Cleansing Fire

Defending Truth and Tradition in the Roman Catholic Church

Posts Tagged ‘Homosexuality’

Week 07 in Catholic Media, 2014

February 16th, 2014, Promulgated by Diane Harris

Good NewsScreenShot348

1)  Moral Strength in Africa: we are seeing a backlash in Africa, missing from many other parts of the world, against being forced by the West to follow its opinions on abortion and contraception for the sake of money.  (revised)  Nigeria recently passed strong legislation which the Canadian government blamed for its withdrawal an invitation to the Nigerian President.  Last summer President Obama also pressured the Kenyan and Sengalese governments to see same-sex marriage the way he does, as a “right,” with the implicit threat of more pressure from the U. S. if those countries don’t give in.  Is the U.S. is becoming “bully of the world?” In related news, the Nigerian archbishop states that the Church will not compromise its moral teachings to placate Western elite; story can be viewed here.

2.  Baby born to ‘brain-dead’ womanIn the sad death of a Canadian woman, new life was created, as her husband fought for the courts to keep her alive long enough that a healthy son could be delivered by Caesarian section.   This case contrasts sharply with that of a Texas man who sued to force the state to remove his similarly ‘brain-dead’ wife from life support, killing the baby, also at 22 weeks.

3. Catholic archbishop leads boycott of businesses building Planned Parenthood abortion facility:  Kudos to the Archbishop of New Orleans, Gregory M. Aymond, for leading a boycott of all businesses which in any way participate in or facilitate the erection of a new $4.2 million Planned Parenthood abortion facility.   He wrote: “Every person and organization involved in the acquisition, preparation and construction of this or any abortion facility… are cooperating with the evil that will take place there”Abp. Gregory Aymond ….. The archdiocese and affiliated organizations, including schools, nursing homes, and churches, “will strive in [their] privately funded work not to enter into business relationships with any person or organization that participates in actions that are essential to making this abortion facility a reality…. Our fidelity to Church teaching and our conscience necessitates this stance….There is no justification, including economic hardship that will make a direct or indirect relationship with Planned Parenthood, or any abortion provider, acceptable,” he said. The archbishop explained that scandal is considered by the Church to be “a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.” 

Bad News

When Courts and governments become instruments of Satan, those in its jurisdiction become the victims.  Here are a few recent ways that courts and governments may be seen to have betrayed those who rely on their decisions:

1)  Refusal to enforce prostitution laws In the recent trend of refusing to enforce laws against long-accepted immoral behavior, and passing legislation to legitimize everything from same-sex marriage to abortion and euthanasia, the Canadian Province of Ontario and other jurisdictions have announced they will stop enforcing prostitution laws.

2) Prevent Goodness: And the flip side of pushing evil into the world is action by the courts to prevent goodness from showing, ScreenShot008as North Carolina’s ‘choose life’ license plates are ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. Appeals Court. 

 3) Judge’s ruling that Kentucky must recognize foreign gay ‘marriages’ may open door to polygamy

4) Obama-appointed federal judge strikes down Virginia’s same-sex ‘marriage’ ban.

 5) Nevada’s governor and attorney general stated that they would cease to defend the state’s marriage amendment,  becoming one more jurisdiction ignoring the will of the people.  These individuals, who defended the law just last month, had previously filed in support of the amendment in November 2012.  The law was challenged by eight same-sex couples and these officials caved.

 6) Belgium Parliament passes law allowing children to be euthanized.  How many steps will there be before children born with birth defects will be included?  How many steps after that will it be mandated that such “imperfect” people must be euthanized, to remove the burden from the state.  Slippery slopes only go DOWNHILL.

7) At least ten Catholic colleges will host Vagina Monologues in 2014  The only force capable of speaking out strongly against the perversions of justice is the Catholic Church.  We see a good example of that by the Archbishop of New Orleans in one of the “Good News” articles above.  Unfortunately, much more is needed, from individual Catholics, Catholic institutions and its hierarchy.  These icons are often only one step away from or now undermining their own faith.  Newest additions to that Wall of Shame are the Catholic colleges and universities hosting dissident speakers and events, gay proms and pornographic entertainment.  And in the Province of Ontario, a Catholic School Board sponsored a lecture on how to oppose Catholic Moral Teachings:

Good News or Bad News?

And then there are events which seem good or bad on their surface, but often need “wait and see” to determine the effect.

1. Facebook users can now choose between 50 new ‘gender identity’ optionsThis one is definitely worth the click.  Bet you couldn’t have thought up a dozen options, let alone 50?  “Male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 5:2.  This one which almost made it onto the “bad” list above was propagated by Facebook this week.  It has a question mark only because of the associated question:  Reaching the billions claimed to use Facebook, will this drama finally point to an absurdity against which the reasonable mind rebels? or is it only one more instance of institutionalized social change?  If the change endures, then perhaps we should expect much longer driver’s licenses, on which we will have dozens of gender options, and which will need to be carried as a rolled up scroll over our sun visor?  The quest for absurdity knows no limits.

2. The Guttmacher Institute recently put out a study documenting the decline in abortions.  Father Pavone, of Priests for Life, replied that “A Decline in abortions, for whatever reason, leads us closer to our goal.”  What could possibly not be “Good News” about this announcement?  It is merely a question of truly analyzing and ‘getting behind’ the numbers.  It is very good news, of course, that the number of abortions are declining, and while the Gosnell horrors and increasing web of regulations doubtless play a part, we should be very sure that the gross visible bloodshed and risk of the abortuary isn’t being eclipsed by the more hidden abortion caused by an abortifacient.  I am not convinced that the data yet compensates for the new means of abortion, newer, cleaner, dead baby nonetheless.  So “for whatever reason,” is true only if displacement to a more secret killing away from the mass media and individual conscience sensibilities is not the cause.  Otherwise, it would not be leading us closer to our goal.  Note — this is not to dispute that there is a real decline, only how much.  Because if/when the data for abortifacients catches up, it could then appear as an increase yet not be one.  Worth keeping an eye on.

3. Pope Francis to Archbishop Chaput: Bring Your A-Game to Rome:  How in the world could this NOT be seen as good news?  The simplest answer is “Because we don’t know what it means, yet.”  ABP ChaputMany apostolates in the Church are directly authorized by a Diocese.  Many are not.  (For example, one might consider this blog to be a lay apostolate, a response by good-conscienced, well-meaning people to a need of their brothers and sisters in the faith. Church Militant TV, on a much bigger playing field, may also be seen the same way.  What does organizing the lay effort mean?  More control by the Church?  or more opportunities for lay people to be free to contribute their gifts?  What does it mean when one thinks of how pastoral administrators have ‘taken over’ in recent years?  A super-laity, imposter clergy?  or a self-actualization of all Catholics?  Are additional involved laity going to be more people to get a salary?  or move current paid positions into volunteer efforts?  If, as the article suggests, some “Curia of the Laity” is on the horizon, is it for unleashing the power of the individual lay Catholic, or for controlling it?  Will this unblock past obstructions in the Curia to being responsive to laity? or just become one more impediment?  These words are not claiming either, or even some other yet-unarticulated concern.  It is simply to say that not all nice-sounding announcements result in what we hope for.  One can ask “What has impaired this way of achieving such lay objectives for many years now?”  And one can also ask if this will lead to a dangerous level of clout in the hands of regional conferences, or will it, at last, direct their activities where needed and productive.  Let’s wait and see.  Meanwhile, here is the link to the article on Pope Francis’s calling on Archbishop Chaput:  http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pjsmith/pope-francis-tells-archbishop-chaput-to-bring-his-a-game-to-rome/  (A rather pro-personality piece for Abp. Chaput.)

Excerpts:  [Abp. Chaput will be] part of a team that will advise Pope Francis on how the lay faithful can more effectively contribute to the life and mission of the Church.   the Pontifical Council for the Laity could end up becoming more than  just a ScreenShot346Vatican “think tank” and have some real authority (beyond its current role in approving and supervising the Church’s lay apostolates), if it turns into a proposed Congregation for the Laity, much like the existing congregations for bishops, clergy and religious …. when Archbishop Chaput comes to Rome, his new task will be not only promoting the laity, but also helping the Holy Father tear down the spirit of clericalism in the Church, which has been identified by Pope Francis as a major wall to evangelization.” 

Reflections on Leprosy and the LCWR

May 1st, 2013, Promulgated by Diane Harris
The St. Joseph Foundation in San Antonio, Texas, is a not-for-profit organization which represents both the ordained and laity in vindicating their rights within the Catholic Church.   They do not charge for their services, because they believe we all should have access to pursue our Canon Law rights. That is why the Church codifies our rights, although it is often too expensive for individuals to pursue on their own. Hence, I believe the St. Joseph Foundation performs a valuable service, is faithful in its work, and worthy of support. 
 
ScreenShot298Their Newsletter is widely received not only by laity and the ordained in the US, but also in the Vatican, especially among Canon Lawyers and significant members of the hierarchy.  Recently, I sought advice from the Foundation on where it would be best to publish a paper I had written regarding Reflections on the LCWR — the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.  Their very quick response was that the St. Joseph Foundation would like to publish it in their own Newsletter, Christifidelis.  I was delighted to have them do so, and pleased that I would be able to publish through such a well-respected organization, both in their regular mailed Newsletter, as well as on line.
 
Note that the rest of this particular paragraph is not currently true, as their website is under repair.  Therefore, I am uploading below the 4 pages on LCWR Reflections from the Newsletter for those who want to access it.  [Their May 1, 2013 newsletter is now available on line, and can be foumd as the most recent entry under the Newsletters tab.  However, to read more than the opening paragraph, it will be necessary to register.  That is easy to do, and at no cost, and I can guarantee you won’t be spammed.  However, registering will give access to much of interest on their website.]
 
I believe the LCWR article is timely, since Pope Francis, in his first 30 days in office, reaffirmed the needed reformation of women’s religious orders in the U.S. and, just this past weekend, a 70 year old nun in Kentucky got “ordained.”  Many people are so poorly informed, and the popular press is so distorting, that there are those who now believe she is a priest.  The reason I wrote this article on the LCWR and its disobedient push for women’s ordination is because I believe the Holy Spirit has put it on my heart to speak out on that destructive influence.
 
 
 LCWR FINAL 001
 
 
 
 
 
LCWR FINAL 002
 
 
 
 

LCWR FINAL 003

 
 
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McQuaid Scandal

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A McQuaid Alumnus Responds to Fr. Salmon

April 14th, 2013, Promulgated by Dr. K

A McQuaid alumnus, rightly upset with Fr. Salmon’s indefensible decision to permit an openly gay couple to attend the junior prom at this Jesuit Catholic high school, has penned the following letter which he has permitted to be shared at Cleansing Fire.

My friends, if you too are offended by the McQuaid decision, don’t hesitate to make your voice heard! Contact our Apostolic Administrator, contact Fr. Salmon’s superiors in the Jesuits, and of course contact Fr. Salmon himself in the hope that he will experience a change of heart.

Related posts: here and here.

Father Salmon:

I recently learned of your decision to allow two male students to attend the Junior Prom as a couple. I do not normally consider it my place to correct ministers of the Church. You have an authority which I do not and it is incumbent upon you, within reason, to understand the nature and duties of your ministry with regard to the moral law. However, it would be a sin of omission on my part, as an alumnus, a practicing catholic, and a father, to remain silent in the presence of so clear and public an act which undermines the faith of the Church and thereby endangers the souls of her children entrusted to your care.

You have said that you are neither condoning nor encouraging sinful acts. Make no mistake, by your decision you do encourage and you do condone sin, both in those two men who glory in their shame and in all those who are witnesses of your decision. A prom is a courtship ritual for the young overseen by adults to help them mature toward the possible vocation of marriage. It is guided discernment. If permitting two men to attend is about mere friendship, as you imply, then let them attend singly and enjoy one another’s company in that capacity. No one opposes or disputes the wholesomeness of friendship at a social event. But, the symbolism of attending as a “couple” is lost on no one. By permitting this act you are encouraging grave sin. If you permit one in your care to walk out into busy traffic, or you declare how “welcome” he is to do so, you are encouraging his death. Except in this case your act is far worse because, more than the death of the body, you encourage the death of the immortal soul.

You appeal to love and compassion as reasons for your decision. Indeed, the true guide of every good and just act is the ordo amoris, the order of love. Ordained to this end, the mission of the Church which you represent is the salvation of souls, that they may be eternally sustained in the love of God. This is why the moral law is preached by her ministers: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” All true and enduring compassion is founded in seeking the divine life for ourselves and others. Yet where is the love and compassion in encouraging a man to damn his soul? This is not love of neighbor but hatred of God. You speak of hope. All true and enduring hope is founded in expectancy of the vision of God. Yet where is the hope that fails to announce the glory which awaits those who struggle to imitate the uncompromised purity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother? To console a student in a public display of acquiescence to sinful inclinations is not hope but despair of the fruits promised to those who fight the good fight for their souls. Our Lord ate with tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes to call them to repentance not to console them in their sinful lives. “Your sins are forgiven you, go forth and sin no more.” Compassion is not permissiveness.

You speak of dispelling fear. As followers of Christ we are commanded not to be afraid of the dangers that surround us, but to stand in fear of the Living God who can cast both body and soul into hell. But where is the fear of God when darkness is called light, when good is called evil and evil is called good?

You speak of discrimination. While it is not our place to condemn men, it is the duty of priests above all to condemn sin and encourage goodness. We are indistinguishable in that every one of us suffers from the inclination to sin. Yet our Lord comes with His offer of salvation to clearly divide those will accept Him in repentance from those who will reject Him in obstinacy. “For now the axe is laid to root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.” “Whose winnowing fan is in His hand. And He will thoroughly cleanse His floor and gather His wheat into the barn. But the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

You are a priest of the New Covenant whose duty it is to preach, teach, and sanctify in God’s Holy Name. But in your letter you refer to the Pope, the Bishops, and the Bible in defense of your decision to encourage sin. In this you blaspheme our Lord’s institution of the Papacy, you blaspheme the College of the Apostles, and you blaspheme the Holy Scriptures. I beg you to consider that you are given the charge to lead souls to God. Of the authority given to each of us in this life an account will be demanded of us from the Lord. Bishops’ conferences, parish committees, and school boards will not be held to account on the terrible Day of Judgment, but each bishop as the shepherd of souls in his diocese, each pastor as the shepherd of souls in his parish, and each catholic high school president as the shepherd of young impressionable students and onlookers.

Do not dismiss my message as a diatribe written out of anger and unjust judgment. I do not harbor anger against you nor do I seek to discern the state of your soul. I am a poor sinner who has no place to judge another. My intention is to denounce manifest sin for what it is. As for my tone, when a shepherd is leading his flock to a precipice, is it more fitting for an onlooker such as myself to whisper or to shout at the impending danger? Woe to me should I remain silent while you are surrounded by those in this wicked and perverse generation who applaud evil acts. Will they applaud on the Day of Judgment when the souls in your care are lost?

You are not only a priest, but a son of St. Ignatius. Of those admitted to his Society he said the following: “As to intention that they be studious of all virtue and spiritual calm, steadfast, strenuous in what they undertake in God’s service, burning with zeal for the salvation of souls, therefore attached to our Institute which directly tends to dispose the souls of men to the attainment of that end from the hand of God our Creator and Lord” (Constitutions: Part I, Ch. 2, #8). He repeats numerous times the clear goal for his Society of God’s glory and eternal life: “…The object of the Society and its studies is to assist their neighbors in the knowledge and love of God and the salvation of their own souls” (Constitutions: Part IV, Ch. 12, #1). The purpose of a Jesuit, your purpose, is to lead souls to salvation.

St. Ignatius is clear in how the Society’s purpose is to be carried out in an educational setting. He asserts that the task entrusted to leaders such as yourself is moral as well as intellectual: “The whole care or superintendence and government of the University shall be in the Rector…endowed with such gifts of God of which mention has been made that he may satisfy the whole University in the fulfillment of the duty committed to him in learning and morals” (Constitutions: Part IV, Ch. 17, #1). Specifically, his vision for those served by his Jesuits in this capacity is learning inseparably united with the spiritual life: “Let diligence be used that they who come to the Universities of the Society to study literature acquire also good morals worthy of Christians to which it will greatly assist if all go to the Sacrament of Confession at least once a month and hear Mass every day and a sermon every holy day when one is preached. And each of the preceptors will take care that this be done by his pupils” (Constitutions: Part IV Ch. 16, #1). In exhortations given by and to students he instructs the following: “Inciting them to increase in all purity and virtue that thus their style may not only be exercised but their morals improved.” (Constitutions: Part IV, Ch. 16, #3). In leading souls to salvation, you are to encourage morality not immorality. Yet St. Ignatius is not alone in defining your mission with such powerful clarity.

The hierarchy of the Church has also been eminently clear as to the purpose of the Society of Jesus in education. When Pope Pius VII reestablished the Society, he pronounced a distinct objective for the institutions under its care: “We declare besides, and grant power that they may freely and lawfully apply to the education of youth in the principles of the Catholic faith, to form them to good morals, and to direct colleges and seminaries…” (Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum, #130). The Church has entrusted you with a grave duty to disseminate the very morality which your decision contradicts.

For the glory of God and the eternal good of the souls made in His image and likeness entrusted to your care, please reconsider your decision.

May God Bless You. May He set alight the true fire of charity within our souls and may He have mercy on us who is coming to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.

In the Love of Christ Jesus,
Alumnus

Fr. Edward F. Salmon, SJ Allows Gay Couple to Attend McQuaid Prom

March 28th, 2013, Promulgated by Dr. K

It’s all over the local news. Here is McQuaid Jesuit president Fr. Edward F. Salmon’s letter announcing that the Rochester Catholic high school will allow gay couples to attend the junior prom.

March 27, 2013
McQuaid President, Fr. Edward Salmon, SJ

McQuaid President, Fr. Edward Salmon, SJ

Dear Sisters and Brothers of our McQuaid Jesuit Community: Our new Holy Father, Pope Francis [He’s hiding behind Pope Francis, a man who has spoken publicly against gay marriage and adoption as evil], in the homily for his Inaugural Mass, had encouraging and inviting words: “Today amid so much darkness we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To protect creation and to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope, it is to let a ray of light [watch how many times he uses this phrase] break through heavy clouds.

”Darkness and heavy clouds have gathered here at McQuaid recently because of misinformation, fear, misunderstanding, and even anger. That misinformation, fear, misunderstanding, and even anger came about after two of our brothers asked whether they could attend the Junior Ball together. Into the darkness of misinformation, fear, misunderstanding and anger, together with Pope Francis [Again], I invite and encourage each and every one of us in the McQuaid family to be men and women who bring hope to one another. I invite and encourage each and every one of us in the McQuaid family to be men and women who look upon one another with tenderness and love. I invite and encourage each and every one of us in the McQuaid family to open up a horizon of hope, to let a ray of light break through heavy clouds.
I myself would like to let a ray of light break through by correcting some misinformation. It is simply not true, as was reported and as many seem to have assumed, that a decision had been made by McQuaid authorities not to allow the young men in question to attend the Junior Ball. No decision had been made.
I would like to let a ray of light enter into the darkness of fear. I, together with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who in their Pastoral Message, “Always Our Children,” “. . . call on all Christians and citizens of good will to confront their own fears about homosexuality [So it’s not the two men choosing to be a homosexual couple against God’s design that’s in the wrong, it’s us?] and to curb the humor and discrimination that offend homosexual persons. We understand that having a homosexual orientation brings with it enough anxiety, pain and issues related to self-acceptance without society bringing additional prejudicial treatment.”
I would like to let a ray of light enter into possible misunderstanding of the Church’s teaching. In that same message, Always Our Children, the Bishops are clear –“Nothing in the Bible or in Catholic teaching can be used to justify prejudicial or discriminatory attitudes and behaviors.” The Bishops continue: “It is also important to recognize that neither a homosexual orientation, nor a heterosexual one, leads inevitably to sexual activity. One’s total personhood is not reducible to sexual orientation or behavior.” In that same message, the Bishops refer to a 1986 Letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which emphasizes that “Respect for the God-given dignity of all persons means the recognition of human rights and responsibilities. The teachings of the Church make it clear that the fundamental human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must strive to eliminate any forms of injustice, oppression, or violence against them [How far do we go? Could you then argue that we should promote gay marriage because it might not necessarily result in homosexual acts?].”
The Bishops continue, “It is not sufficient only to avoid unjust discrimination. Homosexual persons ‘must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2358). They, as is true of every human being, need to be nourished at many different levels simultaneously. This includes friendship, [brotherhood] which is a way of loving and is essential to healthy human development. It is one of the richest possible human experiences. Friendship can and does thrive outside of sexual involvement.”
Lastly, I would like to let a ray of light into the darkness that anger can bring. Based on the misinformation circulating and a certain misunderstanding of Church teaching, some people began posting prejudicial and humiliating comments in the social media. Speaking or writing or acting out of anger is not usually helpful. Others, however, deeply concerned for the dignity and respect of all persons, wrote thoughtful and encouraging e-mail messages to McQuaid officials [Translation: “Those opposed to a gay couple attending the prom are angry and prejudiced. Those who support it are thoughtful and encouraging. If you hold to the Church’s teachings on homosexuality, you’re a bad person”].
In conclusion and in the hope that I and all of us at McQuaid Jesuit will let a ray of light break through the darkness and the heavy clouds that have surrounded us, I have made the decision that, if our two brothers who have asked to attend the Junior Ball together wish to do so, they will be welcomed.
With this decision I am not contradicting the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church with regard to human sexuality [Yes, you absolutely are contradicting the teachings of the Church! You’re putting unnatural homosexual relationships on an equal plane with heterosexual relationships.]; I am not encouraging nor am I condoning homosexual activity just as I do not encourage or condone heterosexual activity at a dance. I am not contradicting the Church’s opposition to the redefinition of marriage. With this decision I invite and encourage us all, as Pope Francis does [Unless he has official word from the Holy Father that he supports this, don’t hide behind the pope], to exercise care, protection, goodness which calls for a certain tenderness “which is not a virtue of the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid [Typical ploy of the homosexual lobby: imply that opposition to gay marriage is out of fear (they use the term “homophobia”)] of goodness, of tenderness.”
Sincerely in the Lord,
Edward F. Salmon, S.J.
President”

 

It would seem that McQuaid Jesuit High School has abandoned its Catholic identity. Please consider informing our Apostolic Administrator through one of the following methods below:

Bishop Robert Cunningham
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
240 East Onondaga St.
Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315)422-7203
Fax: (315)478-4619

Or, contact these high ranking officials in Syracuse to relay a message to our administrator:

Rev. Msgr. J. Robert Yeazel (Vicar General): ryeazel@syrdio.org

Rev. Timothy Elmer (Chancellor): telmer@syrdio.org

If Fr. Salmon’s decision stands, it might be time to pull your son out of McQuaid.

Update:

There is reason to believe this whole thing was a premeditated stunt intended to stir the pot. Check out the following links:

1. An online petition was created: http://www.change.org/petitions/let-the-two-openly-gay-mcquaid-students-go-to-the-prom-as-a-couple

2. The student called a sleazy local radio host to garner public support:

“Earlier this month, a McQuaid student called into “The Wease Show” on 95.1. The Brew, saying he had asked permission to attend the Junior Ball with another young man.”

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/McQuaid-gay-couple-prom/oADh9zG0A0a7EZq8ZDT5aQ.cspx

Update 3/29/13: In response to the many requests for appropriate contacts in this matter via comments and e-mail, here are a few contributed by our readers.

Very Reverend David S. Ciancimino, S.J.
Provincial, NY Province of the Society of Jesus
39 East 83rd Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10028

Office Telephone Number: 212.774.5500
FAX: 212.794.1036
E-mail: nykprov@nysj.org

– and/or –

Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller.
Prefect for The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”
[Secretary: Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J.]
Piazza del S. Uffizio ll
00l93 Rome Italy
Europe
phone: 011.3906.69.88.33.57
phone: 011.3906.69.88.34.13
fax: 011.3906.69.88.34.09

– and/or –

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia
Pontifical Council for the Family
Palazzo San Calisto
Piazza San Calisto 16
00120 Vatican City
Italy

– and/or –

Archbishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani, Prefect
Congregation for Catholic Education
Office of Schools
Palazzo della Congregazioni
Piazza Pio XII, 3
00193 Roma, Italy

Fruits Indeed…

March 26th, 2013, Promulgated by Dr. K
Bishops Clark and Hubbard receive the "John Cardinal O’Connor Award"

Bishops Clark and Hubbard receive the “John Cardinal O’Connor Award”

An excerpt from Bishop Clark’s acceptance speech, as printed in the progressive America magazine:

“Fruits of the Council – Prayers for the Church”

My overarching awareness of the experience of 50 years of priesthood and 34 years of episcopal service is that it all began at the same time that Vatican II began. That realization leaves me deeply and abidingly grateful for the wonderful fruits of the council. It also makes me aware that there is much yet to be done. It has been my privilege all these years to walk with people whose faith and generosity make the Kingdom come every day. The lay faithful, women and men religious, our priests and deacons in great number really do get it, that they are gifted by and called to holiness, that they are to participate fully, actively and consciously in the life of the church; that they are to be salt and light for others.

They know that we are in this together. They know that we embrace Christ most lovingly when we embrace the poor, the lonely and the dispossessed. They know that we are part of a faith community which is poorer than God wants us to be without the gifts of all. Such people do continually inspire me, and I believe that God’s gracious providence has contributed to my ongoing, continuing human and ministerial formation through all the years. Shifting into this new phase of my life, I welcome the opportunity to pray in gratitude for the people among whom I have served, and for their continued growth. I shall be praying, as well, that God will inspire us to continuing, ongoing conversion.

Among the prayers and hopes I have for our beloved church are these: the revival of a genuine experience of subsidiarity in the church, so that people at every level are free to do what they do best and what they generally can do better than anyone else; and a fresh realization that pastoral authority is meant to serve freedom and communion, not only by setting legitimate limits but by listening and learning from those it serves. To grow in genuine communion, we need much more honest, respectful, even tough conversation in our church, especially around matters that are disputed. Such conversations need to center more on seeking the Truth than on who holds the power. [There is no point in debating matters which have been settled. This dialogue tactic is an attempt to keep the door open on subjects such as women’s ordination and contraception]

I pray, too, that we will strive always to translate into appropriate structures and significant decisions what our pastoral statements say about women in the church [He really doesn’t know when to give it up]; that we will widen the pastoral embrace of the church to welcome more fully and affectionately our gay and lesbian sisters and brothers [And how do you propose we do this in a way that we aren’t already? Gay marriage? Gay-themed liturgies?]; that we will rejoice that God touches the hearts of our laity with a call to pastoral ministry, not seeing that call as in competition with priesthood [In Rochester, you have made the laity superior to the priesthood. Here a group of super-laity runs parishes, delivers homilies, tells the priest what to do, decides what churches close and stay open, etc.]; that we will be especially attentive and open to the faith experience of people who show every sign of being devoted disciples of the Lord, but who say all too frequently, “I am finding it very difficult to remain a Roman Catholic.”

I conclude by telling you that the beginning of the emeritus life has been wonderful. It allows a continued opportunity for apostolic ministry; it has opened the door for more prayer, study and thought about our pilgrimage together. Even at this stage of looking back over the years, I am profoundly encouraged by what has happened. I am also aware that growth is not always linear or uninterrupted, that we always stand in need of reform. But, my friends, I do believe and know at the very core of my being that the good work our loving God has begun in us, God will one day bring to completion.

Most Rev. Matthew H. Clark

Bp. Hubbard’s speech is also available at the link above.

May these two retire down to Florida upon Bp. Hubbard’s resignation and cause no further harm to the Catholic Church.

Continued Support for Dissent

February 4th, 2013, Promulgated by Dr. K

We have written on these pages several times about the dissenting gay & lesbian organization founded in Rochester, NY called Fortunate Families. Our writers at Cleansing Fire have made it abundantly clear throughout the years that this organization disagrees with Roman Catholic teaching as it relates to homosexuality, homosexual acts, and the nature of marriage. We even went so far as to personally contact Diocese of Rochester priests who financially supported Fortunate Families, in signed written letters, to educate them about the organization’s un-Catholic positions. You’d think our priests would cease support when provided with evidence that Fortunate Families is not aligned with Church teaching. However…

Fr. Joseph Marcoux continues to send money to Fortunate Families.

The following appears in last weekend’s St. Catherine of Siena (Ithaca) bulletin:

marcouxparishFFdonation

We will repeat this until we’re blue in the face: Fortunate Families is not a Catholic organization. This group dissents from Church teachings on homosexuality. Do you still doubt us? Here is a scan of their October/November 2012 newsletter where Fortunate Families outlines their positions. I direct your attention to #7 and #3:

“7. We support civil same-sex marriage because we want our gay children to have the same support for their loving relationships as our straight children, along with all the legal rights and responsibilities that go along with that. We consider this a perfectly legitimate purpose for civil marriage, the inability to procreate not withstanding, as is the case with some of our straight children.”

3. Our gay children, just like our straight children, experience desire for friendship and companionship, and each hopes to fall in love and express that intimacy with the person with whom they wish to share their life.

fortunatefamily positions

Click above to enlarge

It’s right there, Father. Fortunate Families openly admits to supporting gay marriage. Yet, you feel it’s appropriate for your parish to endorse this organization and send them financial contributions?

Why not support a homosexual support organization better aligned with the Catholic Church, like Courage?

Fr. Ted’s Catechism — Or Why We Should Permit Gay Marriage

December 18th, 2012, Promulgated by Dr. K

Retired Diocese of Rochester priest, Fr. Edwin “Ted” Metzger, entertains a question about gay marriage from a parishioner of Greece’s Mother of Sorrows church in the parish bulletin. Sadly, Father fumbles the ball big time and implies that we should permit legalized gay marriage because people hold different opinions.

The following Q&A appeared in the parish bulletin this Sunday:

Q. More questions from a reader: What should we tell our children about same-sex marriage?
A. I would say nothing, until they ask. As far as our Catholic definition of marriage, matrimony, is concerned, The Catechism tells us in no. 1603: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament”.

Q. Shouldn’t this definition be the law for all people in all the States?
A. No [What?!], because the United States is a vast country, with millions of people with diverse and strongly held beliefs about marriage. [There are diverse opinions about abortion… does that mean abortion should be legal?]

Q. But it is obvious to many citizens of the United States that “marriage” is a union of one man and one woman.
A. True. But to be realistic, we Catholics must admit that many other citizens hold that this ‘ain’t necessarily so’. So, relax, and treat your friends and neighbors as Christ has taught us: “Love one another, as I have loved you”; John 15:12 and elsewhere in the Gospels.”

I don’t have a major qualm with the first answer, but Father Metzger is dead wrong about the next two. We Catholics have an obligation to oppose the legalization of gay marriage. Our Holy Father, while Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, had the following to say about fighting legal recognition of gay unions:

“In those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty. One must refrain from any kind of formal cooperation in the enactment or application of such gravely unjust laws and, as far as possible, from material cooperation on the level of their application. In this area, everyone can exercise the right to conscientious objection.”

“If it is true that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians. Faced with legislative proposals in favour of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are to take account of the following ethical indications.

When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favour of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.

When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is already in force, the Catholic politician must oppose it in the ways that are possible for him and make his opposition known; it is his duty to witness to the truth.

The Church cannot fail to defend these values, for the good of men and women and for the good of society itself.

Source: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html

We can not sit idly by while the definition of marriage is rewritten. Catholics have a duty to resist these efforts, and we must defend the traditional understanding of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Fr. Metzger is wrong and a correction is necessary.

If you would like to contact the Pastor of Mother of Sorrows, Fr. Adam Ogorzaly, the parish e-mail address is: mos@dor.org

Source: http://www.motherofsorrows.net/files/Bulletins/12-16-2012.pdf

A Strange but Welcome Irony

June 3rd, 2012, Promulgated by Diane Harris

I wondered when this would happen; it seemed inevitable.  The historic defamation laws in NYS (and in some other states) have made it very difficult to say someone is “gay” or “lesbian.”  They could claim defamation under state laws, and sue.  However, with the advent of the much-to-be-regretted “gay marriage law” in NYS, it is hard to imagine how anyone insisting on his or her “gay rights” could then possibly find cause of complaint if they were to be called “gay,”  or “same-sex attracted,” or “homosexual.”  Can one march in a parade carrying “gay” placards and then sue a bystander for saying “Oh, look, that’s my neighbor.  He must be gay.”  Can one subsidize LGBT organizations or appear socially with a same-sex significant other introduced as “spouse” and complain if called “gay?” 

Courts can be illogical, but it seemed the illogic would eventually have to be dealt with, and now it has been, somewhat, in NYS.  In spite of berating and bemoaning the sell-out of righteousness by the NYS legislators, there is an opportunity to speak truth that was previously suppressed.  It seems that we will increasingly be able to say what has been on our minds all along.  Even the Church pedophilia scandal (mostly between priests and boys) can hopefully get more attention for its homosexual roots.  Strange behavior by clergy heretofore considered untouchable because of the threat that the accuser would be sued for defamation should be able to better be brought into the light.  And dioceses trying to suppress arched eyebrow criticism of some of its employees for the main purpose of avoiding scandal to the Church, will have a harder time doing so since, after all, being homosexual is “normal” in civil society (just as it was before the fall of Rome.)  This should all help the spotlight to shine brighter on what has been hidden in file drawers for too long.

While this window exists (as we pray for reversal of “gay marriage”) it is worth considering the freedom to speak truth, in an area where we’ve been limited. The ruling has also been welcomed by the ‘gay’ community.  It feels a bit odd to be on the same side but, afterall, how could the ruling be opposed as gay agenda and be consistent with their other beliefs?  Here are the first court-murmurings, with excerpts of the article and a link to its entirety. 

NY court rules calling someone gay isn’t slander

Associated PressBy MICHAEL GORMLEY | Associated Press – Fri, Jun 1, 2012

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A court says it’s no longer slander in New York to falsely call someone gay.  A mid-level appeals court on Thursday wiped out decades of rulings, including its own, to say that society no longer treats false comments that someone is gay, lesbian or bisexual as defamation. Without defamation, there is no longer slander, the court ruled.

“These appellate division decisions are inconsistent with current public policy and should no longer be followed,” stated the unanimous decision written by Justice Thomas Mercure of the Appellate Division’s Third Department based in Albany. While the decision sets new case law in New York now, it could still go to a definitive ruling by the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.

The New York decision finds that the comment is now “based on a false premise that it is shameful and disgraceful to be described as lesbian, gay or bisexual.”

With Thursday’s decision and similar ones in several other states, calling someone gay is eliminated as defamation….Associated Press writer Michael Hill contributed to this report.

Church must better explain teaching on sexuality, pope tells US bishops

March 9th, 2012, Promulgated by Bernie

From Catholic News Service

…Concentrating his remarks on the need to promote and explain church teaching on sexuality, the pope said the church’s key concern is “the good of children, who have a fundamental right to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships.”…

…The moral virtues espoused in the church’s teaching on sexuality are “the key to human fulfillment,” he said, because they promote sexuality as “a source of genuine freedom, happiness and the fulfillment of our fundamental and innate human vocation to love.”

“The richness of this vision is more sound and appealing than the permissive ideologies exalted in some quarters,” which are “powerful and destructive,” he said…

…The church itself “must acknowledge deficiencies in the catechesis of recent decades, which failed at times to communicate the rich heritage of Catholic teaching on marriage as a natural institution elevated by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament, the vocation of Christian spouses in society and in the church, and the practice of marital chastity,” he said…

Read full story

Warping the Meaning of “Pastoral”

September 23rd, 2011, Promulgated by Hopefull

Tonight’s Lifesite News has the following disturbing story:

Elderly priest suspended for denouncing abortion, homosexual behavior 

By Patrick Craine

 Fr. Donat Gionet, C.J.M

BATHURST, New Brunswick, September 22, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic Diocese of Bathurst, New Brunswick has removed an elderly priest from active ministry after he caused a storm of controversy by denouncing homosexuality, cohabitation, and abortion in an August homily.

 85-year-old Fr. Donat Gionet had retired to his home town of Caraquet in June to serve palliative care patients, and now laments that in his declining years he is being forced to celebrate Mass “in secret.”

 Fr. Wesley Wade, the diocese’s vicar general, told Radio-Canada that Fr. Gionet’s comments were consistent with Church teaching, but lacked the proper “pastoral” sensitivity.

 “It was mainly the pastoral approach that was lacking,” Fr. Wade said.  “A lack of respect, perhaps, for the people identified, for the groups of people as well, which caused a division in the community.  It was a difficult decision.”

Fr. Wade did not return numerous calls from LifeSiteNews over two days.

 A member of the Eudist Fathers, Fr. Gionet had been accused by parishioners of “homophobia” in media reports last week after he criticized a homosexual parade in Moncton in an August 20-21 homily.  His loudest critic was the mayor of Saint-Leolin, Joseph Lanteigne, an open homosexual and member of the parish council, who demanded the priest’s suspension.

 In an open letter Thursday, Fr. Gionet laments that the diocese did not give him an opportunity to explain himself before suspending him.

 “To you, the diocesan authorities: did you ask me what I said exactly during the homily in question?” the priest asks.  “They did not, but only listened to people who are frustrated.”

 When asked if he would continue making similar comments, he says he can only respond “yes.”  “And if they asked me about the homily, in its entirety, I could not say ‘no’ because for me it is important to speak the truth,” he insists.

 He explained that in the August homily he noted that while “the gates of hell” seek to destroy the Church, it is, in fact, Catholics who “destroy our Church” today.  He pointed to the high number of abortions among Catholics and the presence of homosexuality in the Church.  He emphasized that cohabitating couples and homosexuals ought not to receive the Eucharist, but are still welcome to join the Church at Mass.

 “After these reflections, there were no other allusions whatsoever,” he says, adding that in the homily he went on to speak of the power of forgiveness offered through the Church.

The priest said that he is now living “like the first Christians did at the beginning of the Church: they had to hide in the catacombs to pray or celebrate the Eucharist.”

 The Diocese has released a letter to the faithful explaining the suspension, according to French-language media reports.  Bishop Valery Vienneau explains that the priest had refused to alter his statements, and the bishop expressed regret that the comments had upset the faithful.

 Contact Information:

 

Most Rev. Valéry Vienneau, Bishop of Bathurst
645, avenue Murray
C.P. 460
Bathurst, NB E2A 3Z4Tel: (506) 546-1420
Fax: (506) 548-5565
E-mail: valeryv@nb.aibn.com

Most Rev. Valéry VIENNEAU
Bishop of Bathurst

 

Stabat Mater Dolorosa

September 15th, 2011, Promulgated by Gen

Today’s sequence for the Feast of the Seven Sorrows:

STABAT Mater dolorosa
iuxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.
AT, the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.
Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.
O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!
O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.
Quae maerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.
Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.
Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?
Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ’s dear Mother to behold?
Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?
Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother’s pain untold?
Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.
Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent:
Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.
For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.
Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.
O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:
Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.
Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.
Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.
Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:
Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.
Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.
Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.
Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:
Iuxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.
By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.
Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;
Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.
Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.
Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.
Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;
Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.
Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;
Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.
While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

In the mid-1900’s, French Composer Francis Poulenc wrote a new setting of this hymn. It was one of his last major compositions before his death. Poulenc is known for being one of the first openly homosexual composers in history, and is often seized upon by some as a great champion of the LGBT movement. Indeed, he once said “You know that I am as sincere in my faith, without any messianic screamings, as I am in my Parisian sexuality.” However, as he matured, he saw the burdens and pains that come with the homosexual lifestyle, and after the death of a close friend in the 1920’s, he had a conversion. His music turned away from purely secular aims, and began to focus on God and the Church. Even his operas began to reflect a Godly focus (see Dialogues of the Carmelites). He finished the Stabat Mater in 1950, and died in 1963 after having written “Sept Répons des Ténèbres.”

Day One in Sodom

July 25th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

From the Democrat & Chronicle:

“Rochester City Clerk Dan Karin said 39 [homosexual so-called marriage] licenses were issued Sunday, and several couples obtained waivers to get married the same day.”

Certainly a far cry from the “hundreds” I have been reading in recent days and the “millions” I saw in one publication. May the number of homosexual pretend marriages be as low as possible.

On Rainbows

July 13th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

Bernie has written here before about the modern association of rainbows in art with the homosexual movement. In particular, the six-color rainbow was  adopted by the “LBGT” movement beginning in the late 1970s. This design is often featured on flags and t-shirts in support of the gay agenda.

I was surfing the website of St. Catherine of Siena (Ithaca) the other day and came across the parish’s logo for their 50th anniversary. To my surprise, the logo prominently features the six-color rainbow:

St. Catherine of Siena 50th anniversary logo with six-color rainbow

Here is the six-color rainbow associated with the homosexual movement:

LBGT flag with six-color rainbow

As we all should know from our elementary schooling, seven colors are associated with the rainbow (as in the acronym “ROY G. BIV”), not six. I’d like to think that this was an innocent mistake on behalf of the parish, but knowing pastor Fr. Marcoux’s long history pushing for homosexual inclusivity (see here, here, here, and here), I am a tad skeptical.

Early Warning Signs

July 13th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

There has been a lot of talk in recent days about the “protective umbrella” which Bishop Clark held over Jim Callan and Corpus Christi church while that parish was spiraling out of control. The author of the blog Public Vigil has revealed another piece in the puzzle. Fourteen years before the Spiritus Christi schism, in 1985, then-Father Jim Callan invited a priest from the Archdiocese of Boston to speak at his parish who made several disturbing statements about homosexuality and pedophilia. A Rochesterian who attended this talk wrote a letter to the priest’s ordinary in Boston, in addition to forwarding copies to Callan and Bishop Clark, about the inappropriate statements made by this priest.

Had only our bishop taken notice way back then and kept a closer eye on Corpus Christi.

Here are a few comments made by the visiting priest:

“When adults have sex with children, the children seduced them.”

“The Bible does not say that the homosexual lifestyle is wrong.”

“The Bible was written by ignorant men, then said inspired by the Holy Spirit.”

Click here to read the letter sent out to the bishops.

Mark Hare On Gay Marriage… Again

June 28th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

Ex-seminarian for the Diocese of Rochester and the unofficial media arm of the bishop’s office, Mark Hare, has penned yet another article in this morning’s Democrat & Chronicle newspaper in favor of gay marriage. He begins his piece praising supposedly-Catholic state senator James Alesi for his decision to break with his faith in support of homosexual marriage. Following this ringing endorsement, Mr. Hare launches into an assault on the Christian/Catholic understanding of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Here are a few excerpts:

“And yet, as a Catholic, I am fully aware of the religious objections to gay marriage. My church teaches that gay men and women should be loved and respected, but says homosexual relations are unnatural, that marriage is a union of a man and a woman that must be open to the gift of children. But how can you believe that a loving, committed relationship between two people of the same sex is a threat to the fabric of society?

When the church says same-sex marriage is an assault on the will of God, it collides head-on with the experience of millions of people. In the words of Groucho Marx: “Who are you going to believe? Me, or your lying eyes?”

obviously Christian denominations vary widely on their views on same-sex marriage. Isn’t it time for an ecumenical dialogue that can deepen everyone’s understanding? I think so.”

I find it shameful that Mr. Hare continues to use his bully pulpit in the secular D&C newspaper to attack the teachings of the Catholic Church. But I guess that is how one attains influence and power in the Diocese of Rochester, by attacking the Church’s teachings. Recall that Mr. Hare was a member of the Cathedral wreckovation committee.

See this post for more on Mark Hare’s push to promote homosexual unions in the state and in the Catholic Church.

Audio of Former Rochester Priest, Fr. Enrique Rueda

June 27th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

UPDATED by Ben on 2011-06-27. Dr. K posted this back in January and I’m simply bringing it back to the front page. I found Fr. Rueda’s words very encouraging and now it seems like a great time to hear them again. If you have a chance, at least listen to the first several minutes of the first audio clip. I love how he says it’s a great time to be alive.

Fr. Enrique Rueda

 

A little over a year ago, Fr. Enrique Rueda passed on from this life and went on to his eternal reward. Fr. Rueda was a no-nonsense, tell it like it is traditional priest who was suspended by Bishop Clark in the early 1980s over his outspoken criticism of the homosexual and liberal infiltration going on in the Catholic Church. Many have probably forgotten this great priest and the many truths he spoke. So that his words will not be forgotten, I have found two audio clips of Fr. Rueda that I would like to share with all of you.  In these clips, you will hear Fr. Rueda speak the truth about a variety of subjects including false ecumenism, women’s ordination, orthodoxy, the Latin Mass, Hispanic Catholic issues, and the liberal bent of the American hierarchy during the 1980s. There is a lot of very good stuff in these two 30 minute audio clips, so please find the time to listen to them both from start to finish (especially the first one, where he mentions the Diocese of Rochester).

Audio segment 1 – A radio interview with Fr. Rueda while he was still living in Rochester, though after being suspended by Bishop Clark (roughly 1988/9). Keep in mind when listening that this interview took place shortly after the excommunication of then-Archbishop Lefebvre, when the Latin Mass was not available in most places. Fr. Rueda makes a few mentions of the Diocese of Rochester and the liberal loonies here.

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Audio segment 2 – A talk given by Fr. Rueda on various topics, mostly Hispanic issues.

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Fr. Rueda wrote a number of books exposing the truth about progressives and liberals. Some include:

  • The Homosexual Network: Private Lies and Public Policy
  • The Marxist Character of Liberation Theology
  • Roman Catholicism and American Capitalism: Friends or Foes
  • The Morality of Political Action

Father also penned several articles for The Wanderer.

The Bishop On Denying Communion

June 26th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

If anyone is holding out hope that Bishop Clark will do the right thing and deny Holy Communion to those “Catholics” who voted in favor of the gay marriage bill (i.e – Senator James Alesi), then you probably aren’t familiar with the following comment from the bishop:

“In my 42 years as a priest, I’ve never once refused Holy Communion to anyone … I always presume good faith in those who approach.” – Bishop Matthew Clark, June 2004 Democrat & Chronicle (source)

We Live In Satan’s Dominion

June 24th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

Gay marriage has passed in New York State by a vote of 33-29.

Behold the fruit of three decades of malformed Catholics. It was absolutely sickening to listen to state senators describe themselves as “Catholic” and vote in favor of the bill. I hope that these so-called Catholics will refrain from receiving Holy Communion.

Judgment Night

June 24th, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

Homosexual marriage will go up for vote tonight.

From News 10 NBC:

“The New York state Assembly has passed an amended version of a bill to legalize gay marriage. The state Senate is expected to vote on the bill sometime Friday night.

Senate Republicans agreed to send the bill to the floor for a vote after approving an amendment that includes stronger religious protections. The Assembly, which approved the original bill earlier this week, passed the amendment Friday by a vote of 82-47.

According to the Senate’s official Twitter feed, the amended bill will come up for a vote Friday night, but it will be the last order of business.”

It doesn’t sound good for those of us hoping to see true marriage prevail. The lack of religious protection was the only thing holding back a few Republican senators from supporting the bill. Now it appears that protections (whatever these might be) have been added.

Start praying that marriage will remain between a man and a woman in New York!

Voris on Dowd and clerical homosexuality

June 23rd, 2011, Promulgated by Mike

Last Sunday the New York Times’ Maureen Dowd published an almost incoherent rant aimed at Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Canon Lawyer Ed Peters, Newt Gingrich and the Catholic Church in general, all of whom are – in Dowd’s opinion – guilty of hypocrisy, political incorrectness and other high crimes for, among other things, having the audacity to publicly oppose gay ‘marriage’.

At one point in her screed Dowd even seemed to forget the liberal elite dogma that gay is always good when she wrote of the recently released John Jay Report (my emphasis),

It concluded, absurdly, that neither the all-male celibate priesthood nor homosexuality were causes [of clerical sexual abuse].

Now Michael Voris has picked up on another line in Dowd’s column and made it the jumping off point for this edition of The Vortex:

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Hitting pretty close to home are Voris’ comments beginning at the 4:38 mark.  From the online transcript

For those who follow the affairs of the Church closely .. none of this is news. But for Catholics who don’t have time because they are busy raising a family and earning a living .. this turn of events is nothing short of shocking.

It begins to give a context and understanding to why the Church’s teaching on sexual morality is hardly ever whispered from the pulpit.

So many priests are either actively homosexual or at least support it .. that they can’t possibly preach about the evil of contraception or divorce and remarriage or cohabitation or fornication or pre-marital sex without compromising their own position.

Then of course .. there are the heterosexual priests who contact us and tell us that if they said one word in their homilies about homosexuality being intrinsically disordered and the acts evil .. the gay mafia priests in their diocese would make life hell for them.

That last paragraph called to mind a comment posted at 10 Reasons by Kit Brookside* in the fall of 2008.  By way of background, Kit had already posted the following

Readers should know that diocesan priests are treated like mid-level employees at the DOR. They are at the mercy of a number of lay administrators, financial auditors, and HR types who run the show. It is the latter who show up unannounced at rectories and Masses, and who report to the Bishop on the supposed “wrongdoings” of the more conservative priests.

… and had been asked by another reader (Susan) if she could amplify on her last sentence.  Kit replied,

Susan – without causing trouble for or invading the privacy of those involved:

My first-hand sources advise that generally, any homily that forcefully sets forth traditional Church teachings on homosexuality (i.e., the idea of loving the sinner but acknowleding and calling the acts involved “sin” vs. total inclusion up to and including marriage), morality, modesty in behavior and Sunday dress, explaining why there will be no nuptial Masses for “mixed” (Catholic/non-Catholic or second (non-annulled) marriages, supporting the Church’s stance on female ordinations are inherently suspect. These topics can cause one to be privately counseled, particularly when a parishioner kicks up a fuss or is offended by it and calls Buffalo Road – such callers usually involve parents of gay adult children (who don’t like hearing that their actively homosexual child is living in a state of mortal sin), or people who are angry and blame the Church and/or the individual “hardliner” or “old fashioned” priest for refusing to marry them/a family member to a non-annulled or non-Catholic person.

Unfortunately, I can’t divulge further or be more specific than these rather commonplace occurrences – trust me, what I could tell you would be deeply shocking to most reading this – but I hope this gives you a sense, anyway.

Essentially, because the Diocese and its Bishop have been putting out the message that rules are meant to be broken, and have ratified and condoned the public statements and actions of [F]r. Joan, Charles Curran, and others of that ilk, anyone who tries to be a bulwark of the Truth is seen as an obstacle that must be disdained, humiliated, and ultimately removed. Worse, this Diocese’s laxity has led to a dilution of the “Brand” and an expectation that the person’s, and not the Lord’s, will shall be done here – that the Church must conform to the erosion of the culture in order to survive, and not the other way around. Embracing that disordered way of thinking has led to the mess the DOR is in today, whether those in charge deign to acknowledge it or not.

(The organ’s great, though, isn’t it? Heh.)

Comments on other threads have noted that we in DOR-land seldom (if ever) hear certain Catholic doctrines forcefully proclaimed from the pulpit, or certain sins forcefully condemned.

Now you know why.

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*For the benefit of newer readers, Kit Brookside is the pseudonym of a Southern Tier blogger who describes herself as “a Catholic mom, wife, lawyer, professor, daughter, sister, mentor, boss, and employee embarked on the perilous journey PAST 40.” Sadly, her blog has been inactive for almost a year now.