A Guest Blogger on the situation at the National Shrine...

I normally do not let others write pieces for my blog.  I think, but I would have to check, I did it only once in the 13 years I have been posting.  

Given the fact that +Gregory and +Bambera whitewashed the entire Msgr. Rossi investigation, I thought that I should give someone, who had an inside view, a chance to let us know, about some of the "characters," who are part of the inside circle.

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


Alexandra Thurman, is called a "Daughter of the Shrine."  She is an consummate insider and always seems to be where the action is.  

She has volunteered for over five (5) years and has seen many of the misdeeds of Msgr. Rossi.

So we have to ask ourselves:  

• What is she hiding on his behalf?  
• How does she afford to go on 'fancy trips to Rome with Monsignor Rossi' and the other priests at the Shrine. 
• What makes this volunteer so special that she gets all these perks that other volunteers don't?  
• Is this a case of Msgr. Rossi using his position to reward those who are loyal to him. 

In a conversation with a shrine source, she bragged arrogantly that "Monsignor Rossi knows who is loyal to him in the building." 

She was also aware of the two guards who stole from the collection boxes, that pilgrims from far and wide give to those less fortunate than ourselves. 

She should not be considered a Daughter of the Shrine.  

She is an enabler of Msgr. Rossi, like many others.  She is a con-woman, lying to the rest of us for her own selfish reasons.

What +Gregory has time for and no time for.

+Gregory posted on twitter (January 7th) that he had spent a few hours visiting the African-American Museum.  

Now, I have nothing wrong with him visiting the museum.  

However, I do have an issue, and I let him know that via Twitter.

How can he spend time visiting the museum but has not had any time in the last five (5) months to even mention, the investigation of Msgr. Rossi at the Shrine.

Of course, there was no response.  

You claimed that you would be open but you have not.  

For shame.  

I guess they have no shame...

Well, it seems that the US Ambassador to the Vatican gave a speech on the 35th anniversary of the formalization of relations between the US and the Vatican.   

Guess who was in attendance?  

If you guessed +Wuerl and Msgr. Rossi, then you go the head of the line.  Guess Msgr. Rossi is back from his vacation in Italy.

I guess some people have no shame.

In addition, speaking of no shame, how does a 

• non-liacized Catholic priest;
• who is married to another man;
• and is a member of the Episcopal Church; 

 serve on the marriage tribunal in the Diocese of Wilmington (DE)?  
Well then, you will have to read George Neumayr's latest article on "Bishop Bambera and the Jack Anderson Scandal."

George Neumayer encounters Matthew Riedlinger (Msgr Rossi's Buddy)

George Neumayer writes:

One of the appalling figures at the center of the Monsignor Walter Rossi scandal is Matthew Riedlinger. A former priest nabbed by police during an underage sting operation, he used to live at Rossi’s Atlantic City beach condo. He was even registered to vote there and to this day gets mail at the condo, according to a mailman with whom I spoke last year. I have previously reported the allegations from well-informed sources within the D.C. archdiocese about him and Rossi: that they were once sexual partners, that Rossi pulled strings with the rapist Theodore McCarrick to make his absurdly checkered boyfriend a priest in the diocese of Trenton (where McCarrick’s crony from seminary days, John M. Smith, served as bishop at the time), that Rossi most egregiously introduced Riedlinger to Catholic University students upon whom he preyed, and that Rossi played a role in trying to suppress the Riedlinger scandal after the freshly minted priest got popped for sending over 1,000 obscene texts to a cop posing as a 16-year-old.

To read the entire story and to view the video, click here.


Remember to sign the petition asking CUA President Garvey to investigate Msgr. Rossi and for him (Msgr. Rossi) to step down.  As of this writing, there are about 500 signers.  Let's get a couple of thousand!

 

Archbishop Wilton Gregory Needs to Come Clean

In an interview with the Catholic Standard, Archbishop Wilton Gregory said the following:

Archbishop Gregory: “I was very, very fortunate. I was appointed a bishop as a very young man, probably by today’s standards too young. But one of the great graces that God gave me was my 10 years with Cardinal Joseph Bernardin who was the archbishop, who obviously had suggested to Pope John Paul II that appointing a young auxiliary would be something that he would both want and he would use effectively for the care of the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and (he) shaped and formed me. He gave me a great example of equilibrium, of the ability to identify with people. I have said this on more than one occasion, he never lost the common touch.For the first year and a half, I was one of his emcees, and I just marveled at how this man could enter into a parish and within five minutes he was talking to everybody, and people felt close to him. I marveled at his ability to reconcile sometimes very divergent opinions, and to model a level of charity and joy that remained with me (as) a great example.”

So, the question I pose to Bishop Gregory is:  

• Did you know about Cardinal Bernadin's homosexual assaults and behavior?  
• Did you know about the fact that an allegation was made against him in the early 1990s?  
• If you did know, why did you not say anything?

In addition, there are questions about Msgr. Rossi that Archbishop Wilton needs to answer. 

If you get to see the Archbishop, maybe you can ask him the questions?

 

National Shrine Scandal

On Friday, Deacon Greg Kendra at The Deacon's Bench posted the above photo. This photo, taken at the memorial Mass for Archbishop Sambi on Sept. 14, 2011 by CNS/Leslie E. Kossoff, shows Vice President Joseph Biden receiving Holy Communion from Msgr. Rossi at the National Shrine.

Over at the Deacon's Bench there was a great deal of discussion by a couple of priests and deacons who said in no uncertain terms would they deny Holy Communion to this man, because they do not know the state of his soul.

I am sorry...this is not some many who just walked into the Shrine to receive Holy Communion. This is the second most powerful man in the US and someone who supports abortion and homosexual marraige. Let's admit it folks, this adminstration has done almost everything it can to promote abortion and have the taxpayers pay for it.

Yet, no one seems to be willing to tell him, before Mass, not to receive Communion in the state he is in.

Does any priest in this Archdiocese have any integrity or the intestinal fortitude to do something?

I wrote over at the Deacon's Bench that during the pedophile/homosexual crisis, when horrible things were done to young men, I did not waiver in my support for our priests, brothers and deacons. Why? Because I knew many of them personally and they were good men. They worked hard and tried to do their best, even if one or two of their brothers in Christ did horrible things.

However, I continue to see priests and deacons who say that they will not say or do anything when someone as public as Joe Biden comes forward to receive Communion.

If there is anything that has shaken my faith in our priests and deacons, is this: That they are not willing to say to a pro-abortion politician (who is very well known in their support of this) that they cannot recieve communion if they continue on their current course.

Msgr. Rossi, the Cardinal and any priest in attendance that day should be ashamed of themselves.

Just another scandal which has shaken my faith.

The Faithful Departed and the National Shrine in Washington DC

The Washington Times reported that Msgr. Walter Rossi, Rector of the National Shrine in Washington DC, has pulled a book from the Gift Shop shelves, as well as, cancelling the book signing.

What book is this? It is The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston's Catholic Culture by Phillip E. Lawler.

According to the article:

The monsignor declined to discuss specifics but said he had received several complaining calls and had read through the book. I asked him why the book-signing had been pulled. "That fell through the cracks," he said. "That should have been vetted."

In his April 18 homily at Nationals Park stadium in Washington, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged bishops and laity to "foster healing and reconciliation and to assist those who've been hurt," Monsignor Rossi said.

"Benedict over and over again said it's time to move on," the monsignor said of the sex abuse scandal. "It's not over, oh my God, no, but he says there should be healing and to move on."

As for "The Faithful Departed," he added, "I don't know if it fosters healing and reconciliation. I thought it contributed to greater breaking down of the church, rather than building it up."

Now, I do not know Msgr. Rossi, and have never met him. As far as I can tell, as the Rector he has the final say on what can or cannot be sold in the Gift Shop. (If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.)

I will say that I have not only purchased a copy of the book but have read it, shortly after it was published. For the longest time, I have been meaning to write a review but have not had the time. This has sort of forced me to do one.

My recommendation: READ IT.

I am not saying that because I am looking at a way of getting back at Msgr.Rossi. Nope, not in the least bit. Nor will I make any money off the sales of the book. Don't know Mr. Lawler and have never met him.

I am not urging you to read this so that you can bash the Church.

I am urging you to read it for the following reasons.

First, Mr. Lawler is an editor at Catholic World News. This site is faithful to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Everything that I have read on this site would never lead me to believe that this is the VOTF or Call to Action crowd. (Psst...go take a look at it yourself.)

Second, it is an excellent read. Mr. Lawler keeps things going at a good pace, linking events and people -- even those whom you least expect. I had to force myself to put the book down on a number of nights to get some sleep.

Third, there are really two parallel themes running through this book. First, there is the story of abuse. A terrible one which we have started to come to grips with but will last with us for many, many years.

The second theme, I believe, is more important. (I know that there are those who will disagree with me on this and call me cold hearted, mean spirited, etc.)

That theme is the how our hierarchy lost their moral voice in Boston. Some of it is through their own doing. Some of it is due to the radical left or so called Church progressives. Some of it is due to the overall secularization of society.

Why is this second theme more important?

Because when the members of the hierarchy lost their moral voice in Boston, it was a parallel of what was happening across the US. That theme has much longer and lasting implications on the Church in society that you may think. It has put the Church in the position where it is today (among others): Catholic politicians are spouting theology, members of religious orders pushing for the ordination of women, and parishes hosting dissenting groups (such as the VOTF Chapter at Holy Trinity in DC).

So, go out and read The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston's Catholic Culture.

What are you waiting for? Go.