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. 

Help Support BOAST - A Money Saver for Maryland

From the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC):

BOAST Saves Money

Issue: The General Assembly will again take up the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit this session. By enabling businesses to receive a 75% state income tax credit for their donations to scholarship institutions, BOAST (Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers) would help: increase scholarships for Catholic and other nonpublic school students; increase grants for Catholic and other nonpublic school teachers; and increase enrichment programs for public school students. Scholarships created through BOAST would help low- and middle-income families stay in Catholic and other nonpublic schools, and stabilize enrollment at those schools. Did you know that Catholic schools actually SAVE the state of Maryland - and taxpayers - 713.5 million dollars EVERY YEAR? And if you include other nonpublic schools, the savings to the state and taxpayers exceeds $1.5 billion every year! Gov. Martin O'Malley supports BOAST. Let's show our support and get our delegates to cosponsor BOAST.

Click here to write to your delegate.

Help Stop Maryland Senate Bill 566

This is the first of two bills which the Maryland General Assembly is attempting to pass that would represent an erosion of respect for human sexuality and disregard for our society's foundational relationship. Please help to fight it.

According to the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC):

Senate Bill 566 is a transgender rights bill that would codify in law a distinction between one's "gender identity" and one's "assigned sex at birth." The bill is well intentioned and the Church respects the dignity of each individual. However, such a distinction manifests an egregious violation of our society's basic understanding of the human person, and the natural complementarity of the sexes. As written, the bill does not include protections for religious institutions, which would be required to comply with the employment and other provisions of the bill in regards to transgendered individuals.


My only gripe I have with the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) on this is: Where the heck were they when we were fighting this in Montgomery County? They were AWOL.

++++

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

MCC Legislative Activity for Non-Public Schools Announcement - Part I

Recently, I received a notice from the Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC). It is abbreviated below:

Maryland Legislative Activity for
Non-Public Schools - November 2007

The Maryland general assembly will meet for the 2008 legislative session in January. With current state budget problems, funding programs for Catholic schools will be as difficult as ever to secure. We need your support to keep the following issues, identified by the Maryland Catholic Conference, in the forefront for our legislators to consider:

Textbook/Technology funding: currently funded at $4 million (approx. $22/student for St. John’s school) for fiscal year 2007-08. Ask legislators to restore a previous allocation of $6 million (approx. $30/student) or, at least, to maintain the current allocation for the 2008-09 school year.

Quality Teacher Incentive Tax Credit: This is a $1,500 state income tax credit currently available to public school teachers to offset cost of coursework needed to maintain or advance certification. Ask legislators to extend this benefit to non-public school teachers as a straightforward matter of equity.

BOAST Maryland Tax Credit (Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers in Maryland): This program would provide state income tax credit to businesses that donate to programs that benefit all of Maryland’s students and teachers – public and private. A similar program in Pennsylvania has been very successful in providing funds for Catholic schools.

Senator: Richard S. Madaleno, Jr.

Delegates: Ana Sol Gutierrez and Jeff Waldreicher. One delegate position is open due to the death of Jane Lawton.

Now, it is great that they want to lobby these folks, but let's be real about these legislators: They are no friends of Catholic schools.

More about this in Part II

The Maryland Catholic Conference -- Do they really represent Catholics?

As you may or may not know, the Governor of Maryland recently called Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly. The purpose was to raise taxes without cutting spending.

The Maryland Catholic Conference (MCC) issued a statement on taxation. If you like, you may read it here (as published in The Catholic Standard -- the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington DC): http://www.cathstan.org/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=19&ArticleID=166&TM=71169.52

After reading it, to put it mildly, I am disappointed with their stance and philosophy on a number of points:

• A progressive tax system is actually the most regressive and punitive form of taxation that can be imposed. It says to individuals and families that if you work hard, use your talents and skills to the fullest, you will be punished for it. The government,not the individual who earned it, will decide what is not "your" best interest to do with all of the money you have earned over a certain amount. In addition, it hurts charities because individuals will have less money in their pockets and therefore, less money to donate to worthwhile causes.
• Paying taxes is incorrectly viewed as the way citizens give back to society. Citizens give back to society by donating their time, talent and money on a voluntary basis. Taxes are not voluntary, they are mandatory. If the MCC philosophy on taxes is valid,then the Church should "tax" all parishioners in order to be full members, because it would their way to giveback to the Church.
• Tax cuts are the best way to increase revenue for all levels of government. Since JFK was president,all major tax cuts made have shown an increase in the amount of tax revenue collected by the US Federal government. Why? When people have more money in their pockets, the usual inclination is to spend it,which leads to the increased collection of taxes. The problem with tax cuts, is that politicians rarely decrease spending, only increase it.
• Finally, the philosophy of "distributive justice"or "distribution of wealth" is simply Marxism by another name. Marxism, Socialism and Communism are all"failed -isms." These "-isms" which may be attractive to many because of their "lofty goals" are the most destructive to any economy, state and peoples. One only needs to look at the history of the former Soviet Union and other Marxist-Leninist states. Even China and Vietnam -- both Communist states -- have slowly begun to turn away from this economic philosophy.

I believe it is time really look at the people who are staffing the MCC.

Maybe it is time for some serious house cleaning.

Agree with it? Maybe it is time to let the Archbishop know!