Monthly Archives: July 2012

Martyrology-August 2nd Roman Martyrology-August 2nd- on this date in various years- St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, founder of the Congregation of our most Holy Redeemer, bishop of Santa Agata dei Goti, confessor and doctor of the Church, who fell asleep in the Lord on the previous day. At Rome, in the cemetery of Callistus, the birthday of St. Stephen I, pope and martyr. In the persecution of Valerian, the soldiers suddenly entered while he was saying Mass, but remaining before the altar, Read more [...]

Religious Persecution Begins, Targets College Students blog.cardinalnewmansociety.org/2012/07/31/religious-persecution-begins-targets-college-students/ The Cardinal Newman Society, a national organization to help renew and strengthen Catholic identity in Catholic higher education, issued the following statement: August 1, 2012, marks the formal beginning of the persecution of Catholic colleges and universities that wish to remain faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Read more [...]

Historian says scandal sapped strength of Catholic witness in US CWN – July 30, 2012 Historian Philip Jenkins suggests that the Catholic Church might be opening new parishes all over America today, if not for the devastating financial impact of the sex-abuse scandal. Jenkins argues convincingly that Catholic prelates have been hampered in their public role as teachers on some critical issues—particularly on same-sex marriage—because the scandal made it so uncomfortable for Church leaders Read more [...]

Kenya’s bishops decry international push for contraception CWN – July 31, 2012 The bishops of Kenya have decried renewed international efforts to promote contraception in Africa. Contraception, the bishops write, “is both dehumanizing and goes against the teaching of the Church, especially in a country like Kenya where a majority of the people are Christians and God fearing. It already threatens the moral fabric of the society and is an insult to the dignity and integrity of the human Read more [...]

New CDF prefect: relativism leads to ‘intolerance of God’ CWN – July 30, 2012 The Vatican’s publishing house has released a book by the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The book is devoted to Pope Benedict’s controversial 2006 Regensburg address on faith, reason, and the university. Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller was bishop of Regensburg at the time of the address. “At the lesson in Regensberg Benedict XVI once again highlighted the syntheses Read more [...]

Vatican newspaper raps Gates Foundation, Nestle for exploiting needy women CWN – July 30, 2012 The Vatican newspaper has published an editorial sharply criticizing international foundations and corporations that promote contraception in the Third World. The editorial specifically targets the Gates Foundation and Nestle Corporation. Melinda Gates is “slight off the mark and confused” in her advocacy, argues the editorial, signed by Giulia Galeotti. L’Osservatore Romano says that the Read more [...]

Martyrology-August 1st Roman Martyrology-August 1st- on this date in various years- At Rome, on the Esquiline, the Dedication of the Church of St. Peter in Chains. At Antioch, the martyrdom of the seven brothers, the holy Machabees, martyrs, and their mother, who suffered under King Antiochus Epiphanes. Their relics were transferred to Rome, and placed in the church or St. Peter in Chains. At Vercelli, St. Eusebius, bishop and martyr, who, for the confession of the Catholic faith was Read more [...]

Irish Catholic Church Must Oppose Planned Parenthood Abortion Agenda by John Smeaton | Dublin, Ireland | LifeNews.com | 7/30/12 www.lifenews.com/2012/07/30/irish-catholic-church-must-oppose-planned-parenthood-abortion-agenda/ Tony O’Brien (pictured), one of the leading campaigners for the legalization of abortion in Ireland, and formerly chief executive of the Irish Family Planning Association, has been appointed Director General of Ireland’s Health Service Executive. The Irish Read more [...]

Judge says Arizona’s abortion ban can take effect Read more: www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/30/judge-says-arizona-abortion-ban-can-take-effect/#Judge says Arizona’s abortion ban can take effect Published July 30, 2012 Associated Press PHOENIX – Arizona’s ban on abortions starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy will take effect this week as scheduled after a federal judge ruled Monday that the new law is constitutional. U.S. District Judge James Teilborg said the statute may prompt Read more [...]

Detroit Priest Campaigns For Pro-Abort Congressman on Radio Tancred The Eponymous Flower 7/28/12 eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2012/07/detroit-priest-campaigns-for-pro-abort.html Edit: Some things never change. Sometimes, Liberal prelates and priests have their hands slapped for their indefensible political mongering for the Left, but they usually return to their business after a brief wait. That certainly has been true of Chicago’s Father Pfleger. It’s no less true for Fr. Norman Read more [...]

Mundabor has a good post on Our Lady of Quito, well worth the read for these times. mundabor.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/our-lady-of-quito-our-lady-of-good-success/ Our Lady Of Quito – Our Lady Of Good Success JUL 29 Mundabor A double image of Our Lady Of Quito/ Our Lady Of Good Success. This is not a scam in Medjugorje style, or a pious fantasy of old maids with an excitable fantasy. This apparition took place at the beginning of the XVI century, and was approved by the Read more [...]

Martyrology-July 31st Roman Martyrology-July 31st- on this date in various years- At Rome, the birthday of St. Ignatius, priest and confessor, founder of the Society of Jesus, renowned for sanctity and miracles, and most zealous for propagating the Catholic religion in all parts of the world. Pope Pius XI declared him to be the heavenly patron of all spiritual retreats. At Milan, during the persecution of Antoninus, St. Calimerius, bishop and martyr, who was arrested, covered with wounds, Read more [...]

[EWTN heavyweight admits Medjugorje is lightweight] Father Mitch Pacwa: Lack of any Spiritual Depth to the Messages May be the Unraveling of Medjugorje By GREG GARRISON – Religion News Service 7/28/12 www.sanctepater.com/2012/07/father-mitch-pacwa-lack-of-any.html [Father Mitch] Pacwa said there is no chance for the visions to get approval while they’re still going on, and it’s a long shot even after they stop. One quirk that emerged was when two of the Medjugorje visionaries Read more [...]

[Another USCCCP agency continues to fund Obamandate advocacy groups] No permanent allies for ‘community organizers’ Continued Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants to Alinskyian organizing funds support of ant-Catholic HHS Mandate. Thursday, July 26, 2012 By Stephanie Block www.speroforum.com/a/ALGEZQVFUP27/72988-No-permanent-allies-for-community-organizers “[O]ne of the hard things we’ve always had to learn in the world as it is, is that there are no permanent enemies Read more [...]

Martyrology-July 30th Roman Martyrology-July 30th- on this date in various years- At Rome, in the reign of Decius, the holy Persian martyrs Abdon and Sennen, who were bound with chains, brought to Rome, scourged with leaded whips for the faith of Christ, and then put to the sword. At Assisi in Umbria, St. Rufinus, martyr. At Tuberbum Lucernarium in Africa, the holy virgins and martyrs Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda. The first two, in the persecution of Valerian and Gallienus, were forced Read more [...]

Another “continuing” (i.e., traditional) Anglican bishop will remain a continuing Anglican (i.e., not enter the Catholic Church despite his previous agreement to do such along with his fellow continuing Anglican bishops)] [Traditional Anglican] Archbishop Falk [and What Remains of His Flock] Will Not Be Joining Ordinariate Posted on July 27, 2012 by Deborah Gyapong www.theanglocatholic.com/2012/07/archbishop-falk-will-not-be-joining-ordinariate/ From Fr. Chori Seraiah’s blog [a former Read more [...]

[Head of American Anglican-use Catholic Ordinariate (former Episcopal bishop) no friend of traditional Catholics] More Ordinariate Disappointment Posted on July 27, 2012 by Christian Clay Columba Campbell www.theanglocatholic.com/2012/07/more-ordinariate-disappointment/ This statement [concerning the temporary location of the traditional Gregory the Great Academy at an Anglican-use Catholic parish: See first comment below] has been approved by the Personal Ordinariate and posted Read more [...]

Martyrology-July 29th Roman Martyrology-July 29th- on this date in various years- At Tarascon, in the province of Narbonne in France, St. Martha, virgin, the hostess of our Saviour and sister of blessed Mary Magdalene and St. Lazarus. At Rome, on the Aurelian Way, St. Felix II, pope and martyr. Being expelled from his See by the Arian emperor Constantius for defending the Catholic faith, and being put to the sword privately at Cera in Tuscany, he died gloriously. His body was taken away Read more [...]

Georgia Catholic bishops withhold support from non-binding Personhood ballot question by Kathleen Gilbert www.lifesitenews.com/news/georgia-catholic-bishops-withhold-support-from-non-binding-personhood-ballo ATLANTA, July 26, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As Georgia Republicans prepare for a primary ballot question on whether human life begins at conception, Catholic Church leaders are withholding key support for the measure, a move that one state pro-life leader says is based on a misguided Read more [...]

HHS birth control mandate goes into effect on August 1 for businesses [except ...] by Ben Johnson www.lifesitenews.com/news/the-hhs-mandate-goes-into-effect-next-on-august-1-for-businesses WASHINGTON, D.C., July 27, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Starting next week, American business owners “will be the casualties of an unprecedented war on religious freedom,” according to Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. That is when the HHS mandate – which requires private Read more [...]

[USCCCP into liberal social ecumenism again] [Representative] Michele Bachmann endangers religious freedom, claim [liberal] religious and secular groups [including US Catholic bishops] July 27, 2012 www.jta.org/news/article/2012/07/27/3101976/michele-bachmann-endangers-religious-freedom-claim-religious-and-secular-groups (JTA) – Jewish groups were among the 42 religious and secular organizations that told five members of Congress that their recent allegations of Muslim Brotherhood Read more [...]

Americanism and Pluralism What exactly is meant by religious freedom and what are its implications? Michael Voris The Vortex 07-27-2012 [N.B. The author of the papal encyclical "Quas Primas" should read "Pius XI" not "Pius IX"] Transcript www.churchmilitant.tv/scripts/vort-2012-07-27.pdf Hello everyone and welcome to The Vortex where lies and falsehoods are trapped and exposed. I’m Michael Voris coming to you from St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Its been a much Read more [...]

Can the Church recapture dissident ‘Catholic’ universities? By Phil Lawler | July 27, 2012 www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=929 Most Catholic Culture readers, I suspect, were delighted (as I was) to hear the news that the Vatican has stripped the “Catholic” and “Pontifical” titles from the institution known as the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. I was delighted, too. What a refreshing change, to see ecclesiastical authorities finally rejecting the Read more [...]

Petition drive urges vigorous preaching of Humanae Vitae CWN – July 27, 2012 A lay Catholic group has organized a nationwide petition drive, encouraging American bishops to promote forthright teaching on the Church’s stand regarding contraception. The Bellarmine Forum [formerly The Wanderer Forum] hopes to collect 1 million signatures on its petition, which expresses gratitude for the teaching contained most notably in Humanae Vitae, and promises support for the bishops in “their efforts Read more [...]

[Hat-tip to Cindy] Major League Soccer All-Star Rediscovers Beauty of Catholic Faith Columbus Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven pursues soccer career with proper perspective. BY TRENT BEATTIE Posted 7/25/12 www.ncregister.com/daily-news/mls-all-star-rediscovers-beauty-of-catholic-faith Eddie Gaven holds newly baptized son while St. Joseph looks on. Eddie Gaven is in his 10th season of Major League Soccer. His career includes an MLS All-Star Game appearance in 2004 and an MLS Cup Read more [...]

New Catholic liturgy receives mixed reviews July 27, 2012 12:00 am By Ann Rodgers / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Church musicians gave a lukewarm assessment of the new Catholic liturgy this week at a national gathering of pastoral musicians Downtown, but said that priests who worked hard to make it successful were able to bring new levels of meaning and participation to the Mass. “One of the things I got most perturbed about with my own colleagues was the pronouncement of failure before Read more [...]

By Deacon Keith Fournier 7/27/2012 Catholic Online Link to original CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) – Next Wednesday, August 1, 2012, I intend to eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich and participate in the National Day of Appreciation for Chick-fil-A.  I hope you join me and thousands of others in responding to the invitation of former Senator Rick Santorum, former Governor Mike Huckabee and Rev. Billy Graham and do the same. I have long admired Chick-fil-A. It was founded over thirty years ago Read more [...]

Source: Deutsche Welle Religion Historic French churches face demolition The French government appropriated all church property in 1907 – including the cost of maintaining them. Increasing numbers of local authorities cannot or will not renovate their churches, as some face demolition. Lucy Patier shows me round Sainte Marguerite’s church with the tenderness of someone showing you a family photo album. From the smile on the face of the statue of Saint Antoine to the plaque Read more [...]

[AmChurch sending more mixed messages] Maryland referendum on illegal immigration makes strange bedfellows by Pat Perriello on Jul. 26, 2012 National Catholic Reporter ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/maryland-referendum-illegal-immigration-makes-strange-bedfellows The 2012 election cycle in Maryland will be the year of the referenda. The state could be becoming the California of the East Coast with all the measures that are heading for referendum in November. Petitions have resulted Read more [...]

[The bishops have no one to blame but themselves for sending another mixed message concerning Obama; it will be a great photo opportunity for him; they should rename it the Alfred E. Neuman Dinner] President Obama accepts invitation to Alfred E. Smith Foundation Dinner by Tom Gallagher on Jul. 26, 2012 National Catholic Reporter ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/president-obama-accepts-invitation-alfred-e-smith-foundation-dinner The 2008 dinner with then-Cardinal Egan of New York As Read more [...]

US bishops’ point man on same-sex marriage named new Archbishop of San Francisco CWN – July 27, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Salvatore Cordileone the new Archbishop of San Francisco. Born in 1956, Bishop Cordileone was ordained a priest of the Diocese of San Diego in 1982 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego in 2002. He was named Bishop of Oakland in 2009. Recognized as a leading force behind the 2008 passage of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that defined marriage Read more [...]

Precious Blood, Holy Grail Posted By Charles A. Coulombe On July 26, 2012 Medieval romances generally fell into four categories: the Matter of Rome [1], which dealt with such classical heroes as Alexander the Great [2] and Julius Caesar [3]; the Matter of France [4], whose tales were inhabited by Charlemagne [5] and such heroes as his nephew Roland [6]; the Matter of Britain [7], which encompasses the Arthurian legends [8]; and the Crusade Cycle [9], which dealt with the doings of Godefroi Read more [...]

[Communist Chinese] Govt punishes Heilongjiang priests Reprisals against clergy who resisted illicit ordination July 26, 2012 www.ucanews.com/2012/07/26/govt-punishes-heilongjiang-priests/ The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Harbin (with trendy balloons and banners) where the illicit ordination took place on July 6 The government is exacting revenge against seven priests in Heilongjiang province who resisted the illicit episcopal ordination of Father Joseph Yue Fusheng in Harbin Read more [...]

Priest who led Campaign for Human Development greets Obama at campaign stop CWN – July 27, 2012 The priest who served as executive director of the Campaign for Human Development from 1978 to 1985 was the first person to greet President Barack Obama during a recent campaign stop in Iowa. The US bishops’ controversial anti-poverty program is now known as the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Msgr. Marvin Mottet, 82, was seeking federal support for two job-creation programs. “I Read more [...]

[British Prime Minister] Cameron renews ‘gay marriage’ pledge [and scolds churches that ‘lock out’ gay members] as [his Tory] party spirals down the drain Hilary White www.lifesitenews.com/news/cameron-renews-gay-marriage-pledge-as-party-spirals-down-the-drain LONDON, July 26, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The UK’s Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister is “killing” his own party, and therefore the coalition government, through his “obsession” with gay “marriage” Read more [...]

Irish gvmt ‘torn apart’ over abortion legalisation: leaders desperate to quash cross-party revolt Hilary White www.lifesitenews.com/news/irish-gvmt-torn-apart-over-abortion-legalisation-leaders-desperate-to-quash DUBLIN, Ireland July 26, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Leading party insiders are expressing fears that the fragile coalition government will be “torn apart” if it continues to insist on liberalising the abortion law. Signs are increasing of growing tensions across party Read more [...]

Pro-abortion university defiant in face of Vatican ruling stripping it of ‘Catholic’ name Katie Crane and Matthew Cullinan Hoffman www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-abortion-university-defiant-in-face-of-vatican-ruling-stripping-it-of-c LIMA, Peru, July 26, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Vatican in a ruling on July 21 stripped the ultraliberal Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PCUP) of its status as “Catholic” and “Pontifical” because it has rejected Vatican oversight in Read more [...]

[Communion and Liberation,] Rock and Roll, and the Desire for the Infinite John Waters Speaks of His Exhibit at the Upcoming Rimini Meeting By Luca Marcolivio www.zenit.org/article-35271?l=english ROME, JULY 26, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Where is rock music headed in the third millennium? Is it still able to convey a meaningful message to the youth of today? How do you reconcile this music with the desire for the infinite? These questions and more are intended to be answered at the exhibit Read more [...]

Wisconsin bishops warn against POLST end of care document Jean McCarthy www.lifesitenews.com/news/wisconsin-bishops-warn-against-polst-end-of-care-document July 26, 2012, (LifeSiteNews) – In a statement issued yesterday, the Roman Catholic bishops of Wisconsin are warning against the end of life care document called Physician (or Provider) Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). The bishops are concerned that use of this document could lead to acts of euthanasia. Different Read more [...]

Raymond Arroyo!! Et Tu, Brute? Thursday, July 26, 2012 restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2012/07/raymond-arroyo-et-tu-brute.html First, thanks to my commenter on the “4000babies.com” post for alerting me to this idiocy committed by EWTN last month. Raymond Arroyo, who hosts “The World Over” on the EWTN network, interviewed Mark Shriver regarding his book about his father, Sargent Shriver. Regular readers of this blog will recall that when Shriver did a book signing at Blessed Read more [...]

Fr. George Rutler on post-Christian America July 26, 2012 Posted by tantamergo A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/fr-george-rutler-on-post-christian-america/ It ain’t going to be a pretty place: [tantamergo's comments in brackets] Unless there is a dramatic reversal in the present course of our nation, those who measured their Catholicism by the Catholic schools they attended, will soon find most of those institutions officially pinching Read more [...]

Cardinal Mahoney to be keynote speaker at ["conservative"] University of Dallas Ministry Conference July 26, 2012 Posted by tantamergo A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/cardinal-mahoney-to-be-keynote-speaker-at-ud-ministry-conference/ The annual UD Ministry Conference is this October. Last year, they had the freaky deaky modernist heterodox Fr. Ron Rolheiser for a keynote speaker. Who did they select this year? Roger Cardinal Mahoney, he Read more [...]

Martyrology-July 28th Roman Martyrology-July 28th- on this date in various years- At Milan, the birthday of the holy martyrs Nazarius and a boy named Celsus. While the persecution excited by Nero was raging, they were beheaded by Anolinus, after long sufferings and afflictions endured in prison. At Rome, the martyrdom of St. Victor, pope and martyr. Also at Rome, St. Innocent, pope and confessor, who passed to the Lord on the 12th of March. In Thebais in Egypt, the commemoration Read more [...]

The lynching of the Traditional Mass Posted by New Catholic at 7/25/2012 rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2012/07/you-share-lynching-of-traditional-mass.html Bishop Robert Lynch, of St. Petersburg, Florida, still thinks he owns the Traditional Mass – he has become known for time and again prohibiting it, or for making it impossible for his priests to implement Summorum Pontificum in the largest city within his jurisdiction: Tampa, in Hillsborough County. Yes, thanks to Bp. Lynch, the Read more [...]

A Muslim convert talks about Christ By coming out openly on TV, with the danger of recognition and persecution for ‘apostasy,’ Mohammed Christophe reasserted the importance of conversion and baptism. In Muslim nations, various bishops and priests refuse to baptise Muslims who want to become Christian. Yet, conversion means a revolution in the relationship with God, the father, and Jesus, who gave his life, for one gives up everything putting one’s life at risk. Bernardo Cervellera 7/26/2012 www.asianews.it/news-en/A-Muslim-convert-talks-about-Christ-25395.html# Rome Read more [...]

Killing Traditional Catholics The Vortex 07-26-2012 Imagine the conversation between today’s average bishop and his grandmother. Imagine, indeed! Transcript www.churchmilitant.tv/scripts/vort-2012-07-26.pdf Hello everyone and welcome to The Vortex where lies and falsehoods are trapped and exposed. I’m Michael Voris coming to you from St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. In case you haven’t noticed … there’s a quiet scuttling job going on inside the Church of Nice Read more [...]

The [Continuing] “Queering” of the Church Posted by Mary Ann Kreitzer 7/25/12 lesfemmes-thetruth.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-queering-of-church.html Many, including myself, hoped that the priest sex abuse scandals would put a halt to the “queering of the Church” a homosexual goal. But such does not seem to be the case. Here’s one example from a friend in Charlotte via e-mail: Once again, St. Peter’s Catholic Church in the Diocese of Charlotte will host an annual “Mass of Fellowship Read more [...]

Did Catholic Monks Make the West Rich? Why is the Western part of the world enjoying wealth and growth, while other countries are left behind in poverty? By Rasmus Karkov 7/25/12 www.realclearscience.com/articles/2012/07/25/did_catholic_monks_cause_western_prosperity_106333.html Editor’s Note: This article was provided by our partner, ScienceNordic. A new PhD thesis seeks to find an answer to this question by digging deep into the underlying mechanisms of growth. One of Read more [...]

New CDF prefect discusses liberation theology, SSPX, LCWR CWN – July 26, 2012 In an interview with L’Osservatore Romano, the newly-appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith discussed the centrality of faith and divine revelation and briefly addressed controversial issues. The son of an automobile factory worker and a homemaker, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller said that “the problems that are foreseen are very great if we look at the universal Church, with Read more [...]

In search of conciliar clarity By Louie Verrecchio 7/26/12 www.renewamerica.com/columns/verrecchio/120726 As a writer and speaker who frequently addresses topics related to the Second Vatican Council, I read with great interest Archbishop Gerhard Muller’s recent interview with Catholic News Agency (CNA) in which he was asked about the “doctrinal discussions” between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). While declaring his optimism about the prospect of reconciliation, Read more [...]