Congratulations Fr. Greg...

WASHINGTON — Father Greg Shaffer, the Catholic chaplain at George Washington University, learned early that a good pastor can defy the odds and lead the young to embrace a priestly vocation.

Growing up in Bethesda, Md., Father Shaffer was inspired by the example of Msgr. Thomas Wells, a charismatic figure in the archdiocese who possessed a deep and infectious love for the Eucharist.

Msgr. Wells brought many young men to the priesthood before he was murdered during a 2000 robbery at his Maryland parish; he was 56 years old.

Now, 13 years later, that beloved pastor remains a source of inspiration for Father Shaffer, who has revealed a knack for fostering vocations at a secular university better known for jump-starting careers in government.

Since the priest’s arrival four years ago, Sunday Mass attendance at the campus Newman Center has increased from 100 to about 400 people — and, this year, four men will enter the seminary


Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/george-washington-chaplain-leads-four-men-to-the-priesthood/#ixzz2RyHgJqRq

Live Action Once Again Hits a Home Run...Spread the Story!!!

An antiabortion group that mounted a six-month undercover investigation has released videos this week that raise questions about what might happen to a baby as a result of an unsuccessful abortion.

One video features a D.C. doctor, Cesare Santangelo, who said that in the unlikely event that an abortion resulted in a live birth, “we would not help it.” Santangelo was answering repeated questions from an undercover operative about what would happen, hypothetically, if she gave birth after an unsuccessful abortion.

I mean, technically, you know, legally, we would be obligated to help it, you know, to survive, but . . . it probably wouldn’t,” Santangelo is shown telling the woman, who was 24 weeks pregnant. “It’s all in how vigorously you do things to help a fetus survive at this point.”

Live Action president Lila Rose said the group’s videos expose “truly gruesome, illegal and inhuman practices.” She defended the tactics, saying undercover investigations are a powerful method to expose abuses.

To Read More:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/antiabortion-group-releases-videos-of-clinic-workers-discussing-live-births/2013/04/28/36678eb0-adf5-11e2-98ef-d1072ed3cc27_story.html

Yes, I am still around...

Sorry, I have not posted in a while.  Things have been busy at home and work.  Hope to do so soon.

Thank you and God Bless!

Protect Abortion at Any Cost

By now, the media has starting to come around and, in a limited fashion, begun to report the story on Kermit Gosnell.  However, one of their own on the left, has admitted that they are doing what they can to protect abortion.

Maybe we need to do the same with Carhart?

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/liberal-commentator-the-media-made-a-decision-not-to-cover-gosnell-to-prote

 

MCC and the "Rain Tax"

I don't know why the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) is crying about the Stormwater Fee aka "rain tax."

A short time ago, the MCC sent out an email to all Catholics asking them to write to their legislators opposing this tax.  They stated that many non-profits, such as Catholic Church, would be hit hard by this tax and basically have to reduce the number of services they provide to the community.

Now, I normally would support this effort and would have helped to advertise this.  However, this time I did not.

Why?

In 2007 there was a proposal in Maryland to increase the "progressive" tax.  The MCC stated that this was a good thing, as we need to take care of the poor and those who are less fortunate.   This also included the environment.

I argued that by increasing taxes in this manner, it would (1) decrease the amount that I have to give to charities; (2) change the debate that the state should be the key provider of support and not individuals; and (3) if you give into them on this, then there will be no stopping the state (or other government entity) from increasing taxes. 

Fast forward six years and since the "rain tax" already hits homeowners, who to you think they have decided to hit next?  Businesses and non-profits, like the Catholic Church.

I have argued, to no avail, a long time ago that when the Church does this, it will come back to bite them big time.  It took seven years, but it has.

The Archdiocese of Washington will have to make some tough decisions but the toughest will be:  "What do we cut and how much more can we ask of our parishioners, who are paying higher and higher taxes?"

(And as an aside, I wonder how many Catholic priests, religious and those who work for the Archdiocese voted for Democrat Party members.  I guess you got what you asked for, didn't you.)

Personally, I say cut the Spanish Center and redirect those funds to our Catholic Schools.  Reduce the amount spend on Catholic Charities and redirect those funds to our Catholic Schools.  Increase the amount on the Newman Center in GW (that will drive the homosexuals really crazy).

Catholic Schools get parents involved and makes them part of the larger parish. 

 

Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: Prayers for Hope and Healing (and Mass) April 28th

Often when we promote the Church's rich teaching on marriage and family life, there are those who are striving to live the challenge of the Gospel courageously despite the fact that they have not been given the gift of a child.

On Sunday, April 28 at St. Jerome Parish (5205 43rd Ave. in Hyattsville), Prayers for Hope and Healing will be offered for those couples in the Archdiocese struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss.

At 3pm Kevin Wells, author of Burst, will speak on coping with infertility, and at 4pm Mass will be offered by Fr. James Stack. Priests are invited to concelebrate.

This event is co-sponsored by the archdiocesan Office for Family Life.
For more information, please contact Mary Hamm at 301-853-4499 or mhamm@adw.org.

Total Silence: Pro-Abortion catholycs

Where the hell are all those pro-abortoin catholycs who want to keep abortion SAFE and LEGAL.   There is only silence. 

This is SO HORRIBLE.  Reminds me of stories of Dr. Mengele's experiments.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306261/House-horrors-abortion-clinic-worker-handed-screaming-newborn-eyes-mouth-asked-deal-it.html

The Chaplain We Know - Supporters of Fr. Greg!

A blog started by students who support Fr. Greg at GWU.

Read the stories, it beats the hate a billion times over.

http://thechaplainweknow.wordpress.com/

PS:  And having read a number of articles, it seems that the two homosexual students (or maybe it is the Hatchett) don't quite have their story correct, such as the fact that the Newman Catholic Student Assn. (affiliated with GWU) is different that the one run by Fr. Greg.  Fr. Greg and the building are paid for by the Archdiocese and receives no money from GWU. 

The Real Haters are Attacking Fr. Greg Schaeffer and the Newman Center

The seniors, Damian Legacy and Blake Bergen, have announced a coordinated campaign to rid the campus of the Roman Catholic priest, reports The GW Hatchet, the school’s independent student newspaper.
  
They also assert that 12 or more students have quit the Newman Center in recent years because they can’t tolerate Father Greg Shaffer’s ardent anti-gay— and, for the record, anti-abortion — beliefs.

Shaffer has worked for five years at George Washington’s Newman Center. He told the Hatchet that religion and unrestricted speech “play a vital role at a diverse university like GW.”

Legacy and Bergen say they are primarily upset about the counseling Shaffer offers. They say he urges students who have homosexual feelings to lead a life of celibacy.

Odd, he worked at the Center for 5 years.  Didn't he know where he was working?  And the homosexual community talks about how open and loving they are.  How tolerant?  

They are some of the bigot people I know.

Read the rest here at Deacon Greg's blog...

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2013/04/two-gay-college-students-try-to-have-priest-fired-because-he-counsels-students-not-to-have-sex/

Who Are the Real Haters?

Over the last few weeks, I have followed the public relations battle over the issue of gay marriage. 
One of the things that I have noticed, although this is not really new, is the way the pro-gay marriage folks have smeared those of us who support  marriage between one man and one woman.  I call our support for one man/one woman marriage "True Marriage." 

Because of our support for True Marriage, we are called "homophobes," "haters," "bigots," and that we oppose civil rights.  (When did gay marriage became a civil right?)  Those are just some of the kinder terms and phrases used
 
Except for the Westboro Baptist folks and a handful of others, most of those who support True Marriage do not go around saying that "God Hates Fags."  Sorry, as much as you might think we do, we don't.   
 
In fact, if you really know anything about us, you would realize that we believe that the homosexual act is wrong and is a sin.  However, we do not condemn a person just because they have a homosexual orientation. 
 
In fact, our charitable works help all.  Our food pantry collections help those who are in need of food.   Our warm coat drives help those who need to stay warm in winter.  Money raised to cover medical treatments at our medical facilities help those who need care.  There are blood drives for the Red Cross.  We donate diapers, formulas and wipes to new mothers to care for their babies.  Need someone to listen to you, our priests and religious do that on a daily basis.  The list goes on.  These are not one time things, these are everyday works of charity.
 
And yet, we are condemned by those who do not believe in True Marriage in the vilest of terms.  Not just in language, but in their actions by dressing up and mocking our priests and religious.  Although this does not happen often, there is physical destruction and damage to church buildings and property.  And, mocking some of the most basic tenants of our faith in a way, that you if you did it to a couple of other faiths, you might find yourself at the other end of a gun. 
 
I contend that the real haters are those who condemn the supporters of True Marriage.   

You hate us because we stand in the way of what we believe is an immoral act.  An act, not sanctioned by God and his Son, Jesus Christ.  You want to change God into your own image, instead of changing to His. 
 
You may hate us but I will still pray for you and for me, that we change our ways to His way.
 
(Oh, by the way, if you are against pedophilia, bestiality, selling of heroin, rape, and auto theft, are you a hater?  Because there are some out there, who believe that these actions are acceptable and good.)
 
*Reminder:  Rev. Phelps' is not a member of the right.  He is a member of the Democrat Party and a support of Al "I created the Internet" Gore.

Pop Francis and Dominic on Easter Sunday

I watched one of the Spanish television channels on Easter Sunday, because EWTN was not working on my cable system.

I missed the Mass but did catch Pope Francis, as he made his way around the crowds and would stop and kiss a baby or hold a disabled person. 

Here is the story of Dominc, a child with CP, and his encounter with Pope Francis. 

A Rhode Island couple has revealed how they were moved to tears when Pope Francis kissed their disabled eight-year-old son in front of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday.
Paul and Christina Gondreau of Johnston and their five children, including son Dominic who suffers from cerebral palsy, attended Easter Mass at the Vatican.

An usher directed Dominic and his mother to an area designated for handicapped children, said Paul Gondreau, a theology professor at Providence College who is teaching this semester in Rome.
When the pope's vehicle arrived, the usher motioned to the driver to stop and with the help of the mother, held the boy up to Pope Francis, who took the boy in his arms and kissed him.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2302984/Rhode-Island-parents-moved-tears-Pope-Francis-kisses-disabled-son-8-Easter-Mass.html#ixzz2PL1f1NY7

 

As some of you may or may not know, once per week I write a blog article on the Takoma Park Patch.  Here is the blog posted on March 27th.

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

Recently, someone commented on my posting entitled Gratia Benedictus XVI.   This writer, who stated she (and I only assume it was a she but it could have been a he) was a Catholic School teacher.  She was very upset that the priest at her parish spoke about the petition against gay marriage.  She stated: "He went on endlessly spewing hatred and discussing a topic I had not yet discussed myself with my daughter. While I can accept him even with this attitude, I have to wonder if he would accept me and the way I believe?" 

I am not quite certain what the "hatred" was, but we can safely assume that the author believed that homosexual marriage was okay.  I can only surmise that abortion is probably okay too, but the author did not go into that topic.

This led me to think that maybe it is time for Cardinal Wuerl and the Archdiocese of Washington to ask all teachers (in fact all employees), that as part of their contract (if they do not do so already), they agree to believe, teach, administer and live by the Catholic Faith.  

One bishop, Bishop Vasa of Santa Rosa has asked his teachers to do so.  According to contract addendum, they are reminded that they are "a ministerial  agent of the Bishop who is the chief 'teacher' of the Diocese."   In addition, they also agree that they are "cognizant of the fact that modern errors -- including but not limited to matters that gravely offend human dignity and the common good such as contraception, abortion, homosexual 'marriage' and euthanasia -- while broadly accepted in society, are not consistent with the clear teachings of the Catholic Church."

Now some of you are saying:  How dare the Bishop do this!  He has no right!  You are out of your mind to even suggest such a thing!

But how many of us work for a place that has a code of ethics/conduct?  How many of us agreed to it?  Does it have language about pornography at work, sexual advances, supporting LGBT lifestyles, etc?  Do you necessarily agree with every statement made?  Then how is it different than what Bishop Vasa is asking and what Cardinal Wuerl should do, if he is not doing it already?

Personally, I would love to see this implemented in this Archdiocese, if it is not being done already.  Oh, and if the teacher who commented signed such an agreement, then maybe she should reconsider who she (or he) works for.   Oh, and you should thank that priest for standing up for true marriage.

Note:  This blog posting does not necessarily represent the views of the Archidocese of Washington or the Catholic Church in the US.  But maybe it should.