The following comes from the Aug. 11 issue of the Catholic Voice, Oakland’s diocese newspaper.
Before night falls on Richmond Sept. 5, a group of people will gather to take a walk.
They’ll be neighbors, members of area churches of various faiths, and community leaders. They meet each Friday at 7 p.m. to participate in Cease-Fire Night Walk, designed to end violence in the community. Those walks in North Richmond often take them past scenes of past violence.
On this particular Friday evening, the walk will begin at St. Mark Church, where parishioners have taken part in these walks since 2012. Bishop Michael Barber will be walking with the parishioners, and their parochial administrator, Father Ramiro Flores, who has been active in non-violence efforts in the city.
Before the walk, the bishop will celebrate Mass at 6 p.m. at the church, which is at 159 Harbor Way….
Some of the walkers, from the CityTeam Ministries’ shelter for people with substance abuse problems, carry signs encouraging people to “Be safe” and “Be free.” The Catholic Worker group is making signs in Spanish to carry on the walks….
In 2013, Richmond experienced the lowest homicide rate in 33 years, the report said, crediting “the strong neighborhood level response and the broad-based collaboration between clergy, community, formerly incarcerated, service providers and law enforcement has been contributed significantly to the decline in overall homicides and the interruption of retaliatory shootings.”
The parish is nearly 90 percent Latino immigrants and a significant portion of them are undocumented, according to the report….
To read the entire story, click here.
Peace Begins in the Womb.
As does violence, which you will always find in communities that butcher their babies in the womb and elect baby-butchering politicians. Indeed, ISIS beheading Iraqi Christian children and placing their heads on poles is no different than what Democrats do to millions of unborn babies every year.
We must continue to pray and fight for LIFE on all fronts. Praise God for our Pope who spoke out aginst the ISIS barbarians! There is “just” war and we better call all of our “weak and mindless” govt officials and direct them to a “just” war against ISIS now! Eliminate their threat to the world by eliminating them all now.
God bless you Tracy, juergensen and SandraD I agree with you all. True words of wisdom. Warriors of Christ, church militant, God bless you and keep you and protect you always!
Watkins suggest that the 50 thousand dollar grant offers the opportunity to consider, “How do we truly build up a community of salt and light?” This is the kind of wasteful nonsense we get when the Gospel is no longer preached, or worse yet, when a false gospel is preached.
This “nonsense” comes from Jesus.
Matthew[13] You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. [14] You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.
[16] So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. [
Anonymous, I don’t believe their proposed tactics to be an effective way of building up a community of salt and light. It is their tactics which I deem to be nonsense.
Among the rules: Stay to the inside of sidewalks, closest to the building; carry no money; try to talk to everyone; don’t offer anything you can’t provide; and pray with people if asked.
Have you participated in it that you found it to be deficient?
This is largely a wasted effort. Sure, it is positive to have community activism to limit violence, but this kind of thing begins and stops in the home, with parents actively involved in a child’s life, and both working to advance themselves. Unfortunatley, this kind of family structure is lacking in the land of drugs, pornography, illegality of all kinds, and the absence of religious commitment. Nice to see the Bishop going for a walk, but so what, if these people do not also wind up in Church.
I also read the supporting article.
In reality, the USCCB and their CCHD, Catholic Charities, and CRS get our tax dollars – via Federal Grants to the tune of approx. $64 MILLION annually – to support ILLEGAL immigrant needs.
These USCCB “charitable” organizations then in turn give grants to various other groups.
Having to carry Spanish language signs, tells us just how bad the ILLEGAL immigration problem is in some Diocese – since the Illegals can not even read simple English words.
Crime is so bad that volunteers (see article) are told not to carry any money, and that the neighborhoods are drug infested.
” The parish is nearly 90 percent Latino immigrants and a significant portion of them are undocumented, according to the report….”
“
If your parish 90 percent Latino immigrants the priest preaches to their needs. Will the priest teach that the right thing to do would be to go home and reenter the county legally? No. Just like parishes that are have large percent of homosexuals do not tell their members not to engage in homosexual acts or parishes that are 90 percent wealthy preach the spirit of poverty. Priests have to butter their bread and so if they receive most of their money from programs to help the immigrant or from wealthy parishioners they are not going to rock the boat. I had a pastor so afraid of alienating parishioners that he could only come up with the sin of hunger and war when addressing evils.
lisag, Bishops and Priests who do not teach the Faith in entirety or twist Church teaching to be popular, are like the Pharisees.
Money or even keeping certain parishes open is not the reason for their vocations.
Their vocations are to Save Souls – period.
Jesus never taught us we need to be popular.
CCC: ” 1759 An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6). The end does not justify the means.”
Bishops and their Bishop’s Conferences do not support closing the border
for legal immigration and legal trade only.
These Bishops therefore significantly exacerbate the problems in these poor US (ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT) neighborhoods.
1) There currently are not enough jobs in the USA for citizens and legal immigrants.
2) Illegal immigration leads to splitting up of families.
3) Borders that are not closed exacerbate the illegal drug trade in the USA, and make Central American drug cartels even stronger financially – easier access to illicit drugs for everyone.
4) Borders that are not closed leads to a bigger market for sexual trafficking of women and children.
Everything the Bishops state they want to stop is growing in the USA thanks in large part to ILLEGAL Immigration.
When people in the USA purchase drugs or sex, the Central American cartels get stronger in their Country of origin and then are more capable of terrorizing their own law enforcement.
https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/2011-national-gang-threat-assessment
Is the $64 MILLION in Federal Grants received by the USCCB
the tail that is wagging the dog ?
What about putting ILLEGALS to work building a wall (similar to that built by Israel) on the US southern Border
under the supervision of the US Army Corp of Engineers ? ? ?
Why aren’t the Bishops spending money to help those Diocese in need in Central America rather than bringing Illegals to the USA ?
No good deed goes unpunished one this site. If you know about Richmond, you know that it is a very difficult place to live for some people. Drive by shootings are the norm. Gangs rule some sections. People don’t leave their homes after dark, etc. But, it is getting better because Catholic Charities is there to help them learn English, learn to live in our society/culture, learn an entry level trade, go through the process of becoming a citizen, helping with first month rent and deposits, finding furniture for the apartments and working in the schools with restorative justice programs that reduce potential violence. But let’s trash the Bishop for giving his support to these people!
Bob one of course the Bishop supports this, the Church has a vested interest in collecting money from the government for their various charities. Liberals and hierarchy have no interest in securing and sealing the border. No other country on God’s green earth does this to itself, none. We will soon cease to exist as a great republic, we will soon be a broken state controlled society..
I worry about our country as much as you do, Canisius. But, what do we do for the people who are already here? What do we do for the children? Don’t we have the imperative to feed and clothe them? Aren’t we required to provide for their safety? What does God ask of us. I don’t think this is a liberal thing. I think it is a people who don’t know how to stop the crime, the poverty, the crossing of the border. I don’t think/believe that the Bishops do this to get the money. They get the money so that they can do this..
People who are here illegally we do not have the imperative to feed or clothe we have the imperative to send them home. I am tired of liberal Catholics like you using the social justice mantra for the constant violation of our nations laws. But to people like you Bob One the white middle class is enemy and the brown lower classes are the victims, how do you resolve it, By taking as much property and liberty from the middle class or rich and give it to the poor .
Bob One –
The Bishops support Open Borders. How many Bishops have you heard of that state we must close our borders to stop:
the splitting up of families; slow the drug trade; and slow human sexual trafficking ? ? ?
And at the same time financially assist their Bishop counterparts in Central America whose Diocese are in need ?
Instead the Bishops are helping to create a bigger (USA) market for drugs and sexual slavery.
This in turn gives more power to the cartels and gangs both in Central America and Central American gangs in the USA.
CCC: ” 1759 An evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention (cf. St. Thomas Aquinas, Dec. praec. 6). The end does not justify the means.”
CCC: ” 2241 …….
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.
Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them,
to obey its laws
and to assist in carrying civic burdens.”
If the Bishops adhered to the CCC, the USA would not be in the fix it is in now regarding ILLEGAL immigrants.
The issue is the $64 MILLION they receive annually from Federal Grants.
It is no wonder that some allow heretical / schismatic / and scandalous Catholic politicians to commit Sacrilege by receiving Holy Communion in violation of Canon 915. They do not want to bite the hands that feed them.
Bob One so when you said, “I think it is a people who don’t know how to stop the crime, the poverty, the crossing of the border”, what did you mean? Our government officials and their willing accomplices in the Statist news media assure us that these people come here because they DO know how to escape crime and poverty. So how is it that they end up in the same situation, we are told, they knew how to escape from? , You admit that they live in neighborhoods where, “Drive by shootings are the NORM. Gangs rule some sections (and) People don’t leave their homes after dark, etc.”.
Bob One who are these individuals who “rule” the neighborhoods, commit shootings and make it dangerous for anyone to leave their homes at night? Aren’t they the very individuals who, we are assured, are leaving their own “dangerous” neighborhoods in their own sovereign nations to come here for safety and a better life?
Bob One asks, “But, what do we do for the people who are already here? What do we do for the children? ”
Master social justice violinist Bob One with volin in one hand and a moistened handkerchief in the other hand for the purpose of a dramatic acting effect asks…
“OHHH DEAR ! What do we do for the people who are already here and the poor poor children? ” OK Bob, That’s ENOUGH! Cut the Theda Bara sounding drama and baloney. You are truly sounding quite disingenuous. I just got through telling you that Catholic children (who are already here) in the United States are having to FLEE to Mexico for Confirmation in order to not be scandalized by BAD teaching programs that the bishops are not paying close attention to or controlling. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME!
Matthew 6:33
Douay-Rheims Bible
Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Bob One, Please read the above Scripture quote again. Do you think Our Lord was lying or making suggestions? WAKE UP and smell the rancid coffee cup constantly brimming up and overflowing with the devastation in the vineyard due to the compromise of misplacing priorities. There will NOT be justice for ANY children here or those entering period while our bishops are first seeking political things before they are guiding, teaching and guarding there own flocks. Our Lady of Akita used the word “COMPROMISE”.
Once again Bob One…
Matthew 6:33
Douay-Rheims Bible
Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Bob One, Please read the above Scripture quote again. Do you think Our Lord was lying or making suggestions? WAKE UP and smell the rancid coffee cup constantly brimming up and overflowing with the devastation in the vineyard due to the compromise of misplacing priorities. There will NOT be justice for ANY children here or those entering period while our bishops are first seeking political things before they are guiding, teaching and guarding there own flocks. Our Lady of Akita used the word “COMPROMISE”.
Reply
So your point is these kids are better off in Mexico because the catechism classes are better?
completely unnecessary sarcasm and hostility. How about assuming the best in what Bob One writes instead of assuming the worst. You have read as much in the CCD. Now put it into practice Catherine.
How about assuming that Catherine is impassioned specifically because she is trying to make a valuable point, Anonymous. Your completely unnecessary drive-by critiques are non productive.
Try putting the charity and benefit-of-the-doubt you seemingly believe is lacking in others into practice. Be the change you want to see. Otherwise your posts like these are little more than passive aggressive sarcasm and hostility.
“How about assuming the best in what Bob One writes instead of assuming the worst. ”
Once again, Here’s why… Bob One is the same poster who did not “assume” the best placement for Our Lord regarding the placement of the Tabernacle in Catholic churches. Bob One stated that it was the bishop’s “pleasure” to place the Tabernacle anywhere they pleased. It was ONLY when Bob One was called out on his revealing comment that he decided to take back that word “pleasure”. Now Bob One will methodically respond, “Oh Catherine, we have been through that many times before and I suppose I did choose the wrong word (pleasure) to describe where the Tabernacle should be in the Church.” Bob’s slip up that “resulted from the operation of unconscious wishes or conflicts reveal unconscious processes how Catholics have been slumbering while teachings and traditions are slowly being removed. All in the name of “assuming” progress. Now of course you (anonymous) will respond, “What does the placement of the Tabernacle have to do with this conversation?” The answer is …..PLENTY! If the King of Kings is not valued and treated with priority in his OWN churches then why should anyone be surprised why Catholic children are not being properly catechized in their own country. Why should anyone be surprised at anything when many of our own shepherds voted for Obama and meanwhile our shepherds KEEP inviting other political problems while taking their eyes off of their primary duty. To teach and to safeguard the Deposit of Faith.
continued….
continued from August 13, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Anonymous, How many of our bishops also assumed the good “pleasure” of voting for Obama? Like Bob’s cavalier attitude about the placement of the Tabernacle many shepherds also IGNORED God’s proper placement when it came to voting and they disobediently assumed the best didn’t they? What new teaching taught them that God’s Laws and Commandments are not to be assumed as being the best let alone considered as thee best? Yes, God’s placement was forgotten in that voting assumption too. Nice assumptions have given us the most pro-abortion President in the history of our country. So much for nice assumptions. Parents once assumed their children were safe in Catholic schools. When Laura Ingraham had EWTN news chief Raymond Arroyo on her national radio show, she asked him, “How many of the bishops voted for Obama?” Raymond Arroyo answered, “…The bishops I spoke to say that maybe half of their brother bishops, if not more, voted for Obama. Because they thought (*assumed*) the symbol of Obama would overcome racism and be a great healer and unity [sic].” Hmmm. “…maybe half…if not more” sounds suspiciously like the 54% of all U.S. Catholic voters who picked Obama. So anonymous poster, please do not expect those who strive to be faithful to turn a blind eye to Bob One or to those who turned a blind eye to the fifth Commandment in the voting booth.
John 15: 5 – I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. Douay-Rheims Bible
Catherine, the placement of the tabernacle on the main altar is a modern invention, so your rants against Bob One, and about its placement being a part of the Deposit of Faith, are nonsense. Even the Tridentine Mass didn’t envision a tabernacle on the altar of celebration, and it wasn’t until the 17th century that there began to be rules about such things, and even then, the rule was only promulgated in the Diocese of Rome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_tabernacle .
So you are a little overwrought about your criticisms of Bob One on the tabernacle issue, and you STILL have to obey CCC 2478.
Anonymous,
Thank you for reading my rants. I value your taking the time to care and post about nonsense. Keep telling yourself that proper placement of the Tabernacle is no big deal, especially since the Diocese of Orange allowed a speaker to travel around the diocese telling Catholics that you really do not need a Tabernacle in the Church at all. Yes, I heard this woman tell the entire listening audience in the Church. This woman still gives talks. Also keep telling yourself that the fifth Commandment has nothing to do with the Deposit of faith. Our shepherds who have been given the apostolic authority to guard the Deposit of faith should be even more overwrought than I sound in contrite sorrow for voting for Obama.
Dear Catherine, I never said the placement of the Tabernacle is “no big deal”, I never said having one is at all optional. Saying those things about my post merely demonstrates that you are not here to discuss or to learn, but to continue to rant emotionally, and to belittle those around you. All I said is that Church rules and practices about where to place the Tabernacle are not, as you claim, part of the Deposit of Faith, as described in CCC 84. By claiming that things like arrangement of altars and tabernacles are part of the Deposit, you cheapen the meaning of the term. And certainly, who one votes for in a secular election is not a part of the Deposit either, as the morality of such a vote depends on how one weighs hundreds of moral goods and evils. So go ahead, keep using your snide remarks (“keep telling yourself that…”) to belittle other people, but surely you understand that your rants are not supporting Sacred Tradition or Scripture.
Denis Prager says, “Good intentions cause most of the world’s great evils.”
“Anonymous”, so you asked, “how about assuming the best in what Bob One writes instead of assuming the worst.” “Anonymous”, many of us are making the judgement that what Bob One writes is NOT the best for the majority of the people coming her illegally, and certainly not for Americans and their children who have a right to a sovereign homeland.
Bob One and apparently you, ignore the fact that many of these “poor” people ,”trying to escape poverty and violence”, do not have the money to pay the smugglers to bring them here These, in essence, become indentured servants, if not outright slaves, of the drug cartel and their like. Some work for American or green card carrying business owners who benefit want these individuals who benefit by paying them substandard wages under the table all the while avoiding the paying “do-gooder” taxes promulgated by the American political elite. There is nothing “magical” about crime ridden neighborhoods in Latin America nor here in the USA?
It is interesting how Anonymous is so overly concerned with enforcing CCC 2478 with regard to others while seemingly being blind to practicing it himself. Or understanding the progressive aspects of said instruction.
Specifically, Anonymous, seems incapable of understanding that in much of the dialogue that goes on here at CCD, the requisite, “…If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.”
No doubt that is why there is a perpetual stall at word policing. The dismissal of the centrality of the Tabernacle, be it written into law or not, is also telling. Much like the overwrought insistence that others must obey while they themselves are making rash judgments.
Really, I have to defend CCC to Ann Malley? or to any other on this site?
Counsel against rash judgement does not allow one to recall posts about a completely different issue – years in the past in some cases – in order to use rash judgement in the present question.
Besides which, you must FIRST assume the best of a poster’s logic and motives, and THEN having exhausted all other methods, appeal to a public forum. Please read CCC.
“No doubt that is why there is a perpetual stall at word policing.”
I hope this isn’t about me telling you that “man up” was offensive.
I am not this poster. I have taken on a name since having so many anonymous posters was causing people to crab at the wrong people.. But I can’t use it this time or you won’t understand.
Anonymous writes: “…Counsel against rash judgement does not allow one to recall posts about a completely different issue – years in the past in some cases – in order to use rash judgement in the present question.”
It is not a rash judgment, Anonymous, if one is responding to a particular pattern of understanding or misunderstanding that has manifested itself. It is being anything but rash as such an approach is consistent with paying attention to the presentation of character, understanding, style, priorities etc.
You should look up the meaning of ‘rash’. You also may want to consider practicing not rushing to judgement yourself and asking questions of others.
To Anonymous who now has the name that he/she cannot reveal because it wouldn’t be understood.
The hamster wheel of the word police isn’t about your heightened sensitivity, Anonymous. Your contribution, either knowing or unknowing, is nothing more than a distraction to negate the reality that the faithful would likely best be served by Bishops putting the teaching of faith and morals, that is Catholic faith and morals, as their top priority.
As to the rest of what you wrote:
“I am not this poster. I have taken on a name since having so many anonymous posters was causing people to crab at the wrong people.. But I can’t use it this time or you won’t understand.”
Be well.
The Bishop’s top priority is to teach the Catholic Faith, which includes the moral teaching of the Church.
RCIA, Catholic Schools, Sunday School Programs, support for Catholic homeschoolers, parish adult education, diocesan programs for catechists, diocesan websites, diocesan newpapers and magazines, parish missions, priests’ retreats, special Masses for lawyers and judges, police, renewal of wedding vows, national websites, news services, publishing house, support for religious orders that teach. for laity that evangelize.
I am sure if you come up with another idea and way to teach the Faith, your bishop will be glad to hear of it.
I am sure that if there is some question that you have concerning the Faith, your diocese office will be able to put you in touch with someone.
Im neither here nor there. This nor that. Blah nor blah. blitherings nor blingtherings not. Snot nor snotness. Therefore I am.
“…I am sure that if there is some question that you have concerning the Faith, your diocese office will be able to put you in touch with someone.”
My question is why is it that you seem so threatened when the reality of Catholic faith and Catholic morals, the basics, not being successfully transmitted to the ‘faithful’ is pointed out to you. Would you argue with the survey results being taken into the upcoming Synod? (Or do you believe the data has been invented?)
In the corporate world when there are issues about folks losing touch with the core message, the response is not to add more peripheral distractions, but rather to get back to the core values and hammer them home consistently in every venue. And to cut off those venues that perhaps have gone a rogue with regard to teaching what they would instead of what the company would. (IOW: Priests, nuns, and associated Church representatives who go off teaching heresy or that which is immoral do not get invited to teach to the flock or distract the faithful away to believe that politics can take the place of the Faith.)
Perhaps we could learn from worldly folks with regard to how they guard their profits/backsides when it comes to guarding that which is most precious Faith and Morals. Focus, focus, focus. And don’t get defensive when fail rates are pointed out, but rather use that visible litmus to take the required action to reassess and go back to core values.
Ann Malley, God bless you and thank you! Anonymous thinks that a bishop’s busy sounding schedule somehow removes him from staying on top of who is doing what. Can you imagine a mother saying that because she has a multitude of duties and responsibilities that this prevents her from being aware of who is harming her children in her OWN house? Well a bishop is a apostolic successor and most importantly a father figure and good father figure’s primary duty is to safeguard and protect their own families first.
Anonymous writes, ” I am sure if you come up with another idea and way to teach the Faith, your bishop will be glad to hear of it.”
HOW ABOUT THIS IDEA?
Bishops of California unless you are complicit with this invitation below, it is your primary duty to stop Father Timothy Radcliffe from teaching or speaking to YOUR flocks. Our Lady of Akita said that the church was full of those who have accepted compromise. Our Lady of Akita said there were bishops against bishops and cardinals against cardinals. After the horrific sex abuse scandals… which California bishops will courageously speak up to stop this…Please See California Catholic Daily’s article: ‘Promoter of homosexuality comes to Coronado Father Timothy Radcliffe invited to conservative parish and University of San Diego.’
Do our California bishops have less charity in their hearts for their own flocks than St. Maximilian Kolbe had. After two weeks, on the night before the Church’s feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the camp officials decided to hasten Father Kolbe’s death, injecting him with carbolic acid. Is a phone call to stop Father Timothy Radcliffe from speaking more difficult than an injection of carbolic acid?
I would suggest, Anonymous, that downsizing in the vast array of programs is indeed the order of the day with regard to the dioceses having difficulty in transmitting the Faith. Too many projects. Too much diversification. Perhaps the Bishops could take a hint from the Obama administration and try the mainstream approach with regard to teaching the Faith:
CATHOLIC CORE!
But I’d bet that any attempt to streamline basic Catholic teaching, and promote that over every other work, would get the liberals all in a dither thinking that the Catholic Church is attempting to get all Catholics to have the same base understanding or views. Why that is only ‘okay’ in the secular realm when teaching socialism/communism, but not good with regard to Catholic teaching is beyond me.
“Why that is only ‘okay’ in the secular realm when teaching socialism/communism, but not good with regard to Catholic teaching is beyond me.”
Genesis 3:15, in which God is addressing the serpent, reads like this:
“I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”
Keep asking and keep knocking Ann Malley!
The Gospel of Matthew Chapter Seven
“Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? “Douay-Rheims
https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/upload/high-school-curriculum-framework.pdf
This seems to be on the wrong article but….
Catherine, the bishops will require some evidence that Father Ratcliffe is a danger to the flock. I have read the linked article (you have to click two links to get to it) and I see quotes taken out of context. The bishops will have to check them out to see the context and the intention of Father Ratcliffe.. I’ve checked both the national and Vatican doctrinal sources and there are no warnings against this person.
A lot of this seems like the Chicken Little syndrome where Chicken Little feels an acorn drop on his head, decides the sky is falling and the other animals believe it just on the basis of his word.
Intelligence (and charity) require a certain amount of proof before one acts so as not to commit the sins of calumny and slander. The only way you can know for sure is to read Father Ratcliffe’s writings and go to his lectures or watch them on youtube. I am not standing up for dissent in any way. I am not gay or homo-heretic or a fan of Father Ratcliffe.
All I am doing is advocating for an intelligent response. This is really just gossip, but because it is a serious matter, one may (if one really has studied Father Ratcliffe’s work and truly found a problem, even if it is not heretical or dissent) present their concerns to the bishops. That would be appropriate. What is not appropriate is an overreaction to internet gossip by people who do really know what he said, they just heard he was a promoter of homosexuality..
Bob One, our California Catholic dioceses encourage immigrants to celebrate and value “their OWN culture” and their native language. One can now live in most parts of California their entire life and never have the need to speak or understand English. They can vote in the foreign language of their choice. They can apply for unemployment, social security, drivers license test, you name it, in the language of their choice. Hospitals must provide translation services. And when it comes to employment, with entire communities now comprised of a majority of Spanish speakers, or Chinese speakers, or Korean speakers, etc. it is now the English only speakers who are the minority and the ones with the disadvantage.
1. – By Bishops encouraging cultural and language differences they are helping to create a huge financial civic burden on the taxpayers of our Nation.
2. – By Bishops encouraging ILLEGAL immigration they are also encouraging the breaking up of families, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and the expansion of cartels and gangs.
3. – By PARNERING with the US government (Federal Grants), they are working with those who support: Abortion, Contraception, Homosexual marriage/sodomy, and want to take away our religious freedom.
Bishops should give financial aid to Central American Diocese in need.
Bishops should stop partnering with the Federal Government ($ 63 MILLION annually) which causes compromises leading to the decline of our Faith.
CCHD, Catholic Charities, and CRS should be cut completely loose from the Bishops, and remove the name “Catholic” from their organizations.
They can continue doing what they are doing with Federal Grants, and will not loose their jobs.
The Federal government has 23 million employees of various abilities, and the financial wherewithal. The Federal Government should be left to clean up the messes it creates.
Bishops need to get out of the Federal Grant big business.
Bishops (and their Priests & Nuns) need to get back to teaching the Faith as their first task.
Bob One: well said.
Here is a three minute satire titled “What’s Next — A Path To Ownership?” It humorously depicts the frustration we Americans feel over our government officials refusal to protect our sovereignty. https://www.mrctv.org/videos/whats-next-pathway-ownership
That link seems to not be currently working. It can also be found here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuyVPYxPRIk
These actions, while at first glance seem sweet and neighborly, are part of the Left’s agenda. These folks, including bishop Barber, would NEVER think of walking around an abortion mill with signs saying, “BE SAFE—. BE FREE.”
Keep in mind that this is the very same bishop who fawned over Governor Jerry Brown who has done more to promote the killing of unborn babies than any other governor in the USA.
We are ashamed. Remember, when Virgil escorts Dante to Hell they find many clergy already there.
I agree completely that the Bishops should stop encouraging people to come across the border illegally! If we, the people through faith based organizations, stop helping the people that are already here that need help, then what? How will the immigrant ever become part of us if they don’t receive help to do that? Let’s close the border. Then what do we do with the 50,000 children that have walked into our country this year alone? You will never get the Bishops to back down, because too many of them want fellow countrymen/women to come here. The legal aspects are overtaken by the emotional aspects of the situation. There is no doubt, however, that we are creating a Balkanized country for ourselves. But, I don’t here answers that work. What can we do?
Bob One its not unreasonable for you to ask. Its also not unreasonable for you to have compassion for these people from North Richmond, if its as bad of an area as you described then whatever they can do to make it a safe area and better for their kids, then more power to them. As a mother, I can sympathize with the decent people that live there.
Bob One, the Federal government (by lack of border control and overly complex & non-enforcement of laws) has created the immigration problem.
Let the Federal government fix the problem.
They have 23 million employees of various talents.
However the CCHD, Catholic Charities, and CRS could simply remove the name “Catholic” from their monikers, and continue doing what they are doing and getting Federal Grants – without being attached to the Bishops or our Parishes.
Either way, ILLEGAL immigrants will not starve in the USA.
Paul, you said, “the Federal government (by lack of border control and overly complex & non-enforcement of laws) has created the immigration problem.” You are so correct! These are undermining the sovereignty of America. These have also contributed a climate where terrorists can enter our once sovereign nation as well. Do people really believe Jed Bush who said, “they are coming here for Love?” Progressives act as if 9-11 was a tragic mistake, rather than a calculated error.
As American Catholics, we have ALWAYS encouraged immigrants to celebrate, keep, and value their OWN cultures.
This is why we had National Parishes for the Italians, Germans, Poles, etc.
It helps newcomers feel a sense of community, and eventually they grow into a bigger scheme of things.
Anonymous, my understanding was that the ethnic parishes of the past were built in order to provide homilies and catechism lessons in the language the immigrant understood until he/she assimilated. The primary goal of these “ethnic” parishes was to prevent these non-English speakers from loosing their faith in their adopted homeland. Could you point me to an historical document which suggest that these parishes were constructed in order for the newcomers to “feel a sense of community”? That wreaks of modern day warm and fuzzy speak to me.
All this being said, I do not recall ever hearing Church hierarchy supporting “illegal” immigration until very recently. Maybe this is because the Church hierarchy of the past used to emphasize the adherence of the Ten Commandments for all people, indiscriminate of one’s economic or intellectual position in life.
False, the USA has not always had voting ballots in foreign languages,, driver’s license materials in foreign languages, federal and state entitlement program info in foreign languages, public schools having to deal with many languages, tv programs in foreign languages, etc.
Legal immigrants take the time to learn basic English. It is a requirement for citizenship as well. But when ILLEGALs can get all the same benefits as Legals, why should they bother to learn the language ? ? ?
Immigrants will learn “the” language when they realize that the economic benefits of being an American are mostly available to English speakers. Having said that, most of the world learns English before they ever come here, precisely because English is the international language of commerce and culture. However, if we don’t improve our educational system, we will continue to fall behind crucial math and science education, and will lose our edge to China, India, and Europe. No other country on earth allows their kids to believe that the Earth was created in 6 days a few thousand years ago, that carbon in our atmosphere is not changing climate, or that people do not share common ancestors with other animals, or that every sperm is sacred. Yet we promote these arcane beliefs as though they dropped from the sky and are central to our faith.
Catherine, here you go again. This is what the Church requires, as published in Catholic Answers:
The document referred to was the Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharist Mystery (Eucharisticum Mysterium), a post-conciliar document, issued by the Vatican following the Council. After recommending that the Blessed Sacrament ought to be reserved in a truly prominent location and one suitable for private prayer and devotion, the instruction states, “It is therefore recommended that, as far as possible, the tabernacle be placed in a chapel distinct from the middle or central part of the church, above all in those churches where marriages and funerals take place frequently and in places which are much visited for their artistic or historical treasures” (53).
It goes on to say, “The Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a solid, inviolable tabernacle in the middle of the main altar or on a side altar, but in a truly prominent place. Alternatively, according to legitimate customs and in individual cases to be decided by the local ordinary, it may be placed in some other part of the church which is really worthy and properly equipped” (54).
The Code of Canon Law states, “The tabernacle in which the Blessed Eucharist is reserved should be sited in a distinguished place in the church or oratory, a place which is conspicuous, suitably adorned and conducive to prayer” (CIC 938:2).
In other words, the placement of the Tabernacle is at the discretion of the Ordinary; the Bishop(s). Although most of us prefer to have it behind the altar for NO or on the altar for EO churches, it does not have to be there.
This is the problem. Many Bishops don’t pay attention.
All Tabernacles should be – front and center – of every Catholic Church. After all the Lord is the reason for our going to Church in the first place.
Can: ” 938 §2. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is to be situated in some part of the church or oratory which is distinguished, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.”
Some back room is not conspicuous.
You’d better tell the people who run St Peter’s Basilica in Rome this: they have a side chapel for the Blessed Sacrament!!!
Christ you are right. I agree. Its important that the lay faithful keep pressure on church officials to comply.
For heaven’s sake, Chris, can’t you read the whole paragraph or two?
t goes on to say, “The Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a solid, inviolable tabernacle in the middle of the main altar or on a side altar, but in a truly prominent place. Alternatively, according to legitimate customs and in individual cases to be decided by the local ordinary, it may be placed in some other part of the church which is really worthy and properly equipped” (54).
The Code of Canon Law states, “The tabernacle in which the Blessed Eucharist is reserved should be sited in a distinguished place in the church or oratory, a place which is conspicuous, suitably adorned and conducive to prayer” (CIC 938:2).
You and I may want the Tabernacle centered behind the altar, but that is not what the rule states. It can be in any of three places. The Bishop (Ordinary) can make the decision. Each parish can be different.
Quotations by Sun Tzu; Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher, and author of the Art of War:
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
Victorious warriors win first and then go to war.”
“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”
“The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.”
“Therefore the skilful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he CAPTURES THEIR CITIES without laying siege to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.”
After reading these is anyone not convinced that our elected representatives are handing over the homeland?
“After reading these is anyone not convinced that our elected representatives are handing over the homeland?”
Excellent quotes Tracy, thank you!
Thank you Catherine, we ALL need to wake up. Project Veritas just released a troubling investigative report on the US-Mexico Border. https://www.projectveritas.com/