In confidential interviews, Catholic bishops talk about +Gregory

Although most of the mainstream Catholic media has chosen to ignore this, because it does not necessarily speak well of +Francis, it also does not speak well of +Gregory.  

From the article entitled: In confidential interviews, Catholic bishops talk COVID, Joe Biden, Pope Francis

A series of one-on-one interviews with more than two dozen bishops has revealed significant concern among the Church leaders over the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic and political tensions.

The interviews, conducted by longtime Catholic commentator Francis X. Maier, show the bishops largely united in concerns about the presidency of Joe Biden, while also combining sincere support for Pope Francis with frustrations over his papacy.

 It continues...

“Most bishops expressed satisfaction with the state of the U.S. bishops’ conference,” Maier wrote in his First Things essay. However, several bishops “voiced irritation with Washington’s Cardinal Wilton Gregory for undercutting conference leadership on the issue of Communion and President Biden’s problematic sacramental status.”

“Worry about the negative spirit and potential damage of the Biden administration was unanimous,” Maier reported.

 

To read the full article, go to First Things.

Pope Francis: STAY IN ROME

I have decided, because of the Pope's latest Encyclical, to begin a campaign urging him to STAY IN ROME and not come to us US in September.  If he is such a believer in climate change, and that humans are to blame, then I urge him to "walk the walk, don't just talk the talk" and not come to the US and STAY IN ROME.

If you are like minded, then take up the cause, which I will promote here each and every day!

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.

 

When will we ever learn...

When will we ever learn.  Instead of hiring those who are true to the faith, we keep subverting ourselves.  We go rid of the guy responsible for the Social Justice mess in the USCCB and now we get this.

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

An organization of Catholic donors has chosen Alexia K. Kelley, an Obama policy advisor with connections to abortion-supporting politicians and a controversial advocacy group, as its new president and CEO.  She is now the President of the Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA

Kelley, who holds a master’s degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School, had previously worked for several years at the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, an anti-poverty initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

She later co-founded and served as the executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, a social justice advocacy organization.
The group - which has since closed its office and shifted its presence to the internet - was criticized by numerous bishops for causing confusion about the priority of moral issues by downplaying the importance of fundamental concerns like abortion, while giving heavy weight to issues such as the environment.
Kelly was a religious advisor for the 2004 presidential campaign of Catholic senator John Kerry, whose support for abortion raised controversy.
She also advocated heavily for the confirmation of pro-abortion Catholic Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

To read the entire story, go to Catholic News Agency.
 

USCCB Responds to Vice President Biden

Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:

"With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact."

This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain "religious employers." That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to "Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital," or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.

HHS has proposed an additional "accommodation" for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as "non-exempt." That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation "to pay for contraception" and "to be a vehicle to get contraception." They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients.

They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.

USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate

For the full Statement, go here:  http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-163.cfm

Religious Freedom in the US from the USCCB

Many years ago, Rush Limbaugh (and you don't have to agree with him) stated that one day, the "food police" will legislate what you can and cannot eat and drink.  Many laughed at him, but look at what is happening in NYC and in school lunch rooms around the country.

Some of us, including myself, stated that the same thing would happen when Obama became president.  He and his ilk would allow us to practice our faith -- we can pick it up at the church door and then leave it there, when we left the church building.  Many laughed and scoffed at us. 

It seems that the USCCB, via their blog, have come to state just this: there is an attack on religious freedom. 

One last thought...I wonder how many of those who voted for Obama have their religious freedom now threatened?  And do they really care?

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

Look in the United States, where freedom of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment’s free exercise clause, and you see a sophisticated type of assault. It is unbloody, but far-reaching. Ironically, the assaults are not from some guerilla group or despot, but from the government. Foreign nations that look to the U.S. to protect their religious freedom have to shudder.
The assaults vary, but what they have in common is preventing religious bodies from operating according to their moral standards. For example, through the new Affordable Care Act most employers, including many religious ones, are compelled to provide free-of-charge to employees and their families contraception, female sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs, even when they violate church teachings. Government in a miserly gesture says it will grant an exception to entities it defines as religious enough to merit protection of their religious liberty. That means the parish church is religious enough but not the church’s hospitals, schools, colleges, soup kitchens and other social services. You may think the latter obviously are religious works but the government says they are not if you serve needy people other than your co-religionists. Catholicism calls Catholics to help those in need.

Hard to live out the free exercise of your religion with this HHS mandate, the first of its kind in U.S. history. To add insult to injury, for centuries these church services have very effectively helped people who otherwise would have had to rely on government for such care. In fact, one out of six people in the U.S. who need hospital care get it at a Catholic hospital.

A New Jersey judge recently found that a Methodist ministry violated state law when the ministry declined to allow two women to hold a “civil union” ceremony on its private property. Also recently, a civil rights complaint was filed against the Catholic Church in Hawaii by those wanting to use a chapel to hold a same-sex“marriage” ceremony. Is the country better for such in-your-face rejection of a church’s teaching?

To read the entire posting, click here.

U.S. hearing probes Obama admin decision to deny bishops grant over abortion

I am posting this, since it has not gotten much attention in the US press (what else is new). Personally, I think that the USCCB has grounds for a HUGE lawsuit against the US Government. I also think that this should be a wake up call that the Catholic Church should not get into contracts w/ governments to provide services.

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

A Congressional watchdog committee is investigating whether the Obama administration denied millions of dollars in grant money to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops because of its religious objections to abortion.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Congressman Darrell Issa, held a two-hour hearing on the issue Thursday morning.

Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle, who sits on the committee, told LifeSiteNews.com that Obama administration political appointees “changed the rules in the middle of the game” and ignored “objective criteria” to deny federal funds to any group that refuses to condone “abortion, contraception, or sterilization.”

Life Site News

Obama Administration Shafts Catholics Once Again

Catholic News Service (CNS) reports the following:

Since 2006, the U.S. Catholic bishops' Migration and Refugee Services has helped more than 2,700 victims of human trafficking obtain food, clothing and access to medical care.

That service has come to a halt because the agency recently learned it did not receive a new grant award for this work from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement. MRS' prior contract for the trafficking program ended Oct. 10.

Mercy Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told Catholic News Service Oct. 11 that she hoped the Catholic Church's "position against abortion, sterilization and artificial contraception has not entered into this decision" by the HHS refugee office to reject MRS' application for a new grant, "especially since this administration has said it stands fully behind freedom of conscience."

Well, Sr. Walsh, you know as well as I do, that it is exactly because of our pro-life, true marriage stances that this administration has once again put the screws to the Catholic Church. Let us face facts. I know that you are in the PR business but let's just call it for what it is.

This should send the following messages to everyone:

1. The Catholic Church should not get into government contracts. They may be lucrative and allow us to help others, but in the end, we are on the losing end of the stick. Why? Because the radical left (and leftist Catholycs) are willing to shut us out because of our pro-life, true marriage stance. Remember, we stand in their way. Let's do what we can, with our own funds, to assist and not be tied to the government.

2. Catholics who voted for the Most Miserable should take note of this and realized that you have helped to bring this on. Many of us warned that these things would happen, and they have come to pass. So, let me be the first to say: I TOLD YOU SO. (I know some of you are pretty proud of yourselves at this moment.)

3. I wonder how many Catholics/Catholycs who were employed due to this funding, voted for the The Most Merciful, the Lord High Barack Obama? How many of them thought that George Bush was the most terrible president of them all and that Obama would bring hope and change? Well, what do you think now? How much hope do you have now? Because all you will have is the change in your pocket and the hope that you can snag another job. Nice job.

Sweeney, the Pro-Gay Agenda, Catholic Charities & Cardinal Wuerl

On March 1st, 2011 I wrote the following:

It seems that John Sweeney, the AFL-CIO president for 14 years, was honored. According to the Catholic News Agency article, he and his wife are both parishioners of Church of the Little Flower (Bethesda) and have "actively supported the work of Catholic Charities, including serving as the chairs of Catholic Charities' annual gala."

I don't know the man but I do remember him well from my days when I was an AFL-CIO member. (And I am not proud of that fact either.)I really find it appalling, that the head of the AFL-CIO, who spend millions, upon millions of dollars helping to elect pro-abortion and pro-gay politicians was allowed to be the chair of these charities.

I find it appalling that the Cardinal honored this man, on Sept. 2, 2009 when Mr. Sweeney received an honorary degree from Georgetown.I

find it appalling that the Catholic Standard would have this article, which shows Mr. Sweeney in such a positive light. I thought we had gotten past reporting on these stories.

Maybe if Mr. Sweeney had not funnelled as much money into elections, and more into pension funds, that we would not be facing gay marriage in Maryland, and that union pension funds would be in better health.

Well, it seems that he has documented his support for gay rights going back as far as 1983. His opposition to DOMA in 2005 is well documented.

For this Archdiocese to honor big fund raisers, who do not necessarily support the Catholic faith is the norm, not the exception. The Cardinal honored him in 2009 and earlier this year.

The Cardinal should be ashamed of himself and should admit he has done wrong!!

For the full story on John Sweeney, please go to LIFESITE NEWS.

Cardinal Wuerl and the Role of Bishops in Theology

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, chairman of the U.S. bishops' doctrine committee, reaffirmed the role of bishops as teachers of the faith in an April 18 statement on the work of a controversial feminist theologian. He explained that theologians must accept divine revelation, which is not open to revision.

“In continuing the mission of Christ the Teacher,” Cardinal Wuerl explained, “the bishops in union with the Pope are therefore ministers of a free and wonderful gift of God – the assurance that we adhere to the true faith.” The possession of this truth, he said, is so valuable that “the believer … would be willing to die rather than deny it.”

To read the rest, go to Catholic News Agency.

The US: A Welfare State

I recently read an article which states that 1/3 of the US is receiving some sort of "handout" from the government - Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, etc.

Now I know that a number of you will take me to task on Social Security, saying that people have paid into it, but in reality, it is really a Ponzi scheme. Let's admit it. There is no money in the system. There is no ALGORE lock box. It has been raided to pay for other things.

This got me to thinking (which can be dangerous), that if this is the case, it says that we are doing something radically wrong with some, if not all of these programs.

This lead me to further thinking about the statement of the Social Justice Directors of the Catholic Church (and the USCCB). Their latest message was not to cut any social program but to increase them.

To me, this is a recipe for disaster, since the Social Justice crowd just wants to keep doing the same old, same old.

Maybe it is time to look at wiping out some of these programs, just like CCHD.

What do you think?

Archdiocese of Washington...Egg on Face?

One year ago today, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and Catholic Charities USA awarded the first national “Keep the Dream Alive Mass and Award" to Ralph McCloud. Mr. McCloud is the Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.

At the time, I chided the Archdiocese for this move because it was under his watch, that money went to ACORN and other groups opposed to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Well, it seems that Mr. McCloud has been a very busy man. Your see our colleagues over at Restore DC Catholcism pointed out that:

Ralph McCloud, while working in his capacity as CCHD director, worked as campaign treasurer for Texan Wendy Davis. The public record is here. Ms Davis was endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Unfortunately, Davis defeated her pro-life opponent.

Therefore we can conclude that Ralph McCloud worked directly against a candidate who would have helped unborn children and worked for someone who would facilitate their murder.

That campaign itself ran afoul of some ethics guidelines. Planned Parenthood of North Texas was fined several thousand dollars for not reporting just how much money they gave to Davis' campaign.

No wonder why money went to anti-Catholic groups. The director was helping out someone who was pro-abortion.

I wonder if the Catholic Standard will report this? Will they ask for their award back? The should but they won't.

Once again, more egg on the face of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Will you be the first Cardinal, Cardinal Wuerl?

U.S. bishops not contributing to CCHD’s national collection:

1. Bishop Joseph Adamec (Altoona-Johnstown, PA)
2. Bishop John Barres (Allentown, PA)
3. Bishop Lawrence Brandt (Greensburg, PA)
4. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz (Lincoln, NE)
5. Bishop Victor Galeone (St. Augustine, FL)
6. Bishop James Johnston (Springfield, MO)
7. Bishop Salvatore R. Matano (Burlington, VT)
8. Bishop Joseph McFadden (Harrisburg, PA)
9. Bishop Robert Morlino (Madison, WI)
10. Bishop Robert Vasa (Baker, OR)
11. Will you add your name here Cardinal Wuerl?

For the complete story, go to LifeSiteNews.Com

Archbishop Dolan Elected as President of USCCB

Thank God!

For more, go to the Catholic News Agency.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

In my review of the Archdiocese of Washington educational policies, such as the elimination of discounts to families with multiple children in Catholic schools, you will notice that they are trying to push everyone through the TAP program.

Now, one of the most interesting things is that there are no guidelines as to who is or is not eligible, so you cannot determine if you should or should not apply. So, in addition to being totally subjective, as far as I can tell, you have to pay a fee to give up a great deal of personal information.

++++

On a separate note, one of my reader's informed me that there is an effort underway to get all Catholics to wear red on Nov. 19th in honor of the elevation of Cardinal-elect Wuerl.

Who's STUPID idea was that over in Hyattsville? I will wear black.

What color do you think we should wear on Friday?

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

BOYCOTT THE CCHD COLLECTION THIS SUNDAY!!!

For more information as to why, click here.

Not One Thin Dime to CCHD

Remember when I wrote a short time ago about CCHD putting a bandage on the issue? Well guess,what? They cannot even do it right from the very start. Forget the theologian. CCHD and USCCB needs some basic research skills.

You can read about it here first

And more here.

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

BOYCOTT THE CCHD COLLECTION LATER THIS MONTH!

Review and Renewal: CCHD

Well, the USCCB has issues a report on the Review and Renewal of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

Let me say up front, that I have not read the report, but from all indications, there seems to have been some "tweeking" but not much substantive change. If I get a chance to read it, I will but I am still calling for a SHUT DOWN OF CCHD.

Why? First, money donated by Catholics should be going to Catholic organizations. Period. Second, considering how they have handled this mess over the last few years, I do not have any trust that they will clean it up. End of story.

SHUT DOWN CCHD!

For more on the CCHD issue, go to Catholic News Agency.

It's Like Christmas...

"It's just going to be like Christmas," said DeCarlo Flythe, who lost health coverage for his family when he was laid off almost three years ago. "It's going to be great. You know, no worries (about) the bills. We are going to go ahead and pay our co-pay and be alright."

+++++

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, made the call March 23, moments after president Barack Obama signed the Senate version of health care reform legislation approved by the House of Representatives by a slim margin, March 21. The statement was approved unanimously by the 32-member Administrative Committee of the USCCB.

“We applaud the effort to expand health care to all,” Cardinal George said.

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

Sunday, the House passed the health care bill.

The Democrat Party bought off various Senators and Representatives with such things as the Louisiana Purchase and the Cornhusker Compromise. They bought off Stupak for less than $2 million (although he really wasn't on our side). They changed the rules, ignored points of order and did everything they could to ram this through.

Our Bishops supported this and then did not support this and then supported it again. Archbishop Wuerl remained quite silent during these last few months only allowing Susan Gibbs to issue press releases. Our liberal Catholycs, such as the President's spokemand Mr. Gibbs, did everything they could to confuse the average Catholic.


What does this mean for the average person? In the short term (a couple of months), not much. In the longer term, much.


There is so much to say, I don't even know where to begin.


We were told over 30 years ago, by none other than Teddy Kennedy, that HMOs would solve the problem of insurance and coverage for all. That did not happen.


We keep hearing about all those with pre-existing conditions will be accepted. Great but what type of care will they get. Will they get everything like now or will they only get a limited amount of health care.


And the Executive Order that the President will sign regarding abortion is a joke. That can easily be cancelled. Remember, what the most Most Merciful, Lord High Barack Obama did when he got into office regarding the Mexico Policy?


And what of our Catholic hospitals and medical institutions? CHA and Sister "what's her face" see $$$ signs in their eyes.

Well, there is no need for additional fundraising, since the government will take care of everything. Right?

There is no need to a Spanish Catholic Center to provide medical treatment. Right? But, you will see continued fundraising in this area because as we all know, there will never be enough funding to cover all costs.

It may be Christmas for DeCarlo Flythe but someone will have to pay the bill. It may not be him but a middle income person like myself will be the one.

It is really all in vain because the Most Merciful will tax me at a huge rate.

And what does the USCCB -- they state that it is wonderful that we now have health care for all. Have they been nipping at the sacramental wine?

Investors.com has a wonderful article about what this will do to you. Maybe Cardinal George should have read it before he made the congratulation call.

And have you noticed how silent Archbishop Wuerl has been. Not a peep. Maybe he is overjoyed at it but does not want to admit it.

I am no longer giving to Archbishop's Appeal and a number of the collections taken up by the USCCB.

The next thing will be for me to start to cut back on the additional fundraisers my parish undertakes, once my taxes begin to increase.

Yep, it may be Christmas for some but "someone has to pay the piper."

What are they thinking or are they on drugs?

From Tom Peters at CatholicVote.Org:

Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, who serves as chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, has approved a proposal by diocesan Catholic Charities to distribute free needles to drug abusers in the hope of preventing the spread of AIDS.

“I understand there will be questions, but this is common sense,” said Sister Maureen Joyce, CEO of Catholic Charities. “I strongly believe in this. It will save lives.”

“From a theological standpoint, we’re not being faithful to our mission if we don’t reach out to people addicted to drugs, too,” Sister Joyce added.

An $83,000 van filled with syringes will be parked in two neighborhoods and serve as the focal point of Catholic Charities’ needle distribution efforts. – Catholic Culture News Briefs.

CCHD Supporting More Pro-Abortion Groups?? SHUT IT DOWN!

Just when the USCCB says that things are better (or that we award the CCHD Head an award), things just seem to get worse:

Two new reports have been published today on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

Rob Gaspar at Bellarmine Veritas Ministry has dug more deeply into the CCHD relationship to the Center for Community Change (CCC).

In "Sleeping with the Enemy," Michael Hichborn at the American Life League has also uncovered more disturbing facts about CCC. Hichborn also chronicles the personal involvement of the USCCB's John Carr, Executive Director of Justice, Peace, and Human Development. Carr oversees the CCHD.

Read more about it here at Inside Catholic