Catholic Standard Update for April 18, 2019

I am sorry that I am very late with the update, but I did not get a hold of a copy until it was Easter and then one thing led to another...   You know the story, but never fear, we have the latest update for you.

• As expected, we have a number of stories about the new Archbishop of Washington, including his visits with St. Anthony School, Catholic Charities, our seminarians, and last but not least, the Little Sisters of the Poor.
• We have a story about the new Archbishop, who pledges to "offer hope, rebuild trust."  However, how can you do that, when you are part of the overall problem. 
• We have a brief article on the fire at Notre Dame.
• The Annual Report from the Child Protection Advisory Board has been included.  Interesting to note that Msgr. English on it, as he was in charge of Priest Personnel, a number of years ago. 
• We have a couple of stories about those who will entering into Communion with Rome.
• The rehabilitation of Cardinal Wuerl continues with a story about his sermon during the Chrism Mass and his officiating at Palm Sunday Mass.  I find the summary of his Chrism Mass sermon is ironic and hypocritical, considering that he is a major part of the problem.  Note that the Standard failed to mention his little "I forgot about McCarrick" issue, his continuing to pull the strings in the Diocese and in Rome, among others
• We have a summary of the Maryland General Assembly actions, including some nice words for Speaker Mike Busch.  Now, Speaker Busch was given a Catholic funeral, even though he was a strident supporter of abortion and gay marriage.  
• A story on the new organ at St. Peters (on Capitol Hill) and another on the new parish center at St. Al's in Leonardtown.
• A story on Georgetown and the issue of student fee for reparations.  My question is: Since Georgetown does not fall under the direction of the Archdiocese, then why do you give them any press coverage, esp. when they do something stupid. 

FOR SHAME GEORGETOWN, FOR SHAME!!!

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Tonight, Georgetown University will present pro-abortion Senator Dick Durbin, D-IL, whose bishop recently barred him from Holy Communion, with an award for devoting “his life to the core Jesuit value of service to others.”

Georgetown President John J. DeGioia will present Durbin with the Jesuit university’s “Timothy S. Healy, S.J. Award for exemplary public service.”

This award is “conferred upon Georgetown alumni who have rendered outstanding and exemplary service to his/her profession or community in support of humanitarian causes,” according to the University.


For the full Life Site full, click here. 

Cardinal Wuerl at Notre Dame. What will he do?

Cardinal Wuerl is scheduled to celebrate Mass at Notre Dame and receive an honorary degree.  This at the same time as VP Joe Biden, the highest ranking elected Catholyc, will receive an honorary degree.


Cardinal Wuerl made an issue of Georgetown University and PP.  Will he do something to show that ND is wrong with honoring pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage Biden?


Probably not.


To read more about this, go to LifeSite News :https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/the-pending-outrage-at-notre-dame-the-moral-challenge-to-cardinal-wuerl

Cardinal Wuerl Speaks on PP at Georgetown (And the Archdiocese issues a statement)

Well, I did not expect anything from the Cardinal.  But I WAS WRONG and I am happy to be wrong on this.


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“In our present culture, we have seen an increase in antagonism against Catholic teaching and the Church itself,” Wuerl concluded.

“It is precisely in these times that the Catholic institution of higher learning is called to continual self-examination to ensure that it maintains and promotes an authentic Catholic identity, that it recognizes the importance of virtue, and that it attempts to be a beacon of Christ’s truth and love as manifested in and through the Church.”

For more, go to: http://catholicregister.org/home/international/item/21902-washington-cardinal-rebukes-georgetown-for-inviting-planned-parenthood-chief




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The Archdiocese of Washington has issued the following statement:


What we lament and find sadly lacking in this choice by the student group is any reflection of what should be an environment of morality, ethics and human decency that one expects on a campus that asserts its Jesuit and Catholic history and identity.


One would prefer to see some recognition by this student group of the lives and ministry, focus and values of people like Blessed Óscar Romero, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Pope Francis in place of that group’s seemingly constant preoccupation with sexual activity, contraception and abortion. The Archdiocese of Washington is always open and ready to dialogue with the students, faculty and administration of the University on issues of such significance.


The apparent unawareness of those pushing the violence of abortion and the denigration of human dignity that there are other human values and issues being challenged in the world lends credence to the perception of the “ivory tower” life of some on campus. This unfortunately does not speak well for the future. One would hope to see this generation of Georgetown graduates have a far less self-absorbed attitude when facing neighbors and those in need, especially the most vulnerable among us.


For the complete statement, go to: http://adw.org/2016/03/07/statement-of-archdiocese-of-washington-on-georgetown-university/

Georgetown U to host Planned Parenthood CEO

Once again, Georgetown University has decided to insult and demean its' Catholic identity (if it has any left) in the name of academic freedom.   

No word from Cardinal Wuerl on this but I do not expect anything. 

You can read it all here:  
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/georgetown-defends-hosting-planned-parenthood-ceo-cecile-richards

Dog Tag Bakery

I will have to check this out when I get down there...

Readjusting to the American workforce after active military service - particularly when dealing with injuries - can be notoriously challenging, which is why two enterprising philanthropists have put their heads together to form an unlikely solution.

Dog Tag Bakery - which trains and employs wounded veterans, not just in baking but in actually running the business - was launched last year in Georgetown, Washington D.C., by Father Richard Curry, a professor of Catholic Studies at Georgetown University, and entrepreneur Connie Milstein.

It's a two-floor operation; upstairs a study center where ex-members of the U.S. ex-military (and their spouses or caregivers) are taught classes in business, finance and marketing, and downstairs a storefront bakery, where these skills are put into practice running the operation for local customers.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2981876/A-recipe-success-New-Dog-Tag-Bakery-teaches-wounded-U-S-veterans-business-skills-need-enter-civilian-workforce.html#ixzz3TcA2W6IO

Georgetown Law class required to work for pro-abortion lobby

A class at Georgetown University’s law school scheduled for next semester will have students working with a pro-abortion rights advocacy organization, taught by that organization’s senior counsel, Kelli Garcia. Garcia, a radical pro-abortion rights lawyer, wrote the poem titled, “Planned Parenthood, Why Do I Love Thee?” in 2011. The poem was part of a larger effort by Garcia and her group to halt the potential defunding of Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion provider.

For more information, go here:  http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/georgetown-law-class-required-to-work-for-pro-abortion-lobby

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There are at least two priests on the Board of Governors:  Fr. Steck, SJ, and Fr. Walsh, SJ.   Will they take a stand on this?

There are five priests on the Board of Directors?  Will they take a stand on this?

Altough Cardinal Wuerl has taken a hands off approach (as far as we can tell) with Georgetown University.  Will this continue?

Canon Lawsuit Against GTown University...How can you help?

GTown alum William Peter Blatty and the Father King Society are calling upon all alum, students, teachers, and other affiliated w/ GTown, to join the join them.  They are asking for the Vatican to ensure that GTown is Catholic:

Georgetown University’s twenty-one year refusal to comply fully with the law of the Church through the implementation of the general norms of Ex corde Ecclesiae and its eleven year non-compliance with certain particular norms adopted for the United States, which has led directly and indirectly to the tolerance and promotion of deviations from authentic doctrinal and moral teachings by Georgetown University authorities and a long series of Scandals to the faithful through actions inconsistent with a Catholic identity.


This request for intervention may even include the suspension or revocation of GTown as Catholic.

Here is the Link:  http://www.gupetition.org/


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In other news, it seems that the communities which make up LCWR are voting to determine to become independent or to remain as is, under the auspicies of the Vatican. 

Comfortable with same-sex marriage...

By now, you have heard Joe Biden (the highest elected Catholyc in these United States) says that he is in support of same-sex marriage. 

Now, why did he do it at this time?  Well, we know that (1) he and Obama are worried about their re-election and need to shore up the homosexual voters (and their money) and (2) he knows that our Catholic leaders won't do a damn thing to him for it.  Look, if they threw Fr. Marcel under the bus, do you really think that they (Cardinal Wuerl and/or Bishop Malooly) will really put their foot down about Joe Biden.

In addition, did you notice that there was no comment about Sebelius at Georgetown. I wish Georgetown would simply say:  We are no longer Catholic and stop the charade.

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

Guess Who is NOT on the list..and another slap from Georgetown University...and more drivel from the WaPo

Guess who is not on the list opposing the Health Care Bill...

and another slap in the face from Georgetown and...

more drivel from the Washington Compost...

The historic vote that made health-care reform into law ends a three-decades' old anti-abortion strategy. The ground has shifted from under the old-line bishops and the single-issue National Right to Life organizations or blogs like those from the redoubtable Catholic League that want to stop abortions by legal and/or judicial fiat. It's painfully obvious that the previous strategy is obsolete. The unlikely trio of Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Penn.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) were three Catholics who drove home this message as Sunday's contest turned into Monday morning.

Read the rest of it here...if you have the stomach for it.

From Today's Washington comPost...

The Washington Post has two articles about gay student groups. One is at Catholic University of America and the other at Georgetown University.

I applaud CUA for trying to hold firm. Georgetown, in my humble opinion, is a lost cause and our Archbishop only seems to enable this.

Thanks to The Deacon's Bench for pointing this out.

Georgetown - A Slap in the Face Again!

According to the Cardinal Newman Society:

On September 3, 2009, Georgetown University, a Jesuit, Catholic institution in Washington, D.C., plans to bestow upon AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, despite his organization’s advocacy for homosexual “marriage” and laws mandating employee insurance coverage for contraceptives.

“The Catholic bishops have made it abundantly clear that Catholic universities are not to publicly honor leading opponents of Catholic moral principles,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society (CNS). “We strongly urge Georgetown to uphold its Catholic mission and rescind the honor to John Sweeney.”

Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia, on August 24, issued an e-mail invitation to all faculty, staff and students of Georgetown’s law school “to attend the ceremony for the conferral of the degree Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, upon John J. Sweeney,” president of the AFL-CIO.

In March 2009, the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations), the largest federation of trade unions in the U.S., unanimously called on the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8, which amended that state’s constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

The AFL-CIO constituency group Pride at Work has repeatedly promoted homosexual “marriage” and hailed laws in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont in the face of strong opposition from the Catholic Church.

So much for he call by the Archbishop for Catholic institutions to work with him.

Not a word of condemnation by the Archbishop on this, nor did I see anything from the Catholic Standard.

Georgetown to Honor Biden!

According to the Cardinal Newman Society:

On Wednesday, April 22, Georgetown University Law Center will host an event honoring Vice President Joseph Biden with the “Legal Momentum Hero Award,” in direct violation of the U.S. bishops’ 2004 policy against such honors to pro-abortion politicians.

According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, Biden "strongly support[s] Roe v. Wade.” Biden was the co-sponsor of the oppressive Freedom of Choice Act in the 102nd and 103rd congresses. He also voted for federal funding of Planned Parenthood and embryonic stem cell research, and against parental notification for minors seeking out-of-state abortions, a ban on abortions at military facilities, and a ban on human cloning.

Tomorrow’s symposium is sponsored by the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law and Legal Momentum, a women’s rights advocacy group that sharply conflicts with the Catholic Church by promoting “reproductive rights,” advocating same-sex marriage and opposing abstinence-only education programs and pro-life crisis pregnancy centers. Legal Momentum was founded as the National Organization for Women's Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1970.

Where is our Archbishop on this?

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Help Stop Obama at Notre Dame, sign the petition.

Lesbian Friendly Catholic Churches in Washington DC?

Recently, I stumbled across a website entitled: Conference for Catholic Lesbians, Inc.

As I browsed their website, I came across a section entitled: Welcoming Places for LGBT Catholics. When I clicked on Gay and Lesbian Friendly parishes, it provided a list for Maryland and Washington DC. Here is the list:

- Dahlgren Chapel of Georgetown University (DC)
- St. Aloysius (DC)
- Holy Trinity (DC)
- St. Matthew Cathedral (DC)
- St. Rose of Lima (Gaithersburg)

First, the Conference of Catholic Lesbians is part of the network of dissident groups, such as Voice of the Faithful, Call to Action, etc.

Now, in reviewing their website, this organization is pushing for lesbians to live in a homosexual lifestyle, while maintaining that they are Catholics in good standing. This is of course in total opposition to the beliefs of the Church.

In looking at the various parishes/churches above, I would believe that Holy Trinity and at the Dahlgren Chapel of Georgetown University, would easily look the other way (and even possibly encourage) gays and lesbians to live a life that is totally opposed to the Church, while considering themselves faithful Catholics.

St. Rose of Lima is a parish that I have discussed previously on this blog. However, if you have noticed, their weekly bulletin does not have much on events dealing with homosexuals. Maybe it is because of the attention they have received via this blog. Maybe it is something else. But it is hidden under the radar.

St. Matthew's is a different matter, or maybe I am simply unaware. I know that St. Matthew's for many, many years has had outreach program (Courage) and now has Always Our Children. These are in line with Church teachings. However, maybe there is something that I am not aware of.

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Stop Obama at Notre Dame. Click here to find out how.

Anti-Catholicism and Georgetown University

Well, for a "Catholic" university, it seems that quite a number of anti-Catholic things seem to take place:

March 21: Desecration of the Our Lady of Fatima statue. University did not seem to do much. Washington Post did not report it. Guess it will not be classified as a hate crime and therefore, no one will undergo sensitivity training on Catholicism. Wonder if the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) will push a bill to make this sort of stuff a hate crime. Probably not.

March 30: The unofficial student club H*yas for Choice is sponsoring a workshop titled: Sex, Lies, and Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

March 31: Being Religious AND Pro-Choice. Hear representatives from Catholics for Choice and Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom discuss how they incorporate their pro-choice beliefs with their religious beliefs. And most of all, come see why being religious doesn't mean you can't be pro-choice.

Once again, the Jesuits really can show everyone how to run a Catholic University.

Where is Fr. Reese on this or is he still to busy defending the Most Merciful, the Lord High Barack Obama and stem cell research, and his visit to Notre Dame.

For more, click here.

Dissenters and Now Porn at Georgetown University

Catholic Online had the following story:

Jesuit-run Georgetown University promoted "Sex Positivity" week on campus from February 24-February 28, 2009. Condoning sexual misconduct and deviance places undergraduate students, many of whom are still legally considered to be minors, in a potentially predatory and psychologically abusive environment.

On February 24, a session featured a speaker from a pro-fetishism, pro-bondage, and pro-cross-dressing organization. On February 25, Ash Wednesday, the session on "Torn about Porn?" discussed alternative forms of pornography that are allegedly not exploitative. On February 28, pornographic film maker/director Tristan Taormino and open marriage promoter Jenny Block addressed "Relationships Beyond Monogamy." The Guerilla Theatre advertised a public square event with people on soapboxes arguing about pornography, and with soapbox readings of 'sex-positive' poetry during class breaks.

Where was the Rev. Thomas Reese, S.J., senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center of Georgetown University on this matter? I guess he was to busy working on his defense of okaying the destruction of human embryos to notice.

For the complete story, click here.

What do you expect from a "Catholic" University?

During the family crisis over the weekend, I inadvertently left my paper copy of the Catholic Standard at an undisclosed location. (No, I know exactly where I left it.) However, I did have a chance to look through it before returning to my domicile.

If I remember correctly there was an article regarding the fact that US News and World Report came out with their college rankings. (Although I have always been very dubious of the rankings, nonetheless, many colleges love them.) The article focused on the fact that there were a couple of "Catholic" colleges on the list, Georgetown being one of them.

However, I came across a very interesting Commentary by Diogenes over on the Catholic Culture website. According to Diogenes:


A recent issue of the Georgetown Magazine contains an article titled "Out on the Hilltop," which treats of gay students at Georgetown over the years, and advances the University's efforts to make its connection to Catholic teaching totally opaque. We're given a number of brief profiles of gay students and alumni and their triumphs over homophobia and internalized shame. The Catechism's instruction concerning homosexual acts is stated correctly in the article, and thereupon the administration's response is given in the wooly prose that conveys the fact that the administration does not wish to communicate its mind on the matter.

If you've been paying attention to the way these battles are waged among Catholics, you won't be surprised that the issues are not subjected to a moral or theological assessment, but instead contradictory positions are elicited from a diversity of "Catholic voices," with the implication that no stance is more Catholic than another, but personal and arbitrary inclinations will steer different Catholics to different conclusions.


In the original article, two priests both graduates of Georgetown are interviewed. Once who upholds the Catholic faith and the other who believes that being gay and Catholic is a "matter of ongoing negotiations."

Personally, I have a real problem with a "Catholic" university (and a Catholic priest) basically supporting an immoral lifestyle. However, this is not just an issue for the university but even one for the USCCB.

How so?

When the Pope came to visit the USCCB created a Papal Blog. One of the postings discussed the number of Catholic universities and colleges. I posted the following, which was removed in a short time:


How many of those who are listed as Catholic colleges and universities are really Catholic? Georgetown and Trinity in the Washington DC area both have homosexual organizations and regularly go against Catholic teaching, such as Trinity's invitation to Nancy Pelosi.


And, let us not forget that Archbishop Wuerl has himself washed his hands of such matters.

So, what do you expect when the USCCB and the Archbishop refuse to take a stand. You get a Georgetown and a Trinity. Both Catholic in name only.

Usus Antiquior at Georgetown University

Reported that the Solumn Form of the usus antiquior at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. took place on May 16th.

For more details, click here.

Tip to the hat to The New Ligurgical Movement.

USCCB, the Papal Blog and Catholic Education

On the USCCB Papal Blog, a blog posting was made regarding Catholic Education. In particular, there was a paragraph on the number of "Catholic" colleges and universities.

Now, being a bit of a wise guy/gal, I left the following comment on the blog:

How many of those who are listed as Catholic colleges and universities are really Catholic? Georgetown and Trinity in the Washington DC area both have homosexual organizations and regularly go against Catholic teaching, such as Trinity's invitation to Nancy Pelosi.

Since it is the USCCB's blog, they decided that it wasn't worth posting.

Now, they have that right -- it is after all their blog -- but I wonder how many other people really believe everything they are saying about Catholic education in the US.

And for those of you who are interested, I made certain to get a screen shot of my posting.




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Quote of the Month:

"I've got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old, I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby. So it doesn't make sense to not give them information." Barack Obama