Friday, December 26, 2014

CapsMass at St. Vincent de Paul on January 1st at 11:10am

The Washington Capitals will play the Chicago BlackHawks in the NHL Winter Classic on the holy day of obligation January 1st.  

Since the game will be held at Nationals Stadium, St. Vincent de Paul (the parish which is located one block away from the stadium at South Capitol and M Street) will host a special "CapsMass" at 11:30 am for people going to the game.  There will be hot cocoa sponsored by the Knights after the mass.

For more information, go here:   https://www.facebook.com/events/758003424274678/


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

D.C. council eliminates religious schools’ protection from gay discrimination suits

A vote December 2 by the Washington, D.C., City Council could compel private religious schools and universities in the nation’s capital to allow groups that oppose the schools’ moral values access to their campuses, programs, and funds.

The council voted to eliminate faith-based schools’ 25-year-old legal protections from discrimination lawsuits as part of a “human rights amendment.” Barring an act of Congress, D.C.’s religious schools will likely have to go against their religious values when it comes to permitting use to their campuses or programs.

The city’s rules hold that it’s “unlawful discriminatory practice” to limit any use of facilities, services, or programs based on “sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.” With the religious exemption, Washington D.C. religious schools had been able to restrict finances, amenities and approval from individuals and groups “organized for, or engaged in, promoting, encouraging, or condoning any homosexual act, lifestyle, orientation, or belief.”

For the complete story, go to:  https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/d.c.-council-eliminates-religious-schools-protection-from-gay-discriminatio

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Death of Bishop Leonard Oliver

Statement from the Archdiocese of Washington:

http://www.adw.org/2014/11/20/statement-on-the-death-of-bishop-leonard-james-olivier/


And over at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Olivier


V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.
R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Fr. Dan Leary on "Jesus, the Gift of the Father"

Sent to me by a reader.  If you have not heard Fr. Dan preach, then you are missing out on what a friend calls "a powerful preacher."

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“Jesus, the Gift of the Father,” an evening of reflection with Fr. Dan Leary, Tuesday November 18, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at St. Andrew the Apostle Church (11600 Kemp Mill Rd, Silver Spring, MD). The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and confession will be available with light refreshments to follow.  For more information contact Maris Moriarty @ moriartym@adw.org.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Happy Anniversary and THANK YOU!!!

On Nov. 8, 2007 I lauched this blog.

It has been seven years and over 1300 postings.

I did not think that I would have continued for so long but I have.

All I can say is:  THANK YOU!

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for writing.

Thank you for your prayers.

Hopefully, I can do this for at least another seven.

 

Friday, November 7, 2014

Maryland Catholic Conference: Supporting the Destruction of the Constitution and a Despot?

With the Republican Party taking over the Senate, winning additional seats in the House of Representatives, as well as, the Governorship of Maryland (and other states), Obama (does not deserve the title of the President of the United States, as he vacilates between Tyrant and President of a Banana Republic) has decided to take Executive Action on illegal aliens.

If the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) decides to support this action, then I am condeming them as supporters of the destruction of the Constitution and of a TYRANT.

Yes, you read it correct:  The Maryland Catholic Conference is willing to destroy the powers enumerated in the Constitution and support a Tyrant, for a policy which most Americans (and I bet most Catholics) do not support.

The MCC is out of touch, a failure and needs to be disbanded.

Do you agree?


PS:  If the Maryland Catholic Conference wishes to respond to this, I will publish their reply in full.  I won't ban them, as they have done to me, on Facebook.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Anti-Catholic protesters with bullhorns appear at several D.C.-area parishes

A spokeswoman with the Archdiocese of Washington, which oversees 139 parishes in the District and suburban Maryland, said Wednesday that “really small” groups of protesters have appeared on the property of three or four parishes in the past couple of weeks near Mass time. They were shouting at parishioners going in and out and were handing out “fundamentalist” Christian literature, said Chieko Noguchi.

She would not identify the parishes or share the literature or what it said, saying it was unclear whether the protesters had created it or were using something they got elsewhere.

“It was disconcerting,” she said, that protesters would use a worship service as a time to protest.

Police were called Oct. 25 to at least one of the parishes, St. Pius X in Bowie, but the police chief there said no information was available about the group. Messages left with St. Pius staff were not immediately returned.

For more, go to:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/anti-catholic-protesters-with-bullhorns-appear-at-several-dc-area-parishes/2014/11/05/f6b2471e-6514-11e4-bb14-4cfea1e742d5_story.html

Help After Abortion

This was shared with me by a reader:


New Post-Abortion Website
Help, healing, and hope is waiting for you at www.helpafterabortion.org It’s a safe place to take the first step to learn more about healing after abortion. All inquiries for assistance are completely confidential. Talk to someone who understands. Contact them today for nonjudgmental and compassionate care.
For more information visit their website or call 888-456-HOPE (4673).

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Every Child Is God’s Gift: Maryland Family Witnesses to Life at St. Joseph’s House

St. Joseph’s House started as the Special Needs Children’s Center, a highfalutin name for what we were. But it really grew out of the need we saw in families who cared for a child with a handicap 24-7, 52 weeks a year,” said Dan LaHood. Cubby became licensed to run a home daycare after the couple’s oldest son was born.

“As Cubby worked at a special-ed school, she witnessed the toll this was taking on the families she encountered on a daily basis. One child staying with us for an afternoon led to a weekend, led to asking for daily after-school care and summer care. Before we knew it, we had eight very small, very disabled kids in our house,” he continued.


Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/every-child-is-gods-gift/#ixzz3HxZ0qJmU

Monday, October 27, 2014

Death of Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete (Communion and Liberation)

.- The Church is mourning the death of Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete, who died early Friday following a lengthy illness; he was deeply involved in the ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation, and was a good friend of Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston.

He served as the responsible for Communion and Liberation in the U.S. and Canada, and was chairman of board of advisors for Crossroads Cultural Center, a project which hosts events exploring the relationship between religion and culture.

The priest was a co-founder of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., and taught at St. Joseph Seminary in New York. He was rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico from 1996-1997. He was also for a time an advisor to the U.S. bishops' conference on Hispanic affairs.

For the complete article, click here:  http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/church-mourns-death-of-msgr-lorenzo-albacete-priest-and-scientist-44731/

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I have included this for two reasons:

  • He was the co-founder of the JPII Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.
  • There are a number of people in this Archdiocese who are affiliated with Communion and Liberation (CL).

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Celebrating the First Feast Day of John Paul II

.- Hundreds of pilgrims and faithful from all states of life flocked to Washington, D.C.'s St. John Paul II Shrine on Wednesday to celebrate the late Pope and recently canonized saint’s first universal feast day.

“To be able to celebrate in the presence of a saint on their first feast day, I think is just a point of great grace for the local Church and all the pilgrims that come here,” said Fr. Jonathan Kalisch, O.P, chaplain of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, to CNA Oct. 22.


For the complete story, go here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/hundreds-flock-to-us-shrine-to-celebrate-first-feast-of-st-john-paul-ii-11643/

Sunday, October 19, 2014

MEMORIAL MASS FOR MISCARRIED AND STILLBORN

The loss of a child before or at birth causes immense heartache. Mothers and fathers often silently suffer from this pain. But you do not have to suffer alone. 

Join us this Wednesday, October 22, at 7:00 PM, here at the church to heal and to pray for our children who left this world far too soon.

LOCATION: Sacred Heart Catholic Church

201 St. Mary’s Avenue La Plata, Maryland

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Send by a reader.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Fr. Daly Speaks on the Four Easy Steps on Hoow to Become A Bishop...

So I wonder if he is pointing to any of our current bishops in the Archdiocese with his article.  Seems he does not have much resepect for them. 

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The problem as I see it: the way bishops are groomed and chosen. Our bishops are chosen more for their connections than for their simplicity. They are often much more ecclesiastical careerists than they are pastors. In fact, very few of them have much (if any) actual parish experience.

Most of our bishops have been chancery office officials, seminary rectors, diplomats, professors, superiors of religious orders, and agency directors. They have worked in Vatican offices or in embassies, but they have not often been in parishes before they have been appointed bishop.

I have had three bishops in my time as a priest. Together, they had more than 150 years of service to the church following their ordinations. But together, they had only about three years combined of actual service in ordinary parish ministry. In other words, they had very little of the "smell of the sheep." They had been seminary rectors, priest secretaries to bishops and cardinals, fundraisers, and auxiliary bishops. Just no parish priests.

This does not mean that they were not pastoral men or didn't understand pastoral problems, at least in the abstract. After all, Pope Francis, as Fr. Jorge Bergoglio, did not have much pastoral experience. He was the rector of the Jesuits in Argentina. It was only when he became auxiliary bishop that he began to get immersed in ordinary parish life.

The problem is that our bishops do not know firsthand much of the ordinary things of parish life: baptizing babies; burying the dead; anointing the sick; teaching catechism; instructing converts; talking to troubled people; dealing with addicts, alcoholics, abusive spouses and failing marriages. They have not had to do the humdrum of parish life. I always say that everyone on our parish staff "cleans toilets," including me. They have not celebrated Mass every day in a community that knows your faults very well and is unimpressed with your office.

http://ncronline.org/blogs/parish-diary/four-easy-steps-take-become-bishop

Friday, October 10, 2014

Stupid Biden Quote of the Day

Actually, this one is more than just stupid, it is the type which damages to our relationships with other countries.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EMIRATES_US?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-10-05-15-39-58

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Eyewitness Account of a Miracle by Jesus?

Archivist and Historian Ignacio Perrucci, sorting through over 6,000 documents came across an unbelievable document.   

For more, go here: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/newly-found-document-holds-eyewitness-account-of-jesus-performing-miracle/

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Stupid Biden Quote of the Day

Speaking today in Joplin, Missouri, VIce President Joe Biden overstated the deaths there in the 2011 tornado by 160,839. There were oly 161.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/biden-overstates-deaths-joplin-missouri-tornado-160839_808538.html

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Update: Immigration Talk at St. Matthew's Cathedral on July 26th.


On July 26th, Mr. Kevin Appleby (formerly of the Maryland Catholic Conference) spoke at St. Matthew's Cathedral.  He is currently the Director of Migration Policy and Public Affairs at the USCCB.

Here is a first hand account from a particpant.  Thank you.

++++++++++++++++++++++

This is a series, and in this first talk, he focused on the biblical and papal injunctions to care for migrants and the view of the bishops on US immigration policy.

The facts on which the bishops were operating, as he described them, were largely CIR propaganda--we don't need more enforcement because Obama is already deporting more illegal aliens than any other President, the best way to stop illegal immigration is to admit them all legally, not allowing immigrants to bring their brothers, sisters, etc. is "separating families", etc.  He also claimed that most economists agree that over the long run immigrants are net contributors (he evidently was unaware of the Jordan Commission report).  He did admit that Americans without a high school degree were probably "hurt."

He said that there was "work to do" in getting many Catholics to understand all of this, although he admitted that during Mass might not be the best time.   This was the basis of my own question, which was, more or less:  "The opposition of myself and other Catholics I know to the pushing of CIR by the bishops is not our failure to understand the issues, but our doubts that the bishops are competent to take positions on complex issues such as which family members should be admitted, how best to deal with illegal aliens already here (the example I gave was giving them a 2-year work permit if they committed to return home versus offering them a "path to citizenship"), etc. He expected the bishops to remind us to show charity even to illegal immigrants, but they should stay out of the weeds of immigration policy.  
His response was that the bishops may not have time to become immigration policy experts but they had staff like himself who did and that the bishops intervened in other policy matters such as abortion laws.  I was not offered a rebuttal opportunity.


One woman politely questioned whether the policies he supported would make it harder for the black teenagers she worked with to get a good job.  I don't recall how he answered.

There were two "hostile" questions about why the Church was supporting "open borders," but the questioners were incoherent and didn't do us any favors.  The speaker asked "did someone send you here":  both said they had read about the meeting in their parish bulletins. He didn't ask me that question.

 There were a few softball questions.  One interesting question came from a woman, with a heavy Asian accent, who said she had overstayed her visa because she could make more money here than at home and wondered why she would not be eligible for legalization.  He misunderstood the question and didn't really answer it, so I intervened to inform her that visa overstayers would also be eligible for legalization.

    Everyone was very polite to me, but when I got up to leave I could see in the faces of many in the audience that I was the devil incarnate.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

You really have to wonder about Cardinal McCarrick....

Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick offered Islamic religious phrases and insisted that Islam shares foundational rules with Christianity, during a Sept. 10 press conference in D.C.
“In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate,” McCarrick said as he introduced himself to the audience at a meeting arranged by the Muslim Public Affairs Council. That praise of the Islamic deity is an important phrase in Islam, is found more than 100 times in the Koran, and is akin to the Catholic prayer, ”In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
McCarrick next claimed that “Catholic social teaching is based on the dignity of the human person… [and] as you study the holy Koran, as you study Islam, basically, this is what Muhammad the prophet, peace be upon him, has been teaching.”


Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/11/catholic-cardinal-mccarrick-embraces-islam/#ixzz3DLAPVdK3

Friday, September 12, 2014

RIP Truett Cathy - Founder of Chick-Fil-A

Earlier this week, it was reported that Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-Fil-A, passed away at the age of 93.

I discovered Chick-Fil-A a number of years ago by accident and fell in love with their product.  Each time I go into a Chick-Fil-A, I am always amazed at the following:

  • Cleanliness of the store
  • Quality of the product
  • Friendliness and courtesy shown by the staff
  • How nice everyone is who eats there -- never shouting, foul language, etc. 

Although we are of different faiths, Mr. Cathy upheld a certain moral stance that we as Catholics should look for and, when appropriate, work with groups such as this.  The amount of hate targeting him and his company, was outweighed a million times by those who bought his product. 

And so, I take this moment to say:

Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him/her.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
 
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

How to Obtain A Papal Blessing.

Ever go to someone's home and notice that they have a Papal Blessing to commemorate an anniversary, a birthday, etc.? 

Did you know that you can go directly to the Vatican to obtain one?  

If you are interested in learning more about this, please click here.

 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Msgr. Pope's Blog Posting Taken Down!

I am really not keeping up with things these days and missed this entirely...


But let me that I agree with Msgr. Pope (which will probably not makes things better for him).  Cardinal Dolan is wrong and Cardinal Wuerl should be ashamed of himself.  The gay crowd is celebrating this one. 

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From Brietbart News:

Monsignor Charles Pope put up a fiery response to Cardinal Timothy Dolan's decision to allow organized LGBTs to march in the Catholic St. Patrick's Day Parade next year. Just as quickly, the angry column was yanked by his superiors from the official website of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. 

Pope, a popular and well-connected priest, called for the end not just of the St. Patrick's Day Parade but the annual Al Smith Dinner, which is also the scene of anti-Catholic politicians being feted by the archbishop of New York and other New York Catholic swells.
Read the entire posting here:  http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/09/07/DC-Priest-Punished-for-Calling-for-End-to-Gay-St-Pat-s-Parade-in-New-York-City

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His blog was posted on Sept. 3rd and has been taken down.  As Msgr. Pope, a classmate of Bishop Knestout, has taken a vow of obedience to his bishop, he has posted the following:  http://blog.adw.org/2014/09/what-happened-to-the-st-patricks-parade-post/

It really is shameful that we continue to see this over and over with Cardinal Wuerl.  Only another two years to go.  Thank God!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Thank You Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC)! Now please quit your jobs!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC), the Justice for (Illegal) Maryland Immigrants and the Archdiocese of Washington. 

They, and those who have supported the illegal aliens entering the country, have just cost the taxpayers of Maryland an extra $68,000,000 of tax money to educate them.  This of course does not include the health care and other services to be provided.

When taxpayers are fleeing the State of Maryland due to higher taxes, and putting an extra burden on those who support Catholic education, there is only one thing that I can say to the Archdiocese of Washington: 

DISBAND THE MCC NOW!

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Why one D.C. church started ‘Nats Mass’

Fans who stream into the Navy Yard district before Nats games are now greeted with increasingly varied entertainment choices, from Yards Park for fresh air and views of the Anacostia River to the Fairgrounds for frat-rock music and adult refreshments to a variety of neighborhood restaurants and taverns, with more to come.
On Sunday afternoons this summer, they’ve had another option: a Catholic church service. Or, as the local St. Vincent de Paul church calls it, “Nats Mass.”
“For me, it was kind of a no-brainer,” said Rev. Andrew Royals, 34, a Montgomery County native who became the pastor at the South Capitol Street church about two years ago. “On game days we had thousands of people walking right in front of our church. I was like, ‘Well, I’m sure some of these people would like to go to church.’…And we thought there’s no reason people can’t do both.”
Read the rest of the article here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2014/08/24/why-one-d-c-church-started-nats-mass/
Hat tip to Deacon Greg @ http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Rest in Peace Deacon Conrad

Deacon Joseph Michael Conrad Jr., of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed away on August 8, 2014. He was 78 years old.

He and 22 other married men, after studying for two years, were ordained on September 11, 1971, in the first class of permanent deacons in the United States. His first assignment as a permanent deacon was at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Washington, D.C. Additional assignments included St. Joseph’s Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in New Orleans, Louisiana. His last assignment was at St. Luke Church under the Josephite Order, which was instrumental in ensuring that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a permanent deaconate program. In 2011 Deacon Conrad celebrated his 40th year serving as a permanent deacon.

For his complete obituary, please go here: http://www.josephites.org/parish-news/deacon-joseph-michael-conrad-jr-obituary/

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I did have the opportunity to meet Deacon Conrad and his wife on a couple of occasions over the years.  He was a quiet man but seemed to be a man of integrity and honesty.


Requiem Aeternam dona eis, Domine
R. et lux perpetua luceat eis:
Requiescant in pace. R. Amen.

 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Signs and Wonders Conference (Saturday, Aug. 23rd)


Washington University´s Gym, (125 Michigan Ave, NE, Washington DC).  Speakers: Fr. Dan Leary and Damian Stayne (founder of Cor et Lumen Christi Community).
 
Main Session: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Miracle Healing Service: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Conference cost: $20 (students/unemployed free). 
 
 
Now, I do not know of Mr. Stayne but I have heard Fr. Leary preach and I must say, he lays it on the line.  Excellent preacher. 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

NO to CCHD Collection This Weekend

This weekend will be the collection for CCHD/Communications.

As in the past, I urge you not to give.  Although things have gotten better on whom they donate to, many of us do not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet.

So, don't give.  And if you do decide to drop an envelope in, let them know that it is empty due to the issues w/ CCHD.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Another Stupid Biden Quote: The Nation of Africa

Another classic moment from the highest ranking elected Catholyc, Vice President Joe Biden. (I know I can write a book about his stupid and at times, racist comments. And people talk about Dan Quayle.)
'There's no reason the nation of Africa cannot and should not join the ranks of the world's most prosperous nations in the near term, in the decades ahead. There is simply no reason.'

Africa is made up of over 50 independent countries. 



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2717393/Gaffe-tastic-Joe-Biden-thinks-Africa-country-not-continent.html#ixzz39cbL8yEm

Toothbrushes for Cameroon -- Pro-Life Work in Action

The St. Rose of Lima Council (#14297) in Gaithersburg, MD led the coordination of councils from five (5) states to collect 10,000 toothbrushes for children in the Republic of Cameroon.  A member of the St. Martin de Porres Council (#9386 Washington DC) personally delivered them to Cameroon.

Congratulations on a job well done.  Another example of pro-life work in action.

(taken from Columbia Magazine  - March 2014)

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Pro-Life in Action by the KofC of Fr. Peter Paul Maher Counci #6793

Congratulations to the Knights of Columbus of Fr. Peter Paul Maher Council (#6793) who assisted the widow of a brother knight move into a new assisted living facility.  Two trucks and two vans worth of materials were moved in one afternoon.

Congratulations on your Pro-Life Work!

(reported in the Columbia Magazine -- March 2014)

Saturday, July 26, 2014

MCC = EPIC FAIL AGAIN

Well, as is normally the case, the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is falling in line with the radical left regarding ILLEGAL ALIENS.

It seems that the new approach will be to call them refugees.  In that manner, then can get in much easier.  

No, these are not refugees.  And the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is really insulting those who have come as refugees, such as those fleeing Vietnam after the fall, Cambodia, the Sudan, etc.

Once again, I call for the closure of the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) and do not give the the CCHD donation in August.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Let the USCCB Know You Do Not Support ILLEGAL ALIENS

The USCCB has decided, it seems, to take the tact of supporting the Obama administration on mess they (Obama adinistration) created with the huge influx of ILLEGAL ALIENS.   Note that this is the same administration that is willing to put the screws to the Catholic Church over health care, abortion, gay marriage, etc.

In order to defend their stance, Keivn Appleby (formerly of the Maryland Catholic Conference) will be speaking at St. Matthew's Cathedral (1725 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036) on Saturday, July 26th at 9am in the North Conference Room.    Mr. Appleby is currently the  Director of Migration Policy and Public Afairs at the USCCB.

If you OPPOSE ILLEGAL ALIENS entering the US, then this is your chance to let him know.

Go there.

Be Polite.

State Your Case.

Let them know that you are unhappy and may withhold donations.

 

Friday, July 18, 2014

Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) = EPIC FAIL

As usual, the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is on the side of ILLEGAL ALIENS.

There most recent propaganda statement makes no mention that:


  • These youth and adults have entered the country ILLEGALLY
  • That there are MS-13 and other gang members coming through
  • That US Government is not defending our borders
  • That they are siding with the same government that is willing to force them to violate their faith.
  • That the US Bishops are willing to take $$$ from the federal government to help house and protect those who have violated our laws.
  • That this will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars to house, educate, medicate ILLEGAL ALIENS and instead of putting the $$ into our churches and schools, our churches and schools will close.

THE MCC NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN AND ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES FIRED!

Friday, July 11, 2014

Mustard Seed Project


For the last few months, I have received an email from John Naughton and Project Mustard Seed.  I keep meeting to write about this pro-life effort but always something keeps me from doing it.  This month, I have included the entire note.

If you can, please do.  If you can't, then please pray for an end to abortion.

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Hello,

Please consider joining thousands in the Mustard Seed Project by sending a letter each month to a designated corporation asking them to stop supporting Planned Parenthood, the world's largest abortion provider.

There is a sample letter for July 2014 below. You can use the sample letter or selected parts of the letter. Or you can write your own letter.

You can save your letter to use again next month; just change the addressee and date. Or, since new facts about PP are provided periodically, you may want to update your letter. It doesn't take long.

If you would like your letter to be considered for the August 2014 Project Mustard Seed, please send it to me.

Please remember to always keep the tone of your letter respectful and polite.

Use Google to view issues of “Abortuary Digest” highlighting PP’s operational problems.


The letter recipient for July 2014 is: GANNETT. Operations: advertising/marketing (Clipper, Jaxxon Promotions, Planet Discover, Ripple6, Spencer), broadcasting (cable/satellite: Captivate Network, television), graphics/imaging/printing, internet (products/services: Clipper, PointRoll, websites), publishing (catalogs/guides/specialty/trade, magazines, newspapers: USA Today, USA Weekend).

Please write to:
Ms. Gracia C. Martore,President & CEO
Gannett Co. Inc.
7950 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, VA 22107
www.gannett.com

Gannett has been on The Boycott List for a number of years. We last wrote to them in June 2004. Let’s remind them that we have not forgotten their support of Planned Parenthood. Please see their website for a complete list of all of their publications.
Thank you!
____________________________________________________________
July 2014

Ms. Gracia C. Martore
President & CEO
Gannett Co. Inc.
7950 Jones Branch Dr.
McLean, VA 22107

Dear Ms. Martore,

I am writing to ask you to reconsider your support of Planned Parenthood. I have become aware of the fact that your corporation is on the list for a pro-life boycott by Life Decisions International.

I am certain that your company gives donations to many causes and that you personally may not always be involved in the choices that are made.

I am asking to you stop your company's support of Planned Parenthood for several reasons, the most important being that abortions take the lives of innocent human beings.

This letter contains information about which you should be aware as we all want to know how our donations are used. . According to its annual reports, PP performs over 330,000 abortions annually and gives awards to PP facilities that exceed their quotas for doing abortions, and they do not do mammograms.

There are other reasons that Planned Parenthood does not need your support. As a "non profit" it has received billions in taxpayers’ funds over its history. Moreover, Planned Parenthood has been audited in several states, including California, New Jersey and New York and has been found to have overbilled for its services. In one audit, the overbilling was $630,000. PP settled a fraud suit with Texas for 4.3 million dollars.

Abortion injures women in many ways, but these injuries are denied by Planned Parenthood.

• 31% report suffering physical health complications.
• 10% suffer immediate, potentially life-threatening complications.
• Women have a 65% higher risk of clinical depression following abortion vs. childbirth.
• 65% of women suffer symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after abortion.
• Women’s death rates from various causes are 3.5 times higher than after giving birth.
• Many women describe their experience as “a nightmare”, which can hardly be equated with “choice.” 60% of women surveyed after abortion responded that “Part of me died.”
• Suicide rates among women who have had abortions are six times higher than those who give birth.
• Abortion increases a woman’s risk of future miscarriages by 60%.
• A single abortion increases the risk of breast cancer by up to 44% and is even higher for multiple abortions.

Also, the organization Live Action for the last six years has done investigative reporting using undercover videos of Planned Parenthood supporting child sexual abuse, racism, deceptive counseling, sex-trafficking, false advertising, fraud and sex-selection abortions. Recently, Live Action videotaped a PP employee instructing a 15-year-old girl in S&M sex. Google 'Live Action Launches Campaign to Defund Planned Parenthood after Documenting Years of Abuse' and scroll down to see some of the videos. Google 'Planned Parenthood Exposed' to see the S&M video.

Some poll findings:
86% say abortion should be illegal in the last three months of pregnancy. PP objects to banning these abortions, which are very painful to the baby.
83% say there should be more restrictions on abortion. PP vigorously objects to any restrictions.
77% support banning sex-selection abortions. PP actively lobbies to stop any attempt to ban sex-selection abortions. A sex-selection abortion is the killing of a baby girl just because she is a girl. Personally, I wonder at those who call all this “a war on women.” There is some logic missing here. These are baby women we are discussing.
71% support notifying a parent of a minor’s abortion. PP actively lobbies to prevent children from notifying parents. Their latest (May 30, 2013) is a suit to overturn a Montana law.
71% say abortion should be illegal in the second three months of pregnancy. PP objects to banning these painful abortions.

PP’S OPPOSITION TO SAFETY FOR WOMEN
Planned Parenthood vehemently opposed a new Michigan law that requires women to be screened to help prevent coercive abortions, require aborted babies to be buried or cremated and abortuaries to be licensed and inspected.

License/inspection requirements include:
• Patient welfare should be the number one priority;
• Facility should be kept clean and sanitary;
• A qualified physician shall be present and in authority.

No one who considers the safety of women among their priorities would oppose this law, but PP did. The PP abortuary in St. Louis has had 23 emergencies where women required an ambulance to transport them to the hospital.

The PP abortuary in Wilmington, Delaware had four (4) emergencies in the first two months of 2013 and was forced to clean the abortuary filth and train its workers.

Tonya Reaves was denied immediate hospitalization and died from four hours of hemorrhaging in the PP abortuary in Chicago.

Calls were made to PP abortuaries in seven states about their emergencies—they all denied any emergencies.

For moral, ethical and financial reasons I again ask you to refrain from supporting Planned Parenthood. If you don’t believe the information about PP in this letter, I suggest you may wish to do your own research. Thank you for reading my letter and for considering not contributing to Planned Parenthood.

Very truly yours,

Sunday, July 6, 2014

First St. Ann's School and now...

Last month, St. Ann's School closed.  

Now, a parishioner has told me that there are rumors abounding of the closing of the parish.  It seems that there are simply not enough parishioners to keep it going.   

Let us pray that it is kept open.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Marginalizing Catholic Teach via Soros, Stryker and GIll

Fr. Z, points out that there are three key billionares who are doing everything they can to attack and discredit the Roman Catholic Church.    Some of these groups have been written about on this blog.

Crisis Magazine has an excellent article on these men and how they fund Catholyc front groups, to do their bidding:

George Soros’ Open Society Institute is most often blamed for attempting to neutralize the abortion issue for Catholics by donating large amounts of money to progressive organizations like Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to promote pro-choice politicians. Yet the recent attack on San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Codileone by Faithful America demonstrates that the real assault on the teaching authority of the Catholic Church is now coming from two gay billionaires—Tim Gill and Jon Stryker—who are doing everything they can to discredit Church teaching on sexual morality by directly attacking the Magisterium.

To read the entire article, go here: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2014/marginalizing-magisterium-one-grant-time

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Yes, I am still alive...

Yes, I know I have not posted in a while, but things have been busy at work and with the nicer weather, I have attempted to be outside a little more.

Have not forgotten all of you and hopefully, you have not forgotten me.

Please keep me in your weekly prayers and I will keep you in mine.


Monday, May 26, 2014

Pro-Abortion/ProGay Marriage Politician Honarary Chair of San Miguel School Fundraiser

My friend (Thank you Melvin) received a request to support the San Miguel School Annual Scholarship Benefit on June 19th at the Congressional Country Club.   Now, it is a good school with a a great mission.

When he opened it up, he comes to find that Councilmember Muriel Bowser (DC) is one of the Honorary Chairs, with Msgr. Enzler and the Honorable Maria Otero.

Now, what is a pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage politician doing on as an Honorary Chair of a religious school fundraiser?    Does the San Miguel administration know this?  (It only took me a couple of "google" searches to find this information.)  Do they care?

Once again, we have another example of how we as Catholics are selling out our own values/beliefs for a couple of dollars.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Drone On!!!

The procession had an ancient vibe: Dozens of priests in white robes, leading hundreds more Catholics in a solemn procession through Northeast Washington. People chanted and sang prayers from the 3rd century, asking saints through Christianity’s history for help.

Hovering over it all was a drone.

The Archdiocese of Washington debuted its new, hubcap-sized flying device on Mother’s Day, using it to videotape crowds participating in a procession marking the canonizations of popes John Paul II and John the 23rd (now called St. John Paul II and St. John the 23rd). The video images captured by the drone-mounted camera were used in a YouTube mashup the archdiocese made, mixing soaring classical music and scenes from an earlier indoor Mass.

Click here to read the entire article:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washington-archdiocese-tries-out-its-new-drone-to-film-sainthood-procession/2014/05/19/c25b0876-dd41-11e3-bda1-9b46b2066796_story.html

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

The Author of The Exorcist Gets a Response from the Vatican

Last September, William Peter Blatty, the author of The Exorcist and an alumnus of Georgetown University, sent a canonical petition to the Vatican, requesting that the Church “require that Georgetown implement Ex Corde Ecclesiae, a papal constitution governing Catholic colleges.”

“Your communications to this dicastery in the matter of Georgetown University … constitute a well-founded complaint,” wrote Archbishop Zani. “Our congregation is taking the issue seriously and is cooperating with the Society of Jesus in this regard.”

Read more:
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/holy-see-responds-to-william-peter-blattys-canon-law-petition-for-georgetow/#ixzz31dNKwQzv

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Tired of letting the liberal politicians in Annapolis decide for you? Were you steamed up about the passing of the Fairness for All Marylanders Act aka The Bathroom Bill.

Here is your chance to help get it on the ballot this November and let the people of Maryland decide:

http://www.mdpetitions.com/

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

STOP SB 212 - The Bathroom Bill

Tired of letting the liberal politicians in Annapolis decide for you?  Were you steamed up about the passing of the Fairness for All Marylanders Act aka The Bathroom Bill.

Here is your chance to help get it on the ballot this November and let the people of Maryland decide:

http://www.mdpetitions.com/

Friday, April 25, 2014

Former CEO of St. Luke's Institute Found Guilty of Fraud and heading to Jail...but not from St. Luke's

The one-time top-ranking priest in the Diocese of Manchester, the Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Arsenault III, was sentenced to four years in New Hampshire State Prison Wednesday by a judge who urged him to do good in prison.
In 2009, Arsenault took a $170,000-a-year position as CEO of St. Luke’s, a rehab center in Silver Spring, Md., that became known for treating priests who had sexually abused children. The center deals primarily with priests, nuns and brothers who have a range of other issues, such as depression, anxiety and addictive behaviors. St. Luke’s conducted an internal investigation and found no evidence of fraud while Arsenault was there.

For more information, please go to Feb 2014 story by the Religious News Service  and the April 24, 2014 story by the New Hampshire Union Leader. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

True Marriage and Support of Non-Public Schools does not matter to Justice and Advocacy Council of Montgomery County

It seems that the the Justice and Advocacy Council of Montgomery County will hold a forum with four candidates who are running for MoCo Exec on Wednesday, April 23rd.

They plan on covering the following topics:

Questions will focus on:
1) budget competition for scarce resources;
2) vision for regional cooperation and displacement due to Purple Line;
3) affordable housing;
4) workforce issues;

5)funding for mental health.

But no where do I see questions about ensuring regulation of abortion clinics?  How about support for True Marriage?  An ending to harassment of pro-life clinics? How about tax credits or funding for non-public schools?  

I mean, can't Msgr. John Enzler, President and CEO of Catholic Charities/DC and the Council get the answers to the budget, affordable housing, funding for mental health at other forums.  

Seems they don't want to really ask the hard questions regarding how their policies fit with the Catholic faith.  

They might as well advocate the voting for these clowns and stop wasting time and resources.  No wonder why Catholics are not respected by politicians. 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Typical Liberal Hypocracy


According to CNS:  
Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, reported an adjusted gross income of $407,009 in 2013, from which they contributed 5% to charity, or a total of $20,523, according to their 2013 income tax return, which was released by the White House on Friday.

Among that charity-total — $20,523 – a sum of $15,300 was royalties earned from Jill Biden’s 2012 children’s book, Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops. Excluding those book royalties, the Bidens’ charitable contributions of $5,223 equaled 1.2% of their income.

This is an increase, as he usually gives 0.2%.   

For a man who talks a great deal about compassion, you would think that the would be donating more.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Legion of Christ North American Director from Maryland

Maryland-born priest Father John Connor, L.C., has been named the head of the Legion of Christ’s territory of North America.

Fr. Connor was born on Feb. 15, 1968, in Severna Park, Md, the Legion of Christ website says. He entered the Legion of Christ’s novitiate in September 1991 in Roetgen, Germany. He was ordained a priest in January 2001 in Rome. He has a degree in business administration from Maryland’s Loyola University.

For the full story, go to:  http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/legion-of-christ-names-new-north-american-head/

Friday, April 11, 2014

Should US Catholics Continue to Donate for Free Healthcare?

The Catholic Standard, in this week's edition, contains an article focusing on those honored during the Rose Mass.  The Rose Mass is the opportunity to pray for and thank, all of those who are involved in the health care field.  After the Rose Mass, a number of those in the medical field were honored for their work at the Spanish Center.

With the passage of the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHA) or Obamacare, and the ability of ANYONE who wants insurance (including illegal aliens, prisoners, etc.), do we still need to maintain FREE (or at minimal cost) health care clinics funded by Catholic donations.  Remember, the USCCB and the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) supported AHA.

So, my question is:  Why are we (Catholics) continuing to support free healthcare provide by the Catholic Church?  Should we take those $$ and use it to fund education or other activities?

Saturday, April 5, 2014

The scandal that is eating the heart out of the Catholic Church in America

Today we have a guest blogger, a native of the Archdiocese of Washington, Fr.  Vincent Fitzpatrick.  Fr. Vincent is a retired priest of the Diocese of Fargo.

Here is the text of Canon 915: “Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion.”

Several American bishops have made statements to the effect that a bishop must exercise “discretion” regarding whether to “impose the penalty” of denial of Communion. Among them: Chaput, Dolan, O’Malley, and Wuerl.

All bishops who refuse to “impose the penalty” are participating in a lie. Namely, that denial of Communion is a penalty.

Denial of Communion is NOT a penalty.

To read his thoughts in the entirety, please click here: http://www.all.org/article/index/id/MTM1OTA/

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Shades of Soylent Green?

Many of us were shocked by a report from The Telegraph on what they were doing to aborted and miscarried babies...

The bodies of thousands of aborted and miscarried babies were incinerated as clinical waste, with some even used to heat hospitals, an investigation has found.

Ten NHS trusts have admitted burning foetal remains alongside other rubbish while two others used the bodies in ‘waste-to-energy’ plants which generate power for heat.
Last night the Department of Health issued an instant ban on the practice which health minister Dr Dan Poulter branded ‘totally unacceptable.’
 
At least 15,500 foetal remains were incinerated by 27 NHS trusts over the last two years alone, Channel 4’s Dispatches discovered.
 
The programme, which will air tonight, found that parents who lose children in early pregnancy were often treated without compassion and were not consulted about what they wanted to happen to the remains.


So my question to you is: What do you think the done with the aborted fetus' from Planned Parenthood and other aboriton clinics? 

They may not be used for food but could the process of incineration of these babies be used for heating?  

I don't have an answer but a friend of mine who is deeply involved in the pro-life movement, would not be suprised.

What are you thoughts? 


*Some of you may remember the movie Soylent Green with Charlton Heston and Edward G. Robinson. The bottom line is that we learn, in the hear 2022,  that a new food source (Soylent Green) is made from recently deceased humans.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Stupid Biden Quotes...

Once again, we bring you another stupid quote from the highest elected "Catholyc" in the United States: Vice President Joe Biden. I tell you, he is the gift that keeps on giving.

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When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened." 

Joe Biden, apparently unaware that FDR wasn't president when the stock market crashed in 1929 and that only experimental TV sets were in use at that time.

Interview with Katie Couric, Sept. 22, 2008

Monday, March 17, 2014

On this St. Patrick's Day...

On this St. Patrick's Day, I have heard that Guinness and Sam Adams will drop sponsorship, respectively,  of the NYC and Boston St. Patrick's Day parades.  Again, what we see is that we have move away from tolerance to outright acceptance or else be destroyed.

I saw this and decided to re post it, because it is so true.






Friday, March 14, 2014

St. Ann's Academy to Close at the End of the School Year

It was just reported in the Catholic Standard that St. Ann's Academy will  "suspend" (read close) at the end of the school year, due to low enrollment.

I had heard that they were below 200 students about 2 years ago, but did not know how bad it was.  Don't know what type of options the parents and the pastor were given, but the story was kept under wraps very well. 

It is very sad to hear this, esp. since I believe a Catholic education -- a good solid alternative to the current public school system.   Once a school closes, the chance of it opening up is slim to none.

http://www.cathstan.org/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubsectionID=21&ArticleID=5978