Whistleblowing in the Catholic Church: A Spiritual Trial for the Unborn

Reprint of blog post originally published on 07/21/2020.

Added 08/30/2020 - "The Catholic community has the right to expect the priests of the archdiocese and those entrusted with handing on the faith to be clear and unequivocal on the church's teaching concerning respect and protection for life from the first moment of conception to natural death," [Archbishop Sean] O'Malley said in a statement published in the Pilot. "This teaching is of the highest priority for the Church." Click here for the article.    

============== end of addition, start of original blog entry =================

NOTE: Personal stories (sharing of real life experiences) are considered a valuable resource in various fields of study, e.g., employee satisfaction, suicide prevention, and Church membership. Stories provide unique insight that cannot be captured by traditional science. The insight leads to improved advocacy efforts.

For example, my spiritual reversion story has inspired many Catholic converts and reverts to persevere in their spiritual pursuit of our faith. Here in this blog post, I share a personal story in hope of helping other parishioners, and clergy, if they find themselves on either side of a scandal, where chaos and confusion—and sin and redemption—often arise.

~~~~~ 

My Personal Story

A Real Life Experience

2019-2020

There comes a time when parishioners must call out priests, pastors, and even bishops on their ignominious behaviors. Being dismissive, ignoring parishioners’ flagrant opposition to Catholic Church teaching, evading or, worse, retaliating against the whistleblower, lying, unjustly protecting other clergy, and prioritizing headcount above preserving the Faith, are some of those behaviors. Victims of the Church’s sex abuse scandal would likely agree.

A whistleblower with perseverance is often needed. Look up synonyms for whistleblower, and you will be hard pressed to find a complimentary one. More readily you will find “snitch,” “rat,” “big-mouth,” and “betrayer.” Those words cause damage in whistleblower’s personal and professional relationships.

I am not talking about Judas Iscariot who outright betrayed Jesus for money. I am talking about upright, concerned parishioners who step forward on behalf of the Church. They frequently incur hostility from other parishioners and clergy, and often disappear from the parish, and even the Church. Breaks with family and employers are common. Many also develop significant mental health issues, beginning if their higher ups sidestep the concern brought forward, by claiming the whistleblower is unstable. [1] The virtue in a whistleblower’s attempt to right wrongs is painfully lost in labels like “informant,” “big-mouth,” and “betrayer.”

I had no idea I would be a whistleblower when I met my Melkite (Eastern Catholic) pastor to ask why he was not withholding the Eucharist from a particular parishioner. After all, this woman publicly claimed her ProChoice identity in a ProLife thread on the parish Facebook Page, and in parish emails. She also publicly vowed to fight me tooth and nail about the issue. And, she claimed other ProChoice Melkites exist—and are proud of their beliefs.

Our pastor oversaw and participated in our communications, thereby being a witness as it unfolded. This ProChoice woman’s status in our citywide community made the need to correct and educate her, more compelling. She counseled female teens, and women, potentially facing crisis pregnancies and considering abortion. She also gave a public talk at our parish without apprising the committee of her ProChoice affiliation.m

I prayed, did some research, and sought counsel with two trustworthy priests. The following statement of Melkite Bishop John Adel Elya (now deceased) left no room for ambiguity:, “Our Eastern and Western Tradition is unanimous in its teaching that any form of abortion is contrary to God's law and a serious offense against the Life-Giver. It is impossible to receive Christ, our Life, in Holy Communion and remain obstinately pro abortion. Indeed, politicians who, by their actions, promote abortion cooperate with evil. If they receive Holy Communion without sincere repentance they do so at the peril of their own souls. Such is cause for great scandal.” [2]

I thought surely my pastor would be grateful for this pertinent information. I was stunned when he told me he could never withhold the Eucharist from anyone. Even Eastern and Western Canon Law forbids dissenters from receiving the Eucharist. [3]

I reminded him: This ProChoice woman is a public figure in the community, openly sharing her parish membership and openly condoning abortion, which the Catholic Church—and our Faith—strongly oppose. My pastor appeared unmoved and I wondered if he were ProChoice also.

I sought more prayer and consults until too much time lapsed with no results. I wrote to the current bishop. He never replied to me with his thoughts. The situation was truly a scandal. I was embarrassed for the parish and Church—and for Jesus Himself. After more than ten years of service, I finally stepped down from my work for the parish and Eparchy (akin to Diocese).

As a well-known figure in the parish, I wrote to several parishioners explaining my actions. I included my research. Only two of those parishioners directly responded to me. They both supported and encouraged me in my efforts. Unfortunately, the intensity of my concern may have tainted my message for others, who became angry and distanced themselves from me. I felt isolated. Was it my message, my tone, or a combination of these two? I never knew.

I became disheartened.

Meanwhile, my pastor continued giving the Eucharist to this actively ProChoice woman. His lack of action with her scandal was indirectly condoning the killing of babies in the womb. He did not like hearing that. Again, I wondered if he were ProChoice. 

The ProChoice woman eventually responded to my letter with one of her own. It was addressed to the parish’s legal entity and copied to the bishop, the pastor, and me. However, I never received my copy directly from her, even after asking her for it twice. In her letter, she said she wanted the bishop, the pastor, or me, to issue a public correction of items she thought were false or defamatory in my letter to some of the parishioners. She also explained she will not participate in the ProLife movement because she advocates for human and reproductive rights. She then set forth the ProChoice position, saying it advocates for ongoing legalization of abortion. Her disclosures confirmed the soundness of my whistleblowing.

Continuing in her letter, the ProChoice woman repeated her claim that other Melkite ProChoicers exist (even more reason for our clergy to uphold our Faith). She presented an ultimatum: She gave the bishop, the pastor, and me, ten (10) business days or she would be compelled to take legal action. Halfway into the ten days, my pastor suggested that he and I meet. He did not mention the ProChoice woman’s letter, but when we met, he offered me a copy.

In our meeting, my pastor informed me that the bishop and he decided I should write the response to this woman—with his oversight. Given the tight deadline, I declined. He became unsettled and alluded to me being excommunicated. I reminded him that he could not excommunicate me. His facial expression changed to one of realizing I was correct. He then alluded that the bishop would certainly excommunicate me. I reminded him that the bishop could not excommunicate me either and I remained firm in the face of his inexplicable hostility.

I summarized my thoughts about the meeting and the situation at hand in a letter to my pastor and bishop. Among other things, I included a suggestion to establish a prolife education and ministry program in our parish and in the Eparchy. Neither of them responded to me.

In the end, which was five month’s after I first approached him, my pastor composed his own response to this woman’s letter. Whether he did this on his own, or because he was obeying an order from the bishop, is unclear. He copied it to all parishioners without mentioning the threat of legal action by the ProChoice woman. He also omitted dates. Their omission obscured the timeline for him and the bishop to take responsibility. His use of generic, broad-sweep descriptors masked the accountability of their actions. He averred that he does not agree with the woman’s views on abortion, which oppose Catholic Church teachings.

He said “after consulting the bishop,” he decided to withhold the Eucharist from her. “Consulting the bishop” is one of those broad-sweeping qualifiers that hides my pastor’s ultimate motivation for his action. As before, was his action stemming from his own free will, or was it stemming from being obedient to an order from the bishop to withhold the Eucharist from the ProChoice woman? After all, he had told me that he could never withhold the Eucharist from anyone.

Multiple times in his letter, the pastor mentioned that my letter to some parishioners could be construed as demeaning to the woman of concern. I get it. I was the whistleblower. He was likely accommodating her to avoid legal entanglement. It stung nonetheless. I sought spiritual solace by asking Jesus to unite my suffering with His salvific suffering on the Cross, to bring about conversions for all involved.

Concurrently, I learned of a public fundraiser—for Planned Parenthood—on the ProChoice woman’s personal Facebook page. Planned Parenthood is the largest single provider of abortions in the United States.[4] She had given the fundraiser the name, “BANS OFF MY BODY” [all caps hers], a catch phrase used by Planned Parenthood after several states enacted bans on abortion. Some donations had already been received. I was again validated on the soundness of my whistleblowing.

The ProChoice woman quickly responded to our pastor’s letter and copied all parishioners. In her reply, she reiterated the ProChoice position and affirmed to all of us that she is ProChoice. I felt further strengthened in my position.

The ProChoice woman mentioned another item. She said she emailed the bishop and requested a meeting with him. She said he did not respond to her. He did not respond to me either, so one wonders: Was he not making laity a priority? Was he covering up for his pastor? Was he not wanting to be involved? Or was it some combination of these? A brief explanation directly from him would have allayed, or maybe eliminated, our dismay.

Many people misunderstood my motive for all of this. Some suggested I should feel settled because “I got what I wanted.” A Melkite Tribunal priest, from whom I sought clarification of general Tribunal protocol, and who said he heard of the scandal from our former pastor, even suggested that. This myopic view commonly undermines whistleblowers, who are often treated as being self-centered. For me, my motive originated from a higher place. At each step, I talked with the wise people supporting me, and I did my best to discern what Jesus would have wanted, as in WWJD. I then did my best to carry that out.

Ultimately, my pastor and bishop did the right thing, but taking five months to do it was reprehensible. The ProChoice woman and her parents withdrew from the parish. I eventually did the same [due to backlash and mistrust]. Remaining parishioners must now rebuild their trust with the pastor and bishop, and each other.

With no known commitment to a program for prolife education and ministry in the parish, or in the Melkite Catholic Eparchy, prochoice ideology can continue to fester, and even take root, among clergy and parishioners. We all must therefore remain vigilant, and prepare ourselves to be whistleblowers if necessary.

"I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40)!”

Kathleen Laplante is an author, a mother of two, and a long time revert to the Catholic Faith. She writes articles about Catholic Teachings. She speaks as a member of the Catholic Church, not as the Catholic Church Herself.

                                                                  ~~~~~

REFERENCES

[1] “Whistleblower,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower, June 20, 2020.

[2] Elya, John Adel.“WHAT IS THE TEACHING ON ABORTION? WHAT ABOUT POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT PRO-ABORTION STANCES AND LAWS?” https://melkite.org/eparchy/bishop-john/what-is-the-teaching-on-abortion-what-about-politicians-who-support-pro-abortion-stances-and-laws, February 25, 2003.

[3] a) Canon Law Society of America. “Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches: New EnglishTranslation,” 2001, p. 272, Washington, DC. "CAN. 712†Those who are publicly unworthy are forbidden to receive the Divine Eucharist."

b) The Vatican. “Code of Canon Law“ (Western Churches, i.e., Roman Catholic), http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_p39.HTM, July 20, 2020. "CAN. 915† Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.”

[4] Rovner, Julie. “Planned Parenthood: A Thorn In Abortion Foes' Sides, https://www.npr.org/2011/04/13/135354952/planned-parenthood-makes-abortion-foes-see-red, April 12, 2011.

IMAGES

Crucifixion Icon - https://www.facebook.com/olphmelkiteworcester/photos

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon - Unknown

Theophany Icon - http://tokandylaki.blogspot.com/2014_01_04_archive.html

Descent Into Hades Icon - https://www.orthodoxroad.com/christs-descent-into-hell-icon-explanation/

Happy Easter! Happy Pascha! Let's Celebrate Resurrection 2013!

  

 

Christ Is Risen! Truly He Is Risen!

Christos Anesti! Aleithos Anesti!
Al-Masih-Qam! Hakkan Qam!



Some Wonderful Chanting

Greek Melkite Catholic chant / Christ is risen

Resurrection of Christ | With Arabic transliteration

 

image - http://orthocath.wordpress.com/2010/04/03/christ-is-risen-from-the-dead/

Transitioning with the Popes

Pope Francis and Pope emeritus Benedict XVI 

"Oh, Dear Jesus, as we await your Ressurection on this Great and Holy Saturday, please hold me in Your arms.  I pray that nothing I say is offensive to You."

The ongoing media blitz about Pope Francis' humility is essentially cheapening it, at least for me.  With those never ending flash bulbs going off in front of him, and those never ending articles and blog entries about him and every move he makes, I am blinded and can't seem to break through the hype to warm up to him.  Besides, I am still reeling from the fact that Pope Benedict just up and left us, even though it was all for good reasons.  It was a jolt and I have not recovered.
 


images - http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/popes-meet-lunch-1st-time-600-years-18796239

Pope Benedict XVI To Resign At End Of February

 

I hope everyone has heard by now that Pope Benedict XVI is resigning at the end of this month, i.e., February 28, 2013.  What a surprise.  I am saddened.  I like Pope Benedict XVI.  He is orthodox and sincere and sound in his theology.  But, since I trust him, I have to believe he knows what is best for the Catholic Church.  God bless you Pope Benedict XVI! +


Read the announcement from the Vatican:
Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation at end of month



image - friend's facebook wall

Making Communion Sacred Again

A few years ago, I learned about the overuse of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist by priests.  I realized this overuse is influenced by parishioners' impatience, parishioners who want to get out the door as quickly as they can, parishioners who want to make it to the parking lot so they will not be stuck behind the other cars.  It saddens me to write that, but it is true.

It also saddens me that priests allow themselves to give into that kind of pressure.  I was going to say "peer pressure", but that is not true.  Priests are not our peers, which does not mean they should not socialize with us, but when it comes to the Faith, they are the pastors.  They are the ones who are supposed to take our input into consideration and then do the right thing according to Jesus.  Sometimes it is in sync with the opinion of most of the laity; sometimes it is not.

As for Communion, I have been to too many Tridentine Masses and Melkite Divine Liturgies to think that being in church for over an hour is too much to ask for.  It is not, and I believe it is therefore not too much to ask us laity to be patient while the priest gives out Communion - to everyone.  We should be encouraged to pray during that time.

Along those lines, this article expresses some of my deepest yearnings about Communion and its sacredness.

Communion Rails: Restoring a Sense of the Sacred

Would a change of posture at Holy Communion help to sharpen our perspective, as well?

image - http://www.epiphany-net.org/Epiphany_About_Us.html

Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, MA

The monks at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, MA, have a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  One of them, Brother Joseph Maria, built a chapel named after her.  It is about 0.6 mile from the main house, down a hill and up on a knoll in the woods.  He built it during midday breaks when the other brothers were taking naps.  I believe one of the stones used to form one of the walls, is from the Tepeyac desert, which is outside Mexico City and is where Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego back in 1531.

The chapel on the knoll in Still River, MA is a beautiful site to behold.  Every year on the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, i.e., December 11, the brothers and members of their extended community make a pilgrimage there.  Everyone assembles in front of the main house after dinner, and they either walk down the hill, or they take a hay ride to get there.  Those who walk go past candles placed along the path to lighten it up.  They also trudge through mud if it is or has been raining.  Either way, boots are recommended.

Either way, everyone gets a taste of an earthy pilgrimage like those made to Lourdes, Fatima, or Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.  The walk back up the hill adds a challenging dimension to the trek.  It can be deeply spiritual.

In line with Benedictine hopsitality, the brothers serve home made brownies and hot chocolate.

The pilgrimage will be held again this year, on Sunday evening, December 11, 2011, 7:30pm. 
Please come.  If you want more information, feel free to contact me.

“Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ,
for He is going to say,
'I came as a guest, and you received Me' (Matt. 25:35).
And to all let due honor be shown,
especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims." (Rule of Saint Benedict 53:1)


image - http://www.marypages.com/GuadalupeEng1.htm

Alabama Supreme Court Gives Legal Recognition To The Unborn Child - And Other Happenings

My gosh, I miss blogging. My life went off on a tangent and took me away to other things. Here is just a smidgen of important happenings.

Alabama Supreme Court gives legal recognition to the unborn child

"This decision makes Alabama the tenth state to specifically permit wrongful-death actions pre-viability. This is a huge victory not only for April Mack, but also for the legal recognition of the unborn child, because this case recognizes the personhood of the unborn child under civil law."

150 women religious in the Boston Archdioces celebrate Jubilee year of entrance and profession, marking anniversaries of 25, 50, 60, 65, 70, and 75 years
This is akin to married couples celebrating those anniversaries.  May God bless these religious.

The Melkite Greek Catholic Church celebrated the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross (once there, scroll down for description)
"The Cross, which was a tree of death, was transformed into The Holy Cross, which is the Tree of Life."

Protestant Life Chain founder begs pastors to denounce contraception
How refreshing to have some non-Catholics tout Catholic teaching.

More agreement from non-Catholics about the deception of contraception
- A Protestant's Confession
- The Sexual Revolution Comes of Age in the Church
- Population Explosion or an Emerging Birth Dearth: The Facts
- Abortifacient Birth Controls: The Leading Killer of Human Beings in America and the World
- Our hypocrisy is screaming at us
- For the Christian Home to Consider & more

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE COLLABORATION OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD

Spawned by someone challenging the Church's stand on reserving priestly ordination to men alone, I read the then Cardinal Ratzinger's letter about the role of men and women in the Church.  It's on the shorter side for one of these letters and is worth reading - and proclaiming!

17 Loaves of Banana Bread

On a personal note, I baked 17 loaves of banana bread at St. Benedict Abbey recently. 

It was one of my smaller batches, since I often bake 20 and more at a time.  :-)

images - http://www.justthefactsbaby.com/pregnancy/article/second-trimester-infant-development/48
personal files

Enthronement of the Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas J. Samra as Eparch of the Diocese of Newton

Bishop Nicholas J. Samra's Enthronement
August 23, 2011
All the Bishops in Attendance
Bishop Nicholas - 9th from the left
Bishop Cyril Bustros - 10th from the left

The Enthronement of Bishop Nicholas J. Samra, as Eparch of the Eparchy of Newton (MA), was beautiful.  It took place at Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral in West Roxbury, MA, on August 23, 2011, the Closing of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

There were three parts to this two-hour-plus gathering:  The Enthronement Ceremony, Divine Liturgy, and a photo session.  Visiting clergy sat in numerous pews up front on the right side.  I sat immediately behind them and was in 7th Heaven.  With all those male voices chanting together throughout the Liturgy, it was a powerful experience.

In the enthronement ceremony, Bishop Nicholas proceeded up and down the aisles in the nave, ending up front and center, where he was disrobed of his old vestments, and dressed by one of the other clergy in his new vestments, pectoral cross, etc.  This is one of the draws for me to the Eastern Catholic Church.  They are visceral,  hands on, in their undertakings.  The material world combines with the spiritual world and I'm in Heaven on Earth.  The dressing of Bishop Nicholas was so real.  It took quite a bit of time, and they allowed it to.  Our restlessness was overridden by the reality of dressing in all that garb.

Divine Liturgy came next and it was the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom  The laity received Communion in the nave, while the clergy circled around back and down the left aisle to receive Communion in the sanctuary.  Again, I have to say that the chanting was uplifting and powerful.  Several times, I stopped chanting myself and just listened to everyone else.

Bishop Nicholas J. Samra's Enthronement
August 23, 2011
Bishop Nicholas Samra with the Deacons in attendance
Bishop Samra - 11th from the left

Divine Liturgy was followed by picture taking.  I could not get photos during the ceremony because it was quite crowded (although, I still wish that more people attended).  I was glad to get some photos at the end - the Bishop with all the other bishops, the Bishop with all the priests, and the Bishop with all the deacons.  I unofficially heard that every priest from the Eparch was there.

As for Bishop Nicholas' charism, he has a great devotion to Mary, as was apparent in his homily, as well as in the fact that, he chose a Feast associated with the Dormition of the Theotokos for his enthronement.

05-Sep-2011:  St. Ann Melkite Church in Danbury, CT has several more photos of this event on their Facebook Page.  Click here


image - personal photos, also uploaded to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.372145964977.61804.125900079977

Visual Chart - Saints for the Month of August

Cover Page

A Facebook friend of mine posted a link to this reference of Saints for the Month of August.  I like the visual chart of all the days together. 

You need a Facebook account to view it.  Click here

Place your cursor over each picture and you will see the date.  Click on it, and you will get to the magnified view of each saint's writeup.  I am not too keen on that arrangement.  It would be easier to use if the dates were visible right upfront on the chart.

Overall, though, I like it.

 For the other months, click here


image - https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/albums/?id=100001152848859

Enthronement of the Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas J. Samra as Eparch of the Diocese of Newton

Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas J. Samra

It is an exciting time in the Melkite Church.  We have chosen a new Eparch (akin to Bishop in the Latin Rite).  He will be enthroned this month and will be responsible for the Melkite Eparchy (akin to Diocese) throughout the entire United States.  You are invited to attend, but [if you want to attend the reception*,] you must make a reservation by tomorrow (sorry for the late post and I imagine if you call later this week, you can still get in, at least to the enthronement, I hope).  Here is the information.

The Enthronement of the Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas J. Samra as Eparch of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton will take place on Tuesday, August 23 at 2:00 p.m. in our Melkite Cathedral in West Roxbury, MA (Boston area).  Please RSVP [if you want to attend the reception*], no later than this Tuesday, August 9.   617-323-9922

All payments for the reception must be in advance. If you plan to attend just the enthronement, a reservation is ...still desired.

Our Lady of the Annunciation
Melkite Catholic Cathedral
7 V.F.W. Parkway, West Roxbury, Massachusetts 02132
Tel: 617-323-5242 Fax: 617-325-2662 Email: ourlady3@verizon.net

Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas J. Samra will be the first Eparch who is a native of the United States.  He was born in Paterson, N.J.  He attended college and the seminary locally, i.e., St. Anselm College, in Manchester, NH, St. Basil Seminary in Methuen, MA and St. John's Seminary in Brighton, MA.  His ordination to the priesthood was on May 10, 1970.

* 08/16/11 edits

image - http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/facts_about__nicholas_samra

NPR/WBUR 90.9 Airs Another Show On Women Priests

On June 28, 2011, I wrote an entry entitled, NPR & Women "Priests" - Will They Cover The Other Side Too?  I wrote about an article on the NPR web site, and its associated talk show, in which the presentation was so clearly one-sided, i.e. women should be allowed to be priests in the Roman Catholic Church.  I wrote to NPR to do another show presenting the Church's side, as I am sure many others did too.

We may have been heard, although the first show was on Anything Goes and the second was on On Point.

When I drove home tonight, I happened to catch another radio show on this topic.  This time, NPR/WBUR/On Point had a more balanced presentation of views.  At least there was a Catholic theologian on the panel of speakers.  Pia was her name and she did a good job explaining the teachings of the Church with respect to the non-ordaining of women as priests. 

Having said that, NPR/WBUR/On Point still have some improvements to make.  The panelists in favor of ordaining women priests outnumbered Pia, 2 to 1.  They were the Catholic Maryknoll priest and the "ordained female priest" from Roman Catholic Women Priests, never mind the preference given to callers in accord with them.  There was also an overriding presumption that women can be ordained.  Nonetheless, it's progress in my mind and I have to give NPR/WBUR/On Point credit.

Personally, I get rattled when I listen to a show like this.  I can see how easy it would be for people to "hop on the bandwagon", on the wrong bandwagon, that is.

To listen to it, click here
To see the associated article, Ordaining Female Catholic Priests, and photos, click here

For my view on the subject, go here

Kathleen


image - http://thedivaloungenyc.com/

Reflections on Going NUTS in BEANtown

Divide and Conquer

A popular strategy of the Devil is "Divide and Conquer".  We all know it, and we all know how effective it can be.  Unfortunately, the Devil is fast at work within the Catholic community with this strategy.  One example is a recent video clip on RealCatholicTV, by Michael Voris on the topic of the Church's stance of people with same sex attraction (SSA). If you haven't already watched it, here it is. 

It is causing a rift among several of my Catholic friends right now.  Since Michael Voris' overall approach is sensationalistic, and his apostolate is not approved by his Diocese, I tend to be cautious with the content of his presentations.  I have found though, that very often his ideas are spot on, but his approach is offensive.

In this case, Going NUTS in BEANtown, his ideas may not even be spot on.  As one friend wrote:

Voris didn't point out these statements of Cardinal Sean:

On Homosexuality from Cardinal Sean's Blog

Cardinal's statement on recent events at St. Cecilia Church in Boston

A teachable moment


This disunity needs to be cleared up.  St. Thomas Aquinas, please pray for us.


image - http://www.pera.net/Ind_intro.html

An Exposé Of My Inner World re: Fr. Corapi

Come Holy Spirit

I'm somewhat disoriented these days.  There seems to be so much going on in the Catholic and ProLife arenas, that I can't seem to settle down enough to choose one for my blog entry.  As I wrote that, it came to me.  Fr. Corapi

He is such an embarrassment to the Catholic Church. [So begins the exposé of my inner world, i.e. raw emotion and thoughts.]  I just want to crawl under the couch until the craziness passes.  Really.  I feel like a teenager who is absolutely embarrassed - and ashamed - about the illicit things my parents do after telling me not to do them.  I am so mad at him. I don't want any friends to come home.  Honestly, I don't want anyone to come look at the Catholic Church right now.  Let us get our act together and then come for a visit and think about joining.  Right now, we are just too screwed up.

I can't believe I sent a very good, lapsed Catholic friend of mine a video tape of Fr. Corapi.  I feel so hypocritical.

I mean really.  We have such a mess on our hands and we have to do all the cleaning up.  It's just not fair.  To top it all off, Fr. Corapi was dedicated to Our Lady.  How embarassing is that?  What a disgrace to the Catholic Church and to Mary, the Mother of God on Earth. 

And what about his superiors?  These behaviors of Fr. Corapi have been going on for quite some time.  Where have they  been?  They are here now, now that there is public pressure to put a halt to things.  But where were they when Fr. Corapi was buying all his expensive toys?  It's not like he kept that all secret.  His superiors should have stepped in a lot sooner.

That's my emotional response.  It is completely valid and understandable, given how Fr. Corapi betrayed me , and the general public.  [This was my emotional response. I do not really know if Fr. Corapi literally betrayed us.  I feel betrayed is the more accurate statement.]  But let me give the more rational side now. 

Please pray for Fr. Corapi and all those involved.  He is a sinner, just like the rest of us.  That is why Jesus came, to heal us sinners.  If you (non-Catholics) want to visit us and maybe even join, please come.  Please come and see us in our brokenness.  We are all human.  Please come and see us use the Catholic Faith to get through all of this, and see the Catholic Faith in dynamic action with Jesus at the center of it all.

Please understand that we may be shy, embarassed, but we want you to come anyhow.  Behaviors like Fr. Corapi are appalling, but they are forgiveable.  St. Faustina taught us about His endless mercy.  We need to react appropriately and pray for forgiveness in our hearts, even if it is not there just yet.

I don't know how to handle this.  Like with so many things, I am only getting parts of the story.  SOLT gave their statement, but am I supposed to assume he is guilty like they have said, even before a trial?  Or is there going to be a trial? Maybe I'm confusing it with the secular legal system.  If I assume he is innocent, I feel like I am betraying the Church...oh, the pains of dysfunction, the pains of the Devil.

I am confused.  I admit it, but I will continue to pray for clarity, about Fr. Corapi's situation, as well as about all the other abuse by priests.  It makes me so sad.  I guess I am back into some of my emotional reactions.


I have purposely bared my soul.  Times like this cause lots of confusion, sadness, anxiety, despair - as well as hope.  I wanted you to see it all.

Please remember:  "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone..." (John 8:7)

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When I first wrote this entry, I did not know that Fr. Corapi had posted a reply to the SOLT press release. He denies many things, and now I feel somewhat betrayed by SOLT.  Who do we believe?  Actually, Fr. Corapi does not reply to the allegations about drug use.

Click here and scroll to July 7 to read it.  Ride the roller coaster by praying the Rosary.
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Please join me in praying for the purification of

the Catholic Church and all who are in Her.

Here are a couple options.

Novena of Purification (usually done January 24 to February 2)

O Blessed Mother of God,
who went up to the Temple according to the law
with your offering of little white doves,
pray for me that I too may keep the law
and be pure in heart like you.
Sweet heart of Mary,
be my salvation.

Five Our Father's,
Five Hail Mary's
and Five Glory be's

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.


Kathleen


image - unknown

Happy Birthday To Us, The Catholic Church

How I wish I was there in the Upper Room with Mary and the Apostles, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them.  When I pray this mystery of the Rosary, I ask God to give me the zeal that was given to them that day, the birth day of our Church.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Upon Mary and the Apostles

I just want to be on fire for the Church, because sometimes I feel like I am too mediocre of a Catholic.  I have this fantasy of being like them, spreading the Word in a most profound and everlasting fashion.

The other things I pray for, when I do this mystery of the Rosary, is the gift of tongues, not in a flashy way, but in a way that allows me to muddle through any confusion inherent with language, and come to understand what God is truly trying to tell me through another person.  Likewise, I pray that I be given the ability to speak, such that I touch another person's heart and soul, and we understand one another beyond the verbal level.

Wouldn't you love to be infused with the Holy Spirit?

Happy Pentecost!  Happy Birthday to our Church!

Kathleen

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image - http://adorotedevote.blogspot.com/2007/05/pentecost-veni-sancti-spiritus.html
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"No Meat On Fridays" Making A Comeback?



Bishops of England and Wales re-establish Friday penance asking Catholics to give up meat

Pope Benedict and the Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland

I like the "no meat on Friday" version of the penance discipline set out by the Church.  I grew up with it, so it's nostalgic.  It's also seated deeply in my bones, so it is easier to do.

I think having a uniform form of Friday penance throughout the Church benefits all Catholics.    We solidify our identity with it.  It helps us to create bonds, among ourselves, as well as in the world.  People know we are Catholic.

I don't know why "no meat on Friday" was done away with, but I am glad it is making a come back, at least in some places.  We need all the help we can to reverse the Catholic identity crisis.

On another note, I got mixed messages from the article.  In one instance, it says the bishops have decided to re-establish the discipline.  In another instance, it says they desire to re-establish the discipline, and in another instance, it says they wish to remind Catholics about this... I do not get a sense of congruency here.  I am I am wrong.

Nonetheless, at least the intention is there, and that is more than what was present before.  For more information about penance, fasting, and abstinence, go to Fast and Abstinence on EWTN's web site.  Here is an excerpt which I found really helpful.

Catholic Witness - Friday Penance

By the practice of penance every Catholic identifies with Christ in his death on the cross. We do so in prayer, through uniting the sufferings and sacrifices in our lives with those of Christ’s passion; in fasting, by dying to self in order to be close to Christ; in almsgiving, by demonstrating our solidarity with the sufferings of Christ in those in need. All three forms of penance form a vital part of Christian living. When this is visible in the public arena, then it is also an important act of witness.

Every Friday is set aside by the Church as a special day of penance, for it is the day of the death of our Lord. The law of the Church requires Catholics to abstain from meat on Fridays, or some other form of food, or to observe some other form of penance laid down by the Bishops' Conference.

The Bishops wish to re-establish the practice of Friday penance in the lives of the faithful as a clear and distinctive mark of their own Catholic identity. They recognise that the best habits are those which are acquired as part of a common resolve and common witness. It is important that all the faithful be united in a common celebration of Friday penance.

Respectful of this, and in accordance with the mind of the whole Church, the Bishops' Conference wishes to remind all Catholics in England and Wales of the obligation of Friday Penance. The Bishops have decided to re-establish the practice that this should be fulfilled by abstaining from meat. Those who cannot or choose not to eat meat as part of their normal diet should abstain from some other food of which they regularly partake. This is to come into effect from Friday 16 September 2011 when we will mark the anniversary of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom.

Many may wish to go beyond this simple act of common witness and mark each Friday with a time of prayer and further self-sacrifice. In all these ways we unite our sacrifices to the sacrifice of Christ, who gave up his very life for our salvation.

Let's do it!

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image - http://www.rcdow.org.uk/diocese/default.asp?content_ref=3355
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2009/11/friday-as-required-day-of-penance-not.html
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