Catholic Social Justice is "Corrupted"

May 11, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a video released today, American Life League, the nation’s largest Catholic pro-life group, has called for a complete investigation of Catholic social justice organizations for embracing population control advocate Dr. Jeffrey Sachs.

Entitled “Aborting Poverty”, the investigative video outlines Dr. Jeffrey Sachs’ history of population control as the primary means for ending poverty. According to the video, Dr. Sachs, a professor of economics at Columbia University, has said one of the best ways to fight poverty rates is to reduce population growth and fertility rates with voluntary birth control, sterilizations, and abortion.

To view the video, click here.

Odds and Ends

1. Our colleague over at Restore DC Catholicism, shows that the the USCCB is involved in a "Circle of Protection" which is aimed at protecting cuts from a variety of social programs. When I saw that phase it seemed odd and that I had heard it before. Well, I did. I guess the folks over at USCCB did not do a search on the term but it is one used by Wiccans. Of course, those of you into the MAGIC game, will also recognize that term too. Would the phase "Circle of Dunces" be more appropriate?

2. Not only do we have VOTF in the Archdiocese but also Pax Christi. Although the goal of peace is a laudible one, their belief is to gut the military. I personally think we should begin to gut some some of the wasteful social programs first. Social programs account for a larger amount of the US budget when combined, than the US military. The "War of Poverty" has been around since the late 1960's but i don't see a defeat in it yet. It is the longest "war" the US has been involved in. All I see is that we are pumping more money into social programs, via tax revenue, and then being asked to donate on top of that, adds insult to injury, and yet there are no results. (Heads up to Restore DC Catholicism.)

3. Did you make not of the Social Ministry Conference in the Archdiocese? Heavily pushed in the Catholic Standard, it looked like it may have hit the couple of dozen mark in attendance. (Photos do not begin to show the huge attendance numbers. I guess the camera lens was just too small to get the full depth of the crowd.) However, the Catholic Standard noted that one of the key concerns of the Social Justice Conference was 'gun control.' Now, depending upon who you are, will determine if you support gun control. If you are a criminal, you do, because you know the only people who respect restrictive gun laws are law abiding citizens. Criminals do not. Or if you are one of those who believe that guns kill, people do not. I believe that good gun control means being able to hold your revolver/semi-automatic, with either one or two hands, and hit your target dead on.

Catholic Standard - Weekly Update

Sorry for the delay in getting this out to you before the weekend, but lots of personal things to deal.

Well, here is the weekly update.

The Page 3 story focuses on the Social Ministry Conference held on June 13th. No mention of PICO - the Saul Alinsky type organization and sister organization of ACORN. Makes you wonder why that was not mentioned. Could it be that the Archdiocese is a bit embarrassed?

There was a small box story on the DC Catholic Conference and the loss of voting rights when it can to DC marriage.

There is story about a couple married 70 years. Again, WOW. So much can be learned from couple like that.

There were another round of transfers.

However, most of the issue was dedicated to the seven men who were ordained this past Saturday. Their stories are varied. From the former World Bank staff member, to a CFO, to a former Episcopalian. Take a moment to read about them. It is fascinating. Who knows, one of them may be coming to your parish soon.

As always, if you don't get the Catholic Standard, pick one up in your parish. Remember, they are required to take a certain number of copies -- whether they like it or not.

Alinsky and The 2009 Social Ministry Conference

Well folks, it is that time of year when the Social Ministry Conference to take place. It is a low cost event and has a number speakers on a variety of topics.
Now, most of this is pretty typical stuff, except I noticed workshop #20: Improving Access to Quality Health Care for All.

According to the description:

This workshop will look at current challenges to making it easier for children, working families and the elderly to obtain the health insurance, medical services and prescription drugs they need to stay healthy. The workshop is presented by an expert in the field and will include time for questions and answers. Gordan Whitman, People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO), Washington

And who or what is PICO? It is a Saul Alinsky community organization. Wait, isn't that that that what ACORN is a part of? Oh yes. In fact...

Included among this group are: the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), Gamaliel, Pacific Institute for Community Organizing (PICO), and Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART). The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) which is also patterned on Alinsky's organizational recommendations.

Isn't that what the Most Merciful, Lord High Barack Obama subscribes to? Yes. Oh yes, we all remember his stellar career as a Community Organizer.

I thought that after the ACORN fiasco, they would do everything to stay away from these groups. Guess I was wrong. Who's bright idea was that anyway? Maybe a pink slip is in order.

Want to learn more about PICO, click here.