On subverting the Catholic Faith

Modernism. Syncretism. Indifferentism. New Age. Novelty. Read about how the Faith has been and is being subverted at The Old Evangelization blog. For starters, there's this short article on modernism:

Subvert The Catholic Faith With This One Weird Worldview

Lots of good info packed in a short article, including a link to Pope St. Pius X's encyclical on Modernism's doctrines. From the article:

"Because modernists love novelty, being dissatisfied with the Church as it is, they try to reform her in a host of areas. Philosophy, theology, history, worship, morals - no area of the Church's life evades their attempts at reform."

Sadly familiar, no?

Merry Christmas

From Bishop Fulton J. Sheen's Life of Christ:

"History is full of men who have claimed that they came from God, or that they were gods, or that they bore messages from God--Buddha, Mohammed, Confucious, Christ, Lao-tze, and thousands of others, right down to the person who founded a new religion this very day. Each of them has a right to be heard and considered. But as a yardstick external to and outside of whatever is to be measured is needed, so there must be some permanent tests available to all men, all civilizations, and all ages, by which they can decide whether any one of these claimants, or all of them, are justified in their claims. These tests are of two kinds: reason and history. Reason, because everyone has it, even those without faith; history, because everyone lives in it and should know something about it.

Reason dictates that if any one of these men actually came from God, the least thing that God could do to support His claim would be to pre-announce His coming...With this test one can evaluate the claimants. (And at this preliminary stage, Christ is no greater than the others.) Socrates had no one to foretell his birth. Buddha had no one to pre-announce him and his message or tell the day when he would sit under the tree. Confucious did not have the name of his mother and his birthplace recorded, nor were they given to men centuries before he arrived so that when he did come, men would know he was a messenger from God. But, with Christ it was different. Because of the Old Testament prophecies, His coming was not unexpected. There were no predictions about Buddha, Confucious, Lao-tze, Mohammed, or anyone else, but there were predictions about Christ...What separates Christ from all men is that first He was expected...A second distinguishing fact is that once He appeared, He struck history with such impact that He split it in two, dividing it into two periods: one before His coming, the other after it...A third fact separating Him from all the others is this: every other person who ever came into the world came into it to live. He came into it to die."

The Culture War is a Religious War

Again, the battle is primarily a religious battle, though leftists insist it is about tolerance. No, it consists in converting you and I from the faith of our fathers to the faith of the social policies of leftism (which includes a syncretistic mish mash of marxism, socialism, relativism, eastern and new age philosophies, atheism and even corrupted Christian doctrine, etc).

Michelle Malkin has written an article titled: GLAAD: Lethal Enforcers of the Left's Tolerance Mob

In it, she details some of the persecution Christians have been undergoing by the homosexual group GLAAD. From the article (do read it all):

"GLAAD has worked tirelessly to marginalize and suppress the free speech of Christian leaders, Christian businesses and conservative talk-radio hosts dating back to their infamous Dr. Laura boycott 13 years ago. The group’s mission is not about equality or defending against “defamation.” It’s about silencing critics, making open debate radioactive, demonizing people of faith and making even the slightest perceived slight a hate crime.

Last year, GLAAD speech-squelchers issued a blacklist of 34 Christian commentators they wanted networks to ban from their air for “extreme” views (read: opposing gay marriage). Earlier this year, GLAAD attacked the National Geographic Channel for partnering with the traditional values-promoting Boy Scouts on a reality TV program. GLAAD is free to start its own Gay Scouts, but instead chose to harangue NatGeo for refusing to run a “disclaimer” at the beginning of each show condemning the Boy Scouts’ leadership policies.

It’s not enough to live and let live. You must repent and genuflect before the self-serving gods of selective progressivism. That’s why GLAAD forgave Hollywood director Brett Ratner for using the word “fag.” He was allowed back into the protected Hollywood club after submitting to GLAAD reeducation camp and appearing in GLAAD public service announcements. Bill Clinton, who authored both the Defense of Marriage Act and the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policies so reviled by the homosexual lobby, ended up receiving a GLAAD “Advocate for Change” award earlier this year — for changing his mind when politically expedient."

This generation suffers the soft persecution of mockery, suppression of free speech, and financial destruction. Your children and grandchildren will suffer worse if they maintain the Faith. If they do not maintain a Catholic Faith, then the loss of their souls will be the ultimate price they pay for a temporal peace.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

Bow Down

Don't let anyone tell you they don't worship anything. We all worship something or someone. From The Peoples Cube via the Treehouse.

From the Shroud comes Mary's Face

This is a forensic artist's rendering of the Virgin Mary from the Shroud of Turin. Bishop Fulton Sheen said Jesus got his looks from His Mother. More info on the image here. And here's an interesting article from the indomitable Ann Barnhardt on the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption.

Coming to a cathedral near you?

WARNING: Graphic, disturbing images from Argentina, where pro-abortion lesbians and others attacked Catholics defending their cathedral. In. a. Catholic. Country.

Think again if you don't believe this could happen here. Satanic, no? And yet how many Catholics routinely vote for pro-abortion, pro-homosexual 'marriage' politicians? Have you heard a good pro-life homily lately?


Culture war and the joy of the gospel

A bishop explains minor exorcisms

Much of the western Catholic world has been lulled into the belief that the devil doesn't exist. So much more comfortable to believe we are all going to Heaven, that Hell, if it does exist, is empty (a la Fr. Barron...see here and here), and that the idea of exorcising demons is a quaint leftover from the pre-conciliar Church.

If ever there was a successful diabolical thrust, it is that the devil does not exist. For what is one result? The heresy of universal salvation, which negates the duty of evangelising one's neighbors, one's family, even one's own self. It makes sin, and therefore Hell, of no import.

Making sin of no import has allowed the following to FLOURISH in our nation, and indeed the world:

• Abortion
• Same Sex Marriage
• Pornography
• Increasing encroachment on the inherent rights of man by secular governments
• Divorce and destruction of the traditional family
• Rise in paganism, atheism, satanic worship

Now to Bishop Paprocki, a righteous man of God. His state, Illinois, approved same sex marriage. The Bishop responded with minor prayers of reparation at the moment the law was signed. Here is his homily on that occasion. It should be read in its entirety, but here are some gems:

It is not hateful to say that an immoral action is sinful. On the contrary, the most compassionate thing we can do is help people to turn away from sin. To ignore another person's wrongful actions is a sign of apathy or indifference, while fraternal correction is motivated by love for that person's well-being, as can be seen by the fact that our Lord Jesus himself urged such correction.

And this:

This is a key point which the secularists are missing: they think that stressing God's mercy means that sins are no longer sins. On the contrary, God's mercy is a great gift of grace precisely because sins are sins and they call for repentance and forgiveness. Note from the interview, when he was asked to describe himself, Pope Francis said simply, "I am a sinner." After a brief pause, he amplifies this self-identity in the understanding of a Christian who has been saved by Christ, saying, "I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon."

And this:

Our prayer service today and my words are not meant to demonize anyone, but are intended to call attention to the diabolical influences of the devil that have penetrated our culture, both in the state and in the Church. These demonic influences are not readily apparent to the undiscerning eye, which is why they are so deceptive.

And one more (but do read the entire homily):

The Prayers for "Supplication and Exorcism Which May Be Used in Particular Circumstances of the Church" are taken from the Appendices to the 2004 Latin edition of the Rite of Exorcism, the introduction to which explains, "The presence of the Devil and other demons appears and exists not only in the tempting or tormenting of persons, but also in the penetration of things and places in a certain manner by their activity, and in various forms of opposition to and persecution of the Church. If the Diocesan Bishop, in particular situations, judges it appropriate to announce gatherings of the faithful for prayer, under the leadership and direction of a Priest, elements for arranging a rite of supplication may be taken from [the texts provided in these appendices]"...Since the legal redefinition of marriage is contrary to God's plan, those who contract civil same-sex marriage are culpable of serious sin. Politicians responsible for enacting civil same-sex marriage legislation are morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin. We must pray for forgiveness of these sins and deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our Church. The Church stands ready to extend God's mercy to those who confess their sins with true repentance and a firm purpose of amendment in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Bishop Paprocki mentions the book The Devil You Don't Know: Recognizing and Resisting Evil in Everyday Life by Fr. Louis J. Cameli as a good resource for understanding how the devil operates today, as opposed to the Hollywood versions we are accustomed to seeing.

Note that the Bishop specifically mentions this "evil which has penetrated our state and our Church." If you do not hear regular homilies exposing the evil of same sex marriage, you can be assured your little corner of the Church has been penetrated.

One thing you can do is to begin saying the St. Michael Prayer again after Mass.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.



H/t to Creative Minority Report.

The wolves within

So, I heard through the grapevine that yet another stalwart, devout, and active Catholic has left the parish. A grievous loss, because these types of individuals, those who truly live their faith, are I believe, the ones who keep spiritual watch over the parish. Their prayers keep the wolves at bay. But, it is manifestly difficult when the wolves are within the fold, instituting a new kind of 'Catholicism' that is so obvious in its rotten fruit that even the "Go Alongs to Get Along" don't deny the devastation.

Perhaps the new bishop, God willing, will see fit to restore order.

Maintenance and the Sacred

Regarding caring for our parish churches and other buildings, Deacon Dean writes in the bulletin: "While these repairs are great to do, the overall condition of our facilities remains a big challenge. The Facility Council is currently arranging for a comprehensive envelope assessment of our major buildings to accurately assess the condition and forecast maintenance and repair cost to properly care for our buildings. Additional expenses will include capital projects such as tearing down the old convent at St. Mary Church, expanding the parking lot and improvements including new heating and air conditioning system. All these costs together will most likely be in excess of $2,000,000. However, before we plan, we need an accurate assessment."

Parishioners should ask who will be doing the comprehensive envelope assessment. These types of assessments (often for school buildings) are typically done by professionals along the lines described here:

“The facility assessment is a crucial part of the renovation process because it helps us understand our clients’ needs and tailor renovation recommendations to meet those needs,” said Lee Andrea, principal at SHW Group, one of the nation’s largest educational architectural and engineering firms. “Our architects and engineers work collaboratively to determine what areas of the building envelope and mechanical and electrical systems present the greatest opportunities for renovation at the highest return on investment.” 

 Prior to performing the physical evaluation, the architect and engineers work with district administrators, faculty and staff to assess how the building performs in its current state and determine what immediate changes can be made from an operations stance to improve the building’s performance. Many times, even the simplest changes can make a significant impact on energy savings. It is also important to understand how the building functions on a day-to-day basis so architects recommend changes that will provide a cohesive transition for user groups into the updated facility. 

 When the architects and engineers have a solid understanding of the building operations, they can move forward with the hands-on facility assessment to evaluate the building envelope, mechanical systems and electrical systems for both simple and large-scale upgrade opportunities. Even when focusing on building envelope upgrades, it is important that all systems are evaluated to understand how each affects another’s energy usage."

One can see that to do a thorough and proper assessment requires a great deal of forethought regarding how the particular buildings are and will be utilized going forward. It is hoped that this is clear and that parishioners as a whole and not simply the various council members are involved in the discussion and decision-making process of future usage of our churches, school, and other buildings. Additionally, the assessment should be made available in its entirety to parishioners, who will most likely be funding the cost of the assessment, as well as most of the capital expenses.

There was no mention of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and the only mention of capital improvements was to St. Mary's. Will IHM and St. Vincent's be included in the envelope assessment?

 In the spirit of restoration, please watch this short film (28 minutes) about the spiritual and physical restoration of St. John Cantius in Chicago. The issues that have been overcome in that parish make the needs of All Saints Parish pale in comparison. Go here to watch the inspiring short film (be sure to scroll down the page).

If the parishioners in All Saints Parish do not hold fast to the Sacred, the parish will surely continue to decline. Financial health is important, but as long as a Protestant and modernist mindset dominates and suppresses its Catholic identity, the parish will not prosper.

It is high time to awaken from the soporific thinking of the last two decades. The experimentation in the liturgy, in pastoral leadership, and in parish clustering has proven to be a disaster.  The parish council has the authority to approach the bishop administrator and request a priest pastor model for the parish, which is what was agreed to many years ago when the four original parishes were clustered.

The clustering has not brought about what was promised--financial relief, and a vibrant and growing parish. Instead, the parish has lost nearly half its families, with many giving up the Faith entirely, while others attend parishes elsewhere. By every conceivable measurement, this is an epic fail.

But there is a cure. The Sacred.

St. Vincent de Paul

Today is the Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul. He is truly a hero of the Faith. Like St. Patrick, St. Vincent was captured and sold into slavery (by the Turks). He escaped after two years and converted his master.

A champion of the poor, of convicts, of children, he was also a champion of priestly vocations.

Here's some more information on him.

Bio of St. Vincent de Paul

Patron Saint of Charitable Societies

Monsieur Vincent

Teachings of St. Vincent de Paul

Closing Churches

Abandoned church in NY

Fr. Z writes about abandoned churches. There are pictures. He says:

• When people value something, they pay for it. 
• When Catholics lose their Catholic identity, they stop valuing Catholic things. 
• When the Church’s pastors compromise Catholic identity in their preaching and, above all, liturgical are celebrandi, people lose their Catholic identity.

Original article is at HuffPo with many more haunting photos.

I wonder if anyone got any photos of St. Patrick's. They might want to get some photos of IHM before its gone, too.

What with tent meetings, healing services, Protestant-based adult catechesis between Masses on Sunday, it is probably safe to say that All Saints Parish is well on its way to losing its Catholic identity.

Save a child, save a mama

Sanctifying the Seasons -- Ember Days

Rorate-Caeli republishes an article "The Glow of the Ember Days". And yes, tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday are Ember Days.

From the article:

The Ember days, which fall on a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the same week, occur in conjunction with the four natural seasons of the year. Autumn brings the September Embertide, also called the Michaelmas Embertide because of their proximity to the Feast of St. Michael on September 29.1 Winter, on the other hand, brings the December Embertide during the third week of Advent, and spring brings the Lenten Embertide after the first Sunday of Lent. Finally, summer heralds the Whitsun Embertide, which takes place within the Octave of Pentecost.

And this:

The Ember days, then, stand out as the only days in the supernatural seasons of the Church that commemorate the natural seasons of the earth. This is appropriate, for since the liturgical year annually renews our initiation into the mystery of redemption, it should have some special mention of the very thing which grace perfects.

A Rosary for Syrian Christians

You may not have heard about the live dismemberments of young Christians in Syria, the rapes, beatings, murders, but rest assured it is a living Hell for them right now. Won't you take a few moments from your day and pray the Rosary for our brethren?

And pray that our elected representatives stop funding the rebels, who are engaged in this wickedness against Christians.

Come, Pray the Rosary

"In the presence of the sacred"

When you have 20 minutes, listen to Dr. Thomas Woods' convocation address to students at Benedictine College. It will make you proud to be Catholic. And he's got some really good advice about the liturgy, too. (H/t Rorate-Caeli) Here's a link to his website and the book he references, "How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization."

The Boatlift of 9/11

H/t to iOwnTheWorld.com

Have we forgotten Beauty?

I've been made aware that the All Saints Parish Chant Schola has been temporarily moved to the Saturday of the first Sunday of the Month, for September (yesterday), October and November, hence: October 5 (Vigil, 27th Sun in Ordinary Time), and November 2 (Vigil, 31st Sun in Ordinary Time).

Apparently, the Chant Schola will be evaluated (via a survey) to see if they will be allowed to continue to serve the parish. Imagine that.

If you don't already know, this dedicated group of volunteer parishioners has been quietly singing and working for some time bring the beauty and reverence of Gregorian Chant to ASP. Recently, a Latin Mass Society was formed to bring the beauty and richness of our liturgical heritage to the parish on a regular basis.

Just for good measure, here is a first-installment article about the Traditional Latin Mass (sometimes called the Old Mass or the Vetus Ordo or the Extraordinary Form) from the folks at the New Liturgical Movement website. Whatever it is called, it is the Mass that is/was said for centuries by priests in the Roman Rite. From the article:

"But most memorable for me, though, were the times when someone would sort of stumble into our little chapel by accident, when Mass was going on, and I would hear weeping behind me.  Oft-times, I would have no server, and sometimes no congregation when I started the Mass, so I would simply be unaware that anyone had come in to the chapel. Until I turned around for the “Ecce Agnus Dei” at the people’s Communion, I did not know whose sobs I had been hearing.  After Mass, the explanation of these impromptu visitors was almost always the same:  “Father, I haven’t seen this Mass in thirty (or forty) years.  I have forgotten how beautiful it is.”  This was a Low Mass, without any of the grandeur of the Sung Mass or the Solemn High Mass.  But people remembered how intensely God-centered it was, how awesome it presented the Mercy of God and the call to holiness---how it invited one to such humility before the omnipotence of God...I heard the same thing from visitors to our Sunday liturgies, but over the years something dramatic has begun to happen.

One now hears these things from people who have no experience of the old liturgy at all from their earlier years. (Emphasis mine)

The same thing is at work:  The beauty of the chant, the lingering odor of incense, which permeates one’s clothing and reminds one that they’ve been to Mass, the dignity and beauty and the color of vestments and altar furnishings, the “littleness” of kneeling to receive the Lord on one’s knees at Communion time---all these things tell of something great.

The Old Mass changes hearts."

Beer...the New Evangelization

H/t to Rorate Caeli

What's old is new again

If you have never attended a Vetus Ordo Mass, one according to the older Roman Rite, you might be pleasantly surprised at the deep Catholicity expressed in it. As Cardinal Ranjith has said, "Liturgy for this reason can never be what man creates. For if we worship the way we want and fix the rules ourselves, then we run the risk of recreating Aaron's golden calf. We ought to constantly insist on worship as participation in what God Himself does, else we run the risk of engaging in idolatry. Liturgical symbolism helps us to rise above what is human to what is divine. In this, it is my firm conviction that the Vetus Ordo represents to a great extent and in the most fulfilling way that mystical and transcendent call to an encounter with God in the liturgy. Hence the time has come for us to not only renew through radical changes the content of the new Liturgy, but also to encourage more and more a return of the Vetus Ordo, as a way for a true renewal of the Church, which was what the Fathers of the Church seated in the Second Vatican Council so desired."

And here is a local priest's take on the Vetus Ordo: The Renewed Appeal of the Latin Mass

Fr. Mottola says about the Latin Mass, "The ceremonies, the chants, and the trappings of the ancient liturgical rites of Western culture are beautiful. And in a generation unsure if there really are such things as “right” and “wrong,” it is not the truth of the Church’s teachings but the beauty of her worship that will stir their hearts. The converts of the next decade will not say “You have convinced us,” but rather they will say—breathlessly and with tears in their eyes—“We did not know whether we were in heaven or on earth!”

And do keep up with Corning's Latin Mass Society here for information on upcoming Latin Masses.

(Forgot to tip Cleansing Fire)

Looking for the angel priest--UPDATE

Gotta read this!

The riddle of the 'angel priest'

Angel priest visits Missouri accident scene

UPDATE: The priest has been identified here. Lovely story. A good ending all around.

A call to fathers

Watch a life be saved:

"To be deep in history...

...is to cease to be Protestant," (Cardinal John Henry Newman). Watch this short excerpt of a documentary about a Pentecostal pastor who converted to the Catholic Church after leading his congregation in a study of Church history. Over sixty members of his congregation converted with him.  He is currently a deacon at his Catholic Church in Michigan. Tip to Creative Minority Report. Add: Here is a very pertinent audio sermon: On The Errors of Pentecostalism.

The Pope in Rio

Cleansing Fire quotes the Pope in Rio. It's a short read, but it's good food for thought. What do you suppose Pope Francis would think about the situation in the DOR and those who have spoken out against its 30-year policy of closing churches and whatnot.

Pope Francis would probably like CF

From the article:

It seems to be not only a clarion call to keep working for the good of Christ’s Church, in spite of the forces undermining that work, from inside and outside the Church, but also to involve the young even more in a most worthy fight, in THE most worthy fight — for souls.  What has happened here to so many parishes, and to so many souls, needs to be retold to a new set of ears, in a new day.  Isn’t this invitation of Pope Francis to the youth in Rio an invitation to all of us, not to settle for what we’ve received, but to re-emerge with what has been kept carefully in our hearts and memories?   Just because we had 30+ years of suffering and secrecy, and just because so much is still unaddressed nearly a year after Bishop Clark’s retirement, is no reason to abandon the story.  Most unanswered complaints need to be re-surfaced; that which is still undone needs to be revived.  A new bishop needs to receive it all.

Our Catholic Faith

How often have you walked into church and absentmindedly dipped your fingers into Holy Water? Crossing ourselves, we don't truly understand the efficacy of water that has been exorcised. Perhaps we don't even understand why the Church offers this powerful sacramental for our use. Click here for a short essay on Holy Water. It is interesting to note that, towards the end, the priest mentions that he is speaking of Holy Water that has been blessed by the Tridentine rite. It uses prayers of exorcism and exorcised salt, and is longish (but not unduly so).

Having Holy Water and exorcised salt to use at home is a wonderful way to bless those who pass through the doorways of your house...or to keep out devilish spiritual creatures we wish to keep from troubling us. If you would like to have Holy water and salt that is blessed with the Tridentine rite, you can simply print out the rite and ask the priest to use it when blessing those items for your home.

Here is a comparison of the Tridentine rite and the newer rite. And here is a lively post with debate about the blessing of Holy Water with the two blessings.

On catechesis

Repenting of the Failure of Parish-Based Catechesis: Time for An Old Idea

From the article:

It's long past time for the Catholic Church in the United States to acknowledge and address the fact that in many, possibly most, dioceses, parish-based catechesis has been an abject failure. In the vaunted Year of Faith, it should sting all of our leaders and pastors that few of the ever-dwindling percentage of Catholics in the pews on a Sunday morning could pass a basic catechetical quiz. How many Gen X Catholics could name one of the precepts of the Church or recall any one set of the Mysteries of the Rosary? How many of our teenagers could list all Ten Commandments? How many First Communicants could recite the Acts of Faith or Hope, or name the Seven Sacraments? The terrible, tragic, and fundamental truth for 21^st-century Catholicism is, not many!

(H/t to Cleansing Fire)

Dare to embrace your Faith...

...as Jesus embraced the Cross.



July 21, 2013 at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Corning.

On ecumenism

The Second Vatican Council's Decree Unitatis Redintegratio set forth the Church's efforts to promote Christian unity. In 2004, the Vatican hosted a meeting to see what 40 years of ecumenical effort had wrought. While reporting much that was positive, it did note a few issues, among which was the need for "reflection on how to respond to the problem of aggressive proselytism," (more on that in a bit).

It was also noted that some Evangelical and Pentecostal groups (most notably in Latin America) tend to  dismiss Catholicism as a non-Christian religion. Bishop Brian Farrell, who heads up the ecumenical effort at the Vatican spoke about the Church's worldwide efforts since Vatican II in this 2012 interview:



Bishop Farrell is an articulate and Christly voice for the Church. He speaks eloquently about Blessed Pope John Paul II and his efforts at Christian unity with the Eastern Churches, as well as with our Jewish brethren. He also mentions Pope Benedict XVI's views on 'spiritual unity' with other Christians. Nowhere is there suggested an evolution to a stance that is not within the parameters of the Church's Apostolic Tradition and Magisterium. In his report, Bishop Farrell stated, "In a world that has changed much since the Second Vatican Council, a new realism permeates the Catholic approach to the restoration of unity. It is clearer than ever that ecumenism can only be promoted on a solid doctrinal basis, on serious dialogue between divided Christians." (Emphasis added)

Ecumenism does not mean that Catholics must abandon their Traditions or traditions, or that they should take on doctrines or practices that are not explicitly Catholic. Watering down the Catholic Faith through a false ecumenism was not the goal of Unitatis Redintegratio. One failed example can be found here, wherein a homosexual Episcopal bishop attempts to trash the Catholic Church for not embracing his personal sexual choices. Fr. Z disposes of the silliness in one short blog post.

Do note, however, that the Episcopal bishop comments on the statistic (true or not) that ex-Catholics comprise the third largest religious group in the USA. If Catholics are leaving the Faith in droves, could it partly be as a consequence of having the Faith watered down to the point that it differs little in substance from other denominations? The Wesleyans in Corning certainly find that many ex-Catholics are quite at home there. And there is also a contingent of Pentecostals working the sheep in our own parish (and have been for quite some time).

Aggressive proselytism. It is quite distressing, particularly when cloaked in a false ecumenism. Added to that is the monstrous lack of catechism on the part of many Catholics for two generations now. Ecumenism, Bishop Farrell states, "...can only be promoted on a solid doctrinal basis, on serious dialogue between divided Christians."

Think about it. Catholics in our parish are being encouraged to hear preaching from non-Catholics, are being encouraged to attend Pentecostal tent revivals in order to do what--promote ecumenism? To experience how the "other side lives"? To show how wonderfully understanding we are? To have a unique spiritual experience? Why?

According to the Church, ecumenical activities are to be promoted on a "solid doctrinal basis, on serious dialogue..."

Is that what is going on at All Saints Parish? A program of ecumenism based on solid doctrine and serious dialogue?

Countdown to a new bishop?

Cleansing Fire reports:

An important Tuesday announcement

Making an Act of Perfect Contrition

Have you ever felt helpless at the bedside of a loved one who may be dying? Someone who has left the Church and refuses a priest? Or a non-Catholic Christian who would not be comfortable making confession to a priest? Or, have you wondered how to pray for a non-Christian who is dying? Perhaps you want to know what to do if you find yourself or someone else in dire need of a priest, but one is not available?

Listen to this homily (below) by Fr. Wolfe of Mater Dei Catholic Church. Additionally, here are the booklets referenced in his sermon.

Make an Act of Perfect Contrition (click on the link to hear the sermon)

You may save someone's soul. You may save your own.

A new bishop for the DOR?

From Cleansing Fire's site: Bishop Watch

The bureaucratization of pastoral care...

"Solving the pastoral problems that present themselves in your dioceses must never limit itself to organizational questions, however important these may be. This [approach] risks placing an emphasis on seeking efficiency through a sort of 'bureaucratization of pastoral care,' focused on structures, organizations and programs, ones which can become 'self-referential,' at the exclusive use of the members of those structures. These would have scarce impact on the life of Christians who are distanced from regular practice [of the faith]. Instead, evangelization requires starting from the encounter with the Lord, within a dialogue rooted in prayer, which then concentrates on the witness of giving itself toward the end of helping the people of our time to recognize and discover anew the signs of the presence of God.”  -- Pope Benedict XVI (Ad Limina Address to the Bishops of Western France, Castel Gandolfo, 21 September 2012)

Why? Part Two

On page two of the latest bulletin, parishioners are invited to attend a tent revival at the Chemung Country Fairgrounds. The Ignite Tent Revival is advertised as a great awakening to call on God to bring healing and a renewal of purpose to our families, community, and country. Several evangelical ministers will be preaching during the two-week revival. In case you’re wondering, no Catholic priests or lay people will be presenting.

If you review Ignite’s Facebook page (you do not have to be a member to see it), you will get a feel for what a tent revival is all about. Wikipedia defines it as “a gathering of Christian worshipers in a tent erected specifically for revival meetings, healing crusades, and church rallies.” Traditionally, they have been held by “Pentecostal or Holiness Christians who not only adhered to evangelicalism, but believed in speaking in tongues, healing the chronically ill, and in some cases resurrecting the dead.”

Generally, Catholics are only welcomed at these events in order to be converted or “saved.” So why would a Catholic parish encourage its members to attend an evangelical revival? Why not hold a type of revival for Catholics? Why not collaborate with other area parishes for events and retreats? Why not build up Catholicism in our community? We could even invite our non-Catholic neighbors. We do believe that we are the true Church, don’t we?

Interestingly, this particular revival is being run by Dr. Wayne Gwilliam’s Destined to Win Ministries. This is the evangelical minister who spoke at All Saints Parish in May. If you read Dr. Gwilliam’s April 26 post, he includes Deacon Dean’s letter to the area’s Catholic leaders, asking them to encourage their parishioners to attend the revival. These leaders were also asked to have lunch with Dr. Gwilliams at Rogers Hall.

I don’t know who attended the luncheon, but the other Twin Tiers parishes have so far declined to place the revival invitation in their bulletins.

Note that Dr. Gwilliams used a photo of St. Vincent de Paul’s Church in his post. I wonder if he knows that this church was almost sold two years ago. Or if he noticed the For Sale sign outside of Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Church.   --Susan M.

Admin note: Susan's first post can be found here.

The Traditional Liturgy

A Catholic identity, in communion with the Church before and after Vatican II, must in all honesty, include the Traditional Latin Mass. Quoting the archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio, His Excellency Most Rev. Luigi Negri:

"You may use this liturgy, and I am extremely happy that you do so in this Archdiocese where I arrived only a few months ago. You do not do so to attack anyone, or to push any opinion, but rather to live the mystery of the Church in accordance with the depth and truth of your right to live this way. The Church has made all this possible. Benedict XVI – I am not someone who uses words because he likes the sound they make – Benedict XVI showed his pastoral mercy by allowing this for individual Catholics or small groups who need not have a precise legal size. These are the “small groups” of the faithful who have the right and the duty to be able to come to this Mass...Now you have it all in your hands, and the Church allows you to spread it freely. There can be no-one, no Diocese in Italy or anywhere in the world, who can stop you doing this. If any Bishop ever dares to say “no” to you, he must be brought before an ecclesiastical tribunal immediately...Try this older Liturgy for yourselves! Try out the truths of your faith!"

Read more with Fr. Z's excellent comments here.

It's not about the cook out

Why?

This week, All Saints Parish welcomed Wayne Gwilliam as a guest speaker/healer. Dr. Gwilliam and his wife, Angela, are pastors of Destined to Win Ministries, based in Winnsboro, South Carolina.
Dr. Gwilliam is not a Catholic.

This was not mentioned in the bulletin. In fact, he was simply described as someone whom "God tookf rom a wayward life of organized crime in Australia, to be a minister of the Gospel for over thirty years in countries all over the world."

Great. But Dr. Gwilliam is not a Catholic.

Are there not Catholic speakers who can present a series of "spiritual refreshment and renewal"? Do you really think an Evangelical church (or frankly, any non-Catholic group) would invite a Catholic to speak?   --   Susan M

Living and Dying in the Faith

Martin of Boston: Christian Martyr

He is not the first. He will not be the last.

Defeat Cuomo's Abortion Expansion Bill

Here's the info at Cleansing Fire: Abortion Expansion Bill

Furthermore, in case you thought the Gosnell case is an anomaly, and that voting for and supporting pro-abortion politicians is generally okay, here's something more to ponder:

Before the Gosnell Blackout, There was Tiller's

From the article:

Like Gosnell, Tiller routinely took the lives of healthy, viable babies eager to be born, in flagrant violation of state law.  But given the expectations of his clients, Tiller kept a neater shop and, to ease the conscience of his supporters, almost always performed his mayhem out of sight, within the womb.

Had Gosnell been in Wichita, he likely would have done the same.  As clinic worker Tina Baldwin testified to the grand jury, Gosnell kept one room in the facility clean for the odd "white girl from the suburbs."  He would personally escort those patients to that room and even turn the TV on for them. More importantly, he, not his uncredentialed assistants, would administer the anesthesia.  "That's the way of the world," he told Baldwin.

You really need to read the whole thing. Kathleen Sebelius figures in the Tiller story in a big way. And then, of course, there is this from the President of the United States way back in 2003 when he was a state senator: Obama on infanticide

UPDATE: Now, of course, the pro-abortion crowd is blaming pro-life (what they call "anti-choice") laws for Gosnell. Can anyone, anyone logically make such a connection? From the article: 

Stringent anti-choice laws have been passed in Arkansas and North Dakota. And in Philly, where Gosnell operated, there are no abortion clinics between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, according toJezebel. And even if a woman has the resources, there are other deterrents and obstacles thrown in their path: One patient of Gosnell's told the AP that she first approached Planned Parenthood for her procedure, but was deterred by anti-abortion protestors outside. A friend told her about Gosnell's operation. Metaphorically, they chased her right into his office. Good job. 

This type of thinking is, quite simply, a form of moral insanity.

UPDATE 2: American Thinker adds more to this horror story: Kermit Gosnell: Secret Hero of the Left

From the article:

Yet even the most ardent pro-choice advocate would be hard-pressed to argue that flipping over a wriggling newborn and taking scissors to its spinal cord is not horrendous, but how much less painful is it for a 14-week-old fetus to writhe within its mother's womb for 24 hours while being scorched to death by saline?  Or how different is it for a fragile infant to be torn apart by a suction device at 22 weeks in utero, or dismembered in the first trimester by a stainless steel scalpel?...

...Ultimately, Kermit Gosnell may end up being the abortion industry's sacrificial lamb and find himself living out his remaining years on death row.  Meanwhile, what's certain is that the always-predictable left will likely argue that henceforth, legalized killing must be carried out in cheery, hygienic, government-regulated facilities.  Then stricter mandates can be put in place to ensure that properly trained abortionists have mastered the fine art of ensuring that the mothers live and the babies destined for the biohazard bag emerge dead from the womb as intended.

Doing what works

Fr. Z shares the renewal story of St. Peter's in Omaha. It's a 15-minute trailer of a documentary to be shown on ETWN at the end of the month. It's all in Fr. Z's post along with pertinent links.

You can't help but contrast what has been done to revitalize and renew St. Peter's parish with the agenda that has been at work in the Diocese of Rochester and our own parish.

Priests in charge. Adhering to what works, as opposed to modernist fancies. The Sacred kept sacred.

For the glory of God and the salvation of souls, says one of the comments.

By gum, it works. ;-)

Abortion in the 21st Century

Apparently this is what "safe," "rare," and "legal" abortion looks like:

The Gosnell Grand Jury Report

UPDATE: And this is what it looks like when the press covers Gosnell's trial (link here). Whatever happened to the old adage, "If it bleeds, it leads?"

Gosnell and your vote

If you are a Catholic and you vote for pro-abortion candidates, see what your vote has wrought. Safe and rare--that was the mantra we've heard from the pro-abortion movement. The image below is from an article from The Conservative Treehouse on the abortion doctor's trial (you can see it better there). What he did was nothing less than diabolical. Read all about it. The babies born alive, and screaming after being aborted, the women who died, those who are permanently harmed and more.

Voting is important. It is life and death important.

Extraordinary Form Mass this Sunday at SV

The Latin Mass Society of Corning announces Mass in the Extraordinary Form this Sunday (the 14th) at St. Vincent's. Slated for 1 p.m., Mass will be celebrated by Father Johannes Mary of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

Deconstructing Marriage

Well meaning but ignorant folks have been awash on Facebook supporting homosexual marriage. Indeed, many well meaning but ignorant Catholics have participated, changing their Facebook profile picture to a big red equal sign. The brainchild of the Human Rights Campaign, this sign has gone viral and is a testament to the power of cultural Marxism and, unfortunately, a lack of thinking through the issue of redefining marriage. Writer Daniel Greenfield explains what is really behind the push for homosexual marriage.

It is nothing less than the deconstruction of marriage. FTA:

The deconstruction of marriage is not a mere matter of front page photos of men kissing. It began with the deconstruction of the family. Gay marriage is only one small stop on a tour that includes rising divorce rates, falling childbirth rates and the abandonment of responsibility by twenty and even thirty-somethings.

Each step on the tour takes apart the definition and structure of marriage until there is nothing left. Gay marriage is not inclusive, it is yet another attempt at eliminating marriage as a social institution by deconstructing it until it no longer exists.

There are two ways to destroy a thing. You can either run it at while swinging a hammer with both hands or you can attack its structure until it no longer means anything.

The left hasn't gone all out by outlawing marriage, instead it has deconstructed it, taking apart each of its assumptions, from the economic to the cooperative to the emotional to the social, until it no longer means anything at all. Until there is no way to distinguish marriage from a temporary liaison between members of uncertain sexes for reasons that due to their vagueness cannot be held to have any solemn and meaningful purpose.

There is more. It deserves a thoughtful read.

When Love Penetrated Hell

It is a blessed Easter morning. He is risen.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote a beautiful reflection on the Shroud of Turin. He says, "Dear brothers and sisters, in our time, especially after having lived through the past century, humanity has become particularly sensitive to the mystery of Holy Saturday. The concealment of God is part of contemporary man's spirituality, in an existential almost subconscious manner, like a void in the heart that has continued to grow larger and larger."

But today, it is the first day of the week, and the tomb is empty. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Between the lines

Here's an article that speaks to a problem I bet you haven't noticed much: children being too religious.

Yeah. It's a thinly veiled attack on Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular (note that most of the symptoms and terms used involve Catholic imagery). It is how the media works to subtly undermine faith. Imagine what they would've thought of the Fatima children!

These types of attacks will continue to grow in the coming months and years. Children will need their faith to persevere.

FTA:

Children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), for example, may rigidly repeat holy verses, say Hail Mary’s or focus on other rituals less out of a deeper sense of faith but more as an expression of their disorder. “It looks positive but could be negative,” says Stephanie Mihalas, a UCLA professor and licensed clinical psychologist.

 

Such ritualistic behavior, she says, may also reflect a child’s way of coping with anxiety, and in reality could be no more spiritual than fanatical hand washing or dreading to walk on cracks. “These kids fear that if they don’t obey their religious rules perfectly,” explains Carole Lierberman, MD, a psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, “God will punish them.”

 

The article states that religion's role is one of "comfort and joy." That is, perhaps, one aspect. There is no mention of eternal salvation or of the deeper issues of life.

A lesson "in new things and old"

The Parable of the Net from the Book of Matthew, chapter 13:

"Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kind of fishes. Which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth. So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have ye understood all these things? They say to him: Yes. He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old." (Emphasis added)

When one thinks of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and the Novus Ordo Form of the Mass, they could be likened to treasures in a storehouse (the Roman Catholic Church). One does not forsake a treasure because it has long been a treasure, correct?

When you see the scribes of today attempting to suppress an 'old' treasure, you can be sure they are not acting from instruction in the kingdom of heaven, but from some other type of instruction.

For more context, Chapter 13 of Matthew is chock full of the parables of our Lord Jesus.

Here is an example of this venerable treasure, which is being celebrated every Sunday: Mass in Extraordinary From begins.

FTA:  "The New Order of the Mass is great but doesn’t fill the needs of everyone as we sometimes imagine," he said. "There is room in God’s house for different forms of worship, even in the Mass."

He noted the people celebrating the Mass "tend to be all ages and walks of life, not just older people like might be expected. Actually they tend to be younger and professional.

"Anything that builds up the church and brings people to Mass is, I think, very fruitful for the kingdom of God," Father Mahoney said.

Verrrryyy interesting. According to Father Mahoney the EF Mass brings people from all walks of life, particularly those who "tend to be younger and professional."

Just the type of folks that would help keep a parish healthy and growing.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Pope Francis!

Our new Holy Father is Pope Francis I. Wow! Argentina. Wow!

Here and here and here for info on the former Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio. He has a  Facebook page, too. A special mass will be said for the new Pope at 7 p.m. EST on EWTN.

He is known for humility. A quote: Cardinal Bergoglio said there is a temptation to speak about "the spirituality of the lay person, of the catechist, of the priest, etc., with the serious danger of losing the Gospel's originality and simplicity. And once we lose sight of the common Christian horizon, we face the temptation of being snobs ... of being attracted to that which entertains and fattens, but not that which nourishes nor helps us to grow." 

UPDATE: And here are his first words to the world:


"Brothers and sisters, good evening.
"You know that the duty of the conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world to get him. But here we are.
"I thank you for this welcome by the diocesan community of Rome to its bishop. Thank you.
"First of all, I would like to say a prayer for our bishop emeritus, Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, let us all pray together for him so that the Lord may bless him and that the Madonna may protect him."
(The new pope then prayed the "Lord's Prayer", the "Hail Mary" and the "Glory Be" with the crowd in Italian).
He then continued:
"And now, let us start this journey, bishop and people, bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which leads all the Churches in charity, a journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us.
"Let us always pray for us, one for the other, let us pray for the whole world, so that there may be a great fraternity. I hope that this journey of the Church that we begin today and which my cardinal vicar, who is here with me, will help me with, may be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.
"Now, I would like to give you a blessing, but first I want to ask you for a favor. Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask that you pray to the Lord so that he blesses me. This is the prayer of the people who are asking for the blessing of their bishop.
"In silence, let us say this prayer of you for me."
(After a few seconds of silent prayer, he then delivered his blessing).
He then concluded:
"Now, I will give you and the whole world a blessing, to all men and women of good will. Tomorrow I want to go to pray to the Madonna so that she protects all of Rome. Good night and have a good rest."

Alicia Colon on the next Pope

Catholic journalist Alicia Colon writes about the Church and the next Pope. From the article:

The next Pope will have to be vigorous and healthy because the church is at war. It has always been at war against the forces of evil and totalitarianism and has been instrumental in the failures of socialism. But John Paul II had Ronald Reagan in his corner and this Pope has instead a man who is determined to neutralize the Catholic Church - Barack Obama

All one has to do is look at his record to realize that Obama is steering America in a straight course to Socialism. President Obama has surrounded himself, for appearance-sake, with nominal Catholics [those who have betrayed their Faith] like Joe Biden as his vice president, and Kathleen Sebelius [HHS Secretary]. The Democrat Party is overloaded with these faux Catholics in high powered positions like Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry. Obama has appointed pro-abortion Ambassadors to predominantly Catholic countries and the Vatican. Obama called on phony Catholic organizations like "Catholics United for the Common Good" and "Catholics United" [financed by George Soros] to push the enactment of ObamaCare. The Saul Alinsky method is to splinter, divide, and so isolate the Catholic Church as to render it ineffective. It's working.

BXVI's retirement home

The Council of the Media

Fr. Z unpacks part of Pope Benedict's talk with the clergy in Rome recently. In it, the Pope makes an important distinction between the Council of Vatican II and the media's interpretation of it...the Council of the Media. Here we see that as the Holy Father says, "...the world perceived the Council through them, through the media."

Think about that for a moment. Competing agendas, ideologies sometimes driven by Church insiders. The media was/is not the Fathers of Vatican II.

Then the Pope says, "The media saw the Council as a political struggle, a struggle for power between different currents within the Church. It was obvious that the media would take the side of whatever faction best suited their world. There were those who sought a decentralization of the Church, power for the bishops and then, through the Word for the “people of God”, the power of the people, the laity. There was this triple issue: the power of the Pope, then transferred to the power of the bishops and then the power of all … popular sovereignty. Naturally they saw this as the part to be approved, to promulgate, to help."

Note, when you hear someone talk about the spirit of Vatican II you are really hearing from the Council of the Media with its agenda-driven motives. The rupture that occurred in the liturgy is noted by the Pope:

"This was the case for the liturgy: there was no interest in the liturgy as an act of faith, but as a something to be made understandable, similar to a community activity, something profane. And we know that there was a trend, which was also historically based, that said: “Sacredness is a pagan thing, possibly even from the Old Testament. In the New Testament the only important thing is that Christ died outside: that is, outside the gates, that is, in the secular world”. Sacredness ended up as profanity even in worship: worship is not worship but an act that brings people together, communal participation and thus participation as activity. And these translations, trivializing the idea of the Council, were virulent in the practice of implementing the liturgical reform, born in a vision of the Council outside of its own key vision of faith."

From this Pandora's Box of 'reforms' of the Council of the Media came the endless stream of liturgical abuses, many of which are so common and accepted that most parishioners have no idea that certain actions are, in fact, incorrect. It was, indeed, a profanation of worship.

The Pope then explains how the Virtual Council, the Council of the Media is at long last breaking down. "It seems to me that 50 years after the Council, we see how this Virtual Council is breaking down, getting lost and the true Council is emerging with all its spiritual strength. And it is our task, in this Year of Faith, starting from this Year of Faith, to work so that the true Council with the power of the Holy Spirit is realized and Church is really renewed. We hope that the Lord will help us."

Pope Benedict XVI will be greatly missed.

The Mustard Seed

David P. Goldman writes a beautiful little tribute to Pope Benedict XVI:

I Have a Mustard Seed, and I'm  Not Afraid to Use It

Pope Benedict XVI to resign

Stunning, stunning news. Will update as information becomes available.

Fox News

Creative Minority Report

CNN

EWTN

Gold and more gold!

Check out this chasuble-in-progress. The local Latin Mass Society is busy sewing vestments for upcoming masses in the Extraordinary Form at All Saints Parish. Since 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI issued his Summorum Pontificum, an apostolic letter supporting the Traditional Latin Mass, many faithful have rejoiced. In our own parish, the Chant Schola formed and parishioners can hear them at the 7:30 a.m. mass on the first Sunday of each month. Additionally, on Ash Wednesday, the Schola will participate at the 10 a.m. mass at St. Mary's.

According to Summorum Pontificum:

Art. 5. § 1 In parishes, where there is a stable group of faithful who adhere to the earlier liturgical tradition, the pastor should willingly accept their requests to celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962, and ensure that the welfare of these faithful harmonises with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the guidance of the bishop in accordance with canon 392, avoiding discord and favouring the unity of the whole Church.

Thus, mass in the Extraordinary Form brings continuity with the Universal Church to parishes who celebrate the two forms of the Latin Rite, the Ordinary and the Extraordinary.

Unfortunately, there is at times, a resistance by some to the truth that both forms are eminently desired. In fact, in his letter to the bishops regarding Summorum Pontifcum, the Holy Father wrote:

In the history of the liturgy there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. Needless to say, in order to experience full communion, the priests of the communities adhering to the former usage cannot, as a matter of principle, exclude celebrating according to the new books. The total exclusion of the new rite would not in fact be consistent with the recognition of its value and holiness.

Here the Holy Father lovingly supports a continuity with the Universal Church (past, present, and future), thus avoiding ruptures with the faithful, no matter which form of the mass is celebrated. Both are valid and to be desired as authentic expressions of Catholic worship.

Dr. Ben speaks -- UPDATE

Dr. Benjamin Carson: neurosurgeon. Son of a single mother who was illiterate. How did he succeed? And just why is he interested in politics? And what about the Carson Scholars Fund? Watch his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Dr. Carson's speech

And for juxtaposition, read this short pastoral letter from Brooklyn Bishop DiMarzio about how the culture of death is responsible for murdering the unborn babies of many women similar to Dr. Carson's mother. Hmmm.... (H/t to Cleansing Fire for the Bishop's letter.)

UPDATE: Here is an interview with Dr. Carson, courtesy of Mediaite. Lots of good stuff in there. His mom is a saint. Oh, and by the way, she is now a PhD!

Child care or a child's very life?

Cleansing Fire makes a crystal clear comparison between the DOR's emphasis on so-called social justice' issues and the right to life in this post.

The post details the bill, which includes expanded abortions up to the moment of BIRTH, allowing non-doctors to perform abortions and other disgusting and vile provisions.

Read it all, but here's a bit:

A lead story on the NYS Catholic Conference website  is the call for faithful Catholics to strongly oppose Gov. Cuomo’s NYS Abortion Expansion Bill, S-438.  And the timing is urgent, as it could come out of committee within days.  The Public Policy Day in Albany is not until March, and the track record of passing bills behind closed doors, sometimes in the dead of night, and without public input, is special cause for concern. 

So what is the Diocese of Rochester’s public policy priority now?  You will see it next weekend, on February 9-10th when pew petitions will ignore the threat of a seriously expanded intrinsic evil, and instead advocate for money, to subsidize some families’ child-care, which DoR reports can cost “up to $14,000 per year.”  Myriad questions are left unanswered, including who would be eligible and for how much and if this would simply route income to parents and grandparents who already take care of those children.  But there are much greater matters than the details of the pew petition.

And this:

Next weekend (February 9th and 10th) we will be asked to sign a petition at Mass, not to stop the killing of babies, but to dole out money on nebulous and unspecified terms for child care.  It is not merely a matter of disordered priorities, but it is a matter of truly misleading the people in the pews who reasonably may rely that a diocesan committee of dedicated souls has examined all the issues and made a reasoned and holy choice.  Such a priority impairs the very trust that should exist among the people  of God.

What should we do?  Certainly contacting our legislators to oppose S-438 is called for, lest our silence become endorsement.  Certainly spreading the word to others is crucial too.  But to let the misdirection of the DoR Public Policy Committee go unchallenged is wrong.  At a minimum, it seems reasonable to take the petition in the pew and mark it up to fit our convictions.  How about “Kill S-438; NOT BABIES!”

Ya think?

No comment needed. (H/t to the Treehouse)

St. Vincent's blustery day

A sly north wind has had its way with a tree at St. Vincent's.

Margaret Sanger would be proud

Blood on the left's hands from iOWNTHEWORLD.