The following comes from a Sept. 10 by Michael W. Chapman on CNSNews.
Cardinal Francis George, head of the Catholic archdiocese of Chicago, said the levers of power in government, education, entertainment, and media are enforcing a “public creed,” a “fake church” that requires all citizens to approve of gay marriage and related sexual anomalies or be punished by the State, just “as Christians and Jews are fined for their religion in countries governed by Sharia law.”
Cardinal George, who was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2007-10, made his remarks in his Sept. 7 column for the archdiocesean newspaper. In his commentary, the cardinal explains that America, despite social frictions at certain times, had always strived to ensure religious freedom and respect for different religions.
The State, in the past, had “kept its promise to protect all religions and not become a rival to them, a fake church,” said the cardinal.
But that has now changed, he said. “In recent years, society has brought social and legislative approval to all types of sexual relationships that used to be considered ‘sinful,’” he continued. “Since the biblical vision of what it means to be human tells us that not every friendship or love can be expressed in sexual relations, the church’s teaching on these issues is now evidence of intolerance for what the civil law upholds and even imposes.”
“What was once a request to live and let live has now become a demand for approval,” said Cardinal George, whose archdiocese includes about 2.2 million Catholics. “The ‘ruling class,’ those who shape public opinion in politics, in education, in communications, in entertainment, is using the civil law to impose its own form of morality on everyone.”
“We are told that, even in marriage itself, there is no difference between men and women, although nature and our very bodies clearly evidence that men and women are not interchangeable at will in forming a family,” he said. “Nevertheless, those who do not conform to the official religion, we are warned, place their citizenship in danger.”
The cardinal then noted that Americans who objected on religious grounds to the Obamacare mandate on contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortion-inducing drugs, were chastised by many in the media, including the liberal Huffington Post, which claimed the opposition, and the six Catholic judges on the Supreme Court, raised “concerns about the compatibility between being a Catholic and being a good citizen.”
This was not the anti-Catholic voice of nativists, or the Know-Nothing Party, or the Ku Klux Klan, said the cardinal, but, “rather, the self-righteous voice of some members of the American establishment today who regard themselves as ‘progressive’ and ‘enlightened.’”
“The inevitable result is a crisis of belief for many Catholics,” said Cardinal George. “Throughout history, when Catholics and other believers in revealed religion have been forced to choose between being taught by God or instructed by politicians, professors, editors of major newspapers and entertainers, many have opted to go along with the powers that be.”
“This reduces a great tension in their lives, although it also brings with it the worship of a false god,” he said. “It takes no moral courage to conform to government and social pressure. It takes a deep faith to ‘swim against the tide,’ as Pope Francis recently encouraged young people to do at last summer’s World Youth Day.”
The cardinal continued, “Swimming against the tide means limiting one’s access to positions of prestige and power in society. It means that those who choose to live by the Catholic faith will not be welcomed as political candidates to national office, will not sit on editorial boards of major newspapers, will not be at home on most university faculties, will not have successful careers as actors and entertainers.”
“Nor will their children, who will also be suspect,” he said.
“Since all public institutions, no matter who owns or operates them, will be agents of the government and conform their activities to the demands of the official religion, the practice of medicine and law will become more difficult for faithful Catholics,” said Cardinal George. “It already means in some States that those who run businesses must conform their activities to the official religion or be fined, as Christians and Jews are fined for their religion in countries governed by Sharia law.”
Cardinal George went on to argue that U.S. civil law has done much to weaken and destroy the family, which in turn has forced the State to impose more and more restrictions on people and their activities that are unloosed from the “internal restraints that healthy family life teaches.”
He also says that many of the “tenets of the official State religion” are largely dictated by elements of a certain social class, noting that “’same-sex marriage,’ as a case in point, is not an issue for the poor or those on the margins of society.”
How the situation may end, said the cardinal, is unclear because there are many Americans, “even among the ruling class, who do not want their beloved country to transform itself into a fake church.”
Catholics and traditional Christians know by faith, said Cardinal George, that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead and the church “will be there to meet Him.”
However, “[t]here is no such divine guarantee for any country, culture or society of this age or any age,” concluded Cardinal George.
To read the original story, click here.
Cardinal George is correct. But why is there so much relativism and secularism in the USA?
1) Could it be because Diocese Bishops and their Priests do not encourage people to read the Bible and the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” at home? And therefore many of the Catholics in the pew do not accurately know their Faith.
2) Could it be because some US Cardinals/Bishops do not teach or consider the Mortal Sin of Scandal?
Participating in the mortal sin themselves by giving those publically obstinate in grave sin Holy Communion (such as Dolan or Wuerl).
or publically promoting the homosexual lifestyle or evil politicians (such as Dolan).
3) Could it be because most have not taught on the intrinsic evils of: contraception, and some have not taught on the other intrinsic evils of abortion, euthanasia, homosexual acts, cloning, embryonic stem cell research?
And do not teach about fornication, and adultery?
4) Could it be that because the above 3 that Catholics vote for politicians who support intrinsic evils and then those elected immoral politicians appoint judges and high administrators of like mind – at Federal, State and Local levels of government?
5) Could it be that Cardinals and Bishops are allowed to publically advocate for those who wish to remain in the State of Mortal Sin to receive Holy Communion (Sacrilege), and are appointed/honored speakers with votes at the upcoming Synod on the Family – Kasper (adulterers), Danneels (homosexuals), TURKSON (polygamy)?
6) Could it be because too many US Bishops are involved in politics?
Votes? At the upcoming Synod?
What?
That is not at all what is going on.
You are confusing it with secular government.
Anonymous, you are confused or purposely trying to confuse readers.
Do you not see that five (5) separate points were made? – All valid and all important.
PETER, There were six (6), Feel free to comment however you want.
Praise God that this article is magnifying Cardinal George words to lead the flock. We have many good priests and leadership who are but are just not receiving enough media, so God bless this Cardinal. He echo’s the sentiments of many good people.
The enemy wishes to suppress our Catholic identity but they can only go so far, because our Lord has already spoken and He is with us even when we face much adversity.
I agree with Linda B. (Funny, but my last name also begins with a “B!”) Anyway— many Catholics may not do religious reading at home. What is needed– is proper Catholic religious education and training, right in the parish school, and in the church, by priests and nuns! And this must start from babyhood! The Church must take her role very, very seriously, to lead and form her people in Christ– and lead them all straight to Heaven’s door! Otherwise, too many souls will eventually be lost! A very strong “practicing Catholic” Church, will attract more worshippers, and help to form a morally and spiritually strong Nation, reclaiming it from the wreckage of the post-1960’s, as well as the confusion and wreckage of Vatican II! At Vatican II, it was sadly decided, that the Pope and his bishops and clergy, would no longer take leadership roles, due to past abuses. But even more, perhaps many of our Church leaders– are sadly not so interested in their vocations, for Christ! And perhaps many of them are simply frightened HYPOCRITES!!
Wait, wait — good Cardinal, all nice points, but what about the millions and millions of dollars that bishops take from the US Government? Aren’t they more “partners” than anything else? In fact, looked at from the grantor’s perspective, the Catholic Church is a bit ungrateful by not publicly agreeing to everything that the Government wants. See, C. George, you cannot simply pick and chose which dance with the Devil you want; once you “seal the deal” with Satan, you are closed off from anything else. Aside: let’s look in at the Vatican, where its “OK to Live Together Day”. So happy that Francis and the all the happy Tiber Liberals are patting themselves on the back, while serving as a world-wide disaster to parents that seek to keep their teen and adult “children” from sinfully cohabitating. Back to the Main Topic — you see, Cardinal George, a “Lady of the Evening” may dicker on price, and “menu”, but not the fact of her profession, or her intent that evening. When Christ comes back to judge all, there will be a Catholic Church there to great him, but not much Faith. Remember His question: “But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?” Luke 18:8. (DRV).
St. Christopher,
Thank you for your post. Something is certainly not right. Cardinal George is battling cancer and perhaps he wrote this because he is now seriously reflecting on his own pastoral mismanagement of authority regarding the homosexual agenda. Let us pray that Cardinal George speaks up if FULL TRUTH specifically to his brother priests. The Cardinal’s warning is coming late but better late than never and even better if Cardinal George warns his brother priests to stop the tap dancing. The money taken from the U.S. government shows that the tap dancing is still taking place. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade also comes to mind. Cardinal George would be doing the Church a greater favor if he would openly admit that it has been our own Cardinals and Bishops who have been the unwelcoming agents to the TRUTH when the faithful repeatedly asked them to vigorously uphold “all of the Church’s teachings”. Many faithful within the Church kept warning that this would be the outcome when they asked those in authority to stop coddling or tap dancing with evil agendas. They did not listen because some were practicing homosexuals and even today after the horrific sex abuse scandals many are still not listening. Faithful Catholics were persecuted when they sought out justice and truth from our very own Shepherds. Our Shepherds did not listen and now what Cardinal George has written is true but it still does NOT address the real root of these ills.
cont…..
continued from September 15, 2014 at 10:51 am
Pleas Google Roman Catholic Faithful
Taken from PAGE 17   AMDG SUMMER 2008
“Fr. John Hardon, S.J. (RIP) was one of the first priests to offer his help to RCF. No one could doubt Father’s orthodoxy. In 1996 Fr. Hardon arranged for me to speak at a Detroit parish and helped RCF raise funds. At the time he was telling anyone who would listen that, according to his Vatican superiors, “one diocese after another would be lost unless the laity did something.” Fr. Hardon was making it very clear that the bishops were corrupt and destroying the Church.
I believed that one thing RCF could do was to publicly expose this corruption, prick the conscience of the once faithful and then maybe things would change. I was wrong. It was Fr. Hardon who suggested I use the canonical services of Fr. Alfred Kunz of Dane, Wisconsin. While Fr. Kunz was glad to help RCF, he made it clear that “you will find no justice in the Church today.” Father’s comments, added to those of Fr. Hardon’s, painted a very dismal picture. But I still had hope that the “system” might work. (Fr. Alfred Kunz was brutally murdered in 1998 while he was helping RCF with the case of predatory homosexual Bishop Daniel Ryan. Father’s killer has never been identified.) It was Father Hardon who informed me that Fr. Malachi Martin was “right with the Church.” Fr. Martin had offered his help to RCF and I contacted Fr. Hardon for his opinion. Fr. Martin believed that the bishops’ hatred for tradition and devotions were proof that they had lost their faith.”
continued……
Continued from September 15, 2014 at 10:51 am
The warning that Cardinal George has written about the future is true but real love is getting at the root cause. Google Roman Catholic Faithful and place Cardinal George’s name in the search engine. There are many, many documented incidents of Cardinal George’s own enabling. I am not saying it was done in deliberate malice, perhaps it was a misguided application of pastoral incompetency when dealing with these very great forces of evil but the outcome has been disastrous either way. We have been taught for centuries not to tap dance with the devil and yet today we witness a diabolical disorientation that still places a blinding veil over the eyes of many. The root problem is still occurring and yet no one in authority is addressing it, except Our Lady of Akita, Japan. Our Lady gave a much more serious warning than Cardinal George about what was to come if men did not repent and if our Shepherds made compromises.
St. Cyprian writes:
“The spouse of Christ cannot be defiled; she is uncorrupted and chaste. She knows one home . . . Does anyone believe that this unity which comes from divine strength, which is closely connected with the divine sacraments, can be broken asunder in the Church and be separated by the divisions of colliding wills? He who does not hold this unity, does not hold the law of God, does not hold the faith of the Father and the Son, does not hold life and salvation (On the Unity of the Catholic Church 6 [A.D. 251]).
Peter speaks there, on whom the Church was to be built, teaching and showing in the name of the Church, that although a rebellious and arrogant multitude of those who will not hear or obey may depart, yet the Church does not depart from Christ; and they are the Church who are a people united to the priest, and the flock which adheres to its pastor. Whence you ought to know that the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop; and if anyone be not with the bishop, that he is not in the Church, and that those flatter themselves in vain who creep in, not having peace with God’s priests, and think that they communicate secretly with some; while the Church which is Catholic and one, is not cut nor divided, but is indeed connected and bound together by the cement of priests who cohere with one another (Letters 66 [A.D. 253]).”
“He who does not hold this unity, does not hold the law of God, does not hold the faith of the Father and the Son, does not hold life and salvation (On the Unity of the Catholic Church 6 [A.D. 251]).”
Excellent! Precisely!
The late and great Bishop Austin Vaughan warned the American Bishops when he told them: “Bishops who go to Hell, don’t go there so much for sins of commission, but for sins of omission”!
Oh! how we miss him!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika and His Church!
Viva Cristo Rey!
Kenneth M. Fisher
Agreed! But the more fundamental issue is government usurpation of turf that rightfully belongs to mediating institutions like the Church. Let the tyrant stop over taxing us in order that we may tithe 10% of our wages to the Church, and leave charity to religion and voluntary associations, where it belongs. This is the battle that our Shepherds should have fought—and won—long ago. SUBSIDIARITY!
ALL religious people who stand up for their beliefs will be ridiculed.
Jews for refusing to work on the Sabbath.
Muslim women for wearing modest clothing.
Sikhs for wearing turbans and beards.
Buddhists for being vegetarians.
Christians for…well…just about EVERYTING, even wearing a cross.
It’s the danger of being religious: you will get mocked, persecuted, and even killed at times for your religious faith.
You are right about one thing Anonymous, even the Zoroastrians and Sikhs are being mocked in our time as both believe in monogamy, marriage between one man and one woman. Also, one chapter of Satanists in Oklahoma is called Angra Mainyu (hope I spelled it correct from memory). Angra Mainyu is the Zoroastrian name for the evil god that will be defeated in the end — in other words their name for Satan. They believe there is both a good God, Ahura Mazda, that created everything good and a evil god, Angra Mainyu that created evil (a duality) who are at constant war with one another until the end.
AND EVEN CHRISTIANS ATTACK CHRISTIANS…
Dr Ian Paisley the former Democratic Unionist Party leader and former first minister of Northern Ireland has died, his wife Eileen said today.
He was probably the most fiery, uncompromising and bellicose Ulster politician throughout the Troubles. Here are some of his most memorable quotes:
“They breed like rabbits and multiply like vermin” — talking about Catholics at a loyalist rally in 1969.
Max you are correct even Christians attack Christians. Some just don’t like to be admonished.
The issues we are facing today, stems from long ago….the people took their faith as a given back in the early 1800’s and early 1900’s. They didn’t feel that they need to evangelize. Then what happened? Many Catholics who didn’t know their faith left the church and started their own protestant sect. Some just left because they didn’t understand their Catholic faith. So in these modern day times, we are dealing with the outcome from those generations and dealing with secular forces much bigger than the church, like the Media, internet….its a good thing that the church is combating those great powerful evils by taking action in creating our own TV networks and even radio Networks. We take for granted what we do have that are fighting the good fight, I hope we don’t do what they did in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, I hope we don’t take for granted the good that we have now needing our help to combat these modern day great evils.
Are we supposed to fly from the persecution that is happening now, or to stand and be counted? Are we supposed to be afraid of the persecution that is happening or to faithfully endure it? We have ONE example on how to meet this, and if anyone has been paying attention to Our Lady then her counsel ought to be on everyone’s lips. She has repeatedly called for the recitation of the Rosary, and repeatedly promised her protection thru it. Go ahead and shake in your boots, but make sure you have the Rosary on your person so that when they drag you from your home to either imprison you or execute you, you have your Rosary firmly in hand so that she fulfills her promise. Her Triumph she speaks of is not to be realized here, but to deliver us to Heaven. This world is corrupt. Nothing is free from it’s corruption. We’re not meant to take any of this junk wih us, but to build our mansions in Heaven.. We build them there with our faith in Jesus thru the intercession of His Mother. That has been her message. It makes Perfect Sense to ask for her help. Go ahead, be afraid, but don’t let it stop you from calling on her in the Rosary.
I once wrote to Cardinal George when he was at USCCB in regard to the ‘John Jay Farce’ of an alleged ‘investigation’ into the (Predominately) Homosex Ephebophile Abuse of Boys by those masquerading as ‘priests’ – which ‘report ‘ it heavily whitewashed after cashing their check.
I offered my services in producing virtually the ‘Same’ Lame Report at a fraction of the cost, through the simple expedient of taking a poll of all those assigned by JJ to work on it.
I told him that All that was needed to arrive at the Same ‘conclusions’ as the John Jay jokers did, was to assemble the staff in public and have a simple show of hands by anyone who considered Homosex Behaviors to be part of the Homosex Abuse Scandal..
Such affirmation of the Facts was all that was needed for administering ‘peoples justice’ to All those who wanted to lose their jobs, be professionally blackballed, placed on Gaystapo stalker lists, and have themselves and their families and friends and co-workers retaliated against.
Indeed, to even suggest that this Ephebophile Pederast Abuse was somehow related to ‘lighthearted and happy’ (gay) ‘lifestyle’ perversions was enough for the chopping block.
The only question being whether the Un-Good former employees might have time to pack their belongings before being booted from campus – or simply be immediately turned over to the Gaystapo for some real serious ‘tolerance’ training.
SSADly – my offer was not taken up, and the Church Paid far more money for the same heavily Censored political Whitewash than I would have charged – given that the outcome was pre-ordained by the powers that be – in the pathetic farce of Academentia.
Maybe it is time to stop relying on the Bought and Paid For ‘free press’ and the partisan professoriate to tell us such cheap lies and pretend it is ‘education’ – even if pretending to believe such lies helps gain a ‘passover’ by the Campus Thought Police.
Michael McDermott – Very interesting.
Who would pay a dime for anything McDermott peddles as a study?
St. Cyprian:
“With a false bishop appointed for themselves by heretics, they dare even to set sail and carry letters from schismatics and blasphemers to the Chair of Peter and to the principal church [at Rome], in which sacerdotal unity has its source” (Epistle to Cornelius [Bishop of Rome] 59:14 [A.D. 252]).
The Lord says to Peter: “I say to you,” he says, “that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” . . . On him he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church? (The Unity of the Catholic Church 4 [A.D. 251]).”
God bless Cardinal George and all who are faithful to Christ and His church.
In Cardinal George’s Archdiocese of Chicago, exists the largest Catholic college in America, De Paul University, with about 60,000 students— run by the Vincentian Fathers. It offers a two-year certificate in “Gay Studies,” and the school plans to expand this program, to a full, four-year degree program! Can you believe that a Catholic university would offer such a degree program?? Absurd!! They are also immoral, in all the usual ways, similar to all immoral Catholic colleges of today. And trying to complain about this to the Cardinal, many years ago, did no good, of course! Also, most all the Catholic schools, universities, and seminaries in the Archdiocese of Chicago, have suffered the same typical moral collapse, as in the rest of the Catholic post-Vatican II world. What a shame! But I also pray for him, because the poor Cardinal has suffered from cancer, bless him!
What you say, Linda Marie, was true, and I assume it is still the case. I wrote a letter to the University and the Vincentians years ago about that. I used to contribute quite a bit to the Miraculous Medal organizations that the Vincentians run, but do not contribute much to them now, although I still wear the medal in some form.
and I am sure that there are many Vincentians who do not agree with what is going on there. It is so very sad when things like this happens as it causes a lack of trust.
One can put in “De Paul University and homosexuality” or “St. Vincent de Paul Society and homosexuality” to find out whether or not those different organizations are contributing to right or the wrong teachings on homosexual and lesbian behavior. I contribute to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in my area as it seems to be all right. It certainly is right to give food, clothing and shelter to any Catholic as long as no Church teaching is broken. Groups that give grants to LGBT organizations that do not have Church approval I would not give money to nor support. The Cardinal Newman Society has a guide including universities that adhere to Church teaching and have articles on those who do not. They have an on line website. The American Life League has information about those who contribute to abortion, etc.
When the “Gay Studies” program first started, I suggested to the Vincentian Fathers, that they put a Miraculous Medal around the neck of every Catholic student at DePaul University, and a Rosary in each of their hands, have a big, public daily Rosary recitation, on campus, and a Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal! Next, require two to four years of classes in Catholic Faith and Morals, as Catholic colleges used to! Abolish this crazy, immoral “Gay Studies” program! Maybe Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal could give them a miracle, for their insanely “gone wrong” school!! I have always loved the Miraculous Medal, and have worn one, lifelong! Unfortunately– the Vincentians just said quietly, they were really no longer in control of their school— it was secularized, like Notre Dame, and all the others!! And Cardinal George echoed what the Vincentians said! Very sad!
The Homosex Pederast infiltration of the Priesthood has not just harmed (mostly) Boys – but also many Good Priests who were seen as an easy way to win the Jackpot of payments from a Church that was terribly soiled and in many Diocese Bankrupted by the real “Lavender Mafia’ / Gaystapo’…
– Which ‘leaders’ such as Cardinal Mahoney and his ilk covered up for numerous ugly reasons.
I did not know of the story of Fr. MacRae until this article, but I am sure he is Not Alone in his Plight – just as I am sure many others who Did Evil never met Justice for it on this earth.
Fortunately – there is a Final Judge for All, and in God’s House the Truth is Known – and God’s Justice unerring.
SEE
Travesty of Justice: The Ordeal of Fr. Gordon MacRae
https://thesestonewalls.com/gordon-macrae/travesty-justice-ordeal-fr-gordon-macrae/
There is “no divine guarantee for any country,” and the decadent West will forfeit the New Covenant to the Global South.
Jack Ezekiel, it is bad in parts of the Global South too. Recently a Catholic website had a video showing decent young men standing shoulder to shoulder and with locked arms trying to stop nude, drunken people from entering a church. The people were basically having a drunken, drug induced orgy right on the plaza in front of the church. They did not show the worse part. It was bad enough. Some of them were not all that young either, about in their late twenties to mid thirties.
There are Very Good Reasons why the ‘Spartan’ model of Ephebophile based Military Buggery, like that which infested the German Military
(as epitomized by Homo-Nazi party founder Ernst Rohm & his syphilitic prostitute protege Hitler)…
– has been widely Rejected; particularly after seeing its devastating effects on Men & Boys & Whole Countries (*Like Rohm’s Ephebobile ‘Hitler Youth’ – created After the Boy Scouts were destroyed) because of the Harm to Individuals and the whole Military Organization itself.
However, POTUS ‘Down Low’ Soetoro Never Served (VP Joe Bytim, like Cheney before him, dodged the Draft with 5 Deferments) and Barry’s own Draft Registration form shows strong indications of Fraud in itself – but what do they care when they get to do the lying, and others (99%Male) do the dying?
SEE
“…Because sodomy is now a most-favored sexual proclivity in President Obama’s military, male victims of rape have no one to tell without placing their military careers in jeopardy.
And they have a vanishingly small chance of getting justice if they do complain. “[T]he military justice system…has only convicted 7 per cent of all MSP cases that go to trial, which is why an estimated 81 percent of victims never even report.”
In other words, in 2012 there were almost certainly more than the 14,200 male-on-male rapes that we know about. Our military has become a cesspool of homosexual degeneracy.
“Meanwhile,” concludes the Daily Mail, “the victims continue to suffer in silence.”
https://www.renewamerica.com/columns/fischer/140919