The following was provided to CalCatholic by A Shepherd’s Voice, the blog of Fr. John Malloy in San Francisco.
This morning in Rome the Holy Father named Bishop Kevin Vann, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Orange. Bishop Vann will replace Bishop Tod Brown, who has reached the mandatory retirement age of 75. Bishop Vann is 61.
The well-informed Rocco Palma gives a quick sketch of the new bishop:
Over recent years, it’s hard to think of a national project on which Bishop Kevin Vann hasn’t been intimately involved.
From serving on the three-member USCCB team that oversaw the Stateside implementation of Anglicanorum coetibus and mediating the bench’s oft-delicate relations with the nation’s Catholic hospitals, to filing suit against the Federal government over the contraceptive mandate of the Obama administration’s sweeping health-care reform, the 61 year-old prelate has cris-crossed considerably more ecclesial turf than the sprawling 28 counties of Northwest Texas he’s overseen since 2005.
Here are some examples of the bishop’s attitude in defense of life and the family:
On Abortion
In October of 2008 Bishop Vann, along with his brother Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, issued a joint statement clarifying the meaning of the USCCB’s Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship document. The statement asserted the absolute centrality of legalized abortion to our culture. (All emphases in the original):
“Therefore, we cannot make more clear the seriousness of the overriding issue of abortion – while not the ‘only issue’ – it is the defining moral issue, not only today, but of the last 35 years. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, more than 48 million innocent lives have been lost. Each year in our nation more than one million lives are lost through legalized abortion. Countless other lives are also lost through embryonic stem cell research. In the coming months our nation will once again elect our political leaders. This electoral cycle affords us an opportunity to promote the culture of life in our nation. As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act, and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America, limiting it as much as we can until it is finally abolished.”
He is very serious about this. In the runup to the 2004 elections, while serving as a Monsignor in Chicago, he said he would deny Communion to John Kerry and other pro-abortion politicians. The “Pro-Life” webpage of the Ft. Worth diocese has a full page devoted to exposing the evil of Planned Parenthood.
On the 2008 statement, Bishops Vann and Farrell go on to say:
“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, in paragraphs 34-37, addresses the question of whether it is morally permissible for a Catholic to vote for a candidate who supports an intrinsic evil – even when the voter does not agree with the candidate’s position on that evil. The only moral possibilities for a Catholic to be able to vote in good conscience for a candidate who supports this intrinsic evil are the following:
a. If both candidates running for office support abortion or “abortion rights,” a Catholic would be forced to then look at the other important issues and through their vote try to limit the evil done; or,
b. If another intrinsic evil outweighs the evil of abortion. While this is sound moral reasoning, there are no “truly grave moral” or “proportionate” reasons, singularly or combined, that could outweigh the millions of innocent human lives that are directly killed by legal abortion each year.
To vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion or “abortion rights” when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil – and, therefore, morally impermissible.”
On Marriage
His Excellency is equally clear on what marriage is, and what it is not, and what it cannot be. In a letter to the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders, Bishop Vann wrote:
“Marriage is possible only between a man and a woman because it is only between them that the full expression of marital love is possible. In creation there is a unique complementarity between man and woman. Implicated in it is what Pope John Paul II called a “nuptial meaning”—a capacity for mutual self-giving which is total, extending to the depths of each person. The nuptial meaning of the body and of the person does not exist between persons of the same sex—they cannot have intercourse—and therefore a marital communion between them is not possible. It is thus that God’s will for man and woman to come together in a communion of love in marriage is written in the very nature of human beings. Such a union between persons of the same sex is impossible because human nature intrinsically does not allow for it.”
His Excellency also expressed gratitude that the TLM was celebrated in his (now former) Diocese of Ft. Worth.
Welcome to California, Bishop Vann!
Great news of a new day dawning!
Before being promoted to Fort Worth Texas as Bishop, Father Kevin Vann was Stephen Brady’s pastor. Stephen Brady of Roman Catholic Faithful wrote to Father Vann who was also at that time the Parochial Vicar of priests, for Springfield Illinois about the “in your face” substantiating evidence of immoral activity of several priests in the Diocese. Father Kevin Vann refused to do anything about the evidence. Stephen Brady was responsible for courageously exposing the Bishop Daniel Ryan scandal, which then brought about the mass exposing of the clergy abuse scandals.
Father John Hardon traveled to Rome with a priest who had been sexually abused by Bishop Daniel Ryan. Bishop Daniel Ryan still remained in office for one year after Father Hardon and the abused priest’s meeting with Dario Castrillan Hoyos. Stephen Brady reported that Father Kevin Vann was the chief enabler of Bishop Daniel Ryan.
Traditional Catholics in Fort Worth have not had a good experience with Bishop Vann. They consider him a Modernist. They are pleased that he is gone. Bishop Kevin Vann sided with a pastor who disgraced one woman and her children for kneeling to receive Communion. In 2000 Bishop Vann rebuked the Youth 2000 for kneeling. He told the priest next to him three times to stop this act of kneeling but the priest standing next to him did not listen and still kept giving Holy Communion to those who knelt.
It appears, Catherine, that no one is good enough for you. Bp. Vann welcomed the TLM to his diocese in an article published in a secular newspaper five years ago. His record on the non-negotiables is impeccable. He said he would not give Communion to Kerry and other Catholic politicians who embrace abortion. What more do you want? With regard to the details you published above, do you have firsthand knowledge of what then Fr. Vann did behind the scenes? I doubt it. You seem quick to condemn — always finding fault. Give the poor man a chance! Have you stopped to think who he is replacing? Surely Bp. Vann will be an improvement. And, as a traditionalist, how can you so blatantly question the judgment of the Roman Pontiff?
“And, as a traditionalist, how can you so blatantly question the judgment of the Roman Pontiff?”
LOL. You obviously don’t know many traditionalists!
Indeed! ;)
Iverson, you sound ridiculous. Do you know the difference between a priest making a great public claim that he will not serve Communion to someone and not serving Communion to someone? Or is it all the same for you? Also, what is with you pope worship, that no one should question the judgment of a pope? It’s fools such as yourself who worship idols and do what you’re told by perverts.
It just irritates me when I have to read or hear the “blind following the blind”, and claiming to be Catholics. Doctors of the Church, Apostles and countless other Saints have questioned Jesus, the Father, the Holy Ghost, popes, bishops, each other … Iverson sounds more like a Scientologist than a Catholic.
JLS, pope worship? Really?
Augustus Iverson,
I think you have it backwards. It appears that sometimes our shepherds feel as if Our Lord is not good enough to be adored by his children. Isn’t Bishop Vann questioning the judgement of the Roman Pontiff if behind the scenes he shows disregard for the instructions from Rome and sides with pastors who belittle Catholics in front of the whole congregation when they kneel for Holy Communion? Perhaps the Holy Father is unaware of this.
Augustus do you consider the reverence due to Our Lord and the reverence shown to Our Lord due to the belief in the Real Presence a negotiable? It HAS been a negotiable for a long time and our world need’s God more than ever This is one of the primary reasons that we are in such a mess. Compromises. Augustus do you honestly think that God will bless us and our nation on the other non-negotiables if his own shepherds are behind the scenes crushing the spirits of His faithful? I think it is wonderful for a Bishop to outwardly proclaim that he will defend the sanctity of life, defend the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman and defend religious freedom but when his own actions of disregarding the value and the importance of the religious freedom to kneel, something is very wrong. That is a red flag of inconsistency. I do know that Rome does know how bad things are in the United States and they do want the faithful to defend what is good and what is true. I want all bishops to succeed, but in these most perilous times, even Our Lady of Akita warned us about compromises. A bishop should never crush the spirits of the faithful with compromises on the reverence due to Almighty God.
Lex orandi est lex credendi. “The law of prayer dictates the law of belief.” In other words the way you pray shows what you believe internally. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen often said. “If you don’t behave as you believe, you will end up believing as you behave.”
Catherine, the things you are speaking of happened 12 years ago (2 years before the Vatican letter that said that the faithful could not be denied communion if they knelt to receive-even though the Vatican has stated that the Bishops are to determine the norm and ours have determined it to be standing to receive communion). The only place on the web that I found the information about Bishop Vann that you included in your first post was on a sedevacantist website. They think that everyone in the Catholic Church is a modernist. That is why they left. Your response to this poster is typical of you- exagerate to the point where there is no truth left. “Our shepherds feel as if our Lord is not good enough to be worshipped by His children.” What a distortion.
Anonymous,
The Servant of God, Father John Hardon SJ was not exaggerating when he personally warned many Catholics at a retreat that only heroic Catholics would survive the confusion and error that was to come. We certainly see that confusion now and you are certainly protecting it. Rebuking someone for kneeling is the distortion of our faith, not the reporting of the distortion.
Father Hardon SJ. said that the greatest attack was going to come in the form of diminishing belief in the Real Presence. How dare you make it sound as if a Bishop should not have already known that it wrong to rebuke a person for kneeling before Rome received so darn many complaints and had to “remind them”. Who do you think you are fooling? If our shepherds distort or diminish in any way the faithful’s belief in the Real Presence, it is very wrong.
When Father Hardon SJ said this, Catholics soon noticed that there was a great push in our Diocese to remove Tabernacles from the most prominent locations and our bishop also removed kneeling at certain times of the Mass. Now you want others to bury their heads in the sand when they learn that our new bishop rebuked Catholics for kneeling while stationed in Texas.
Anonymous this IS a distorting of our faith by diminishing the reverence due to Our Lord. We’ve had Bishop Brown’s distortion and now we learn that Bishop Vann has also done this and that Bishop Vann supported a pastor for doing this and yet you blindly ignore that diminishing and call the truth a distortion. No wonder Father Hardon is a Servant of God. He had to be patient with people like you his entire life.
Yes, Father Hardon SJ, was right when he told us to always defend the honor due to the belief in the Real Presence. Anonymous please don’t distort your own duty to remain more loyal to God when it comes to specifically defending the reverence due to the belief in the Real Presence.
You can revere the Eucharist standing. Their is no excuse for disobedience on this. The Vatican said that communion cannot be withheld if someone kneels to receive. The Church has said that the proper posture for receiving is standing or kneeling. You have not authority to change that.
Catherine, while I agree with your zeal for Eucharistic reverence, it is important to understand that those who disobey a bishop (except in the instance of sin) disobey Christ. Lk 10:16 and Ex 16:8
Catherine,
I agree with everything you write, but give the man a chance. Write to him and tell him of the horrors of the REC right here in his Diocese. If you get a reply, print it here for us all to see.
I knew Fr. Hardon personally, and he would tell you to give him a chance as well. “By their Fruits ye shall know them!”
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
I have to say Catherine, that I have read about Bishop Daniel Ryan and even I am astounded and repulsed by some of the crap that the man got away with. How he ever got to be a bishop is beyond me. Not one of the holiest of fellows in my humble opinion.
Fr Hardon is evidently a demonstration of holiness. When is the last time the Church has made a bishop other than a pope blessed, or canonized?
Last year! Saint Guido Maria Conforti canonized October 23, 2011.
This June Bishop Fulton. J. Sheen was declared “venerable.”
I don’t believe it will be long before he is beatified.
Well, Catherine, you seem to have supreme knowledge of very many things.
Did you also spot the disciples of Jesus eating heads of grain on the sabbath?
Did you report Jesus for healing a lame man on the sabbath?
Thomas,
Still doubting I see. Thomas, Jesus is Perfect as the Father is Perfect. Jesus recognizes His sheep and His sheep recognize Him in their shepherds. “Be you therefore perfect as also your heavenly father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible
It sounds like there have been some pretty nasty stuff this Bishop Daniel Ryan did
Thomas,
I consider your reply to Catherine to be VERY MEAN SPIRITED!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thomas, why are you attempting to push stupidity and ignorance? Don’t you know that it’s already being pushed by the corrupt clerics? Jesus says “know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. Pray you be transformed from a bump on a log to a man of reason.
Catherine thank you for giving us those important facts. It’s important to know them. God bless you.
Augustus Iverson when it comes to leading Christ’s flock, those kind of scandals can not be taken lightly…I’m sorry that you do not comprehend what is at stake here. So leave Catherine alone!
But this account you’re giving is nothing but hearsay. If a priest sent a letter in confidence to Vann as Vicar for Priests, how would YOU come to know about that? The rest of the stuff you posted are either petty and silly. Can you come up with something more substantial if you’re going to defame another person on the internet?
Candy,
Google (PDF) “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam One Diocese Crumbles As the Bishop Loses Control” Scroll down and read it all. Then you will read the part about Father Kevin Vann being confronted.
Reread my above post. You did not pay attention. I did not say a priest wrote to Father Vann, I wrote that Stephen Brady wrote to Father Vann when Father Vann was the Parochial Vicar of priests in Springfield, Illinois. Stephen Brady also writes in the magazine newsletter that he also confronted Monsignor Vann with evidence.
Please scroll and read the entire article. Yes, you will read that Stephen Brady was very angry that nothing was done to help. You have to understand that parents of molested children and some whose children had committed suicide were calling him crying with their horror stories. Read how he discovered the nest of corruption. Read the entire article and it tells you how he confronted Monsignor Kevin Vann about the corruption. This is not hearsay. Stephen Brady helped to expose the great elephant in the room that no one was willing to hear about. People were turning to him and to faithful priests for help because nothing was being done.
Candy, The facts that are documented in Stephen Brady’s work are the facts. They may not be pleasant to read and it should make any normal human being wonder why no response was given and why nothing was done. Stephen Brady had good priests who also worked with him. Stephen Brady would not have ever jeopardized or defamed someone on hearsay. I think the faithful is entitled to know why those who protected molesters, and those who protected Bishop Daniel Ryan never responded to Stephen Brady when he confronted them with substantial evidence. This are not silly or petty matters. It would be extremely difficult to watch someone being promoted when nothing was being done while souls and lives were being destroyed.
Candy,
I consider Steven Brady a personal friend, and I can vouch for everything Catherine has exposed here. Pray for Steve, he has gone through Hell and is still true to the Faith.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Catherine I want to personally through these posts, thank you for the facts you have posted here. God bless you!
Candy, read Stephen Brady’s last letter from Roman Catholic Faithful where he explains why he is encouraging everyone to leave the Catholic Church.
Anonymous, You wrote, “Those who disobey a bishop disobey Christ?”
Now remember anonymous, you wrote those words when we were specifically talking about reverence for the Blessed Sacrament and postures in Church such as kneeling. I had written that a pastor in Texas belittled a woman and all of her children in front of the entire congregation for kneeling for Communion and that Bishop Vann agreed with the pastor’s belittling of this mother and her children for simply kneeling for Communion.
Are you specifically saying that a Catholic is not free to kneel in good conscience inside a Catholic Church? Are you saying that this is sinning against God? Please let us know which specific Bishop told you that this was a sin.
Please call the Diocese of Orange or any other Diocese and use these exact words.. “Bishop Vann or Bishop So and So, Are Catholics free to kneel in good conscience inside a Catholic Church? Tell the bishop that YOU told us we are committing sins against God by kneeling and ask the bishop if he agrees. Please report back with the answer and please it is very important if you can get his name in writing stating that it is a sin to kneel.
This would be very helpful. Also anonymous, please try to ask one of the bishops who has just given a heartfelt compelling speech on defending religious freedoms for our own country if those religious freedoms also include that a Catholic is a free to kneel inside a Catholic Church in good conscience? Anonymous, Please remember to get the bishop’s name and everything in writing. Now you have an assignment.
Now please do not ask me to do what you need to do. I have already done what I am asking you to do. You will learn that you are wrong for telling someone that it is a sin to kneel.
Catherine, your need to exagerate and falsify what another person said is extreme. I said nothing about it being wrong to kneel in a Catholic Church. I said nothing about kneeling being a sin. Or having heard from a bishop. Get over yourself. You are tilting windmills. Once again, I never said it was a sin to kneel. Of course it is not. And Catherine, with you inability to tell the truth, who would believe anything you say about Bishop Vann?
Anonymous,
Yes, you did. You simply did not get away with inferring it was a sin. As far as believing the PDF about the elephant in the room, you are wrong. Many do believe it.
Nope Anonymous it is only to get the reader to reflect and to think about how one comes across…its to prove a point..don’t you get that!
Catherine, I did not! Read the post again. There is no where that I said or implied it. Maybe you inferred it. And then projected it on to me. Again, it is not a sin to kneel in Church. I do not understand the PDF elephant room comment.
abeca, even if Catherine uses falsification and exageration as a rhetorical device to prove a point, she is still stating something false and inaccurate. Our Lord is not served by lies. She should find a way to make her point in a manner that is more in keeping with Christian conduct. I have seen other Catholic bloggers use hyperbole in this manner and it ruins their credibility.
k writes, “You can revere the Eucharist standing. There is NO EXCUSE for disobedience like this.” and “You have no authority to change that.”
Lets get this clear now. A mother and her children in Texas are belittled in front of the entire congregation by a pastor for kneeling and k defends the belittling. Bishop Vann supports the pastor in his belittling of this mother and children too.
How telltale it is that the poster named k has never once used such harsh words on CCD’s stories about heretics, homosexual priests who are distorting church teaching, bishops who allow gay themed movies to be filmed within churches, drag queen performances at Catholic Universities, lesbian plays called “Stop Kiss.”
k has never once told those heretical individuals that they had no authority to change things. k only steps up to the plate with words like “THERE IS NO EXCUSE” for this disobedience to a kneeling mother.
Gee k, It sure does looks like you are a public relations handler who is now also stooping to throw off the scent of heresy on to kneeling mothers and their children.
How long have you been defending heretics by your silence but telling a kneeling Catholic mother and her children that there is NO EXCUSE FOR THAT DISOBEDIENCE.and YOU HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THAT. Your exposed role is clear k, for those who have eyes to see the disparaging difference in your zeal to SQUASH kneelers over squashing drag queen performances, homosexual clergy who dissent and other glaring apostates.
Catherine, I’m going to overlook the lies and distortions and the just plain silliness in your post. It is ridiculous. You are not very forthcoming with information about yourself so I do not understand where you are coming from. You said that you were raised Catholic and you said that you have never attended an independent Catholic parish. Do you go to Mass? At a Catholic Church united with the Pope? Do you accept the authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church? What heresy are you talking about in your post above? Do you know what an apostate is? Here is the issue on kneeling. Before the Vatican letter in 2002 which stated that communion could not be denied to someone for kneeling to receive, there were instances where a bishop or priest embarrassed people or even worse for their disobedience to the norm established by the bishops of the US which is to receive standing. I did not approve ot them doing this then and I do not now. A person may wish to kneel from their own sense of piety, but they conform to the will of God as expressed by their bishop. Other people believe that it is God’s will for them to kneel. They do not know why the norm changed and they misinterpret it as a lack of reverence. And once again- I do not approve of drag shows at Catholic colleges or churches. I do not approve or defend heresy or dissent or distortion or apostasy. I do not approve of sin.
NON-NEGOTIABLE = when voting in Federal, State, and Local elections –
1. against ABORTION,
2. against Homosexual Marriage,
3. and for Freedom of Religion.
Obama strikes out on all 3, based upon his own words and actions.
We will see what good Bishop Vann brings to the suffering Catholics of Orange, CA. We wish him well and offer prayers that he rely on the True Faith, on Tradition, to bring this Diocese out of its awful circumstances. Among other things, we hope that Bishop Vann will: (1) encourage, by all means, that all parishes offer a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass in the Extraordinary Form; (2) bring into practice, the use of the “traditional form” all other sacraments; (3) create a true Catholic Church with the “crystal cathedral” monstrosity purchased by outgoing Birshop Brown; and (4) stress the need for all to avoid sin, to seek forgiveness, and to move towards salvation (which is not achieved by even endless rounds of social activism). Finally, we hope, and ask, that Bishop Vann lead other bishops by example and refuse communion to those in public office, or who have achieved public celebrity, where they spread lies about the right to “act in conscience” when supporting abortion, homosexual marriage, contraception, and other actions clearly labeled as sinful by the Catholic Church. God be with you, Bishop Vann.
To: St. Christopher:
Take my comments with a grain of salt: But it irks me to know end that you and others think that the “extraordinary form” is some sort of panacea for all the evils of the Church in the modern times. History and reality, simply does not support that position.
What is constant in the 2000 years of Church history is unity and obedience to the Holy Father and the bishops in union with him. Any form of “disobedience” breeds disunity and weakness, lack of charity and lack of focus on the most pressing issues that confront our Church today. Bishop Vann’s focus on the Life Issues (Which has to include the evil of contraception-the mother of Abortion) and I assume (I don’t have proof of this.) solid Catechesis in the Faith, along with a fervent practice of the SACRAMENTAL life (Vatican II is the official Catholic Churches response to all the pastoral and moral needs of the Church today–obey and embrace it.). It is really quite simple and the great majority of Catholics in the pews or on the margins DO NOT NEED the complications of the “EXTRAORDINARY rite crowd”. The last two popes have graciously bent over backward to give you want you have demanded, so just, thank God for it, live it and take the graces you are receiving in abundance and do something positive with your life. There, I said my piece. (By the way, I have attended some beautiful “extraordinary” rite Masses and as one who knows Latin and is trained in Gregorian Chant, found myself able to engage in worship, by the grace of God, in this form of the Mass.). Regarding the Crystal Cathedral, remember: De gustibus non est disputanda… — I’ve not been it, nor do I know what they are going to do with it, so we will have to wait and see…
A person that does not love both forms is not well formed. Also, The Current Occupant of St. Peter’s Throne has made it clear, that the OF when celebrated should not look like it breaks away from the EF.
While I agree with your dislike for fanatical love of EF to the exclusion of OF, clearly knowing both forms cannot but lead one to conclude that the OF as now celebrated is a clear break from what it is we have received from the apostles.
This is difficult to ignore.
The EF crowd is absolutely justified by their anger towards OF and all that goes with it, from architecture to the table of plenty chatty atmosphere within OF parishes.
There is real reason to dislike the OF in its current form, as much as you want to deny, it’s a clear break from what has been handed down to us.
Excuse me, but the first Christians spoke and used an Aramaic form of Hebrew, later in Damascus they slowly changed to Greek, the more western groups slowly adopted Latin and in ~1000 AD Saints Cyril and Methodius translated the mass into a Slavic form. The 13 apostles said the mass starting 12 or 13 different rites, Latin only being one of them, so don’t think it is the only way. I prefer the English, the Spanish is ok, the Russian mass doesn’t do much for me, and loved the Polish and Czech versions were ok. The biggest reason the Latin spread was because the unmarried priests of the Latin rite were able to be missionaries the easiest, but Latin is not the only way, nor is it the necessarily the best, when the people don’t understand it.
Dude Tom Greene , you missed the fellows whole post..
He/she starts by saying… Quote “A person that does not love both forms is not well formed.”
Then he goes on to explain why…
His post is totally balanced…
It is not the form, but the holiness that matters.
Forms matter because the Church says they matter…
The real panacea is bishops becoming holy.
I am still waiting… for that to ever like happen…
Re.: “he said he would deny Communion to John Kerry and other pro-abortion politicians”, hallelujah! look out Loretta Sanchez Brixey and other pro-abortion Demoncrats in Orange County. There is a NEW Shepherd here.
I wonder if he will even consider living in that Mansion in exclusive Anaheim Hills where Brown bought his mansion. When I showed that mansion to Archbishop Khai, he was shocked, I then showed him the very nice Rectory at the then Cathedral of the Diocese of Orange. If I remember correctly, the Archbihsop said “what is wrong with this?” The Archbishop had as his living quarters a room in the corner of his Chancery in Sakonakhon.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
How about selling it to the WINDEX WORLD CORPORATION AS A HEADQUARTERS. OR, A GREENHOUSE FOR PRESERVING AND NURTURING ANCIENT TREES.
St. Christopher I agree we wish him well and will keep him and all bishops in our prayers…God bless you.
I think this is very healthy. They “went outside” for ABp. Gomez of LA. I’m glad they did here as well.
Being an auxiliary bishop in Los Angles was also like being on a farm team for California bishops and it didn’t always work out so well.
Good job, Pope Benedict XVI.
In principle, I agree with you. However it didn’t work out with Archbishop Gomez. He is in the HomosexuaPornographyAbortion Capital of the Country….and all he cares about is immigration. He ignores the big issues.
There has been NO reform of the evil Religious Ed Congress…. no reform of the dissent filled deacon program… and he doesn’t seem to give a hoot about vocations, adoration….or anything Catholic except immigration.
And immigration is not a Non Negotiable but a matter left to the prudentail judgment of the individual.
Yes. Bishop Gomez turned out to be another Bishop Mahoney, St. John seminary is still spewing parish office managers instead of priests.
meanwhile he is just throwing big Mexican parties in the stadiums over there, LA congress is alive and well with all the LCWR speakers and folks ‘masses’….
Jim Aroo, well said, i do not know much about Archbishop Gomez,
I did read the first thing he said when he became Archbishop in Ca.
and I did notice that it was all about immigration…join Catholic Call 2 Witness, go on line CC2W.org or search on line…they are good,
young Roman Catholic ordinary people…they are the one together with another friend the ones that made that great commercial
TEST OF FIRE, if you watch EWTN (Catholic Cable Network) you had to have seen it…I loved this site Courages Priest, usually I forward just the article to the priests in our parish, but this time I don’t know what made me read all the comments, must be the Holy Spirit…and I loved all the answers in support of our Holy Father and the new Archbishop, I’ll keep you all in our daily Mass,
I always call California the sin State, such a beautiful State with beautiful Christian Spanish Names…I am Cuban American of Spanish/Italian decent, came to this great country in 1948 at 11yrs of age, not for financial or political reason, my parent had a personal problem and my mother came to Miami Beach, thinking it was going to be until the Divorce was settled…and the rest is the sad story of our Cuban history of 1959, hope we don’t make the same mistake this coming Nov. 6th, God Bless our Roman Catholic Church and God Bless America…
That’s simply not true.
Before I really comment I will say two quick things. First (and sadly), I think much of Gomez’s time was/is spent making sure the Archdiocese doesn’t implode financially after the settlement mess.
Second, it takes time to turn a HUGE ship like the archdiocese of LA. Give Gomez time. I was actually disappointed that the Holy See did not use this opportunity to create a Diocese of Santa Barbara that could have stretched from Santa Maria to the Ventura County line but that’s another issue…
Now, let’s begin with the heart of the Church — the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It’s now celebrated by the book at COLA. That was certainly not always the case.
Yes, immigration is a huge issue. I am glad Gomez takes it seriously. Give him some time on the REC and the deacons. Be mindful though. Much of what infuriates reactionaries about the REC doesn’t add-up to a hill of beans. Still, I expect reform there as well.
I suspect there will be some real synergy between LA and OC once the Vann gets rolling. Stay tuned.
Immigration pits Catholicism against Americanism, God vs mammon.
“synergy between LA and Orange County”: “Synergy is two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable.” Problem is that Orange County is a separate diocese from the LA Archdioces. They are not supposed to be “synergistic” but run by their respective bishops, each one hierarchically answering to God. So, why would anyone wish these two bishoprics chum up? Isn’t that the problem these days, especially with so many of them chumming up a bit much?
Imagine being a bishop. Only the pope to persuade you what to do and what not to do. And always trying to explain how you don’t speak Latin or German or whatever they contact you with!
**it takes time to turn a HUGE ship like the archdiocese of LA.** Not true: It took the USA less than six months to turn the Navy towards the enemy instead of away from it. It took Reagan only a few years to turn the Carter fiasco around. It took only 66 years to morph Orville Wright into Neil Armstrong. It takes only nine months to go from nothing to diapers. Why do the sloth apologists always tell us nothing will happen because it takes a long time to turn a ship around? Eternal death can occur in the blink of an eye; so, why what is Abp Gomez waiting for?
Rodda,
I guess to you having a priest speaker at the REC who blasphemes the Holy Family is no big deal. There are many other things we could quote from the REC, but that will have to suffice for now.
When I told Archbishop Khai what Sparks had said about the Holy Family, he replied “that priest, HORRIBLE”.
Rodda some priest have said the same thingto me as you have written above , to which I replied “How much time, how many souls lost will be enough before he finally changes the REC?” So far, none of those priests have had an answer for me. The answer is: not even one soul should be lost because of what they are taught at a conference that is supposed to teach the TRUTH of the Faith, because not even one heretic should be teaching at such as congress!
Do you even realize that he will have to answer to God for every soul that is misled by the “approved” speakers at that Congresss?
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Mr Fisher when given the opportunity to point those facts to Rodda, I don’t recall reading any depth about what she actually thinks about those facts…
I like the cut of his jib. That he is faithful to our beloved Pope Benedict and the magisterium is going to be such a blessing for all of you beleaguered Californians. (and finally something is coming TO California from Texas. ha)
After much reflection, I’m not so impressed, but always live in hope. Thanks for your information Catherine. I think everyone should be informed about this behavior. It can be a way of preventing it happening again, for one thing. I don’t know why this is becoming such a divisive issue. Truth must always out!
Dana you are a good soul, you took in the facts and made a logical reflection….many here seem to be prejudice, if the facts come from those who love tradition, they seem to ignore it and pretend it was never presented and then they try to discredit the person who said it to begin with by bashing their person…the devil sure loves that tons!
I, too, would like to knpow how receptive the new bishop is to the traditonal Latin Mass. Tom obviously has more issues with the Extraordinary Form than just the “complications” he speaks of (whatever those might be).
No, Tom, the current and previous Popes did not bend over backwards to placate those who prefer the Extraordianry Form. They did it so it might help pull the plain ol’ Ordinary Form with its butcher-block altars, gunny sack vestments, and insipid music — not to mention ending all the nonsense and novelties that priests who find it impossible to obey the General Instruction for the Roman Missal have ad libbed into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass — back into something matching the beauty and awe of the Extraordinary Form. Ever wonder why Sunday Mass attendance and belief in the Real Presence have plummeted since the inaugurartion of the Ordinary Form?
Everyone should experience the Orthodox Church liturgies. Never have I experienced a sense of such profound reverence even by the clergy themselves. Our Eastern Catholic liturgies were affected by Vatican II by being exhorted to rid their churches of the Western influences and return to their Eastern customs. Many of these of course have married clergy in the United States such as the Romanian.
While tough and ‘em fighting words’ are all comforting and dandy to we the disgruntled underground church, the only Bishop who will really accomplish anything is that one who reforms the way his priests are formed , and who overhaul’s his catechism department to actually teach the faith to those that receive formation.
In addition, let every bishop with em combative words, reform the way liturgy is celebrated in their diocese and ditch productions on the table of plenty to real masses with both EF and OF mass.
Lastly let every bishop who is down with ‘ze struggle’ actually become a true spiritual father to his priest and religious, actually taking care of their souls and helping them in their holiness, instead of being their CEO and one who oversee’s their pensions.
Otherwise its all empty talk.
to Mbuku Kanyau Mbithuka….??? both of your comments were negative made to divide just like the present Administration in our great Nation,
but both the Roman Catholic Church has been around with good and bad people for over 2000 years, and our great Country for over 200 years…
with the help of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of our Heavenly Mother, our Blessed Mother Mary, we will survive all darkness and evil that is roaming around the earth…
Divde who LDC, I see this Mbuku points… they all make sense…
ldc, your pitch is one form of giving up and not doing the will of God. MKM is busy analyzing which is another way of saying “discerning”. Jesus tells us over and over in the Gospels to discern and not run with any leader who is a nincompoop. Too many Catholics have been brainwashed into worshiping the popes and bishops and even priests and nuns … these people waste their souls and the resources given them by God.
He has a blog. Shepherd of Fort Worth.
I will scan it for heresy.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to take a close look at what you’ve done or not done lately…one can’t be too careful, can one? ,o)
Dana sweets it’s actually in the CCC, it actually encourages us to speak to our shepherds if they are actually spreading heresy. So Mchicha Wacheza probably meant no malice. Sorry you took her comment that way. My husband said for us to give this bishop a chance, that is true too.
Thanks Abeca…I didn’t really mean it meanly, and as you say, I agree with your husband that we should always give the bishop a chance…at least a year (along with lots of prayers for him) before judging him. I wish people would be more supportive rather than so judgmental, Abeca. I found when I was a teacher, that students do so much better in an environment of ‘great expectations’ rather than expecting the worst of them all the time. Often people will try to live up to those expectations. Also, anyone can do well in a certain city or diocese, but put them in another place and it’s a disaster. I loved living in NYC for example, and found I was more creative and full of energy…whereas, I had hardly any creativity when I was living in SanDiego…all I wanted to do was ‘hang out’. haha
That is true…I often have to set aside the facts about a persons past and try to give them a fresh start…..it’s so hard though given that there is bad will pattern, sometimes when we have had so much scandal from our church leadership.
A little bit about my background Dana is that I use to evangelize to protestants and spread the truth about our faith, I attended their functions all while praying to plant the seed and bring them to conversion to the real faith…..it was not easy especially when there were many scandals especially the child abuse cases we had heard on the Media fully thrashing our priests. It was hard, I know from experience that usually there is a trail of pattern from church leadership, the good ones, we see plenty of fruit but the ones who go back and forth, well they remain that way….what to do..but I do appreciate my hubby for helping me stay on that optimistic route and just give them a chance.
We are human and fear of being let down, we love our faith so much, we love Jesus…it’s hard to see others not stay faithful.
Dana my sister lives in NYC, I visited NYC a few times now too, I didn’t care for it. But I enjoyed going to the other states. I have family also in Staten Island. I enjoyed Maine more though…but I can tell you that in San Diego there is a lot of things to do…plenty. The place I would say that there is nothing to do is Julian, it’s so boring over there, people get excited about their apple pies but frankly I think we can bake a better apple pie. LOL
Julian! That is where my son got married…in what was once Jack Dempsey’s old training gym/now a hotel. It was alot of fun but certainly not a ‘sacred’ event. I didn’t mean that I didn’t like San Diego..there’s tons to do there. I live in OHIO for heavens’ sakes. Talk about pies ! haha I could be happy in Death Valley…anywhere really, as long as I’m able to attend mass and have books and music, art materials etc. as I’m never bored. It was the time of my life (in my twenties) and didn’t have the maturity to enjoy S.Diego (or San Francisco)I used to think Californians were air heads.lol As for NYC, it’s not for everyone, to be sure, but just walking down S.Broadway can be intoxicating.Life becomes theater. Next time you’re in NYC, be sure and try to attend mass at Church of Our Saviour and hear Fr.George Rutler’s sermon. His newsletter is great too…you can sign up for it. Excellent understanding!
Dallas’ Bishop Farrell’s blog says that Bishop Vann has a doctorate in canon law.
Oh so wonderful, another legalist. Problem is they use it to manipulate and find loopholes.
That’s the Christian spirit, JLS. It’s fortunate that there are probably few of our bishops who don’t have a very thick skin by now…all that love they feel from their parishoners must just have to roll off their backs, it’s so overpowering.
Bishop Matthew Clark leaves Rochester diocese today.
k, that’s great news! Clark made even Mahoney seem orthodox.
Clark leaving anywhere is a cause for celebration!
I have heard many horror stories from both the laity and the clergy under Clark’s jack boots! Pray for him.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Time will tell if he is a friend or foe of the True Mass of All Times? Bishop Brown despised it with a passion as do many of the posters here as of late, sad because you have no idea what you are missing.
Welcome to California Bishop Vann. We need holy shepherds.
I pray that Bishop Kevin Vann will quickly recognize that the prolife programs in his new diocese are in desperate need of revival; an evaluation of the status quo will show that the current prolife ministry is virtually stagnant and making little progress. Forty years of abortion on demand cries out for a plan of action that will provide a passionate, proactive awakening of our sense of duty to preborn life. Abortion is not just another ministry among many; it’s a life or death issue. Implicit in Mathew 25 is the warning that we must defend life; when the Son of Man comes into His glory, we want to hear, “I was conceived unwanted in my mother’s womb and you protected me from death, what you did for these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
The prolife ministry in the Orange County Diocese should be given top priority and should engage a marketing mind to write a plan with a strategy devised to sell the concept that every preborn life in our diocese has been one of our parishioners from the moment of fertilization. In the eyes of God, our Constitution, and our diocese, a preborn life has the same rights as born parishioners; he or she has a soul, an angel, and most importantly, is instinctively yearning to welcomed at birth, and baptized.
Abortion-on-demand has made us a nation of barbarians. Unfortunately, until our Church leaders take action to end our complicity we must share the guilt of an intrinsic evil far greater than the sex-scandal. As long as a vocal number of Catholic clergy, politicians, universities, laity, and the Catholic media continue to give explicit, or implicit, support to the abortion horror, we will continue to erode the credibility of the American Catholic Church. The polls prove that many Catholics have developed an abortion tolerance. If our new Apostle of Christ, Bishop Kevin Vann, will pinpoint and expose abortion as the greatest evil of our time, and our greatest sin, clarity would replace confusion, and would deliver a foundational education in the faith that would revive our fight for preborn life. A powerful overt attack against the greatest deceit of our time would jar the sleeping Catholic vote sharply awake, and would put an end to abortion-on-demand. This Spiritual Work of Mercy would be of the highest order, and would bring us back to a Culture of Life!
Charles N. Marrelli, Writers for life
Charles you mean you don’t approve of auxiliary bishops taking part of ceremonies at which pro-abortion politicians such as Loretta Sanchez Brixey and Gil Sedillo are are honored? Shame on you, the devil will not like your attitude at all!
I have read that Bishop Vann did issue a letter to all his priests ordering them not to give Holy Communion to a certain Demoncrat politician.
Write Bishop Vann and tell him about the Religious Education Congress, I happen to know that Bishop McFarlane only went and said his Mass and left immediately. He did not approve of it, but he lacked the courage to go against Mahony.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Thank you for your passionate post, Charles. We ARE a nation of barbarians and have lost our way. If our bishops (not one of whom spoke out against Caroline Kennedy’s speech supporting abortion) would only be more united and outspoken on abortion, it would give the Church a genuine focus where we could unite as one and rout it out. As it is, so many bishops are luke warm and afraid of offending the rich and famous, as though they had the power. As believers, it should worry us far more that we are offending and wounding our God. That is why I sense so much antagonism here…I think we’re becoming very frustrated and are taking out on one another rather than writing purposeful letters to our bishops. God bless you, and every person reading this. Mary, pray for us!
Pro life ministry can take a hike.. While I am 1000% pro life like the mother church..
the whole movement is focused on non formed catholics who know nothing about CCC
Whats the point of getting a pro life ministry in a place where people have never heard of chastity or mortal sins and the priests are not well formed, cannot even put together a decent sermon… and are more adept at capital campaigns than teaching people how to pray?
mmm?
Pro life can take a hike.. The Church is in a more desprate need for catechisis
I can’t imagine anything worse than Bishop Tod Brown. +Vann has a lot of work in front of him…starting with Corpus Christi in Aliso Viejo. This list of other “Catholic” churches in the diocese that need a tune up is long.
I don’t know whether you were aware but Corpus Christi has had a new pastor since July. I don’t know whether things have improved though, or if enough time has even elapsed to be able to tell.
“TOM”: You are so incorrect as to your liturgical history, use of language and the like that time and space to not permit an effective response. Take a look at almost anything by Micheal Davies, including, “A Short History of the Roman Mass”. In fact it is crucially important how we worship, and how we act in concert with the Deposit of Faith brought to the faithful through time. The TLM is not new, the “new” worship form is the N.O., which was foisted on the Church through now well publicized steps. Vatican II cannot mean anything if it is not in direct continuity with prior councils and the Faith as it was practiced throughout the ages. This is the central, and only, true issue remaining with the reconciliation of the SSPX and the Pope. Too many in the curia, and possibly Benedict, as well, believe that the Church essentially began at Vatican II — it did not. A Catholic does not worship the Pope, as you seem to suggest. A Pope is not infallible in everything, and certainly bishops are not. (In fact, the “Order of Bishops” noted in the present missal is an artifact of post-Vatican II thinking; there is no “power sharing” with the Pope. Even the documents of Vatican II say this; see Lumen Gentium.) In any event, those who believe in the newness of the Church will largely get their way — the institution of the Church as many of us remember it, is essentially over. There is no “Springtime” and no “rebirth”. In fact, Christ directed the Apostles to go forth and convert the world, not to simply speak to each other and to the already converted, which is the present “evangelism” call of the Church. The notions of the “Church Militant” and “Church Triumphant” are lost (except to a few, such as the wonderful Michael Voris, and those brave souls in Africa). Evangelicals and other Protestants have no problem going forth into the world everywhere. Soon, Latin America and most of the rest of the Third World will not know Catholicism, which should tell you about its importance to Mankind (and why it is hated by Satan). Certainly we can take some level of comfort from the promise of Christ that Satan will “not prevail” against the Church, but the wonderful order and beauty of the Church is already gone. Soon there will be a service and a diocese for every stripe of Catholic — which is why the TLM is essential. That, and the addition of the notion of the “sacrifice of the Mass”, which almost all parishes no longer say anything about, focusing on the “communal meal” and other such nonsense, which the valid Mass has never been about. The “new Catholic Church” will soon be even happier, as the “Springtimers” in the Vatican will apparently soon issue a new set of options for even the TLM (the 1962 version): now, the priest will be able to say the TLM facing the people. What happens next? Communion in hand, altar girls, women giving out communion, and communion in both species? Nope, it is over, for now.
St. Christopher,
As one who is in the trenches, I can readily say “It is not over for now”. But of course if you think it is, then for you it is over for now.
For me, an American of Mexican decent, my cry is “Viva Cristo Rey”.
By the way, Michael Davies was a personal friend, and I know he would not agree with you, and he was a CONVERT! He would say “MAN THE BATTLEMENTS FOR THE CHURCH!”
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Oh yes! Michael had been a tough Tommie Non Com at one time, and you could tell it from his demeanor, but he was and is in Heaven a GREAT GUY!
I first go to know him when he ordered all the British Isles Pilgrims on the Chartres Pilgrimage to “Police your area before we move on”. When I heard that, I yelled at him from the American group “Mr. Davies, my congratulations to you sir, that is the first time I have heard anyone on this pilgrimage call for policing their area”.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
I emailed him a brief note a year or two prior to his death. We shared great appreciation for man’s best friend, the dog. I had just lost mine. I was surprised that someone of his stature would reply to such a simple email. I never finished or got very far into the one book of his that I bought … recall the image he drew up of a priest riding throughout the countryside on a horse and carrying a pistol ,.. and using it on some thugs who menaced him. I had to ponder that for a while.
Christ said “love” and welcome the stranger, let us as the local Church of Orange at least do this!
That great catch word, “love”.
When is the last time a modernist or liberal was hung on a cross for their faith?
Great response JLS… answer never…
Despite his lackluster support for TLM, I’m sure this bishop will be a definite improvement over Bp. Brown. The real problem is that too many priests are still being educated at St. John’s, which is badly, badly in need of reform and new, qualified professors. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we can count on Apb. Gomez for any changes.
Howdy All,
This is a response from a Catholic brother from the Ft. Worth area.
We are sorry to be losing Bishop Vann, he has been an inspiration to all of us in the Diocese. You are getting a great servant of our Lord and our Church. Our Bishop’s have a very hard job in their work to Shepard us. Bishop Vann takes a very hands on approach. He is a people person and is involved with the people of his parishes. I ask that you all be open to him.
I read some of the responses to this article and would like to share just a few stories with you, to let you know the kind of man you that will be your Bishop. He starts every Friday, schedule permitting with Mass at a very small Mothers and Unborn Catholic Care center. The ‘worship’ space is about the size of a small living room. After the celebration of Mass he goes to the nearby abortion mill to pray for a time.
This is not advertised or publicized for all to see, just a calling of his.
He has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
One change he made was to move his residence from a house that was apart from the Cathedral in downtown Ft. Worth so that he could live in a smaller residence next to our Cathedral.Nothing fancy but that is Bishop Vann.
He participated in a lay ACTS retreat that is now spreading through our diocese. This retreat is also spreading through the USA and other parts of the World.
Bishop Vann is an awesome leader and a great friend to sinners. I am a sinner and can personally say that he has helped me grow in holiness for our God and our Church. God bless you and Bishop Vann.
You are a blessed people to get his stewardship.
Peace,
Raphel
Raphael, does your diocese also have repentant sinners as well as sinners?
K Fisher makes his point that the Bihop lacked the courage to go against C Mahoney, actually that shows that the Bishop wanted to remain a Catholic Bishop, as in Rochester, Las Vegas and far to many other Diocese’s we still have Bishops that will throw a Priest under the bus in a heart beat if they dare go against the extremes of the liberal Bishops or Cardinals that still infest our Church, fortunately our Pontiff is cleaning house. The good Priests need our prayers that the day will soon come when they can preach the Gospels without fearing the corrupt Bishops that still use their intimidating power to destroy Priests who dare remain “JESUS CORRECT” IN LIEU OF LIBERAL CORRECT…MGB
Catherine, you are the only person on the whole internet who is trying to harm Bishop Vann’s reputation. Please stop this. It is a sin. Even if what you say is true about him, it is a sin to reveal it unless you have a just cause. It is also a sin to try to harm my reputation by your post above. To be a Catholic of integrity you need to tell the truth and only the truth. You should not twist what people say to try make them look bad. You should not insinuate false things about people or spin what they say. Do you have someone who can help you realize when you are speaking falsehood? I imagine you do this in your real life as well.
k you are incorrect and you are bearing false witness against Catherine! If we all believed what you just posted, then who’s to stop people from saying that reporting true facts on scandal from any bishop or priests is ruining their reputation. Come on, sometimes people ruin their own reputation because it is their own doing, their bad will and harmful actions….so stop this victim stuff. There are consequences that follow…
C’mon abeca. I know you are loyal to Catherine but you don’t have to change Church Teaching for her. She is totally not credible. Read what was written and then read what Catherine says it says-not just here but on any of her retorts to any poster (except you or Dana or JLS.) Do they match?
Catherine don’t let her get to you, there will always be pebbles on the road, and sometimes it is rocky.
“Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (Jesus). “A little bird will carry every secret to the king” (Solomon). This hype job they call “scandal” is just that, it is a false devise used to manipulate the public. Scandal means sin, not the revealing of it. Jesus is the light that shines into the darkness. k, you are serving the darkness by covering up for evil men and women. If Bp Vann is good, then none of these “accusations” or observations will hurt him. If they hold water, than knowing it the public can protect itself better, especially its kids:
Luke 17:2
It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.
Apocalypse (Revelation) 18:21
And a mighty angel took up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With such violence as this shall Babylon, that great city, be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” The “scandal” is “Babylon”, which is the problem today with the bishops favoring it over the Kingdom of Christ. It scandalizes the kids, who imitate it because the bishops do not teach and preach against it, but rather wallow in it.
JLS, I am not covering up for evil men and women. You are correct that if Bishop Vann is good the accusations will not hurt him. But they hurt the person who tells them and the person who listens to them, even if true. That is the Church’s teaching on gossip. Impeccability is given to no man so everyone has something that can be talked about. It is Christian charity to not do so. Remember the feathers?
k, That is a pretty good spin. I see why you are valuable.
Catherine, my post was sincere. It was not meant as an attack on you but a head’s up because you seem to not know that it is wrong. I did not spin anything. “I see why you are valuable.” Really! C’mon.
So, k, seeking truth is wrong in your religion, and the bishops you prefer are made of tinsel and are extremely delicate?
No, JLS, not at all. I am trying to instruct Catherine. I wish one of the priests who post here would do it-but they never do. I wish you would do it, or abeca, or Dana or Mr. Fisher. Jesus Christ is Way, the Truth and the Life. The bishops of the Catholic Church must be very strong. Each of them has to be willing to lay down their lives for Christ. As do each of us. They have to be willing to go to prison for refusing to marry same sex partners or speaking the Catholic Truth. As do we. Catholicism ain’t for wimps.
What are we talking about here, whirling dervishes?
Good one, JLS!
JLS everything is spinning here…dizzy dizzy…
K, is it true that Stephen Brady encouraged people to leave the Catholic Church? In regard to kneeling in church, Catherine, we have to kneel during certain parts of the Mass so pretty much everyone kneels in a Catholic church. I think that since priests give communion to people who are standing that some may think it is rude for people to make the priest bend down to give them communion.
You can read his letter online. It is full of pain and anguish and disillusionment. He recommends everyone to go to SSPX or independent Catholic Churches or with reservations, to an EF Mass. His words: “For reasons of doctrinal orthodoxy, liturgical integrity and to lead a moral life, we urge all Catholics to abandon the corrupt, destructive, heterodox and limp-wristed Novus Ordo establishment and to seek out the Catholic Faith at Traditional Mass centers.” The reservation he places on the EF Mass is to make sure that the reserved Eucharistic species was not consecrated at a Novus Ordo Mass which “may or may not have been a valid Mass depending on the additional tampering with the liturgy that might have been committed by the ‘presider’ at that Mass.” Mr. Fisher has asked for prayers for him.
k and you think that is a bad thing? I’m not edifying his recommendations but it’s not like he asked people to do drugs, drink vodka and get drunk…come on….are you trying to discredit someone? I wonder….
I mean I understand some of those things come of as a whack job….but the scandals within our church, well that can scare off anyone…not that I am encouraging it!
abeca, discrediting? No. People can do the wrong thing for the right reasons. It is still wrong.
k writes, “It is full of pain, anguish and disillusionment.” Yes, k, it is full of pain and anguish and disillusionment. k, Are you still ignoring the homosexual death grip that Stephen Brady was exposing? k, Would you agree that anyone that closely involved with exposing such evil is battling the devil face to face?
You wrote, Mr. Fisher has asked for prayers. Is that to diminish Kenneth’s credibility too? Why didn’t you write that YOU are praying for all of those who are involved with the suffering that has taken place due to the filth within the church and that your prayerful hope is to have this scourge removed and to be united? Maybe you are not personally able to do that for reasons only known to God. k, You discredited the book Good Bye Good Men.
The Catholic Church is the One, True, Holy and Apostolic Church. Stephen Brady knows this. Instead of secretly gloating over the anguish and suffering and division that the father of lies has been able to accomplish by using this vehicle of filth, YOU should pray for unity k and stop running interference when an elephant is staring at you right in the face. Now by elephant in the room, I am speaking of the homosexual death grip (the filth within the Church) that even Pope Benedict XVI said needs to be removed. k, for all of your knowledge about the faith, you made not one single comment about how DESTRUCTIVE to the faith and how destructive to souls it is for Bishop Barnes to allow a homosexual themed movie to be filmed in a Catholic Church. This is just a fragment of the filth that Pope Benedict spoke of. k, Are you going to focus on the disillusionment of SSPX members who left because of this filth or discredit men such as Stephen Brady who valiantly worked to stop this filth? Do you realize k that this type of protecting of evil is why so many people left. Is that what you want? Is that your goal?
Catherine, are you one of the people who have left the Church because of it?
k, Do you remember telling us that you stopped practicing your faith and had fallen away from the Catholic church for a while? Was that a true story? I have never attended a SSPX Mass or Mass at an Independent Chapel. I have never stopped, at any time in my life, attending Mass. I remember clearly a priest reminding us that the Church was being cleansed and once again going through the passion. No k, I have never left the Church.
If you speak with those who attend Independent Churches and SSPX churches, they will also tell you that have never stopped attending Mass or the practice of their faith. They will tell you that many shepherds within the Church abandoned them by abandoning the Teachings and this is why they left. The Holy Father is still working to reunite. That is the sign of a Good Shepherd. You on the other hand, seem to enjoy mocking those who have been wounded. If your story about leaving the practice of your faith is true, then there but for the grace of God go you. I would think that after being forgiven and welcomed back you would work tirelessly in tandem with the Holy Father to bring unity out of division. Our Good Shepherd, Pope Benedict XVI has been so patient and merciful in trying to reunite those who did leave.
No, k, instead of showing an invitation of compassion and mercy to those who did leave, you want to hang their leaving over their heads like the merciless figure in the gospel whose own debt was forgiven but showed no mercy and compassion to those who he felt owed him. What was the fate of that merciless fool?
I have never heard the Holy Father publicly mock those he was trying to reunite. The Holy Father is wise and he realizes the authenticity of many of the serious grievances that have brought about this division. One grievance being, wolves in sheep’s clothing that have protected horrific filth. I also know in the Holy Father’s wisdom he would never agree with the belittling of someone who knelt for Holy Communion.
Catherine, I asked you if you had left because you seem kind of stuck in the past. You seem really hung up on something that happened 12 years ago. Is it that you just hold grudges? You always create some big drama by misinterpreting my posts. If the woman who was belittled left the church, I would understand. I understand why Mr. Brady left or went independent. But it is still wrong. Your assessments of me are not correct. You should not make them about me or anyone. It leads you to sin. Please consider whether you know something to be true- not just think it might be true or that it sounds plausible. Thanks.
Catherine, I know you love to spin things like I am some gay person or pro-gay person, but I am not. I do not know why you do this. You have been doing this for a long time, God have mercy on your poor compromised soul.
k, you bring it on by the substance of your posts. You do not have a good grip on how to do analysis of data; but you might be able to improve this skill. Also, I’m guessing that “k” is your acronym for “kape” or “cape”, as in Wonder Woman.
Ok yes! If I didn’t post what I post it would not happen. I’m not sure what you mean by analysis of data. I guess you are telling me that I am in the Karpman triangle which I try not to be, but yeah, I got too sucked in on this. Thanks.
Catherine, I think I have figured our part of the problem. When Cardinal Ratzinger talked about getting the filth out of the priesthood, aside from you, everyone thought he was talking about child molesters. Whichever it was- a soundbite or a sentence in a homily by him before he was Pope is not an official mandate for the church. Also, when he says in an interview that “homosexuality is incompatible with the priesthood” even as Pope, it is not a papal decree to remove gay priests. When they issued the statement that affirmed that persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies were not candidates for the priesthood, they did not issue an edict to remove those who had already been ordained. Now I am not standing up for evil, I am just trying to correct your seeming misperception. As lay people, we have no say in this kind of stuff. We can just avoid asking advice from those we know to be gay.
k writes, “When Cardinal Ratzinger talked about getting rid of the filth out of the priesthood, aside from you, everyone thought he was talking about child molesters. Whichever it was- a soundbite or a sentence in a homily by him before he was Pope. Even as Pope it is not a papal decree to remove gay priests.”
Mystery solved. No k, I do not think that you have figured out part of the problem. You are the problem. It certainly makes sense now why you have consistently run interference. Thank you for finally exposing your real thoughts and blowing you’re cover. No wonder Father Guarnizo and Father Rodriguez threatened you. You are willing to compromise the truth in order to protect a disorder.
Wrong again, Catherine!
Catherine, I am not gay and I am not a gay apologist. I just wanted you to understand how the Church works. Those priests did not threaten me with their views on homosexuality or any other reason. I have not compromised any truth. You have! I am not protecting a disorder. I am coming to the conclusion that you just don’t really understand very much at all.
During that time when Brady was launching his “informal apostolate” to expose the evil diocesan corruption, I called him on the telephone. He was busy working his pizza business and you could here the customers in his pizza parlor. I could tell instantly that this dude was straight shooting, serious, and walking with Jesus. It is like, how does one recognize the voice of the Lord? No one can explain it but only confess it … read the saints, and see for yourself how they explain it … they don’t; they merely and humbly bear witness to it. That is what Stephen Brady did and I imagine is still doing. He launched the lay movement to expose and end the cabal of sodomy being run by corrupt bishops. One day at a time, Sweet Jesus (oops, pardon my Protestant reference here). And so, one wicked bishop at a time … until they are all gone and the Church is relieved of its demonic plague of vile rulers.
Well, JLS, you really sound like a protestant here. “Demonic plague of vile rulers.” You are pushing it too far I think. Yes, our bishops are not perfect or without sin. Only Jesus was without sin. Yes, many bishops sinned by covering up for predator priests and some by covering up their own misdeeds. I hope that they have learned their lesson and in the future have more compassion and sympathy for the victims. Our bishops are called to holiness, we are all called to holiness. I don’t think many of our bishops are wicked, they are just not perfect.
K, if Mr. Brady is telling people not to attend Catholic churches headed by priests appointed by bishops named by the Pope then he is guilty of sin. He shouldn’t be encouraging people to go to “independent” Catholic churches. It sounds like he is on a big ego trip. It seems like he doesn’t want people to go to churches filled with sinners. Well, most people are sinners. I don’t think lay people can go around deciding what Catholic parishes are valid and which ones are not. What is an EF Mass, I don’t know exactly what that is?
Extraordinary Form, the Latin Mass.
Mark, You have been indirectly and directly encouraging people to “go independent” and sin for quite some time on CCD. First by your many distortions of Church teaching which promote and enable weak individuals to justify sin and second by your direct praising of an alleged same sex union (Aaron and Tomas) and wishing them well in their mortally sinful lifestyle.
Yes Mark, you have been encouraging people to “go independent” when it comes to Church teaching on homosexuality, but knowing that has certainly has not stopped you. I will always be grateful to God that my cousin who died from AIDS repented and was baptized just a few months before God called him home. Mark, Wouldn’t you love to have the Blessed Mother greet you at the hour of your death? I know many will question if this could truly happen to a person who was dying from getting AIDS from a homosexual lifestyle but remember the good thief hanging on the Cross next to Jesus who knew and admitted that he had been offending God,.. “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. ” Mark it was the stubborn and unrepentant thief who cried out “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
MarkfromPA, You are a baptized Catholic. Stop being the stubborn unrepentant thief who is still stealing from the treasury of Revealed Truths.
Well, Catherine, I am no thief. The CCC says that homosexual persons are to be treated with compassion, respect and sensitivity and not discriminated against. Some people here go on about homosexual persons like some people used to go on about the Jews. They blame many of the ills of the church on gay people and try to fan the flames of hatred against them. I find that troubling and not very Christian. People don’t choose to have a homosexual orientation and some of the posters here need to understand that. Many bishops in the Church follow the teachings of the Church and try to treat gay people with respect and they are condemned for this by some.
Not necessarily, PA. For example, the German high court just made it law in that nation that any registered Catholic who opts out of paying the annual Church tax, about 9%, would lose his or her membership in the Catholic Church. The German bishops said that these people who opt out will not be given the Sacraments. PA, you have to be able to understand the situation with Church corruption, not only in the USA, but globally … When the Church rulers conspire to commit simony and selling of the Sacraments, what does this tell you about the demonic depths of corruption and evil that many Church princes have traded their souls for? So, how, PA, are you going to resist taking part in this spiritual dementia?
MarkfromPA,
Thank you for letting us know that your bishop has not belittled anyone for kneeling. Please read ‘Why don’t they want us to kneel at Mass’ by Helen Hull Hitchcock. This articles explains that many bishops encouraged this reverence but a few “progressives” have not.
Mark, After reading all of Stephen Brady’s documented newsletters regarding the corruption surrounding Bishop Daniel Ryan, a scandal that even YOU recognized as being horrific, what is even more compelling in pointing out that something is amiss, is when a Monsignor who has witnessed such disloyalty to God, witnessed such devastation in the vineyard, who when given the Apostolic authority to rebuild the vineyard, would then belittle anyone, be it a priest who gives Holy Communion to kneeling Catholics at a Youth Conference or a kneeling mother and her kneeling children.
How could anyone so closely involved, who truly grasped or comprehended the horrific suffering, the incredible anguish of a parent hearing that their child had been molested by another alter Christus, belittle anyone who wanted to still kneel before the King? One would think that in humility a holy priest would welcome this reverential posture as a humble sign of faith and find it very pleasing that in spite of the horrific scandals, that people still want to adore Jesus in their postures. Learning about this belittling action is as revealing as the inaction that Stephen Brady reported. It is good that Bishop Vann has spoken out publicly about the non-negotiables. It is also a very encouraging sign when any priest or bishop welcomes those who are welcoming the King while kneeling. Please read Helen Hitchcock’s entire article. Mark you have often spoken about those who drive people away. Well, these types of actions have assisted in causing great division. A good shepherd does not scatter his sheep. A good shepherd always unites.
Many are praying that Bishop Vann will reach out to bind the wounds and rebuild the vineyard in this diocese. You will know them by their fruits.
Catherine, I’m actually unable to read anymore about these terrible things on the sites you recommended but I am grateful you’ve shared with us
the stranglehold of homosexualism on the Church. It’s so strange how such a small minority has made such inroads on our culture…in our schools, churches and media. It is utterly satanic. What supports this is that when the deviants are exposed there is never regret or repentence…just this arrogance and disdain, rather like Clinton when accused of various sexual intrigues, lies, illegal acts ad infinitum, he just lied his way through it without batting an eye, and the current administration is following the same playbook. Maybe you should write a book on what we as laypeople can do about this evil. I confess, I’ve not been praying about it, but of course our Lord is our first help. What are your ideas about real solutions? The aids epidemic should have been enough to wake people up about the dangers of this lifestyle…and now they have a whole imaginary vocabulary and thought control devices…like having the audacity to compare finding homosexuality a sin to being racist. Such chicanery and deceit are always hallmarks of satanic craftiness. Like Wormtongue, they twist everything to make themselves sound reasonable and ‘normal’. Ugh…like the Folsom fair this weekend and they sit naked in Friendly’s with their pathetic fetid parts dirtying the seats. Poor families who live there. San Francisco is infested.
Dana I think that many of us feel it because we have little ones growing now and the now is clashing with our values…just the other day, my mum had no clue some of the struggles we have to deal with the immoral stuff in the public schools, the way we raise our kids, our kids feeling different, the mixed messages on the internet (they use it for homework) , TV etc….
She spend a few days with me, she saw what a busy mum I was, even saw some of the battles I had to deal with because of the liberal agenda’s, the reality sunk in…but frankly she still doesn’t get it, these times are way harder….to be honest, sometimes I wonder how much easier it would be if I was a liberal and my kids may actually feel like they fit in…but when I look at the whole picture and add salvation to the equation, I just can’t be like the way this world wants me to conform too, I just can’t. I value God’s love and approval far more. and my kid are gifts, they are borrowed and I have to answer to God for them too….
Succinctly then, those with love of family are thus sensitive to the corruption that opposes and attacks the family.
Yes, it’s incredibly hard these days for Christian families to try to raise their children to be strong in their faith. You are very blessed that your husband is in it with you! In a way though, Abeca, it is easier, because at least you know what the evils are you’re facing…when I was a kid, we were being taught all that liberal garbage but no one knew it. The seeds were being planted to create the ’60’s generation. We didn’t just spring out of nothing..the liberal message permeated our education, our church lessons, our television shows. My mom was raised on McGuffey readers…I was raised on Dick and Jane…the real beginning of dumbing down America’s youth. Reading a recent bio brought up how liberal the mainstream churches were in this country since the turn of the 20th century! The seminaries were full of this sickness. Anyway, may God richly bless you and your family Abeca, for what you’re doing will have far reaching results as your children carry out truth to their friends,etc. Thank God for our JPII generation and the young coming up under Pope Benedict! There is always hope.
Jesus says something about His lambs being led to the slaughter … just a fact of life for the Church, it seems, and takes place off and on in various places.
Dana,
I understand what you mean when you say that you are actually unable to read about the terrible things that have been exposed. Dana, Can we even begin to imagine the weight of the cross of having these horrific details brought before you daily and having to work to expose this evil so it would stop?
A poster named Candy asked if I could come up with something more “substantial”. With the state of the Church, Candy still needed something more substantial because Candy seems to have forgotten that Jesus already did come up with something more substantial. It is called Transubstantiation. Jesus already gave us Himself.
Still, for some, this is not enough that a mother and her children are belittled for truly comprehending that Gloriously Substantial Gift of the Real Presence of Christ. They call that a silly and petty issue and they want to be shown more. For those who do not comprehend why every knee should bend, no amount of horrific evidence will suffice. For those who truly believe in the “substantial” gift of Transubstantiation no explanation is necessary.
Last Sunday I attended Mass at a different parish. The person reading the announcements informed the parishioners of an upcoming young adult meeting. He said, “Come and learn the greatest and best kept secret in the Catholic Church…It is social justice!
That statement is false and we can now surely see why some would think that kneeling before the Real Presence of Almighty God is just a silly passing topic. The best kept secret and solution in the Catholic Church is to remember that the Church’s “primary” mission IS the salvation of souls. It’s primary mission is NOT social activism or political activism.
This is why MIKE and PETE are continually reminding us and our bishops to encourage and teach from the CCC second edition. It is the primary responsibility of each bishop to ensure that “children” are receiving the proper basic catechesis in Catholic schools. Children are often God’s little vehicles to educating or reigniting the world or a parent’s lax faith. Out of the mouths of babes. Just look at Fatima.
Excellent response, Catherine…and what I needed. LIke an arrow it went to the heart and in my ‘little way’ I can do my little part by knowing that my time in adoration is what is helping, and more time is needed. It is that something that I can realistically do. When I was teaching Sunday school I was made aware of the paucity of learning materials…all cartoons and silliness about the environment, so I was able to introduce my little class to simple songs and Bible stories and show them prayer cards of the saints and Pope Benedict. My heart is truly burdened for our children, for we’re allowing their innocence and trust to be abused. I was getting all caught up in the hugeness of the problems we face (the internet’s dark side) when really I just need to remember to focus on the Holiness of God and trust in Him. I have to relearn that frequently, however, for I’ve “known’ this before, many times. Darn, it’s frustrating, but thanks for your posts. That is why we’re here…to share and learn and teach and care about our beloved Church and brothers and sisters in Christ. I know I can be very outspoken, but sometimes I feel that is the prophet in me, and not coming ‘from me’. I certainly know that that is your gift and am glad you are courageous in sharing. I do keep you and Abeca and others here in my prayers, for as we know, that when we speak out in truth, it’s like waving a red flag to satan. “Here am I…here am I!” yikes!
There are many excellent resources for Sunday School. You should complain to your pastor if you are not being given an approved program.
Indeed that statement, “the greatest thing in the Church is social justice”, is false! The difference between holy social justice and the common type worked by the Jesuits and their groupies is that the holy version requires self denial, whereas the groupie type promises the fulfillment of lust.
Dana, when I puff myself up, I always fall on my face. When I humble myself … well, I always fall on my face also … it just does not hurt as much.
I read the article by Helen Hitchcock, Catherine. It was interesting. Where I live, as I have stated, we kneel at certain times in the Mass and this has pretty much been standard in all Catholic churches I have gone to.
Too true, JLS, and you’re very right and I did sound really pompous and self-congratulatory. Sorry about that. Pride leadeth to destruction,for sure! Fortunately, we have our brothers and sisters in Christ to keep us grounded…if not in the mud. haha
Folks there is nothing wrong with posting facts…now the real issue is that some here hate those facts posted, then they go after the lay faithful who posted it by their mean spirit!
I just suggest that, in the name of love and peace in Jesus, read the facts, and if you are in good will, make an informed decision or action or formed conscience….lets respect those who may come off the wrong way to some because of those facts posted, I understand that some here do not find it creditable to logically take in the facts and then form their conscience well with reflection….
if you really take a look, the information was just simply as that, but when others added malice in attack to it because they didn’t agree or because they are confined to the ways of this world, it’s no wonder many become martyrs for the faith….bad will people or ignorant folks just love being in the dark, its very comfortable for them, they don’t like that comfort taken away by truth so they love to make martyrs of the messenger in Christ….
I prayed for our Bishops and priests today….I hope all did too. and I added all parents and children too…not forgetting everyone here as well. God bless you all.
abeca, no one got martyred for posting facts.
Wrong, k. Apparently you have never heard of white martyrdom. But most of the bishops apparently have not heard of it either, so you’re in good company.
I know of white martyrdom. So do the bishops.
There is not a single Saint that has reformed the church while sitting outside of it. Its not Saint Francis, its not St. Therese of Jesus (Avila) or anyone else..
SSPX will not achieve their objective without union with the Holy Father. They need to recognize this, get off their high protestant horse and Join FSSP and the rest of the Christian orders in reforming the Church.
SSPX has union with God through the Holy Eucharist, which is the same means for union with God that the Pope has.
That’s what my sister believes about her church too. She believes that all believers are united in an unseen church such as you describe. She’s a protestant. I thank God everyday that I was led by the Holy Spirit to the only one holy catholic and apostolic Church and that I have a true earthly shepherd in Pope Benedict XVI. We’re going to really be put to the test in the coming years and it’s very important to have a good understanding and foundation on which to face these tribulations or we will slip off the steep and difficult path. Forgive the cliches’ but they’re just as true for all that.
“catholic”, lower case “c”, means universal. Baptized persons are or were Catholic. Baptism is a powerful Sacrament, and many whose only sacrament it is yet give greater testimony to Jesus Christ than some who avail themselves of the other sacraments. Not all protestants are aware that there is more to Christianity than what they experience or are told. Again, I do not know why it is so difficult for cradle Catholics to see that Catholicism is not well known outside of parishes. It took me til I was thirtyfour to discover the Catholic Church … due to its inbred and circle the wagons customs. You cradle Catholics talk as if Abp Sheen were common knowledge in his TV days … nope, not even close. I never heard his name til years into my Catholicism. I never heard of Billy Graham either for that matter til I was 29 years old. So don’t kid yourselves, cradle Catholics, not many outside of a parish have ever heard of these people. At least that is the way it was in the very social world I lived in … maybe more of it has been put into the public eye since then, but I’d guess not much.
SSPX believes in the popes, also, Dana. SSPX is not sedevacantist. And obviously the Pope believes they are Catholic, otherwise why would he undo their excommunications?
Because they asked him to.
Let’s put it this way anonymous, (I would think you would use your own name as that hideous mask from the movie and the occupy people always comes to mind.) I used the books provided (from a well-known Christian publisher and in use in many church schools) but the lessons only took a few minutes to complete so I used a great teaching tool, the Bible. Having been a teacher and story teller many years, I think I was able to bring the stories to life as I also drew some of the characters so they could really get into the story. It’s always handy to be an artist, as well. ;o) I did mention it to the Christian Ed superintendent, but I think money was and is an issue.
Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
What does it mean to tell the church? The pastor? The diocese? The pope? How do we follow Jesus’ instruction?
So, k, you’re suggesting a flash mob be sent?
wethink “Thou Dost Protest Too Much Shakespeare”
Bishop Vann – Can you please re-publish this statement? Your flock needs to hear this from you, our shepherd. 50% of Catholics believe abortion should be legal. We need guidance. Please. Speak out on the moral teachings of the Church, as you did in 2008. We are not asking you to talk about politics – we are asking for guidance on moral teaching. Please, can you restate this?: “Therefore, we cannot make more clear the seriousness of the overriding issue of abortion – while not the ‘only issue’ – it is the defining moral issue, not only today, but of the last 35 years. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, more than 48 million innocent lives have been lost. Each year in our nation more than one million lives are lost through legalized abortion. Countless other lives are also lost through embryonic stem cell research. In the coming months our nation will once again elect our political leaders. This electoral cycle affords us an opportunity to promote the culture of life in our nation. As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act, and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America, limiting it as much as we can until it is finally abolished.”
He is very serious about this. In the runup to the 2004 elections, while serving as a Monsignor in Chicago, he said he would deny Communion to John Kerry and other pro-abortion politicians. The “pro-life” webpage of the Ft. Worth diocese has a full page devoted to exposing the evil of Planned Parenthood.
On the 2008 statement, Bishops Vann and Farrell go on to say:
“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, in paragraphs 34-37, addresses the question of whether it is morally permissible for a Catholic to vote for a candidate who supports an intrinsic evil – even when the voter does not agree with the candidate’s position on that evil. The only moral possibilities for a Catholic to be able to vote in good conscience for a candidate who supports this intrinsic evil are the following:
a. If both candidates running for office support abortion or “abortion rights,” a Catholic would be forced to then look at the other important issues and through their vote try to limit the evil done; or,
b. If another intrinsic evil outweighs the evil of abortion. While this is sound moral reasoning, there are no “truly grave moral” or “proportionate” reasons, singularly or combined, that could outweigh the millions of innocent human lives that are directly killed by legal abortion each year.
To vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion or “abortion rights” when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil – and, therefore, morally impermissible.”