President Obama Signed the Healthcare Bill on March 23, 2010
(EWTN News) — President Barack Obama has not kept his promises about conscience protections for abortion opponents, and those who trusted him to exclude abortion from the health-care bill seem to “have been played,” Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said.
“His administration is running roughshod over conscience-protection provisions’ long part of the law that find their justification in the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion, a foundational human right,” the archbishop wrote in a Dec. 2 essay in the Miami Herald.
“It is one thing for an administration to support and promote an agenda; it is quite another to force those who disagree with it to violate their moral and religious principles.”
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: You were warned your excellency. You and your brother bishops were all warned. We Catholic bloggers told you this day would come. We yelled it from the top of our lungs. YOU CANNOT TRUST PROGRESSIVE LIBERALS!!! YOU CANNOT TRUST BARACK OBAMA!!! YOU CANNOT TRUST THE LIKES OF NANCY PELOSI!!! (My God! Is she still in the Church? Have you not excommunicated her yet!?! What does this woman have to do to be excommunicated???) WE WARNED YOU. YOU DID NOT LISTEN. WHERE IT NOT FOR YOUR SUPPORT, OBAMACARE WOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED. BUT YOU DID SUPPORT IT, AND YOU TRUSTED THOSE WHOM YOU KNEW WERE NOT TRUSTWORTHY. NOW WE MUST ALL PAY THE PRICE!!!
The first to pay will be Catholic healthcare workers. Doctors, nurses and technicians will become the first martyrs of your naivety. Next it will be you! I do hope your excellencies will lead us now by example in martyrdom. I do hope you would not permit your sheep to be fined and jailed before you. I do hope you have not left us, the laity, to fight for the faith in your place. You led us into this situation, and since you cannot now lead us out of it, we do hope you will at least lead us into martyrdom.
In HIS Majesty's Service,
The Catholic Knight
(PS - I work in healthcare. I am prepared to be martyred for this. If I'm lucky, I may only lose my job. If necessary however, I am prepared to face fines and a prison sentence for following my conscience. It's just too bad my kids will have to go into poverty should it come down to that. Maybe you could help them out when the time comes?)
St. John of God, Patron of Publishers Pray for us!
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: On January 21st, 2011 the Missouri Catholic Conference Messenger ran a number of articles outlining it's case against the Missouri Jobs Act, otherwise known as the "Missouri Fair Tax." This series of articles was very condemning of the measure, creating the illusion that the legislation harmed the poor and opposed the social teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholic Missourians reading the articles were likely to walk away with the notion that one cannot support the measure and still remain a Catholic in good standing with the Church. To make matters worse, the Missouri Catholic Conference (MCC) cites as it's board of directors the Catholic bishops of the State of Missouri (Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, Bishop Edward Rice, Bishop John R. Gaydos, Bishop James V. Johnston and Bishop Robert W. Finn). The "Messenger" claims to write on behalf of the MCC and as a voice for Missouri's Catholic bishops.
There were two things I found particularly disturbing about this. The first was the way the articles were written. They left the reader with the impression that there was no redeeming quality to the Missouri Jobs Act, thus giving the reader the false impression that one cannot support it and remain a good Catholic. The second was that the lead article was written by a person who may not necessarily have the best interests in mind for Missouri's Catholic bishops or the Catholic Church's social teaching in general.
Amy Blouin
Amy Blouin is the Founder and Executive Director of the Missouri Budget Project which David Catanese of KY3 News in Springfield Missouri described as a "liberal leaning" organization. Ironically, she is the former Director of Advocacy for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis from 2001 to 2003. While she doesn't appear to be working within the internal structures of the Catholic Church anymore, she apparently still has connections with the MCC and the "Messenger."
A snapshot of Rep. Oxford's blog
taken on 3/8/2011
Click Image To Enlarge
While it is difficult to discern Blouin's personal political leanings with a brief search on the Internet, we can learn a lot about somebody from the things she says and the people she associates with. Blouin's father, who was a Democratic Congressman in Iowa and ran for Governor in 2006, was listed as having a significant influence on her life in an interview with the St. Louis Business Journal in 2008. Blouin also listed her husband, Joe Squillace who teaches as an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Social Work, as a significant influence who encouraged her to start the Missouri Budget Project. Background aside, what is revealing about Amy Blouin and Joe Squillace is their apparent connection to Democratic Missouri Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford - the first open lesbian elected to the Missouri Legislature. Representative Oxford is pro-abortion, and in 2010 received a "Pro-Choice" grade from NARAL. Oxford also appears to be a supporter of same-sex unions. The connection between Oxford and Blouin comes from a post on Oxford's own Internet blog dated July 14, 2006 in which she claimed a fundraising Party at Amy Blouin and Joe Squillace's home for her reelection would be held on Thursday, July 27, 2006 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and would be co-hosted by "Amy and Joe."
Assuming this information from the State Congresswoman is accurate, and we have no reason to believe it isn't, it would appear that Amy Blouin has no problem actively supporting (even hosting fundraisers) for political candidates who oppose the Church's most basic social teachings against abortion and gay-marriage. This gives us some background context for Mrs. Blouin's article in the "Messenger."
Before I dig into the article, and Mrs. Blouin's consistently left-wing bias on many issues she speaks to on behalf of the Missouri Budget Project, I would like to ask some questions. Why is this person writing articles for the Missouri Catholic Conference? Do the bishops on the MCC's Board of Directors approve of people writing opinion articles on their behalf, who think so little of the Church's teaching against gay-marriage and abortion, and doing so in a newspaper that reports to speak for them? If Amy Blouin demonstrated such egregious lack of judgment, as to support and fund raise for an open lesbian candidate who supports the murder of innocent unborn children, why would the bishops of the MCC trust her judgment on any lesser social issue? Let alone, why would they let her speak for them on it? Furthermore, what has become of the "Missouri Catholic Conference Messenger?" Is it nothing more than a soapbox for Left-wing activists promoting their agenda under the cloak of episcopal representation? Is this how Missouri's Catholic bishops want to be represented?
Now while The Catholic Knight does not personally know the minds of the bishops of the MCC, I have been able to ascertain from their writings, statements and homilies that they are not men who would likely condone this. I am left with the impression that the bishops of the MCC may not know (or may not have been fully informed) of the issue at hand, and the type of representation they got in Amy Blouin's article. I suspect they may actually be misinformed by those running the MCC "Messenger." I admit this is just an opinion on my part, but based on the evidence I've just presented above, I think it's a fair assumption. In light of this, the bishops of the MCC may want to revisit this issue and perhaps investigate the way things are being run by the administrative staff of the MCC with particular attention to the kind of message that is being printed in the "Messenger." Furthermore, to address the damage that may have been done to the conscience of Missouri's Catholics, the bishops might want to consider some form of statement, or press release, that addresses the matter directly. These are just my humble suggestions, for as it stands right now, thanks to the January 21st edition of the Messenger, it would be fair to assume that a large number of Missouri Catholics are under the impression that they can't be good Catholics and support the Missouri Jobs Act at the same time. This impression almost appears to bear the seal of Missouri's Catholic bishops, or at least that's the notion that was created by the Messenger.
Another notion created by the Messenger is the idea that matters of economics and taxation trump the Church's social message of abortion and same-sex marriage. This message was created by giving Amy Blouin such a prominent position in the newspaper. Her apparent support and fund raising for a pro-abortion lesbian candidate is scandalous to say the least, especially when she is placed in a position to speak for the bishops in their own newspaper. One can only wonder how many Missouri Catholics now think fiscal matters and taxation are more important than abortion and family. Again, this is another issue the bishops of the MCC may want to publicly address.
All that aside, let's get down to the nitty gritty of the topic at hand. The subject of the article written by Blouin was about the Missouri Jobs Act, sometimes referred to loosely as the "Missouri Fair Tax." Other articles written by different columnists followed - all of them negative. Now the MCC opposes the Missouri Jobs Act, and Amy Blouin's article was used to back their position. How much Blouin's article influenced the MCC is not clear, but it is certain the MCC is using articles written by this Left-leaning activist to bolster their position.
With all of the pressing social issues that surround us today, one would think Catholic newspapers would be preoccupied with addressing the big three - Life, Family and School Choice. Certainly the Wisconsin bishops have wisely decided to stay neutral in the ongoing dispute between labor unions and state budget cuts. To clarify the Wisconsin bishops' stand on the ongoing labor/budget dispute, Bishop Morlino of the Diocese of Madison issued the following statement...
...The teaching of the Church allows for persons of good will to disagree as to which horn of this dilemma should be chosen, because there would be reasonable justification available for either alternative. (This is unlike the case of abortion or euthanasia, for which reason can offer absolutely no justification in terms of the killing of an innocent victim.)...
This was a wise move indeed, as these bishops know full well that Catholics can hold to good-faith positions on both sides of the issue. Pope Benedict recently pointed out that the pressing issues facing modern civilization can be summarized as the...
"protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception to natural death; recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family -- as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage -- and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its de-stabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role, and the protection of the right of parents to educate their children."
- (Pope Benedict XVI, March 30, 2006).
In a society where literally none of these big three necessities are met, one would think Catholic newspapers would focus on them with the full intensity of a red-hot laser beam, shuffling the other issues (such as budgets, taxes, government spending, etc.) to a secondary status.
Not so with the Missouri Catholic Conference Messenger, which for 2011 seems to have decided to put the issue of state taxes at the top of the list. Now Missouri is not like the West Coast or New England states with crushing state income and property taxes that burden families. In fact, Missouri ranks about middle of the road in income and property taxes in comparison to the rest of the country. The Missouri legislature is not contemplating a tax hike that threatens families either. No, what the Missouri state legislature is contemplating is a complete change in THE WAY it collects taxes. The Missouri Jobs Act is Missouri's version of the increasingly popular nationwide Fair Tax proposal. The measure is designed to attract jobs to the state of Missouri, which in the end is the greatest form of social justice and option for the poor in a depressed economy facing a "jobless recovery." Across the nation, economists of all stripes have pointed out that legislation of this kind would indeed attract business and grow the economy.
Here's how it works. All current state income, capital gains and sales taxes are completely eliminated. In exchange, the state implements a low state-wide sales tax on all newretail goods and services, gradually phased in over five years. There is no tax on the sale of used goods, income, investments or savings. The plan assures the changes will be revenue neutral for the state and local communities in each year of transition and allows revenue to grow as the state and local economies grow. Now before we go on let's review...
All current state income, capital gains and sales taxes are completely eliminated.
These are replaced with a single state-wide retail sales tax, onnewretail goods and services that is phased in over five years.
No used goods, income, investments or savings are taxed.
Now of course, any good Catholic should ask the question "what about the poor?" Yes, that's a good question. How are we to insure that the poor do not pay the same sales tax rate as the rich on the basic necessities they need to survive and thrive in Missouri's economy? This issue is specifically addressed with a sales tax prebate that is paid out to all Missouri citizens, compensating them fully for all taxes paid on basic retail necessities based on the poverty line. That means nobody in extreme poverty pays retail sales taxes, reducing the retail sales tax rate for the average Missourian in extreme poverty to zero percent (0%). This is because people in extreme poverty obviously can't buy as much retail goods to begin with. The prebate insures that when they do buy retail goods (or have to buy retail goods) they will pay no state sales tax on those goods. Those who buy more retail goods will obviously pay a slightly higher average percentage (1%, 2%, 3%, etc.) when averaged out with the prebate, depending on how much they spend. It is an established fact that people who make more money tend to spend more money. Those who make the most money, will obviously spend the most money, and those people will in turn pay the highest average percentage of retail sales tax. No income tracking mechanism is needed because the percentages average out on their own based on the prebate and how much you spend. If you spend below the poverty line you pay 0%. If you only spend a little above that, your average sales tax might be around 1% or less. If you spend a little more, it may go up to 2%, all by itself, based on averages, because everyone is reimbursed with a prebate based on the poverty line. What makes this system unique is that it requires considerably less money to operate, as the collection system is already in place at every cash register in the state. It's no different than collecting the state sales tax already collected at Missouri's cash registers....
So now the most commonly asked questions follow...
Is this system perfect? The answer is no. That's because no system is perfect.
Is this system impossible to cheat? Again, the answer is no. There are ways to cheat the system, but then there are even more ways to cheat the current income and sales tax system already in place in Missouri. Besides, this new system will eliminate far more cheating than that, in the sense that people who currently don't pay Missouri taxes (criminals, illegal aliens, people who are paid "under the table") will now pay Missouri taxes every time they buy something at the cash register.
Is the system absolutely and perfectly fair? No. That's because no system of taxation is absolutely and perfectly fair, but in many ways it's a lot more fair and reasonable than the current system.
Is this system better than the current system? Now that's up for debate. A lot of it depends on how you look at at. The truth is nobody really knows the answer, because nothing like this has ever been implemented anywhere in the world before. It is truly a unique and different idea that has yet to be tried. Now this idea is growing in popularity, and in time somebody will try it. It may be another U.S. state, or it may be a completely different country, but somebody somewhere is going to try this eventually. When they do there is a very strong likelihood that state or country is going to experience some economic growth and an increase in jobs. So the question is should Missouri be the first to try it? That is the question before the Missouri state legislature now. It's a question that should get a fair hearing and does not deserve to be crushed prematurely by rogue episcopal newspapers leaving Missouri Catholics with the false impression that no good Catholic can support this.
The Catholic Knight holds to the position that issues of taxes and economics are secondary compared to the far more pressing social issues of abortion and gay-marriage. I think I'm in good company, as the pope holds to a similar point of view. That being said, I am certain that good Catholics can hold good-faith positions on both sides of the Missouri Jobs Act. This is an issue that should be up for healthy debate in which Catholics are free to support or oppose without feeling bullied by rogue newspapers claiming episcopal representation.
Now there are a few issues that are of direct concern to Catholics, which I will attempt to address fairly here. The first has to do with the accusation that Catholic parents would be forced to pay sales tax on the tuition for Catholic schools. This accusation is completely false according to Carl Bearden, the Executive Director of United For Missouri, who points out that under the current legislation proposed no charitable organization will be made to collect the sales tax and no taxes will be collected on any level of education. Meanwhile, the Messenger painted a completely different picture, leading readers to believe churches and religious schools would be taxed. This is misleading.
The Messenger also leads readers to believe that the poor would be taxed disproportionately. As pointed out above, this is simply not the case, as the extremely poor would pay no tax at all, and those who spend at levels just above that would pay an extremely low average sales tax, compared to people with higher incomes and spending, once the prebate is factored in. Also as pointed out above, the legislation rewards thrift. So people who shop at second hand stores, garage sales, swap meets, flea markets, and so on will not pay any state sales tax whatsoever. The legislation encourages the poor to save their money by buying second hand items whenever possible. Once again, the Messenger gets it wrong and misleads readers into false information about the bill.
As I pointed out above, churches and private charities will pay no taxes under the current form of the bill. In Tennessee, which has no state income tax, charitable giving is much higher than Missouri, even though Missouri has a specific income tax deduction for charitable giving. In other words, Tennessee Catholic parishes are collecting more tithes per family than Missouri parishes. Yet the Messenger would have you believe churches will lose money under the Missouri Jobs Act. Once again we have misleading information from the Messenger.
Finally, the Messenger paints the picture that Missouri's public services will suffer under the proposed legislation, that revenue will be cut, and there simply won't be enough money to go around anymore. Well, that's a pretty bold assumption when you consider that not even the State Auditor Tom Schweich could make such a claim. Schweich admitted that the cost or savings to the state could not be determined at this time. However, we can look at other nearby states that have eliminated their income tax in favor of a sales tax, and what we see is that indeed these states do have the necessary revenue to keep their public services operational and sufficiently funded. Proponents of the Missouri Jobs Act never claimed it was a panacea to solve all of Missouri's financial woes. What they claim is that the legislation will simplify the tax code, eliminate the need for Missourians to report their income to the state, attract more jobs to the state, and be just as fair to the poor as the current system if not more so.
Yes, Missouri Catholics CAN support the Fair Tax. They can also choose not to support it. It's a matter for an informed conscience and open debate. Catholics can hold good-faith positions on both sides of the issue, and still be good Catholics in good standing with the Church, and I dare say remain in good standing with the Catholic bishops of Missouri. Again, it would be helpful if Missouri's bishops would publicly address this issue themselves, since the MCC has already seen fit to address it for them in such a troubling and confusing way. Until then I want to encourage my fellow Catholic Missourians to get both sides of the story, look into this matter carefully, and not be bullied by rogue Catholic newspaper columnists who claim to be speaking for the bishops of Missouri. But you don't need to take my word for it. If you want to know what your bishop really thinks, write him a letter and just ask. "Dear Bishop, Is it possible for a Catholic to hold a good faith position on either side of the debate surrounding the Missouri Jobs Act?" The Catholic Knight says "yes," while the Messenger seems to say "no." Maybe it's time for Missouri's Catholic bishops to research both sides of the debate and speak for themselves on the matter.
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: For the last four years, The Catholic Knight blog has been preparing it's readers for the coming liturgical reform of Pope Benedict XVI. At times it seemed like the coming reform was so far away. At times it seemed like it would never come. NOW IT IS UPON US!
Starting in Advent of 2011, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will promulgate the new English translation of the Roman Missal, which has been in the works since the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, and mandated for immediate implementation by Pope Benedict XVI. You can learn more about the new Missal translation HERE at this official website put out by the USCCB. The website is designed to prepare the laity for the coming changes, as they will be quite profound. In reality, the official mass is not changing at all. The mass stays the same. What is changing is our English translation of it. The problem with our previous translation is that it wasn't a true translation of the original Latin text at all. It was more or less a paraphrase or what they call "dynamic equivalent." Many Latin scholars would disagree with the latter, saying there was nothing "equivalent" about it. They would contend the previous English translation was in actuality a watered-down butchering of the original Latin liturgy. Most Latin-English scholars agree this new translation is far superior, and a much more accurate rendering of the original Latin text.
The effect of our previous English translation on liturgical celebrations in the United States has been quite profound. In many parishes, what was once a solemn and dignified act of worship has degenerated into banal entertainment that often produces abusive innovations that are far from what the Holy See intended with the promulgation of the New Missal back in 1969. In most parishes throughout the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia, time-honored customs (with Biblical origins) were completely thrown by the wayside. This included everything from the veiling of women to kneeling for communion. Altar rails were torn out of churches, high altars were deconstructed, the use of bells and incense was all but forgotten. Some parishes even removed the kneelers! None of this was intended by Vatican II. A simple reading of the Vatican II documents will reveal that. Pope Paul VI, who oversaw the promulgation of the New Missal in 1969-70, would have never imagined such radical changes could occur in forty years time. Furthermore, it is doubtful that he was even aware of the deficiency of the English translation that accompanied it. Pope John Paul I never had the opportunity to do anything about it, having only reigned for a month before his untimely death. We know that Pope John Paul II deplored it and ordered it's reform. We also know that a letter to the USCCB from Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate referred to it as "defective" and revoked permission for the US Catholic Church to continue using it. That was back in 2006. It is now 2009, and the USCCB has announced the anticipated changes will be coming in Advent of 2011.
With the coming liturgical changes a golden opportunity now presents itself for Catholics to take back what was lost of our glorious Catholic tradition over the last forty years. The Catholic Knight is calling all his readers to a LITURGICAL RENEWAL CRUSADE!
Prepare your heart to kneel for communion, and receive in the mouth, once the new translation is implement in your parish. It is best to familiarize yourself with the spiritual principles behind this, and understand that you have the support of the Holy Father, and know that every bishop and priest in the world has already been instructed by the Holy Father to make accommodations.
Be mindful of proper liturgical rubrics for the laity. For example; the laity are not supposed to hold hands during the "Our Father." The time for personal contact with fellow parishioners is during the sign of peace. Personal contact with fellow parishioners during the "Our Father" is not technically permitted in the rubrics of the mass, and distracts from the true contact of unity we have in the Eucharist. Nor are we supposed to mimic the gestures of the priest during the liturgy. The only exception to this is when the laity mimics the priest as he crosses his forehead, lips and heart during the reading of the gospel. This is permissible. Otherwise, the laity should only cross themselves when appropriate, and keep their hands in prayer position at all other times. Mimicking the priest at the wrong time only distracts other parishioners, and takes the focus off important things in the mass.
Men, women and children should prepare to dress modestly for mass. Tank-tops, flip-flops, short-shorts, etc. are completely unacceptable for the solemn celebration of the mass. The laity should prepare themselves by reviewing the standards of Mary modesty.
Women should prepare for the special graces that accompany those who veil their heads for mass and all forms of public prayer. This is a Biblical custom of the Church which has NEVER been revoked. There is an entire spirituality that goes along with this, which men are not allowed to participate in. Indeed they physically CANNOT participate in. It is a spirituality that belongs exclusively to the female Christian. You should familiarize yourself with this, lest you miss out and deprive yourself of these magnificent graces.
Those who implement these five steps at the institution of the new liturgy will not only increase their spiritual participation in the mass, but will do much to effect the liturgical reform in the U.S. Catholic Church the Holy Father so eagerly desires. In review these five steps are...
Learn the new English translation of the mass.
Kneel for communion (if physically able) and receive in the mouth.
Cease mimicking the priest except when the rubrics allow, and stop holding hands at the "Our Father."
Dress modestly.
Women should veil in accordance with female spirituality and receive the special graces associated with it.
The time for mental, emotional and spiritual preparation is NOW! The time for implementation is as soon as the new translation of the liturgy is promulgated in the U.S. Catholic Church.
[La Razón:] Nevertheless, Benedict XVI has reiterated in some instances the propriety of receiving communion kneeling and in the mouth. Is it something important, or is it a mere matter of form?
[Cañizares:] - No, it is not just a matter of form. What does it mean to receive communion in the mouth? What does it mean to kneel before the Most Holy Sacrament? What dies it mean to kneel during the consecration at Mass? It means adoration, it means recognizing the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist; it means respect and an attitude of faith of a man who prostrates before God because he knows that everything comes from Him, and we feel speechless, dumbfounded, before the wondrousness, his goodness, and his mercy. That is why it is not the same to place the hand, and to receive communion in any fashion, than doing it in a respectful way; it is not the same to receive communion kneeling or standing up, because all these signs indicate a profound meaning. What we have to grasp is that profound attitude of the man who prostrates himself before God, and that is what the Pope wants.
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: So while traditionalist Catholics have been ignored and berated for years, it finally turns out that they've been right all along - at least on this issue.
It's been a long time coming. Once again the Vatican points us back to our historic traditions. We Catholics need to start acting like Catholics again. As the new prefect points out; standing or kneeling for communion is not the same, and it is not just a matter of form. That's why Protestants don't do it. You'll notice that Protestants don't kneel at the consecration, when they visit a Catholic mass, simply because they don't believe in the real presence. They know EXACTLY what kneeling means. To kneel is to show adoration. That's why they don't do it. Funny how so many Catholics seem to have forgotten this when it comes time to receive the blessed sacrament.
So the question is what to do now. Should Catholics take it upon themselves to begin kneeling and receiving on the tongue during the Ordinary Form liturgy, or should they wait for the USCCB to come out with some kind of statement on the matter. If the latter, we may be waiting for a hundred years. Maybe it's time to just do what we know is right, and what the Vatican confirms is right. Based on papal liturgies, and now these words from the CDW prefect, the official position of the Vatican is that Catholics should kneel and receive communion on the tongue. While the official position of the USCCB is that Catholics should stand and receive communion on the hand. So which is it? Do we obey the Vatican or the USCCB? After all is said and done, that's what it comes down to. We must chose between the USCCB, which has no real governing authority, or the Vatican, which is the apostolic See of Peter. What's it going to be? Peter or the USCCB? I know my position. 'The Catholic Knight' will be kneeling and receiving communion on the tongue no matter what mass I'm attending. The only exception to that would be if kneeling might hold up the line or cause some kind of disturbance. In which case I will at least receive the sacrament on the tongue while standing, as they do in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church.
The point is we've got to take a stand somewhere - (no pun intended). If we don't boldly show our reverence for the eucharistic Lord at mass, when shall we do it? Now I'm not talking about making a scene. The mass should never be a place for calling attention to one's self, but at the same time, it should not be a place for the disciples of modernism to strip our faith of everything we hold dear. Now is as good a time as any to do something about it, and the Vatican has affirmed our right to do it. So let's do it in a spirit of true reverence for our eucharistic Lord, and with no spite or malice toward anyone. Let's all agree to boycott the hand for starters. No more communion in the hand. From now on communion on the tongue in all circumstances. Then when the opportunity presents itself, and doing so will not cause a disruption of any kind, we kneel down to receive the Lord. Is there anybody out there with me on this?
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: The evidence speaks for itself. A strong orthodox bishop begets a thriving diocese, and that in turn begets a boom in vocations. Want to solve the priest shortage? The solution is simple. Go staunch conservative! Go ORTHODOX! If this happened in every diocese throughout the nation, within ten years, the priest shortage problem would be solved!
(CNA) - Encouraging and supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life has been a top priority for Bishop Robert Finn since his installation in the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph. Currently, the diocese has nearly 30 men studying to become diocesan priests while others have been called to nearby religious orders.
While 27 men are currently in various stages of formation to serve as diocesan priests in the diocese, others have been called to different communities. Over the past year, at least three women and one young man from the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph entered religious life in other dioceses. Our Lady of Good Counsel parishioner Rebecca Restivo entered the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. St. Pius X grad Therese Ringel and St. Mary's High School alumna Lisa Gordon both entered the School Sisters of Christ the King in Lincoln, Nebraska. O'Hara High School grad and Benedictine alumn, Carl Baker, recently became a novice at St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas...
(LifeSiteNews.com) - During the opening day of the Catholic Leadership Conference yesterday, Baker Oregon Bishop Robert Vasa clarified the teaching of the US Bishops Conference regarding voting in favor of pro-abortion politicians. The question of whether Catholics may remain in good standing with the Church while voting for pro-abortion politicians was raised.
Bishop Vasa responded referencing the document of the United States Catholic Conference titled "Faithful Citizenship", noting a pro-abortion stance disqualifies candidates from consideration by faithful Catholics...
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: How long must we endure this man, who is a disgrace and a scandal to our Catholic faith?...
(LifeSiteNews.com) - Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden has been accused of "sinking to a new low" by suggesting that critics of embryonic stem-cell (ESC) research have less compassion for developmentally disabled children.
During a campaign event in Columbia, Missouri, when asked what the Obama/Biden administration would do for disabled American children, Biden said, "I hear all this talk about how the Republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have...the joy and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability, who were born with a birth defect. Well guess what folks? If you care about it, why don't you support stem cell research?"...
Biden was referring to embryonic stem-cell research, not adult stem-cell research, because Republicans support adult stem-cell research. In fact, nobody opposes adult stem-cell research, not even the Catholic Church. In fact, every promising cure from this technology is derived from adult stem-cells, not embryonic stem-cells. The problem the Catholic Church, and the Republican Party, has with embryonic stem-cell research, is that in order to get the stem-cells for research, you have to destroy a human embryo. Since the Catholic Church teaches that human life begins at conception, and the Republican Party backs this teaching in it's official platform, neither the Church nor the Republican Party can advocate what is clearly the intentional killing of human babies for scientific research. It's no different than abortion, and borders on the same kind of human experiments done on Jews during the Holocaust. The premise behind both is the same. That premise being that certain types of human beings have no rights and are therefore expendable.
Senator Joe Biden is a self-described "devout Roman Catholic," who has received an automatic interdict from the Vatican, and is no longer allowed to receive communion in the Catholic Church lawfully. Biden joins the ranks of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator John Kerry, and Senator Ted Kennedy; all supposedly "Catholic" politicians whom the Church effectively disowns by denying communion. Later this year, after the election, the U.S. Catholic Bishops will debate a resolution that will call upon all U.S. bishops to deny them communion more aggressively. Until now, many of these politicians have been sneaking into communion lines, and receiving the sacrament unlawfully, as a photo op for the press.
John & Cindy McCain visit the shrine of Our Lady in Guadalupe Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe Mother of the Americas Defender of the Unborn read her story here
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: After careful evaluation of the top two presidential candidates (read more here), as well as their vice presidential running mates, 'The Catholic Knight' concludes that the McCain / Palin ticket is the one most sympathetic to the social teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church. There are third-party candidates who are more sympathetic and far more ideal. However, as far as the two major party candidates are concerned, McCain / Palin wins by a fairly large margin.
The criteria was based on the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI on the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. In 2006, the Holy Father issued a statement in which he identified a three-point rule of primary concern for Catholic voters in the world today (read more here). This three-point rule is to be used by Catholics as a quick and simple way to evaluate any candidate who runs for political office. It should be used for all candidates running in local, state and national elections. It is particularly applicable to presidential candidates. If the candidate scores high with this three-point rule, he/she can be considered "acceptable" for a Catholic vote. Candidates who do not score well with this three-point rule, should be excluded from the Catholic vote.
The pope's three-point rule is as follows...
1. Pro-Life: the candidate must oppose abortion outright 2. Pro-Family: the candidate must oppose gay-marriage outright 3. School-Choice: the candidate must support public funding for private education
When candidates perform well on this three-point rule, they can be further evaluated by Catholic Social Justice with more scrutiny. Issues such as healthcare, option for the poor, and environmental conservation can then be applied. However, they must first pass this initial three-point rule, or they are not worthy of the Catholic vote at all. Both Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin score well with the pope's three-point rule, promoting a Pro-Life and Pro-Family campaign. John McCain is an ardent promoter of School-Choice, which happens to be a subject highly favored by Pope Benedict XVI.
In contrast, both Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden oppose the pope on every single point of this three-point rule. Because of this, Senator Biden, himself a "Roman Catholic," has actually been barred from receiving communion by Vatican edict, and many U.S. Catholic bishops will not allow him to approach the communion rail at all. Because of these reasons, the Obama / Biden ticket is significantly less aligned with the pope's three-point rule (even opposing it outright), which according to the Holy Father, should exclude Obama / Biden from the Catholic vote entirely.
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Speaker Nancy Pelosi's bishop has called her to join him in a "conversation" about the pro-life position of the Catholic Church...
By Most Rev. George H. Niederauer...
I regret the necessity of addressing these issues in so public a forum, but the widespread consternation among Catholics made it unavoidable. Speaker Pelosi has often said how highly she values her Catholic faith, and how much it is a source of joy for her. Accordingly, as her pastor, I am writing to invite her into a conversation with me about these matters....
Let us pray that three things happen. First, Speaker Pelosi responds to her bishop and makes an appointment to see him. Second, Archbishop Niederauer has the courage to act as a true shepherd, correcting as needed with care, and disciplining those who are unrepentant. Third, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as a result of this "conversation," actually repents of her heresy and embraces the Pro-Life position of the Catholic Church fully, both personally and politically.
Now we shall see what Speaker Pelosi is really made of. Nobody can deny that she's a "Liberal Catholic" (which is an oxymoron), but now we shall see if she's a Liberal before she's a Catholic, or a Catholic before she's a Liberal. I have a bad feeling it's probably the former. For her sake, I hope I'm wrong.
From left to right... Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli Senator Joseph Biden Bishop W. Francis Malooly
Archbishop George Niederauer Speaker Nancy Pelosi Archbishop Donald Weurl
"My views are totally consistent with Catholic social doctrine," says Biden, a six-term Democratic senator from Delaware. "There are elements within the church who say that if you are at odds with any of the teachings of the church, you are at odds with the church. I think the church is bigger than that...
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: One would think that after the Pelosi heresy flap, Biden would be keeping a low profile. But then, that wouldn't be consistent with Joe Biden's personality. Barack Obama's vice presidential nominee, a supposed "Catholic," charged right into the whole heresy row over whether it is permissible for Catholic politicians to go against Church teaching and adopt a "pro-choice" (pro-abortion) political posture.
House Speaker Nanci Pelosi, also a so-called "Catholic," recently made a complete fool of herself on national television last Sunday, by actually committing what the Church defines as heresy. She asserted that a "pro-choice" political viewpoint was totally consistent with Church teaching (read more on that here). She then went on to say that one can be a "good Catholic" and a "practicing Catholic" while holding to the view that abortion is morally permissible because the Catholic Church really does not profess to know when life begins. This immediately prompted a flurry of official responses from bishops, archbishops and cardinals around the nation, reiterating the Church's teaching that all human life is sacred, discrediting Speaker Pelosi's argument, and lamenting that such a high ranking official in the U.S. government would be so ignorant about her own religion.
Now Senator Joe Biden joins the mix. A long time advocate of "abortion rights," the vice presidential nominee has now come out wearing his Catholic religion on his sleeve. Eager to point out that he's a "practicing Catholic" who carries a rosary in his pocket, and looks forward to mass every week, he concluded his religious bluster with the assertion that his political views (apparently including those on abortion) are "totally consistent" with the social teachings of the Church. That sounds a lot like the position held by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Hopefully Biden's comments will not go unnoticed by the bishops of the U.S. Catholic Church, many of whom reacted strongly to Pelosi's heretical assertion. They should be applauded for that. Unfortunately, as laudable as their rebuke of Pelosi was, it all goes to underscore the notion that talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. Both Pelosi and Biden are a product. They were created, partly by their own political choices, and partly by the atmosphere of "tolerance" that has far too long existed within many diocese of the U.S. Catholic Church. Virtually all bishops, throughout America, echo the Vatican in it's defense of the unborn. One would be hard pressed to find a single American bishop who does not assert the sanctity of all human life from the womb to the tomb. But by the same measure, one would have to look far and wide, just to find a handful of bishops willing to back this teaching with concrete disciplinary action toward Catholics who publicly oppose the Church on this matter.
The former Archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, stands out as a shining leader in this arena. He denied communion to "pro-choice" Catholic politicians in his archdiocese, forbade them from speaking at Catholic gatherings, and did not hesitate to exercise his episcopal authority over all matters of rebellion within the Church. For this, the pope rewarded him with the office of Prefectof the Apostolic Signatura - effectively the "chief justice" of the "Vatican Supreme Court." In an recent interview he divulged his official opinion that "pro-abortion" Catholic politicians should be denied communion, and that it is indeed the responsibility of the one administering communion to withhold it when such politicians present themselves at the communion rail. How this will actually translate into official Church policy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. The U.S. Catholic bishops, for the most part, have been completely derelict in this duty.
In refusing to exercise their episcopal authority on this matter, in accord with Canon Law 915, the bishops have effectively created an atmosphere of "tolerance" toward dissenting Catholic politicians - one which was ripe for the production of "pro-choice" heretics like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. Here we have Catholic men and women, who may honestly believe that their dissent against the Church, on the issue of human life, is morally permissible simply because, in their personal experience, the Church does not back what it teaches on the matter with concrete disciplinary action. The simple fact of the matter is this. In most diocese throughout the United States, a Catholic may be excommunicated from the Church for many reasons, but publicly advocating the legalized murder of helpless unborn babies is not one of them. Is it no surprise then that some politicians, steeped in the political rhetoric of a highly polarized culture war, might start to believe their own lies - especially when their own bishops do virtually nothing (of any real consequence) to stop them?
Once again, the focus falls back to the bishops of the U.S. Catholic Church. What will they do now? They can publicly rebuke the likes of Pelosi and Biden, as well they should, but after all is said and done, the bishops have to recognize they are more than partially to blame for this. A good majority of them are principally responsible in creating the environment necessary for such Catholic politicians to rise to power. Now that they've "tolerated" this mess for so long, should they be the least bit surprised when these very same politicians turn around and try to tell the public what the Catholic Church "really teaches" about abortion? Come on! We all know the Vatican comes down tough on abortion, and the U.S. Catholic bishops have to echo that in their own statements. But when it really comes down to it, the average pro-abortion Catholic politician is met at the communion rail with the proverbial "wink and nod" just before receiving the sacrament. With that, what kind of message are our bishops really sending?
(St. Louis Catholic) - Today brings the confirmation of the long-rumored appointment of Archbishop Burke to be the head of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome. From the Vatican website:
NOMINA DEL PREFETTO DEL SUPREMO TRIBUNALE DELLA SEGNATURA APOSTOLICA
Il Santo Padre ha nominato Prefetto del Supremo Tribunale della Segnatura Apostolica S.E. Mons. Raymond Leo Burke, finora Arcivescovo di Saint Louis.
This position ordinarily carries a promotion to Cardinal as well, which is of some solace to those His Grace leaves behind in St. Louis.
It is certainly a bittersweet announcement for those in St. Louis and around the world who have rejoiced in the Archbishop's stalwart defense of orthodoxy, his courage, his perseverance, and his wise and faithful pastoral care. He has been a shining example of how a Bishop should guide and govern.
Of course, this promotion will almost certainly obtain for him the Cardinal's red hat, and thus a seat at any conclave that may occur for the next twenty years. His Grace turns 60 at the end of the month. May it be in the plans of Almighty God that someday Cardinal Burke appears on the balcony in St. Peter's Square; whatever may come for him, however, we can be assured that His Grace will fulfill his duties with the same zeal he has shown in St. Louis and in the past...
THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: The universal Church will be served well by this man, but St. Louis (indeed all of Missouri) has just lost a giant of orthodoxy and liturgical reform. God speed Archbishop Raymond Burke.
