Catholic Standard Story Update

In an earlier weekly update of the Catholic Standard, I commented upon the story (pulled from Catholic News Service) about the death of a nun due to a drunk driver - an illegal alien. The story stated that this simply a matter of a drunk driver and that people were using this against those here illegally.

However, there was no mention was made in the original story that the illegal alien was being assisted by the Hogar Immigrant Services, an arm of Catholic Charities in Arlington County.

You can read the rest of the story in the Richmond Times Dispatch dated Aug. 12th.

St. Jude Now a Regional School

I just learned in reading the Parish Times, that St. Jude's is now a regional school, and no longer solely a parish school. In addition, there is a slight name change "St. Jude Regional Catholic School," which of course gives those who fought to keep the name of St. Jude a win. (New uniforms it looks like too.)

The other sponsoring schools are: St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Derwood and Our Lady Queen of the Americas in Washington, DC. This agreement formally establishes St. Jude School as a regional school in accord with new archdiocesan Policies for Catholic Schools.

However, what I find most interesting is that the letter from Bishop Knestout was sent on June 21, 2010 but it seems to have been only formally announced to the larger Archdiocese this past weekend. It looks like the St. Jude website was updated with this in mid-August.

I did not see it in the Catholic Standard and if I missed it, would someone let me know. I don't know how that one got by if it did.

The bigger question is: Will this help or will this hurt? Only time will tell but I do believe that this is just the beginning of the end of parish schools in this diocese.

For those who raised over $95,000 to keep St. Jude's going. How do you feel about this? Would love to hear from you -- pro or con.

Update: For those who are intersted, St. Francis is apx. 7.5 miles from St. Jude's, while Our Lady is apx. 12 miles away. Now, there is only one reason why these schools have joined w/ St. Judes -- that I can see -- and it is not because this is he closest school. Nope, it is because the monthly assessment is lower, than if they did not partner.

Stupid Biden Quote

It is Friday, and a very, very long and difficult week at work (and I thank God I have a job). So, once again, we bring you something the highest elected official in the US, who happens to by Catholyc. Yes folks, I bring you another STUPID BIDEN QUOTE.

I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.

Joe Biden about US presidential candidate Barack Obama, January 2007. He later apologised for these remarks, saying: "I deeply regret any offense my remark in the New York Observer might have caused anyone. That was not my intent and I expressed that to Sen. Obama".

Archbishop Wuerl -- Shut Down CCHD NOW! Then Reform It!

All members of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have been asked to respond by Friday, August 27, to a confidential report on the CCHD. The document—“The Review and Renewal of the Catholic Campaign for Human Deveopment”—was prepared in response to bishops’ concerns that the CCHD has strayed from its original and become too closely involved with radical political movements.

Although the “Review and Renewal” document has gone through 5 successive drafts, a number of bishops within the USCCB appear unsatisfied with the document, and supporters of the CHD are fearful that at their November meeting, the US bishops may call for sweeping changes in the program.

For more, go to Catholic World News for the complete article.

Archbishop Wuerl, many of us have called for a total revamp of CCHD. The only way to revamp it is to shut it down and start from scratch.

I know that it has not been reported in the Standard or Catholic News Service, but the word is out. It is time for you to help shut it down.

Take a look at...

Take a look over at Restore DC Catholicism. (Link of the right.)

Our colleagues have done some good work on the Catholic Charities Dinner and an event taking place at the Franciscan Monastery.

It really makes you wonder what the heck are they thinking when they put these things together. Or maybe they are not.

Catholycs set-up a pro-gay political group

Prominent Catholic dissenters have created an organization to promote homosexual political causes and to change Catholic opinion through coordination with other activists. Organized explicitly to oppose the U.S. bishops, the group’s website asks for reports of “anti-equality activity” in Catholic parishes.

The group Catholics for Equality’s website, which is still under construction, reports that the organization is dedicated to “support, educate, and mobilize equality-supporting Catholics to advance LGBT equality at federal, state, and local levels.”

It is made of operatives from DignityUSA, National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN), among others and is closely linked to the Human Rights Campaign. Some of the usual suspects but this time with a much larger bankroll.

Read more, go to the Catholic News Agency.

Look Who Doesn't Like Mother Teresa

As you know, the Empire State Building has refused to honor Mother Teresa. Now, they can honor the Cultural Revolution of Communist China, but they cannot do so for Mother Teresa.

Well it seems that a number of Catholyc groups have decided to weigh in and support the owners/managers of the Empire State Building:

• Catholics for Choice (located right here in the Archdiocese of Washington)
• Call to Action
• Chicago Women-Choice
• DignityUSA
• FOSIL
• National Coalition of American Nuns
• New Ways Ministry (located right here in the Archdiocese of Washington)
• Roman Catholic Womenpriests—USA
• Take Back Our Church
• Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (located right here in the Archdiocese of Washington)
• Women's Ordination Conference (located right here in the Archdiocese of Washington)

I was surprised not to see VOTF but who knows, they may join in later.

For more information, please go the Catholic League.

Event: The Beauty of Angels

http://jp2cc.org/events/the-beauty-of-angels.asp

The Beauty of Angels:
What Does Faith and Art Teach Us About Them and The New Evangelization

Speakers: Fr. Basil Cole, O.P. and Dr. Jem Sullivan

September 27, 2010 Monday 6:30 P.M.

Reception and book signing follows

Dr. Sullivan’s book “Beauty of Faith: Using Christian art to spread the good news” will be available for sale. This will also be your chance to see “Angels: A Celestial Visitation”

The exhibit features the angel paintings of Patricia Montague Friend, based on models from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, but executed in her personal vision and exploring the variation of angelic forms in contemporary style

Free and open to the public

The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
3900 Harewood Rd. NE Washington, D.C. 20017
www.jp2cc.org
(202) 635 5400

More Planned Parenthood Fraud

Audits by the United States Inspector General have uncovered that family planning clinics, including Planned Parenthood, have improperly taken Medicaid reimbursement for family planning services.

The audits were released by New Jersey Right to Life as pro-abortion state lawmakers lobby not only to restore $7.5 million in state family planning funds, but to acquire a federal waiver that would permanently secure the 90% Medicaid reimbursement rate for family planning clinics. Pro-life Governor Chris Christie has withdrawn a waiver application, and last month vetoed an attempt to restore the state funding, a move lawmakers are angling to override.

To read more, go to Lifesitenews.com

Planned Parenthood Lies...Children Die

Well, once again, Planned Parenthood has been caught in another LIE!

This one involves the place I had protested at a number of times -- on 16th St. NW (near L St.).

It seems that they admitted that the fence and the property which it encompassed was not their property. Read more about it at LifesiteNews.com.

I wonder when politicians will finally admit that PP, like Satan, is just a bunch of lies.

Catholic Standard Weekly Update

Well, it has been a while since I did a weekly update, so here it is.

The Page 3 story discusses how Catholic leaders decry what has happened to Prop 8. Unfortunately, as long as Catholics continue to vote for pro-gay politicians, who put into place activist judges, we will see this happening more and more. Also, as long as some of our parishes (and pastors) do not see a problem with this lifestyle, we are only fighting the good fight.

The Maryland Catholic Conference Director has received a pledge that the new health care plan for MD won't fund abortions. D Mary Ellen Russell is quoted as saying: " We're very pleased with the statement from MHP." All I can say is: "Does the name Neville Chamberlain ring a bell?" Such assurances are not worth the paper they are written on.

At the same time, there is an Insight piece by Richard Doerflinger on the abortion in the Health Care Reform. Pro-Lifers won the most recent round but the pro-abortion folks will find a way.

There are two nice photos of Costa Ricans honoring Our Lady of the Angels.

Well, there is a story on the Benedictine nun killed and two seriously injured by an illegal alien. The story, from Catholic News Service, states that this could have been prevented if he had not been drinking and driving. Of course, if he had been deported immediately none of this would have happened...but that really isn't the issue.

It is always wonderful to see when a Catholic church is restored to the original look, as with the story on the restoration of the wall murals at Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian parish. Many churches had beautiful gold leaf designs, frescoes, etc., only to be painted over in the 1970's.

CNS describes what Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is doing for the Pakistanis, who are struggling with terrible flooding. There is also information on how you can donate.

The center of the paper focuses on the Knights of Columbus' 128th Annual Supreme Convention in DC. No mention of how they refuse to throw out pro-abortion and pro-gay politicians. Don't get me wrong...the Knights do excellent work and support the Church but this is an embarrassment.

Well, pregnancy centers are once again under attack in Maryland -- this time in Baltimore. They are also under attack in California. And it seems that MoCo's centers are fighting back. Again, when you elect pro-abortion, pro-gay politicians...and you cozy up to them on certain issues, this is what you get.

Finally, I wanted to focus on the MoCo Council-at-Large Forum planned on Aug. 25th by the Justice and Advisory Council of the Archdiocese at St. Jane de Chantal parish. I know that they will focus on jobs, low income housing, free health care, looking the other way on illegal aliens, but I wonder if they will also ask questions on pregnancy centers, gay marriage, etc. Don't know if I will get over there, but if you do, please let me know what happens.

As always, pick up a copy of the Catholic Standard at your parish and drop a couple of extra coins in the basket. Parishes are required to purchase a number of copies...whether they like it or not.

Does anyone have the answer...

I was having dinner with a very nice young couple last week.

They explained to me that their pastor, via a letter, has informed them that children cannot received confirmation unless they are attending the local Catholic elementary school (associated with the parish) or the CCD program associated with that parish. Even if they are attending another Catholic school, they must attend the CCD program.

Does anyone know if this is something a pastor can demand/require for Confirmation in "his" parish? Is he overstepping his authority?

Still on a partial vacation...

Sorry that the blog postings have been scant over the last few weeks. Am still taking some time off before "all hell breaks loose" in September with work and the parish ministry which I am a part of.

However, I am working on another story regarding a parish that I wrote about before.

I published a letter on behalf of a couple of readers regarding this parish to the Director of Personnel for Priests for this Archdiocese. Although he refused to reply to "anon" letters, I did inform him of the name of the parish but did not name it in the blog.

Things at this particular parish remind me of the US economy and The Most Merciful's administration -- all seems good and rosy on the surface, but just scratch it a bit, and you will see that there are some serious problems.

Young Hispanics Less Likely to Be Catholic

An Associated Press-Univision poll finds that younger Latinos, as well as those who speak more English than Spanish, are much less likely to identify as Catholics than older, Hispanics who mostly speak Spanish.

The poll of 1,500 Latino adults also found significant divisions on social issues such as same-sex unions and abortion, along lines of age, language and whether one is Catholic or Protestant.

Overall, 62 percent of Hispanics identify as Catholic, but that includes only 55 percent of young adults 18 to 29, compared with 80 percent of elders 65 and over.

But in the United States these days, religious sentiment seems to be keener among Latino Protestants than their Catholic counterparts. Protestants are twice as likely to attend weekly services, according to the poll...and tend to be more conservative than Catholics on matters of religious doctrine and social morality.

To read the entire story, go to CNSNews.com.

I wonder if this means that the USCCB and this Archdiocese will change their stance on illegal immigration?

Prominent Protestant Pastor Struggles with Homosexuality

Some of you by now have seen the story of Rev. Tom Brock.

Rev. Brock is a senior pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis and was "outed" (as the gay community likes to call it) by an undercover journalist with the Minnesota-based homosexual publication “Lavender” infiltrated. It seems that his crime was his attendance at a local chapter of Courage, a Catholic-run, prayer-based support group for men struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions."

There are so many levels to this story:

• Those who did what they could to discredit his message that homosexuality is wrong.
• His forgiveness of the person who did this.
• The importance of a support group to help him with his struggle.

Catholic Exchange has the story and interview.

An Invitation to Those Going to College for the Diocese of Wilmington

I was down at one of the Delaware beaches a few weeks ago and saw this blurb in the local parish bulletin. I found it interesting.

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

Are you going to college this fall? Among your list of "to do's" before going away, consider how you are going to live the faith during college. Register with Catholics on Campus. The Campus Minister will contact you before you arrive to welcome you to join other Catholics on campus. Go to: www.catholicsoncampus.com

Illegal Alien Kills Nun

From the Examiner.com:

On Sunday, Prince William County police arrested Carlos A. Martinelly Montano, 23, after he slammed head on into a car in which three Benedictine nuns were traveling. Sister Denise Mosier was killed instantly, her two companions were taken by helicopter to the hospital where they both remain in critical condition.

By now, many of you have probably heard of this story of the the illegal alien (oh, I am sorry, undocumented worker -- according to the Maryland Catholic Conference or MCC) who killed an nun.

Although this happened in Virginia just the other day, I wonder if the MCC, the Archdiocese and Archbishop Wuerl will continue to oppose laws against illegal aliens.

How many more people in this county must be killed by someone who is here illegally before they wake up and smell the coffee?

On Vacation...with limited access...

I am currently on vacation and have limited access. See you soon.