Catholic Standard Review (Feb. 21, 2019)

Well, I am very late on this review, but due to work (a very nasty habit -- just kidding), I was unable to get around to a review of the Catholic Standard.  So here are a couple of take aways...

• The Editor's Notebook highlights the fact that the Archdiocese of Washington will now have a Director of Digital Media.
• We have a Catholic News Service (CNS) story about McCarrick being removed from the clerical state.  It does mention that he has been living at a Capuchin friary in Kansas since September 2018.  Although it does not mention where he now, we can safely assume that he is still there.  No mention of (1) who is paying for this and (2) of Pope Francis' rehabilitation of him a few years ago.
• We have a Catholic Standard story on McCarrick but makes no mention of Cardinal Wuerl's passing along a report of sexual abuse to the Papal Nuncio years before. We also have no mention of where he (McCarrick) is staying or who is paying for it.  It just rehashes the known.  Interesting how those facts are not mentioned.
• There is a CNS story on the Vatican Abuse Sumit (Page 5) but there is no mention of homosexual bishops and priests, and there abuse of seminarians and young men. All of this started with McCarrick and now the message seems to be: "There is nothing to see here, folks."  There are also really no solutions presented.  To be expected. 
• We see that there is a "Engaging the Mission" workshop for parish leaders on March 16th.  Wonder if there will be any sessions on the abuse in the church by priests and bishops and the cover up by the bishops.  
• We have an article on how the Archdiocese won a $10K grant dealing with diversity and the fact that Imacculee Ilibagiza spoke at St. Andrew's the Apostle on the Rwanda Genocide.  I am sorry I missed the talk.
• We see that the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is fighting the End of Life Option Act.  
• A CNS story on Lent and the church crisis.  One of the interesting things about this is that it includes a comment by the former head of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.  The LCWR has resisted and remains silent on the abuse by nuns, against other nuns and the laity.  
• We have an article on how people are attempting to support Holy Family School in Hyattsville, MD.  I think that is great but how come some of the money that is given to Christo Rey HS, cannot be given to them?  I mean it is apx. $5million spend of CRHS.
• There is a rather lackluster article on supporting the Appeal.  Restates much of what we have heard before.  My recommendation is:  Don't Give.  When it hurts the pocketbook, is when they will really notice the anger.
• There is a two page article on Jubilee Religious Anniversaries.  Did you notice that of the seven women religious, the two who did not have a profile picture were the one's in habits?   However, let us congratulate the two consecrated women of Regnum Christi.  

Well, that's if folks.  Let me know what you think.

An Now, Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio...responds to LCWR

Now, one thing I can say is at least in this instance NPR allowed Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio to respond to the interview w/ LCWR's Sr. Pat.  

The only problem I had, was that the NPR person, simply would not stay on the subject.  

Why?  Because he, in a very calm voice and with a great deal of reasoning, decimated Sr. Pat's answers.

You listen to the NPR interview.

LCWR on NPR

A few days ago, I listened to the interview by NPR of St. Pat Farrell, President of LCWR.

Now, before I offer my observations, a couple of things...

1.  I am not for or against NPR.  However, I do believe that if NPR wishes to exist, then they should do so w/o government funding.

2.  I listened a couple of days ago, so I may not remember every little detail.

3.  I am commenting upon this because their offices are in downtown Silver Spring, in the "heart" so to speak of the Archdiocese of Washington.  Now, Cardinal Wuerl has no jurisdiction over them, so my comments are not directed to him.

4.  My comments are not directed to all LCWR members -- only at the leadership.

So, what did I think regarding the interview with Sr. Pat Farrell.

• Likes to play LCWR as the victim, as she claims that they were unaware of any "investigation."  you mean that you had no inkling about this investigation which took place over four (4) years?
• Does not take any responsibility for past actions, as their were different elected representatives and therefore, each new group is not responsible for the actions of the past officials.  Having been part of various professional associations, those who move into positions of leadership have usually worked their way up, and have had some sort of say on how the organization is run. 
• The bishops are scared of LCWR and the women who run it.  She seems to be a bit arrogant to me. Seems that she likes the "power" she and her group wields and does not want to let it go. 
• Sr. does not answer the questions when posed, as to support of contraception, abortion, etc.  Likes to say that we must be open to listening, in regards to the various voices and changes in society.  Sounds like she doesn't support the Church's teachings.
• If women were in positions of authority, then the pedophile issue would never have taken place.  Maybe LCWR should come clean about the abuse of children by various orders over the years, and not ignore the issue.  Maybe a little arrogance there?

What do you think?

LCWR Update

Rocco over at Whispher in the Loggia has an update on the LCWR Meeting in Rome, as well as, the response form LCWR. 

Although LCWR leadership will not do any interviews, you can bet that their associates (like NETWORK, VOTF, Call to Action) will be banging the drums and getting publicity regarding this "War Against Poor, Helpless, Defenseless Nuns." 

LCWR: A Reality Check

The way the Washington Post and others are describing it, the Vatican is going after every elderly nun who taught, worked in a school or even changed bedpans. 

That is not the case.

Let's here from Bishop Blair, who conducted the Doctrinal Assessment.

What the CDF is concerned about, as I indicated, is the particular organization known as the LCWR. Its function, responsibilities and statutes were all originally approved by the Holy See, to which it remains accountable. While it is true that the member communities of the LCWR represent most of the religious sisters in the United States, that does not mean that criticism of the LCWR is aimed at all the member religious communities, much less all sisters.

The word “investigation” is often used to describe the work that I carried out on behalf of the CDF. “Investigation” suggests an attempt to uncover things that might not be known. In reality, what the CDF commissioned was a doctrinal “assessment,” an appraisal of materials which are readily available to anyone who cares to read them on the LCWR website and in other LCWR published resources. The assessment was carried out in dialogue with the LCWR leadership, both in writing and face-to-face, over several months.

The fundamental question posed to the LCWR leadership as part of the assessment was simply this: What are the Church’s pastors to make of the fact that the LCWR constantly provides a one-sided platform—without challenge or any opposing view—to speakers who take a negative and critical position vis-a-vis Church doctrine and discipline and the Church’s teaching office?

To read his reasons, please go here: http://www.catholicchronicle.org/index.php/Statements/reality-check-the-lcwr-cdf-and-the-doctrinal-assessment.html

LCWR Gets Support...and it is a doozy!

So, let me say this up front:  I am very greatful for those women who enter religious life. 

However, it is important to note who stands in solidarity w/ LCWR leadership and the wackyness:

• Voice of the Faithful
• Call to Action
• Women's Ordination Council
• Dignity USA
• CORPUS
• and others...

They have banded together under the banner of Nun Justice Project.  (A really great radical left name...got to give it to the lefties...they really know how to come up with names.)

All of these are groups not faithful to the Catholic Church.  I have documented VOTF, CORPUS and Call to Action before.  DignityUSA is a pro-homosexual group.  Women's Ordination Council speaks for itself.

It would be funny, if it was not so sad.

Canon Lawsuit Against GTown University...How can you help?

GTown alum William Peter Blatty and the Father King Society are calling upon all alum, students, teachers, and other affiliated w/ GTown, to join the join them.  They are asking for the Vatican to ensure that GTown is Catholic:

Georgetown University’s twenty-one year refusal to comply fully with the law of the Church through the implementation of the general norms of Ex corde Ecclesiae and its eleven year non-compliance with certain particular norms adopted for the United States, which has led directly and indirectly to the tolerance and promotion of deviations from authentic doctrinal and moral teachings by Georgetown University authorities and a long series of Scandals to the faithful through actions inconsistent with a Catholic identity.


This request for intervention may even include the suspension or revocation of GTown as Catholic.

Here is the Link:  http://www.gupetition.org/


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In other news, it seems that the communities which make up LCWR are voting to determine to become independent or to remain as is, under the auspicies of the Vatican. 

Those Wild and Wacky LCWR Leaders...

There are a couple of blogs that I read on a regular basis, such as the Curt Jester.

Well, he linked in his blog (from someone else) about those wild and wacky LCWR leaders, who invited someone to give the keynote.  They decided to invite Barbara Marx Hubbard.  According to her biography:

she received an honorary PhD in Conscious Evolution from the Giordano Bruno GlobalShift University. She has established a Chair in Conscious Evolution at Wisdom University and is member of many progressive organizations, including Evolutionary Leaders Group, Global New Thought (AGNT), as well as, The World Future Society.

That should be enough for anyone to ask about the LCWR Leadership:  WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?  

But, if not, you can go to her website and read more:  http://www.barbaramarxhubbard.com/site/

Ignorance in DC: Washington comPost & Melinda Hennebeger

As usual, the WaCompost gets it wrong on the Catholic faith with today's story by M. Henneger.

First, I am not certain what the snide "SANTA MARIA" addition did to her story, other than to set the tone that this is just a hatchet job.

In regards to SSPX. This is an issue which has been worked on for a number of years. SSPX is much more than Bishop Williamson, just as the Catholic Church in Chicago is much more than Fr. Pfleger.

But you got to love the tone of the article (more like a hack job to me, but what do you expect from the WaCompost these days): "cracking down" " "who as one of my fellow Catholics noted over a cup of unconsecrated wine." "the Inquisition" and "a forced reform."

Does she mention that most of the orders (not all) who are part of LCWR are failing because they have moved away from being "traditional" and looking to find their own way. Nope.

Does she mention that those orders which are more traditional are the ones experiencing a surge of new members. Nope.

And regarding schools and hospitals. Tell me, Ms. Henneberger, how many schools and hospitals have you been to which are staffed by large numbers of nuns, like they were 60 or 70 years ago. mmmm? Most are staffed by lay persons. Ignorance.

The best part, which shows her true IGNORANCE, on scandal is that the LCWR has done whatever it can to put off/squash any investigation into abuse of children (sexual, physical or mental) by American nuns/sisters.

I could go on and on about this hack job but I have other things to do.

What this article once again shows is that the Washington comPost is out of touch with Catholicism and deserves to go under. Ms. Henneberger should stick to her leftist politics and do what she can to prop up the failing Most Miserable Barack Obama.

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Link to the Washington comPost Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/the-instructive-timing-of-the-crackdown-on-nuns/2012/04/19/gIQAbCPKUT_blog.html

It is about time...Reform of LCWR To Begin!

Citing doctrinal problems, Vatican announces reforms of US nuns' group

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Citing "serious doctrinal problems which affect many in consecrated life," the Vatican announced a major reform of an association of women's religious congregations in the U.S. to ensure their fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women's ordination and homosexuality.

"While there has been a great deal of work on the part of LCWR promoting issues of social justice in harmony with the church's social doctrine, it is silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively public debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States," the doctrinal congregation said. "Further, issues of crucial importance in the life of the church and society, such as the church's biblical view of family life and human sexuality, are not part of the LCWR agenda in a way that promotes church teaching."The Vatican also found that "public statements by the LCWR that disagree with or challenge positions taken by the bishops, who are the church's authentic teachers of faith and morals, are not compatible with its purpose."

For more, go the CNS: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1201584.htm

Sr. Joan Chittister is having a fit over this. Please don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Catholic Sisters in America Exhibit

In this week's Catholic Standard, we read an article about an exhibit at the Smithsonian International Gallery on Catholic Sisters in America.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). You may have read about them here, but much more on them has been covered on Fr. Z's blog.

The author, Laura Wright, says the following:

Many of the older photographs depict sisters wearing habits, while the majority of the modern-day sisters are not wearing a habit. This is potentially misleading because of the large number of women religious who still don the habit.

How true this is and a good insight (congrats Ms. Wright).

The article goes on to say that Sr. Mary Dacy (former President of LCWR) stated "that the same number of people think the habit made it difficult to relate with the sisters." In addition, she later states that "the exhibit will help people realize some sisters don't wear habits anymore."

That is because most of the membership of LCWR is composed of sisters who do not wear habits. In fact, many of them do not even wear a religious symbol on their clothing. Further, many of the LCWR orders are not growing. The majority are shrinking. It is the orders who wear habits which are increasing. (Yes, it is not because of the habits but something much more.)

In fact, whenver I see a sister in a habit, I always make it a point of going over and asking if they are in need of assistance.