From the Gallup Polling organization:
"More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time
Also, fewer think abortion should be legal “under any circumstances
PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.
The new results, obtained from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey, represent a significant shift from a year ago, when 50% were pro-choice and 44% pro-life. Prior to now, the highest percentage identifying as pro-life was 46%, in both August 2001 and May 2002.
The May 2009 survey documents comparable changes in public views about the legality of abortion. In answer to a question providing three options for the extent to which abortion should be legal, about as many Americans now say the procedure should be illegal in all circumstances (23%) as say it should be legal under any circumstances (22%). This contrasts with the last four years, when Gallup found a strong tilt of public attitudes in favor of unrestricted abortion."
Friday, May 15, 2009
Shame, Notre Dame!
As Notre Dame honors President OBama with a doctorate this Sunday, the Christian Community of
"The Pew Research Poll indicates that one of the largest shifts in public opinion has taken place since Barack Obama has opened the floodgates of abortion in January,” said Dr. Jim Garlow, pastor of
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Is it Politics?
Catholics who object to pro-abortion President Barack Obama's being honored at Notre Dame are being accused of partisan politics.
This is nonsense.
Abortion is not a political issue. Politics is the argument we have about how we live together. It presupposes a respect for innocent life. Respect for the right to life is a pre-political issue: it makes politics possible. Arguing for legalized abortion is no more a politics than sweeping all the pieces off the chessboard is chess.
While a number of Catholic thinkers have responded to this accusation, the accusation itself is instructive, particularly when it comes from other Catholics.
I remember well back in 2007 when objections were made to the (Jesuit) University of San Fancisco because of their inviting pro-abortion Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to be their Commencement Speaker. One of the responses to these objections, in the Catholic San Francisco newspaper, was from a local priest. Fr. Stephen Privett, the President of USF, thought so highly of this response that he cited it on the USF webpage:
"Fr. Kenneth Weare, a pastor in the San Francisco Archdiocese, made a pointed observation in Catholic San Francisco, noting that Pelosi 'is by far much more in line with the greater body of Catholic moral teaching than [President] Bush ever was.'”
I found Fr. Weare's response extraordinary then, and I find it extraordinary now. What possible relevance does the comparison have? Bush was not invited to USF, Pelosi was. Bush is not a Catholic, Pelosi maintains she is. Is there a quality that Bush and Pelosi share, that would allow for the comparison? Only one: they are both professional politicians. The comparison only has any relevance if one is motivated by partisan politics. The idea that there might be an overriding Catholic standard needing to be met (by whomever is speaking at a Catholic University) never occurs to Fathers Privett or Weare--or Fr. Jenkins.
So I think the question of political partisanship is valid and needs to be asked, but it should be asked of those who indeed do put politics ahead of Catholic teaching.
UPDATE: George Weigel writes on the same subject.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
This is nonsense.
Abortion is not a political issue. Politics is the argument we have about how we live together. It presupposes a respect for innocent life. Respect for the right to life is a pre-political issue: it makes politics possible. Arguing for legalized abortion is no more a politics than sweeping all the pieces off the chessboard is chess.
While a number of Catholic thinkers have responded to this accusation, the accusation itself is instructive, particularly when it comes from other Catholics.
I remember well back in 2007 when objections were made to the (Jesuit) University of San Fancisco because of their inviting pro-abortion Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to be their Commencement Speaker. One of the responses to these objections, in the Catholic San Francisco newspaper, was from a local priest. Fr. Stephen Privett, the President of USF, thought so highly of this response that he cited it on the USF webpage:
"Fr. Kenneth Weare, a pastor in the San Francisco Archdiocese, made a pointed observation in Catholic San Francisco, noting that Pelosi 'is by far much more in line with the greater body of Catholic moral teaching than [President] Bush ever was.'”
I found Fr. Weare's response extraordinary then, and I find it extraordinary now. What possible relevance does the comparison have? Bush was not invited to USF, Pelosi was. Bush is not a Catholic, Pelosi maintains she is. Is there a quality that Bush and Pelosi share, that would allow for the comparison? Only one: they are both professional politicians. The comparison only has any relevance if one is motivated by partisan politics. The idea that there might be an overriding Catholic standard needing to be met (by whomever is speaking at a Catholic University) never occurs to Fathers Privett or Weare--or Fr. Jenkins.
So I think the question of political partisanship is valid and needs to be asked, but it should be asked of those who indeed do put politics ahead of Catholic teaching.
UPDATE: George Weigel writes on the same subject.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Carrie Prejean Retains "Miss California" Title
And sticks by her guns!
From the Associated Press:
"She talked about getting thousands of letters and e-mails from people supporting her and said, about the marriage question, that Hilton had asked her a 'politically charged question with a hidden personal agenda.'
'I stated my honest belief,' she said.
Good for her.
From the Associated Press:
"She talked about getting thousands of letters and e-mails from people supporting her and said, about the marriage question, that Hilton had asked her a 'politically charged question with a hidden personal agenda.'
'I stated my honest belief,' she said.
Good for her.
Bishop Finn, Archbishop Naumann Join Protest at Planned Parenthood
God Bless the good Bishops!
From "The Catholic Key":
"Kansas City - St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn and Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann joined 700 area Catholics in praying the Rosary outside Planned Parenthood's abortion facility in Overland Park, May 9.
The third annual peaceful Mothers Day rosary attracted twice as many participants as last year. Bishop Finn and Archbishop Naumann took turns leading the 20 decades of the Rosary."
There are nice pictures, too. If a couple of bishops come, it's no surprise you'll get twice the number as the previous year!
From "The Catholic Key":
"Kansas City - St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn and Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann joined 700 area Catholics in praying the Rosary outside Planned Parenthood's abortion facility in Overland Park, May 9.
The third annual peaceful Mothers Day rosary attracted twice as many participants as last year. Bishop Finn and Archbishop Naumann took turns leading the 20 decades of the Rosary."
There are nice pictures, too. If a couple of bishops come, it's no surprise you'll get twice the number as the previous year!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
USF Update "It would be simplistic..."
The abandonment by the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco of its Catholic heritage has forced even the mainstream media to take notice.
From today's San Francisco Chronicle:
"The University of San Francisco has canceled its master's in theology program, provoking a bitter disagreement about what it means for the future of the university.
Some faculty, alumni and students connected to the program say the university is losing the graduate degree most closely linked with its Jesuit Catholic mission. They say the closure is the culmination of a series of actions eroding the institution's Catholic identity.
Several former and current faculty in the department of theology and religious studies worry that the greater damage may be to USF's identity as a Catholic institution, which they say has been diminished over the past decade.
Yes, it has.
The university requires that undergraduates take only one course in religious studies. That means that a single course about Buddhism, for example, might be the full exposure a student may get at USF, San Francisco's premier Catholic educational institution. Department supporters say this means USF has the weakest religious studies requirement of any of the 28 Jesuit universities and colleges in the nation.
"If we require only one course at the undergraduate level, and we're canceling the M.A. program, what does that say about our Catholic identity?" asked the Rev. Dan Kendall, a professor in the department for 30 years.
It says the "Catholic identity" is just about non-existent, Father.
But Fr. Privett is not worried:
"Privett says the opponents are misguided. Since he came to the university nine years ago, Privett said he's added an undergraduate minor in Catholic studies and opened the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought. "
That Fr. Privett chose to single out the Lane Center is instructive. Here is a sample of "Lane Center" events (reading backwards) over the past three years. Follow any of the links for full documentation.
March 9, 2009: The Lane Center hosted ex-priest (and, according to the Cardinal Newman Society, same-sex "married) Professor James Nickoloff: “'Intrinsically Disordered': The Role of the Despised in Establishing the Holiness of the Church. A community conversation exploring gay marriage and Catholic identity in light of Proposition 8. Sponsored with the USF LGBTQ Caucus.”
June 15, 2008: The Lane Center (in conjunction with "Voice of the Faithful Northern California) hosted ex-priest Paul Lakeland at a seminar entitled "How the Laity Can save the Church? Lakeland is best known for his support of Connecticut's recent attempt to have lay persons take over the governance of the Catholic Church.
June 13, 2008: The Lane Center hosts Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, depite Archbishop George Niederauer's orders that he not speak at Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese.
October 30, 2008: On October 30, USF's Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought hosted professor and abortion advocate Sylvia Marcos. Marcos believes in working to make abortion legal in countries where it is illegal.
March 10, 2008: The Lane Center sponsors a screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So"--film challenging church teaching on homosexuality.
October 20, 2007: Julia Dowd, Associate Director of the Lane Center (and other USF Faculty) attends "OutThere" conference at De Paul University
May 23, 2007: The Lane Center hosts "Religion and Sexuality: What's the Connection" activists planning session. Guest speakers included the Rev. Ignacio Castuera, President of the Clergy Network of Planned Parenthood and the Rev. Lisa Sargeant, Chaplain of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate.
March 29, 2006: The Lane Center sponsors the "Alienated Catholics: Establishing the Groundwork for Dialog" seminar at S. Agnes parish.
February 12, 2006: The Lane Center sponsors the "Is it Ethical to Be Catholic? Queer Perspectives." seminar at Most Holy Redeemer parish.
That is what Fr. Privett cites as an example of "Catholic" education.
But we must respectfully point out that our last three Archbishops have been publicly silent about all of this.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
From today's San Francisco Chronicle:
"The University of San Francisco has canceled its master's in theology program, provoking a bitter disagreement about what it means for the future of the university.
Some faculty, alumni and students connected to the program say the university is losing the graduate degree most closely linked with its Jesuit Catholic mission. They say the closure is the culmination of a series of actions eroding the institution's Catholic identity.
Yes, it is.
But USF President Stephen Privett, a Jesuit priest for 38 years, said such broad statements misconstrue the nature of the university as it tries to engage with a rapidly changing world. "It would be simplistic to reduce the Catholic character to any single program," Privett said in an interview.....Several former and current faculty in the department of theology and religious studies worry that the greater damage may be to USF's identity as a Catholic institution, which they say has been diminished over the past decade.
Yes, it has.
The university requires that undergraduates take only one course in religious studies. That means that a single course about Buddhism, for example, might be the full exposure a student may get at USF, San Francisco's premier Catholic educational institution. Department supporters say this means USF has the weakest religious studies requirement of any of the 28 Jesuit universities and colleges in the nation.
"If we require only one course at the undergraduate level, and we're canceling the M.A. program, what does that say about our Catholic identity?" asked the Rev. Dan Kendall, a professor in the department for 30 years.
It says the "Catholic identity" is just about non-existent, Father.
But Fr. Privett is not worried:
"Privett says the opponents are misguided. Since he came to the university nine years ago, Privett said he's added an undergraduate minor in Catholic studies and opened the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought. "
That Fr. Privett chose to single out the Lane Center is instructive. Here is a sample of "Lane Center" events (reading backwards) over the past three years. Follow any of the links for full documentation.
March 9, 2009: The Lane Center hosted ex-priest (and, according to the Cardinal Newman Society, same-sex "married) Professor James Nickoloff: “'Intrinsically Disordered': The Role of the Despised in Establishing the Holiness of the Church. A community conversation exploring gay marriage and Catholic identity in light of Proposition 8. Sponsored with the USF LGBTQ Caucus.”
June 15, 2008: The Lane Center (in conjunction with "Voice of the Faithful Northern California) hosted ex-priest Paul Lakeland at a seminar entitled "How the Laity Can save the Church? Lakeland is best known for his support of Connecticut's recent attempt to have lay persons take over the governance of the Catholic Church.
June 13, 2008: The Lane Center hosts Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, depite Archbishop George Niederauer's orders that he not speak at Catholic institutions in the Archdiocese.
October 30, 2008: On October 30, USF's Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought hosted professor and abortion advocate Sylvia Marcos. Marcos believes in working to make abortion legal in countries where it is illegal.
March 10, 2008: The Lane Center sponsors a screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So"--film challenging church teaching on homosexuality.
October 20, 2007: Julia Dowd, Associate Director of the Lane Center (and other USF Faculty) attends "OutThere" conference at De Paul University
May 23, 2007: The Lane Center hosts "Religion and Sexuality: What's the Connection" activists planning session. Guest speakers included the Rev. Ignacio Castuera, President of the Clergy Network of Planned Parenthood and the Rev. Lisa Sargeant, Chaplain of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate.
March 29, 2006: The Lane Center sponsors the "Alienated Catholics: Establishing the Groundwork for Dialog" seminar at S. Agnes parish.
February 12, 2006: The Lane Center sponsors the "Is it Ethical to Be Catholic? Queer Perspectives." seminar at Most Holy Redeemer parish.
That is what Fr. Privett cites as an example of "Catholic" education.
But we must respectfully point out that our last three Archbishops have been publicly silent about all of this.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
Friday, May 8, 2009
Archbishop Burke at Prayer Breakfast
The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast is going on right now. Archbishop Raymond Burke and Justice Antonin Scalia will be there.
Jack Smith at "The Catholic Key" reports that Tom Hoopes at the National Catholic Register will be liveblogging from the event. Archbishop Burke is already at work:
Hoopes - “What should the Church do about Notre Dame?” I asked Archbishop Raymond Burke last night. His answer:
AB Burke - “What it should do is have Notre Dame come clean. Is it Catholic or isn’t it? A Catholic institution, a Catholic university, cannot give honors to someone who is a promoter of things that are opposed to the most fundamental beliefs of Catholics, and so that’s what needs to happen.”
__________________________________________________________
UPDATE: Jack Smith has posted His Excellency's full address at "The Catholic Key."
A sample:
"The path of violation of the most fundamental human rights and of the integrity of marriage and the family which our nation is traveling is not accidental," he said. "
As Catholics, we cannot fail to notice with the greatest sadness the number of our fellow Catholics who cooperate fully to the advancement of a national agenda which is anti-life and anti-family."
Jack Smith at "The Catholic Key" reports that Tom Hoopes at the National Catholic Register will be liveblogging from the event. Archbishop Burke is already at work:
Hoopes - “What should the Church do about Notre Dame?” I asked Archbishop Raymond Burke last night. His answer:
AB Burke - “What it should do is have Notre Dame come clean. Is it Catholic or isn’t it? A Catholic institution, a Catholic university, cannot give honors to someone who is a promoter of things that are opposed to the most fundamental beliefs of Catholics, and so that’s what needs to happen.”
__________________________________________________________
UPDATE: Jack Smith has posted His Excellency's full address at "The Catholic Key."
A sample:
"The path of violation of the most fundamental human rights and of the integrity of marriage and the family which our nation is traveling is not accidental," he said. "
As Catholics, we cannot fail to notice with the greatest sadness the number of our fellow Catholics who cooperate fully to the advancement of a national agenda which is anti-life and anti-family."
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
"Vanity and Compromise"
Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver spoke at the American Bible Society in New York today. As usual His Excellency was excellent, and his message cuts uncomfortably close to home.
From the Catholic News Agency:
Archbishop Chaput: Media culture and compromise undermining Christian life
"Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput exhorted Catholics to follow the example of St. Paul by understanding their own times and being “possessed by the God of Truth.” Stressing the need to recognize the impact mass media has on thought and action, he warned that Catholics are losing the habits on which they have traditionally relied because of “vanity and compromise....”
"The habit of 'vanity and compromise' is what is at work in the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor President Obama at commencement, the archbishop remarked. Though 'a sincere and able man,' the president’s views on life issues 'run directly against Catholic belief.”
“And a Catholic institution should not honor that kind of behavior,' he said.
While human sinfulness is always present, the archbishop said, 'What’s new about our current moment is that too many Christians have made peace with that sinfulness, baptized it with the language of personal conscience, and stopped trying to convert anybody -- including themselves.'"
Emphasis added.
What a good shepherd!
From the Catholic News Agency:
Archbishop Chaput: Media culture and compromise undermining Christian life
"Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput exhorted Catholics to follow the example of St. Paul by understanding their own times and being “possessed by the God of Truth.” Stressing the need to recognize the impact mass media has on thought and action, he warned that Catholics are losing the habits on which they have traditionally relied because of “vanity and compromise....”
"The habit of 'vanity and compromise' is what is at work in the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor President Obama at commencement, the archbishop remarked. Though 'a sincere and able man,' the president’s views on life issues 'run directly against Catholic belief.”
“And a Catholic institution should not honor that kind of behavior,' he said.
While human sinfulness is always present, the archbishop said, 'What’s new about our current moment is that too many Christians have made peace with that sinfulness, baptized it with the language of personal conscience, and stopped trying to convert anybody -- including themselves.'"
Emphasis added.
What a good shepherd!
Catholic Priest Believes Conscience Fears "Overblown"
From today's San Francisco Chronicle:
"'Conscience' shield vital, many caregivers say."
"Kim McAllister, a Bay Area nurse for 31 years, knows she can recuse herself from a medical procedure with which she has a moral conflict.
If a patient wants an abortion or if McAllister sees an end-of-life decision she might question, she can discreetly find another nurse who would help the patient in the way the patient seeks.
But, like many Catholics, evangelicals and others, McAllister now worries that an Obama administration proposal to repeal 'conscience' protections for health care workers will imperil her rights....
Not everyone is so concerned, however:
The fallout has provoked uproar among religious conservatives, some of whom believe that Obama's proposal threatens their very right to be medical providers. It is provoking anxious discussions among many Catholic doctors and nurses, said the Rev. Gerald Coleman, vice president of corporate ethics at the Daughters of Charity Health System, which runs Seton Medical Center in Daly City, O'Connor Hospital in San Jose and St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy. Coleman sits on the ethics committees of all of his system's hospitals, and he believes some of the concern is overblown.
'What I think is far-fetched is if people say Obama is simply going to erase conscience clauses,' Coleman said. 'That's simply not true.'"
Well, I'm sure that's very comforting for those Doctors and Nurses on the firing line. Of course, Fr. Coleman will not be with there with them.
But anything Fr. Coleman says should be taken with a sizable chunk of salt.
Fr. Coleman was one of the two moral theologians whose opinions were used to justify the disastrous partnership bewtween Catholic Charities of San Francisco and Family Builders by Adoption that was crafted back in 2006--a partnership which resulted in Catholic Charities staffing and funding an organization that was required by contract to INCREASING the number of childresn put in homosexual households. Needless to say, this generated outrage across the Catholic world, and as of June, 2009, the Archdiocese will belatedly bring this arrangement to an end.
George Neumayr of the Catholic Word Report covered this at the time in "A Distinction Without A Difference."
So, while our Bishops (including Archbishop Niederauer) are urging Catholics to contact the Department of Health and Human Services and express their support for conscience protection, Fr. Coleman says: no sweat, everything's fine, there's nothing to worry about.
But that's what he said about Catholic Charities partnering with "the gayest (adoption) agency in the country," too.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
"'Conscience' shield vital, many caregivers say."
"Kim McAllister, a Bay Area nurse for 31 years, knows she can recuse herself from a medical procedure with which she has a moral conflict.
If a patient wants an abortion or if McAllister sees an end-of-life decision she might question, she can discreetly find another nurse who would help the patient in the way the patient seeks.
But, like many Catholics, evangelicals and others, McAllister now worries that an Obama administration proposal to repeal 'conscience' protections for health care workers will imperil her rights....
Not everyone is so concerned, however:
The fallout has provoked uproar among religious conservatives, some of whom believe that Obama's proposal threatens their very right to be medical providers. It is provoking anxious discussions among many Catholic doctors and nurses, said the Rev. Gerald Coleman, vice president of corporate ethics at the Daughters of Charity Health System, which runs Seton Medical Center in Daly City, O'Connor Hospital in San Jose and St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy. Coleman sits on the ethics committees of all of his system's hospitals, and he believes some of the concern is overblown.
'What I think is far-fetched is if people say Obama is simply going to erase conscience clauses,' Coleman said. 'That's simply not true.'"
Well, I'm sure that's very comforting for those Doctors and Nurses on the firing line. Of course, Fr. Coleman will not be with there with them.
But anything Fr. Coleman says should be taken with a sizable chunk of salt.
Fr. Coleman was one of the two moral theologians whose opinions were used to justify the disastrous partnership bewtween Catholic Charities of San Francisco and Family Builders by Adoption that was crafted back in 2006--a partnership which resulted in Catholic Charities staffing and funding an organization that was required by contract to INCREASING the number of childresn put in homosexual households. Needless to say, this generated outrage across the Catholic world, and as of June, 2009, the Archdiocese will belatedly bring this arrangement to an end.
George Neumayr of the Catholic Word Report covered this at the time in "A Distinction Without A Difference."
So, while our Bishops (including Archbishop Niederauer) are urging Catholics to contact the Department of Health and Human Services and express their support for conscience protection, Fr. Coleman says: no sweat, everything's fine, there's nothing to worry about.
But that's what he said about Catholic Charities partnering with "the gayest (adoption) agency in the country," too.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
Monday, May 4, 2009
Bishop Blair Bans Gay Activist Workshop
Courage and common sense.
The Toledo Blade reports (h/t New Oxford Review):
"Bishop Leonard Blair, recently picked by the Vatican to investigate the doctrines of a major U.S. nuns' organization, has banned a workshop on gay and lesbian ministry scheduled to start today at the Sisters of St. Francis campus in Tiffin.
The three-day workshop was offered by New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based organization that describes itself as "a gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics."
Sally Oberski, director of communications for the Toledo diocese, said Bishop Blair sent a letter to Sister Jacquelyn Doepker, head of the religious order, asking her to cancel the workshop.
In his letter, the bishop said "the positions of New Ways Ministry are not at all in accord with the guidelines for pastoral care which the bishops of the United States issued in 2006 regarding 'Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination.' Nor does New Ways Ministry present the full, authentic teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality."
Francis DeBernardo, New Ways' executive director, said he was "very disappointed" by the bishop's decision and believes there is a "misconception" about both points cited in the letter.
"We've been around for 32 years," he said. "Our programs, especially like the one we were going to have in Tiffin, are designed to help people who are working in Catholic institutions. We are not trying to subvert the church but to build on a positive tradition of welcoming lesbian and gay people that is in the church's teaching and pastoral practice."
Mr. DeBernardo is not telling the truth.
On August 4, 2008, our California Catholic Bishops had issued their statement on Proposition 8, which concluded:
"And finally, we strongly encourage Catholics to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8. "
On September 25, 2008, New Ways Ministry issued the following press release:
"Catholic Voters Urged to Protect Same-Sex Marriage Laws
Statement of Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry"
The very first sentence read:
"New Ways Ministry urges all Catholic voters to oppose any electoral measures which attempt to ban same-sex marriage laws."
It's hard to find a clearer case of subversion than that.
____________________________________________________________
We blogged about "New Ways Ministry" back on February 16, 2009, on the occasion of Father Richard Rohr's hosting of a seminar at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco. Among other things we noted that 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."
Bishop Blair is absolutely correct in banning New Ways Ministry. We commend him for his wise and prudent action.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
The Toledo Blade reports (h/t New Oxford Review):
"Bishop Leonard Blair, recently picked by the Vatican to investigate the doctrines of a major U.S. nuns' organization, has banned a workshop on gay and lesbian ministry scheduled to start today at the Sisters of St. Francis campus in Tiffin.
The three-day workshop was offered by New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based organization that describes itself as "a gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics."
Sally Oberski, director of communications for the Toledo diocese, said Bishop Blair sent a letter to Sister Jacquelyn Doepker, head of the religious order, asking her to cancel the workshop.
In his letter, the bishop said "the positions of New Ways Ministry are not at all in accord with the guidelines for pastoral care which the bishops of the United States issued in 2006 regarding 'Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination.' Nor does New Ways Ministry present the full, authentic teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality."
Francis DeBernardo, New Ways' executive director, said he was "very disappointed" by the bishop's decision and believes there is a "misconception" about both points cited in the letter.
"We've been around for 32 years," he said. "Our programs, especially like the one we were going to have in Tiffin, are designed to help people who are working in Catholic institutions. We are not trying to subvert the church but to build on a positive tradition of welcoming lesbian and gay people that is in the church's teaching and pastoral practice."
Mr. DeBernardo is not telling the truth.
On August 4, 2008, our California Catholic Bishops had issued their statement on Proposition 8, which concluded:
"And finally, we strongly encourage Catholics to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8. "
On September 25, 2008, New Ways Ministry issued the following press release:
"Catholic Voters Urged to Protect Same-Sex Marriage Laws
Statement of Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry"
The very first sentence read:
"New Ways Ministry urges all Catholic voters to oppose any electoral measures which attempt to ban same-sex marriage laws."
It's hard to find a clearer case of subversion than that.
____________________________________________________________
We blogged about "New Ways Ministry" back on February 16, 2009, on the occasion of Father Richard Rohr's hosting of a seminar at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco. Among other things we noted that 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."
Bishop Blair is absolutely correct in banning New Ways Ministry. We commend him for his wise and prudent action.
Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney
Will the FDA Kill Adult Stem Cell Medicine?
That's the title of a story in H+ Magazine, by Jeff Morris, AAMG and Stephen Coles, Md, Ph. D. The authors are interviewing Dr. Christopher J. Centeno, whose specialty is orthpedics. Dr. Centeno has been using adult stem-cells to treat his patients for over four years. The article begins:
"Within the next five years, it's quite possible that physicians will come into routine possession of a remarkable set of tools — a brand new way of dealing with the frailty and disabilities of aging. The tool kit is autologous stem cells derived from the patients themselves, amplified in culture, and infused back into the patient according to a precise protocol. It would be such a leap from today's medical diagnostics and treatments; it could only be called revolutionary.
The purpose of employing autologous cells is to prevent rejection of histo-incompatible cells by the patient's immune system. But it's also possible that these new therapies could slip from our grasp, at least in the US. If we're not careful, these therapies could become the exclusive domain of the pharmaceutical industry, as regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This could push the availability of this tool kit 15 to 20 years into the future. The opportunity-cost in terms of morbidity and mortality could be catastrophic....
The story then tells a little about Dr. Centeno:
Prior to becoming involved in stem-cell research, Dr. Centeno was already an international expert and specialist in musculoskeletal, spinal, and neurologic injury. Having trained at the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, and the Institute for Rehabilitation Research, he is an M.D. who is double-boarded in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as Pain Medicine. Dr. Centano has seen the results that are achievable in an orthopedic context. 'We've done this for four years for patients with orthopedic conditions. So, as a test case, we know it can work safely and effectively.'”
What's the danger? The FDA wants to classify your own stem-cells as a drug. We blogged on this back on March 26, 2009. The story continues:
"To Dr. Centeno, it is inconceivable that a person’s own cells could be classified as a drug — but that's exactly what the FDA wants to do. “The FDA is working to protect the interests of Big Pharma,” he says. 'If we wanted to insert some kind of new genes into these cells, we might all agree that could be a drug — a new entity. But what we're doing is simply culturing a person’s own cells. Most of the cells are bone-marrow derived; you can get them from synovial fluid in the knee or from other locations....'
The stakes for the pharmaceutical industry are obviously also high. 'You’re talking about replacing $60 billion in drug- and device-care with $6 billion in stem-cell care,' Dr. Centeno observes. The end result will either be individual physicians owning and controlling labs, or, says Dr. Centeno, 'It will all be controlled by Big Pharma, and innovation will move at a snail’s pace.'”
Dr. Centeno heads an organization created to define guidelines and standards for American adult-stem cell treatmet called The American Stem Cell Therapy Association (ASCTA). Their website is here.
h/t Instapundit.
Let's pray "The Science President" instructs his FDA not to get in the way of REAL science!
__________________________________________________________
In other great adult stem-cell news, our friend Don Margolis has a story about a lady who has been treated with her own adult stem-cells for COPD (serious lung disease). The lady had been a smoker, and had been on oxygen 24/7 until being treated last December. She is now totally off oxygen. Pray God this sucess continues!
"Within the next five years, it's quite possible that physicians will come into routine possession of a remarkable set of tools — a brand new way of dealing with the frailty and disabilities of aging. The tool kit is autologous stem cells derived from the patients themselves, amplified in culture, and infused back into the patient according to a precise protocol. It would be such a leap from today's medical diagnostics and treatments; it could only be called revolutionary.
The purpose of employing autologous cells is to prevent rejection of histo-incompatible cells by the patient's immune system. But it's also possible that these new therapies could slip from our grasp, at least in the US. If we're not careful, these therapies could become the exclusive domain of the pharmaceutical industry, as regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This could push the availability of this tool kit 15 to 20 years into the future. The opportunity-cost in terms of morbidity and mortality could be catastrophic....
The story then tells a little about Dr. Centeno:
Prior to becoming involved in stem-cell research, Dr. Centeno was already an international expert and specialist in musculoskeletal, spinal, and neurologic injury. Having trained at the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, and the Institute for Rehabilitation Research, he is an M.D. who is double-boarded in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as Pain Medicine. Dr. Centano has seen the results that are achievable in an orthopedic context. 'We've done this for four years for patients with orthopedic conditions. So, as a test case, we know it can work safely and effectively.'”
What's the danger? The FDA wants to classify your own stem-cells as a drug. We blogged on this back on March 26, 2009. The story continues:
"To Dr. Centeno, it is inconceivable that a person’s own cells could be classified as a drug — but that's exactly what the FDA wants to do. “The FDA is working to protect the interests of Big Pharma,” he says. 'If we wanted to insert some kind of new genes into these cells, we might all agree that could be a drug — a new entity. But what we're doing is simply culturing a person’s own cells. Most of the cells are bone-marrow derived; you can get them from synovial fluid in the knee or from other locations....'
The stakes for the pharmaceutical industry are obviously also high. 'You’re talking about replacing $60 billion in drug- and device-care with $6 billion in stem-cell care,' Dr. Centeno observes. The end result will either be individual physicians owning and controlling labs, or, says Dr. Centeno, 'It will all be controlled by Big Pharma, and innovation will move at a snail’s pace.'”
Dr. Centeno heads an organization created to define guidelines and standards for American adult-stem cell treatmet called The American Stem Cell Therapy Association (ASCTA). Their website is here.
h/t Instapundit.
Let's pray "The Science President" instructs his FDA not to get in the way of REAL science!
__________________________________________________________
In other great adult stem-cell news, our friend Don Margolis has a story about a lady who has been treated with her own adult stem-cells for COPD (serious lung disease). The lady had been a smoker, and had been on oxygen 24/7 until being treated last December. She is now totally off oxygen. Pray God this sucess continues!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
