Saturday, February 28, 2009

Obama Picks Sebelius for HHS

The "Catholic" contingent of the Party of Death is getting more prominent everyday.

From the AP:

"WASHINGTON – Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of health and human services, a White House source said Saturday.

The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said Obama will formally announce the nomination on Monday."

Her Archbishop, Joseph Naumann has already said that Sebelius' action on abortion "constitutes a scandal to the faithful," and he has requested she refrain from receiving communion.



UPDATE: Diane over at "Te Deum Laudamus" is calling this "a perfect storm."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney




Good News!

Fr. Malloy was released from the hospital today!

He's got to go back on Monday for a procedure, but it's a good sign that they are letting him go home.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

"Catholics in Alliance for Obama and Abortion"

Jack Smith over at "The Catholic Key" is documenting the relationship between "Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good" and the Barack Obama campaign. His first story, dated February 20, was "Obama Campaign Manipulated Catholics."

"Turns out Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good was an organ of the Obama Presidential Campaign - all the while claiming to be a nonpartisan group promoting "awareness of the Catholic Social Tradition".

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley is the board chair of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. As reported here earlier, Bagley is anything but nonpartisan. In fact, she has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the DNC and scores of pro-abortion Democrat politicians including Al Franken, Barbara Boxer, Claire McCaskill, Charles Schumer, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. She personally raised at least $350,000 for the Obama campaign and was a member of his national finance team according to an interview in the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror."

Jack had a follow-up story yesterday: "Catholics in Alliance NewFalsehood":

"Last week, The Catholic Key Blog reported on the relationship between Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good chair Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and the Obama campaign. That report showed that Bagley is a major DNC fundraiser, a member of the Obama campaign's national finance team, and was a coordinator of Catholic outreach for the campaign. This despite CACG's continued insistence that it is a non-partisan Catholic social justice group.

Our Sunday Visitor mentions our report in its March 8 issue (subscription only) and gets this response from CACG's executive director Alexia Kelley:

'Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, says that it was no secret that Bagley was a big Democratic fundraiser before the election in November, noting, 'it was already out there in many stories that she was this Democratic fundraiser.' She said that Catholics in Alliance also has Republicans on its board, including former Vatican Ambassador Thomas Melady (1989-1993 under President George H.W. Bush).'


Jack resumes:

"But her statement is not true. There are 11 voting members of CACG's board and Ambassador Melady is not one of them, according to their website. He is listed as one of 40 people on an advisory council to the group.

Six of the 11 voting members of CACG's board were donors to the Obama campaign. Four have no record of federal campaign contributions and one gave a small donation to a Democratic candidate in the past. None are identifiable with the Republican party or Republican candidates as Ms. Kelley told OSV.

Along with Bagley, board members who donated to the Obama campaign are Melba Novoa, Alfred Rotondaro, Stephen Schneck, Mark Tuohey and major donor to the DNC and pro-abortion candidates Agnes Williams. "

These people need to be held accountable--for Obama's twice voting against legislation which would have required doctors to treat infants born alive after a "botched" abortion instead of just leaving them to die, (which was well-known by the time they donated to Obama) for the stripping away of the conscience clauses, for the overturning of the Mexico City policy. Bishop Martino's order denying communion to grave public sinners is a good start.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Friday, February 27, 2009

Bishop Martino is Dead Serious about Dead Babies

Back on February 5, we posted about the letter Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton sent to his parishioner, Senator Robert Casey.

There are dramatic new developments. From Diane over at Te Deum Laudamus!":

"Two key items showed up on the Diocese of Scranton's 2009 page for Press Releases, both with today's date of February 26, 2009:

1) A 2nd letter sent to Senator Bob Casey from Bishop Martino and,

2) An Official Notice on worthy reception of Holy Communion which states that all ministers, ordinary and extraordinary, are to deny Communion to those whose worthiness to receive Holy Communion is publicly known."

As I said in the title, that is one dead-serious Bishop. Le us pray for Bishop Martino and for all of our Bishops!

Posted by Gibbons J Cooney

Please pray for Fr. Malloy...

The good old priest was admitted to the hospital late yesterday. He had been suffering from pneumonia for a couple of weeks, although he kept working. The doctors have found a spot on his lungs, plus what look like some heart problems. I visited him today and his mind was sharp as ever, but he is very tired.

He would very much appreciate being remembered in your prayers.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Professor Kmiec?......Professor...?

From Yuval Levin at "The Corner:

"More Centrism:

It looks like the Obama administration will announce today that they will reverse the Bush administration’s conscience protection rules for health care providers. We all await Doug Kmiec’s explanation of how this is certain to end abortion in America."

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Parental Notification in California: "Sarah's Law" update

From today's San Francisco Chronicle comes the good news that Californians support parental notification on abortion by a very wide margin:


"A majority of Californians favor notifying parents when minors seek an abortion, according to a survey released Wednesday that contradicts the results of three statewide elections.
More News

The Public Policy Institute of California poll suggests attitudes are shifting toward more abortion restrictions in certain circumstances, although a majority of Californians still favor abortion rights.


The telephone survey of 2,502 Californians found 68 percent favor a state law requiring that parents or guardians be notified before a girl under age 18 can get an abortion. The limit was favored by majorities regardless of political party, region, race or ethnicity.

In November, California voters defeated a proposal to limit abortions among underage girls for the third time in four years. But the percentage opposed to the initiative shrank to 52 percent, down from 54 percent opposed in 2005 and 56 percent opposed in 2006."


These trends are good and we must not get discouraged. But how do we square these poll results with the diametrically opposite electoral results in November?

Well, the "Yes on Proposition 4" campaign was outspent by 18 million dollars--$21 million to $3 million. This allowed the No on 4 campaign and the Party of Death to flood the airwaves with their own version of what the election was about. The poll shows us the good common sense of Californians--the election results show what $21 million can do.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Don't Be Fooled

Our President is a powerful speaker and has most of the country in the palm of his hand. But words and "change" should not be lightly accepted without some basic premises to keep in mind.

Let me remind you once again of the "five non-negotiables” from Catholic Answers Action.

As you know, the majority of American Catholics have traditionally voted for political candidates who take the WRONG positions on the key moral issues of our day :
1. Abortion
2. Euthanasia
3. Embryonic Stem Cell Research
4. Human Cloning
5. Homosexual "Marriage.

Why do Catholics vote for the very things they're bound in conscience to oppose?
The answer is simple . . . They aren't really aware of what they're doing! And the #1 reason for that is the bias, misinformation, and lack of information that comes from the mainstream news media.

Think about it . . . When was the last time the news media showed the truth about abortion? They never show the American people what abortion does to babies. They'll show graphic pictures of all kinds of other violence, but they never show the truth about abortion.

When Terri Schiavo was being put to death by starvation and dehydration, the news media went out of their way to convince the American people that she "deserved" to die because she was a "vegetable." The majority of American people were thus in favor of Terri suffering a horrible death-even while her family wanted to take care of her.

When stem cell research comes up, the news media never tell people about adult stem cells-and the tremendous progress being made with them. The media want the American people to think that we have to kill innocent human life in order to reap the benefits of science.

When the topic turns to human cloning, the same thing is true. The news media never address the issue of the morality involved in creating cloned human life-and where our society will end up if we try to play God.

And woe to you if you say one word against homosexuals wanting to get "married." The news media immediately brand you as a "homophobe" and "extremist"-but they never explain the arguments against homosexual "marriage.

They act as if it's a foregone conclusion that men should be allowed to marry men, and women should be allowed to marry women, and transgender people should be allowed to marry . . . who knows what.

Well, the five non-negotiables (as it turns out) are among the key moral issues in our day. True to form, the mainstream news media does their best to obscure these issues in the minds of the American people.

What's more, the media aren't telling us exactly where our political leaders stand on the five non-negotiables. As a result, many Catholics are still confused, bewildered, and befuddled when these issues are proposed as laws. History shows us that most of the bad candidates who have been elected never would have gotten into office were it not for the Catholic vote e.g. Joe Biden, Wesley Clark, Christopher Dodd, Rudy Giuliani, Dennis Kucinich, and Bill Richardson, Nancy Pelosi…

Keep an eye on impending legislation regarding these basic life issues and don’t be fooled by words which obscure the truth.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Lent Begins: 40 Days for Life!

Pastor Walter Hoye is a shining example to us all. But it is not enough for us just to say what a great man he is. We must follow his example!

Starting on Ash Wednesday, inspired by the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert, a group of San Franciscans will join others from all over the country in the "40 Days for Life" campaign. "40 Days for Life" is a PEACEFUL prayer vigil that will take place on Eddy Street (between Franklin and Van Ness streets) in San Francisco, across the street from the Planned Parenthood abortion business.

The hope is to have at least one person there in prayer every day of Lent from 7AM to 8PM. Many time slots have been filled, but many openings remain.


This is time for us in the San Francisco prayer life community to "walk the walk." Come by yourself, or come to pray with a friend, but come! I will be going.

Join us in asking God to heal this wound which affects us all. Please follow the link below to learn more, and to sign up for a time slot.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Martino Nixes Pro-Aborts on St. Paddy's Day

Scranton, Pa., Feb 20, 2009 / 05:53 pm (CNA).- Explaining that he is determined to “prevent scandal,” Bishop of Scranton Joseph Martino has said that he will cancel Masses for St. Patrick’s Day or for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade if any pro-abortion officials are honored at the holiday events."

The bishop said that scandal could arise if the Catholic Church is seen to be involved in honoring such officials.

John M. Dougherty, the Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton, explained Bishop Martino’s views in a Feb. 6 letter to John Keeler, President of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Lackawanna County.

Saying that St. Peter’s Cathedral plays “no small role” in the local observance of St. Patrick’s Day, Bishop Dougherty noted that local celebrations often honor elected public officials. This honoring takes place when they are given parade positions or dais opportunities.

“While some of the officials have merited the pride our local people take in them, others have positions and voting records that have contributed to the daily killing of the unborn by abortion,” Bishop Dougherty wrote.

Is the Bishop's action justified? It seems that it is. The story continues:

"According to WNEP-TV, parade organizers say they’ve never honored pro-abortion politicians in their parade and don’t plan to start."

Well, here's a picture from the Scranton Times-Tribune showing Hilary Clinton was there just last year:




"Politicians of all stripes have marched in Scranton’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in the past four-plus decades, from governors to members of Congress to mayors.

But Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presence at the festivities Saturday will thrust the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Association of Lackawanna County Inc. into entirely uncharted territory."


And today's Scranton Times Tribune reports: Parade will comply with bishop's abortion-rights ban.


Not so tough, was it? He's not only teaching his Archdiocese, he's teaching other bishops!

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Thursday, February 19, 2009

The Extraordinary Sentencing of Walter Hoye

"He (Pastor Walter Hoye) was arrested May 13 at the Oakland clinic, carrying a sign that read, "Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help you!"

As women approached the door, he asked them, "May I talk to you about alternatives to the clinic?" --San Francisco Chronicle, February 19, 2009 "Pastor Sentenced for Oakland Abortion Protest"

Today I joined a number of people from the Bay Area pro-life community, as well as people from as far away as Minnesota and Texas at the Alameda County Superior Court, to show our support for the heroic Pastor Walter Hoye, as he was sentenced by Judge Stuart Hing. Some of what follows describes my own reactions, and I will do my best to describe the outcome, although it is quite complicated.

The courtroom was packed. It has only 60 seats, and there were at least another 80-100 people in the hallway. A few of us arrived around 11:30 and were able to get in, although the hearing itself did not begin until around 2:30. As we waited in the hallway, we sang some hymns. A few pro-abortionists arrived, and on hearing our hymns started chanting in opposition.

I realized as never before what an impoverished world they live in, because while we were singing "We Shall Overcome" and "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Get behind me Satan!" and other hymns of Christian civilization, the only thing they could come up with was "Not the Church, not the state women will decide their fate." I honestly do not mean this in a condescending or patronizing way, but that struck me as very sad.

Another thing happened while we were waiting. A pro-abortion lady kept trying to push her way to the front, past people who had been waiting for at least two hours. She did not succeed but for a while caused a little bit of a ruckus. She ended up right in front of me and a pro-life woman. Both of us were standing there praying silently--not on our knees or with any show at all (we had both forgotten our rosaries!) or even moving our lips. I don't see how anyone could have known we were praying. But after less than two minutes next to us, she suddenly announced she was uncomfortable and left.
____________________________________________________________

I'll now describe what happened inside, to the best of my recollection. I was praying, not taking notes, and I'm not a trained reporter, but I believe this is accurate. I apologize in advance for any mistakes.

Inside the courtroom, Walter was represented by Alison Aranda and Michael Millen of the Life Legal Defense League. The Prosecutor made his case, and asked that Walter receive the maximum sentence: two years in prison, and a $4,000 fine. He said if Walter would promise to stay away from the clinic in question, his office was prepared to accept probation. Ms. Aranda, her voice breaking, said it would be an injustice for Mr. Hoye to be "sentenced to anything....", then, fighting back tears, she paused, got control of herself, and said "...for exercising his first amendment rights to freedom of speech!"


Judge Hing then spoke. He said that before today's sentencing hearing he had already been convinced that Walter was a very decent man. He said that the many letters he had receieved from supporters of Walter convinced him more than ever of Walter's basic goodness. He then made the point that the history of civil disobedience in our country (and he cited the Underground Railroad, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's and some demonstrations against the Vietnam War) does not protect those who violate what they consider to be unjust laws, but that those who practice the civil disobedience must hope that their witness inspires others to change the laws.

Judge Hing asked Walter if he would promise not to violate the stay-away order and would accept probation with this condition for three years. At that moment you could have heard a pin drop. I was thinking, praying: "Man, do it. Let's go. We'll fight another day."

Those who know Walter know that his gentle voice seldom rises above a whisper.

He said: "No, your Honor."

At that moment I thought of Elijah, where we learn that the voice of God was not in the earthquake or in the storm, but in the barely moving breeze. That barely audible "No, your Honor" carried as much weight as anything I have heard in my life.
_________________________________________________________


Michael Millen concluded Walter's defense. He was logically and rhetorically magnificent. He pointed out that no abortion clinic "patient" was even a party to the charges against Walter. There was not a single "patient" in the courtroom. He pointed out if the "bubble ordinance" "protects" anyone, it protects the abortion clinic escorts and their "right" to censor Walter's message. He reminded the Judge that he (Judge Hing) had seen the videos of Walter having his path and signs blocked by the abortion clinic escorts, not the other way around.

Judge Hing then gave his ruling, and here is where things got confusing. Since Walter had already said he would not abide by the stay-away order, I was sure the Judge would be sentencing Walter to jail time, maybe the whole two years. I did not see how he couldn't. Instead, he sentenced Walter to 30 days jail time, but said it could be done as some kind of community service. He fined Walter $1,130. He sentenced Walter to three years of probation, during which time Walter was not to approach within 100 feet of the clinic in question, a condition Walter had already said he would not accept. Did this mean Walter was free?

At this point, one of Walter's friends, Dion Evans, erupted in outrage at this ruling based on an obviously unjust law, and was escorted out of the courtroom by the baliffs. Dion is a very big and strong man, and thank heaven there was no violence. We rose and left the courtroom, singing "We Shall Overcome." Outside the courtroom, someone asked me "what went on in there?" and I said: ask someone else, because I'm not sure I understand. It turns out I was not the only one.

We waited for some clarification of the sentence, and to see if Walter could appear, and after a good while someone came out and said the counsels were still in chambers and that the Judge was "refusing to accept Walter's refusal." Nobody, even the attorneys, understood this. It's apparently a novel legal approach: The Judge had asked Walter if he would promise to abide by the stay-away order and Walter said no. The Judge then ruled, and asked Walter if he would abide by the ruling. Walter again said no. But the ruling had been made and here is where the judge "refused to accept Walter's refusal." Apparently, the one thing Judge Hing did not want to do was to sentence Walter to jail time.

One of Walter's attorneys explained to us that probation is like a contract: both parties have to agree to ithe conditions. Walter did not agree to the conditions but the Judge gave it to him anyway. Apparently the "refusal to accept Walter's refusal" meant the Judge was going to try and impose the probation on Walter. If I understand correctly, Walter's attorneys said to the Judge, well, that's illegal, you can't do that. One of the attorneys also told us even the Prosecutor had said: my opponent is right, you can't do that. Later Michael Millen said we seem to be in a legal no-man's land here. It's uncharted territory. There will be some sort of a follow-up hearing on March 20. Finally, Walter and his wife Lori appeared, to hugs, applause from his friends and admirers.

______________________________________________________________

Mark Shea often says "sin makes you stupid." Back on August 24, 2008, commenting on Speaker Pelosi's bizarre statements on "Meet the Press" I myself wrote "The corruption of reason is one of the logical consequences of legalized abortion." I believe this strange day in court, with a Judge tied in knots because of an obviously unconstitutional law, proves this once again.

But the bottom line is: Walter is a free man. He's sentenced to 30 days of community service, but his entire life is commuity service. He has not renounced his principles at all, in any way. And he said very clearly twice he will not accept a law that abridges his constitutional right to freedom of speech. What a man.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Pelosi/Archbishop Niederauer UPDATE

Valerie Schmalz over at Our Sunday Visitor is doing some followup on the meeting between Archbishop Niederauer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

From yesterday's OSV article:

"A Pelosi press spokesman said Feb. 13 that she did not know when or if Pelosi would meet with the archbishop or when Pelosi would respond to Our Sunday Visitor’s inquiry."

From Ms. Schmalz's OSV article of today:

"Brendan Daly, press spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the pro-abortion-rights 'ardent' Catholic, has confirmed to OSV this afternoon that she met privately with San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer Feb. 8.

'It went well,' Daly said. 'They both thought it was productive and agreed they would meet in the future at some point.'

Ms. Schmalz asks:

"Why are we hearing of this meeting only ten days later?"

Response:

“It was a private meeting. They didn’t feel the need to publicize it and we didn’t feel the need to publicize it," Daly said.

Why, then, is it being publicized now? What has changed? Has anything happened to Nancy Pelosi in the last 24 hours that made her need for privacy less urgent?

I gave my take here. Excerpt:

"If it (the meeting) were publicly known, then the questions among faithful Catholics immediately arise: Well, do you now accept settled Church teaching? Do you plan on remaining a Catholic? If not, why do you want to meet with the Holy Father?"

Mrs Schmalz closes with:

"It was so private that the archbishop's own press spokesman, Maurice Healy, seemed unaware of it. He told OSV on Friday that no meeting had taken place, despite the archbishop making himself readily available.

In light of today's revelation, OSV has recontacted Healy and is still awaiting his response. Stay tuned."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Obama Votive Candles and Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

The Barack Obama "votive" candles being sold at a shop in San Francisco have been getting a lot of attention in the Catholic blogosphere. We did not comment, because San Francisco is so corrupt that they seemed relatively harmless. Or maybe living here for 51 years has corrupted us as well. Anyway, this latest news does deserve comment. The following is from today's Matier & Ross column in the San Francisco Chronicle (the item is towards the bottom of the column, but the entire column is instructive for those outside of San Francisco):

"Light a fire: A local Catholic priest's call for a boycott of that Noe Valley store carrying President Obama prayer candles appears to be having the opposite effect.

'Thanks to Father Tony La Torre, we had four priests in today buying the candle,' said David Eiland, co-owner of the Just for Fun novelty shop. 'One was visiting from Rome and bought a candle for his best friend who is the head of the Franciscans.'"

I wonder which other three priests purchased this "campy" item?

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Pelosi/Niederauer: Deceit, Deceit, Deceit.

This is a follow-up to today's post about the conflicting Our Sunday Visitor/Real Catholic TV & Pewsitter.com stories about Archbishop Niederauer's meeting with Nancy Pelosi.

My take:

I believe the Real Catholic TV story to be true. That a meeting did occur has now been reported in today's Congressional Quarterly as well.

Somebody, or a number of somebodies, lied to the OSV reporter. (Disclosure: I know Valerie Schmalz, the OSV reporter, personally, and her integrity is beyond question.)

• The February 17, OSV story cites an email from the Archdiocese of San Francisco on February 13 saying the meeting had yet to take place. The Real Catholic TV/Pewsitter.com story of February 18, said the meeting had already taken place, on February 8.

• So, if the Real Catholic TV story is true, either the spokesperson for the Archdiocese did not tell the truth, or he did not know what the truth was, and was speaking based on incorrect information he had been given:

'While she (Pelosi) initially accepted the archbishop's invitation to a pastoral meeting, she has not been able to arrange such a meeting on her schedule, despite our putting forward several available dates,” said Maurice Healy, spokesman for the archbishop, in a Feb. 13 e-mail.'" --OSV story.

• The OSV story also cites a February 13 statement from the office of Nancy Pelosi, which, read in the light of the Real Catholic TV story, now takes on a totally different meaning:

“A Pelosi press spokesman said Feb. 13 that she did not know when or if Pelosi would meet with the archbishop or when Pelosi would respond to Our Sunday Visitor’s inquiry.”

• Please note the statement does not say if Pelosi already had met with the Archbishop, only that the spokesman did not know “when or if Pelosi would meet with the Archbishop.”

But in the Real Catholic TV story, that ambiguity evaporates:

“Pelsoi’s spokesman Brendan Daly said Pelosi described the meeting as quote .. ‘cordial and pleasant .. a fair exchange and good.’ -Real Catholic TV story

If I’m right, and the Real Catholic TV story is true, why the deception?

1) I believe that the Speaker decided it was in her best interest to meet with the Archbishop before her trip to Rome, but not to have the meeting known before the trip to Rome. I believe Pelosi’s meeting the Pope was conditional on her meeting with the Archbishop. I believe that someone from the Vatican told them (especially her, but through him): meet now or forget about meeting with the Holy Father.

2) I believe the meeting was covered up because that was a condition made by the Speaker, (easily acceded to by the Archbishop, because he saw it as a private pastoral meeting). For Pelosi, what is the political upside of having her meeting with the Archbishop known? None—it’s all downside. If it were publicly known, then the questions among faithful Catholics immediately arise: Well, do you now accept settled Church teaching? Do you plan on remaining a Catholic? If not, why do you want to meet with the Holy Father? She’d lose Catholic votes, without picking up any corresponding votes on the other side, because they know she’s not really Catholic anyway—if she were they would not be voting for her. What's the upside? She gets to meet the Pope.

3) I believe the timing of the leaked information (from both the Archdiocese and Pelosi’s office) to “Real Catholic TV” is deliberate—it came too late to affect Pelosi’s meeting with the Pope (with the hoped-for but not-to-materialize papal photo-op), but allowed her spokesman and the Archdiocese to claim they’ve done their duties as Catholics to prepare her for meeting with the Holy Father.

The more I think of this, the madder I get. Not only was the Our Sunday Visitor reporter deceived, but all of those who read her story (including me) were deceived.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Doctors Sound Alarm About Obama

ROME, FEB. 17, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations is sounding an alarm about new threats to human life under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

In a statement released today on the Obama presidency and the culture of life, the health care professionals note that the new president "has begun his term with actions that will undermine respect for human life, human dignity and religions freedom."

The statement recalls the ominous message already sent during Obama's political career and campaign, including his 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood; his opposition to every limitation on abortion; his support for the Freedom of Choice Act; and "shockingly," his opposition as a senator to "any protections for infants born alive after failed abortion procedures."

The health care officials also noted Obama's promise of support for federal funding for stem cell research that destroys human life.Now that he is president, the federation statement continued, he has already engaged in "a series of actions that indicate that he is prepared to implement his prior support for abortion."

In this regard, they noted his overturning of the Mexico City policy, which denied federal funding to international agencies that promote or perform abortion as a means of birth control; and his willingness to provide financial support to the United Nations Population Fund, an organization that lost U.S. government funding after it collaborated with the Chinese government's "one child" population policy.Furthermore, the statement pointed to Obama's choice for pro-abortion staff members, including Hillary Clinton, Rahm Emanuel, Dawn Johnsen, and many others.

And in a move that particularly touches health care officials, the statement noted the president's opposition to a rule that protects the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care workers.Thus, the World Federation urged the president to change his support for abortion.

They added: "In addition, we offer our prayers, encouragement and appeals to Catholic physicians in the United States to educate the public and to oppose these efforts to promote abortion.

"Finally, we appeal to all members of [the World Federation] to be vigilant in opposing the new threats to human life and dignity that could now come from the Obama administration officials in foreign policy positions and at the United Nations."

Speaker Pelosi Does Meet with the Pope

Whatever the truth is about whether or not Speaker Pelosi met with Archbishop Niederauer, it seems to be pretty well established that she met with the Pope today:

18 Feb 09 - RV. Following the General Audience the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage. - Vatican Radio

It also seems to be pretty well established what the Church's teaching on abortion, euthanasia and life destroying stem-cell research is, and how Catholics are obligated to follow that teaching:

"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development."- Vatican Radio.

It also seems to be pretty well established that the speaker does not much care:

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following a meeting at the Vatican with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI:

'It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI today."

In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church's leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father's dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel.'

I was proud to show his Holiness a photograph of my family's Papal visit in the 1950s, as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren.'" -From Pelosi's statement, via American Papist

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Has Pelosi ALREADY Met with Archbishop Niederauer?

The answer is yes, according to James Todd, writing in Pewsitter.com:

"Michael Voris of Real CathlicTV reports today in his daily Vortex column that this meeting between Pelosi and Archbishop Niederauer took place quietly and clandestinely on Sunday, February 8th in a private residence in San Francisco. Realcatholictv.com confirmed this fact with both the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Pelosi’s office in DC.

Pelsoi’s spokesman Brendan Daly said Pelosi described the meeting as quote .. 'cordial and pleasant .. a fair exchange and good.'

When pressed by realcatholictv.com producer and host Michael Voris , if "good" meant that she had changed her position on abortion and finally gotten in line with Catholic teaching, Daly replied, "You won’t see that happening. She is not changing her position on abortion."

This puts the ball squarely in the archbishop’s court now. He has met with her. They explained each other’s position. She admits that she understood Church teaching incorrectly and now, presumably, understands it correctly and yet remains defiant."

If true, this is in direct conflict with what was reported in Our Sunday Visitor yesterday:

“While she initially accepted the archbishop's invitation to a pastoral meeting, she has not been able to arrange such a meeting on her schedule, despite our putting forward several available dates,” said Maurice Healy, spokesman for the archbishop, in a Feb. 13 e-mail.

An email from Pelosi's office quoted in the OSV story supported Mr. Healy's statement:

"A Pelosi press spokesman said Feb. 13 that she did not know when or if Pelosi would meet with the archbishop or when Pelosi would respond to Our Sunday Visitor’s inquiry."

Strange. It will be interesting to get some clarification on this.

UPDATE:

I've been unable to embed the video clip From "Real Catholic TV" that Mr. Todd references, but it can be seen by going to http://www.realcatholictv.com/

Mr. Todd's description of the content of the "Real Catholic TV" story is accurate. To see the video clip, you must register on the site, but it is free.

UPDATE II: For my take on the cause of the confusion between the two stories, go here.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Adult Stem Cells Treat Parkinson's. Embryonic Stem Cells Give Boy Tumors.

From the invaluable Don Margolis comes this wonderful news:

Parkinson’s Patient Helped by Adult Stem Cell Research- A Published Case Study

Due to advances in Adult Stem Cell research, Dr. Dennis Turner was helped by his own stem cells to treat his Parkinson’s Disease. Treated by Dr. Michael Levesque of NeuroGeneration, in 1999, Dr. Turner’s “motor scales improved by over 80% for at least 36 months.”
While the case of Dr. Dennis Turner has been well known for a long period of time, this is significant to some in that it finally appeared in a peer reviewed study published in a medical journal- Bentham Open Stem Cell Journal.


(Emphasis added)

Mr. Margolis also links to the press release issued by NeuroGeneration:

"Scientists announced today the publication of a landmark peer-reviewed paper in the February issue of the Bentham Open Stem Cell Journal which outlines the long term results of the world's first clinical trial using autologous neural stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. According to lead author, Michel F. Levesque, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, "We have documented the first successful adult neural stem cell transplantation to reverse the effects of Parkinson's disease and demonstrated the long term safety and therapeutic effects of this approach." Dr Levesque is a principal investigator for NeuroGeneration, a biotechnology company, and is affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine and the Brain Research Institute

Radio host Rush Limbaugh covered the story too. Mr. Limbaugh took a lot of heat sometime back when he challenged Michael J. Fox over Fox's support of immoral and unproven embryonic stem-cell research (ESCR). Of course, people sympathized with Mr. Fox because he suffers from Parkinsons, but Mr. Limbaugh was right morally and, it turns out, scientifically, and Mr. Fox was wrong. Today, Mr. Limbaugh said:

"I hope somebody can find Michael J. Fox and tell him about this. You don't have to kill babies in order to make progress via adult stem cells on Parkinson's disease."

We pray that Mr. Fox, and all who suffer from Parkinson's Disease will benefit from this new, morally sound approach.
__________________________________________________________

There's more stem-cell news today, but there is nothing good about it. From the Associated Press:

Report: Fetal stem cells trigger tumors in ill boy

Feb 17 08:01 PM US/EasternBy LAURAN NEERGAARDAP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A family desperate to save a child from a lethal brain disease sought highly experimental injections of fetal
stem cells—injections that triggered tumors in the boy's brain and spinal cord, Israeli scientists reported Tuesday....

The unidentified Israeli boy has a rare, fatal genetic disease with a tongue-twisting name—ataxia telangiectasia, or A-T. Degeneration of a certain brain region gradually robs these children of movement. Plus, a faulty immune system leads to frequent infections and cancers. Most die in their teens or early 20s.

Israeli doctors pieced together the child's history: When he was 9, the family traveled to Russia, to a Moscow clinic that provided injections of neural stem cells from fetuses—immature cells destined to grow into a main type of brain cells. The cells were injected into his brain and spinal cord twice more, at ages 10 and 12.


Back home in Israel at age 13, the boy's A-T was severe enough to require that he use a wheelchair when he also began complaining of headaches. Tests at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv uncovered a growth pushing on his brain stem and a second on his spinal cord. Surgeons removed the spinal cord mass when the boy was 14, in 2006 and they say his general condition has remained stable since then.

But was the boy prone to tumors anyway or were the fetal stem cells to blame? A Tel Aviv University team extensively tested the tumor tissue and concluded it was the fetal cells."


(Emphasis added). We pray for the little boy and his family!

But the propensity of embryonic stem-cells to turn into tumors is not news. Back in April 2008, Don Margolis reported:

"Lord Patel of Dunkeld, the chairman of the UK National Stem Cell Network and a chancellor at Dundee University, says embryonic stem cell research is simply not working. He conceded in an interview with the Scotsman newspaper that the controversial science may never deliver new treatments for diseases.

“In terms of embryonic stem cell therapy, there is currently no such therapy that is available in a large number of patients,” he said. Patel also admitted scientists may never be able to overcome the hurdles — such as the development of tumors or immune syndrome rejection issues — that plague embryonic stem cell research and make it risky in humans."

It's one of our mantras here at "A Shepherd's Voice": Are California voters having second thoughts yet about shelling out $3 billion + for immoral & unproven embryonic stem cell research, which has yet to show a single cure, while adult stem cells are curing people left and right?

Nancy Pelosi/Archbishop Niederauer UPDATE

Valerie Schmalz over at Our Sunday Visitor has an update on the continuing action/inaction between House Speaker Pelosi and the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

We all remember the scandal caused when Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi went on "Meet the Press" and challenged Catholic teaching on abortion, back on August 24, 2008. Actually, I phrased that wrong. Because the scandal has not been addressed, we don't "remember it," we are still living it. It has not been defused, has not gone away, it poisons Catholics as we speak.

Pelosi's statements caused an unprecedented outpouring of true Catholic teaching from our American bishops. On September 4, 2008, Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco invited her to have a conversation with him about the issue.

From today's OSV article:

“While she initially accepted the archbishop's invitation to a pastoral meeting, she has not been able to arrange such a meeting on her schedule, despite our putting forward several available dates,” said Maurice Healy, spokesman for the archbishop, in a Feb. 13 e-mail. Healy said the archdiocese also received “hundreds of e-mails and phone calls to the archdiocese from Catholics across the country” after Pelosi’s Jan. 25 comments to George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” in which she defended “hundreds of millions” in spending on family planning in the nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package.

“Archbishop Niederauer was on a pastoral visit to Vietnam and returned in early February. I have brought to his attention the reaction to Speaker Pelosi's comments,” Healy said.

That's good to hear. I would repectfully remind His Excellency that in his September 4 statement he said:

"It is my obligation to teach forthrightly and to shepherd caringly, and that is my intent."

God bless him, but His Excellency's duty to teach is not restricted to Speaker Pelosi alone, but to all the souls under his care. In this Archdiocese, he's our Father in faith. He can't help but teach, any more than a natural father can help teaching. He teaches something by reprimanding the Speaker for her incorrect action; he teaches quite something else by not reprimanding her for her incorrect actions.

Speaker Pelosi herself does not seem particularly impressed by His Excellency's invitation. From the OSV article:

"A Pelosi press spokesman said Feb. 13 that she did not know when or if Pelosi would meet with the archbishop or when Pelosi would respond to Our Sunday Visitor’s inquiry. Pelosi was scheduled to depart on an eight-day trip to Europe -- including a stop to meet Pope Benedict XVI -- the same day..."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Black Pastors Stand for Life with Walter Hoye!

African-American religious leaders from around the country are flying in to stand with Pastor Walter Hoye as he awaits sentencing for the violation of Oakland's unjust "bubble ordinance." God Bless them!

To see what Walter is "guilty" of, go here.



Many members of the Bay Area pro-life comunity are certain to be in attendance as well. This press release arrived today:

Black Religious Leaders Say Free Speech Rights Violated
Come From Around Nation to Support Pastor Facing Prison Term


Contact: Pastor Stephen Broden 214-394-0098

Oakland, Calif., Feb. 17, 2009 _ Top leaders in the Black pro-life movement are flying here to attend the sentencing of an African American pastor they say was wrongly convicted of violating Oakland’s ordinance barring contact with women approaching an abortion clinic.


Walter Hoye II was convicted January 15th of two misdemeanor counts of unlawfully approaching clinic patients in violation of Oakland’s recently enacted ordinance prohibiting any contact within 100 feet of an abortion clinic.

“We’re coming here because Black pastors and bishops around this country are just learning of Walter’s fate and to silence the Gospel is unacceptable. It violates the freedom of speech of every Christian in this nation,” said Rev. Johnny Hunter, president of Life Education And Resources Network (LEARN), a prominent African American pro-family, pro-life organization with members in 27 states.

Hoye’s sentencing by California Superior Court Judge Stuart Hing is scheduled for February 19, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 109 (5th Floor), 661 Washington Street, Oakland.

Hoye is also party to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Oakland’s ordinance and a hearing will be held in March in federal district court. Hoye filed the constitutional challenge before his May 13, 2008 arrest in front of the Family Planning Specialists clinic.

“We see brother Hoye standing for life and we ought to stand with him,” said Dr. Levon Yuille of Ypsilanti, Mich., president of the National Black Pro-Life Congress.

More than a third (37 percent) of pregnancies for black women ended in abortion, compared with 12 percent for non-Hispanic white women and 19 percent for Hispanic women in 2004, according to an April 14, 2008 report by the National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2004, 453,000 black babies were aborted while 418,000 white and 269,000 Hispanic babies were aborted, according to the federal report.

“This is a deliberate attempt to silence the Church and its prophetic role in protecting the innocent lives in our community and especially Black babies,” said Pastor Stephen Broden of Dallas, Texas. “Pastor Hoye represents a legacy of resistance by Black preachers to injustices perpetrated on the beloved community. Prenatal murder of Black babies by the abortion industry should be resisted by every black pastor across this country.”

Hoye could face up two years in prison and $4,000 in fines.

He is represented by Life Legal Defense Foundation. For more information, contact Dana Cody at 916-727-4396.

A Serious Bishop

From the Scranton Times-Leader:

"Bishop, Misericordia clash over speaker who supports gay rights"

"Bishop Joseph Martino issued a stinging statement saying Misericordia University 'is seriously failing in maintaining its Catholic identity' by having Keith Boykin speak at the school Tuesday. The statement calls Boykin's stance on homosexual issues 'disturbingly opposed to Catholic moral teaching.' Misericordia countered that it is both Catholic and "an academic institution where ideas and positions are explored critically and freely."

The diocesan statement focuses on Boykin's authorship of three books that were each nominated for a Lambda literary award. 'Lambda is a legal advocacy effort for homosexual causes,' the statement says. Martino 'wants Catholics of the Diocese of Scranton to know of his absolute disapproval of Misericordia University's hosting Mr. Boykin.'"

Bishop Martino is probably under no illusion that his words will change the behavior of the faculty at Misericordia. But now the people of the Diocese of Scranton are under no illusions as to what Catholic teaching is either.

I don't understand why other Bishops don't understand this.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

"Lia" Gets Down to it!

She's a Toronto 12 year old with a simple message :




LifeSiteNews provides background.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Monday, February 16, 2009

USF Update: Fr. Richard Rohr to Visit

From various sources comes the news that Fr. Richard Rohr will be hosting a seminar at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco this Sunday, February 22.

When an event is publicized on the "Oasis California News Blog", the blog of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and "Transgender" Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of California, alarm bells should go off. (The February edition of the "Oasis" blog also informs us that "King David was gay" and urges people to go to Sacramento this Wednesday to protest Proposition 8.)

Reading the USF events page, Fr. Rohr's talk sounds harmless enough:

"Richard Rohr's Sunday afternoon talk will explore the little known or understood role of silent prayer (Contemplation) in the 21st Century, suggesting that in relating to God in this way, one is gradually open and capable of becoming a new person, seeing the world with the eyes and heart of Christ, relating to all peoples in oneness of spirit and therefore encouraging and nurturing one's everyday actions to grow out of and be guided by this spiritual transformation."

But dig a little deeper and some disturbing facts come to light:

• On October 8, 2000, Fr. Rohr sent a letter to "Soulforce," commending them for their opposition to Church teaching:

"At last we have a group of dedicated Christians who are willing to use disciplined and Christian means of nonviolent protest against its church's failure to live the Gospel. Christians outside the mainstream did this in the abolitionist movement against slavery, in the civil rights movement against racism, and in the antiwar movement. Eventually, in each case, the church, like Peter running late to the tomb, acknowledged that these were indeed Gospel positions.

SOULFORCE must take the role of John the Beloved, who runs swiftly to the tomb, because that is what love always does. But both of us will find there the Risen Christ who always reigns and transforms human history, but never without our "let it be." Our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered brothers and sisters have been left outside of his realm of grace for far too long. We can do so much better, and we will. I thank SOULFORCE for its courage, dedication, and proclamation of Christian nonviolence in the pursuit of justice and truth.

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M."

Harmless? Less than a month later, Soulforce (teaming up with "Diginity USA") issued this press release attacking Catholic teaching, and publicizing a direct action in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. That press release cited Fr. Rohr's letter of support.

Just who or what is "Soulforce?" They are a group of homosexual activists committed to changing Church teaching on the homosexuality.

For Soulforce's position on same-sex "marriage," go here. There are 29 pages of links to articles. For their position on Proposition 8, go here and here.
______________________________________________________

Certainly, it would be unfair to cite a single letter Fr. Rohr wrote eight years ago as a reason to find his presence objectionable.

But on September 11-13, 2009, Fr. Rohr will be the Facilitator of a "retreat for former male religious and resigned priests who are gay" to be held in Marriotsville, Maryland. The event is listed on the "Gay Catholic Forum" a clearinghouse for all things anti-Catholic, as far as homosexuality is concerned. (The site also feature homilies by USF's Executive Director of University Ministry, Fr. Donal Godfrey.)

Even that might not necessarily be objectionable, except for the fact that the retreat is being sponsored by New Ways Ministry. New Ways Ministry is pretty well known; still, a look at their "Next Steps: Developing Lesbian/Gay Ministry" action plan is helpful.

"This weekend of prayer, presentations, dialogue, and planning is designed to assist those seeking ways to include lesbian/gay people and issues in their home parishes, schools, or other ministerial settings."

"Include" lesbian/gay people? All they have to do is come to Mass and confession, like everybody else. What New Ways Ministry wants is for the Church to change it's teaching on homosexualitry. If they are sponsoring a retreat, you can pretty much be sure that is its final end.
________________________________________________________

• Fr. Rohr dips into politics, as well, and quite passionately. Here are two "Inauguration Day Reflections," the first from 2004, the second from 2008. In both he seems carried away: in the first by bitterness, in the second by idolatry.

Here's an excerpt from Fr. Rohr's essay following the 2004 Presidential elections.

"We want body morality, not really a demanding Biblical morality. No concern about social values, or justice values, or basic truthfulness, just puritanical concern for keeping human bodies so called "pure," by preoccupation with issues like abortion, those terrible gays, and stem cell research. All of which can be addressed by a more nuanced morality." (Emphasis added).

And here's a bit of Fr. Rohr's reaction to the 2008 Presidential election:

"Brothers, I am sure many of us are struck by the overwhelming worldwide response and hope that is being generated by the new presidency of Barack Obama. From our own male archetype background, I cannot but help read this phenomenon in the light of our understanding of the king, the warrior, the lover, and the wise man. I think this man holds all four archetypes, and to an amazing degree! We usually say you cannot be a king before 50, but Obama is clearly a young king and far ahead of his time...

Even if he does not achieve quick victory against all of the problems created by our greed and arrogance, his presence is already healing and hopeful. ("Each time he leans down to kiss his little daughters and his wife, a thousand single women and fatherless girls are healed") How can one pay or give thanks for such life energy?"

Fr. Rohr does point out that President Obama is "not the Messiah."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

The Cold Truth about Global Warming

Braving an ice storm, he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in its first hearing in the new Congress to plead his case on global warming. The real purpose of his appearance should send shivers down the spine of every American taxpayer. On this visit he brought the tax man with him. That's right! Al Gore wants Congress to impose a tax that could be considered a tax on climate. He describes his new tax as "putting a price on carbon." If you're staying up nights worrying about our carbon footprint or how climate change is leaving polar bears adrift at sea, I've got the best advice you've heard in a while - get some sleep.

Al Gore and his global warming flunkies have half the world brainwashed into thinking our ice caps are melting, our seas are on the verge of boiling, and that everywhere from Miami to Juneau, Alaska is about to be ravaged by tropical diseases from malaria to Dengue Fever. Well, I've studied the science and I've got an "inconvenient truth" for Gore and company - the only hot air that's threatening the planet is coming out of their mouths.

Global warming has benefited from one of the greatest public relations and marketing efforts in recent history. You'll hear plenty from environmentalists about carbon emissions, clean energy, and the disappearing arctic, but here's what you will NEVER hear them admit:
Scientists have reaped MILLIONS from their global warming "research." They've turned supporting global warming - despite what the science really says - into a cash cow!
In fact, these same scientists were trying to convince us the world was cooling just a few decades ago, when that's where the grant money was. There's plenty of bad science and good marketing surrounding the global warming debate.

From The Douglas Report

Thursday, February 12, 2009

"Immeasurable Harm to the Faith": Rabbi Levin Preaches It!

From Hilary White at LifeSiteNews comes this interview with Rabbi Yehuda Levin. The good Rabbi delineates the problems facing the Catholic Church with a candor and clarity that some of our Bishops would do well to emulate. He also puts the Williamson issue in proper perspective: namely, Bishop Richard Williamson is a nut and an embarassment (my words, not his--charitably, the Rabbi just says he has "strange ideas") but you don't abandon a million devout Catholics because of one crackpot bishop.

ROME, February 11, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The dissident, leftist movement in the Catholic Church over the last forty years has severely undermined the teaching of the Catholic Church on the moral teachings on life and family, a prominent US Orthodox rabbi told LifeSiteNews.com. Rabbi Yehuda Levin, the head of a group of 800 Orthodox rabbis in the US and Canada, also dismissed the accusations that the Holy See had not sufficiently distanced itself from the comments made by Bishop Richard Williamson of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) on the Holocaust.

"I support this move" to reconcile the traditionalist faction in the Church, he said, "because I understand the big picture, which is that the Catholic Church has a problem. There is a strong left wing of the Church that is doing immeasurable harm to the faith."


Rabbi Levin said that he understands "perfectly" why the reconciliation is vital to the fight against abortion and the homosexualist movement.


"I understand that it is very important to fill the pews of the Catholic Church not with cultural Catholics and left-wingers who are helping to destroy the Catholic Church and corrupt the values of the Catholic Church." This corruption, he said, "has a trickle-down effect to every single religious community in the world."

"What's the Pope doing? He's trying to bring the traditionalists back in because they have a lot of very important things to contribute the commonweal of Catholicism.


"Now, if in the process, he inadvertently includes someone who is prominent in the traditionalist movement who happens to say very strange things about the Holocaust, is that a reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater and start to condemn Pope Benedict? Absolutely not."


During a visit to Rome at the end of January, Rabbi Levin told LifeSiteNews.com that he believes the media furore over the lifting of the excommunications of the four bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X is a red herring. He called "ridiculous" the accusations that in doing so Pope Benedict VXI or the Catholic Church are anti-Semitic and described as "very strong" the statements distancing the Holy See and the Pope from Williamson's comments.


Rabbi Levin was in Rome holding meetings with high level Vatican officials to propose what he called a "new stream of thinking" for the Church's inter-religious dialogue, one based on commonly held moral teachings, particularly on the right to life and the sanctity of natural marriage.


"The most important issue," he said, is the work the Church is doing "to save babies from abortion, and save children's minds, and young people's minds, helping them to know right and wrong on the life and family issues."

"That's where ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue has to go."


Although numbers are difficult to determine, it is estimated that the Society of St. Pius X has over a million followers worldwide. The traditionalist movement in the Catholic Church is noted for doctrinal orthodoxy and enthusiasm not only for old-fashioned devotional practices, but for the Church's moral teachings and opposition to post-modern secularist sexual mores. Liberals in the Church, particularly in Europe, have bitterly opposed all overtures to the SSPX and other traditionalists, particularly the Pope's recent permission to revive the traditional Latin Mass.

The Vatican announced in early January that, as part of ongoing efforts to reconcile the breakaway group, the 1988 decree of excommunication against the Society had been rescinded. Later that month, a Swedish television station aired an interview, recorded in November 2008, in which Bishop Richard Williamson, one of the four leaders of the Society, said that he did not believe that six million Jews were killed in the Nazi death camps during World War II.


At that time, the media erupted with protests and accusations that the Catholic Church, and especially Pope Benedict XVI, are anti-Semitic.


Rabbi Levin particularly defended Pope Benedict, saying he is the genius behind the moves of the late Pope John Paul II to reconcile the Church with the Jewish community.


"Anyone who understands and follows Vatican history knows that in the last three decades, one of the moral and intellectual underpinnings of the papacy of Pope John Paul II, was Cardinal Ratzinger.


"And therefore, a lot of the things that Pope John Paul did vis-à-vis the Holocaust, he [Benedict] might have done himself, whether it was visiting Auschwitz or visiting and speaking in the synagogues or asking forgiveness. A lot of this had direct input from Cardinal Ratzinger. Whoever doesn't understand this doesn't realise that this man, Pope Benedict XVI, has a decades-long track record of anti-Nazism and sympathy for the Jews."


Blessings upon the good Rabbi!

As one of Fr. Z's commentators said: "He's brought it down Joshua-style!"

h/t to Fr. Z via the Catholic Caveman.

Bishop Tobin and President Obama

Good Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island imagines an interview with President Obama:

TOBIN: But shouldn’t we be using foreign aid for more positive reasons – for example, to provide food, clothing, shelter and medicine to impoverished children?

OBAMA: Bishop, obviously you’re missing the point. If you control the population and eliminate the children, you don’t have to worry about giving them food, clothing, shelter and medicine now do you?


Read the whole thing.

h/t Curt Jester

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Catholic Cartoon Blogspot

I hadn't visited the old Catholic Cartoon blogspot for a while...but this reminds me why I should:

"This cartoon was sparked recently when I heard a priest lament that only 37 people showed up for the Advent Penance Service. On a regular Sunday, I think we get upwards of 1000-1500 people for our 2 masses. I may be overshooting it a bit. So the 37 number was pretty sorry.

But in my 10 years back, I can count on one hand when I've heard a priest specifically mention something being a sin... If, in today's Church, practically NOTHING is a sin, then what exactly would need to be confessed? God loves everyone, He's never mad about what we do, and everything "bad" we do can be reasoned away with buckets full of Oprah & Dr. Phil psychological babble. "

Pastor Calls it like it is : Demonic

From California Catholic Daily:

(Fr. Richard Perozich, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Escondido, published the following commentary in the Sunday, Feb. 1, parish bulletin.) “100 DAYS OR END OF DAYS:

"The "governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in a 1999 movie called "End of Days" where the devil was to come to take over the world. In the story line the devil must mate with a certain mortal if he is to escape hell and begin his reign of dominance over human hearts and freedom, to oppress people with death, pride, avarice, greed, sloth, ire, gluttony and lust. Arnold plays a man wounded spiritually and emotionally who ultimately opposes the devil who is defeated and reconsigned to hell for another 1,000 years. In real life, however, his legislation works for Satan.

The first 100 days of a new presidency is the time when legislation desired by the new leader is rammed through the congress without much discussion and over the objections of the minority party. It often is not good legislation, has been brewing in the hearts of special interest groups for years, who now have a vehicle to impose their will on the American people.

If the special interest groups have their way, it will spell the end of days for the American nation as we have known it since 1776. Abominations will be forced on us by the new government, such as which our founders never had intended, and certainly opposed to the Christian life: abortion on demand, homogenital sex, lust in all its forms, euthanasia, oppression of opportunity and entrepreneurs, silencing of faith and free speech among many.

In the old testament, God's chosen people abandoned Him and sacrificed their own innocent children to a demon god called Moloch in hopes of a good harvest to feed themselves. The cult of Moloch lives on today, but just not under the god's formal name, but in the name of abortion, or rightly put, murder of children in the womb to promote false promises, ruined lives, and degraded humanity.

Abortion is our god and Obama, Pelosi, Kennedy are his prophets. His sacrifice is the life of infants and the souls of mothers. His priests are doctors who perform abortions. His church is Planned Parenthood and FOCA, (freedom of choice act). His covenant promises rights and freedom for women. It delivers death of infants, permanent damage to the souls of women, of men, of politicians.

Homosexual lust is our god and Obama, Bishop Gene Robinson, and democratic politicians are his prophets. The sacrifice is personal integrity and corruption of the body and spirit. Its priests and priestesses are men who have sex with men (MSM) and women who have sex with women (WSW). Its church is the Human Rights Campaign and other activist organizations, Pride clubs and "gay" and "lesbian" centers. Its covenant offers false promises of equality with those who have normal sexual relations and inner peace. It delivers disease, prolonged adolescent immaturity, and oppression of the church and good people who live upright moral lives.

Money is our god, and the wealthy and the welfare are its prophets. Its sacrifice is hard earned savings and retirement. Its priests are those taking obscene profits by defrauding investors, and those who choose government money over honest work. Its church is a non vigilant Securities and Exchange Commission and congress. Its covenant promises self reliance and security in wealth. It delivers collapse of the economy, unfair distribution of wealth, and a drain on the tax system.

Socialism is our god, and Obama is his prophet. Its sacrifice is personal freedom. Its priests are politicians and communist ideological organizations. Its church are legislatures and executive branches in government. Its covenant promises fairness and sameness for all. It delivers power and wealth those who already possess it and takes away opportunity for those out of power and destroys of the economy and future for others.

Liberalism is our god and the Democratic party is his prophet. Its sacrifice is freedom, integrity, opportunity, and wholeness. Its priests are the fascist elites in government, education, and bureaucracies, who wish to control others' thoughts and actions. Its churches are political parties, universities, and corrupt professional organizations. Its covenant promises unbridled freedom for perversion of the natural law and oppression for all who disagree with it. It delivers the breakdown of society, constitutional government, and true freedom for morally minded people, especially faithful Christians.

For us Christians, these are abominations, and the people who promote them are truly overcome by evil. 2 Peter 2:19-20 "They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him. For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of (our) Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first."

This may not be the change you wanted when you voted for new government, but it is the change you voted for if you did not clearly listen to the evil promises of the new priests of the new churches and ignored the warnings about the new evils that this government clearly promised to impose on America.

The Father is our God, and Jesus Christ is His prophet. His sacrifice is the life of His Son Jesus celebrated at Mass. His priests are those ordained and faithful clergy who teach fully the Catholic faith from the Bible and magisterium, and who celebrate the sacraments of the church faithfully according to its tradition and rites. Its Church is the Holy Catholic Church in which salvation is found in Jesus, the only name in heaven or on earth by which man can be saved, through Jesus, the only mediator between God and man who saves us by grace through faith in Him and not in abortion, homosexual lust, money's greed, socialism, or liberalism. He delivers forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

Jesus came to save us from abortion, homosexual lust, socialism, liberalism, and greed of money. He begins by gathering us into His Holy Catholic Church in baptism, giving us faith in HIM rather than the perversions and evil legacies of the world and worldly people. He fills us with His Holy Spirit in confirmation to give us the gifts of HIS wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, courage, piety, and fear of the Lord, so that we are formed to conquer the world. He nourishes us with His Body and Blood to fortify our Spirit to hear the counsel of the Holy Spirit to reject not only for ourselves the evil legacies, but to fight for others who are under evil's influence.

So we pray each day, and worship on Sunday. Renewed in Spirit, we begin the fight for the faith and the souls of all in our country and world. We march, telephone, fax, write, protest, inform all those in power of our beliefs and interests to show them we will resist their impositions, remove them from office and employment if they pervert our nation. We began with the passage of Proposition 8. We continue the fight there, which is far from over.

Please, take the time to sign your pledge card to urge all senators and congressmen to vote against the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which would enshrine into law the killing of infants in the womb and make it a crime to oppose it, and use your money to promote it through taxes.

Jesus has called you out of the darkness of abortion, lust, greed, socialism, and liberalism into His marvelous light of freedom. Fight for that freedom now, so that you will not be oppressed like the Christians of the first centuries. Evil has acceded to power in this administration. We must pray as if it all depends on God, and work as if it all depends on us."

Reader, thank the good Priest! Click this link to send him an email. He needs to hear from you. A few words of encoragement will suffice. He is guaranteed a quick nasty response from abortion supporters and homosexual activists. Let him know you support him! We speak from personal experience.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

"No Christ Zone" Video: What really happened with Walter Hoye

Go here (page now loads faster) for video of good Pastor Walter Hoye in front of the Oakland abortion clinic on April 29 and May 13, 2008. These "clinic escorts" complain that Walter was intimidating them. See for yourself.

This is what you can get arrested for in the United States of America, thanks to legalized abortion. It is for this that Walter faces a possible two years in prison and $4,000 in fines. Walter compares this to the Jim Crow laws. *

I note that in Oakland, a city with a plurality African-American population, Walter is the only black person on the scene (except for the victims). All of the clinic "escorts" are white.


From the Issues4Life website:

* "Jim Crow laws (1877-1954), regulated relationships between Whites and Blacks. Jim Crow laws" were passed principally to subordinate Blacks as a group to Whites and to legally enforce a viewpoint favored by Whites. Today, the "bubble law" in Oakland, California is designed to favor the viewpoint of pro-abortionists and was passed principally by the Oakland City Council to subordinate the pro-life viewpoint to the pro-abortionist viewpoint. You will notice in the video clips below that abortion clinic escorts (those wearing orange vests) have the right to block Walter's person, message and can walk up to and along with anyone going into the abortion clinic. You will also notice Walter's pro-life viewpoint does not afford him the same rights and privileges. Clearly this is viewpoint discrimination. Why should Walter's viewpoint cost him the loss of his constitutionally guaranteed rights as a citizen of the United States of America? Sadly we are facing the re-emergence of reconstruction era "Jim Crow laws" in Oakland, California today!"

Monday, February 9, 2009

Moral Accountability

Moralaccountability.com is a new website set up by Professer Robert George and others.
From their mission statement:

"The Moral Accountability Project trusts that those self-identified pro-life and pro-marriage Catholics and Evangelicals who helped to put Barack Obama into a position to accomplish his goals were sincere in their admiration for him. We are willing to believe that they genuinely hope that he will go back on his pledges to attack pro-life laws and repeal pro-marriage policies. Still, actions have consequences, and the actions of these intellectuals and activists will have consequences that are all too easy to predict. With each assault by the Obama administration on laws and policies upholding the sanctity of human life and the dignity of marriage, we will ask all Catholics and Evangelicals, including those who supported Obama, to join us in resisting these assaults. That is our mission at www.moralaccountability.com."

"Faithful Citizenship" = Justification for Genocide

Paul Kengor at LifeNews:

YOUR Tax Money Will Promote Abortion Promotion in Mexico Thanks to Obama

As is well known by those who take the time to follow such things, one of the first major actions of President Barack Obama — as he promised — was to sign an executive order officially reversing the Mexico City Policy begun by Ronald Reagan and preserved by George W. Bush.

That policy ensured that U.S. taxpayer funding could not go to international groups that promote and perform abortions overseas.


So, for those 54% of Catholics who voted for Obama for “change,” they will now certainly get it: Their 'change,' specifically, their tax dollars, will go directly to the killing of unborn babies worldwide."

Well, that's one way to stop illegal immigration...prevent immigration from the womb.

Whatever happened to "welcoming the (little) stranger?"













Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney