Roman Catholic Blog

Bella's Eduardo Verastegui On Abortion, Obama & Proposition 4

[Warning] The video immediately below is graphic (those below it are not)...

Barbara Kralis Asks An Excellent Question In Her New Article...

Click here to read Barbara Kralis' article: How many times do we have to say 'NO' to same-sex marriage?

Click here to read this recent Time Magazine story: The Gay Mafia That's Redefining Liberal Politics

Food For Thought...

See also: What Could Be Scarier Than Halloween? Two Orange County Pastors Donating To Obama

What Could Be Scarier Than Halloween? Two Orange County Pastors Donating To Obama

(Above) Mission San Juan Capistrano Basilica Pastor, Fr. Art Holquin

(Below) Corpus Christi Parish Pastor, Fr. Fred Bailey

Mission San Juan Capistrano Basilica Pastor, Fr. Art Holquin, gave money to Barack Obama's campaign.

Click here: Holquin Donation

So did Fr. Fred Bailey, pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Aliso Viejo, of Halloween Mass & Barney blessing fame.

Click here: Bailey Donations

Click here to learn about Fr. Fred Bailey's "wife" Helen: Corpus Christi FAQ

Flashback Video Links:

Halloween Mass Video #1

Halloween Mass Video #2

Halloween Mass Video # 3: The Barney Blessing

See also:

California Priest, Fr. Art Holquin, Gave Money To Obama Campaign

Fr. Art Holquin: Homosexual Priests Are A Gift To The Church

More On Holquin: An Observation from the Diocese of Orange....

Open Letter To Tod Brown, Bishop Of Orange

Targeting Papa Pacelli

From CNS News Briefs:

9 scholars call for delay in Pius XII beatification
October 21, 2008

In a letter published today in The Times of London, nine scholars ‘committed to the Christian-Jewish dialogue’ expressed their ‘concern about any imminent beatification/canonisation of the wartime Pius XII … The evidence released thus far,’ the scholars claim, ‘does not satisfactorily respond to whether Pius XII acted soon enough and decisively enough. A more extensive study is still required, one that would draw in the best available scholars in the field.’ Among the letters’ signers are Father John T. Pawlikowski of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Dr. Kevin P. Spicer, CSC, of the University of Notre Dame.

(The signatories' use of the hyphenated term "beatification-canonisation" is curious. The cause for beatification of Pope Pius XII is at a crucial juncture; canonization would become a possibility only after the beatification.)

The full article can be found at:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article4980684.ece

The nine scholars are:

Dr Edward Kessler - Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, Cambridge

Dr Michael Berenbaum - American Jewish University, Los Angeles

Professor Mary Boys, NDS - Union Theological Seminary, New York

Dr Hans Hermann Henrix - Bischofliche Akadmie des Bistums Aachen, Aachen

Rabbi Professor Dr Ruth Langer - Centre for Christian-Jewish Learning, Boston College

Professor Michael R. Marrus - University of Toronto

Professor Didier Pollefeyt - University of Leuven

Dr Kevin P. Spicer, CSC - University of Notre Dame

The Rev Professor John T. Pawlikowski, OSM - Cardinal Bernadin Centre, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago

The last two are the most concerning as they are clergy.

Hubris?

An interesting article by Arnaud de Borchgrave at the Washington Times on-line talks about Europe's view that the financial crisis in the USA is "Hubris with Comeuppance."

Some excerpts from the article:

"The United States, as seen by the media in the rest in the world, is sobering up at the Just Deserts Cafe.

Norway's Aftenposten wrote, "When God is on your team, the world can be dangerously simple. Arbitrary references to the Bible is a form of intellectual terrorism. ... For the past eight years, secularized Europe has been watching with increasing astonishment a president who for the most part is guided by religion; who has had a very difficult relationship with the English language; who has systematically prioritized loyalty over competence, and who seems to be without intellectual curiosity." Hence the temptation of simplicity.

Bylined Bernt Hagtvet, the editorial said the world is now terrified at the thought of a Sarah Palin presidency: "We are risking having a woman who sees God's hands in all she does a heartbeat from the Oval Office. An unholy mix of ignorance and vulgarity."

The full article can be found at:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/25/hubris-with-comeuppance/

To my way of thinking this is backwards. Clearly in our nation's history we have had great national leaders, e.g., Abraham Lincoln, who believed that we were being punished by G*d, but clearly not for the "sins" the humanists of Europe ascribe to.

To quote from Lincoln's second inaugaural:

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"

He is of course quoting from the King James version of the Bible where it reads:

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" King James Version - Matthew 18:7

In Latin it is as follows:

Vae mundo ab scandalis necesse est enim ut veniant scandala verumtamen vae homini per quem scandalum venit. Vulgate - Matthew 18:7

And is found in Douay-Rheims as such:

Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. Douay-Rheims - Matthew 18:7

As love of money seems to predominate our modern culture, could there be a better way to "chastise" the USA than financial crisis?

In a similar vein, I for one have been in favor of large money rewards to victims of the Church pedophelia scandals as money IS THE LANGUAGE UNDERSTOOD BY THE "CORPORATIST" PRIESTS AND BISHOPS who covered up the crimes of their confreres.

Might G*d be speaking to modern America in a language we understand?

Your thoughts?

A Good First Step: Archbishop Chaput Corrects Senator Biden On Abortion

Here's the link: Archbishop Chaput Corrects Senator Biden on Abortion

My thoughts:

This is good, but the fundamental problem is with Catholics thinking that remaining within a political party that supports abortion as a civil right and attempting to dismiss this fact by pointing to conservative support for things like specific wars (or war in general) or the death penalty neutralizes the scandal involved in belonging to such a group is a moral option.

When will Church leaders tell Catholics that it's as wrong to belong to organizations that support the culture of death, most notably through support for the legal option to kill preborn babies, as it is to belong to a Masonic lodge?

And when will so-called Catholic politicians who support legal abortion be told, without equivocation, by all bishops (including the Holy Father) that, by supporting the culture of death, these so-called Catholic politicians are not in union with Rome, may not receive Holy Communion, and will be excommunicated if they persist in supporting legal abortion?

Any thoughts?

See also: Can Catholics Support Obama?

Partisan Pastor?

Archbishop Charles Chaput has been very open about his commitment to the Democrat party, even going so far as to admit having voted for, and even having worked for pro-abortion candidates.

A recent article by Catholic author, Barbara Kralis, brought attention to the issue: Will Denver Catholic Archbishop finally enforce Canon 915?

Archbishop Charles Chaput's history has troubled many of the faithful, and some of them have attempted to encourage the archbishop to exercise his duty to teach, govern, and sanctify by denying pro-abortion politicians (regardless of political affiliation) access to the Holy Eucharist.

More after the jump...

Archbishop Milktoast

"San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer addresses recent comments made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi."

Finally, Finally, Finally Archbishop George "Milktoast' Niederauer of San Francisco has spoken, or has he?

His full "letter" about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can be found at:

http://www.catholic-sf.org/FPArticle14b.htm

Here are two quotes that raised my blood pressure:

Let me acknowledge even as I do so that Speaker Pelosi is a gifted, dedicated and accomplished public servant, and that she has stated often her love for her faith and for the Catholic Church. The Speaker has been supportive of legislation that helped to implement some of the social teachings of the Church. However, her recent remarks are opposed to Church teaching.

I regret the necessity of addressing these issues in so public a forum, but the widespread consternation among Catholics made it unavoidable. Speaker Pelosi has often said how highly she values her Catholic faith, and how much it is a source of joy for her. Accordingly, as her pastor, I am writing to invite her into a conversation with me about these matters.

Perhaps we should all chip in and buy Archbishop Milktoast a new Bible, Douay-Rheims of course.

From St. Paul's letter to Titus:

"7 For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, nor given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre: 8 But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent: 9 Embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to convince the gainsayers."

"10 For there are also many disobedient, vain talkers and seducers: especially they who are of the circumcision. 11 Who must be reproved, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of them a prophet of their own, said: The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slothful bellies. 13 This testimony is true. Wherefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."

Titus 1:7-13 (My underline and bold added)

Gads! I thought this man's worst days were as rector at St. John's Seminary where he controlled the "formation" of hundreds of priests. Would that he were only Rector there now!

DENIAL JUST AIN'T A RIVER IN EGYPT!

World Youth Day Organizer Bishop Anthony Fisher (pictured above) reportedly tells the parents of a girl who committed suicide after she and her sister were serially abused by a Catholic priest that they are:

"Dwelling Crankily on Old Wounds."

My G*d. Anti-catholic masonic writers at the turn of the century would have been hard-pressed to invent such vitriol and today it is really being said by prelates in Holy Mother Church.

You can read the whole story at:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/16/2305856.htm