The Catholic Spectator

  1. Another Catholic Embarassment

    August 30, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    “St. Joseph Sister Catherine Pinkerton of Cleveland is not usually one to seek the spotlight, but she will take center stage at the Democratic National Convention Aug. 27 when she gives the benediction to close the party’s third day of business.” From The Catholic Review, 8/21/08

    I’m happy to say that I missed Sister Pinkerton’s “benediction”. I wonder if she prayed for a women’s “right to choose”. After all, she was appearing at the premier event of the pro-baby killing party.

    The Democratic platform enthusiastically embraces baby killing in their official platform. It states that the Democrats “strongly and unequivocally support Roe v Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion”. In fact, their abortion position is so radical that it has dropped the language “safe, legal, and rare” from previous party platforms.

    I wonder what Sister Pinkerton thinks about that? Is she also “pro-choice”? Maybe her bishop should ask.

  2. Biden a Menance to Catholic Children

    August 28, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    “In an interview with Bob Krebs, the Communications Director for the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, to which Senator Joseph Biden belongs, Krebs confirmed that Biden’s Bishop will not permit the Senator even if elected Vice President of the United States of America to speak at Catholic schools.” Lifesite News, 8/26/08

    If Biden is such a menace that his bishop won’t allow him to speak to Catholic schoolchildren then how can any Catholic in good conscience vote for him and Obama?

    Apparently his bishop understands the distinction of abortion as an intrinsic evil as opposed to other social justice issues. Biden won’t be allowed in Catholic schools because he promotes baby killing through his political activities. Baby killing is a deal breaker for Catholics. It’s time that more of our bishops communicated that truth.

  3. “Personally Opposed” Excuse Slowly Losing Credibility

    August 27, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    There are two things Barack Obama has done politically that make me thankful. One, he knocked Bill and Hillary out of the race for president. Two, he selected Joe Biden to be his vice presidential candidate.

    Joe Biden’s selection will keep on the front burner the fact that one can’t be pro-abortion and Catholic at the same time. Joe Biden’s attempt to privatize his religion in order to advance the cause of baby killing is slowly losing its credibility among Catholic voters. Fortunately, with the nominal Catholic Biden on the ticket many of our clerical leaders will be forced to confront this issue. And we can’t forget to thank Nancy Pelosi, who is doing an excellent job of compelling at least some of our bishops to take a very public stand for life.

    Locally, let’s not forget pro-abort Catholic politician Joe Morelle who has gotten a free pass for years by the DOR. Perhaps this national focus on pro-abort Catholics will help to shine a bright spotlight on the anti-life political positions of Assemblyman Morelle.

  4. Clearing Up a Little Confusion at St. Pius X

    August 26, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    “As far back as 1975, the Pontifical Biblical Commission unanimously agreed that the New Testament itself does not settle the issue about the possible ordination of women. The fact that Jesus picked ‘men only’ is not the position of the Church for its current teaching. Our Church’s leaders main argument against ordination of women is that a woman cannot symbolically represent Christ who is male. That is an increasingly difficult reason to convincingly argue the point. And it is not Catholic to believe that our Holy Father gets private messages from God to impart to, and with which to bind, the whole Church.” Father Dan Holland in the August 17 bulletin of St. Pius X.

    (Read more…)

  5. Archbishop Chaput Slams Pelosi

    August 26, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    “Abortion kills an unborn, developing human life. It is always gravely evil, and so are the evasions employed to justify it. Catholics who make excuses for it – whether they’re famous or not – fool only themselves and abuse the fidelity of those Catholics who do sincerely seek to follow the Gospel and live their Catholic faith.” Archbishop Chaput in response to Nancy Pelosi ’s erroneous statements about abortion on Meet the Press.

    It’s good to know that there are some bishops in this country who are willing to take a public and vocal stand on abortion. Archbishop Chaput is one of the very few who speak this strongly about this intrinsic evil. If more bishops would follow suit then the “right” to kill innocent babies in the U.S. would finally come to an end. In the meantime, the holocaust continues while the majority of bishops remain silent.

    One day Catholics will look back at our era and wonder how so many Church leaders could remain silent about the killing of millions upon millions of unborn babies. These men will be disgraced while the lay people who fought the fight without clerical leadership will be vindicated. Let us hope that this day is not far off.

  6. Jesus was a Bigot?

    August 24, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    In a homily last week at one of our DOR parishes the priest stated that Jesus was essentially a bigot because He discriminated against the Canaanite woman. It seems that God hadn’t fully illuminated Him yet so His human side dominated and provoked this so-called act of discrimination.

    Oh that poor woman. If only they’d had diversity training back in the first century.

    At another of our DOR parishes the pastor stated that there is no pro-life candidate running for president this year. For this reason, he said it would be OK to vote for Barack because he has the right position on other social issues. You know, that Magisterial teaching about the seamless garment.

    Perhaps he hasn’t heard that Barack believes that babies who happen to survive abortion attempts should be left to die. Or perhaps he doesn’t care.

  7. New Age Invasion

    August 19, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    “A NEW EARTH CLASS… Our Summer series at the labyrinth continues next Sunday, August 10th at 7:00 PM at the labyrinth at Lourdes. It is not too late to join us! Come and enjoy a delightful and enlightening summer evening where we will discuss the first two chapters of the best-selling book, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. Bring a lawn chair. Refreshments provided! This could be a life changing experience for you! (If there is inclement weather, we will meet in the OLL Church Hall.)” From Our Lady of Lourdes(Elmira) bulletin, 8/17/08

    “The core of Eckhart’s teaching is a religious relativism, in which he eschews all rigid doctrine or exclusive claims to truth as dangerous and manifestations of ‘egoic consciousness.’ ‘The moment you say ‘only my belief’ or ‘our belief’ is true, and you deny other people’s beliefs, then you’ve adopted an ideology,’ Eckhart told the participants in Monday’s online class. ‘And then religion becomes a closed door.’ Eckhart explains away conscience and feelings of guilt as but the consequence of years of conditioning. He told one caller, who confessed that she still feels guilt when she decides against going to church on Sunday, that she must recognize that ‘the voice’ which tells her to go to church is simply the result of social conditioning. From Lifesite News, 3/7/08

    (Read more…)

  8. Confusion in Trenton

    August 13, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    In a recent newspaper interview, Father Ronald Cioffi, an official with the Diocese of Trenton, stated that it is alright for a Catholic to vote for a pro-abort if they have a moral reason to do so. He stated that this decision could be based on the candidate’s stand on other moral issues. As I stated in an earlier column, this is not the teaching of the Church.

    (Read more…)

  9. Ecumenism in Reverse

    August 7, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    As you may know, the annual education issue of the Catholic Courier has just been published. In this issue Bishop Clark’s Along the Way column is titled “Catholic Education is Strongly Supported”. I’m sure many of us would question the accuracy of that headline.

    Apart from the dubious headline, this issue of the Courier also contains another curiosity-advertisements by three non-Catholic private Christian schools.

    Although these schools may be fine educational institutions, why is the Catholic Courier allowing them to effectively evangelize our young Catholic students? Would General Motors allow advertising by Toyota or Nissan in a company sponsored publication? Of course not.

    These Christian schools are in direct competition for the minds and hearts of our young people. Their theology is at odds with the Church’s teaching in many areas such as the priesthood, the sacrifice of the Mass, our sacramental system, sola scriptura, and papal authority. These variances in theology cannot help but be communicated during the educational processes of these institutions. These conflicts could easily result in a very confused Catholic student who would eventually reject his or her Catholic faith.

    Perhaps the Monroe County Catholic School system should run some ads for its schools in some Protestant publications. That would be in the true spirit of ecumenism.

  10. Save the Environment, Kill the Babies

    August 5, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    ” ‘I think some of it is regional,’ she said, ‘It depends on the bishop of a certain region and fortunately for me, communion has not been withheld and I’m a regular communicant so that would be a severe blow to me if that were the case.’ “

    “Pelosi did not directly talk about how her view on abortion is at odds with the Catholic Church. Instead, she noted that there are many issues that the church cares about. Pelosi said the Bible mentions poverty over 2,000 times, and referenced the Gospel of Matthew. She also indicated the importance of recognizing God’s creations, citing the environment.” From an interview with The Hill.

    “In an instant I saw horrible things: the executioners left Jesus and other people started scourging Him; they seized the scourges and struck the Lord mercilessly. These were priests, religious men and women, and high dignitaries of the Church. ” From the diary of St. Faustina, 445-46.

    Apparently Pelosi thinks she’s a good Catholic because she cares about the environment and the poor. And why wouldn’t she, when her pastor and bishop refuse to correct or admonish her.

    I think St. Faustina’s vision tells us all we need to know about so many of our Church leaders. Not a very pretty picture, is it?

  11. Another Refugee

    August 4, 2008 by Eugene Michael

    “After Mass was finished, they confronted me in the sacristy, after I had told them of my leaving the parish. Sr. Joan Sobala, the administrator, asked to speak to me privately. She is well known for her willingness to be ordained a priest and for her dislike for the pope. I removed my cassock and surplice, placed my various belongings (relics, incense, etc.) in a box, and went to her. We walked a short ways to a private room where the following conversation was held…” Read the whole story at http://www.fightingirishthomas.org/