The following comes from an Oct. 21 release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will elect the next president and vice president of during the bishops’ annual fall General Assembly, November 11-14, at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott Hotel.
The president and vice president are elected from a slate of 10 candidates nominated by the bishops. The slate of candidates follows:
• Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans
• Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., of Philadelphia
• Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane, Washington
• Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston
• Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles
• Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky
• Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore
• Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati
• Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit
• Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami
The president and vice president are elected to three-year terms, which will begin at the conclusion of the meeting. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, complete their terms as president and vice president, respectively, at that time.
The bishops’ group’s by-laws provide that the election of the president will take place first from among the list of 10 candidates. Following the election of the president by a simple majority vote, the vice president is elected from the remaining nine candidates. In either election, if a candidate does not receive more than half of the votes cast on the first ballot, a second vote is taken. If a third round of voting is necessary, that ballot is a run-off between the top two vote getters from the second ballot.
At the meeting, the bishops will also vote for the chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education, the chairmen-elect of five other committees and new board members of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. and Catholic Relief Services.
To read the original release, click here.
A prayer before logging onto the internet:
Almighty and eternal God, who created us in Thine image and bade us to seek after all that is good, true and beautiful, especially in the divine person of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor, during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May I suggest that CalCatholic readers forward to their bishops the “Pact with the devil” CalCatholic article of October 25, or the LifeSiteNews(dot)com article of October 29. We need to get across to the bishops that their love of politicians above the love of the unborn is an outrage to Catholics and is certainly not pleasing to God.
I see that another site, LifeNews(dot)com notes that Planned Parenthood is already hiring lower-skilled people to abort babies – thanks to Gov. Jerry Brown. If you contact your bishop remind him that there will be blood on the hands of the collective California bishops and their henchmen that these wretched baby-killing bills passed. Any more photo-ops on the horizon??
I urge the Electors to drop the blinders that have too often impaired the vision of those entrusted the care of this ‘Frail Earthen Vessel’ that is Our Church on Earth.
Author Jeffrey T. Brown on ‘ American Thinker’ has written a Question Large – One that is not only faced by the Church Itself as a target of attack by the Abomination and its Gaystapo Thought Police…
But also rings true about the ‘Professional Catholics’ who have sold the Faithful to said Gaystapo, in return not for thirty pieces of Caesar’s Silver – but that extorted from the taxpayers and exhorted from the Faithful in the Pews on Sunday – to be used against them and their Families and Faith the other six days a week.
SEE: Can We Finally Stop Pretending?
So, can we finally stop pretending that the left has a positive plan for the United States?
Can we stop pretending that the president meant to do anything other than destroy a system he has hated since his socialist-influenced youth?
Can we dispense with the unhinged rants about dog whistles and face up to the fact that conservatives have been right about this all along? Can we finally openly discuss that the left’s own hatred and bigotry are largely to blame for where we are now, not just regarding ObamaCare?
They have protected, helped and worshiped an illusion, with pure malice toward those who have loved and fought for this country, and are entirely complicit in the damage now being done to every fiber of our nation.
They have intentionally derailed reasoned opposition to purposefully detrimental policies, and have exploited hatred and bigotry to do it.
Their own hatred, now so clearly shown to be unfounded, doesn’t just inform the left with regard to health care, or opposition thereto. It informs everything the left does, every position they take, every feeling they have.
It is their malignant security blanket.
Read more: https://www.americanthinker.com/2013/10/can_we_finally_stop_pretending.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook#ixzz2jE2BbFyy
The only thing that these bishops should vote on is to disband and dissolve the organization. In fact, there is vastly too much time lost, and resource wasted, by these bishops in “studying” and “deciding policy” on issues where they lack any competence, and that are far removed from their “skill-set” of helping their flocks to achieve salvation. It is beyond outrage that these men, most of whom disobeyed Benedict and anything Vatican direction that they thought was “Traditional” in nature, believe that they have any role at all within the Catholic Faith through their “Office of Bishops.” Perhaps, if they chose not to dissolve, these men could elect to re-institute the “Baltimre Catechism” and decide to embrace the enormously difficult role of trying to advance the Faith throughout the USA, and beyond. Of course, they will not do any of this, given their preening self-importance, and fawning love of the Democratic Party political agenda. Why not decide to turn the full force of the Catholic Church against all forms of abortion and homosexual sexual expression (supporting marriage), and other sins that are not called “racism, sexism, elitism, anti-immigrationism, and the like? Bishops will not do this as it will mark them as “outside” of society and what it holds dear. There will be no more invitations to parties, to big events such as balls and elaborate dinners where they can break bread with truly evil men like President Obama and be part of their club. Too bad Francis is not much of a firebrand with the complete incompetence of his American bishops.
I’m wondering if, while deciding that the bishops “lack any competence,” you will claim competence yourself? Can you tell me, St. Christopher (such an interesting self-designation), are you aware that the Baltimore Catechism counts pride as one of the chief sources of actual sin? I encourage you to reread your post, and then return to the Catechism, lesson 6, numbers 74 and 75. I’m very concerned about your eternity.
“Trying to be faithful:” Please pay attention to the Canon 212, §§ 2. 3, and the long history of faithful addressing the absence of Faith among the clergy (e.g., St. Athanasius, St. Catherine of Siena, and many, many others, including laity). Many Catholic commentators today point to the lack of faithful observance by bishops as a central problem with the disintegration of the Catholic Church as an institution, and the loss of Faith through scandal and bad example. Look at the many statements of encouragement given by Cardinal Burke to speak out, write letters, and protest against the liberal agenda within the Church, and the refusal of the bishops to even recognize Tradition. All of the Church faithful should shout out against the disobedience, incompetence, and outright apostasy of many bishops and cardinals (if not their civil criminality). In large numbers, these are not good men, or even acceptable shepherds (and nor do they seem to care to be). Some are wonderful, such as Bishop Morlino (Madison, WI), but they are few. The Church is in dire shape, which makes the early statement of Francis that “the Church has never been in better form” so incomprehensible. And, while we are at it, let’s see the full Third Secret of Fatima, most likely far too embarrassing for the present post-Vatican II crowd now in control. And remember the question posed by Christ, through the parable of the persistent widow to the arrogant judge, and the promise of God’s revenge for his elect: “But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?” (DRV)
St. Christopher,
Thank you for your excellent response. I think that “Trying to be faithful” is most likely already aware of the truths that you posted and this is the reason why he or she responded that way. The “fullness” of the Truth is not welcome. That was very charitable of you to still inform him or her so that other readers will be informed. “Trying to be faithful” is selectively leaving out other teachings in the Baltimore Catechism. I would like “Trying to be faithful” to know that there are many good priests who are always encouraging the laity to speak up. Shortly before his death one such holy priest encouraged the laity to continue to speak up. These are priests who truly care about souls! There are many good priests who are silenced by “BAD” bishops. The laity is speaking out. The Prophetic dream of St. John Bosco and Our Lady of Akita and Our Lady of Fatima have all spoken to the fact that there IS turbulence and compromise within the Church. Our Lady of Fatima said that Russia would spread her errors. When visiting Kentucky a few years ago, Cardinal Arinze told my friend’s husband that their (now retired) bishop was “BAD”. I would like “Trying to be faithful ” to re-read that word again. The word is “BAD”. The Baltimore Catechism does not promote the ignoring or the denial of “BAD BISHOPS”. Yes, the Baltimore Catechism teaches even a “BAD” BISHOP to repent and uphold “all” Church teaching but as you can see there are many who are only “Trying to faithfully silence” the truth which in turn enables incompetent and “BAD” BISHOPS. Our Lady of Akita and Our Lady of Fatima are ignored and Cardinal Arinze was not being “prideful” when he charitably spoke the truth and said that a bishop was “BAD.” That even sounds like the message of Our Lady of Akita’s warning about bishops against bishops and cardinals against cardinals. I am worried about the soul of someone who willfully ignores the warnings of the Mother of God by selectively teaching partial truth in order to silence those who do speak up.
The episcopal conference is required by canon law.
I go with Bishops Chaput, Lori or Vigneron. How did Bp. Gomez get on that list? Please, God — no… I think Dolan helped bring us ObamaCare.
I agree! Thanks!
When are they going to vote to deny Communion to all the “Catholic” politicians in their dioceses who vote for and fund abortion and sodomy?
Oh, yeah, I forgot, doing so wouldn’t be “pastoral”.
Juergensen,
IT WOULD ALSO UPSET THEIR DEMONCRAT FRIENDS!
May God have mercy on an amoral America!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
Kenneth,
Have you been able to confirm the reports that EWTN News Chief Raymond Arroyo, after the 2008 election, said that his bishop friend(s) told him that half or more of the U.S. bishops voted for Obama?
Juergensen
Taken from the Washington Post – Interview with William Peter Blatty, the writer of the Exorcist submitted a petition with thousands of signatures to the Vatican.
“What is the deal with America and exorcism?
Look at all those polls, Blatty says. Nine out of 10 Americans believe in God, says one. More Americans believe in the Devil than evolution, says another. And it’s the fear that something can possess you — not the Devil, but something like rage or jealousy or despair — that haunts everyone regardless of their belief system.
Blatty has a gravity about him, and also, somehow, a lightness. An impishness. This is a man who is quick to laugh to the point of tears and also thinks that these may be “the last days.” This is a man who says, after a sip of coffee with Equal sweetener, “It’s a fallen world,” like he’s noting the weather.
Mere steps away from lunch is evidence of the fallen, in his eyes: his beloved alma mater, which he believes has drifted perilously into secularism. This month, Blatty submitted to the Vatican a petition with thousands of signatures and a 120-page institutional audit that calls for the removal of Georgetown’s Catholic and Jesuit designations if it does not comply with every little rule in “Ex Corde Ecclesiae,” John Paul II’s constitution for affiliated colleges. The university, for its part, says the “Catholic and Jesuit identity on campus has never been stronger.”
Bill, what are you doing? people have asked him.
Bill, times change. Let it go.
cont.
Washington Post Interview with William Peter Blatty
“Bill, why are you punishing the school you love, the school whose scholarship money rescued you from a childhood of restless poverty in New York, the school that made possible your life, that cemented your faith?”
“If you truly love someone that you think needs to be in rehab, you’ll do everything you possibly can to get them into rehab,” Blatty says. The last straw, he says, was Georgetown’s invitation of Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to be a commencement speaker in May of last year. Sebelius has a record of supporting abortion rights, and abortion is the issue that really sets Blatty’s nerves on fire.”
“He describes, his voice trembling, a particular abortion procedure in graphic detail.”
“He pauses. His voice is nearly a whisper.”
“That’s demonic.”
https://m.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/william-peter-blatty-writer-of-the-exorcist-slips-back-into-the-light-for-its-40th-anniversary/2013/10/30/e8c85900-3fda-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_print.html
I know that at least Kathleen Seibelius has been told by her faithful and true
Bishop Naumann in Kansas, not to receieve Our Lord in Holy Communion.
Actually saw an interview a year ago or so, where she herself stated the fact.
Pray for her everyone!
THE EXILED.
“As persons surrender a sense of responsibility to God, to the state, to family and to their vocation in life, they dissolve into atoms and atoms exist only for themselves. To say we live in the “atomic age” may be a more unfortunate characterization than we know, for if we are nothing but “atomic” individuals, then we are ready either to be “split” or “fissioned” mentally or else “collectivized” into a socialistic dictatorship. . . Once God and the moral law and conscience are exiled, then there is no standard outside of the crisis itself by which the crisis can be judged: no standard of time by which to set our watches, no score of music by which to distinguish our harmonies and discords. . . Finally, when Divine Truth is denied, there is no final determinant of truth except power, which has already enslaved the ‘bulkhead’ of the world.”
-†-Venerable, Fulton J. Sheen, Feb. 1979.
Edmund Burke once observed that evil conquers when good men do nothing. Partly because the voices of decay are so strident, many upright citizens refuse to assume responsibility of restoring society.
Even in church this is true: Pastors of small parishes are reluctant to take on the task of larger communities. Other clergy harassed by a critical spirit of their associates seek to resign long before their time. In the political and social order citizens of intrinsic excellence refuse to carry the burden of social reform. The result is that the mediocre or the demagogue [DemGOPs] accepts leadership. In their turn, they bring their own kind of governments, and destructive fires are rekindled. The character of a people is reflected not only in the leaders they choose, but in the candidates available for election. Citizens are often too ready to shelter themselves under the second raters who will not challenge their ways.
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, D.D., Ph.D.
Goodness, patriotism, honesty and loyalty are losing their battles not by conflict, but by default. Those who are called to be defenders of what is right are not wounded in the battle: they flee. Courage has always been in the past the attribute of those who have faith: now the moral leaders become defenders only of the feeble. They are afraid to speak on vital truths to their troops, fearful that they may incite a revolt or be unloved. The result is “every man does what is right in his own eyes.” Actually, the troops are yearning for strong leaders who will challenge them and sound trumpets with clear notes. But seeing the shepherds uncertain and afraid of wolves, the sheep scatter. Most Reverend Fulton J. Sheen, D.D., Ph.D. ‘Leaders’, 1973.
“Humility is necessary not only for the acquisition of virtues, but even for salvation. For the gate of Heaven, as Christ Himself testifies, is so narrow that it admits only little ones.”
–St. Bernard
“Humility is the mother of many virtues. From it spring obedience, holy fear, reverence, patience, modesty, mildness, and peace; for, whoever is humble easily obeys all, fears to offend any, maintains peace with all, shows himself affable to all, is submissive to all, does not offend or displease any, and does not feel the insults which may be inflicted upon him. He lives happy and contented, and in great peace” -Thomas of Villanova
Loved your posts Abeca Christian. I think I need to post this on my fridge and by my bed for nightly Examination of Conscience.
Your welcome….it does help us all. God bless you.
Abeca Christian, do you know if there is a book which contains these quotes from Archbishop Fulton Sheen? If so, this book could be a nice gift for a faithful priest who could use some encouragement and insight. I especially like that he preaches with a knowledge of American culture. As many priest in California were born and raised in foreign countries, they may not understand how America has become what she is today, nor what her ideals used to be. In addition, since California has lead the nation in Socialistic ideology since the 1980’s many of our home grown priest also lack an understanding of true Catholicism as well as traditional American values.
Hi Tracy…thank you. I don’t know where to begin, there are many good books by him, those quotes are taken from his many books and from his shows as well, which you can find on YouTube. Also I think EWTN must have played some of them. You can order some of them on EWTN too. You can buy his DVD’s and books. Here are some titles:
1. Mornings with Fulton Sheen; ISBN: 9781569550403
Author: Compiled by Beverly Coney Heirich
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 151
2. Life is Worth Living – Archbishop Fulton Sheen 24 CD Set, which you can buy at a discount at Catholiccompany.com
3. Three to get Married https://www.catholiccompany.com/Fulton-Sheen-c317/
4. Truth for a Troubled Age-6 CD’s; Fulton Sheen ISBN: 9781936081943
5. Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s St. Therese – A Treasured Love Story etc etc There are many more, google but if you look to that https://www.catholiccompany.com/ website, they sell many under his name. God bless you. You are right, it would be a great gift for a priest….or anyone else….google them and or look through them and see which one the Holy Ghost moves you to give. : )
Thank you Abeca, I will save the list and do the research. Thanks again!
Keep up the good work Abeca Christian! God bless you sweet sister in Christ!
Thank you Catherine. God bless you too….pray for my family and for me.
“Baltimore Waterfront Marriott Hotel…” This past summer, if I am not mistaken, they met at some swank resort in Coronado, CA. “Church of the poor” my foot. A night’s room charge would buy groceries for a family for a week. The hotel’s website says rooms start at $259 per night and go up from there. Why do they keep doing this? I find it deeply offensive. Have they been listening to the Holy Father lately?
Maybe I differ in opinion but I see nothing wrong with them meeting in Coronado or anyplace else, just as long as they meet and do what they are suppose to do in Christ.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.
~~~John 21:17
Since, it seems, that the bishops are only concerned with what they read or hear in the press (and we know how much good press means to them), perhaps they could do the laity a service by allowing us to suggest topics for them? After all, how many times have you written the archbishop/bishop’s office and never received a reply (not including their PR person)? The only problem might be that there are just too many subjects they run away from or cause scandal by doing nothing about them.
Biden, Pelosi, Sanchez sisters, Sebelius, Cuomo, etc. Scandals
LMU, Georgetown, etc. Scandals
Nuns on the Bus, errant clergy, etc. Scandals
More concerned with secular, etc. Scandals
CRS and bishop travels, etc. Scandals
SSM, homosexual tyranny, etc. Scandals
Abortion, birth control (lack of even mentioning the words), etc. Scandals
Catholic education, Common Core, an abysmal lack of Catholic knowledge among the many teaching it and the cost of a K-12 education, et al. Scandal
There are more, each a scandal because either lip service is given or nothing is said or done.
There is just so much to choose from and how many will you talk/do something about or will you just play a violin while the Church continues to burn (Scandal)?
When it comes to the state of our Bishops in the US it always helps to read an inspirational story. Check out this truly inspirational story at LifeNews.com posted Oct 30th: “When Doctor Told Mom of New Catholic Bishop He’d be a “Freak,” She Rejected Abortion”.
The new Bishop referred to in the story to be appointed the next auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, is Father Andrew Cozzens. Now after the reading the story, I had to conclude that maybe the doctor was right all along, (although obviously not in the way he thought!) The new Bishop sounds like a “Jesus Freak”! Yea! God is good!
Who sets the ‘slate’ of ten candidates? This sounds like a self-perpetuating oligarchy. Who suggests new Bishop candidates to the Nuncio?
They are nominated by the bishops. The Apostolic Nuncio has nothing to do with it.
Anon.
Your curt, somewhat impersonal factual refutations are highly entertaining.
Bishops are responsible to their flock as well as to their priests. Sadly, even though Vatican II says that each priest should see his bishop as a father, most priests think of him as an opportunist, whose mind is only concerned with economics and ecclesiastical ladder climbing. A priest I know, who quit the priesthood tried in vain to see Cardinal Mahoney. The Cardinal would gladly open his doors anytime to see a homeless person, or an illegal immigrant, but never saw the priest because he was conservative. With bishops such as this, expect no doctrine or orthodox moral values to come out of the meeting the bishops are planning. May God protect us, and have mercy on us!
I am sorry if Cardinal Mahoney did that, but he is retired. Here is the list of the agenda items.
• Discussions and votes on the 2014 Conference budget and 2015 diocesan assessment
• Consultation on the sainthood cause of Mary Teresa Tallon, Servant of God
• Discussions and votes on the Misal Romano, the Spanish translation of the book of prayers at Mass, and adaptations to it for use in the United States
• Discussions and votes on the draft translations of the Order of Celebrating Marriage and the Order of Confirmation, as well as proposed adaptations for the Order of Celebrating Marriage
• An update by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage
• Presentation for a proposal to develop a formal statement on pornography
• Presentation by Bishop Gerald R. Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, chairman of CRS, and Carolyn Woo, CRS president, on the work and strategic priorities of CRS
• An update and discussion on the Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty
• Discussions and votes on proposed revisions to the USCCB handbook and regulations
It seems there is a lot of ignorance on what an episcopal conference is and why the Church requires them.
Just as I thought.
Dancing around the scandal of heretic “Catholic” politicians voting for and funding sodomy and baby butchering during the week and then receiving the Body and Blood of Christ on the weekend.
You would think they could squeeze in this grave matter between the “conference budget” and the “presentation by Carolyn Woo” – who is not even a bishop!
It seems there is a lot of ignorance on what a bishop is and what Christ requires of them.
Right?
That issue was “settled” at the USCCB meeting in June 2004.
https://old.usccb.org/bishops/catholicsinpoliticallife.shtml
Wrong.
Some bishops deny communion and some (most) don’t (in violation of Canon 915). So much for “settled”.
More, you link to a USCCB letter signed by a monsignor (not even a bishop). For your edification, the USCCB has absolutely no ecclesiastical authority, and as such has absolutely no authority to “settle” anything. Its pronouncements indeed have no binding value unless and to the extent they are accepted and implemented by individual bishops in their dioceses.
Finally, as even that monsignor-signed letter concedes, as to the issue of denying communion, “such decisions rest with the individual bishop”.
Alas, as much as you would like to see the issue go away, it’s not going to. Dismembering babies is a mortal sin. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And at the Final Judgment.
Yes, the issue is settled. The decision on whether to withhold communion is made by each individual bishop on a case by case basis. (The monsignor who signed the document authorized the publication of it. It was approved by the full body of US bishops in June 2004. )
It sounds to me that some people treat our faith as a law, a book to go by. Heartless men do lack the ability to know when to act right by their faith. If one fears the Lord, they will not hide behind a book or a law to tell them that withholding communion is a personal decision to be made by each individual bishop, no not at all, a bishop who fears the Lord will do what is his moral duty and encourage others to do so as well.
But I only speak this way because of my moral convictions, because I am mum, a wife and someone who takes her faith more seriously, I speak from the heart because I didn’t need to be born a man and made a bishop to know the difference between right and wrong. I love the Lord with all my heart, I fear to hurt Him more…..Oh how I long to see our men in leadership from our church serve Jesus well, it’s a zeal so strong, that it drives me to prayer. Why do men fail to act? I know it’s not all men, but all it takes is the majority and then that could destroy or save a soul. We need more doctors of the faith today, but in order to have them, we must unite and support the few that we have.
Presentation for a proposal to develop a formal statement on pornography?
The souls and the lives of hundreds of individuals have been devastated by the sex abuse scandals. Millions of dollars in payouts. This is outrageous! A PROPOSAL to develop a “formal statement” on pornography? Why wasn’t that already done when the website Sebastian’s Angels was exposed? Will this so called “formal statement” decry the filth that is still being harbored within Church that still needs addressing? This only shows the real truth and that truth is the fact that the Church’s authentic teachings on sexual morality have been abandoned and spiritually neglected for years. This is also why we are still seeing predator scandals within the Church. Will the new “formal statement” refer to child pornography as a “sexual immaturity” as they were labeled in the Diocese of Orange when a predator was reported for having child pornography on their computer? No transparency there…. just more hiding, especially when you strategically change language in order to hide evil. It is no longer called perversion, it is now called “a sexual immaturity.” How about scrapping endless dialogue and talks about the revision of the USCCB handbook with the more important topic of enforcing the proper catechesis of all Catholics so you won’t have to develop new “formal statements” on pornography or pay out even more millions of dollars. How about developing a “formal statement” addressing the great big elephant that is still sitting in the room? How about a proposal to clean house first.
Pornography is a very serious sin. One third of internet traffic is to porn sites. Pornography use is linked to sexual abuse and sexual assault. It is a large factor in kidnapping and human trafficking. It is degrading to those who use it and those who make it. It has become relatively de-stigmatized, with some sexperts even suggesting that it’s use is beneficial. The USCCB (or the NCCB as it was known) has issued statements on pornography before. Perhaps they are updating it since it is now an even bigger problem that affects men, women and children. It destroys the relationships of those who use it and it is a grave sin. I am sure that those who enjoy it or profit from it will say like you do “they should clean their own house.” Tough! Pornography is sinful and the bishops have the duty to teach that.
Anonymous, You will not be able to cavalierly say, “Tough” to Our Lord on Judgement Day.
Taken from Lifesite News
Anonymous please read… ‘German Bishops caught in massive porn scandal – why didn’t they listen to the faithful?’
BY JOHN-HENRY WESTEN
Mon Oct 31, 2011 18:26 ESTTags: German Catholic Bishops, and Pornography
SPIRITUAL NEGLECT IS A VERY SERIOUS SIN!
Sister Lucia of Fatima spoke about the world being swept up in a wave of diabolical disorientation if men do not repent and change the error of their ways.
continued
Anonymous writes, *Perhaps* they are updating it since it is now an even bigger problem that affects men, women and children.”
Anonymous, Pornography has gotten worse. That is ALL the more reason to reject your enabling. your protecting and your denial of years of SPIRITUAL NEGLECT. As the leadership in the Church goes…the world goes.
Pornography is a bigger problem because Our Lord has been unfaithfully abandoned by many of his own apostles. You also prefer to leave Jesus alone in the Garden in order to run off and give aid and comfort to those who are neglectfully slumbering instead of remaining awake and watchful with our Lord. Make no mistake, while you continue to deny and enable those who have scattered the flock, you are not able to hide “anonymously” from God. Our bishops are seriously neglecting the primary duty of safeguarding the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church and Our Lady of Akita called it “COMPROMISE”. Faithful Actions speak so much louder than empty unfulfilled “proposals” and years of SPIRITUAL NEGLECT.
“For the resolutions of the just depend rather on the grace of God than on their own wisdom; and in Him they always put their trust, whatever they take in hand.
For man “proposes”, but God disposes; neither is the way of man in his own hands”.
” Grace is a light superior to Nature, which should direct and preside over it.”
—-Thomas a Kempis
Catherine, there is no bishop in my acquaintance or experience or that I know of from media reports that is guilty of spiritual neglect of his flock. I have worshipped under at least 14 different bishops and your accusation is false for each of them. Even the one of the 14 that resigned under bad circumstances was not guilty of that. I cannot imagine what you think they have done or not done that you accuse them of this and blame them for the increase in pornography use. Sister Lucia was always obedient to the Church and her bishop. Our Lady of Akita told the visionary that she would speak to her through her bishop. I fear you may have come under some bad influences. I pray and hope that you will be extra careful of who you listen to and where you get your information. Bishop bashing is a favorite indoor sport with a great many Catholics. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.”
Anonymous writes, “Catherine, there is no bishop in my acquaintance or experience or that I know of from media reports that is guilty of spiritual neglect of his flock. ”
Anonymous, You just wrote that you have had the wonderful blessing to only *experience* – *worship under* or *be acquainted* with *14* very faithful bishops. Please NAME each and every one of the 14 bishops. BTW, The USCCB website reports *265* active bishops and some are listed on a certain website called Bishop Accountability. org. Are you also in great denial about parents who protect their children from spiritual neglect and incompetency? Should a Catholic simply forget that serial molesters were deliberately hidden and shuffled to new parishes along with heterodoxy running rampant within each diocese? Shame on YOU anonymous, for making light sport of the devastation in the vineyard. Faithful parents are not bashing, they are protecting and when the faithful are still witnessing a serious dereliction of duty when it comes to safeguarding “all” of the authentic teachings of the Catholic faith, then they are being shown why the rotten fruits of the sex abuse scandals took place to begin with. No safeguarding of the faith led to NO safeguarding of the lambs. These rotten fruits go hand in hand. A good tree does not bear rotten fruit. The greatest damage IS spiritual neglect which then gives birth to the rotten fruit of physical and psychological devastation in the vineyard. Denial of the truth only breeds mistrust and repetition of evil.
Taken from the USCCB website:
Bishops
There are 445 active and retired Catholic bishops in the United States:
265 active bishops:
5 Cardinal Archbishops
30 Archbishops
151 Diocesan Bishops
75 Auxiliary Bishops
4 Apostolic or Diocesan Administrators
180 retired bishops:
11 retired Cardinal Archbishops
24 retired Archbishops
100 retired Diocesan Bishops
45 retired Auxiliary Bishops
Once again anonymous, please NAME the fourteen faithful bishops. We would like to praise them individually.
Anonymous then writes: “I pray and hope that you will be extra careful of who you listen to and where you get your information. Bishop bashing is a favorite indoor sport with a great many Catholics. ”
Warning to anonymous! Please don’t call Our Lord a bishop basher.
Warning about false shepherds in the Old Testament:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have been given over to pillage, and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast, for lack of a shepherd; because my shepherds did not look after my sheep, but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep; because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD: I swear I am coming against these shepherds. I will claim my sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will save my sheep, that they may no longer be food for their mouths. (Ezekiel 34:2-10)
Bishops, priests and many Catholics looked the other way and voted in the very individual who is NOW TRAMPLING them underfoot. Spiritual Neglect is the same as “LOSING it’s taste with NO seasoning.” Look at the very costly price of SPIRITUAL NEGLECT. We are LOSING our religious freedom because many completely ignored Jesus’s warning and tap danced right along with the devil. Pornography is a serious sin but have our bishops publicly acknowledged the serious wrongdoing and scandal caused by clergy who are listed on public record for donating money to elect the pro-abortion individual who is also removing our religious freedom?
Jesus was not “bashing” when he WARNED His first bishops, the Apostles, by saying:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “(Matthew 5:13)
Be careful, Anonymous, about the advice that you give with regard to the indoor sport of Catholics. There are many Catholics who also choose to see no evil. Not necessarily because there isn’t any, but because they care little of dealing with the obvious inconsistencies and fall out. Or the perceived lack of ‘niceness’ involved in *manfully* doing one’s duty.
That said, a specific declaration on Pornography seems a trifle ridiculous. Not because Pornography isn’t a serious sin. IT IS! Much like many others that are out there. The same that are skirted around like a stink bug for fear of the bad smell. One mustn’t crush them, after all!!! But what to do??!
In the past there was a more direct method to discourage Pornography’s usage – that is the full and consistent teachings on the reality of HELL. Not our psychological acceptance of the possibility of Hell. Not our hopeful meditations on the ludicrous notion that Hell could really be empty. But the truth! All of it.
There is a Hell. The Devil is real. And impurity of all varieties can land a person there toute suite. So while you may believe very firmly that the Church hierarchy is doing all in its power to shepherd the flock – others see a pack of firefighters withholding the POWER of getting real and speaking out boldly like Bishops of old, like Christ, and like good parents to put the fire out.
At the risk of sounding like a modernist, I’ll give. Pope Francis is right in saying we all need love. So for the love of God, your neighbor, and yourself – cut the special talk, the excessive meetings, and strategy sessions – and speak in all charity about Hell and how to avoid it.
Catherine,
St Paul’s Epistle to Titus: Admonish them to be subject to princes and powers, to obey at a word, to be ready to every good work. [2] To speak evil of no man, not to be litigious, but gentle: shewing all mildness towards all men. [3] For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [4] But when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared: [5] Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost; …But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain. [10] A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid: [11] Knowing that he, that is such an one, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment.
“O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.” Found scribbled on wrapping paper near a dead child at Ravensbruk concentration camp where 92,000 women and children were killed
The Indian region of Orissa suffered a violent persecution against Christians in 2008, at the hands of radical Hindu groups.
Archbishop John Barwa told CNA that during the years of persecution, he and his people were truly afraid and fled to the forest.
“We could escape from death, but it was more important to us to confess our faith in God rather than saving our lives.”
“The persecution taught us to confront our fears and the challenges we have with prayer, conviction and strength, which has made us have a much stronger faith and made us confront our difficulties with greater impetus,” the archbishop explained.
He said the numbers of vocations to the priesthood and to religious life, as well as the number of baptisms in India, have considerably increased since the religious persecution of 2008, because when life is “easy, comfortable and without suffering,” it is “much more difficult to live the faith in a committed way.”
Read more: https://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/World.php?id=8734#ixzz2jeuXsZgz
You are right Father Karl, there are many falsely accused priests, and they have been shafted you would think that an apostle of Christ would come to the aid of his brother apostle… i am so annoyed by the way the men of God have neglected those that bring the true teachings of our lord without blemish… holy men being treated this way… Shame, Shame, Shame …. God knows all things we will all be accountable for our neglect
Peggy, I agree with you about Cardinal Dolan. It was a gross misjudgment on his part when he extended the olive branch to President Obama at the Al Smith Diner in NYC prior to the last election. It gave the Catholic Churches stamp of approval to the President. This is the President who is the most pro abortion to ever sit in the White House. His first act in office was to reinstate the Mexico City Policy. Now the U.S. pays for abortions thru out the world – via the United Nations. Please NO AB Gomez……YES to Bishop Vigneron, Chaput or Lori. True Shepherds of the Flock. They walk the walk and talk the talk!
Bishops’ conferences, which were consultative prior to Vat II, were given a form of independent authority (“juridical binding force”, no.38.4, Christus Dominus decree of Vat II) by the 2nd Vatican Council (supposedly they acting in concert with the “head of the college”, that Pope-guy). This is one of the great time-bombs of Vat II and a demonstrable disaster for the teaching authority of the CC. Kudos, Mcdermott, Fisher, et al.
Wrong.
Bishops’ conferences have zero independent ecclesiastical authority on their own. Their decisions can be binding only if they have been “recognized by the Apostolic See” (CHRISTUS DOMINUS, 38.4). In other words, they need approval from Rome.
That’s why a few years ago the great Bishop Bruskewitz told to the USCCB to stick it when it tried to force his diocese to comply with USCCB sex abuse guidelines. Look it up. It’s a great read!
Please pray for the family and for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Cathy Nienaber, a young and holy mother of 9 who died the morning of October 29th when a semi truck crossed over the line on a turn and hit her minivan killing her instantly. Her 6 year old son, Gerard, was thrown from the car and is in serious but stable condition. Mrs. Nienaber was returning from Daily Mass. Her youngest is 3 and oldest just graduated high school last year. The driver of the semi has been charged with driving under the influence.
https://www.kctv5.com/story/23819484/deputies-1-dead-2-hurt-in-platte-county-crash
Yes Catherine I will keep this family in my prayers. Such a tragedy. They need a lot of love and support especially our prayers. God bless you and thank you for letting us know.
Please keep me in your prayers as well, I was in the ER again and they still have not figured out why I have so much pain. Thank you…God bless you.
Thank you! It is a terrible tragedy. What a painful loss for this family. They will need a lot of love and support and prayers. Abeca, I am so sorry to hear that you are still having pain. That is not easy when you are hurting and the cause of the pain is still a mystery. I will also keep you and your family in my prayers. Thank you for telling us so we can pray for you. Continue to trust in God as you always do Abeca and ask your sweet guardian angel to speak with the sweet guardian angels of your doctors.
Thank you Catherine : ) Will do. God bless you. I offered up my pain, even after I passed out. But I feel better today.
Praying for her and her family, especially her son that was injured, also. Remember, the November indulgences-
Indulgenced Acts for the Poor Souls A partial indulgence can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.
A plenary indulgence, again applicable only the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.
A partial indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, can be obtained when the Eternal Rest (Requiem aeternam) is prayed. This can be prayed all year, but especially during the month of November:
Requiem aeternam dona ei (eis), Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei (eis). Requiescat (-ant) in pace Amen.
Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Amen to that K.. Our prayers are with them. Again we thank Catherine for letting us know. God bless you both.
k, Thank you for your kind post and your prayers for the soul of Cathy Nienaber and her family and yes, especially her injured little son. Thank you also for posting the important reminder of the November indulgences and the importance of praying for all of our deceased loved ones as well as all of the souls in Purgatory.
Just read your post, Catherine. Will add all members of this young mother’s family to our prayer intentions. You too, Abeca. I am sorry to hear of your difficulties – but am sure that you will use this suffrage (the greatest of which can be the unknown) to the benefit of all.
God bless!
Thank you Ann Malley for the prayers for this family. May God continue to bless you and your family too!
Anytime… and thank you!
Thank you Ann Malley….God bless you.
The Pope has called a Synod of Bishops’ meeting for October 2014. To help prepare for that meeting each national conference of bishops has been asked to survey the people in the pews about their thoughts on a wide number of issues. Our bishops (USA) has decided to take the “normal” way of getting feedback to Rome. It will be the ideas of the Bishops’ alone. In other parts of the world web sites have been set up so that people can respond to the questions that the Pope wants discussed. Perhaps at the upcoming meeting the bishops could reverse their position and let the people have a voice. All it takes is a simple bit of technology that takes about ten minutes to activate. What a novel idea it would be if the people had a voice in the upcoming Synod. Or would that take away too much power from the Bishops? It is time for them to take up the Popes call for Bishops to be the servants of the people, not their prices or kings.
Archbishop Chaput, in Denver, approved and defended the removal of two small children who were baptized from a Catholic school for the sole reason that they had two moms. Of course Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14. For this reason alone, he shouldn’t even be considered.
God bless Archbishop Chaput…He did the right thing…Jesus also says that we are not to scandalize these little ones and since there is no such thing as two mums, in the law of the natural from our Lord, Archbishop did the moral and right thing because he is truly obeying God, unlike many here who defend same sex unions. True Charity was to also save those women, who took it upon themselves to have a same sex relationship and bring innocent children into that sort of home life, while many don’t understand but those children are being taken care of by our Lord because of the true noble and loving actions that this Archbishop has done. No one understands the spiritual outcome of things but God will bless and honor actions that honor His most holy name, especially when innocent children are involved. We may not understand it but we must remember the good words of Bishop Fulton Sheen “wrong is wrong, even if everyone is wrong, right is right even if no one is right”. If you can’t understand this, then ask Jesus to fill your heart with humility and meekness, so that the sin that blinds you, will leave you. Honoring God even in the most hardest times, is the best thing to do…that helps us all build character.
“It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.”
~~~Luke 17:2
Do we hate children so much that we would deprive them of the basic sacraments because they have two same sex parents? Do we, and the Archbishop really hate that much? Do we hate the church so much that we would punish children for the sins of the parents? My God is a loving God! Why isn’t yours?
Do you hate children so much, Bob One, that you would have them baptized into the Faith only to be raised in the daily example of that which is against God’s law?
How confusing and cruel.
As for God being a loving God, He IS. That’s why He expects us to follow through with the tenants of the Faith that we profess. Not just recreate Him into ‘my’ god or ‘your’ god so that we can all ‘get along’ and/or attempt to redefine what it is to love.
Ann .. Do you sin? Do you sin daily (I do!) , weekly or even monthly? You have children, right? what kind of example does that set for them? Really! How are you any better as a parent than the two moms in Colorado?
C&H, We are all sinners but the good Archbishop is noble and holy, he is doing his job…. there is nothing wrong with challenging souls to reflect on their sinfulness, so that God’s graces be embraced to help the sinner repent and seek the Lord. It’s for the better example on our youth.
Bob One, you are asking the wrong question and you are also stoning the wrong people… (for the record THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD!) Why isn’t your anger geared at these women who decided to adopt or have children and bring them into a same sex union? You are not honoring and loving God’s words against what scandalizes innocent children. So with your thinking, its OK to scandalize other children too because they too will attend school with these children, they too will see these two mum’s and say… I guess it’s OK, the church is permitting them here.
It’s a tragedy that these two women decided to place these children in that situation, so because this Archbishop is a God fearing holy man, he only did it out of love and hopefully when the children mature and grow up, they will understand the difference. Don’t you see it? It’s the whole picture that we need, the puzzle put together, because everything has its end and we are all accountable, we will have to answer to God! YES OUR GOD IS A LOVING GOD, always, even when HE disciplines us, even when HE temporarily shuns those who turn against HIM until they repent but He opens His arms when they return to Him.
Are you forgetting about the prodigal son? If these are prodigal daughters, just wait and see how much more love our Lord will welcome them when they repent and return.
Bob one also if you are to throw out such comments that try to discredit good people of faith, then do us all a favor and read the replies…if you can’t handle the heat, then don’t throw out those sort of comments because you will bring out the good zeal in many who will stand by the truth!
Beautiful post Abeca!
It is my hope for that reason alone he is elected….
How cruel of these two ‘moms’ to set their children up in such a politically motivated way. Shameful! These adult women know precisely what they’re doing and with whom they are doing it — these children. They’re pushing their agenda, wanting to leverage public sympathy, and trying to change the Church as if it’s some sort of corrupt system. (If they really believe that their union is blessed in the sight of God, why in His green earth would they want their children to be Catholic?)
That’s not love. That’s pushing ‘my’ way because it makes ‘me’ feel good.
Ann Malley, you are falsely accusing people that you don’t even know. They were not trying to advance an agenda. They were trying to keep the promises that they made, when their children were baptized, to raise their children in the Catholic faith.
If these two women truly want to raise their children Catholic, Anonymous, then they should put the needs of the children first. That is – sacrifice – correct their living arrangements.
If they don’t correct their living arrangements, there’s no real commitment for Catholic faith formation. That said, this is a grave disservice to their children.
Either be Catholic or don’t. Live the life or don’t. But don’t drag children into the ridiculous while you ride the fence unwilling to make the obvious choice. That’s life. Choosing. All the time.
And that’s not false accusation, Anonymous, but common sense. One needs to teach in practice as well as instruction. That is why the Bishop did what he did. Out of charity. Not only charity for the children – those of these women and those at the school – but for the good of these women who likely know better already.
Anony you are the one distorting and discrediting Ann…if the good Archbishop took those actions on those two women, then the facts of the story are true and therefore Ann is correct on her assessment! Please stop with all your confusion, it isn’t honoring our Lord at all!
This story was all over the media when it occurred over three years ago and the facts were well known at the time.
Jeanette De Melo, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Denver, issued the following statement in response:
“The couple hasn’t sought out this public attention. They have made clear they want privacy and they desire to move on for the sake of their children. As Archbishop [Charles J. Chaput] explained in his column our decision was made out of consideration for the children. As requested by the couple, and for the good of all involved, we will not say anything further.”
The attitudes that were attributed to them by Mrs. Malley are part of the stereotype of gay and lesbian people.
No that is not true….it was C&H that brought up this news and so your beef should be with C&H and her dissent. Not with Ann…she was just voicing her sentiments in defense of the Archbishop as well. Ann has no agenda. C&H does, its very apparent even an innocent child can see right through that…Anony return to being like a little child and seek the Lord…..
For those who are interested in watching the USCCB conference (Nov 11 -14), all official activities that are not part of an “executive session” will be televised on EWTN.
Pray for our Bishops.
Congratulations to Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz. Good Catholic, good priest, good Bishop and Archbishop. He was very involved in the support of traditional marriage. Champion of the family. A pro-life stalwart. Great love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. Most touching was his devotion to his older brother George who was born with Down’s Syndrome. Archbishop Kurtz and George lived together and took care of each other for a dozen years after the death of their mother. Really loved and respected by all.