Planned Parenthood Clinic on 16th St.

Many years ago, I was a regular every Saturday morning praying the Rosary outside of this clinic. There were usually about a dozen or so. Sometimes, we would be joined by a priest from St. Matthew's, sometimes students would join us.

When I think back to those days, the "clinic escorts" use to call us names, yell at us, etc. I remember one gay man walking with his friend and saying in a very loud voice: "You know, today I think I should get abortion."

Periodically, the police would come by, due to a call from the clinic. They would look, but didn't do much other than to flirt with the escorts.

For many years, the pro-life community has been allowed to pray, counsel and have a peaceful witness on the public property surrounding the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Washington, D.C.

Several weeks ago Planned Parenthood put up a fence around that public property, and police are now threatening to arrest anyone who stands inside that fence.

To read more, go to LifeSite News.

Here is an update to the story, including a little known fact about who owns what around the clinic.

And read about the CUA Students for Life at this same abortion mill.

Gonzaga and The Archdiocese

Gonzaga High School, for those who do not know, is one of the high schools in the Archdiocese. Well known for sports, their graduates have jobs in all levels of society and they are very loyal to the school.

As you may or may not know, Gonzaga (which is run by the Society of Jesus aka Jesuits) invited Sr. Carol Keehan to be the graduation commencement speaker on June 6th. (Why does it seem to be the Jesuit's who are doing these sorts of things - Notre Dame, Georgetown, etc.)

Now, I did not comment on this matter before -- not because it was not important -- but because I wanted to see how this would unfold. And it was pretty predictable, from my point of view, on the part of the Archdiocese.

Our colleagues over at Restore DC Catholicism first identified this matter over two weeks ago. In fact, they even went to protest. Right or wrong, they decided to take that action.

The Catholic Standard, in the special insert on high school graduations, did report this. But no further mention was made.

First, the smartest thing would have been for the Gonzaga administration to ask her not to come. Maybe they felt that enough time had passed that the controversy would have died down. Maybe they thought that no one would notice. Maybe they did not care. But they did not and to be quite honest, they should have known better.

However, does not Gonzaga fall under the Catholic School system in this Archdiocese? It is not listed, as far as I can tell, as an "independent" Catholic school like Avalon or Brookewood.

If Gonzaga is part of the Archdiocese Catholic School system, then Archbishop Wuerl and/or the Superintendent should have been made aware of this. Yes, they were probably aware but I guess if you ignore it, it will go away.

If Sr. Keehan was "removed" as the keynote speaker the the John Carroll Society, why was she not removed as the speaker at this? (Probably because Catholic bloggers across the country had picked up on it and it was becoming an embarrassing situation for Archbishop Wuerl.)

Was it because a couple of months have passed by and the Archdiocese thought that the issue would have been forgotten or if you don't publicize the fact, it would be ignored? Or maybe this is part of their effort to help rehabilitate her image? (Note that she is no longer with the Holy Family Hospital Foundation Board...the Knights of Malta made certain of that, just a week or so ago.)

If the school is as pro-life as the supporters say that they are, then why was she invited? There are probably 100 others who could have spoken. Did they not go to the administration and ask that Sr. Keehan not speak?

Cardinal McCarrick's attendance has once again scandalized this Archdiocese. You had him at Sen. Kennedy's funeral and now this! Again, what this does it to give a "stamp of approval" to her actions.

One of the parents in the video was scene asking "Is this really going to change anything?"

The answer is yes and no.

No, it would not stop her from speaking and probably would not change any minds.

Yes, it may once again make the Archdiocese realize that this has caused a scandal and will only make for more bad publicity. It only adds to confusing messages we are getting from the Archbishop.

Let us remember what Archbishop Chaput wrote regarding Sr. Keehan:

"Regrettably, groups like Network and the Catholic Health Association have done a grave disservice to the American Catholic community by undermining the leadership of the nation’s Catholic bishops, sowing confusion among faithful Catholics, and misleading legislators through their support of the Senate bill ."

And

"But the actions of the Catholic Health Association (CHA) in providing a deliberate public counter-message to the bishops were both surprising and profoundly disappointing; and also genuinely damaging. In the crucial final days of debate on health-care legislation, CHA lobbyists worked directly against the efforts of the American bishops in their approach to members of Congress. The bad law we now likely face, we owe in part to the efforts of the Catholic Health Association and similar ‘Catholic" organizations."

Finally, I do not entirely blame the students. Thinking back to my days, I was clueless about many things regarding our faith. For me, graduation day was the start of a whole new stage of my life. A chance for me to really be out on my own (so to speak) and see what life was like outside of my school and community.

If the students and parents were really pro-life, as many claim they are, they could have sent a really strong message by standing up and turning their backs on her during the speech. That would have sent a very pointed message to both her and the school administration. (What would they have done to the students? Give them more demerits? To the parents, send them another fund-raising letter?)

But let's be honest, all of this could have been averted had the Archbishop asked that Sr. Keehan be removed as the speaker.

So, once again, Archbishop Wuerl has let another scandal take place and another chance for confusion and dissension among Catholics.

Nice job Archbishop Wuerl.

Laser Monks...

On a regular basis, I get emails or read about supporting religious communities by purchasing their products. Now, as much as I like cakes and candies, I really don't need my weight to go up any more than it is.

However, I have recently purchased some cartridges from Laser Monks. The prices and quality were good and I am supporting a good cause.

You might think about it.

http://www.lasermonks.com/

PS: I did not get paid in any way, shape or form for this advertisement.

Update to the June 1st Blog Post

Earlier this week I told you that Msgr. Paul Dudziak of St. Rose of Lima Church in Gaithersburg, MD told the congregation during his homily that by not recycling, you are creating your own BP oil spill.

Well, our colleagues at Restore DC Catholicism were kind enough to post the audio of this. Go over there and listen.

I wonder if the folks over in Hyattsville agree with this statement? Maybe it is time for the Archdiocese to really take a close look at what is going on over there. My sources tell me that VOTF is still meeting there.

Ms. Gibbs, if you would like to comment on this matter, please send me an email and I will post your response.

The Archdiocese Environment Committee -- The Wackos are Taking Over

A number of bloggers, including myself, have written about the Archdiocese of Washington Environmental Committee. Remember the Lenten Fast suggestions this year? Who could forget that? Probably the Archdiocese wish it would have never happened.

Well, it seems that they are sponsoring an "evening of service prayer, repentance and reflection" regarding what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico on June 9th.

Now, I can understand how we want to pray for those affected by this and the devastation that is happening to the coastline and wildlife. I understand it and pray for those affected by it.

However, I do have two questions for this Committee:

• What do we need to repent for? I am not certain what we have done to be sorry for? Do you mean that by using my car to go to work is something I should repent for? Do you mean that taking my family on a vacation is a crime that I should be ashamed of?
• How do you intend to get to St. Camilus? If you are driving a car or taking any other form of transportation that involves fossil fuels, aren't you part of the problem and not part of the solution?

What is going on here? Are the environmentalist wackos taking over? Is this going to be the new devotion in the Archdiocese? Instead of the Year of the Priest, it will be the Year of the Environment? (I probably just gave someone an idea!)

Doesn't anyone think about what they are saying? You claim that we should repent? Start with yourselves. Stop driving to buy food, go to the doctor and even going to Mass. Walk or bike. Read day old newspapers and use sandals made from old tires. Only shop in consignment shops and don't take a shower every day.

Is this what the Archdiocese is helping to fund?

BTW, I would love to hear from anyone on the Environment Committee and I promise to post your response exactly as you have written it.

Environmentalism Running Amok in the Archdiocese?

As many of us watch BP unable to stop the oil leak and The Most Merciful in way over his head, I received an item from a reader. Now, I am not certain if she is trying to tell me something or just to let me know of the general wackyness that comes out of St. Rose.

She sent me an audio sermon of Fr. Paul for Pentacost Sunday. At the very start, he says "that every house that does not recycle is its' own BP oil spill."

Wow! Can you believe this? I certainly do not expect to hear this at Mass.

I wonder if he will say that every family which supports the gay lifestyle is like its' own Castro St or Folsom Street Fair? Now that I would like to hear.

(BTW, I would have posted the audio file but Google Blog does not support the posting of them.)