A long-awaited grand jury report on sexual abuse by Pennsylvania’s Catholic Clergy has been released.
It is not the complete report.
Legal challenges by Priests named in the report have been successful in having it redacted. Still, these same Priests have expressed problems with how the Attorney General’s office made redactions to it.
The report covers six of the Commonwealth’s eight Catholic dioceses: Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Abuse in the Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown dioceses have been covered in previous reports.
In anticipation of the report, several of the Bishops who are presently in office as well as others, most notably Cardinal Wuerl (who once headed the Pittsburgh Diocese) made public statements in defense of the actions they took to punish abusers and assist victims.
In future posts, I shall attempt to juxtapose those statements with the actual findings of the report.
The report and contains "devastating" evidence against Church leadership.
I believe that we shall see many other State Attorneys General follow in the footsteps of Pennsylvania.
Bishops across the country should be aware that they have been put on notice that the deference once shown them has all but disappeared and can expect unprecedented investigations regarding past and present practices adopted within their dioceses to respond to allegations as well as proven cases of sexual abuse of minors.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
HOMOSEXUAL ICEBERG THREATENS TO SINK THE BARQUE OF PETER
The McCarrick scandal, appears to confirm that a veil of secrecy exists among powerful members of the Episcopacy who have tolerated, if not promoted by their silence, homosexual immorality within the ranks of both Bishops and the Clergy.
But this latest high-profile scandal is only the tip of the iceberg which threatens to sink the Barque of Peter.
Here is just a “partial list” of homosexual assaults and immoral behavior known factually to have been committed by Bishops and Cardinals.
In 1998, Austrian Cardinal Hans Hermann Cardinal Groer was forced to resign over homosexual activity.
In 2013, Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien stepped down over sexual harassment of seminarians and Priests.
Since 2015, the Church in Chile has been wracked by a scandal involving Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno, who is accused of covering up sex crimes committed by his alleged lover, Father Fernando Karadima, one of Chile's most notorious pedophiles.
In May of this year, Chile's Bishops were summoned to the Vatican en masse, where after meeting with Pope Francis, every one offered his resignation.
At present, two Cardinals in Chile (one of whom is on the Pope's Council of Cardinals that oversees reform) are under heavy suspicion for covering up homosexual abuse in their country.
In February 2018, male prostitute Francesco Mangiacapra published a 1,200-page dossier containing the names and photos of 40 of his “clients” — all of them Priests and seminarians paying for sodomy with parishioners' money.
In March, Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron was found guilty of sexual abuse of minors by a canonical panel in Rome. His Clerical status remains intact.
In April, the Vatican, after using diplomatic immunity to shield him from prosecution in Canada, arrested Holy See diplomat Monsignor Carlo Alberto Capella on child pornography charges.
In May, 40 Honduran seminarians published a letter asking Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga to clean up their Tegucigalpa seminary, overrun by a homosexual network. After the letter went public, Cardinal Maradiaga slammed Catholic media for covering the story, but did not deny the presence of a flourishing gay subculture.
In June, Msgr. Luigi Capozzi, Secretary to Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, current head of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and close adviser to the Pope, was arrested while hosting a “cocaine-fueled gay orgy” in his Holy See apartment. The Vatican Press Office refused to comment on the scandal.
In July, Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson resigned over sex abuse cover-up, after being found guilty in a secular trial and handed a prison sentence.
The same month, Honduran Auxiliary Bishop Juan José Pineda resigned over homosexual and financial improprieties.
Again in July, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the release of a Grand Jury report detailing the crimes of more than 300 predator Priests in six of the State's eight Dioceses. The product of a two-year investigation, the nearly 900-page document is being described as "the worst report ever."
Again, this is only a partial list of scandals involving Bishops and Cardinals. To attempt a complete listing would tax the length of this post.
Faithful Catholics, Clergy and lay, will no longer allow the miscreants to get away with their abuse of power.
Priests, following the heroic example of the laity, are beginning to speak up and admit to what they experienced personally as well as their knowledge of improprieties by their Bishops.
Pope Francis needs to understand that a partial and arbitrary response to this corruption will no longer pass muster with Catholics who are quite literally fed up with the scandal and the conspirators who have allowed it to fester.
Faithful Catholics are beginning to demand a thorough housecleaning of the ne’er do wells.
Such a cleansing is long overdue.
I ask that you join with me in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to intervene for the good of the Church, for the restoration of the sanctity and dignity of the Episcopacy, and for the good of souls who have entrusted their spiritual well-being to the care of their Bishops and their Priests.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
But this latest high-profile scandal is only the tip of the iceberg which threatens to sink the Barque of Peter.
Here is just a “partial list” of homosexual assaults and immoral behavior known factually to have been committed by Bishops and Cardinals.
In 1998, Austrian Cardinal Hans Hermann Cardinal Groer was forced to resign over homosexual activity.
In 2013, Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien stepped down over sexual harassment of seminarians and Priests.
Since 2015, the Church in Chile has been wracked by a scandal involving Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno, who is accused of covering up sex crimes committed by his alleged lover, Father Fernando Karadima, one of Chile's most notorious pedophiles.
In May of this year, Chile's Bishops were summoned to the Vatican en masse, where after meeting with Pope Francis, every one offered his resignation.
At present, two Cardinals in Chile (one of whom is on the Pope's Council of Cardinals that oversees reform) are under heavy suspicion for covering up homosexual abuse in their country.
In February 2018, male prostitute Francesco Mangiacapra published a 1,200-page dossier containing the names and photos of 40 of his “clients” — all of them Priests and seminarians paying for sodomy with parishioners' money.
In March, Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron was found guilty of sexual abuse of minors by a canonical panel in Rome. His Clerical status remains intact.
In April, the Vatican, after using diplomatic immunity to shield him from prosecution in Canada, arrested Holy See diplomat Monsignor Carlo Alberto Capella on child pornography charges.
In May, 40 Honduran seminarians published a letter asking Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga to clean up their Tegucigalpa seminary, overrun by a homosexual network. After the letter went public, Cardinal Maradiaga slammed Catholic media for covering the story, but did not deny the presence of a flourishing gay subculture.
In June, Msgr. Luigi Capozzi, Secretary to Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, current head of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts and close adviser to the Pope, was arrested while hosting a “cocaine-fueled gay orgy” in his Holy See apartment. The Vatican Press Office refused to comment on the scandal.
In July, Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson resigned over sex abuse cover-up, after being found guilty in a secular trial and handed a prison sentence.
The same month, Honduran Auxiliary Bishop Juan José Pineda resigned over homosexual and financial improprieties.
Again in July, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered the release of a Grand Jury report detailing the crimes of more than 300 predator Priests in six of the State's eight Dioceses. The product of a two-year investigation, the nearly 900-page document is being described as "the worst report ever."
Again, this is only a partial list of scandals involving Bishops and Cardinals. To attempt a complete listing would tax the length of this post.
Faithful Catholics, Clergy and lay, will no longer allow the miscreants to get away with their abuse of power.
Priests, following the heroic example of the laity, are beginning to speak up and admit to what they experienced personally as well as their knowledge of improprieties by their Bishops.
Pope Francis needs to understand that a partial and arbitrary response to this corruption will no longer pass muster with Catholics who are quite literally fed up with the scandal and the conspirators who have allowed it to fester.
Faithful Catholics are beginning to demand a thorough housecleaning of the ne’er do wells.
Such a cleansing is long overdue.
I ask that you join with me in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to intervene for the good of the Church, for the restoration of the sanctity and dignity of the Episcopacy, and for the good of souls who have entrusted their spiritual well-being to the care of their Bishops and their Priests.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
WHY SUCH CLOSE PAPAL ATTENTION TO CHILE AND NOT ELSEWHERE? CURIOUS, INDEED!
From the Vatican News website:
Pope Francis met on Friday morning with Chilean Bishop Juan Ignacio González of San Bernardo and Ana Maria Celis Brunet, President of the Chilean National Council for Abuse Prevention and the Care for Victims.
The meeting took place at the Pope's residence in the Casa Santa Marta.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office said the purpose of the meeting was "to update each other and exchange opinions on the steps being taken in Chile to address the cases of abuse and ensure they never happen again."
A key part of their discussions focused on the suffering of the victims and their need to find consolation and redress.
The statement said Pope Francis has paid close attention to every step taken by the Chilean Bishops' Conference, and expressed the Pope's desire "that all questions be clarified in order to give a just response to all."
Certainly, the Holy Father is to be commended for his diligence in overseeing the efforts the Chilean Bishops’ Conference is taking collectively and each Bishop individually to address the crimes committed against children and youth and to see that justice is done toward the victims as well.
What remains curious indeed is the Pope’s lack of equivalent response in the case of the recent scandals related to Cardinal McCarrick and the secrecy with which they were protected by Clergy in positions of authority and influence.
On account of this disparity of Papal oversight, Pope Francis’ actions seem arbitrary and whimsical.
The People of God everywhere have a right to equal protection and equal justice, a right Pope Francis continues to deny them by not establishing universal protocols to be employed in the event of criminal misdeeds by all Clergy, no matter their ecclesiastical rank or status.
Thus far, Pope Francis’ engagement and response has been far from laudatory.
We continue to pray that the Holy Spirit inspire him to understand the gravity of the scandals and to establish a pathway by which they may be reconciled and resolved.
Pope Francis met on Friday morning with Chilean Bishop Juan Ignacio González of San Bernardo and Ana Maria Celis Brunet, President of the Chilean National Council for Abuse Prevention and the Care for Victims.
The meeting took place at the Pope's residence in the Casa Santa Marta.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office said the purpose of the meeting was "to update each other and exchange opinions on the steps being taken in Chile to address the cases of abuse and ensure they never happen again."
A key part of their discussions focused on the suffering of the victims and their need to find consolation and redress.
The statement said Pope Francis has paid close attention to every step taken by the Chilean Bishops' Conference, and expressed the Pope's desire "that all questions be clarified in order to give a just response to all."
Certainly, the Holy Father is to be commended for his diligence in overseeing the efforts the Chilean Bishops’ Conference is taking collectively and each Bishop individually to address the crimes committed against children and youth and to see that justice is done toward the victims as well.
What remains curious indeed is the Pope’s lack of equivalent response in the case of the recent scandals related to Cardinal McCarrick and the secrecy with which they were protected by Clergy in positions of authority and influence.
On account of this disparity of Papal oversight, Pope Francis’ actions seem arbitrary and whimsical.
The People of God everywhere have a right to equal protection and equal justice, a right Pope Francis continues to deny them by not establishing universal protocols to be employed in the event of criminal misdeeds by all Clergy, no matter their ecclesiastical rank or status.
Thus far, Pope Francis’ engagement and response has been far from laudatory.
We continue to pray that the Holy Spirit inspire him to understand the gravity of the scandals and to establish a pathway by which they may be reconciled and resolved.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
LAY PANEL NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE BISHOPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MCCARICK SCANDAL: TWO BISHOPS BOLDLY SPEAK OUT
The Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger was named by Pope Francis as the tenth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, succeeding the Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard. He was ordained to the episcopacy on April 10, 2014, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
For his Episcopal Motto, Bishop Scharfenberger chose a line from the Prayer of St. Francis: “Lord, make me a channel of your peace.”
In recent days, Bishop Scharfenberger has emerged from relatively obscurity into the bright light of public attention as he has forcefully challenged the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to conduct an internal investigation into the handling of allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick,
The Bishop has stated that such an inquiry be spearheaded by laypeople.
“I think we have reached a point where Bishops alone investigating Bishops is not the answer. To have credibility, a panel would have to be separated from any source of power whose trustworthiness might potentially be compromised,” Bishop Scharfenberger stated.
In his August 6th statement, the Bishop said he was “heartened by my brother Bishops proposing ways for our church to take action in light of recent revelations” and he agreed a national panel should be commissioned, duly approved by the Holy See insisting, however, that laypeople had a crucial role to play in this critical investigation.
Bishop Scharfenberger said what is currently needed is “an independent commission led by well-respected, faithful lay leaders who are beyond reproach, people whose role on such a panel will not serve to benefit them financially, politically or personally. These will be people with a deep understanding of the Catholic faith, but without an axe to grind or an agenda to push. It will not be easy, but it will be worth every ounce of effort, energy and candor we can muster.”
Bishop Scharfenberger was joined in his sentiments by Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of Tucson, who similarly called for further action, saying in an August 1st statement that it is important for the USCCB to review the’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” to address Clergy abuse.
"The Charter needs to ensure that procedures and practices are in place to hold Clergy, employees, volunteers and Bishops to the same level of accountability," he said.
More recognizable members of the USCCB, Cardinals Cupich and Wuerl, have called upon the Conference to establish an internal process by which Bishops will investigate claims of abuse or cover up by other Bishops.
As one pundit put it, "This is the proverbial case of having the fox guard the chickens."
Bishops Scharfenberger and Weisenburger on are the right track and will hopefully maintain their zeal to insure that Bishops are held accountable to the same process of investigate and sanction that they eagerly laid upon the backs of Priests, Deacons as well as Church employees and volunteers by way of the Dallas Charter.
Not to have included themselves in the process put forth by the Charter was appalling, the height of arrogance.
That hubris has come full circle to bite them on their Episcopal backsides. And rightly so.
For its part, the Vatican has yet to engage the subject in any meaningful way.
And faithful Catholics and Clergy are left to wonder why such silence!
The People of God are waiting and watching.
The credibility and moral authority of the Church itself hangs in the balance.
For his Episcopal Motto, Bishop Scharfenberger chose a line from the Prayer of St. Francis: “Lord, make me a channel of your peace.”
In recent days, Bishop Scharfenberger has emerged from relatively obscurity into the bright light of public attention as he has forcefully challenged the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to conduct an internal investigation into the handling of allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct against Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick,
The Bishop has stated that such an inquiry be spearheaded by laypeople.
“I think we have reached a point where Bishops alone investigating Bishops is not the answer. To have credibility, a panel would have to be separated from any source of power whose trustworthiness might potentially be compromised,” Bishop Scharfenberger stated.
In his August 6th statement, the Bishop said he was “heartened by my brother Bishops proposing ways for our church to take action in light of recent revelations” and he agreed a national panel should be commissioned, duly approved by the Holy See insisting, however, that laypeople had a crucial role to play in this critical investigation.
Bishop Scharfenberger said what is currently needed is “an independent commission led by well-respected, faithful lay leaders who are beyond reproach, people whose role on such a panel will not serve to benefit them financially, politically or personally. These will be people with a deep understanding of the Catholic faith, but without an axe to grind or an agenda to push. It will not be easy, but it will be worth every ounce of effort, energy and candor we can muster.”
Bishop Scharfenberger was joined in his sentiments by Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of Tucson, who similarly called for further action, saying in an August 1st statement that it is important for the USCCB to review the’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” to address Clergy abuse.
"The Charter needs to ensure that procedures and practices are in place to hold Clergy, employees, volunteers and Bishops to the same level of accountability," he said.
More recognizable members of the USCCB, Cardinals Cupich and Wuerl, have called upon the Conference to establish an internal process by which Bishops will investigate claims of abuse or cover up by other Bishops.
As one pundit put it, "This is the proverbial case of having the fox guard the chickens."
Bishops Scharfenberger and Weisenburger on are the right track and will hopefully maintain their zeal to insure that Bishops are held accountable to the same process of investigate and sanction that they eagerly laid upon the backs of Priests, Deacons as well as Church employees and volunteers by way of the Dallas Charter.
Not to have included themselves in the process put forth by the Charter was appalling, the height of arrogance.
That hubris has come full circle to bite them on their Episcopal backsides. And rightly so.
For its part, the Vatican has yet to engage the subject in any meaningful way.
And faithful Catholics and Clergy are left to wonder why such silence!
The People of God are waiting and watching.
The credibility and moral authority of the Church itself hangs in the balance.
FATHER JAMES MARTIN TO SPEAK AT WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018
You may have noticed from the preceding article that, for possibly the first time in history, homosexual issues will be on the agenda of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) organized by the Catholic Church.
And the Priest giving the talk, Father James Martin, says it was proposed by the Vatican.
This would marks an historic step by the Catholic Church regarding the homosexual community.
His lecture, about welcoming homosexual couples and their families into parishes, will take place between August 21 and 24, according to the WMOF’s official program. It will be held before Pope Francis’ visit on the final two days of the event.
Nearly 10,000 people have called for the removal of Father Martin from the program. The petition was created by the Tradition Family Property (TFP), which opposes abortion and same-sex marriage.
The World Meeting of Families is a major event in the Roman Catholic calendar, and is attended by a number of senior figures from the Catholic Church. It focuses on the importance of Marriage and family life.
“I’m not bothered much by protests or petitions motivated by hatred and homophobia,” Father Martin said, “because the hatred and homophobia are rooted mainly in fear. Fear of the LGBT person as the ‘other.’ Fear of what might happen if we listen to the experience of LGBT Catholics. And, often, fear of one’s own complicated sexuality,” he added.
He continued: “In the New Testament we read that perfect love drives out fear. Absolutely. But I would also add that perfect fear drives out love. That’s what we’re seeing here – because nothing in my book goes against any church teaching. But what kind of person would I be if I let fear dissuade me from loving? So I’m looking forward to my talk at the World Meeting of Families, and I’m grateful for the Vatican for inviting me.”
Father Martin said he is impassioned about about including homosexuals and transgender people in the Church.
“The main reason that I’ve become involved in LGBT issues is because LGBT people are part of the Church, and so they deserve to be cared for,” he said. “They are also the most marginalised group in the Catholic Church and for that reason they deserve special care and attention.”
The homosexual community believes that progress on LGBT+ issues within the Catholic Church has been slow, but there has recently been some indication that the Church, under Pope Francis, is, in their opinion, “modernizing”.
I suppose they mean the Church is on the path (they hope for and demand) to affirming homosexuality as just one many authentic expressions of human sexuality.
If Father Martin’s presence at the WMOF is any indication, the homosexual community may just be correct.
To that extent, I find his presence at a conference established to reinforce Church teaching regarding the sanctity of Marriage and the family just a bit more than confusing and disturbing.
Of course, there is a pastoral dimension to what Father Martin is proposing but what same-sex relationships have to do with Marriage is certainly perplexing, to me at least.
Of course, the Church needs to address the circumstances of people active in the homosexual lifestyle.
But why address that issue in the context of Marriage? Doesn't this imply a moral equivalency in the nature of the marital and same-sex relationship?
I find Father Martin's presence and the themes of his presentations at the WMOF perplexing, if not disturbing.
What thinkest you?
And the Priest giving the talk, Father James Martin, says it was proposed by the Vatican.
This would marks an historic step by the Catholic Church regarding the homosexual community.
His lecture, about welcoming homosexual couples and their families into parishes, will take place between August 21 and 24, according to the WMOF’s official program. It will be held before Pope Francis’ visit on the final two days of the event.
Nearly 10,000 people have called for the removal of Father Martin from the program. The petition was created by the Tradition Family Property (TFP), which opposes abortion and same-sex marriage.
The World Meeting of Families is a major event in the Roman Catholic calendar, and is attended by a number of senior figures from the Catholic Church. It focuses on the importance of Marriage and family life.
“I’m not bothered much by protests or petitions motivated by hatred and homophobia,” Father Martin said, “because the hatred and homophobia are rooted mainly in fear. Fear of the LGBT person as the ‘other.’ Fear of what might happen if we listen to the experience of LGBT Catholics. And, often, fear of one’s own complicated sexuality,” he added.
He continued: “In the New Testament we read that perfect love drives out fear. Absolutely. But I would also add that perfect fear drives out love. That’s what we’re seeing here – because nothing in my book goes against any church teaching. But what kind of person would I be if I let fear dissuade me from loving? So I’m looking forward to my talk at the World Meeting of Families, and I’m grateful for the Vatican for inviting me.”
Father Martin said he is impassioned about about including homosexuals and transgender people in the Church.
“The main reason that I’ve become involved in LGBT issues is because LGBT people are part of the Church, and so they deserve to be cared for,” he said. “They are also the most marginalised group in the Catholic Church and for that reason they deserve special care and attention.”
The homosexual community believes that progress on LGBT+ issues within the Catholic Church has been slow, but there has recently been some indication that the Church, under Pope Francis, is, in their opinion, “modernizing”.
I suppose they mean the Church is on the path (they hope for and demand) to affirming homosexuality as just one many authentic expressions of human sexuality.
If Father Martin’s presence at the WMOF is any indication, the homosexual community may just be correct.
To that extent, I find his presence at a conference established to reinforce Church teaching regarding the sanctity of Marriage and the family just a bit more than confusing and disturbing.
Of course, there is a pastoral dimension to what Father Martin is proposing but what same-sex relationships have to do with Marriage is certainly perplexing, to me at least.
Of course, the Church needs to address the circumstances of people active in the homosexual lifestyle.
But why address that issue in the context of Marriage? Doesn't this imply a moral equivalency in the nature of the marital and same-sex relationship?
I find Father Martin's presence and the themes of his presentations at the WMOF perplexing, if not disturbing.
What thinkest you?
Friday, August 10, 2018
PASTORAL PROGRAM OF WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018 ANNOUNCED
Highlights from the Pastoral Program in Dublin from 21 to 24 August 2018.
Of the 200 announced speakers, 91 are lay women, 65 are lay men and 44 are Clergy/Religious.
The largest group are couples. This a lay-led, couples-led program.
It is an international program, with speakers from all five main continents of the world.
Amoris Laetitia is the guiding theme of all three days of the Pastoral Congress and of all the topics chosen.
This is the first WMOF to have a specific workshop on Safeguarding Minors.
Other themes include:
* The future of Marriage preparation in Parishes.
* Finding new ways of the joy of commitment and sacramental marriage in today’s culture.
* The challenges of handing on faith in the home today.
* Finding new language to affirm the joy, beauty and goodness of sexual love within Marriage.
* The importance of solidarity between the generations in family.
* Exploring the impact of technology on the family.
* Exploring the key role of the family in caring for ‘our common home’, the earth.
* Looking at the relationship between business and the family.
* Exploring the relationship between sport and the family.
* What does Pope Francis mean by the ‘Throwaway Culture?’ (Address by Cardinal Tagle).
* The link between the family and the forthcoming Synod on Vocational Discernment.
* Looking at key challenges faced by many families today, including:
* Homelessness
* Addiction
* Domestic Violence
* Displacement as Migrants and Refugees.
* Disability.
* Separation and Divorce.
* Exploring how Parishes can support those families with members who identify as LGBTI+ (presentation by James Martin SJ)
* The joy of belonging to a family reflect in contemporary interest in our genealogies.
* The vocation of fatherhood in today’s world.
* There will be fun cookery demonstrations with faith and family themes.
Some additional speakers/panellists will be announced over coming weeks, particularly in the area of technology and the family and the family and sport.
Of the 200 announced speakers, 91 are lay women, 65 are lay men and 44 are Clergy/Religious.
The largest group are couples. This a lay-led, couples-led program.
It is an international program, with speakers from all five main continents of the world.
Amoris Laetitia is the guiding theme of all three days of the Pastoral Congress and of all the topics chosen.
This is the first WMOF to have a specific workshop on Safeguarding Minors.
Other themes include:
* The future of Marriage preparation in Parishes.
* Finding new ways of the joy of commitment and sacramental marriage in today’s culture.
* The challenges of handing on faith in the home today.
* Finding new language to affirm the joy, beauty and goodness of sexual love within Marriage.
* The importance of solidarity between the generations in family.
* Exploring the impact of technology on the family.
* Exploring the key role of the family in caring for ‘our common home’, the earth.
* Looking at the relationship between business and the family.
* Exploring the relationship between sport and the family.
* What does Pope Francis mean by the ‘Throwaway Culture?’ (Address by Cardinal Tagle).
* The link between the family and the forthcoming Synod on Vocational Discernment.
* Looking at key challenges faced by many families today, including:
* Homelessness
* Addiction
* Domestic Violence
* Displacement as Migrants and Refugees.
* Disability.
* Separation and Divorce.
* Exploring how Parishes can support those families with members who identify as LGBTI+ (presentation by James Martin SJ)
* The joy of belonging to a family reflect in contemporary interest in our genealogies.
* The vocation of fatherhood in today’s world.
* There will be fun cookery demonstrations with faith and family themes.
Some additional speakers/panellists will be announced over coming weeks, particularly in the area of technology and the family and the family and sport.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
THE SAD REALITY: ABORTION IS HERE TO STAY
Senators in Argentina voted against a bill that would have legalized abortion on demand until week 14 of a pregnancy early Thursday morning, following a marathon session that came as the latest twist in a three-month national debate marked with massive public rallies both in favor and against the measure.
The final tally in Argentina’s Senate was 38 votes again the measure, with 31 in favor. Two senators abstained from voting, and one other was absent.
Of course, the secular press was quick to “blame” the Catholic Church for continuing to expose women to dangerous clandenstine abortion procedures that would result in their deaths.
For its part, Catholic media touted the vote as a political victory for the Church whose moral voice has been muted in large part due to scandals involving Clerical sexual abuse and its cover up by the hierarchy.
Sadly, here’s my take on all the political grandstanding that has revolved around abortion here in the United States and other places around the world.
The simple fact is this: whether abortion is legalized or not, there will never be a criminal conviction of any woman who procures an abortion nor of any doctor or health care professional who assists in performing the procedure.
We ought to stop pretending that a Right to Life Amendment will put an end to abortions in this country.
No prosecutor would issue a warrant for arrest or apply for an indictment for trail. And even if there were the exceptional prosecutor who would attempt to try such a case, no jury could be seated which would render a verdict of guilty, and no judge found to impose a criminal sentence.
The sheer weight of public opinion falls in favor of what Blessed Pope Paul VI referred to as “a culture of death” which pervades modern society when it comes to abortion.
I believe the best we can hope to do is discourage women from seeking abortion by providing alternatives which inspire a choice for life.
I believe the Church and those opposed to abortion should continue to educate and inform society about the evil of ending the life of the unborn as well as the devastating physical and pyschological scars which persist long afterward.
But allowing the abortion issue to be a political football is a waste of energy and resource.
I wish it were not so, but I confess that this is where we are and will forever remain here in America and in other parts of the globe.
Dear God, forgive us this terrible sin and inspire us to touch the hearts of mothers and fathers to protect the life of their unborn children and nurture them in an atmosphere of love and care all their lives.
Dear Holy Spirit, let it be so.
The final tally in Argentina’s Senate was 38 votes again the measure, with 31 in favor. Two senators abstained from voting, and one other was absent.
Of course, the secular press was quick to “blame” the Catholic Church for continuing to expose women to dangerous clandenstine abortion procedures that would result in their deaths.
For its part, Catholic media touted the vote as a political victory for the Church whose moral voice has been muted in large part due to scandals involving Clerical sexual abuse and its cover up by the hierarchy.
Sadly, here’s my take on all the political grandstanding that has revolved around abortion here in the United States and other places around the world.
The simple fact is this: whether abortion is legalized or not, there will never be a criminal conviction of any woman who procures an abortion nor of any doctor or health care professional who assists in performing the procedure.
We ought to stop pretending that a Right to Life Amendment will put an end to abortions in this country.
No prosecutor would issue a warrant for arrest or apply for an indictment for trail. And even if there were the exceptional prosecutor who would attempt to try such a case, no jury could be seated which would render a verdict of guilty, and no judge found to impose a criminal sentence.
The sheer weight of public opinion falls in favor of what Blessed Pope Paul VI referred to as “a culture of death” which pervades modern society when it comes to abortion.
I believe the best we can hope to do is discourage women from seeking abortion by providing alternatives which inspire a choice for life.
I believe the Church and those opposed to abortion should continue to educate and inform society about the evil of ending the life of the unborn as well as the devastating physical and pyschological scars which persist long afterward.
But allowing the abortion issue to be a political football is a waste of energy and resource.
I wish it were not so, but I confess that this is where we are and will forever remain here in America and in other parts of the globe.
Dear God, forgive us this terrible sin and inspire us to touch the hearts of mothers and fathers to protect the life of their unborn children and nurture them in an atmosphere of love and care all their lives.
Dear Holy Spirit, let it be so.
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