Bishop Vasa Demands Catholicism From Catholic School Teachers

Santa Rosa's great Archbishop is leading the way!

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat has the story:

"The Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese is requiring its 200 schoolteachers to sign an agreement affirming that 'modern errors' such as contraception, abortion, homosexual marriage and euthanasia are 'matters that gravely offend human dignity.'

The move is an effort by Bishop Robert Vasa to delineate specifically what it means for a Catholic-school teacher -- whether Catholic or not -- to be a 'model of Catholic living' and to adhere to Catholic teaching.

That means means abiding by the Ten Commandments, going to church every Sunday and heeding God's words in thought, deed and intentions, according to a private church document that is an 'addendum' to language in the current teachers' contract...."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Tantum Ergo Sacramentum

The Holy Father's post-resignation title

Rocco Palmo reports:

"Giving an official word to one of the impending post-papacy's most-sought questions, at today's transition briefing, the Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi finally confirmed that, upon his resignation Thursday evening, B16 will be known as "His Holiness Benedict XVI, Pope-Emeritus," and retain the signature clothing of the pontiff's office."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

"I could not be true to myself or my obligation to society..."

if I did anything to encourage other children to be placed in such homes."

Those are the moving words of Professor Robert Oscar Lopez, as he describes his experience of growing up in a household with two "mothers." Professor Lopez is a bisexually-attracted man, who, when it comes to the family, puts the common good of society first.




Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Amazing Video of Puerto Rico Pro-Family Pro-Marriage Rally

God bless the good people of Puerto Rico! Like most people everywhere they know what marriage is, and what it is for, and what it is not. Check it out:




Laura Wood at the Thinking Housewife has commented on the importance of these rallies, and how they doom same-sex "marriage." The people simply will not recognize it:

"I said before that the recent Manif Pour Tous demonstration in Paris doomed homosexual “marriage” and adoption in France. I still believe that this prediction will prove true even if the law passes. There is no turning back, in my opinion, from the mass resistance that has emerged in France. Opponents of homosexual marriage, including Frigide Barjot, have succeeded in broadcasting the message that homosexual unions will detrimentally affect the lives of children. There is a competing script to the claims of radical equality. The resistance is likely to grow and to become highly offended if marriage laws are changed despite it."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

USF Theology Chair Indicates He Will Preside at Same-sex "Weddings"

I do not see any how any other interpretation can be put on this.

A shorter version of the article below appeared in today's California Catholic Daily.

As of March of 2006, in his presentation “Alienated Catholics,” given at San Francisco’s St. Agnes parish, the Reverend Vincent Pizzuto was still using the term “we” to describe same-sex attracted Catholics. While the “we” indicates Pizzuto considered himself a Catholic at that time, it is questionable how deeply that identification could have been felt: four months later, in July of 2006, Pizzuto was ordained a Priest in the Celtic Christian Church, a church not in communion with Rome. At the time the “Alienated Catholics” presentation was given, the pastor of St. Agnes parish was Fr. Cameron Ayers, SJ. Ayers, like Pizzuto, has since left the Church, and is now an “assisting priest” at San Francisco’s Holy Innocents Episcopal Church.

When he was ordained, Pizzuto was serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco, a nominally Catholic University. Since then, despite (or perhaps because of) his public alienation from the Catholic Church, Pizzuto has been promoted to Associate Professor, and he now serves as the Chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at USF.

The “Profile” pages of USF faculty have an option to link to the faculty member’s blog. Not all faculty take advantage of this. Pizzuto does. Pizzuto’s faculty webpage at USF links directly to the webpage of the “New Skellig Community” Church, where he is the presider. New Skellig is a “member” community of the Celtic Christian Church, the body, as noted, into which Pizzuto was ordained. There are three “Church Statements” listed on the Celtic Christian Church’s webpage: “Homosexuality and Same-Sex Relationships”; “Supporting Document on the Question of Homosexuality and Same-Sex Relationships” (written by Rev. Pizzuto himself); and “Church Statement Concerning Abortion.” From the “Homosexuality and Same-Sex Relationships” page:

“If a homosexual couple wishes to make a public commitment to each other, the Church blesses such a desire and celebrates it by means of a marriage ceremony presided over by one of its clergypersons.”

So: the Celtic Christian Church will "marry" persons of the same sex.

Pizzuto himself writes on the New Skellig Community “Weddings” page:

“Because the Celtic Christian Church is a canonically independent catholic church whose governing principles prioritize the ‘Law of Love’ above rules and regulations, we are especially sensitive to couples who have been alienated from their church of origin, or who find that their marriage is unjustly prohibited in some Christian institutions. This is often the case, for example, among couples who are: Previously divorced; Same-gendered; Inter-religious… In all cases, Fr. Vincent works personally with each couple to guide them in creating a dignified ceremony that genuinely expresses the couple’s relationship, commitment and spirituality.”

So: that certainly seems to mean that Rev. Pizzuto, in conformity with the policy of his church, will "marry" persons of the same-sex.

I ask: how in the world can a person with Fr. Pizzuto's beliefs and actions be allowed to be the Chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at an ostensibly Catholic University?

Of course I am not a canon lawyer, but the Catholic Church has rules for those teaching in its institutions. Canon 833 of the Code of Canon Law specifies when and how such persons are required to make an Oath of Fidelity to the Church. Canon 833 begins: “The following are obliged personally to make a profession of faith according to the formula approved by the Apostolic See:” and then lists eight categories of persons. Category number seven includes: “teachers in any universities whatsoever who teach disciplines pertaining to faith or morals, when they begin their function.”

The Vatican also publishes the Oath of Fidelity required, which may be found online. It opens: “Formula to be used by the Christian faithful referred to in Canon 833, Nos. 5-8.” The very first of five clauses reads:

“I, N., on assuming the office __________ promise that I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church whether in the words I speak or in the way I act.”

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Fr. Malloy is Doing Better

Fr. Malloy is improving after his fall, which happened on January 28. He is out of the hospital, and in a rehabilitation facility where he is getting physical therapy.

He is impatient to get back home, of course, but his spirits are good and his wit as sharp as ever.He has had many many visitors!

Here he is a few years back with Mimi, his cat.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Meanwhile, Illinois Senate Votes to Issue Counterfeit "Marriage" Licenses

The totalitarian media has no trouble covering this story.

The good old Curt Jester, Jeff Miller, puts it all in perspective:

"Historic Vote in the House of Commons

The House of Commons voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a bill redefining poverty in Britain, indicating that the bill is assured of passage as it moves through further legislative stages.

Prime Minister David Cameron had been concerned about the increasing poverty rates and the growing problems poverty entails. The bill changed the definition of poverty to only include those who have less than a shilling and don’t have any family members to support them. Members of The House of Commons are enthused about this historic vote which wiped out poverty overnight.

After the approval of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage David Cameron said “I was thinking if we could change the definition of marriage to mean whatever we wanted it to mean then what is to stop of from doing this in other areas? If we can go from an understudying of marriage as the union of one man and one woman to hardly having a definition at all, then certainly that provides a precedent.” Mr. Cameron has also outlined some other legislative efforts such as redefining illness thus saving millions regarding the National Health Service."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Over 100,000 Rally for Marriage in Puerto Rico!

Ben Johnson over at LifeSiteNews has the story:

More than 100,000 rally to protect marriage in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, PR, February 18, 2013, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Between 120,000 and 200,000 people blanketed the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, today to encourage the island's lawmakers to defend marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Bearing signs stating “Puerto Rico stands up to defend the family,” tens of thousands of protesters called on the ruling Popular Democratic Party to turn back any measure that would redefine the family unit...."

Of course our totalitarian media is ignoring the event. The only other outlet covering it, so far, is the Caribbean Business News:

Pro-Family Marchers flock to the capitol.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

March for Marriage March 26!

The National Organization for Marriage is organizing a March for Marriage on March 26. Bless them! You can download a flyer and learn how you can help here.

You can go to their Facebook page here.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Holy Father to Resign!

Talk about blockbuster news! Our beloved Pope Benedict will resign February 28. He feels his strength, given his age, is no longer sufficient for the task. God bless him, his interest is for the good of the Church.

Here is his statement from Vatican Radio, via Catholic World News:

"Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church," he said in a statement addressed to cardinals. "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry."

"I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering," he continued in his statement, which was dated February 10 and released by Vatican Radio on February 11. "However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."

"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is," he added.

"Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Good News: Disgusting Legal Argument Repudiated

Back on January 24, we reported on the disgusting legal argument being made by an attorney for Catholic Healthcare Initiatives in Coloardo, that unborn persons were not persons.

Now, at the urging of the Colorado Catholic bishops, the hospital chain has abandoned this argument, which was being made on their behalf in the Stodgehill case.

I'm not at all familiar with legal procedures, so I wonder if it is normal or acceptable practice for an attorney to make such an argument without the OK of his client.

In any event, thank heaven this development. May the case reach a speedy and just conclusion.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Baltimore Ravens Center Dedicated Pro-Lifer

Nice to hear on SuperBowl Sunday.

Steve Ertelt, at LifeNews has the story:

"As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to play the San Francisco 49ers in this Sunday’s Super Bowl, one player knows there is more to play for in life than just a football game.
Raven’s veteran center Matt Birk is a longtime pro-life advocate who has a thoughtful position against abortion and a family story to share.

Birk grew up in St. Paul Minnesota, where Planned Parenthood did abortions for decades and then the godfather of one of Birk’s five children opened a pregnancy center across the street from the abortion facility. Adrianna, Birk’s wife, volunteered at the center, and eventually the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic closed."

Birk was a featured speaker at the Maryland March for Life previously and he said his Catholic faith and being a father are two of the big reasons he is pro-life and he shared how he was overwhelmed to hold his first child.

“It was unbelievable the love that I felt for her,” he said in a prior interview, “and any parent knows exactly what I’m talking about. At that point, you know it’s not a choice. Life is a gift that’s given to us. We are supposed to accept it. It’s not our choice whether we decide a baby lives or not.”

Birk said participating in the March for Life is “one of the coolest things I’ve done.”

“It seems like our society and media want to push pro-lifers to the side and hope that we would shut our mouths and go away quietly,” said Birk. “Let’s not do that.”

“We all need saving,” he said, “and there’s one thing that can save us all, and that’s prayer,” he added."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Long Story/Interview with ABC in San Francisco Magazine / MHR used for "Balance"

There's a six or seven page article about our great Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone (ABC) in San Francisco Magazine. You can read it here.

"He owns his message, and he does not equivocate, occasionally expressing indignation that so many others can’t accept what he sees so clearly. “The teaching authority comes from Christ and the gospel,” he says. “It doesn’t mean we simply go with the latest idea floating through society.” On abortion, he has no question that society is letting women down. The solution to an unwanted pregnancy isn’t to “snuff that life out,” he says, slapping his hand on the table. “It’s not only a violation of that life, it’s also a violation of that woman.” And with gay marriage, there is no gray area, no place for so-called cafeteria Catholics, picking and choosing which doctrines suit them. He scoffs at the idea of flexibility. As the Pope stressed in his Christmas message in December, gay marriage is an “attack” on family and the “very notion of...what being human really means.” Cordileone couldn’t agree more."
God bless him! A true shepherd.

The magazine also makes the apparently obligatory pilgrimage over to the counter-cathedral in the Castro, Most Holy Redeemer parish, where they get quotes from a lady named Roz Gallo, a same-sex "married" parishioner who used to serve as the parish council president.

His Excellency was also interviewed in the Catholic Herald UK.

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Obama Administration Tries New HHS Contraceptive Mandate Approach

The story is here.

Update: This appears to be no help to people who are unlucky enough not to be a church or one of it's affiliated organizations:

"The simple definition of “religious employer” for purposes of the exemption would follow a section of the Internal Revenue Code, and would primarily include churches, other houses of worship, and their affiliated organizations, as defined by Section 6033(a)(3)(A)(i) or (iii)

This proposed change is intended to clarify that a house of worship would not be excluded from the exemption because, for example, it provides charitable social services to persons of different religious faiths or employs persons of different religious faiths. The Departments believe that this proposal would not expand the universe of employer plans that would qualify for the exemption beyond that which was intended in the 2012 final rules."

So it sounds like any employer who does not fit the above description (Hobby Lobby?) is still being coerced to act against their religious beliefs.

Update II: Yep, Steve Ertelt says that is the case:

"However, these revisions do not apply to privately-owned businesses that want to opt out. Hobby Lobby, the Christian craft company, was forced to alter its employee health insurance plan in order to avoid millions of dollars in fines each and every day it refuses to comply with the HHS mandate.

The new rules are already facing opposition from pro-life and religious groups.

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, told LifeNews: “We at Priests for Life remind the Administration that religious liberty does not just belong to religious groups and individuals; it belongs to all Americans...."

Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney