This email was sent to California Catholic Daily on September 24 from the San Jose diocese.
I was surprised to find out that a member of the “Interfaith Council” (not a diocesan Office, but a third-party secular organization, perhaps part of the Valley Interfaith Project) was authorized by Bishop McGrath to speak at SJ Diocese Catholic parishes this past weekend.
At Holy Cross, the pastor introduced the speaker, a woman who he emphasized was not Catholic, but in place of the homily/sermon, she would gave her remarks this particular Sunday.
She asserted (I took notes) that “it is our duty as church-attending people to support an increase to the minimum wage”; that the minimum wage for a family of four in “this area” came to $16000 per year (I am assuming this calculation does not include the myriad of social support services such as Sec. 8 housing, food stamps, and Medi-Cal assistance) and the Interfaith Council and the Diocese were pushing foran increase to $22,000 per year or more. She then progressed to the need for working people to be registered to vote and that the most under-represented groupof voters in our area were “people of color” (she didn’t explain where this statistic originated nor whom were this colored people), and that therefore it was incumbent on all of us to register to vote and (so that we didn’t misunderstand what we had to specifically do) “that this November we must vote for a just wage.”
She then explained that at the end of the Mass there would be paperwork which would be (and was) distributed to all the exiting congregation, in which everyone was asked to provide their phone number and/or e-mail address, and follow-up to register to vote for to get out thevote for November. I obtained a copy of the voter-contact form for my own records
As a former Teamsters Union member, I recognized the spiel right down the line:
Minimum wage increase, which bumps up union salaries and union dues and collections;
Register people to vote and get contact lists, and no questions about legal eligibility of the people contacted to vote; and the aggressive get-out-the-vote follow-up.
Needless to say, there was no discussion how raising the minimum wage is a job-killer for small businesses and for all businesses in general and that it denies entry-level applicants who lack skills the opportunity to transition into higher-paying industry jobs. But it is a great payoff for union organizations since all their wages are tiered to any minimum wage increase.
So, in the Diocese of San Jose, there is no scriptural evangelization, no mention of Christ, no moral exhortation at the homily any more, but you do get some excellent Chicago-style union rally rhetoric.
Thought you might want to check it out. —- Steve S/San Jose (please don’t use my real name)
On the same day, Sept. 24, the following was received from a parishioner in Benicia in the Sacramento diocese.
Recently our parish sponsored an evening discussing citizenship responsibilities for Catholics in the November election. The visiting deacon [Deacon John McFadden – see below] shared his thoughts that voting for a pro-choice candidate is justified if the other issues the candidate supports are more appealing.
In light of his thoughts, I feel compelled to respond with my feelings as a faithful Catholic. May I remind Catholics that our Blessed Mother choose to accept her role as an unwed mother, risking her very life against the custom of stoning unwed mothers to death. We treasure life. Like our Catholic Church, the Constitution also protects life. We all know the preamble – that we are endowed by God with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Life is necessary for our citizenship, because without life there is no need for exercising liberty or pursuing happiness. Abortion marks an unborn child for death as a 0 person with no thought for his individual talent or what he can contribute to this world. Have we become a pagan nation sacrificing our children to the gods of pride and convenient happiness?
Another email, this from Divine Savior parish (Orangevale CA) in the Sacramento diocese describing Deacon McFadden’s presentation there, came in on September 25.
1. It is OK to vote for an abortion candidate “if you are not voting for him BECAUSE he supports abortion.” (I remember that reason being considered if BOTH candidates were for abortion!) [Either way, supporting abortion remains an intrinsic evil.] When John asked him about voting for someone who supported slavery, he answered that he “wouldn’t vote for him.”
2. He felt single-issue voters were wrong. (His answer about slavery above sure showed his hypocrisy on single-issue voting if it is in his value system.) [I cannot believe people don’t realize that, when using life as a “single issue,” what is included in that judgment is showing the candidate’s character and whether he supports our country’s values. Those are not one single issue; they reflect on every decision a legislator/president makes.
3. He stated, when discussing the 5 non-negotiables: “The Five Non-Negotiables are too neatly packaged.” He added several more issues that he felt were just as important, i.e. war, embargoes on Iraq that prevented medicine to be given to the people (several “hundreds of thousands of people died”); “Do you think an abortion is more important that hundreds of thousands of people dying?” With that comment the audience corrected him: “55 million Babies have died!; 4,000 a day!”, etc. He was also concerned that some Bishops have demonized Obama by comparing him to Hitler and Stalin! Duh!
An email on Sept 19 from San Diego prolife Catholic contained the following.
We contracted to have Tim Staples [from Catholic Answers] talk about the 5 Non Negotiables at Cathedral High School on October 2. Signed contract, etc.
We received word that Kent Peters [head of the diocese Office for Social Ministry] felt the talk was too “political” ? So, he cancelled via Monsignor Callahan and the principal at the school.
Meanwhile, this past weekend, most of the poor and Hispanic parishes were given cards that talked about the Dream Act. And how Obama helped them. And to vote….
And there was a pulpit announcement at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to encourage pew sitters to go to Cherokee Point School tomorrow from 4-7 to learn about the issues and talk to the candidates. I doubt there will be any Tea Party candidates at this “Peace Fair” (this is how it is billed on the school website).
I place the blame for this moral confusion squarely on the heads of the bishops. Instead of teaching sound Catholic morality, they promote wishy-washy Catholicism–a corrupted version of the Faith that induces the willing to draw a (obviously false) moral equivalence between the evil of abortion and a so-called “fair wage,” or between the evil of same-sex marriage and “social justice.”
“The worst wolves in sheep’s clothing are the heretics and then, bad prelates.” –St. Thomas Aquinas
A new bishop could come in and begin by deconsecrating the cathedral and all parishes. And then one by one consecrating them, depending on whether there was some sincere assurance that the profaning of Christ would not resume in each of the parishes.
Yes and it is terribly disturbing that the money which faithful lay folk contribute to their church is being used to help anti-catholic elements infiltrate the church and lead people astray. That is truly a betrayal and is utterly unacceptable. Wouldn’t one be fully justified in withholding financial support from any diocese or parish that has succumbed to this drive to subvert the church’s mission for the simple reason that it is a sin to give money to the enemies of the church.
I do not wish to inculcate disobedience to our priests or bishops, but my conscience forbids me to participate in this evil by contributing money to it. There are, of course, fine priests and bishops who do preach the truth and promote truly Catholic values, and these deserve our full support. But, has the time not come when we must be selective with that support?
Yes,it is. We stopped giving money to this diocese of San Jose a long time ago. We are Catholics! We must support catholics!
Bubba, I have to agree with you After just hearing a speech by an African-American minister who told his parishioners to leave the Democratic Party because of its immoral platform ,and how he is insulted when sodomy is compared to a person’s skin color and how marriage is only between one man and one woman as far as he is concerned, I decided he has far more moral character and conviction than some Catholic bishops, especially those bishops who give grand funerals for politicians who have voted for every vice and decadence that the good book denounces. That minister called on faithful Jews and Christians to leave the party of death that has done more to kill black people by abortion than the KKK ever did, and killed those babies of other races too. He said he did not care what party they joined, but it is totally immoral to stay in such a party with such an ungodly platform. The minister was and is right.
I’m glad I left the Diocese of San Jose. Liturgical abuses, dissent, lack of authentic Catholic identity in Catholic schools, leftist politics being advocated through diocesan offices and in parishes; all of that was rampant. It appears to still be rampant.
No wonder the late Monsignor Sweeney cried in the presence of Archbishop Khai and myself. He told the Archbishop of his trials with McGrath and the Archbishop encouraged him to carry on as he had been doing. Monsignor really appreciated the Archbishops visit and support.
This so called Deacon needs to learn about the True Catholic Faith, and he needs to read what the Holy Father says about voting for a pro-abortion pol because of the other issues. On second thought, he probably has read it and rejected it, after all, a Deacon knows more than the Vicar of Christ!
I think this Deacon has been a speaker at the annual Religious Dis-Education Congress.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Msgr. Sweeney was the holiest man I have ever known. You are correct, Kenneth, in what he suffered at the hands of the bishop. I too left the Diocese of San Jose after working at many levels through the education department and encountering un-Christian behavior. Very sad. This post by Cal-Catholic shows the sorry state of our state – all due to the lack of holy leadership of our bishops. The loss of souls in this state will be something that these bishops will have to account for when they meet Our Lord.
When these evil bishops go to account for their wickedness before the final Judgment, would anyone be surprised when they show up with their ACLU attorneys?
JLS,
No, but their ACLU Attorney will probably appear in a Devilish form.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
This deacon may have heard of “invincible ignorance”, but someone needs to inform him, if possible, that there is something called “invincible stupidity” as well, and that he is a living example of it.
The Interfaith Council has no place anywhere near a Catholic church. These people are socialists and shills for the welfare state. They are Alinskyite agitators. That Bishop McGrath should allow these people into his parishes speaks volumes. Issues such as the minimum wage are best fought over in the political realm. It is time for the Church to disengage herself from the purely political and concentrate on the moral issues of the day, such as abortion and contraception, which are the cause of the precipitate decline in our birth rate and threaten the very survival of the people of God.
I am sorry to hear that CA Catholics are still having to listen to bunk like this. We never have had it in place of the sermon, though. Ours got cleaned up over a decade ago. Keep praying.
It’s a blessing that deacons are allowed to preach on occasion because that’s the only time I can HEAR the homily. Deacon Joe has a voice like a megaphone and his homilies are spirit filled and direct. Sometimes I think it’s the only time our congregation hears the ‘hard’ truths that they need to hear.
These events sponsored by the Church are not political events because they push the socialist agenda; therefore, they do not affect the tax break status of the bishops or the parishes.
Pope JPII”s Redemptionis Sacramentum document of 3/2004, dealing with liturgical abuses, stated that only a priest or a deacon is allowed to give a sermon at the time of the homily during Mass. This woman being allowed to speak at the homily is in direct violation of the Pope’s dictate. The pastor should be reported to the bishop. I guess the only way to deal with a deacon like the one in the article is to tell the pastor that your contributions will STOP until the deacon is dealt with. Period!
I asked a priest-friend about the weekend in San Jose. He said that the diocese gave a “full-court press” and “even the ultra-traditional” Our Lady of Peace Shrine had these speakers imposed upon them. At his parish, he asked for an all-Catholic lineup and instead got a Unitarian spouting off about “class warfare”, an ex-Catholic, and an atheist.
I would have simply deconsecrated the church and vacated it for the day had I been that pastor. Of course, not being a priest, this is easy to say.
So the problem is the Bishop. What can be done?
Fr. Michael,
If your priest friend placed his trust in God, he should have just said NO! Of course if he wasn’t the “pastor” he could not do that, but he could have refused to attend and let his parishoners know why!
In my studies of the Faith, I have become convinced that some priests go to Hell because they obeyed a bishop who was also headed there.
I have priest friends who are suffering for doing just what I said, but I believe their Eternities depended on them doing just that. I believe Archbishop Khai would have said the same thing.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Pulpit politics???????
Again, where are the Bishops ? The wolf pack is getting has outnumbered sheep.
Joe,
God and one obedient Lamb to His precepts are a MAJORITY!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Have we become a pagan nation sacrificing our children to the gods of pride and convenient happiness? THAT’S A LOUD CLEAR YES!!
When will people wise up and quit saying that Mary was unwed; this is a LIE!! Read the Bible and wake up!! Obama got his training from Hitler’s manuals and he is obeying his ‘god’ and we are reaping the results. Are you sure that McFadden belongs to the Roman Catholic Church? It sounds as though he belongs to Kennedy’s American ‘catholic’ church. I hope that the “pastor’s” Bishop takes him to task for allowing such a performance to be allowed in a Catholic Church and of course, that woman (an Obama fan?) was horribly wrong. I would have walked out myself and looked for a Catholic Church to attend. +JMJ+
She was not wed at the time of the Annunciation, ie her pregnancy. Had she been, then she would not have been a virgin, JMJ.
Ridiculous! Of cource Our Lady was married at the time of the Annunciation. Study what “betrothed” means in Hebrew culture.
The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were betrothed, which was the same thing as a marriage back then. All a man had to do to confirm the marriage was to take the betrothed into his home, and she was then his wife. The Bible clearly states that St. Joseph was thinking about divorcing Mary (putting her away was the term) until he had the dream from the Lord. A betrothal back then was as much as a marriage, so the Virgin was not actually an “unwed mother”.
JMJ,
Sheepishly walking out does no good. When you walk out hold your head high and loudly proclaim why you are walking out!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Bishop McGrath is a scandal and should be dismissed. If the non-Catholic lay person was speaking at Mass in place of a priest (and sermon), then the Bishop and Pastor neatly violated the Code of Canon Law (CIC 767), and General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 66), among other prohibitions against lay people speaking at Mass. Further, the message given is political and could threaten the Church’s tax status. In fact, this fear has been used by many, many bishops to cover up their cowardice in failing to confront abortion, homosexual marriage laws and the like. See, e.g., the inexcusable conduct of Bishop Ochoa, now Bishop of Fresno, when disciplining Fr. Rodriguez (when Ochoa was bishop of El Paso) for speaking out against the local political body’s endorsement of extending certain benefits to homosexuals. As to Benicia, St. Dominic’s has become very liberal, unlike its wonderful past when it was home to many of the local Portuguese community. Deacon McFadden’s comments are completely wrong, even under the lefty USCCB publications (at least the most recent ones): no one may vote for an abortion candidate if another option is available. He should be reprimanded and dismissed, if necessary. The Catholic voter elected Obama. This can not happen again. More importantly, the Catholic Church must no longer be stained by the words and actions of clergy that pervert its meaning, and its purpose of leading the world to salvation.
So do the pastors of these parishes agree with the presentations or were they unaware of what was to be said. Either way the Bishop Garcia has some work to do. This goes back to the erroneous idea of the seamless garment to decide which candidate to vote for. All issues do not carry equal weight. Our first duty is to seek God and to love and obey Him. How can you do that if one helps to support the killing of unborn babies.
The “seamless garment” concept began long before Jesus was presented with a seamless robe. It began ages back into the mist of prehistory, of myth, of lore. It is often referred to as the “golden thread”, or even the “silk road” (which was a complex of many passages from east to west, whether to the Mediterranean or to Scandanavia). This “seamless garment” has been stained by the sinful use of it by clerics since the Bernardin days.
With regard to a remark by the parishioner from the Benicia parish:
did you mean unwed mother or perhaps as in the angel’s command to Joseph: Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife… wife…wife!
Why do prolife Catholics slip into the lie marketed by the abortion lobby to the effect that Mary was an “unwed mother”? In the natural order unwed motherhood does imply the gift from a loving God of a new eternal soul but it excludes virginity. Mary, on the otther hand was the Virgin Mother carrying a foetus conceived of the Holy Spirit. Are we embarassed? Ashamed to suggest something as preposterous as this?
Another item for the agenda for the New Evangelization?
Blessed Mary Ever Virgin was not married at the time of her pregnancy. She was betrothed. Otherwise whe would not have been virgin, would she have, Damian?
Damian P. Fedoryka,
I will tell you why pro-life Catholics have slipped into the lie marketed by the abortion lobby. Trusting Catholics are being duped and they are specifically being taught that Mary had to deal with the stigma of the day.
A few years ago I attended a talk at a Church in our Diocese. This woman used that same story on the audience and she even went into detail about how Mary had to hide in shame so she would not get stoned and deal how she also had to deal with a bloody afterbirth. Yes, she actually taught that to unsuspecting victims. She asked them to reconsider the stigmas that we place on certain things today that are just as unfair as the stigma and fear that Mary had to deal with in being an unwed mother. (Three guesses what that is about) At this same talk she encouraged Catholics to become active in their communities. She told them that when Mass was finished to not linger and pray inside the Church. She said that God was out in the community and that we should “Get Out” of the church as fast as we can to go and serve God. Then this woman said….In fact, do you people realize that we really do not even need a Tabernacle inside a Catholic Church at all.
This particular woman has been allowed for years to teach Confirmation classes to students, give retreats and give talks in Churches throughout the diocese. This is why pro-life Catholics are using that deceitful explanation. They are being taught to use it. Shepherds are not guarding their flocks and in many cases, wolves in sheep’s clothing have allowed this.
Catherine, I hope you spoke to her afterwards! That is such utter hogwash. Were there questions and answer time later? You’re so well-spoken and I hope you opened her eyes to a few pertinent facts!
Dana,
I attended this talk because this same woman had been the Confirmation teacher in a class where I was a Confirmation sponsor for a young high school student who attended public school. This woman told the class of young high school students that because of the opinion of one man,(then she pointed the class to the blackboard where the word Pope was written) I can never marry a priest. She then said, “I have a priest that I see regularly, we go on dinner dates and the movies, but would you believe that because of the opinion of that one man, our relationship cannot go any further. For once, I have to just be content just being the woman standing behind this man. Does that seem fair?”
Dana I did confront her and I had to tell the student that I was sponsoring that what she did was wrong. I wrote the Bishop at that time. When I heard that she was going to be talking in the Church about the Blessed Mother and the Eucharist. I asked some Catholics to come and witness and see how error is being taught. Twenty people came to listen to her. They sat in different locations among the other people.
This woman not only said that goofy unwed mother statement about Mary she also said that the reason Jesus went to the desert was to figure out what he was going to do with his life. Every one of the people that had come to witness her speak, raised their hands and challenged her on the goofy things that she was saying. One man, God bless him was a liberal ex-priest who had come full circle and agreed to listen to her. He was so offended by her outrageous statements he stood up and challenged her. After about 20 people challenged her on each goofy thing that she said, she looked at everyone and said these words, “I don’t know what it is but every time I go to give a talk about Mary. I seemed to get silenced. I guess I’ll call it a night.
Before she left she picked up a donation basket and walked immediately to her car and drove away. Rainbow bumper sticker and all. This same woman is still active under the guise of social justice causes.
It’s so incredible, first that anyone could be so in error, and second, that she can still be involved in church work. Was the money in the basket for her or did she just steal it? She almost sounds mentally
unstable! Poor woman. Well, at least you nipped her Confirmation dis-information class in the bud. You certainly were wise in bringing in so many others to observe, thus avoiding unpleasantness if it came to actually having to give evidence to your priest or bishop.
Awright … will somebody explain what this “goofy unwed mother” issue is about? I posted an argument about this saying that She was not married at the time of the Annunciation, but betrothed; and that had she been married, then she would not have been a virgin. Therefore, at least for a little while She was an unwed mother, with Jesus in Her womb. What am I missing here? Maybe it is a knowledge of the terms used. I’m going by the custom that the relationship would be customarily betrothal until the wedding day, and then the marriage and its consumation. Yet, in Her case, the marriage on the spiritual level would be unique. Not sure how the Church describes this; although I’ve probably read it several times at least.
Wait, maybe what I’m missing is that She was never vulnerable to the world, the flesh or the devil … The reasonable view might be that she was always under watch of reliable and trustworthy witnesses such as her family, and then St Joseph. Even though St Joseph believed her … didn’t God explain matters to him in a dream? … one would expect that the rest of the village came to believe in Her virginity. Hmn, I’m just realizing I really have not read into this aspect … I pretty much believed it straight away from the time I was a child and it was explained to me by my mother. Maybe there was something there and then like a “fiat”, a kind of moment in time and space where all worldly matters are set aside so that the souls are able to perceive a bit of the truth and make a decision regarding it. Some people never experience that … I think maybe that is why so many people look into meditative practices, trying to achieve what they intuitively are driven to seek. But real fiat moments do not require such exercises … they simply happen, God knows why.
Damian, I really enjoy your posts. I missed that entirely. You bring much needed clarity here!
Wasn’t She both an unwed mother and a wed mother? Wasn’t the wedding to St Joseph after Her fiat?
Yes.
I believe the Jews then considered engaged couples already married, as the the betrothal was binding and could only be undone by a divorce with proper grounds, such as the bride being found not to be a virgin, (see Joseph and Mary – Matt 1 v18-19 ) The young man prepared a Ketubah, or marriage contract (or covenant) which he presented to the intended bride and her father. Included in this was the bride price, to compensate the parents for the cost of raising the bride, as well as being an expression of his love for her. What mattered was that Joseph understood why Mary was already with child. I’ve heard Mary called the espoused of the Holy Spirit, so essentially she was married, and never had sexual relations with Joseph. He was more her guardian and help mate.
If one didn’t have sexual relations after a marriage ceremony, the marriage was considered null and void if one spouse chose to claim this as grounds for divorce. Joseph was truly a wonderful father and husband and I can see why so many men turn to him to pray for them. A deacon had a wonderful weekly show on the qualities of Joseph on EWTN a few years ago.
In the Hebrew culture at the time of the Holy Family, a woman, in this case Mary, was considered married when she was betrothed. So this ‘modern’ idea that Mary was an unwed mother is bogus. It has no basis in scripture, tradition, or in the teachings of the Church. I think this idea of Mary being an unwed mother was first popularized by Rev. Jesse Jackson. Naturally, the media idolizes everything he has to say and that is why it is repeated so often.
Our Blessed Mother was betrothed to St. Joseph, she was not unwed.
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
After reading an article like this, it is easy to see why the Church is looseing members precipitously.
The Amchurch; that has been talked about for a long time in orthodox circles, is alive and well in CA.
What can we do to return the focus of Our Holy Mother the Church to its true focus: primarily the salvation of souls by following the Natural Law of the Creator articulated in the Church of Rome? Prayer and more prayer and speaking out for that which it our right to have: The truths of our Faith not the political agenda of some.
ln the name of God, just what goes thru some of these bishops minds or is it inattention and delegation of crap like this? It’s difficult these days to know whether this is plain stupidity while they wonder why only 50% even attend. As I understand it, the homily isn’t usually even allowed to the deacon!
“bishops’ minds”?
JLS, you’re such a rascal! tsk tsk
Well, perhaps, Dana, I’m finally finding my true self. Probably a gene for rascality, or is it rascalaciousness … anyway, something like that.
My mom always said ‘rapscallion’…that’ll do. heh heh
JLS,
Are you “Anonymous”? Dana called JLS “Rascal”!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Bud, do you ever watch Michael Voris? I wish you would watch his show today Sep.27 on the Cleve. diocese and let me know what you think. Thanks! Find it on Youtube…maybe under churchmilitant tv or his name.
I thought that only priests or deacons could give the homily. I would like to know what parish Deacon John McFadden belongs to so that his pastor and bishop can be contacted. I suggest that all donations to these parishes be redirected to pro-life parishes or groups. Perhaps these bishops, pastors, and speakers should read the bible and history to see what really helps the poor and what hurts them. St. Stephen’s had a very good homily on church teaching on these issues and what is important when voting.
God Bless and Keep You in His Love
Those funds would be better used to serve formation houses and seminaries of faithful religious orders.
Joan Sacramento, Apparently the name in the story is wrong. It appears to be Deacon Jim McFadden of Divine Savior Catholic Church in Orangevale, Sacramento Diocese. (Some of his homilies are on the church’s website.) The Bullitan notice for his program at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Benecia says that he was ordained in 2004 and has been a theology teacher for 24 years at St. Francis High School.
Bishop McGrath needs to be replaced. Only the presiding Priest or the Deacon may give the homily. If this bishop is unwiling to abide by the General Instructions of The Catholic Church then his faculties should be immediately suspended pending an investigation of the matter.
This is Community Organizing and it is prevalent in many parishes. So many priests refrain from teaching basic moral principles in general and even more so as it related to voting because of the fear of their “tax exempt status” being attacked. Community Organizers don’t have that fear and are blatantly political, as evidenced from reader comments above. For a history of this political action, google “Industrial Areas Foundation”, Stephanie Block (The Wanderer Forum) and Saul Alinsky. You will not believe the infiltration of this socialist political action into all religion, especially Catholicism because of its supposed “deep pockets”. This Peace and Social Justice arm of the Catholic Church supports the “seamless garment” view of “abortion is evil but so is war, capital punishment, poverty…)
It is very clear that the left has not only infiltrated our Catholic Church; they have stepped up their activity in light of the election.
We have alot of work to do in order to not only kick the Communist infiltrators out of our church, but educate the pewsitters in the real faith. Our churches have become an arm of the leftist and secular Catholic Charities and community organizing groups that the Bishops have invited in. And the salvation of souls has been put on the back burner.
We are starting to hand out flyers on the sidewalks after every Mass at our parish. Please do the same, If the priests and the Diocese will not speak the truth, we must.
It is an act of charity to cry out against the wolf when he is among the sheep. St. Francis de Sales
I’m sure you’re not supposed to have a woman give the homily EVER! in a Catholic church. And a non-Catholic NEVER!!…” but in place of the homily/sermon, she would gave her remarks this particular Sunday….” A homily can only be given by a priest or a deacon and if there is secular business it must be given AFTER the mass. This is totally wrong and should be addressed. That is totally wrong and the people should have gotten up an walked out. What is the matter with people? Will they let satan come right into the middle of mass an ‘preach’ at them?
The Church’s entry into the public square of politics via the pulpit is always clumsy, ineffective, and guaranteed to upset at least part if not all of the laity. Whatever issue they choose, someone gets mad.
By the way, the Church is very pro-union, EXCEPT jwhen it comes to Church employees. The LA Diocese has kept Catholic gravediggers out of unions for years. And we don’t need to talk about Catholic school teachers.
Hypocrisy? You be the judge….
Come to ze feast of heaven and earth, come to the table (altar) of plenty, God is going to provide for all that you need (spritual needs/not the Lotto Jackport) here at the table of plenty (altar) .. which hold God.. himself in his full divinity….I might add…
Oh come to the table, where all are welcome.. with or without faith.. here at the feast.. of plenty…
I haven’t heard that any of these evil abuses of happening in a more traditional parish…it’s only in the lukewarm ones.
Everyone guess what? We might as well welcome Obama back for another four years, looks like Catholics are once again misinformed and misled….I’m psst!
They can’t hep it, Abeca; it’s genetic to be misinformed and misled. They were born that way … and no doubt there is only one acceptable rejoinder here … I know others would add it, but here it is: All souls need to be reborn, ie, born again, as the Eunach Phillip testifies to in meeting with St Paul, and which the first Sacrament of the Church provides, namely Baptism.
Abeca, I’ve been able to confirm that Our Lady of Peace, probably the most traditional parish in the state, had these speakers. So your statement is, unfortunately, false.
If a bishop wants something in his parishes, it’s going to happen.
FrMichael are we speaking of the same parish? Because St. Anne’s is the most traditional in San Diego, if you ask me and there are far many more traditional in California, are you sure that our Our Lady of Peace is considered more traditional and it is truly good? where are they located so I can verify…this sounds troubling and hard to believe…especially when you said it is the most traditional parish in the state and I care to differ because you may not have heard of St. Anne’s in San Diego.
Abeca Christian:
I do not know of St. Anne’s in San Diego, so perhaps I would be more proper to say that Our Lady of Peace is the most conservative parish in Northern California. Of course, St. Margaret Mary in Oakland could also make that claim. What makes OLOP unique is the saintly deceased pastor, Fr. John Sweeney, the decades of Perpetual Adoration, the location in the very heart of Silicon Valley with the 30 foot statue of Our Lady, and the numerous miracles there. Unlike most traditional parishes, it is also very large, with Mass attendance (I’m told) of 10,000 plus.
Fr. Paul Marx, OSB, founder of Human Life International, was quoted as saying that never in his travels around the US had he encountered a church like Our Lady of Peace.
I must say, I would stone someone if they dared do this in a mass I attended.. I have zero torrence for this sort of thing.. And that priest.. He better find a good confessor, otherwise unfortunately, hell beacons
You may find yourself put to the test; I would recommend not stoning anyone. Too many people go around stoned as it is … if not on drugs or alcohol, then on plain ol’ defiance of God.
How could anyone in their right mind turn down a Catholic Answers speaker?
You have no idea how the battle (ultimately for souls) is being waged. . The Church is the perfect place to circumvent Christ and destroy families.
Control of Catholic schools is a way to get Children to think like Catholics or not to think like Catholics. The Basic problem in America is our Seminaries and how our priests and religious are formed.. Reform the Seminaries and this sort of thing will disappear.
When was the last time in a Novus Ordo parish did you get encouraged to pray the daily rosary?
I will ask you a question, when was the last time Children in Catholic High schools prayed the rosary? Or heard of the Message of Fatima?
Mmm?
Trying to battle abortion without battling the underlying cause, like chastity and holiness is a waste of time.
It is no waste of time to battle abortion w/o battling related sins: Two women argued over whose baby it was, and so they both went to the king to decide. The king told his guard to slice the baby into two halves and give one to each woman. The first woman cried out, “No”, spare the baby’s life and give it to her. The king immediately ordered the baby given whole to the woman who sought to protect it. She never argued over the sins of the other woman who was a ho. Besides there are many good souls battling on all the fronts … maybe some day the bishops will join in.
Abeca, if your side was the Mudville Sloggers would you want to face the New York Yankees in the playoffs? haha
David faced Goliath and won.
Hey, no mixing metaphors here. Catholic Answers is no Goliath and the liberals being discussed sure aren’t David. Or are you referring to something else? A cuppa tea anyone? Oh, here comes that rabbit again…he’s always late for some date.
Abeca,
That is a simple question to answer. They are in their SINFUL minds!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Only an Ordained Priest or Ordained Deacon can give an Homily during a Mass.
Quotes from GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal).
” On Sundays and Holydays of Obligation there is to be a Homily at every Mass that is celebrated with the people attending, and it may not be omitted without a grave reason.”
“The Homily should ordinarily be given by the Priest Celebrant himself or be entrusted by him to a concelebrating Priest, or from time to time and, if appropriate, to the Deacon, but never to a lay person”.
No Bishop or Priest has the authority to change GIRM.
* * * * * * Everyone who has direct information about the above abuse, must contract the Office of the Diocese Bishop, with a copy to the US Papal Nuncio in Washington DC., and a copy to the Vatican – immediately.
Do not let this cancer spread in your Parish, Diocese or State. * * * * *
It is your responsibility to stop this sacrilege.
Unfaithful Bishops and Priests can be removed/lose their Ecclesiastical Office – per Code of Canon Law.
This certainly seems like the case here. It should be addressed.
Regarding VOTING, – on internet please go to:
” What Catholics REALLY Believe Source ” –
or
” whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com “.
Look at the answer to question # 13.
It has important links we should all read including the following:
1) A statement by Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) – regarding voting and worthiness to receive Holy Communion.
2) A Voting Guide for Serious Catholics;
3) Where do Candidates stand on key issues (2012 Presidential);
4) A Comparison of the 2012 Republican and Democratic Party Platforms;
5) A link to the short video “Test of Fire”.
PASS this site with links to answer #13 to everyone you know.
Regarding being ABORTION being important –
CCC ” 2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:
You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes. ”
and
CCC ” 2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” “by the very commission of the offense,” and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society. ”
All issues are not equal.
Any Bishop or Priest who allows anyone to teach anything different is a heretic or schismatic.
How do we get this information to the Vatican Rep in Washington D.C.?
Carlo Maria Viganò,
Type of Jurisdiction: Nunciature
Diplomatic Post
Country: United States of America
Mailing Address: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W, Washington, DC, USA
Telephone: (202) 333-7121
Fax: 202 337-4036
Kenneth Fisher or anyone, do you have newer or additional info on the Papal Nuncio contact?
Some of the contacts published more than a year ago on this web site are no longer in service.
I will look through my records in the meantime.
Kent Peters, head of the diocese Office for Social Ministry, in San Diego, once told me when I complained to him about SDOP’s duping our parishioners into voting for social issues only, that he would NEVER stop them from doing their work. Indeed, through the many years of SDOP’s on and off (mostly on) influence at Our Lady of The Sacred Heart parish and despite the many complaints from parishioners, he has kept his word.
Are you saying Kent Peters is a “social Justice” gate keeper? I have heard great things about him. He cannot possibly be working against the Church. What exactly is SDOP?
Kent Peters is either passing the buck, which is sinful, or he is part and parcel of the problem. Both of which are SINFUL!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
On February 19, 2004, McGrath published an opinion piece in the San Jose Mercury News prior to the opening of The Passion of the Christ, “While the primary source material of the film is attributed to the four Gospels, these sacred books are not historical accounts of the historical events that they narrate. They are theological reflections upon the events that form the core of Christian faith and belief”
Yes, they operate on a level that historical accounts cannot reach; history is the account of fact, while the Gospels are the accounts of Truth. There is no contradiction; yet, those enamored of the world, the flesh and the devil can see nothing but contradiction.
On second reading of your post, Ron, I see what you’re getting at. McGrath is lifting Scripture out of its material foundation in Jesus Christ. He is “spiritualizing” it, which is a heresy. These heretics disregard sins of the flesh as of no importance, and they make up an entirely new religion which actually is ancient. The McGraths of the Church have been clobbered by the Doctors of the Church for their abject religious stupidity. They are one of the causes of the blight of homosexualism in the Church today, because they de facto say it’s ok and not an issue. And since McGrath has no problem with sins of the flesh, then what might be his participation in such a life of abandon?
The bishops fiddle while the babies die! Shades of the Roman Emperor Nero.
Well put, Feeney; ultra-extremely well put!!!
The first email seems like it is about the Labor in the Pulpit thing that San Jose diocese does every year. You can see the materials online.
Labor in the Pulpit is jointly sponsored by an organizing group called Interfaith Worker Justice and the AFL-CIO
Please stop the foolish talk about our dear Lady, the Mother of God. Blessed Mother Mary had not one sin on her soul her entire life. At the moment of her birth the saints claim she had more sanctifying grace than all of the saints of the old testment had meritted over the course of their long lives. Our Lady was a virgin her entire life and never committed a sin, that includes the sin of fornication. Please get that straight! I know it is hard for protestants, agnostics, atheists, and pagans to accept this divine truth; but their doubts and disbelief will never alter the divine truth! Now regarding my sentiments on these sinister political shows during novus ordo worship services. They have no place in place of a sermon or discussion. Shame on the modern bishops, priests, and deacons for permitting and supporting this kind of behavior. May God forgive the soul of the pro-abortion deacon, who will be judged more harshley because of his position and his greater influence speaking out to his audience. What has become of the modern Church? Blessed are they who see the truth and have returned to truly Roman Catholic parishes holding steadfast to tradition. Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be given to you says the Lord.
Amen, Doug, There are too many Catholics with a poor understanding of the perfection and beauty of our beloved Mother. The thought of our Lord residing in a womb of a sinner is utterly repugnant and heretical.
The CA bishops faithful to Church teachings need to team up and call out their weak liberal brother CA bishops when they hear about nonsense like this less the whole Church is being harmed.
Louie,
By your definition, you are talking about a small handful of bishops, if that many!
I am still hoping that a Bishop friend of mine will finally speak out about the “Catholic” speakers at the Demoncrat Convention, but I am slowly losing hope that he will do so. PRAY FOR THEM!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
What do you expect from the novus disorder. Started with V2 and conti nues unabated until today.
Find a Traditinal Latin Mass Priest and ,NO DANCING, CYMBOLS, DRUMS, ETC. pEACEFUL, HOLY, REVERENT.
Do not donate locally. The first week it will only hit the local pastor, the 2nd or 3rd week he will go screaming to the Bishop, Archbishop or Cardinal. Money talks unfortunately over Truth, Doctrine and the Commandments.
If they had any fortitude, they would speak out from the pulpit ans risk tax exemption, like the others do, and the Demoncrats always do.
Sheepel arise and fight the menace of evil that began in Vatican 2.