In a January 5 New York Post story, movie director, Steven Soderbergh, revealed that his biopic, Beyond the Candelabra, was “too gay” for Hollywood.
“Nobody would make it,” Soderbergh tells the Post. “We went to everybody in town. They all said it was too gay.
“And this is after Brokeback Mountain, by the way, which is not as funny as this movie. I was stunned. It made no sense to any of us.”
The movie is based upon the tell-all book, Beyond the Candelabra by Scott Thorson, entertainer Liberace’s young homosexual lover. It tells about their flamboyant relationship and includes Liberace’s fondness for pornography and teenage gays.
The movie, while alleged to be too gay for Hollywood, was not too gay for the San Bernardino diocese. The diocese made a deal with producer, Jerry Weintraub, to allow the use of Our Lady of Solitude Catholic Church in Palm Springs as a movie set for several days.
It also was not too gay for Father John Kavcak, pastor of Our Lady of Solitude, who played the role of a priest in a scene that depicts the casket of Liberace in church during a funeral Mass. Liberace died from AIDS, and his body was never brought for a Catholic Mass at any church. He did get a 15-minute viewing at a chapel in Forrest Lawn, Hollywood.
The San Bernardino diocese newspaper, the BYTE, reported favorably on the movie in September 2012. The publication referred to Liberace as a “lifelong Catholic.” Father Kavcak added, “It was very exciting as to how many people are involved. It’s like an orchestra coming together.”
For previous California Catholic Daily story, Sept 12, 2012, click here.
Why does Cal Catholic even print garbage like this? To fan the flames of anger and bitterness? So the same people can spew the same comments of outrage and hate? What other purpose does it serve?
Why can’t you print something positive about the Church? I suppose that wouldn’t play to what has become your audience. That’s on you, Cal Catholic!
No. The TRUTH needs to be printed, so that corrections can take place.
Bad Diocese Bishops and bad Priests need to be corrected.
If they do not change their unfaithful ways, they need to be removed from office according to Code of Canon Law – “LOSS OF ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICE”.
All Laity have an obligation to report all violations of the Faith by a Bishop or by a Priest who is permitted to violate Church teaching by his Bishop to the US Papal Nuncio in Washington DC;
AND to Vatican’s Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Piazza del S. Uffizio, 11, 00193 Roma, Italy
phone: (011) 39-06-6988-3357
phone: (011) 39-06-6988-3413
Fax: (011) 39-06-6988-3409
Code of Canon Law: “THE OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF ALL THE CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL” – “Can 212 §3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.”
Those in leadership positions must be removed from the Church if they are not faithful to ALL the teachings in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
To quote St. Paul – 1 Cor 5:9-13 “Drive out the wicked person from among you”.
Does anyone wonder why so many (but not all) US Bishops do not encourage the reading/studying of the CCC as requested by our Pope Benedict in Porta Fidei (paragraphs 11) Year of Faith ? ? ? ? ?
Oh knock it off already…
This forum is becoming like a tabloid. So Liberace was a degenerate. Got it. That’s not news to most. He’s also been dead for many years. Get over it. Spend the time here talking about something positive, something germane, something that is not a waste of life day in and day out.
The pattern here is for Cal Catholic to print something highly salacious and the same people post their outrage each day. Hardly Christian behavior.
Liberace may have been dead for many years, but the movie hasn’t.
Yet.
The movie was conceived dead.
The Bishop thinks otherwise, Rodda, which is why he gave the go ahead for the movie shoot. Why not, after all, wake the devil a bit now and then, right Rodda?
What good does it do to fill a forum with whining other than to make the whiners feel good?
The volume of wrath and pride (both mortal sins if you were not aware) displayed on this forum on a daily basis is astounding.
Oh – guess you’re not new here, OSCAR. Well, you asked for proof of disagreements between laity and prelates …
As I said, if disagreements between members of the laity and priests disqualify the lay member from canonization, many commentators in these pages are disqualified.
If its any consolation, I’m sure these disagreements are honorably treated at the gates of heaven – for you and Dorothy Day….
R.B., read Ephesians 5:11: “Have nothing to do with the useless works that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are”.
Right there with you on this, Laurette.
The time to “expose them” has long, long since passed. All this article is about is setting a stage for people to whine about how bad things are. Very bad form.
I think it’s important to know where the leaders of the Church say (or are supposed to do) one thing and do the other – Cal-Catholic does a great job in informing us – otherwise, we would remain behind our rose-colored glasses.
There is A LOT that could be reported on about the Church here in CA. Instead we get these agitating pieces that do absolutely nothing.
Here’s some goodnews, already, Rodda. Twelve nuns have formed a new Benedictine order in England after leaving the Anglican church. They wear lovely traditional habits and are full of joy! On the home front, many are converting to the Catholic faith through listening to Catholic radio. Also not in the mainstream press, many Catholics love their faith and their priests and since this is pretty boring to many,isn’t generally reported. ;o) (in other news, we’re having a flu epidemic here in the midwest. Are you guys getting it out on the left coast?_)
I recently ran into a young nun in a habit at a kiosk in the airport in Rome. I managed to involve her in my inquiry of the woman manning (don’t we love the English language?) the kiosk. Somehow I said the right thing, and the solemn and disengaged face of the young nun lit up into a joyful smile and display of understanding the foibles and frustrations of life. That brief interaction imparted a great sense of grace in my heart. She simply looked so “squared away” spiritually and so forth. Absolutely genuine … and pretty as well.
Hopefully this will call attention to the behavior of the diocesan leadership and clergy so they can be corrected and might stop leading the flock astray. Correction is one of the cardinal works of mercy.
All abuses should be reported and exposed, not just the abuses in your own particular diocese. You’re anger has you spewing cruel, bitter and hateful comments about people in you’re own parish. You will be held even more accountable because you are intelligent and I believe you do know exactly what the Catholic Church teaches. Without attacking anyone you could be writing thought provoking comments to those who camp out in you’re audience. You came close a few days ago but you fell back into the same old pattern of mean spiritedness.
Why are you not able to simply write something positive that would help you’re audience see the necessity to follow Church teaching? Do you have any children? Is your life that busy and pulled in so many countless directions that you think you do not have the time or the responsibility to be your brother’s keeper? Please rethink that!
“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. … To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted.”
I do not know what it is that has made you seem so very bitter and angry but please stop storing up your riches for yourself, no need to attack anyone just share your knowledge and do not try to hide the darkness. Be a light!
R.B. Rodda, Before you criticize CCD, Is this post the best you can do? I think you can do better.
That’s all on you!
R.B. Rodda says:
January 3, 2013 at 1:05 am
Many of the things mentioned in the article (and far worse) are common at many parishes here in the Diocese of Monterey. I honestly don’t think Bishop Garcia cares about the liturgy. I know my pastor certainly doesn’t.
The theme in my parish when it comes to celebrating the Mass seems to be GET IT DONE AND GET IT DONE FAST so we can be off to breakfast or the next wine tasting! Things are done quick and dirty, and as utilitarian as possible.
This personal attack on another poster is inappropriate for a Catholic forum.
To R.B. Rodda,
Why R.B. Rodda even post garbage like this? To fan the flames of anger and bitterness? So the same people can spew the same comments of outrage and hate? What other purpose does it serve?
Why can’t you print something positive about the Church? I suppose that wouldn’t play to what has become your audience. That’s on you, R.B. Rodda!
Kevin,
“Touche”!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand while the enemies of the Church pile dirt upon us in such volume as to bury the rest of us with it. These immoral movies are sexually exploitative, and they lead others down the path to mortal sin. The inject a pernicious poison into the veins of the nation, and the end result is predictable. These are not people whom the Church should honor or hold up as a role model for the younger generation. No Catholic diocese should express support or tolerance for this type of moral and cultural degeneracy. If we allow these enemies of the Church to prevail, woe to the Church – and the world.
CCD bloggers frequently bring out great and graceful things about the Church, Rodda. Why have you missed these good blogs?
I don’t get it either. This is trash to read. i don’t care to read up about this trash…it is too much.
old news, this.
we read about this kerfuffle ages ago on this site.
I don’t see why this is considered news. Liberace was a talented musician but he also was a sinner. If people don’t like this movie they don’t have to watch it. Actors are just playing parts, they were not responsible for the actions of the characters that they play. If actors play murderers or criminals in movies, this isn’t a sin is it? Is it a sin to watch murder mysteries and crime dramas? If you don’t like it, don’t watch. This is much ado about nothing.
max,
There are different types of battles and different types of abuse and you know this. This story is a very grave matter of spiritual abuse of authority and spiritual neglect. God cares about all of his children.
max, If an individual had concrete proof and evidence that his or her next door neighbors were seen seriously abusing their little children and social services or the police were informed but did nothing about it, would you belittle then ignore the people who tried to still get help for these little children? Would you casually say, “oh, I already heard about this kerfuffle ages ago from people who live on my street.”
Influencing others to sin, scandalizing hundreds and losing your eternal life should never be associated with the word kerfuffle, that is unless you are deliberately choosing to use your own free will to cleverly aid and abet evil.
Ephesians 6:12
Douay-Rheims
“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.”
Spiritual Warfare
max, Do You Renounce Satan and all of his empty promises? Or do you try to assist the father of lies by calling evil a kerfuffle?
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, SECOND EDITION
III. Original Sin
Freedom Put to the Test
A hard battle. . .
407 The doctrine of original sin, closely connected with that of redemption by Christ, provides lucid discernment of man’s situation and activity in the world. By our first parents’ sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over man, even though man remains free. Original sin entails “captivity under the power of him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action and morals.
408 The consequences of original sin and of all men’s personal sins put the world as a whole in the sinful condition aptly described in St. John’s expression, “the sin of the world”. This expression can also refer to the negative influence exerted on people by communal situations and social structures that are the fruit of men’s sins.
409 This dramatic situation of “the whole world [which] is in the power of the evil one makes man’s life a battle:
The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity.
R.B. Rodda – amen to that!
California Catholic Daily is extraordinary!
It is marvelous for faithful Catholics to be able to know the truth about the outrageous corruption from the bishops of California.
Consider the story about the gay themed Liberace movie: While the Diocese of Bishop Gerald Barnes in San Bernardino put out a dishonest story about the filming of the Weintraub movie, California Catholic gave us the truth.
We are still waiting for Bishop Barnes to tell us how much money he got from Weintraub and friends for renting the Church for several days to make this gay movie.
Get over it already.
Yes, we know it makes you feel good to rant and rave. If this was a matter of trying to influence a coming use of a Catholic church for this movie, I could understand. But it’s not. The movie is done. Why carp about it?
You carp about it because it makes you feel good to vent. It does nothing to help you, fellow Catholics or the Church.
Rodda: If this website bothers you so much, why are you on here? GO! Shoo-shoo! Go find another website to get the Catholic news that you are so deprived of here. You remind me of the people who say they are being “Facebook stalked or harassed.” There is NO such thing as being stalked or harassed on Facebook because all you have to do is delete your account. It is a NO BRAINER! All you have to do is NOT come on this website. It’s a NO BRAINER!
Rather than me going elsewhere, maybe you could stop the whining? You’re committing mortal sins with your displays of wrath and pride. You need to repent!
So Rodda would like to raise the level of discussion from beyond the “everything is rotten” pity pot and he is supposed to shoo. It is truly amazing how little understanding of the True Catholic Faith the people who post here have. The gift of understanding comes from the Holy Spirit. People who pray the way they should (ceaselessly) are pretty rare. I suggest that those who want a more genuine experience of Catholic spirituality and a more enlightened level of discussion ignore the immature and snarky posters and just have a intelligent discussion with those here who are desirous of it. A lot of the more Church-oriented posters have ceased posting. Maybe they are just waiting for an interesting topic. If your discussion is interrupted by the few posters who love to disrupt things just ignore it. I know they get so low that it is hard not to respond but they hijack serious discussions by attacking the poster for a reason.
We’re assuming the payment was in money.
Go with poster John on this one.
We may find the truth hard to stomach, but in order to know what happens to the faith and funds we invest in our most important institutions, including in our government offices, churches, schools and military institutions, it is important that factual information be provided to us. We should not rise up and kill the messenger; to him we are to be grateful. It is our choice whether to inform ourselves or not, and our reactions may be shock, dismay, delight, outrage, hope or even remedial action, but at least we are no longer deceived when dedicated investigators offer us information on a silver platter. The responsibility for the world we help create on our watch is ours to take up or leave untaken, knowing that our choices affect the world we live in and the world we bequeath to the generations that follow us. The beauty part of this system is that knowledge and power rest in us, and not in the corruptible hands of those whose power was once virtually absolute over us, in part based on our lack of knowledge. Celebrate the light!
For those who have followed Pope Benedict XVI’s appointments- every time a liberal bishop or archbishop reaches age 75 and offers his retirement, the Pope has accepted it, to my knowledge, and elevated a conservative, orthodox priest to the post. That is why we are now blessed, in California, with Archbishop Gomez, Bishop Vann, Archbishop Cordileone. I only pray that our Pope lives to be 100, and has the opportunity to do much more good in this regard. Of course, that is not realistic, the pressures and stress of the papacy take their toll on the strongest of men. Pope Benedict XVI’s successor is likely to be conservative, but as conservative as he is?
C’mon, catholiccoach, the readers here didn’t just fall off the back of a turnip truck on the way to the internet.
Good for you Catholic Daily!
I want to know about ALL the Catholic bishops and clergy who seem to defy all of our Catholic sensibilities by allowing these actions.
May you continue to carry on with your crusade to shine the light on these
deeds that surely are fomented by the devil.
On our way to the Cross, we will meet disobedient and proud priests and we must pray for them. On our way to the cross,we will meet people who will be eager to promote evil projects and we must pray for them. As we help Jesus to carry His cross, we will encounter the mockers, the doubters, the foolish, the ones who abandon and spit upon Christ, and yet, we will carry our own cross and pray for those brothers and sisters who prefer the worldly positions of spectators. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.+++
Watching some movies and so called entertainment can CERTAINLY be a SIN!
May God have mercy on your soul,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Who is this Roddda character commenting on your site, folks?
There’s no “there” there to his “arguments.”
You’ve corrected him a few times with substantive replies, but he always fails to respond in kind; that is, in any form which demonstrates he has even an inkling of Church teaching or why the major FAIL of a bishop and pastor is of necessary concern to be highlighted until FIXED. He fails to demonstrate he seriously gets what you mean, even though he maquerades like he does (“got it” is brilliantly succinct exposition, btw).
No one should tear down this bishop or pastor; no, Rodda would have you be positive the same way the French excitedly spread the good news the Nazis were marching into Paris so everybody could show up and cheer! RB, you cheer while heretics and apostates attack the Church and then burn it down from within.
Your real agenda is to intimidate those critical of the homosexual agenda into SHUTTING THE HELL UP!
Phil, you can’t be from California! heh heh I”m finding that too many Catholics either don’t care what their bishops are doing or could care less if they hear that they’re gay, or dishonest or atheists et al. It’s as though people have become inured to sin and accept more and more depredations from their politicians, bishops, teachers, etc. and are complacent if someone wants to hire a hit man to murder the child in their womb, or live without benefit of marriage, or men ‘marry’ in sham marriages with men…the whole gamut of Sodom & Gomorah, in other words. They don’t believe the words of our beloved Saviour, or Pope Benedict or even their own conscience.
This is because many CA Bishops are not doing their own jobs.
They are too busy being involved in secular politics which is the prudential judgement of the Laity – whom they have not catechized properly.
Has your Parish Priest or Bishop told everyone to read and study the CCC as directed by Pope Benedict in Porta Fidei (starting with paragraphs #11). The CCC is for “everyone” to know our Faith including for non-Catholics.
Like it or not, articles like the one under discussion do nothing more than to spread darkness and negativity. They are entertainment for those eager to engage in the mortal sins of wrath and pride. A platform to spew bitter venom. Just look at the tone of your own comment.
So, Rodda, why are you so squeemish?
Not a matter of being “squeemish.”
It’s a matter of not fixating on dark and destructive gossip day in and day out by the same exact people.
Take a macro look at Cal Catholic something. It borders on the disgusting. Same negative “articles” and same hateful rants by the same hateful people.
“The Truth Shall Set You Free”!
“Viva Cristo Rey”!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Amen, Kenneth.
To RB Rodda as to why we ‘whine’ about things like this travesty: This is the time to voice our outrage about horrors like this. When bishops are derelict in their duty to lead the faithful and instead give in to the ways of Satan, any Catholic that cares for his and his brother’s salvation is going to be rightfully angry. We would be most frightened if we knew how many souls are lost to hell because faithless bishops did not set a good example and teach proper doctrine and morals. It is pertinent for Cal Catholic and others to shed light where darkness dwells.
You whine because it feeds your ego in a very dangerous and superficial way.
Clinton R. at some point you need to pray over what the Lord would have you do. Voice your outrage? Maybe. Pray for the priest and bishop. Yes. Pray for all those who had a part in making the movie. Yes. Judge the bishop as derelict in his duty to lead the faithful. Doubtful. Accuse the bishop in a public forum of giving in to the ways of Satan. Highly doubtful. The danger is that you believe the information and have never heard from the priest or bishop. They might tell you something which would temper your judgement such as “I realized later that I made a mistake.” They might tell you they did nothing wrong, that they consulted the vatican. You don’t know. It is gossip, not news. You are tempted into judging and offending the Lord by condemning people to hell. The Catholic Church does not do that. It exists for the salvation of man. The publication of this article and the remarks at the expense of the priest and bishop are not holy behavior; it is a near occasion of sin to many people who post here.
I am disappointed that CCD is promoting this movie. This movie is being promoted as a love story. It is not a love story. It is a story of how a heterosexual teenager was exploited by a wealthy homosexual who stole his life and his mind and even his appearance. Michael Douglas’ father, Kirk, was a friend to Liberace and the executive producer was often a dinner guest at his home. Scott Thorson has had nothing to do with this production. He has been battling anal cancer.
I respect what everyone is saying and I agree with exposing things but I can also see why Rodda is tired too.
This made news only because some few in our church leadership OK’s to be part of the movie…there is where the real disgust lays. God have mercy on us all. For those facts we are disgusted and truly are concerned with the scandal it does to too many souls.
Rodda I would suggest taking a small break, don’t take it personal when people are disgusted with the bad will leadership in our church. I do understand that verse in the bible that states that sometimes we just need a break, a moment to refresh…This website also gives us that with wonderful encouraging news articles that can uplift us in our faith…maybe there is just too much negative reporting, as if that is all there is, when we know that there so much more to our beautiful faith, not just the negative!
I get what you mean that it can’t always be helpful too. It’s also true, many of us are the regulars here with pretty much commenting most. We are loyal readers that is for sure.
Taking into consideration and being sensitive to your feelings on this, I can say is that it can also backfire especially when one is feeling a bit hopeless with a lot of things going on in our world and how it is affecting the faithful, I get you. I recommend reading Introduction to the Devout Life by St.Francis of Sales. I have also taken more time to pray and shut off news media to help me stay fresh again….with the Tragedy my family is going through, our faith have been shaken and are in great need to stay on track…so uplifting news would be just what we need right now.
Also if you feel tempted to get upset at some news, just try to avoid being tempted to comment, I noticed that it’s best for me to comment when I am less emotional and more able too when I can better reason. I’m sure Cal Catholic will take into account everyone’s concerns and especially with the too many ‘gay’ news articles. I love and appreciate their American Holocaust articles. Those are hard to look at but it is nice that someone has actually taken the time to expose that great evil that many have neglected to look at.
Perhaps that is why you will continue to see these articles also on the gay agenda, because if you noticed, the Media is not exposing them…I just hope that these news articles don’t work against us as well, especially when we are trying to convert sinners to the real faith…I get concerned that they may stay away because they think that we Catholics approve of such sinful things especially because we have church leadership allowing such things.
It’s the same dark/negative stories each day.
Commented on with the same wrath and pride.
By the same people. Nothing more than a gossip pit.
It’s not Christian behavior.
Then R.B. Rodda, why do you read it and take part in it?
R.B. Roddy, I apologize for being so curt. You do make a good point. We can get caught up in negativity too much and not encourage the good things. I used to love the section in one of our newspapers that had all the good things in it, such as stories about marriages that lasted and people who were doing good things for each other. We do need to keep a balance. I think that is one reason President Reagan was so loved by many people — including those who were not of his party — he had such a positive attitude.
The San Bernardino diocese is in dire need of an investigation. It has been rife with heresy from top to bottom. In some parishes the staff is overtly hostile to individuals who appear “conservative” in their expression of faith.
Some of you readers have to keep in mind that trolls are assigned to Faith-based websites such as California Catholic Daily and even toward some conservative Protestant sites just for the mere objective of stirring the pot of strife and unrest.
They do not want you to be comfortable with your beliefs or communicating in peace with your brethren.
The best solution is to ignore them and pray for more guidance from our Lord.
May the Lord’s Blessings be upon you!