Te Deum laudamus!

Religious persecution and fundamentalism in Bosnia; reflection on my time living in the region in the 80's

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:46:00 +0000

I saw this on Catholic Culture's news panel. It has particular interest to me for a special reason, explained below the story. The original story comes from Aid to the Church in Need:

Nuns report increased verbal abuse and discrimination in Bosnia

Ivanka Mihaljevic, Bosnian Provincial Superior of the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King, made the claim during a visit to the international headquarters of Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Königstein.

The nuns now only leave the convent in pairs if at all possible, out of fear of abuse.

Everyday life is becoming increasingly difficult in general, according to Sister Ivanka, especially as more and more Muslim extremists are immigrating from Saudi Arabia and opening businesses.

Sr. Ivanka Mihaljevic

The nuns often have no other choice but to buy from them, but in doing so are also subjected to discrimination and humiliations.

A recent example occurred when one of the Sisters wanted to buy bread.

“Although the loaves were in plain sight, the proprietor claimed he was out of bread,” Sister Ivanka said. “But he simply did not want to sell it to a Catholic nun.”

“Again and again, we are made to feel unwelcome, even though this is our home.”

By contrast, Sister Ivanka emphasized, native Bosnian Muslims are “peaceable,” and are often ashamed of the behavior of their extremist co-religionists who are migrating to the country.

The Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King in Sarajevo are particularly committed to promoting the peaceful coexistence of all religions. They have launched a three-year program entitled, “I extend to you my hand for peaceful coexistence.”

In this initiative, Catholics, Muslims and Serbian Orthodox Christians are jointly working to promote tolerance, non-violence and mutual respect.

This year, the Province Superior explained, the joint effort against verbal abuse tops the agenda.

“These are small steps of peace and goodwill, but we want to imbue the people with courage.”

The Bosnian Province of the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King comprises 260 nuns, of whom 15 live in Sarajevo. (source)

Just some days prior, Aid to the Church in Need ran an article in which Cardinal Vinko Puljic discussed the fundamentalism rising in Bosnia. Here is an excerpt

Cardinal Vinko Puljic, the Archbishop of Sarajevo, highlighted the growth of extremism in the country during a visit to the international headquarters of Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The 66-year-old cardinal said that the growing process of Islamization in Bosnia-Herzegovina is being funded by radicals in the Middle East.

He said, “Muslim centers and mosques have been built in many places with oil-dollars from Saudi Arabia.”

During the ACN interview in Königstein, Germany, the cardinal stressed the spread of Wahhabism, an Islamic reform movement, which is the official religion of Saudi Arabia.

Many commentators have linked Wahhabism to terrorist movements such as al-Qaeda.

The Archbishop of Sarajevo said that there are already 3-5,000 Wahhabis in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the group is seeking to gain influence in society.

Cardinal Puljic said, “Nobody in the government has the courage to do anything to prevent this development.”

According to ACN’s report on the oppression of Christians, Persecuted and Forgotten?, more than 100,000 young Bosnian Muslims have encountered Wahhabi Islam through organizations such as Active Islamic Youth, Furqan, and the Muslim Youth Council.

Cardinal Puljic added, “In recent years, at least 70 new mosques have been built in Sarajevo alone.”

[snip]

While mosques are being built or repaired, Cardinal Puljic pointed out that building approval for churches can be delayed for years, adding that Church property confiscated under communism has still not been returned.

He said that the government “has no interest in giving the Catholic Church back its property,” while in most cases Muslim property has been returned.

The Archbishop of Sarajevo went on to say that “Catholics are systematically disadvantaged” and demanded equal treatment for Catholics in employment, education and other spheres of life. (source)

What this will mean, also, is a shrinking number of Catholics in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), just as there are increasing shifts seen in certain areas of the Middle East. We see this happening in places like Kazahkstan, as well. There comes a point when Croatians living in BiH decide that there are better opportunities in Croatia and less threats to life and limb if they simply move. It leads to the de-Christianization of an area.

If this keeps going in the direction it is headed, we will likely see martyrs in the future, as well.  As we have seen here in the U.S. with what black people suffered not too long ago, the kind of discrimination talked about by Sr. Ivanka, can lead to even worse things than denying someone a loaf of bread.

Pray for the people in that very troubled region, especially those persecuted in any way.

Living in nearby Herzegovina

This was of particular interest to me because I had discerned a vocation with the sister province of the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King in Herzegovina (Mostar) in the early 80's, straight out of high school. Chronic digestive problems related to diet and an intolerance to mineral/spring water (our main source of hydration) forced me home at about 95 pounds (43 kg). The two year battle with my gut left me in a weakened, sickly state and I had no choice but to leave while in the novitiate. I spent my first three days back in the US, in a hospital. I would later learn, stateside, that I also had a diseased gall-bladder. Today, I am being checked for celiac (gluten intolerance). I was given a letter of recommendation by my Provincial in Herzegovina to take to the American province in Lemont, Illinois. I visited there and went on a discernment weekend. Things were fine there, but I just did not feel called to that particular community. I explored other communities stateside and had the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, been around in those days, I would have surely discerned with them.

I had very little interaction with local muslims, but what I do recall is that they were not militant fundamentalists. On my few trips into town, we didn't hesitate to purchase things from muslim-run stores or restaurants, nor did I ever feel discriminated against. In fact, one of the postulants introduced me to a friend she knew from school who was muslim, and the girl took us to a mosque and explained some things to me. It just so happened to be Ramadan, which I did not know about, and I recall being somewhat in awe at the willingness of people to go without food or drink for so long while some Catholics gripe about only having three meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It was a very cordial encounter, lifting somewhat of a mystery to me. It seems today, as Sr. Ivanka pointed out, there are fundamentalists migrating into the region. This, of course, could sweep in people from among that non-militant population, especially young Bosniaks.

One might wonder how an American with a polish last name ends up discerning a vocation in a place like Herzegovina. Well, my mother was of Croatian descent and I was very active in my high school years in the Croatian parish, formerly known as St. Jerome in Detroit (8 Mile Rd); and, now known as St. Lucy's in Troy. I was raised in what was, at the time, one of the most "liberal" parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit. This led my Polish father to take refuge with his family in the Croatian parish after he saw it's rich, Catholic identity about the time I entered high school (much like many non-Slovaks take refuge in the ethnic-Slovak parish of Ss Cyril & Methodius in Sterling Heights).  At St. Jerome's, most of the youth were involved in an ethnic dance group that traveled to other Croatian communities for events and performances (see this promotional video for Lado, a professional group out of Croatia).

I first saw the sisters in Chicago with their long, brown habits. I was attracted to religious life from the time of my Confirmation, but I was not at all attraced to the form of religious life that emerged following Vatican II which was mostly devoid of community life. The sisters in Chicago were living out their vocations exactly as I had envisioned mine.

The Herzegovina province has sisters in a handful of Croatian parishes between the US and Canada. My hope was to to eventually be sent home to the US to work in one of those parishes, but I was equally comfortable with remaining there, as well - one of the most geographically, beautiful countries in the world. I recently found this picture of the top of the Velež mountain, from behind which the sun would rise each morning.

While the call I heard to the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King in Herzegovina was not where God intended me to stay, I truly believe He led me there for the experiences. I still draw on the lessons I learned there and I will always be indebted to the sisters for their care.  My experience with the community was very good. Living with the sisters for over two years, I was exposed to the same, rich, Catholic heritage I had at St. Jerome's, but it had spiritual depth to it. I learned that no work should be considered beneath our dignity, and that there is a value in time spent peeling dozens of potatoes. At times it was opportunity to build relationships with peers while doing something mundane; and, at other times it was an opportunity to listen and talk to God in silence.

I was arrived there in late 1980 and remained until early 1983. The motherhouse was just a short driving distance - 30 minutes, if not less - from Medjugorje. While many sisters believed in the authenticity of the alleged aparitions in Medjugorje (St. James was served by the Herzegovina province), not all did. Some believed in sticking to basics and remained cautious. I don't know whether that trend continued over these 30 years or not. I was initially well disposed, and hopeful. Today, after much study and prayer, I remain very skeptical. I anxiously await news from the Holy See now that an international commission investigates the alleged apparitions. I don't "hope" that it is condemned; rather, my hope is that the commission discovers the truth concerning the events and the Holy Father acts accordingly for the good of the Church.

Some years ago, doing some research, I had stumbled upon photos of the building I once lived in (top floor). The war was not too friendly to it, nor to the sisters who fled under bombing and grenades on April 1, 1992. I have often wondered if any perished as a direct result of assaults during the war.

They have a new campus now, and their website reveals additional buildings in the area of Mostar.

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HHS Mandate & Archbp Vigneron interviews; and, Belmont Abbey College vs. Sebelius

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:47:00 +0000

Detroit's Archbishop, Allen H. Vigneron, was interviewed by local ABC affiliate, WXYZ. There is a much longer interview on local radio. You can listen by going to this link at the Archdiocese of Detroit (may load slowly so be patient). You can also find the link on January 23, 2012 at the page of the interviewer, Frank Beckman at WJR.

This was a very good interview and the Archbishop points out why so many other groups should be concerned with the impact that this could have on the Catholic Church.

The exemption that the Obama Administration wants to give is ridiculously narrow. What it means is that Catholic hospitals, universities and other institutions would only qualify for the exemption if they limited their service and employment to Catholics only!!!

Catholic Hospitals, Schools, and Soup Kitchens

If a hospital were to hire only Catholics to work in Catholic hospitals, and only serve Catholics, they would then likely be charged with discrimination; so on it's face, it's a catch-22. Further, what if a Muslim, Hindu, atheist or Protestant were to end up in an accident at the intersection of the hospital, what is that hospital suppose to do - refuse treatement because they aren't Catholic? What if that is the hospital where their practitioner practices and to go elsewhere would drive up out-of-pocket expense for going, "outside of network", which may ultimately be prohibitive? How does that impact the rights of individuals to choose their own doctor?

Many non-Catholics have chosen to go to Catholic schools and universities. Should these institutions post a sign that says "non-Catholics need not apply?" What about the rights of students to attend a school of their choice, with full knowledge that at a Catholic institution they won't be able to get certain things because those things violate the conscience of Catholics? They no longer have a choice to attend such a school, even if they are willing to accept such a practice. How many non-Catholic students attending Belmont Abbey College would choose to go elsewhere, if they knew couldn't get a condom on campus, or birth control pills? How many employees would reject an employment opportunity with Belmont Abbey College if their insurance didn't cover these things? Do students and employees not have a choice to go to hundreds of other colleges that do offer these things?

And then, there are the soup kitchens and other services for the poor, like warming centers and shelters, and adoption centers. Can you see a Catholic soup kitchen refusing to serve non-Catholics? Perhaps this mandate doesn't fully impact these services in the way it does hospitals, but who is to say that it won't - eventually? Ponder for a moment the loss of all of these things to a community because they won't cover condoms and birth control pills. What does it mean when a soup kitchen must close? Are we to believe the government is going to step in and take over?

Here's the bottom line: Obama is trying to destroy all of the good that the Catholic Church does in terms of service to the community, and he is using dissident Catholics in his administration to do it. How much more do the bishops need to see from certain Catholic politicians before they take public action? As long as the bishops are silent on this aspect, Obama, and the media can continue to pedal them as, "devout". The fruit of reticence couldn't be more manifest than in the scandal caused for decades by Catholic politicians and school officials who retain good standing in the Church despite persistent public actions in opposition to the Church. That said, I'm very glad to see our bishops speaking out, and boldly; but, until they do something about the pseudo-magisterium of theologians, politicians, and nuns, they have a real uphill battle.

The net effect of this is very clear. It means the end of Catholic hospitals, schools, soup kitchens and more. There really can be no other way to look at it because that is the long term effect. The Catholic Church will not permit what it considers to be a violation of the 10 Commandments in order to do other goods (Veritatis Splendor 75). It won't do it, because it can't (setting aside those officials at Catholic-in-name-only institutions who distort Catholic teaching using a pseudo-magisterium of theologians).

ALL EYES ARE ON BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE VS. SEBELIUS

Now, there is a case winding it's way through the system thanks to the Becket Fund. You will want to follow the case of Belmont Abbey College vs. Sebelius.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty represents Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic liberal arts college founded by Benedictine monks, in a lawsuit against the federal government to protect Belmont Abbey’s right to be true to its principles. As a Catholic college, Belmont Abbey teaches that contraception, sterilization, and abortion are against God’s law.

So in August 2011, when the federal government issued a regulation requiring that all group health plans must cover “[FDA-]approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity,” Belmont Abbey knew it could not be true to both the government mandate and its Church’s teachings. This is so because FDA-approved contraceptives include a number of drugs Belmont Abbey, and many scientists, consider to be abortifacients—most notably Plan B and Ella. Were Belmont Abbey to choose not to cover contraception and sterilization as required by the government mandate, it would be penalized with a hefty fine and forced to terminate its health insurance for employees and students. For example, a religious organization with 100 employees would have to pay the federal government $140,000 per year for the “privilege” of not underwriting medical services it believes are immoral. In other words, Belmont Abbey would be forced to pay for the right to remain true to its principles!

Although the government regulation includes an exemption from the mandate for certain religious employers, Belmont Abbey believes that it will not be exempted from the mandate’s requirements. The exemption is extremely narrow... [continue reading at the Becket Fund site]

If you want to help, consider going to that page at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and donate, then spread the word. Support them generously.

Further reading:

I was trying to find the full text or audio/video of the main homilies at the March for Life. If anyone has a link to these, please drop them into the combox. I found people claiming to have "full text" but they were merely news reports.

USCCB Statement: Bishops decry HHS rule, urge Catholics to stand up for religious liberty and conscience rights in homilies at vigil for life.
Obama offends the Catholic Left (Wall Street Journal)
Even Cardinal Mahony blogged on the HHS mandate saying he cannot imagine a more frontal attack on freedom of conscience. See a post about that at Catholic Vote by Tom Crowe
Notes from homilies of Cardinal DiNardo and Cardinal-Designate Dolan from March for Life (Catholic Culture)
Cardinal DiNardo: We are walking through Ninevah! (Catholic Tide)
Father Z: Robert George on Pres. Obama's attack on religious freedom and Catholics
Catholic leaders criticize ‘profoundly troubling’ contraception mandate (CNA)
J'ACCUSE! Why Obama is wrong on the HHS conscience regulations (n.b.: Obama supporter and Catholic, Sean Michael Winters, writes for the dissident rag, the National catholyc Reporter, and even he gets it; says "Obama lost my vote". Father Z fisked a related piece in what has become known as "the fishwrap" ).
Cardinal Wuerl laments push toward 'monolithic' secularism (Catholic Culture)
Cardinal DiNardo: HHS mandate gravely compromises religious liberty
Has Obama lost the Catholic left? (Cardinal Newman Society blog)
Obama Administration picks a fight with Catholics (Washington Post - not exactly a Catholic-friendly publication, and they get it)
Pennsylvannia Bishops speak out on HHS Mandate (Diocese of Pittsburgh)
Video from 2009 of Cardinal George warning that Obama was moving US towards depotism

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Bill Donohue to appear on Fox News at 1:15 to discuss HHS mandate

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:29:00 +0000

From the Catholic League (emphasis mine in bold):

The announcement on January 20 by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius that religious non-profits will have to cover sterilization and contraceptive services, including some abortion-inducing drugs, is being met with growing rancor. Catholic League president Bill Donohue speaks to this issue today:

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, responded to the Obama administration’s edict by saying, “Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience.”

Joining him in this assessment is an unlikely ally, namely the editorial board of the Washington Post. Today, the editorial on this subject says that “requiring a religiously affiliated employer to spend its own money in a way that violates its religious principles does not make an adequate accommodation for those deeply held views.”

Michael Sean Winters at the liberal National Catholic Reporter was highly critical of the Obama edict; he even went so far as to say that Obama “lost my vote” as a result of this decision. Some prominent priests and nuns who initially supported Obamacare have also expressed their opposition to this ruling.

What’s going on? Many of those who tend to side with abortion-rights advocates also hold to the very American principle of respecting conscience rights; when these issues collide, the latter proves decisive.

The Obama administration made a fatal flaw when it assumed that most people are not going to get worked up about healthcare plans that carry contraceptive coverage. If the plans were voluntarily adopted, the administration would be right. But the difference in this instance is that this service is being mandated by the federal government, allowing no exceptions for those who in good conscience cannot go along; the inclusion of abortifacients in the policy only deepens the problem.

There is a high price paid for arrogance in politics. Stay tuned—this issue isn’t going to go away. (Source)

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March for Life in DC - Happening Now - Streaming

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

There are a number of methods and modes to listen/watch the March for Life in Washington DC. Right now the opening Masses are taking place. It is split between two large venues in DC because there are too many people for one.

The Apostolic Nuncio, Carlo Maria Vigano, just got done offering the blessings of the Holy Father from the site of the Mass which will be celebrated by Cardinal Wuerl. The other Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal DiNardo.

Very sadly, the secular media, which will get all excited about 300 "occupy fill-in-the-blank" protesters, or even a few dozen, spending considerable time covering it, won't give this event the time of day despite a crowd of hundreds of thousands, half of them young people. Watch the secular news tonight and there is a pretty good chance that they won't show the broad shots revealing the strength of the peaceful crowd. They won't hesitate to show the handful of anti-life protestors.

Go to this page at EWTN to find streams depending on your location in the world. You can also find there, options for mobile streaming.

Further Reading/Following

March for Life website
To March for Life is to Experience Life (Msgr. Charles Pope, Archdio DC blog)

Following online (all of these will be providing online/interactive updates:

Pray that the hearts of many are touched.

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CMAA Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, FL; includes Solemn Pontifical High Mass

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:30:00 +0000

From Musica Sacra:

The Church Music Association of America, in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Church of the Epiphany in Miami, Florida, and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter

present

Gregorian Chant and Modern Composition for the Catholic Liturgy: Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique as Guide

February 1-3, 2012

The Church Music Association of America will hold a conference exploring Charles Tournemire’s landmark L’Orgue Mystique on February 1-3, 2012 on the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and at the Church of the Epiphany in South Miami. The conference seeks to explore the aesthetic, liturgical, and compositional principles of L’Orgue Mystique, the implications of the work for modern compositions inspired by Gregorian chant, and the role of modern compositions and the organ in the Catholic liturgy.

There will be a Solemn Pontifical High Mass (1962 Missal) celebrated by His Excellency, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski.

Noteworthy to Grotto-goers is that former Grotto organist Tom Schuster will be among the conference artists (see list for February 2nd in the link below).

Go to the Musica Sacra blog for all of the details: Gregorian Chant and Modern Composition for the Catholic Liturgy: Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique as Guide

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Archbp Vigneron on HHS Mandate: The Constitution speaks of 'freedom of religion,' not 'freedom from religion.'

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Freshly released from the Archdiocese of Detroit is this statement by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron on the HHS decision.

Detroit's Archbishop: HHS Mandate
Tramples Religious Freedom
Issued: January 21, 2012

The Catholic bishops of the United States have vowed to fight a mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services forcing all health care plans to provide contraception and sterilization coverage. This will revoke a decades-long conscience exemption for religiously affiliated plans. Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron made the following remarks regarding the mandate:

“During the same week we commemorated the life, ministry, and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his advancement of civil rights in this country, the Federal Government took the unprecedented step to affirm its discrimination against Americans exercising their right of conscience. With its edict on contraception and sterilization coverage in all health insurance plans, the Department of Health and Human Services is forcing insurers and purchasers to choose whether or not to violate their moral and religious beliefs. The inalienable rights guaranteed in our country’s founding documents are being trampled. Where is the ‘liberty’ in a decision to intrude on freedom of conscience? The Constitution speaks of ‘freedom of religion,’ not ‘freedom from religion.’

“Lawmakers in Washington need to step up, step in, and protect the rights of their fellow citizens from a government mandate that is truly unconscionable. This fight against the Federal Government’s over-reaching exercise of its power is everybody’s fight. As Pope Benedict reminded us just days ago, as citizens of the United States, we Catholics serve the whole nation by our witness to our moral convictions and our defense of the liberties that will always be ours by right, not by the permission of the government.”

I will be bringing more reactions in the coming days.

If you didn't see it yesterday, here is the USCCB issued it's statement.

More to come...

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US Bishops: Obama Administration decision literally unconscionable

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:31:00 +0000

Photo: AP

USCCB President, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, came out swinging after HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius stated that church groups must provide contraception.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan on HHS Conscience Regulation from Rocco Palmo on Vimeo.

Here is what accompanied the video:

WASHINGTON—Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it “ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans.” He made the statement in a web video posted at: http://bcove.me/ob5itz9v. . .

“Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn’t happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights,” Cardinal-designate Dolan said.

On January 20, Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Health and Human Services, announced that non-profit employers will have one year to comply with the new rule.

Cardinal-designate Dolan urged Catholics and the public at large to speak out in protest.

“Let your elected leaders know that you want religious liberty and rights of conscience restored and that you want the administration’s contraceptive mandate rescinded,” he said.

Here is the full text from the USCCB website (my comments bracketed in red)

Unconscionable to force citizens to buy contraceptives against their will
No change in limited exemption, only delay in enforcement
Matter of freedom of conscience, freedom of religion

[emphasis mine in bold]

WASHINGTON—The Catholic bishops of the United States called “literally unconscionable” a decision by the Obama Administration to continue to demand that sterilization, abortifacients and contraception be included in virtually all health plans. Today's announcement means that this mandate and its very narrow exemption will not change at all; instead there will only be a delay in enforcement against some employers.

“In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences,” [Classic +Dolan ] said Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The cardinal-designate continued, “To force American citizens to choose between violating their consciences and forgoing their healthcare is literally unconscionable.It is as much an attack on access to health care as on religious freedom. Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty."

The HHS rule requires that sterilization and contraception – including controversial abortifacients – be included among “preventive services” coverage in almost every healthcare plan available to Americans. “The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs,” added Cardinal-designate Dolan.

At issue, the U.S. bishops and other religious leaders insist, is the survival of a cornerstone constitutionally protected freedom that ensures respect for the conscience of Catholics and all other Americans.

“This is nothing less than a direct attack on religion and First Amendment rights,” [since when has Obama concerned himself with the Constitution?] said Franciscan Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairperson of the board at Franciscan Alliance, Inc., a system of 13 Catholic hospitals. “I have hundreds of employees who will be upset and confused by this edict. I cannot understand it at all.”

Daughter of Charity Sister Carol Keehan, president and chief executive officer of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, voiced disappointment with the decision. [What did Keehan expect?!?!?] Catholic hospitals serve one out of six people who seek hospital care annually.

“This was a missed opportunity to be clear on appropriate conscience protection,” Sister Keehan said.

Cardinal-designate Dolan urged that the HHS mandate be overturned.

“The Obama administration has now drawn an unprecedented line in the sand,” he said. “The Catholic bishops are committed to working with our fellow Americans to reform the law and change this unjust regulation. We will continue to study all the implications of this troubling decision.”

Let's see. In addition to the above, Sebelius, a Catholic, has:

This is beyond Canon 915. How much more do the responsible bishops need to see?

'nuff said

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Awesome: Why I love religion, and love Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Seen at the Aggie Catholics blog this morning, was this video. It's done in the same manner as the young man, Jeff Bethke, who did the Why I hate religion, but love Jesus video.

Marcel also points out in his blogpost that Jeff is admitting he has made some errors in his video. In part, he says:

If I can be brutally honest I didn’t think this video would get much over a couple thousand views maybe, and because of that, my points/theology wasn’t as air-tight as I would’ve liked. If I redid the video tomorrow, I’d keep the overall message, but would articulate, elaborate, and expand on the parts where my words and delivery were chosen poorly… My prayer is my generation would represent Christ faithfully and not swing to the other spectrum….thankful for your words and more importantly thankful for your tone and fatherly like grace on me as my elder. Humbled. Blessed. Thankful for painful growth. Blessings (Source)

Some people responded in a very harsh way. When I saw the guy's video, I saw a young man who believed he was saying the right things, and thought he was doing good, in the name of Jesus. This is different from someone who not only hates religion, but hates anything to do with Jesus.

A number of people tried to respond to Jeff's video, taking the high road by not unloading on him as if he was a militant atheist. It looks like that approach is working and, based on the young man's words, making him think.

I believe Jeff Bethke is searching for answers more than anything. I hope he continues to search for truth itself. May God give him many graces to find his way. It may very well lead him to Catholicism. What he will find is the Church Jesus Christ instituted, full of imperfect people who are also stumbling along.

If you didn't see Fr. Robert Barron's response to this, you will want to. He too, takes the high road, and does not speak with any condescension toward's Jeff.

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Fr. Robert Barron responds to viral vid: "Why I hate religion, but love Jesus"

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:36:00 +0000

A video called, "Why I hate religion, but love Jesus" went viral and has drawn a number of responses by Catholics, including Fr. Robert Barron. I'll provide some additional links below.

More: Blogger Nick Hardisty has created a long list of additional responses to this video.

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Here are a few others who have responded:

Not with insolence do we advance our cause... whatever it is!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:26:00 +0000

It's a free country. People, specifically Catholics, will have a range of opinions about this or that. Some will defend their positions passionately, and others dispassionately. Some will use humor and some will be serious. Some will be detailed and some will be broad. Some will travel the comboxes peppering in their opinion, even unto attacking others, and those others can respond.

When I made my post the other day on the situation with Michael Voris and the Archdiocese of Detroit, I allowed all comments because I did not want to engage in censorship. This, I regret, because it dragged my blog down a path I have no interest in traveling. I am taking down all comments in that post.

One thing I don't care for, whether it comes from RCTV, or Curious Catholic, is insolence. As Christians, our conduct with respect to one another is "on display" for the world to see. It may not be gravely sinful to make use of insolence, but it is far from virtuous especially when used as a normal mode of operation.

The Curious Catholic blog seems to exist exclusively to deride and dig-up dirt about the folks at Real Catholic TV. While I take issue with the insolent approach typically seen in the Vortex, I know that those involved with the productions have a great love for the Church. While I'm sure it is the same for the folks at CC, I feel it has gotten much too personal there. I attempted to leave a comment there to this effect, only to find the combox "closed to non-members."

I don't think anyone in their right mind truly believes that this dispute between RCTV and the AoD is about an organization using the Catholic name without permission. Therefore, while there is a canonical issue involved, I believe this bus has another driver. What we have seen thus far from the archdiocese is a little like shooting a mouse with an elephant gun. There is something more to this - something beyond the canonical issue as the Alaskan gentleman with Michigan roots points out (though I would argue that rarely does Ed Peters stray from speaking exclusively on the canonical aspects of any dispute, even when there is more that can be said).

Opinions about what is at the root of the surface-canonical issue in the AoD - Voris / RCTV dispute are as varied as there are people (all of whom should be mindful of CCC 2478).

IMHO, the Archdiocese of Detroit has created a PR disaster. Some RCTV fans speak of the Archbishop of Detroit as if he is clueless about what is happening; others fault Archbishop Vigneron directly, questioning his orthodoxy. Thus far, Detroit's archbishop remains silent and that silence is only inviting more speculation and rash judgments in every direction.

We can probably do more good by taking the matter to prayer for all concerned.

I will likely close the comment box on any future updates, as I have for this post.

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Showdown in Twin Cities as Archbishop Nienstedt digs in...

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:31:00 +0000

From the StarTribune:

Archbishop John Nienstedt is warning Catholic clergy across Minnesota that there should be no "open dissension" of the church's strong backing of a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would define marriage as a union only between a man and woman.

In other early signs of the fervent campaign the church intends to wage for the amendment, which will be on every ballot in the state this fall, Nienstedt is appointing priests and married couples to visit archdiocesan high schools to talk about marriage. He has directed parishes to form committees to work for passage of the amendment. He also has warned a priest that he may be stripped of his ministry if he continues to disagree "with the church's teaching on marriage."

In a recent letter to priests and deacons, Nienstedt laid out why he believes it's important that the marriage amendment pass: "The endgame of those who oppose the marriage amendment that we support is not just to secure certain benefits for a particular minority, but, I believe, to eliminate the need for marriage altogether."

[snip]

But there is opposition to the church's strategy. One vocal critic of Nienstedt is the Rev. Mike Tegeder, who spoke against the amendment at a priests' meeting with Nienstedt in October.

In November, Tegeder received a letter stating that if he did not end his public opposition, Nienstedt would suspend his "faculties to exercise ministry" and remove him from his "ministerial assignments."

Marking the first clear standoff over the church's role in the amendment, Tegeder is not backing down.

He said he believes the church is being too political and contends that it's inappropriate for its leaders to campaign in support of the amendment.

"That's not the way to support marriage," said Tegeder, pastor at both St. Frances Cabrini and Gichitwaa Kateri churches in Minneapolis. "If we want to support marriage, there are wonderful things we can do as Catholic churches and ministers. We should not be focused on beating up a small number of people who have this desire to have committed relationships."

Read the full story at the StarTribune: Priests told not to voice dissent

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As Fr. Jack Spaulding's sex-misconduct case heads to Rome; a look at "Scottsdale Visionaries", and Medjugorje {UPDATED}

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:59:00 +0000

J.D. Long-García/CATHOLIC SUN

A priest who was involved with the "Scottsdale Visionaries" in the late 80's/early 90's at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Scottsdale, Arizona has had his sexual misconduct case sent to Rome. News broke this week that Fr. Jack Spaulding's priesthood now rests with Rome, pending review of information sent by the Diocese of Phoenix to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). Click here for the diocesan statement on Fr. Spaulding, which was actually released in October 2011.

What makes this case so unusual is that the victim, who was allegedly abused in 1984-85 when he was a teen, died in June of 2010 and it is the young man's father who filed the accusations with the diocese. It may be the first such case reviewed by the CDF. Three more accusers have come forward with accusations stemming back to the 70's, making it a total of four claims since Fr. Spaulding was suspended and put on administrative leave on June 24, 2011.

This is a judgment we leave in the hands of the Holy See. Father Spaulding is a devout, and much beloved priest, among his flock, as this 2010 article in the diocesan paper, The Catholic Sun, reveals. The same article states that he had a show for four years on EWTN. The most important thing for the sake of justice to both Fr. Spaulding and the alleged victims, is that they arrive at the truth and deal with it appropriately. If he is deemed guilty, then disciplinary actions; if he is exonerated, then his good name given back to him. Unfortunately, few innocent priests, once accused, ever get any help from the diocese restoring their good names (N.B.: I rarely link to the dissident, National catholic Reporter, but John Allen's excellent reporting is an anomaly there).

Fr. Spaulding, Medjugorje, and the "Scottsdale Visionaries"

What I want to explore here, is a bit of Fr. Spaulding's history with regard to an entirely different matter: The "Scottsdale Visionaries", and Medjugorje. I had read about the case being sent to the Vatican by the Diocese of Phoenix, and thought I had recognized the face; but, I set it aside until I got an email from Andrew Rabel, Australian correspondent for Inside the Vatican magazine who visited Assumption Grotto in September of 2009. With his permission, I share a part of that email:

In the early 1990's, he took a group of young people from his parish, St Maria Goretti in Scottsdale, to Medjugorje on pilgrimage. Shortly after he returned, he claimed that he and some of the young people, were claiming revelations. (Just as an interesting aside. I believe this is the most striking Medjugorje copycat event that has happened in the world, ie another group of young people in a parish claiming visions!)[...]

One of the young people in the parish, later moved to another part of the United States, and claimed to have continuing apparitions. These events to Mrs Gianna Talone Sullivan, were condemned by the Archdiocese of Baltimore, in the strongest terms.

We'll get to what happened in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in a moment.

There are many "offshoots" from Medjugorje - people claiming to have visions, private revelations, and other phenomena following a visit to that place or involvement with the visionaries. I have to agree with Andrew, that the case in Scottsdale was remarkably similar in that it involved a priest and a group of young visionaries. This all began after several pilgrimages to Medjugorje:

The Scottsdale apparitions began at St. Maria Goretti Parish, in Scottsdale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, in the late summer of 1988. Nine young people (Gianna Talone-Sullivan, Mary Cook, Susan Evans, Steve and Wendy Nelson, James Pauley, Jim Kupanoff, Annie Ross Fitch, Stefanie Staab) approached their pastor, Fr. Spaulding, separately and told him they were hearing voices. They ranged in ages from 19 to 31. Some began to receive extensive messages and Fr. Spaulding had them write them down. He examined the messages and became positive about them. Shortly thereafter Fr. Spaulding began to receive messages also, and to hear voices of encouragement. A prayer group of the young people was formed. Our Lady gave them encouragement and advice in her messages, and Our Lord gives a lesson each week for the group to meditate on. Each lesson is on a basic subject, like humility, compassion, pity, and greed. The extent of the apparitions varies among the visionaries. Fr. Spaulding and Gianna Talone Sullivan have received the most apparitions. Gianna has moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland under the call of Our Lady and receives lessons from Our Lord each week for a prayer group there (see separate entry).

The same site from which the above comes, also offers a letter sent by the assistant chancellor to someone making an inquiry in 1995. It states (text bracketed in red, mine]:

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of July 24, 1995 to Bishop O'Brien. While neither the claims of Fr. John Spaulding, or Estella Ruiz have been "condemned" by the Church, I must say that I question that as the sole criteria for making a decision about what should be given credence by people [This goes back to advice my very, Marian father had given me after he was "burned" by a fraudulent visionary. He encouraged me to not put any credence in a alleged private revelations and apparitions until the Church, at some level deemed them worthy of belief. His reasoning was simple, and he was speaking from experience: If we get attached and our faith has any dependence whatsoever on a private revelation or apparition before it is deemed worthy of belief by the Church, we risk not being able to "let go" if the Church says, "no". There is no harm in not putting stock in such things before they are given a green light, at least by the local bishop. A yellow light is what the Diocese of Phoenix put out here].

Neither Fr. Spaulding nor Mrs. Ruiz have been prohibited from sharing what they believe to be private revelation. However, the commissions that looked into these alleged events found no basis for claiming that they are authentic. in the case of St. Maria Goretti Parish they said that the locutions "are explainable within the range of ordinary human experience." With regard to Mrs. Ruiz the commission concluded in that case that the alleged apparitions and messages are not extraodinary or miraculous and that there are "natural explanations for what is happening".

My recommendation to you is that you not place your confidence in alleged private revelation, but seek to grow, through study and prayer, in your knowledge of the scriptures and the authentic teachings of the Church's magisterium. [very sound advice]

What I'm not sure about is whether the Diocese of Phoenix followed up with any further decisions after that. But wait! The Archdiocese of Baltimore had something to say.

Click to enlarge

As Andrew pointed out in his email, one of the visionaries moved to the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, she continued to draw people. That archdiocese soundly put an end to her activities there, condemning them, as Andrew says, in the strongest possible terms. You can read what accompanied the above decree here: Statement concerning Archdiocesan action regarding alleged apparitions to Gianna Talone-Sullivan in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Further, the Holy See was in agreement with Cardinal Keeler and his commission's position:

In an April 2 letter to Father William O’Brien, C.M., pastor of St. Joseph, Cardinal Keeler reported the Feb. 15 ruling of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, that Baltimore’s archbishop is in a position to conclude the matter with a decree that the alleged apparitions are clearly not miraculous ("constat de non supernaturalitate").

This article details Gianna's response. It looks like someone's playing address games, with a P.O. Box in Pennsylvania, possibly attempting to justify the activity shown in the edits below. They may be able to fool themselves and some people, but they cannot fool the Holy Spirit.

EDIT 1: I'm dropping this 2007 video which shows Gianna in a "gospa-on-demand" like ecstasy. In fact, I had to do a double take thinking it was one of the Medjugorje visionaries. Her actions tell us what she thinks of that decree out of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which was affirmed by then Cardinal Ratzinger in 2003.

Can you spell, c-o-p-y c-a-t?

EDIT 2: Regrettably, Fr. Spaulding was a periodic speaker at The Foundation of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary which seems exists mainly to promote the "messages" of "Our Lady of Emmitsburg" as they come through Gianna. The Emmitsburg.net cult-watch section further dissects the promotional video called, Unbridled Mercy. She apparently had a two year hiatus after her visions and locutions were condemned with the strongest possible language (a constat de non supernaturalitate, which means it is affirmed that it is not supernatural), and went right back to her gig. Go to this list of videos and you can find where Fr. Spaulding spoke at events sponsored by that center, years after that 2003 decree of condemnation.

EDIT 3: Just found was this October 8, 2008 document from the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Archbishop O'Brien discussing the visions of Gianna. Action had to be taken when the "apparitions" and "messages" continued despite the clear wording in the decree since prayer meetings were happening at a secular complex (to the tune of 500-700 people). Fr. Spaulding is not listed as a speaker after that date and the last videos uploaded were from 2009 and seem to be speakers only. To their credit, the last published "message" is dated October 5, 2008. In fact, they issued a statement on October 15, 2008 declaring the following:

The Foundation of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary Inc. is a non-denominational 501(c)(3) charitable organization at the service of the truth in disseminating among its communications words of help and assistance allegedly from heaven.

One primary Foundation purpose is the dissemination of the Our Lady of Emmitsburg Public Messages to the World.

[snip]

Meanwhile, both in deference to the desires, opinions, and cautions of the Archbishop and out of concern to not jeopardize the standing or status of Roman Catholics within the Archdiocese of Baltimore in the profession of their faith, until notice otherwise, the Foundation will no longer sponsor the Monthly Marian Prayer Service. The entire future schedule for the Prayer Service at the Lynfield Event Complex in Frederick, Maryland issuspended

While the Foundation for the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary seems to be abiding by the order prohibiting the faithful from spreading "messages" by not putting up anything new, the site is being disingenuous in that it still carries past "messages" and videos, and continues to use an unauthorized title for the Blessed Virgin Mary of "Our Lady of Emmitsburg". Throughout the site we see all the trappings that give the impression that it is all worthy of belief, while on one page there is some reference to what the Archdiocese of Baltimore has laid out.

The Foundation responded with another response in July 2009 - a very lengthy one. Here again, while the promotion of new messages have ceased, they continue to speak of the apparitions as if they are worthy of belief when the Church has clearly stated they are not supernatural. They don't get it.

Here is a 2007 article from the Fredericksburg News-Post (note that this was prior to the 2008 statement by the Archdiocese of Baltimore)

[End Edit]

MEDJUGORJE VISIONARY, VICKA MEETS GIANNA

It turns out that Gianna and Vicka - one of the Medjugorje visionaries had actually met. This testimonial, available at Emmitsburg.net, details that meeting. Here is just a snippet:

"Coincidental" similarities between Medjugorje and Emmitsburg jumped out at me the more I read, revealing a disturbing copycat mentality among these and other visionaries. Signs that were supposed to appear, but didn't. Secrets and doomsday prounouncements provoking a constant atmosphere of suspense, fear and drama. Creation of divisions among Catholics, the Church and clergy. Private revelations superceding Church doctrine and resulting in subversive activities, disobedience among laity and clergy, and broken marriages. As I continued to read, I grew increasingly disturbed by the predictably similar parallels between the apparition experiences of Vicka, one of the Medjugorje visionaries, and Gianna.

"Paolo Apolito lists the following individuals as being amongst those claiming to have started to receive their own revelations either following a visit to Medjugorje, or through some more general contact with it: … Fr. Jack Spaulding [Gianna's former pastor in Scottsdale, Arizona]; Gianna Talone [Sullivan]…. And he also makes the very pertinent point, that whereas prior to the modern era, with its explosion of visionary claims, individuals claiming such experiences would almost certainly have been shunned by the average Catholic, now they could expect be treated as celebrities."4

"Gianna and Vicka are kindred souls. Both of them have suffered tremendously. In June of 1988, Gianna was the rookie and Vicka was the veteran. In time, their absolutions have probably balanced out. On the eighth of June, Gianna visited Vicka [in Medjugorje], who was standing on the steps of her porch, surrounded by a host of admirers. But as Gianna approached, the people parted, like mere mortals making way for sainted souls, and she easily approached her counterpart.

'The Blessed Mother sent me,' Gianna said."5

"Vicka [one of the Medjugorje visionaries] tells us that [on June 27, 1981] she took along blessed salt and water, as a way of testing the Vision to see if it really was the Gospa [Blessed Mother], on the assumption that the devil would be driven away by such sacramentals. After invoking the Trinity, she sprinkled the Vision while saying: 'If you are the Gospa, remain with us. If you are not, get lost.'"6

"On December 19, 1989, Our Lady appeared to Gianna, while she was praying, for the first time. Gianna, fearing illusions, became frightened. She knew that Satan sometimes appears to people as an Angel of Light. She ran for her holy water, sprinkled it on the Blessed Mother, and said, 'Go away if you are not of God.'"7

[Edit 4: Footnote 5 from the source leads us to "Our Lady of Emmitsburg" by Dom Forker, Queenship 2000. If someone has a copy of that book available, I'd be very interested to know what response, if any, Vicka had when Gianna told her that the BVM sent her.]

That complete testimonial by Michelle Michaels is well documented, with footnotes. She walks us through her spiritual journey into unapproved private revelations, and how it nearly pushed her completely away from Mary. I would encourage reading it in it's entirety before getting too wrapped up in anything not yet deemed worthy of belief by the Church as it illustrates the spiritual damage that can happen to a soul, especially when it experiences devotion-overload. Thanks be to God that the woman went on to develop a sound relationship with the Blessed Mother, devoid of signs, wonders, and weekly messages.

With regards to Fr. Jack Spaulding, there have really been some interesting turns in his life. Please keep him and any potential abuse victims in your prayers, and pray for a truthful and just outcome for all parties.

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And three doctors wanted mom to abort this boy...

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:25:00 +0000

This video, uploaded to YouTube in the spring of 2010, was just shared on Facebook and I picked it up there.

This has a very good ending. It's 8 minutes, but well worth the time.

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Bishop Bambera vs. Unversity of Scranton, Round 1

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Scranton, Pennsylvania's, Bishop Joseph Bambera officially took the helm in that diocese on April 26, 2010 amidst sudden, and unexpected resignation of Bishop Joseph Martino. His predecessor regularly butted heads with local Catholic univiersities and other organizations in the firmest possible means for hosting speakers with positions known to be in opposition to Catholic teaching. He didn't stop there; he took on other sacred cows in a way that was very refreshing to Catholics who were apathetic waiting for bishops to do some bishoping.

The Univeristy of Scranton is hosting a speaker who is known for her pro-abortion activity. Despite the objections of Bishop Bambera, the unversity is following through with her participation. Below is the statement just released by the Diocese of Scranton:

The University of Scranton is part of a national network of institutions offering the Ready to Run Program, which is a bi-partisan program sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. The Program at the University of Scranton is being hosted by its Department of Political Science and is scheduled for January 28, 2012.

The keynote speaker for the University of Scranton Program is Marjorie Margolies, who is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. During her two years in office (1993-1995), Ms. Margolies focused on issues affecting women, from abortion to health care. She co-sponsored the Abortion Clinic Access Bill, which sought to make it a federal crime to impede access to abortion clinics; voted in support of an Abortion Counseling Bill, which would have required federal recipients of funds for family planning to provide patients with information about obtaining an abortion; and opposed the “Hyde Amendment”, which prohibited federal funding of abortions. After leaving Congress, Ms. Margolies served as executive director of the Women’s Campaign Fund, a group dedicated to increasing the number of women in office who support reproductive choices and options from all parties and at all levels of government.

Recognizing that the University of Scranton planned to host a keynote speaker who clearly supports a pro-abortion agenda, the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, engaged in a dialogue with the University. The Bishop specifically requested that the invitation extended be withdrawn; however, his request was denied.

In response to the University of Scranton’s decision to refuse his personal request, Bishop Bambera expressed his disappointment and concern by offering the following:

“The gravity of this issue speaks to the heart and substance of who we are as Christians. Because of the incarnation of Christ, every human life has value and worth. As Christians, we must be committed to defending human life at every age and every stage from conception to natural death.”

“Although a forum such as this, designed to support and encourage women to engage in public service, is by its nature good and noble, for a Catholic institution in the Diocese of Scranton to invite a pro-abortion advocate to speak at a University sponsored event is dismaying and personally disheartening to me. And to do so within days of the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., is particularly demoralizing.”

The University’s unwillingness to work with Bishop Bambera in an effort to reach an acceptable resolution to this unfortunate situation is an unsettling turn in the relationship that the Bishop has been pleased to maintain with University officials during his tenure as Bishop of Scranton. In Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the apostolic constitution issued by Blessed Pope John Paul II regarding Catholic colleges and universities, it is noted that: “Bishops have a particular responsibility to promote Catholic Universities, and especially to promote and assist in the preservation and strengthening of their Catholic identity. A Catholic University, as Catholic, informs and carries out its research, teaching and all other activities with Catholic ideals, principles and attitudes.” In attempting to achieve a resolution, University officials noted that their invitation to Ms. Margolies was not an endorsement of her personal views. Despite the University’s lack of endorsement of the personal views of the keynote speaker, as a Jesuit and Catholic university, the inclusion of Ms. Margolies in a University sponsored program has created concern and confusion among members of the Christian faithful. Thereby, in this instance, the University’s charge as a Catholic institution of higher learning to permeate “all university activities” with “Catholic teaching and discipline” has been compromised.

To this point, Bishop Bambera commented further, “The University of Scranton has left me with no other choice but to publically express my disapproval of the invitation of this speaker and my concern regarding the University’s evolving relationship with me as Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton. Despite this unfortunate situation, I continue to be open to working with University officials to promote, preserve and strengthen the Catholic character of the University of Scranton.”

Now, some will wonder why he simply didn't tell them they could no longer be considered Catholic. Well, this is the first step, and quite frankly, as dynamic and bold as Martino was, he didn't take it much further. Who knows what would have happened had he continued at the helm. Who knows what will happen in the future under Bishop Bambera if the University of Scranton persists in repeating this pattern.

It's a start. Would that every bishop did the same in his diocese and get himself plastered on the front page of the local paper and on the internet so parents can see what these places are peddling for "catholic education".

I know one thing, the Church - through her bishops - needs to start taking a very close look at the teachings of certain professors. Perhaps, rather than stripping a university of it's Catholic identity (which they have already done on their own through their actions), they should start declaring these professors unfit to teach at any Catholic institution. It's not like they can't find documentation to support their effort. They have to want to protect young Catholics going to these institutions from the stealthy indoctrination into dissent and moral relativism that has been going on unchecked for decades.

Let's face it: If the university loses it's Catholic status, they will go even deeper into spreading error and the average person will not be scanning the diocesan pages to see if it is still "Catholic". But if the professors and employees who are peddling dissidency and immorality in their "catholic brand' are rooted out, it may do a lot more good.

This ain't Burger King where you get to have your way; it's the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church!

Brick-by-brick

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Fr. Barron contrasts truly persecuted Christians with the pseuso-persecuted

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:03:00 +0000

Fr. Robert Barron makes a point with real class. Watch this through to the end for a switch in gears. He's going down one path, then takes a turn to make an impact.

For those unfamiliar with what Father Barron is talking about in the end, follow up by reading this link (but watch the video to the end first - no spoilers).

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Interesting canon law discussions shaping up in Voris / RCTV and AoD dispute

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:03:00 +0000

There are some interesting developments in the dispute over use of the name "Catholic" in the Real Catholic TV vs. Archdiocese of Detroit dispute.

First, Real Catholic TV has responded with a video

The news link that Michael Voris refers to in his video response is from LifeSiteNews: Archdiocesan canon lawyers differ on asking RealCatholicTV.com to drop ‘Catholic’ name (with 107 comments as of this posting). In that article we learn that a canon lawyer from the Fort Wayne - South Bend, Indiana diocese - actually the Judicial Vicar - not speaking as an official of that diocese, but offering his thoughts, feels jurisdiction likely belongs in FW-SB.

Just a short time ago, Ed Peters put out a new post in which he clarifies some things further: Some thoughts on the ‘jurisdiction’ question in the AOD – Voris/RCTV matter. He points out that the AoD doesn't need jurisdiction for what it has stated. There are two parts in that single post and he gets into some discussion in "part 2" about jurisdiction and internet ventures that cross dioceses in various ways (consider that the current Code of Canon Law is 1983, really before the internet boomed to hwat we have today). He brings up some very interesting "what if" scenarios.

I suspect we have not heard the last from these two canonists.

Update: Peters had a second response concerning his employment and more.

Update 2: Comments have been disabled and hidden. See why here: Not with insolence do we advance our cause... whatever it is!

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In publication for 111 years, Homiletic and Pastoral Review goes online exclusively

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:56:00 +0000

I was really glad to read that Homiletic and Pastoral Review HPR) is now online. Unfortunately for those who like something in hand, it is no longer available in print. This is understandable. Most people now get their information online and print publications are struggling to keep up. By the time something hits the press, it's already old news. HPR's articles are pretty timeless for the most part, and not necessarily based on current events. It's just good wholesome Catholic reading, aimed at priests, but with a large base of consecrated, and laity, reading it. This solid, orthodox periodical has been in existence for 111 years!

Here was the announcment:

Welcome to the first-ever electronic issue of Homiletic and Pastoral Review!

After 111 years, the “what” we publish – to provide essays and homilies on the truths and the beauty of Jesus Christ and his one, true Church; and the “why” we publish—to help save souls; both remain the same. But the “how” we publish has changed. We are in no way ceasing publication, but the world of publishing is changing drastically before our very eyes.

In fact, recent studies show that 70 percent of what men read (vir, not homo!), they read in some electronic format. This is a reality that has to be faced. The Ignatius Press staff and I can only trust that we are meeting this new reality in the most prudent and efficient way possible: bringing HPR into the digital age. Admittedly, this is still very much a work-in-progress. If, therefore, you have any suggestions for me, or the staff, please send us an email at: hpr@jesuits.net.

May the Newborn bless your New Year, and may he bless all our different ways of evangelizing and serving him in the year ahead!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
Fr. David Meconi, S.J.
Editor

I wrote an article - actually, a testimonial - about when I first came to Assumption Grotto in May of 2005. It was an "Alice in Wonderland" moment and the sights, sounds, and smells had me writing about what I was witnessing and how the Mass (celebrated at Assumption Grotto), when celebrated in a reserved and reverent way, changed my understanding of the Mass, and my life. Before really meeting anyone, thoughts were free-flowing, such as when I first realized that worship should always be unconditional - something we give to God, not for our sake or when we feel like it, but for God's sake. This is the most unselfish way to worship, and give God His due. I also learned that God should be at the center, not us. Therefore, I named my testimonial Unconditional Worship in the God-centered Mass. It appeared in the April 2006 issue after being accepted by Fr. Kenneth Baker, SJ back in the summer of 2005 when I wrote it, just about two months after arriving at Grotto. I will have to publish that here some time.

It looks like they are slowly uploading from their archives. This is very good because there is a wealth of scholarly work available by some of the best thinkers in Catholicism. They have always made available one key article per month. Now it will be great to have access to an increasing volume of work on the web. Hopefully, it will be searchbale. I have yet to figure out if this will all be free, or if there will be some fee for accessing certain content. All I know is that it is good to see the articles starting to flow online.

Go click around hprweb.com and subscribe to the newsletter so you'll know what comes out.

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Got nuns? Anchorage needs some!

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This was irresistable. H/T to Joseph K at Defend us in Battle blog, who picked up the text off the Facebook page of a priest in Alaska.

Does anybody know any monastic community that might be interested in coming to Anchorage? Our very dear Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration are all in their late 80s and desperately want to be replaced, but their own congregation down in Mexico doesn't have vocations any more. All up here agree it's absolutely crucial for our archdiocese to maintain this place of prayer, the only contemplative community in Alaska, yet no one has any ideas where to find actual nuns... The building with a beautiful public chapel surrounded by a splendid cloistered garden is waiting. Please pray that we may find a way to keep it alive...

Joe, who lives in Alaska, is originally from Michigan. He follows up his post with this:

If you know of an order that could fill this void... please contact me and I will get you in touch with the appropriate people, or just contact the Archdiocese of Anchorage.

If nothing else, PRAY.

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Look what the Dominican "Soap Sisters" are up to...

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:33:00 +0000

From the Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey, some news...

We're happy to share with you that coming sometime in January will be our all-new Cloister Shoppe! Above is a screen shot of the "work-in-progress."

The new shoppe will be run on a dedicated e-commerce site that is more robust and allows for many more features. Plus, the Sisters working with it say it is very user-friendly.

Among other things you'll be able to create a Wish List, Gift Registry and yes, sign up for the Affiliate Program!

Please pray that the change over is smooth and successful! We'll keep you updated! Our old store will be open for business January 3.

How about dropping in to the Cloister Shoppe and looking around (use the sidebar). Even if you don't buy something now, you might remember it later when you will buy something. And guys, there's even stuff for you there.

The sisters run a delightful blog too. Check it out: http://www.monialesop.org/

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Call to Holiness invites you to DIA Tour: The Face of Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:38:00 +0000

Registration deadline is January 25th

The Call to Hoiness invites you see "The Face of Jesus" - a tour at the Detroit Institute of Arts on January 29, 2012. Buses will depart from multiple locations in metro Detroit, or you can drive yourself and meet the group there. Click on the flyer for a printable PDF or to view the details.

Reserve your space now. Go to

CalltoHoliness.com

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Dr. Peters offers followup on Voris / RCTV - Arch of Detroit Dust-up

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Blogging canonist, Ed Peters, has offered a followup post to the one he released previously on Real Catholic TV and the Archdiocese of Detroit. It seems the seminary prof has been following the various comboxes out there after his first post and wanted to address some things. I won't quote it here, but merely point to it:

A few more things to keep in mind about the AOD and Voris/RCTV

Peters doesn't have an active combox and I'm sure Father Z will be offering a place to discuss it. Click and scroll here to check later.

Here is Ed's first post on the subject: The first thing to understand about the Voris/RCTV vs. AoD disupte.

Here is my post from yesterday: Some links and thoughts on the AoD -Voris / RCTV dust-up

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George Weigel: The saints and angels in heaven aren't singing, "Gather us in"

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:29:00 +0000

People from many quarters are really beginning to speak up on matters liturgical. I was doing my daily news rounds and found this on New Advent:

If you like straight talk, you'll see it in George Weigel's column at First Things: Breaking Bad Liturgical Habits II. Here are the first two paragraphs:

As I remarked late last year, the introduction of the third edition of the Roman Missal and the new translations of the liturgical texts offer the entire English-speaking Church an opportunity to correct some bad liturgical habits that have developed over the past four decades. The point of these corrections is neither liturgical prissiness nor aesthetic nostalgia; there is no “reform of the reform” to be found in lace surplices, narrow fiddleback chasubles, and massive candles. The point of correcting bad habits is to celebrate the Novus Ordo of Paul VI with dignity and beauty, so that Holy Mass is experienced for what it is: our participation in the liturgy of saints and angels in heaven—where, I am quite confident, they don’t sing treacly confections like “Gather Us In.”

Note to Celebrants (not “Presiders”): If you’ve fallen into the bad habit of concluding Mass by some variant of “May almighty God bless us all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” please cease and desist. You were not ordained to the ministry of Word and sacrament to invoke, generically, the divine blessing, which anyone can (and should) do before and after meals; you were given the power to confer the divine blessing by being configured to Christ in Holy Orders. Catholics who embrace the truth of Catholic faith do not enjoy clericalism. But they do not find comfort, much less evangelical leadership, from priests who imagine they can avoid clericalism by unwittingly denying the truth of their own sacramental vocation and its distinctiveness.

Read the rest of Weigel's: Breaking Bad Liturgical Habit's II, at First Things. You might also be interested in reading his first article: Breaking Bad Liturgical Habits

My attention was just drawn to this comment by Tony Esolen (I'm assuming this is Anthony Esolen who also contributes to First Things) in the combox there (at 1.4.2012 | 6:28am)

Emphasis mine in bold:

Tony Esolen says:

But our complaints about music extend far beyond matters of taste, into matters of liturgical fitness (whom do we celebrate, God or ourselves?), and matters of doctrine. Saint Paul said we were to become all things to all men, to save some; but I don't think he meant that we were to become stupid for the stupid.

In no particular order:

We should stop calling the treacle "folk music." It isn't. It has not risen from the folk and their traditions (unlike Negro spirituals). It does not have the rhythms that make folk music singable by large groups of people (unlike shape note hymns). Stuff like "On Turkey's Wings" has the melodic characteristics of (very bad) show tunes, to be sung by show-off soloists.

If we're going to sing all the verses of a hymn -- and I think we should, unless we're talking about fifteen verses -- then those verses had better be what the poet or translator actually wrote, and not the mangled and mutilated and castrated and stultified things that the committees have turned them into.

I am around young people all the time. I teach them for a living. That is, in a couple of weeks I'll be returning to the first year of our twenty-credit course in Western Civilization; my teammates and I are responsible for 147 freshmen. We meet them every day. In short -- I get a pretty fair idea of what impresses young Catholics. Anybody who thinks that the young Catholics (especially the young men) actually LIKE the cadres of middle-aged Caruso wannabes and Leontyne Price wannabes, crooning some effete nonsense, is seriously mistaken. If I offered an informal course on singing polyphony, I'd have forty students signing up for it overnight.

Let's have the priests choose the hymns, and not the music directors. The music directors should choose appropriate music that does not involve the congregation: preludes, for instance.

Bingo! That's what I'm seeing. Organizers for youth events are always trying to make the music "relevent". I once played in one of those so-called, "folk bands" in my 20's all the while I yearned for sacred polyphony. Chant I could not have imagined, but the first time I heard it - at Assumption Grotto in Detroit - it was so unlike the music I heard when I got in my car and turned on the radio. That is how liturgical music is suppose to be - different from our experience outside of the Mass.

Don't misunderstand me: I like classical guitar. In fact, I love it - outside of the Mass.

If you go around the country and look at the Traditional Latin Mass communities and parishes where the new Mass is celebrated in a reserved manner, you should note the demographics of the group. It was the first thing I noticed at Assumption Grotto was the many young faces and big families.

I think one of the worst things I experienced in the years before I found Grotto was when a monsignor, taking over as pastor of my childhood parish, removed the stations of the cross. In their stead, were what I often refer to as the "Dating Game" pansies. These ugly, tin asterisks doted the walls of the parish and there was an aroma of potpourri. The entire church had been entirely emasculated. What is even more amazing is that people would wonder why men were disinterested in coming to Mass.

What I noticed was masculinity of the sights, sounds and smells of Assumption Grotto when I first got there and it did not surprise me to find the pews well balanced with men and women. Wood and marble make up the structure; there are beautiful gold chalices and ciboriums rather than the speckled fake precious metal, with painted something or other on it; there is brass - lots of it. The pick up the scent of incense before you even walk through the door, at any time of the day. There are the sounds of bells ringing and chains clanging delicately as the thurible swings, such as those in the pic below from Corpus Christi 2010. Altar boys, and men work the sanctuary with a graceful cadence, dressed in cassock and surplice. There are no females in the sanctuary and it does not bother me in the least. Even when I'm not singing in the choir, I would dare anyone to say I'm not fully participating in the Mass when I head deeply into prayer as I listen to Gregorian chant.

Grotto altar boys dressed in their white cassocks and gold shoulder capes, used on Corpus Christi and in Easter Season

Brick by brick!

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Some links and thoughts on the AoD -Voris / RCTV dust-up

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:08:00 +0000

[Update January 5: Dr. Peters offers a followup post ]

Just before Christmas, the Archdiocese of Detroit released a statement about Real Catholic TV syaing it is not authorized to use the name "Catholic". This set off a firestorm and I did not want to go there before the solemnity. (I'll provide a number of links at the bottom for further reading). Among other questions on my mind, I myself was rather puzzled as to why the AoD would release a statement as people were all winding down into such a solemn season. It looks like the archdiocese has gotten some feedback about that very issue and it released a response yesterday:

Subsequent to the release in mid-December, 2011, of a “Statement regarding Real Catholic TV and its name,” inquiries have come to the Archdiocesan Department of Communications regarding the timing and need for this particular declaration. The Director of Communications presents this response:

“The Archdiocese of Detroit has been consistent in its statements to and about Real Catholic TV since the fall of 2008. (Regarding RealCatholicTV.com) Due to continued requests made to the Detroit archdiocese for clarification concerning the use of the title Catholic by Real Catholic TV, and to avoid any confusion among the faithful, it was determined a public statement should make clear what has been told to Real Catholic TV, namely, that it does not have the authorization required under Church law to identify or promote itself as Catholic.”

The response of Real Catholic TV was that it is owned by Marc Brammer who lives in the Fort Wayne - South Bend, Indiana diocese, not Detroit. Leadership at RCTV believes that competency does not fall under the Archbishop of Detroit. From LifeSiteNews:

There is however an interesting twist to this story. Michael Voris, while he may be the star of RealCatholicTV’s programming, is not the owner of the website. The owner is Marc Brammer who lives in South Bend Indiana in the diocese of Bishop Kevin Rhoades.

Brammer told LifeSiteNews, “I own RealCatholicTV.com. I contracted with Michael Voris to produce video content for that website and I pay him for it. It is a business relationship between me and Michael. If all of a sudden now there’s this tussle over the use of the word ‘Catholic’ I’ll deal with it through competent ecclesial authority.”

Brammer noted that he had received a letter from the Archdiocese of Detroit acknowledging him as the owner of the website. He responded to that letter with a request for a meeting with the Archdiocese. He received no response. Brammer has not been asked by his bishop, Fort Wayne-South Bend Bishop Kevin Rhoades to cease using the word Catholic.

Last night, blogging canonist, Ed Peters, who works in the Archdiocese of Detroit at Sacred Heart Major Seminary offered his thoughts (emphasis mine in bold):

The first thing to understand about the dispute between the Archdiocese of Detroit and Michael Voris and/or RealCatholicTV is that the dispute turns essentially on canon law. As a canonical dispute, it will not be decided by seeing who musters more or louder supporters in the blogosphere; it will be decided by recognizing what Church law says about such matters and then abiding by that finding.

With this being firmly understood, however, we may still use the dispute to set out some aspects of Church discipline for those wishing to understand such things better. I comment here not as an advisor to the AOD, but as an established observer on public canonical issues, and I reiterate what is noted to the right of every ITLOTL post, namely, that this blog represents my opinions only.

You can read his full post: The first thing to understand about the Voris/RCTV vs. AoD disupte. I quote here the relevant part with respect to the argument put forth by RCTV in the above news source:

But sentence two of Canon 216 is another matter: “Nevertheless, no undertaking is to claim the name ‘Catholic’ without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority.” The plain text of this canon unquestionably puts the burden on those behind an undertaking to secure consent from the competent ecclesiastical authority before claiming the name “Catholic” for their project(s). Voris/RCTV expressly (indeed, pervasively) use the word “Catholic” to name their undertakings. They repeatedly proclaim that theirs is “Real Catholic TV”, that theirs is a “Catholic Investigative Agency”, and that theirs is “The Catholic Critic”.

The Archdiocese of Detroit demurs, whence the dispute.

Let me suggest an analogy.

Say that I’m a pretty smart lawyer, that my legal advice is usually right, that it secures for folks a better situation than they had before, and that it saves them lots of time and tons of money. All of this would mean zilch if, along the way, I held myself out to be licensed for the practice of law in some state where I was not authorized to practice. The state would not have to prove that I don’t have a law degree (in fact I do) or that my advice was unsound (it might be sound or not, depending on the issue) or that I am profiting by my work (perhaps I don’t). The state would simply have to show that I am claiming to be something I am not, namely, someone authorized to act as an attorney. I would be lucky if I got-off with just a Cease-and-Desist order.

Some don't feel Ed has really addressed the issue of jurisdiction. I believe he has, in his analogy. The blogosphere has been trying to navigate the canonical end of this issue like long-hand division, but Peters just showed us a bit of short-hand division. Whether one agrees with it or not, the AoD seems to be on solid canonical footing. Ed goes on to say (emphasis mine in bold):

Similarly, the AOD does not have to prove that Voris does not have a degree in theology (in fact he does), and/or that Real Catholic TV, and/or the Catholic Investigative Agency, and/or The Catholic Critic, etc., is wrong about something they said (frankly, much of what they say is sound), and so on; instead, the AOD simply has to show that one or more Voris/RCTV undertakings claim the title “Catholic” without having secured canonical authorization to make that claim.

Some people apparently don’t like how Canon 216 reads; they are free (per c. 212 § 3 no less) to make their complaints to the competent ecclesiastical authority (postage for first class letters to Rome starts at 98 cents). I can even think of some arguments they might offer (just as I can think of some counter-arguments they would need to anticipate) but, in the meantime, Canon 216 means what it plainly says: as long as Voris/RCTV claim for their undertakings the title “Catholic”, Canon 216 is applicable; but drop appropriation of the name “Catholic” for these undertakings, and Canon 216 has nothing more to say.

So, this particular problem goes away for Real Catholic Tv if they cease use of the name "Catholic" in their works. Quite honestly, I was surprised when they chose to include the name "Catholic" years ago. Mother Angelica chose Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) because she did not want to open the door to this problem. She knew that her work would be opposed vehemently by some members of the hierarchy, and it was. I remember her talking about this, and when RCTV was launched using the name "Catholic" it seemed like a risk to me, especially given the shock-jock style of Mike's Vortex series. That series probably gets more hits than anything else they produce. When you mention the name Real Catholic Tv, people who are aware of it, talk about the Vortex.

In my online reading, I see some asking about other entities like the dissident rag, the National Catholic Reporter (not the National Catholic Register, which is owned by EWTN). Well, first of all, That belongs now to the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, not Detroit. Secondly, the Reporter was condemned in no uncertain terms as "heretical" in 1968 by Bishop Charles Helmsing. People should write to Bishop Finn and ask him to affirm this 1968 document and put something on the diocesan site before more people are led into scandal. In fact, I think his office should be flooded with petitions of this kind so that the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph can state that it is responding to numerous requests. After all, the Reporter is still featuring stories promoting things greatly opposed to the teachings of the Church. Any bishops thinking the "biological solution" will take care of business for that news source (known disaffectionately as, "National catholyc Fishwrap"), they should click that link I just provided, take a good hard look, and think again! Bishops will have to stand before the Just Judge some day and account for the the many souls who were unwittingly led into sin by sources just like the National Catholic Reporter (see the Catholic Culture analysis of the site here and be sure to click on examples).

What about other, non-dissident entities like Catholic.com (Catholic Answers); and, how is it that they get to use the name? Well, Catholic Answers (CA) has the permission of the Diocese of San Diego to use the name "Catholic" and it is considered an apostolate by the diocese in which it does it's work.  We might further ask why the permission was granted in San Diego for Catholic Answers while RCTV is having difficulty in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Detroit does indeed have a troubled past and there are certainly clerics still in the archdiocese at various levels who do not have the mind of the Church. There's no doubt that some of these folks are voicing strong opposition to RCTV and stirring the pot. At the same time we must acknowledge a few things: Noteworthy is Archbishop Vigneron's strong stand against the American Catholic Council's event in Detroit last year, which would have been unthinkable before he took the throne. He publicly challenged Call to Action when he was a bishop in Oakland for a survey they did on priestly celibacy.  The former Oakland, California bishop had plenty of enemies there given his strong stand on Proposition 8 on marriage. The pages of this blog have been filled with photos from the pro-life prayer vigils he has led for Helper's of God's Precious Infants. He is friendly towards the Traditional Latin Mass, having celebrated it in Oakland, and offering Confirmations here in Detroit using the 1962 Missal. For some people, these things make the dispute with RCTV all the more puzzling because Archbishop Vigneron is seen as a relatively orthodox bishop by many.

If we go back to my last question about why Catholic Answers has the permission of it's diocese and RCTV is finding opposition here in Detroit, what is the key difference?   Here is just part of the answer: Catholic Answers is exclusively identified as an apologetics/catechetical site; RCTV has catechetical content, but it is largely identified with the Vortex commentaries by Michael Voris, "where lies and falsehoods are trapped and exposed".  Only RCTV knows what percentage of people viewing their content actually watch the catechetical content versus the percentage of those watching the Vortex segments (both free and premium members). Some of these commentaries go after bishops, other Catholics, people of other faiths and Mike doesn't waste time with tact; he just calls them as he sees them.

There is one more thing I want to point out from Ed Peters' piece that bears noting:

As far as this part of c. 216 is concerned, Voris/RCTV may disseminate whatever they want, whenever they wish, about whatever they please. Whether Voris/RCTV speak correctly or mistakenly on a given matter, or whether they show appropriate prudence and charity in expressing their positions, is their responsibility. Catholics are free to reach differing opinions about those questions.

Setting aside openly dissenting Catholics who would naturally have complete disdain for RCTV, I have seen orthodox Catholics somewhat divided over tone and some content. Some solid Catholics like it; some solid Catholics don't. Few orthodox Catholics seem to be in the middle where they are both supportive, yet forthright to speak up with reasonable, constructive criticism that RCTV may want to consider taking to heart.

Stay tuned for developments.

Links where discussions are taking place:

- A few samples of posts at Father Z's blog here and here.

- Father Z also has a thread running for discussion on Dr. Ed Peters' piece quoted in my post

- LifeSiteNews story of the recent development with AoD is holding at 117 comments

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Fr. Perrone proposes an interesting New Years resolution

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:53:00 +0000

In his January 1, 2012 column, Fr. Eduard Perrone, pastor of Assumption Grotto, pitched a rather interesting resolution for 2012 to parishioners. His pastoral guidance, spoken from the heart of a shepherd, helps those burdened with various worries these days. He puts before us a spiritual response to adversity that is time-tested and one familiar to the saints. You can read it here, copied from the Pastor's Descant column in the Grotto News for January 1, 2012.

Listening in on many a tabletalk conversation in recent weeks I’ve noted some apprehension over the prospects for this new year. Though there are
indications that there may be an economic upturn (calculated just in time
to sway votes) there is concern over what may befall us in the aftermath of
that surge. (I speak here about economics, a subject I would best keep
silence about, no doubt.) The fears I hear expressed however have not so much to do with financial security as with things of greater concern. While there has always been talk of how deserving we are of God’s chastisements–doubtless true–there is worry that we now may be reaching the limits of God’s patience and headed for a time of real trial.

I have never been a proponent of panic, of conspiracy, or of the immanent consummation of the world. The reasons for my reticence to advocate such positions are reasonableness and confidence in Divine Providence. It’s clear however that we, as a people, seem to be ever more capable of outdoing ourselves in wickedness. For those who delight in being at peace it’s not a good time to be living. There’s altogether too much to cause us to be disturbed. The agitation of the world is threatening to invade the serenity of our souls. Being deeply grounded in faith and hope, with a solid spiritual regimen of life, is the way to counteract these unsettling menaces to our Christian life.

There is a proposal I would like to make to you this new year. Being your pastor, your spiritual guide, I should protect you, teach you and give you goods for your souls. I therefore would like you to take on a practice this new year as a means of imploring God’s blessing on our parish and on you, my parishioners. It is this: that everyone elect to do one act of penance every week during the year 2012–an act in addition to any penitential acts which may already be one’s practice or which the season (viz., Lent) may dictate. This would mean that, if everyone cooperated, there would be fifty-two penitential deeds done by each person in the parish by the end of the year. The motive for these would be exactly what they have always been historically: to avert God’s punishments and to obtain the divine favor.

What I mean here is not that everyone should do some strenuous, excessive penance (which would appeal subtly to pride and thus be harmful), but something every week that may be rather simple but yet pleasing to God. I’m thinking of something of the kind of making a one hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every week; or, of eating at one meal during the week only half portions; or, of denying oneself the purchase of something, directing the savings as alms. I have in mind acts that are of their nature penitential, that is, which cause a little voluntary discomfort, rather than some other good deeds, because the purpose of these is to be spared of what our sins rightly deserve. Also, I am not asking that in every week the same penitential deed needs be done. There’s a great variety of these which can vary on different weeks, and they could be done on a different day of the week, from one week to the next.

You may recall that when the people of Nineveh, from the rulers down to the beasts, did penance God was favorably disposed to them and averted the punishment He had intended to inflict on them. The biblical expression is that God “repented” of the evil He had planned to do to them. Our Lord Himself admonished us, saying that if we would not do penance we would perish. These words suggest to me the program I am asking all my parishioners to adopt this new year.

But, can I bind you, that is, obligate you to do this? I can bind you–to borrow Saint Paul’s expression–only by the bounds of charity, that is, by the pastoral concern I have for your good. I do not want to impose on you any obligation other than to work diligently for the salvation of your soul. What I am suggesting is a means to that end. But I have a hunch that since I, your pastor, am the one doing the asking, it carries the weight, if not of strict obligation, of serious deliberation.

In brief: I am asking every parishioner to do some one secret thing (speaking about it would rob it of merit) every week for this entire new year in reparation for sin–something in addition to whatever disciplines he may ordinarily observe. The reason for this is to beseech the Almighty to protect us, each and every one, this new year and to withhold His “avenging hand” (that too is a biblical expression) from meting out to us what our sins deserve. Will you be “with the program”?

Happy New Year!

Fr. Perrone

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Fr. Corapi folds the Black Sheepdog website - speculation begins

noreply@blogger.com (Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:21:00 +0000

I noticed a couple weeks ago that the Facebook page of the "Black Sheepdog" (BSD) quietly slipped off the radar. The only Corapi Facebook pages that remain are run by fans. The BSD blog and website were still up, but there had been no activity for some time. Seems to me that when I decided to peek about two weeks ago, the last entry was from around Labor Day in September. No mention was made that anything was wrong.

Today, traveling around the Catholic blogosphere and on Facebook and Twitter is a link to the now defunct website http://www.theblacksheepdog.us/. All of the posts, all of the audios and videos are gone as are the items that were for sale. The "nuking" of the site also eliminated literally thousands of comments. It is all replaced with this:

Everyone is wondering what is up. Many are hoping that this signals Father Corapi's return to SOLT (yes, I'm still calling him Father because the Church, to my knowledge, has not stated publicly that he is no longer to be called, "Father" and I prefer to keep in mind that he remains a priest).

Here, I will throw in a few possibilities which are purely speculative, along with my own hopes.

1) He's calling it a day

The lowest hanging fruit on the tree is that Fr. Corapi is hanging it up after his business venture failed to give him the returns he was expecting.   We watched his Facebook fan base go from over 50,000 on his original Father John Corapi page down to a few thousand when he created a new one under the assumed name, Black Sheepdog. Perhaps he is done with this and moving on to some other form of work, or living off of some other income he already has. Perhaps he was making a profit, but decided to fold his hand for other reasons - health, lack of desire to continue, difficulty in not crossing into doing what some may have considered an apostolate (see point 3 below), etc.

2) He's going back to SOLT

This is the second lowest hanging fruit, imho. If he does comply with SOLT's requirement to come back and live in community, that would be ideal. The community became a Society of Apostolic Life (SAL) in 1994. I believe it was under pressure to bring all members into compliance with a new set of disciplines and it's own constitution (among other things, members are now required to live in community). Some fans of Fr. Corapi have lamented this change in 1994 as if it was concocted to get his money because of his popularity. That is pure horse-hockey and a form of rash judgment against nameless, faceless superiors who were likely advancing the common good and desires of the larger community. The non-celebrity members of the SOLT community should not be denied the fruits that come with being a SAL because there is a celebrity among them earning big bucks. I also believe this whole issue with pre-1994 members was coming to a head as the community was aiming for the next rung on the ladder and reaching for pontifical status (this is speculative on my part, based on hearsay).

I think some 60 members had joined before 1994 and the society was in discussions with all of these people to agree on a solution to this change.  Priests in such situations can accept the changes; they can look for another community if the changes are not appealing; or they have the option to seek laicization, which likely would be granted in such a case.   Let's face it, 17 years had passed from when those discussions were to begin between SOLT and these members who joined prior to 1994. It's not like there wasn't enough time to find resolution. Further, Corapi's community and/or the local hierarchy failed him. He was hard-wired for a number of vices that gripped him earlier in life and which he discussed often in his talks. There were truly serious reasons to get this man back into community and out of isolation where the odds were high that he could yield to temptations (I don't know that he did, but I'm just sayin'!). Nothing would have prevented him, before the big blow-out, from going on the speaking circuit while living in community. It hasn't stopped the Fathers of Mercy or priests from other societies or orders. But, Fr. Corapi would have had to accept this arrangement. Given the way he handled his situation publicly, even if he returns now and even if he did not have a case pending investigation, I have my doubts he could ever go on tour again or speak publicly.

If he is re-thinking the path he chose and is going to shun his worldly pursuits (including any political/celebrity ambitions) and is heading back to his community that would be my greatest hope. With God nothing is impossible and there is great value to a priest offering the Sacrifice of the Mass and doing whatever humble task is given him by his superiors. If that is the case, something is needed: A public statement to undo the damage caused by such a strange departure.

3) He's complying with a directive from the Holy See

I'm not a canon lawyer so I do not know the specifics of this, but when a priest seeks to be freed from his canonical obligations and requests laicization, the Holy See may impose certain conditions for the laicization, or for remaining in good standing with the Church.   My thought here is the possibility that the sudden disappearance of his public sites may be a desire to comply with some kind of directive from the Holy See, if he has officially requested laicization.

Here is an example from the laicization decree on Fr. Tomislav Vlasic, OFM - a public figure associated with Medjugorje - who had suffered severe penalties just one year prior (some would say he quit before he could be fired by requesting the laicization). There were three precepts imposed, under pain of excommunication, in his laicization decree, and I draw your attention to the first precept along with the introductory note:

As a salutary penal precept - under the pain of excommunication which the Holy See would declare, and if necessary, without prior canonical warning - the following precepts are imposed on Mr. Tomislav Vlasic:

a) Absolute prohibition from exercising any form of apostolate (for example, promoting public or private devotion, teaching Christian doctrine, spiritual direction, participation in lay associations, etc.) as well as of acquiring and administering goods intended for pious purposes;

Sidenote: I will not be posting any comments about Medjugorje or the Vlasic case as this was used merely as an example to show the langauge in such a decree on laicization.

Now, some would say that what Father Corapi was doing at the BSD website would not fall within such a realm and that what he was doing was not an apostolate, not teaching Christian doctrine, etc. At the end of the day, neither I nor anyone who reads this post is in a position to discern the matter; someone at the Holy See has this responsibility.  The problem is that Catholics who were following him still saw him as a priest, wanted him to speak as a priest, but he was unwilling to act and talk as a priest. I don't see how this can't be disorienting to Catholics.

Perhaps the Holy See can make restrictions on such a public life of a priest upon laicization for other reasons than those cited for Vlasic. If the absence of the Black Sheepdog websites signals compliance with such a precept perhaps he is spared the kind of public notice we have on Tomislav Vlasic. The few thousand left following him after the self-implosion would have surely sunk the business end even more.

Time may or may not reveal whether Fr. John Corapi has been laicized and will be known as Mr. John Corapi by the Church.   If he is not headed back to community, my prayer is that he is taking the necessary steps to remain in the graces of Holy Mother Church, following whatever is asked of him by the Holy See. Like all of us must do, I pray he is also following the 10 Commandments and that he has not fallen back into those vices which nearly cost him his life and his soul.

Please, in your charity, pray for this troubled priest and all concerned. May the Blessed Virgin Mary who pulled him from the gutter and led him to the priesthood; and Blessed John Paul II who ordained him, guide Father John Corapi in his time of need. We pray that his guardian angel makes it easy for him to  act on the graces that come from the prayers of us all.

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