Washington Theological Union to Close

The Catholic graduate school and seminary Washington Theological Union announced on June 27 that its closing at the end of the 2012 - 2013 academic year.

The Washington, D.C. seminary – which boasts 1,400 religious and lay alumni worldwide – has decided to shut its doors after 40 years, citing financial challenges, low enrollment and a decline in the number of religious vocations.

For the complete story, go to Catholic News Agency.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT.

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

Opportunity Scholarships -- The Rush Is On

The Washington comPost this weekend had an article in the Metro section about the rush to apply for the DC Opportunity Scholarships. Now, did you not that there was no mention of which political party (hint: The Most Merciful Barack Obama is the "head" of it) did whatever it could to kill this opportunity for those in the mostly failing DC public schools.

Nope. Nada. Nothing.

But of course, they take every opportunity to criticize it.

In case you did not get the chance to read it, click here.

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

To my readers:

Over the last few weeks, due to a number of personal issues, I have not had the opportunity to post. However, I am keeping a close eye on the doings of the Archdiocese.

For example, did you notice that the Catholic Standard's article on the 150th Anniversary of Providence Hospital neglected to mention that on the Board of Directors is a prominent pro-abortion/pro-gay rights advocate? I wonder why they did not mention this? Do you?

And I wonder if there was a session on how to hide these and other embarrassing facts at the Catholic Media Convention in Pittsburgh last week.

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

Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fr. J. Glenn Murray, SJ

From the Pastor of Holy Trinity (Georgetown):

I am very sorry to share with you the difficult news that Fr. J. Glenn Murray, S.J., who served in the Washington, D.C., area from 2007 to 2011, has been permanently removed from ministry following a credible allegation of improper touching of a minor that occurred in 1981-82 while Fr. Murray was working in Baltimore.

According to Fr. Jim Shea, Provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, this is the only allegation of misconduct involving Fr. Murray that the Province has received.

For more on this, please go to Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown.

CUA under threat of Legal Action

The Catholic University of America says its plan to house men and women separately will withstand any legal challenge from John Banzhaf, known for his lawsuits over fast food and women's bathrooms.

For more, go to Catholic News Agency.

Pray for our Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians

For those of you who follow the Catholic blogs, many of our priests are struggling with various issues, especially for some reason at this time. I don't know why, but many of our most respected preachers/bloggers (Fr. Corapi and Fr. Z.) are going thru some very tough times.

So, over the next few days, I would ask you to please keep these priests and all of our priests, deacons and seminarians in your prayers.

Thank you.

More Anti-Cathlic Bigotry in MoCo?

Opponents say they have not exhausted their options for fighting a proposal to build a Catholic hospital on the grounds of Montgomery College in Germantown, despite approval of the plan last week by the state Board of Public Works.

The three-member board voted Wednesday to allow Montgomery College to lease land to Holy Cross Hospital for a new 93-bed, $202-million hospital. Holy Cross, which already has a location in Silver Spring, could break ground this fall and finish the project by 2014.

“It would be the first hospital built in more than 30 years in Montgomery County and would not provide the full range of services to patients,” said Beth Corbin, field director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

She said her group, which testified at the Wednesday public works meeting, will continue its opposition and is “weighing its options,” but declined to say whether it will initiate legal action to block the project.

For more, read it here.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Catholic Standard Highlights Pro-Abort/Pro-Gay Politicians

My friend Melvin called me last night to inform me that the Catholic Standard has two stories in it of interest.

First, is the Cardinal with Mayor Gray re the signing of an agreement making Washington DC and Rome "sister cities." Of course, the article mentions how the Mayor is Catholyc.

Second, we have another article having to do with an award ceremony (can't remember the name) but they prominently mention that Donna Brazile is a Catholyc. Now I am not certain what that has to do with the awards dinner, but as you know she is heavily involved in the Democrat Party and a HUGE supporter of abortion and homosexual marriage. Remember how Archbishop Hughes boycotted Xavier University bestowing her an honor?

Once again, the Standard highlights the fact that the Cardinal does the photo 0p with someone who goes against Catholic teaching, as well as, honors by mentioning a Catholic who stands against many of the Church's teachings.

With friends like the Catholic Standard, who needs enemies.

Seems like the Communications group over at the Archdiocese is starting to slip up.

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

Click here to sign the petition to

REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To Accepting???

For many years, my fundamentalist cousins have refused to buy Girl Scout cookies, because of their support of the pro-gay lifestyle. (Instead, they will make a donation to the GS Troop of the price of a box of cookies.) I too have heard of this and their relationship with Planned Parenthood and abortion.

An event took place in 2010 at the UN where there were many reports of pro-abortion, pro-homosexual materials were distributed.

It seems that the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) did an investigation. Here is a copy of their report.

Based on my reading, their investigation accepted the explanation given by the Girl Scouts. In my opinion, MFCYM is either too accepting of the relationship between PP or willing to "wink and nod" at it. (That is my opinion and I am sticking to it.)

Considering that there are many Girl Scout Troops (Daisy, Brownie, GS, Seniors) sponsored by Catholic parishes in this archdiocese, I thought you might find this interesting.

Crossing the Tiber...

The title is a term used to identify when one has converted to Catholocism.

Wednesday's Washington Examiner reported that St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bladensburg joined the Roman Catholic Church - Archdiocese of Washington on Monday, June 6th.

This blog and the entire Catholic Church welcomes you!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Divest Ourselves of DC Government Contracts

Apx. two weeks ago, an email notice was sent out from Bishop Knestout regarding the possible reduction in funding for DC homeless.

Now, there is nothing wrong with this and is always a laudible thing to do.

This week's Catholic Standard does give a bit more insight into this matter. You see, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington seems to have a contract with the city to run some of the homeless shelters.

Is this illegal? Nope. Immoral? Nope. Good policy? Nope.

I say that this is not good policy because once you begin to take money from the government, you not only have to abide by their rules (which may run counter to Catholic teaching) but more importantly, it makes you dependant upon them.

When there is a theat to them, we suddenly become very defensive and will do whatever it takes not to loose them. This is not the way it should be.

I encourage the Archdiocese to divest itself of all of these types of contracts.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Overheard during Mass on Sunday..

As I was sitting during 9am Mass this past Sunday, I was having a very hard time hearing the priest and my mind was wandering. Suddenly, a little girl (probably about 4 years old) said to her mother: "When is God going to speak to us?"

He does when we least expect it.

"These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc..."

Today is the Anniversary of D-Day -- the landings at Normandy.

One of the greatest speeches given to commemate this event was given by Pres. Ronald Reagan's on the 40th Anniversay of this day.

May God Bless those who have given their all!

http://youtu.be/eEIqdcHbc8I

A Catholic School Help Save a Young Man

The National Examiner (washingtonexaminer.com) has the story of how Don Bosco Christo Rey High School helped one young man (among many) stay focused, out of trouble and on his way to college.

Another fine example of what Catholic education is all about.

To read all about it, click here.

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

Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Islam: The Closing of the Muslim Mind

Arlington, VA (May 31, 2011)— On Sunday evenings, June 5 and 12, at 7:30 PM at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, the Institute of Catholic Culture will host two lectures about the current disarray in the Muslim world and what has lead this society to the brink of all-out war. Most Westerners are shocked and frightened by the behavior coming out of the Islamic world—not only because it is violent, but also because it is seemingly inexplicable. What went wrong?

Foreign policy expert Robert R. Reilly uncovers the root of our contemporary crisis, underscored by the death of Osama bin Laden: a pivotal struggle waged within the Muslim world nearly a millennium ago. In a heated battle over the role of reason, the side of irrationality won. The deformed theology that resulted, Reilly reveals, produced the spiritual pathology of Islamism, and a deeply dysfunctional culture (ISI Books). It is intellectual suicide that has caused modern Islamism.

Robert R. Reilly is a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council and has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Reader’s Digest, and National Review, among many other publications. A former director of the Voice of America, he has taught at the National Defense University and served in the White House and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Reilly is a member of the board of the Middle East Media Research Institute.
Join the Mr. Robert Reilly and the Institute of Catholic Culture for this evening series onthe roots of the modern Islamic crisis. St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 3829 Woodburn Rd., Annandale, VA.

All are welcome. No reservation required. Free Admission.

For more information, please visit www.InstituteofCatholicCulture.org or call (540) 635-7155.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click here to sign the petition to REPEAL THE MARYLAND DREAM ACT. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++