MCC Joins Forces with Radical Pro-Abortion, Pro-ObamaCare & Anti-Catholic School Groups

The Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) and our bishops do not seem to get the fact that they are on the wrong side of the illegal immigration issue.

It seems that they are so desperate to do whatever they can to support those who are here illegally, that they have joined forces with pro-abortion, pro-homosexual and pro-obamacare groups.

They have done so via a group called:  Educating Maryland Kids.

So, on the one hand, they urge all of us support true marriage, stop Obamacare because of the attack on our first amendment rights and that we should stop abortion.

Yet, they are in an alliance with them.

So, let's take a look at some of the groups the MCC has associated themselves with:

• United Church of Christ (UCC): Pro-gay Marriage; Pro-Obama Care
•  Progressive Maryland: Pro-gay marriage; pro-abortion; pro-obama care
• Public Justice Center: pro-gay marriage
• SEIU: pro-abortion; pro-gay marriage; pro-obama care
• Maryland State Education Assn:  Remember the lies they were telling about tax breaks for businesses

Let the MCC know that you do not appreciate their stance on this issue and their joining forces with those who oppose our core beliefs!

SHAME MCC SHAME

The Pope Names Cardinal Wuerl to Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, as a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The congregation is the oldest of the Curia's nine congregations. The wide ranging mission of the congregation is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals throughout the Catholic world. The congregation is now headed by Prefect Cardinal William Joseph Levada and has 23 members. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1981 until his election as the 265th successor to St. Peter in 2005.

For more, go to the Archdiocese of Washington: http://www.adw.org/query2011/newsite_news.asp?ID=994&Year=2012

Ignorance in DC: Washington comPost & Melinda Hennebeger

As usual, the WaCompost gets it wrong on the Catholic faith with today's story by M. Henneger.

First, I am not certain what the snide "SANTA MARIA" addition did to her story, other than to set the tone that this is just a hatchet job.

In regards to SSPX. This is an issue which has been worked on for a number of years. SSPX is much more than Bishop Williamson, just as the Catholic Church in Chicago is much more than Fr. Pfleger.

But you got to love the tone of the article (more like a hack job to me, but what do you expect from the WaCompost these days): "cracking down" " "who as one of my fellow Catholics noted over a cup of unconsecrated wine." "the Inquisition" and "a forced reform."

Does she mention that most of the orders (not all) who are part of LCWR are failing because they have moved away from being "traditional" and looking to find their own way. Nope.

Does she mention that those orders which are more traditional are the ones experiencing a surge of new members. Nope.

And regarding schools and hospitals. Tell me, Ms. Henneberger, how many schools and hospitals have you been to which are staffed by large numbers of nuns, like they were 60 or 70 years ago. mmmm? Most are staffed by lay persons. Ignorance.

The best part, which shows her true IGNORANCE, on scandal is that the LCWR has done whatever it can to put off/squash any investigation into abuse of children (sexual, physical or mental) by American nuns/sisters.

I could go on and on about this hack job but I have other things to do.

What this article once again shows is that the Washington comPost is out of touch with Catholicism and deserves to go under. Ms. Henneberger should stick to her leftist politics and do what she can to prop up the failing Most Miserable Barack Obama.

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Link to the Washington comPost Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/post/the-instructive-timing-of-the-crackdown-on-nuns/2012/04/19/gIQAbCPKUT_blog.html

It is about time...Reform of LCWR To Begin!

Citing doctrinal problems, Vatican announces reforms of US nuns' group

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Citing "serious doctrinal problems which affect many in consecrated life," the Vatican announced a major reform of an association of women's religious congregations in the U.S. to ensure their fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women's ordination and homosexuality.

"While there has been a great deal of work on the part of LCWR promoting issues of social justice in harmony with the church's social doctrine, it is silent on the right to life from conception to natural death, a question that is part of the lively public debate about abortion and euthanasia in the United States," the doctrinal congregation said. "Further, issues of crucial importance in the life of the church and society, such as the church's biblical view of family life and human sexuality, are not part of the LCWR agenda in a way that promotes church teaching."The Vatican also found that "public statements by the LCWR that disagree with or challenge positions taken by the bishops, who are the church's authentic teachers of faith and morals, are not compatible with its purpose."

For more, go the CNS: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1201584.htm

Sr. Joan Chittister is having a fit over this. Please don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Sandra Fluke Speaks at Georgetown; Archidiocese Has No Comment

Amazing...simply amazing...

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(CNSNews.com) - Georgetown University, a Catholic institution run by the Jesuit order, invited Sandra Fluke to talk to undergraduate students at its main campus on Monday on the subject of contraception.The event--billed as “A Conversation with Sandra Fluke on Contraception Access”--was closed to “outside press” and to the public


CNSNews.com contacted the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., headed by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, to see if the archdiocese wanted to comment about Fluke being invited to speak to students at a Catholic university in the archdiocese. A spokeswomen for the archdiocese declined to comment and referred CNSNews.com to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for comment on the issue. The U.S.C.C.B did not respond to inquiries made on Monday.

For more, go to CNS: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/georgetown-invites-sandra-fluke-talk-undergrads-about-contraception-bans-outside-press

An Evening w/ Fr. Groeschel in Falls Church, VA

How the Trials of this World Lead to Life Everlasting

Falls Church, Va. (April 10, 2012)—On Sunday, April 22, the Institute of Catholic Culture invites the public to a very special program with famed Catholic scholar Fr. Benedict Groeschel, founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and EWTN host. The topic: to learn how life’s trials can shape each person to merit eternal life. Fr. Groeschel exemplifies how mankind can overcome suffering to live fully in Christ: On January 11, 2004, Fr. Groeschel was struck by a car while crossing the street in Orlando, Florida. For the next several weeks, Fr. Groeschel nearly died three times. Today, eight years later, at the age of 79, Fr. Benedict continues to tirelessly serve Christ through his ministry to those most in need.

Join the Institute of Catholic Culture and Fr. Benedict Groeschel for an evening reflection on the trials and sufferings of this world and how they can lead us to union with God and life everlasting. The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3305 Glen Carlyn Rd., Falls Church, Virginia. Free admission, and no reservations required.

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

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Please note that this is a Press Release from the Instititue of Catholic Culture. All queries should be directed to them.

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Help defend true marriage in MD and stop gay marriage. Let the people vote!

To read more, click here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/efforts-to-defend-marriage-intensify-in-maryland/

To sign the petition, please click here: http://www.marylandmarriagealliance.com/

Making a Good Confession...with Some Practice

You wouldn’t want to throw anyone in without any experience,” says Rohlfs, who has been rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary since 2005. “It would be like going to the emergency room and the doctor says, ‘I’ve never seen a patient.’ ”

Most seminaries offer confession training, but the one in rural Emmitsburg, Md., has an expansive program that lasts a year and culminates in a series of mock confessions.

In the next few months, the men will go from being deacons to ordained priests and return to their parishes. But for now, they take turns offering absolution to whatever character Rohlfs conjures from his imagination.

To read more about some of the training given to priests on how to conduct a good confession, read more at the Washington comPost: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/priests-in-training-confess-their-fears-before-stepping-into-the-booth/2012/04/07/gIQAdt6t1S_story.html

Efforts to Defend TRUE Marriage Intensify...

“People are very passionate about this issue,” said Derek McCoy, executive director of the Maryland Marriage Alliance. “We are working hard to win this.”McCoy told CNA on April 3 that the alliance has worked “feverishly” over the past few weeks to develop petition drives and train people to run them.

The alliance is leading a referendum campaign, joining with the Maryland Catholic Conference, the Maryland Family Alliance and other national and local groups of different political and religious backgrounds to defend the dignity of marriage.

To read more, click here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/efforts-to-defend-marriage-intensify-in-maryland/

To sign the petition, please click here: http://www.marylandmarriagealliance.com/

Christ Has Risen! Alleluia!

Wishing each of you a Happy and Blessed Easter!

Today is Holy Saturday!

I always look forward to Holy Saturday, in particular the singing of the Exsultet, especially if done well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeJLZOvAW0U&feature=related

Tell me lies, sweet little lies...courtesy of the MD State Education Assn.

The Teacher's Union must be real scared if they are doing this...From the Maryland Catholic Conference M(MCC).

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Issue: Last week, the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) sent an email calling on their supporters to contact Maryland leadership urging them to rebuff the Maryland Education Tax Credit (HB 1216/SB 844). Their convoluted message included misleading language, incomplete statements and downright errors.

Allow us to unpack some of the claims for you (direct quotes from the MSEA alert italicized):

It’s simply poor public policy to provide tax relief to wealthy corporations through a voucher scheme for private schools that are held to none of the standards of public schools and serve only a small number of our students.

FACTS:
- Any Maryland business can contribute to the Education Tax Credit, whether a pharmaceutical company or the mom-and-pop candy store down the road.
- The tax credit is precisely that - a tax credit. It is NOT a voucher program.
- When rewritten last fall, the bill addressed fiscal and academic accountability concerns.

HB 1216/SB 844 is modeled on the notorious BOAST bill, which has failed for six years in a row. If passed, the bills would divert $15 million of tax revenue for a poorly conceived voucher program. This legislation would add to the fiscal difficulties faced by the state and local governments while ignoring the continuing needs of students and educators in our public schools.

FACTS:
- The bill passed the Senate in 2008 and 2010.
- The tax credit (again NOT a voucher program) provides an incentive for business investment and helps to dispel Maryland's reputation as an unfriendly business state. The bill is capped at a MAX of $15 million, but it can be funded at any level below that.
- The bill will not "ignore" the needs of Maryland public school students
– The bill awards money to public school students as well - 40%.
- The budget for Maryland's public schools was $5 BILLION last year.

Action: Email Maryland leadership and voice your support for HB
1216/SB 844 with the TRUTH about the Maryland Education Tax Credit.

Click here and scroll down to take action!
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Wishing a Happy Passover to all those of the Jewish Faith!

There some who will take me to task for this, but they are God's Chosen People, our elder brothers and sisters.

So to all those of the Jewish faith, I wish each of you, a Happy and Blessed Passover.

PS: Yes, I know Passover is later this week. But I wanted to send my wishes a few days early.

Today Is Palm Sunday...

We are in the last days of Lent. Go to Confession. Receive Communion. Pray.