Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Voce Italiana, Holy Rosary Church and the Quest for Democracy!

Let me wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. As one who has traveled to a number of countries over the course of my lifetime, the United States is blessed with so many things you cannot even begin to count them.

Take a moment to thank God for what He has given to us.

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A few weeks ago, I posted a story on Voce Italiana, a publication of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in DC, which had highlighted Sen. Nancy Pelosi.

He heard nothing from them until last week, when he began to receive phone calls about the letter. It seems that the letter was published. Finally, someone sent him a copy of VOCE. He read the letter, their response and noticed that a couple of key items had been edited out. It was done in such a way as to make the author someone who does not respect the free flow of information, instead of the core issue: that a Catholic publication was lauding a pro-abortion, pro-gay politician.

So, for your reading pleasure, here is the original letter to the editor (highlighting the sections cut out) and their response.

Letter to the Editor of Voce:

Recently, we received the most recent copy of VOCE ITALIANA. When I opened it up to the front cover, we were shocked to see who was being featured on the front page: Senator Nancy Pelosi.

If this article was produced in a publication some secular Italian or Italian-American group, we would not be shocked.
Even though the paper advertises that it is “An Italian American Gazette of the Greater Washington DC Area” is it published by Holy Rosary Church – a Roman Catholic Church.

As Catholics, we are appalled that VOCE would highlight a pro-abortion, pro-gay politician. In addition, her recent foray into Catholic theology shows that her Catholicism is something that she is totally ignorant of. She wears it on her sleeve. She is no friend of faithful Roman Catholics.

Our relationship to Holy Rosary goes back many years, which hurts us even more deeply, when we see this “infamia.”

Both of us met in Casa after the 9am Mass one Sunday in August of 1991. We were married at Holy Rosary. Our children were baptized there. We would be parishioners of Holy Rosary, if it were not for the fact that it does not have a Catholic elementary school.

XXX and her parents (XXX) faithfully attended the 9am Mass for many years. XXX and her mom worked for many years at the Italian Festival at Villa Rosa, as well as, a number of various events at Holy Rosary.

XXXX grew up attending school and Mass at St. Joseph’s on Monroe St. in NYC – a Scalabrinian staffed Church. Shortly after he moved to DC, he became a parishioner at Holy Rosary – because of the Scalabrinians. He remembers serving Mass for Fr. Lydio Tomasi and his brother Archbishop Sylvio Tomasi, during their visits to St. Joseph.

It is our hopes that in the future, if VOCE continues to be published by Holy Rosary Church (a Roman Catholic Church), that it will ensure that politicians who do not support us on one of the most fundamental issues of our times are not lauded.

Therefore, it is with the deepest sadness that we must cancel our subscription to VOCE ITALIANA.



The response from Voce (with my comments):

We welcome letters to the editor and thank you for expressing your opinion regarding articles about Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. However we respectfully disagree with your assessment of the article.

We believe that Speaker Pelosi, as one of the top leaders, and as an Italian American, is a legitimate subject for our paper. Refraining from reporting news about her, or from interviewing her regarding her recent book, on the basis of her ideology and political positions may differ from those held by some of our readers, does our larger audience an injustice. (As well and removing the fact that you are published by Holy Rosary Church.)

Voce strives for an objective discourse on all subjects of interest our audience – the Italian-American community in the Washington DC area. We seek to report news in an unbiased manner (and yet, there was no mention of her support for abortion or her foray into Catholic theology, nor hide the fact that you are published by a Roman Catholic parish). After all, the Italian-American community itself is not a monolith. It is a highly diverse group, comprised of Republicans and Democrats a like, as well as members of all religious faiths, including Protestants, Muslims and Jews.

We live in a democracy and a democracy works best when people are well informed. (Then why did you not include the letter as was, and not hide the fact that is it published by a Roman Catholic parish.)


What I also find amazing is that there is no mention of the linkage between Holy Rosary Church and Voce. I mean, the phone number and the address given for inquires are exactly the same. Who are they kidding! What a cop-out.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Did you give to the CCHD?

Our friends over at Les Femmes have asked if your parish had taken up a CCHD collection, did the priest speak about it, etc.

I would like to "borrow" from her on this theme and ask the readers from the Archdiocese of Washington DC (only) three basic questions, which are located on the right of this page:

- Did you give?
- How much did you give?

- If you did not give, did you protest the collection?

Of course, is is unscientific but it would be interesting to see what people say.

Monday, November 24, 2008

The St. Joseph House - Pro-Life in Action

This week's paper copy of the Catholic Standard (Nov. 20, 2008 page 17) has a nice story about the walkathon at St. John the Evangelist School (Silver Spring) for the St. Joseph House. (Kudos to the Catholic Standard on this one.)

The St. Joseph House is run by Cubby and Dan LaHood, since 1983. Both are lay Missionaries of Charity and have run the St. Joseph House as a non-profit daycare respite home for youth with multiple disabilities. They not only care for this youth but it also provides their parents with a chance to be able work a full day and also gives them some time to run errands or some respite time.

The principal, St. Kathleen Lannark, stated that this sort of fundraiser teaches the students to "respect all life" and to become sensitive to the fact that children with disabilities are "God's children too."

The students raised over $7,000.

Talk about the pro-life movement in action. (This is the type of story that should be put in the faces of the Planned Parenthoods and NARALs of this world.)

So, if you did not give the CCHD and are looking for a good Catholic charity, this is one. Note that they They do not receive any funding from the Archdiocese of Washington DC or any government funding.

St. Joseph House
1505 Cody Drive
Silver Spring, Maryland 20902

PS: They are on my annual list of Catholic Charities.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Boycott CCHD - Last and Final Call

Well everyone, this is the last call to boycott the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

The Catholic blogs, like mine, have documented how CCHD has supported a number of organizations that have actually advocated things that are against our faith.

Mr. C. Wainwright, the CCHD Director for the Archdiocese of Washington DC, never responded to my email, even though I promised to publish his response. And I would have done it without any edits. (There is still time.)

Now it is time to put your money where your mouth is, so to speak, and not give a dime to CCHD.

Some have advocated putting envelopes full of acorns into the collection basket on Sunday. Others have advocated putting paper ones in. Still others have advocated sending an empty envelope with a note in the collection basket. While others, have advocated writing letters.

All of these are good and if you feel that it will send a message, go for it.

For me, I will send a message by not donating a penny to CCHD.

I will however send in a donation to another organization. May I suggest you send your donation to The Gabriel Network:

MISSION STATEMENT:
The Gabriel Network is a grassroots, faith-based nonprofit support network that provides practical, emotional and spiritual assistance to women and families facing crisis pregnancies, in a spirit of Christian solidarity.


WHO WE ARE:
We are a network of churches, individuals, businesses, agencies, donors, organizations, and professional personnel inspired by Christ to realize a culture of life through loving service to the women and families in our communities challenged with an unexpected pregnancy.


WHERE WE SERVE:
We operate in Washington DC and much of Maryland, specifically Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, Carroll, Charles, Calvert, Frederick, Harford, Baltimore City and Baltimore Counties.


Yes, it is not strictly Catholic, but many Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese are involved, such as: St. Bartholomew's (Manchester), Sacred Heart (La Plata), St. Joseph (Taneytown), and St. Jude (Rockville)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

More on Msgr. Knestout

The Catholic Standard (the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington DC) has more information about Msgr. (soon to be Bishop) Knestout.

Once again, congratulations Msgr. Knestout.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Congratulations to Msgr. Barry Knestout -- Now to be Bishop Knestout!

The parishioners over at St. John the Evangelist (Silver Spring, MD) must be very happy that the former pastor -- Msgr. Barry Knestout -- has been tapped to be the new Auxilary Bishop.

By all accounts (and I have reported this here before), he was well liked by the parishioners and was very dedicated to them and their spiritual well being.

You can read more about it at Whisphers in the Loggia. (H/T to him.)

Congratulations Msgr. Knestout!

MCC and FOCA

The Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is attempting to fight the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) by encouraging Maryland residents to write to the sponsors.

According to the MCC:

A radical bill called the “Freedom of Choice Act,” commonly referred to as FOCA, that would eliminate modest regulations on abortion has been introduced in the U.S. Congress and is co-sponsored by Maryland Sens. Barbara Mikulksi and Ben Cardin and Maryland Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger and Chris Van Hollen. The incoming administration previously said it would sign this legislation into law if it is passed by Congress.

It continues to state:

FOCA violates religious freedom because it would not allow Catholic doctors and hospitals to refuse to perform abortions - a fact which would lead Catholic hospitals across the nation to close.

Now, it is good that they are attempting to stop this but I would like to pose an open question to all of the MCC and Archdiocese of Washington DC employees (priests, religous and lay):

  • How many of you voted for Barack Obama?
  • How many of you voted for Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin over the years?
  • How many of you vote for Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger and Chris Van Hollen over the years?

If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, then it is you who have put us in this situation.

Many of us were telling you this but you ignored this fact over an over. You who told us we were "one issue Catholics." You who told us that he ("The Almighty, and Merciful, Lord Barack Obama") would give us hope and bring us the social justice we so despirately needed.

Now, you not only put the employees of Catholic institutions at risk, but the lives of millions of innocent unborn and those who are born who rely on our institutions to assist them at little or no cost.

Nice job.

I hope you are happy.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Open Letter to Mr. C. Wainwright, CCHD Director for the Archdiocese of Washington DC

Dear Mr. Wainwright:

It looks like the CCHD is pulling out the stops this year to ensure that it continues to receive adequate funding.

I received the CCHD flier at my parish. As I read through it, you could easily tell that the black eye received from the ACORN scandal has influenced it but not enough to say “we will reform.”

Even as it attempts to show that CCHD funds projects to break the cycle of poverty, some of the organizations that you focus on, raised additional questions for me.

CASA of Maryland. I have written previously about CASA and how it seeks, with the help of local politicians and the Maryland Catholic Conference, to do whatever it can to assist illegal aliens and thwart Federal immigration laws. The recent death of
Tai Lam on a commuter bus by an illegal alien and those with ties to MS-13 seems to have done nothing to change the thinking of CCHD and MCC.

Action in Montgomery (AIM). Although this group is made up of a number of churches, and claims to be bi-partisan, it is an affiliate of the Industries Areas Foundation. Have you heard of that group before? Of course you have, it was founded by Saul Alinsky. And who was greatly influenced by Saul Alinksy? Yep, the President-Elect.

Partnership for Renewal in Southern and Central Maryland (PRISCM) also has an indirect link to Alinsky, through the Gamaliel Foundation. Although, you claim that CCHD funds groups which are non-partisan, but the issues it “fights for” do have a political component. According to Wikipedia:

Gamaliel has refocused its efforts from neighborhood organizations to coalitions that can influence wider metropolitan areas and regions. Gamaliel has begun to formulate strategies for impacting national policy on such issues as comprehensive
immigration reform, health care for all, jobs and full employment, affordable housing, and public transportation.

Considering the fact that your flier shows CASA and PRISCM working together on “immigration reform,” I have no question on where they stand on this issue and that it is a partisan one.

In fact, the PRISCM entry on Wikipedia references none other than the President-Elect. So much for non-partisanship.


And, as what a friend of mine likes to call "cocktail party information" guess who hired the President-Elect to be a community organizer. Yep, none other than the Gamaliel group. It just seems to get better and better.

Therefore, Mr. Wainwright, I will not be giving to CCHD and urging a boycott of CCHD until the entire program is either disbanded or overhauled. The use of funds from Catholics for non-Catholic groups needs to be ended, especially if they are used to support agendas which are against our faith.

We must only fund organizations which are FAITHFUL to the MAGESTERIUM of the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.


Sincerely,

AWashingtonDCCatholic

Thursday, November 13, 2008

A SMALL VICTORY -- MAYBE! CCHD to Stop Funding ACORN!

Well, it seems that the Bishops have decided to no longer fund ACORN. However, Bishop Morin did not state: We will never again fund ACORN.

Now, this should not be the end of the boycott of CCHD. It needs to be entirely reformed and donations given to CATHOLIC groups that are FAITHFUL to the Magesterium of the Catholic Church.


It is my hope that we (the blogging community) have had some impact upon this decision.

In addition, Aufer a Nobis has a posting about another Catholic institution that is partially funded by the Sunday Second Collection: Catholic University of America.

It seems that CUA believes that promoting Terry McAuliffe and Gov. Martin O'Malley is a good thing.

I guess this is another second collection that I will pass on.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Rosaries for Life

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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One of my regular readers asked if I would promote Rosaries for Life.

According to the website:

Rosaries for Life was started immediately after the 2008 election. The primary vision is simply to activate an army of prayer in support of our country, that it may return to God and His truth, especially in the area of respect for life. This is done through intercession for our people and our leaders, and through reparation for our past and current sins. Secondarily, the visions are: 1) to provide information about the pro-life cause and how people can become more active in it, and 2) to provide information about Catholicism, especially as it relates to pro-life teachings . Rosaries For Life is fully committed to Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops united with him - we declare our fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church.

Take a look and see if you can participate.

If you are unable to participate, then at least keep those who are participating in your prayers.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

St. Rose of Lima. Furniture and Mont. Co. Government

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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Now, most of you probably think that I really "hate" the folks over at St. Rose of Lima. Nope. Nothing of the sort. I do have a problem with VOTF and other stuff that goes one. From my perspective, the dissenters begin to slowly influence other groups to the point that what is in direct opposition to the Church becomes the norm.

However, my thoughts today are from an article in last week's Montgomery County Gazette (Nov. 2, 2008 Page A-41) regarding the closing of the Furniture Program at St. Rose. According to the article, it assisted the needy furnish their homes for over 20 years. A very good thing.

However, there was one thing that stuck in my mind over and over. The fact that Montgomery Country social services representatives have long depended on them for assistance.

Now, I think that it is ironic that Montgomery County which has no problem spending millions of dollars to help illegal aliens, spends over a billion dollars on an education system that may not really be working (unless you believe the test scores, which I don't), pushes through (in a dictatorial manner) a transgender bill, and yet, has to rely on others to do something like this.

Yet, when our citizens call upon government to help our Catholic schools even to subsidize secular textbooks, we are told that it is our choice and that there is no money for you.

Maybe, many of our Catholic charities should shut down, even for a few weeks, to remind our local and state officials they need us. And if we do not get some of the things we want, then they are going to have to do so much more, with so much less.

It may seem to be un-Christian but considering how Catholics and other clear thinking Christians have been treated over the years, maybe it is time to start playing a little hardball.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Happy (Belated) Anniversary and Thank You!

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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Thank you to all of my readers. It has been a little over a year since I started this blog.

I started out with the idea that I would write two or three times a week. It has now become about four times per week -- Monday thru Thursday.

Some of you have enjoyed my postings. Some have not.

Some of the stories which received the most reaction have been on Voice of the Faithful, St. Rose of Lima (some of the stuff that goes on there), and the potential closing of Catholic schools in this Archdiocese.

Whether I have made an impact by highlighting the CFO scandal, VOTF (and other dissenters) in our Archdiocese, or being one of the very first to call for a boycott of CCHD, only time will only tell.

Whatever you may think, thank you for visiting.

May God Bless America!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Will You Take Pride in Your Vote?

Well, the election is over and the transition begins. So, I would like to pen a couple of thoughts...

The Deacon's Bench talks about the Catholic vote and includes comments from Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ and Fr. Andrew Greeley. Both explained that most Catholics did not listen to their bishops and voted for Obama. Hispanic Catholics, whom Archbishop Wuerl and many others, pin their hopes of the future of the Church on, voted overwhelmingly for Obama. (I hope that this is a wake-up for him.)

So to those who voted for Obama, especially those who work in Catholic chancelleries, rectories, hospitals, schools, etc., when FOCA is passed, will you claim that you had no idea?

Will you take pride in your vote?

Will you say "so what" it does not apply to me because I do not work in that field?

So, will you be proud of your vote?

When there is no exemption for those who refuse to perform abortions because of their faith, will you say, "That's their choice, she/he shouldn't have gone into that profession."

Will you still be proud of your vote?

When Catholic hospitals and other institutions are forced to either perform abortions or pay for it as part of medical benefits or to shut down, will you advocate the selling out of our faith to keep it open?

Will you still be proud of your vote?

When taxes are increased, and used to pay for larger and ineffective social programs, will our Church leaders (bishops, priests, and religious) call upon us to look at it as good and necessary, and then still call upon us to increase our giving to Church charities, such as the CCHD?

Will you still be proud of your vote?

When our Catholic parents cannot afford to send their children to public schools because of higher taxes, and our Catholic schools are forced to close...

Will you take pride in your vote?

When our children are taught that gay marriage is okay and that any parent who protests to that fact are labeled bigots and homophobes and may even face arrest for interference...

Will you take pride in your vote?

When the money is not there, will you tells us, that we should pay higher taxes because it is "patriotic" and still ask us to tithe? (Remember, taxes will be raised only on those who make $250,000 or more. Or is that $200,000? Or is that $150,000? Or is it $42,000?)

Will you take pride in your vote?

When Catholic politicians continue to promote pro-abortion and anti-true marriage initiatives, will you say, we need to sit and talk with them. And after you have talked and they still continue on their merry way, will you put your foot down and refuse them the sacraments or will you follow the Cardinal McCarrick model?

Will you still take pride in your vote?

When gay marriage laws are passed, and there is nothing that we can do to save "true marriage" what will you say? Will you just shrug your shoulders and say we should give in?

Will you take pride in your vote?

For those Catholic priests and religious who have voted for Obama, what will you say when FOCA is passed, and other assaults on the faith take place? Will you just say that we should become more like the Episcopalians, and water down our faith, till the point that our faith changes based on the latest whim in society?

Will you take pride in your vote?

What will we all say when we face the Lord and he asks what did we choose: Did we choose life or did we choose death?

Will you still be as proud of it as you were on November 4, 2008?

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The Gratitude Campaign

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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I am writing this in advance of the outcome of Tuesday, Nov. 4th, since I will probably be watching the results and either jumping up and down for joy, or crying because the most radical leftist ever (except for Gus Hall) has won.

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I learned of this a long time ago, but for some reason have never posted it. As we come to the close of a brutal political campaign, it is my hope that all Americans will be eternally grateful.


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

CCHD and ACORN makes it on Drudge!


Well, it finally looks like the CCHD funding of ACORN has made it to the DrudgeReport!
Here is the story in the Washington Times.


When you vote...think about...

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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A thought from Fr. Z...

If you...are not sure if you are going to vote tomorrow, or you don’t know form whom to vote, or your are considering … well… you know….,

then think about this on a secular level: Supreme Court Justices.

Then think about this on a spiritual level: Eternal Salvation.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Another Parish Promotes a Pro-Abortion, Pro-Gay Politician

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) as it currently stands is ineffective and in many instances, supports organizations which do not necessarily support Catholic teaching. It must be shut down and reorganized. Please boycott the CCHD Collection on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. Read more here.

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A good friend of mine alerted me to the fact that a local Catholic parish/publication has seen fit to promote a pro-abortion, pro-gay politician: Senator Nancy Pelosi.

In the October 2008 issue of VOCE ITALIANA, which bills itself as “An Italian American Gazette of the Greater Washington DC Area,” featured two cover stories on Senator Pelosi. The first in Italian dealing with her being presented with an award by the Italian government and the second, an interview by a member of the VOCE ITALIANA editorial board.

My friend points out in his letter to the Editor of VOCE ITALIANA, (which he shared with me), that if this was written by a secular Italian or Italian-American organization, he would not have cared one way or the other.

However, VOCE ITALIANA is published by Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana, located in downtown DC. To him, this is an ‘infamia” – an infamy – that a Catholic publication is once again highlighting a politician who is Catholic only in name only.

Now, Holy Rosary is not run by some left of center nuns or Georgetown Jesuits. It is run by the Missionaries of St. Charles, commonly known as the Scalabrinians (named after their founder, Bishop Scalabrini). These are a pretty solid group of priests and brothers, according to my friend, which makes it even more puzzling to him.

He is still waiting for a reply to his letter to Fr. L. Tomasi, C.S. (Pastor of Holy Rosary) and Ms. Gemma Puglisi.