalism, dissent, radical feminism, anti-clericalism, paganism, New Age practices, witchcraft, and for talk of being "post-Christian" & "moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus":

"[T]here is a long and venerable tradition of dissent from Catholic teachings. There is even a word for dissenters: 'Protestants.'"

[story here]

[8/18]

More from those docile religious sisters

Not content to let the Vatican conduct its investigation on its own terms, those ever-docile LCWR sisters are requesting that the Vatican "alter some of the methods being employed" in the Apostolic Visitation. They are "expressing concern" over "a lack of full disclosure about the motivation and funding sources for the studies." The group (notable for liberalism, dissent, radical feminism, anti-clericalism, paganism, New Age practices, witchcraft, and for talk of being "post-Christian" & "moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus") also "object[s] to the fact that their orders will not be permitted to see the investigative reports about them that are being submitted directly to the Vatican." At their meeting - which featured a pro-abort keynote speaker - they also presented their "highest honor" to a sister who has apparently advocated women's "ordination".

[Refresher: Top Reasons Why Women Can't Be Priests]

[8/17]

Catholic Humor?

If only this was written to be humorous!

The USCCB news service - previously charged with "failure to consistently apply reliably Catholic editorial standards" - in its coverage of the annual LCWR meeting quoted their controversial keynote speaker as follows:

"The official number of women religious in this country might have fallen, but I feel it is safe to say that the number of religious women who are acting out of their faith to serve society is higher than ever before"

Given the facts, it seems impossible to wrap one's mind around that. It seems she's saying that the much larger number of orthodox sisters from previous generations weren't "acting out of their faith to serve society" as well as the much smaller of group of modern dissenting, witchcraft-promoting sisters of today.

But now for the "funny" part (if only it was a joke!). The same speaker says the sisters she spoke with at the conference "did not really understand why the Vatican had requested the apostolic visitation." She said: "Puzzlement is the word" and follows with "Here they are, all day, every day, trying to serve the people of God, and suddenly they feel like they're under investigation."

Gee, can't imagine why the Vatican would investigate a group claiming to be Catholic while promoting liberalism, dissent, radical feminism, anti-clericalism, paganism, New Age practices, witchcraft, and which has discussed "moving beyond the Church, even beyond Jesus."

If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny.

[8/15]

Be more careful who you hire

With a reputation for faithfulness, how is it that a Catholic college winds up hiring employees that...?

(1) Dissent from Church teachings on contraception (which is a grave sin)

(2) Want the Catholic college to pay for them to be able to engage in the gravely sinful act of contraception

(3) Complain to the EEOC when their immoral demands are not met

(4) Take their immoral demands public to the newspaper and Internet

What are employees like these doing at a Catholic college which has a reputation for faithfulness? And, what message are they sending to the students there?

Rebellious women religious

As previously announced, the Vatican has been conducting a "doctrinal assessment" and visitation of U.S. nuns. For orthodox Catholics familiar with the unprecedented situation of female religious in this country, such news may have brought a huge sigh of relief. It is well known that many "modern" sisters have been rebellious & unorthodox for years. Besides calling into question - or openly protesting - various doctrines of the Church, many of these modern, dissenting "feminist" nuns - who don't seem to want to look like, act like, or think like holy nuns of the past - are known to practice and promote witchcraft. They have also been advancing the occult and harmful New Age practices. Many openly question - or try to force a change in - Church teachings. In fact, simply reading about the state of many female religious communities in this country may turn the stomachs of faithful Catholics. Sadly, the problem is rampant in the American Church.

Unfortunately, however, certain females in religious life are resisting the request that they make a public profession of faith and take an oath of fidelity, even calling such actions "demeaning", "insulting", and "scandalous". Instead, they apparently wish to remain involved in their heresy, disobedience, and other shocking & scandalous behaviors which have engrossed them for decades. It is not yet clear how this matter will be resolved. Even though this investigation is certainly very late in coming, one can hope it won't be a case of "way too little, way too late".

In the meantime, unfortunately, supporters of these women are claiming the oath would make the nuns "slaves of men". They have also called the oath "totalitarian" and have compared the Vatican's request to an "Orwellian nightmare". These supporters seem to find nothing wrong with the nun's practice of witchcraft, their promotion of New Age practices & the occult, their spread of dissent, or their scorning of true Catholic doctrine. They only see a problem with having supposedly Catholic "brides of Christ" make a public profession of faith and take an oath of fidelity. Does anyone else wish we could also get a visitation and "doctrinal assessment" of Catholic laity?

[7/27]