Gays "commit" at Penn State

Well it seems that Penn State University, a publicly funded "hall of education" allowed four gay couples to "commit" on their (our) property Saturday. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not recognize same sex marriages or unions, or however they want them designated.

Having the sham wedding at a publicly funded institution gives them an feeling of normalcy, and projects the illusion of acceptance from the State. This is not further from the truth.

It irritates me that the liberal school would allow such a thing to occur on their campus. Even if the university has such a liberal agenda, polls have indicated that the majority of Americans do not believe in same-sex sham marriages. It only hurts their credibility.

Gays! Let me state this for the record.

1. Men and women are complimentary. Their parts fit.

2. Men and men are not complimentary, and neither are women and women.

3. Men and women, together with the commitment of marriage are able to create human life.

4. Dudes practicing amateur proctology are not so enabled. Neither are women.

In conclusion, men and women are able to create human life together because God made us this way. Tab A fits into slot B. Tab A does not fit into another tab A. And ladies, slot B and slot B don't work either. It is an unnatural abomination.

And for those that use the argument that male animals hump in the wild kingdom, please. Give me a break. We are not animals. We have logic, reason, and free will.

Except gays, it seems.

In bed with the Devil

It pains me that my two state Senators are Democrats. It bothers me more than you know. Yeh, I know Arlen Spector is a Republican, but you can't really prove it.

The other day, our supposedly "pro-life Democrat" Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, Jr. endorsed Barack Obama and committed to "riding the bus" with the candidate as he campaigns across the Keystone State.

Sen. Casey, you'll recall, is the son of the late pro-life Democratic idol Bob Casey, former Governator of PA. He's also the man, if you can believe it, who defeated conservative Catholic Rick Santorum in 2006, winning his seat in no small measure by gaining the confidence of Pennsylvania's many fabled "pro-life", but politically moderate, Catholic voters.

And now he has quite literally gotten on board with the candidate who vows the first thing he'll do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.

Let's just take a quick look at our Senator's pro-life voting record, shall we? In 2007 he voted for an amendment by Sen. Sam Brownback (R., Kan.), to preserve the federal government’s so-called Mexico City policy, which prohibits the granting of federal funds to overseas groups that refer and perform abortions.

Great. Fine and dandy.

Twenty minutes earlier, however, Casey had voted for an amendment by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D., Calif.) that not only overturned the Mexico City policy, but also increased funding for overseas groups that perform and refer abortions. Certainly, Casey had not had a change of heart in the space of 20 minutes.

The contradictory votes received little attention, but certainly neither made sense in the context of the other. Shortly afterward, Casey resolved the tension. He went to the floor of the Senate and announced that on the Brownback amendment, “it was my intention to vote ‘nay.’ Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to change my vote since it will not affect the outcome of that vote.”

Casey’s vote in favor of funding abortion providers has been duly updated on the Senate website. Casey’s view is indisputably different — opposite in fact — from that of his father. Two-term Gov. Robert Casey of Pennsylvania had been revered in the pro-life movement. He was denied a chance to speak at the 1992 Democratic National Convention because he wanted to give a pro-life speech.

Not so with the younger Casey. His spokesman, Larry Smar, denied that Sen. Casey has changed the pro-life position on which he ran. “He does not support public funding of abortion,” Smar wrote. “The amendment he voted for would not allow public funding of abortion, which is illegal”.

Thanks Bobby, now we know where you really stand. But some of us already knew.

Divine Mercy Sunday

"My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy." (Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, # 699)

From http://www.divinemercysunday.com

With so many (so-called) Catholics away from the practice of their faith, there is a great need for evangelization. Not only are we all called to actively evangelize all peoples, we are called to bring home our lost and alienated brethren. Our Lord has given us a great gift called Divine Mercy Sunday that if used properly, can restore our Church to overflowing.

Jesus gave us many parables that would set the standard for us to follow. He told us how the Good Shepherd rejoiced at finding His lost sheep. How so many more lost sheep need to be found today. Not only does He rejoice today when the sheep are found, but He is very much saddened when even just one is lost.

In His revelations to Saint Faustina, which He gave for the world, Jesus remarked that “The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness” and that “The flames of mercy are burning Me, clamoring to be spent”(from the diary, entry #1397, 50). If we love Jesus, then we must do everything that we can, to find His lost sheep.

Our Lord has given us a very simple way to bring our lost sheep back home. It is called the “Feast of Mercy” or “Divine Mercy Sunday”. This great feast, which the Church has been celebrating universally since Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina, in the year 2000, has everything in it that we need to restore our Church.

Jesus requested that a Feast of Mercy be established in the Church on the Sunday after Easter and He has made a great promise to any soul that would turn to Him by going to Confession and then receiving Holy Communion on that feast-day.

He said “Whoever approaches the fountain of life on this day will be granted the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary, 300). Jesus is attempting to get souls to receive Holy Communion in a perfect state of grace, without sin.

It is quite clear that Jesus wants this particular Sunday to be set apart. Our Lord said “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day are opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet”. (Diary, 699)

That’s not all. Jesus said “I want to pour out My divine life into human souls and to sanctify them, if only they were willing to accept My grace. The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in My mercy”. (Diary, 1784)

Trust is a key word for Divine Mercy. Our Lord in His great wisdom knew that in these times, the words “Jesus, I trust in You” would have a profound meaning for those who might need some motivation to come to Him and to ask for His mercy.

Our Lord’s placement of the feast on the Sunday after Easter gives pastors the perfect opportunity to address the greatest crowds that attend on Easter Sunday. He knows that many people are looking for a good reason to start coming back to church. What better reason than to be able to start over again with a great promise for the total forgiveness of sins and punishment? Who wouldn’t benefit from that?

Topping that off is the fact that Jesus said that “The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity”. What could be more beneficial? Souls achieving great sanctity for just going to Confession and then receiving Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday? What could be easier? People just need to be seriously urged to go to Confession!

One of the requirements of Catholics is the confession of their sins at least once a year. Studies have shown that most people are in great need of fulfilling this most important precept of the Church. Our Lord said “I desire that priests proclaim this great mercy of Mine towards souls of sinners”. (Diary, 50) What greater reason could there ever be, than Jesus’ promise, to urge everyone into Reconciliation?

The Vatican has also added a Plenary Indulgence to this feast, which is to remain perpetually in place. The beauty of this indulgence is the increased amount of time that is gives to priests to hear confessions. It is allowed for one to go to Confession up to about 20 days, before or after, Divine Mercy Sunday.

It’s so simple. Just remind everyone on Easter, that the following Sunday is a very special feast called Divine Mercy Sunday where they can receive the total forgiveness of their sins and punishment. Sinners will be filled with grace, as Jesus promised, and then they will radiate that love and mercy to others that will cause a ripple effect throughout the Church! What a great gift Jesus has given us!

And the Vigilers vigiled. Sort of.

Well, I arrived at St. Peters Cathedral at around 4:30 this afternoon to check in on the folks from SDACT. I was happy to see that the vigilers were not loitering around outside the cathedral, but rather, were over at the prayer garden next to the rectory.

Propped up against the fence was a sign reading "Parents Supporting SDACT".

I strolled over to St. Peters, unsure if the vigil Mass began at 4 or 5. I pulled open the door and stepped inside. Father Connor was busy reading the Roman Canon, and a full house of worshippers knelt down in adoration of the Eucharistic Lord.

I walked back to the garden to take an official count of the vigilers. There were 12, probably not the support SDACT hoped for, but 12 is better than none, I suppose.

Now, in our prayer garden, there are brick posts with plaques containing the mysteries of the rosary. The SDACTers were praying an Ave Maria together as I approached. A few looked at me as I started shooting pictures.
SDACTers praying the rosary. Those Sorrowful Mysteries always crack me up too...

They prayed for awhile, then some fellow who seemed to be in charge started going on about how the Bishop doesn't talk to his own priests, because he has Vicors for that. He also mentioned his hope that "very soon the priests will step in to end this thing, enough is enough." He remarked how priests from some big diocese somewhere voted to remove their Bishop because he was a bad administrator or something to that effect. There was general merriment at the thought that the Bishop might somehow be thrown out of power, and by his own priests!


Then some of the people announced they were going, they were thanked for their support, and about 3 or 4 left.

The rest stood there, talking amongst themselves.

I got in my car and drove away at 5:02pm, 7 or 8 SDACTers left.

Now, I'm sure the majority of the SDACT Vigilers were yet to arrive, but what I saw wasn't too impressive.

Maybe there will more vigilers tomorrow, as Mass begins yet again at 6am or so, I believe. Another opportunity to be seen and to remind the faithful of the dreadful injustices the teachers must endure from our Bishop.

Pennsylvania Catholics favor death!

From the earliest Catholic teachings, the Church in her wisdom has known abortion was wrong. The Law of Moses forbade it, and up until the present day, it is still regarded as a mortal sin.

So why do so many "catholics" support the war on the unborn? According to a report over at Catholic News Agency, "Pennsylvania Catholics presently favor New York Senator Hillary Clinton over Senator Obama in the Democratic primary, which will be held on April 22."

What?

How can either one of them be an option?

It boggles the mind. But it also makes sense at the same time.

These are the same people that give the peace sign during Mass.

These are the same people that applaud liturgical dance.

These are the same people that think Marty Haugen is the best thing since low-gluten hosts.

In short, the majority of catholics these days it seems.

The Vatican should get tough and set stricter guidelines.

Here's my take: "Catholics" that knowingly vote for candidates supporting the war on unborn babies should be excommunicated. No ifs, no ands, no buts.

That's my rant for today.

Rejoice in the fact that I am not the Pope. Some of you would be having a bad day.

Another publicity stunt

I was all pleased with myself after Quizilla told me that I am as cool as Pope St. Pius X, when I came across this latest tidbit about everyone's favorite wanna be union, SDACT.

Ordinarily I would welcome this bit of news if I didn't think there are other motives involved here. I really doubt that the true purpose of this gathering is to pray for the intentions of the Bishop. It's designed for them to appear publicly, to keep themselves in the media's eye, and to portray themselves as devout catholics who gather to pray for the great oppressor of the SDACT, Bishop Martino.

From their blog:

This weekend, SDACT along with our parent and alumni support groups will be holding a prayer vigil for the intentions of Bishop Martino. The vigil will be held outside St. Peter's Cathedral on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton. The vigil will begin at 4:00 PM, Saturday, March 29, and will run continuously for the next 20 hours, ending at 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 30. (You'll notice this vigil is set for peak times at the cathedral when the faithful are going to Holy Mass) Participants are encouraged to dress warmly, and to bring their own candle and a camp or lawn chair. We invite the general public to join us. The Diocese has offered to provide security and will allow participants to use the restroom facilities at Holy Cross High School which is located directly across the street from the Cathedral. We thank Diocesan officials for this kind gesture.

Yesterday I left a comment on SDACT's blog in opposition to the "sick out" held the other day at St Mary's and St Nicholas schools.

They didn't post it. They do post letters to the editor in support of SDACT however, meant to show the public support they have.

I urge you to write your own letters in support of the Bishop to local papers, and to the Bishop himself, and show him he has your support and prayers. He needs them.

I'll try to stop by their "prayer vigil" tomorrow and take some photos, and try to interview some poeple. I'll post what I can here.

I am Awesome!

I took this quiz this morning, and realized I am totally awesome!

Which Twentieth Century Pope Are You?

You are Pope St. Pius X. You'd rather be right than newfangled.
Take this quiz!








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Pray for the unborn!

Memphis, Tenn., Mar 28, 2008 / 03:29 am (CNA).- The Saint Michael the Archangel Organization is attempting to organize one million people in the United States to pray the Rosary for unborn babies on Saturday, May 3.

Organizers of the prayer event, called One Million Rosaries for Unborn Babies, are asking participants to pray during the same 60-minute time span, beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.

Patrick Benedict, President of the Saint Michael the Archangel Organization, said, "The primary way to stop the killing of unborn babies is not by way of politics and is not by way of education."

“The person battling the ‘Culture of Death’ is primarily in a spiritual battle and needs to use spiritual weaponry,” he continued.

“The Rosary is a powerful spiritual weapon, and I hope there will be at least one million people in the United States taking hold of their Rosaries on May 3.”

The organization is asking Pope Benedict XVI to re-establish the practice of offering prayers such as the Hail Mary and the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel after Mass. The organization also asks that these prayers be offered for the intention of ending the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn babies.

Participants can register for the event at www.SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org

See? Sometimes there is justice!

Once again parents in the state of Kalifornia will be able to homeschool their children due to the previous ruling being vacated. The case will be re-heard!

And there was much rejoicing!

Except for the liberal progressives who want your kids in their gateways to Hell ,so that they can force girls to share bathrooms with boys, teach your kids that gay amateur proctology is an acceptable way to live their lives, and to make sure the kids are consistently behind the rest of the country in their national scores.

On March 25, the California Court of Appeal granted a motion for rehearing in the In re Rachel L. case—the controversial decision which purported to ban all homeschooling in that state unless the parents held a teaching license qualifying them to teach in public schools.

The automatic effect of granting this motion is that the prior opinion is vacated and is no longer binding on any one, including the parties in the case.

The Court of Appeal has solicited a number of public school establishment organizations to submit amicus briefs including the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and three California teacher unions. The court also granted permission to Sunland Christian School to file an amicus brief. The order also indicates that it will consider amicus applications from other groups.

Home School Legal Defense Association will seek permission to file such an amicus brief and will coordinate efforts with a number of organizations interesting in filing briefs to support the right of parents to homeschool their children in California.

“This is a great first step,” said Michael Farris, chairman of HSLDA. “We are very glad that this case will be reheard and that this opinion has been vacated, but there is no guarantee as to what the ultimate outcome will be. This case remains our top priority,” he added.

Money is the root of all evil

So, the money crazed teachers of my diocese, mindlessly following the instructions of the SDACT heirarchy, in a futile attempt to have their silly union recognized have brought their case to the Vatican!

Good! Let the Vatican smack them down, and lets see what they say and dothen. Maybe they will split from the oppressive church that is keeping them down and start their own progressive quasi-church. One where they can vote on which doctrines please them, and where they can throw those pesky ones like sin and confession out in the garbage where they can keep company with the aborted babies.

My problem is that today the teachers over at St Mary and St Nicholas schools all called in sick. Why do they keep aggravating the situation? They are waiting for a hearing date, so just shut up, do their job, and wait. They must be aware that they will lose and are trying to force a concession.

Fear is in the air.

They wrongly assumed the Bishop would crack and give in to their demands.

I hope he fires the lot of them when the school year is done.

And there will be much rejoicing.

Who's next?

Bishop Martino has been closing Catholic Churches here in the diocese at an alarming rate. In todays Citizen's Voice there was an article about the acceptance of proposals from outside firms for the purpose of determining the condition and value of the diocese's property.

"Proposals are due by 4 p.m. April 7. On being given written notice to proceed, the selected firm would start work immediately. Its staff, which should include architects, engineers and consultants, would do a building-by-building evaluation. The professionals would examine each facility’s roof, plumbing, electrical system, structural integrity, flooring, masonry and other building aspects and: Note their approximate age and make recommendations with cost estimates for replacement. Identify any apparent fire, safety and Americans with Disabilities Act issues. Estimate costs to upgrade facilities to current codes and standards. Rank the facilities according to which are in best shape.

An in-depth report to the diocese would be due Oct. 1. The facility study is one facet of a larger review of parish structuring, “Called to Holiness and Mission: Pastoral Planning in the Diocese of Scranton,” which began in January, Genello said. “It’s part of the comprehensive review that’s now under way of all of our parishes, and this includes their ministries, the demographics of the parish community, along with the number of priests available for active service in the diocese, along with facilities and also finances,” he said. Change within the diocese — including declining numbers of parishioners and a shortage of priests, among other factors — led to the review. Bishop Joseph F. Martino hired the church consulting firm Reid Group to assist in the planning. “In order to provide factual information to these communities while undertaking the Bishop’s “Call to Holiness and Mission” … where parish communities will be going through a self-evaluation to determine future viability, facility evaluations need to be accomplished so a true assessment can be made based upon current structural and mechanical system conditions,” the diocese’s Web site states.

As I mentioned elsewhere
I really don't believe the Bishop is moving in the right direction. If he had pushed this "Call to Holiness" when he first got here as just that, a true Call to Holiness, a return to our traditions, if he taught the faith properly, echoed the sentiments of our Holy Father, then he could have a true picture of our diocese. Instead, he comes in like the lion, closing schools, consolidating others, closing churches, and they aren't close to being done yet.

The spiritual health of our diocese is on life support and his answer is to close churches. Please pray for the Diocese of Scranton if you can spare a second.

Thanks.

Good news on this Thursday after Easter!

I am very happy today after reading this. I pray more legislators throughout the country have the courage to do the same.

Phoenix, Mar 26, 2008 / 09:11 pm (CNA).- The Arizona legislature on Tuesday passed two bills regulating abortion in the state and sent them to Gov. Janet Napolitano for her consideration.

One bill clarified the circumstances that override the need for a minor seeking an abortion to obtain parental consent, while the other bill established state penalties for partial-birth abortion.

House Bill 2769 builds on a federal law outlawing partial-birth abortions. It makes performing the procedure a Class 5 felony, which cannot be pleaded down to a misdemeanor.

Senator Linda Gray described in detail on the Senate floor how a partial-birth abortion is performed. “This is a horrible, horrible procedure,” she said.

Ron Johnson, Executive Director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, called the bill “important pro-life legislation.” He said a state ban was needed so that Arizona citizens did not have to rely upon the United States Justice Department to prosecute violators.

“Additionally,” Johnson said, “a state ban is helpful because federal prosecutors attempting to enforce the current partial birth abortion ban must first show that interstate commerce is somehow impacted.”

Senator Paula Aboud said the bill "claims to copy the federal law but it goes too far." She said it creates a situation where a doctor could be prosecuted under both state and federal law.

The other bill, House Bill 2263, outlined the critera a judge should consider when deciding if there is “clear and convincing” evidence that a minor has the maturity to undergo an abortion without parental consent. A judge can consider whether the minor has worked and lived outside the home, handled her personal finances, or made other significant decisions on her own.

Senator Aboud criticized the bill for burdening minors already in a difficult position. "For some, speaking to their parents is not an option," she said.

"It is not changing the law or adding any new burdens," said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative think tank.

The Arizona House of Representatives also approved a bill that bars nurses from performing surgical abortions.

The bills now require the approval of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. She has vetoed other abortion laws in the past, including one involving parental consent for minors.

How to lose your appetite in .006 seconds

Ok. So I decided to take a break here at the 'ole office. I sat down, revved up Firefox, took a spoonful of Yoplait...and nearly launched it across the room.

What I was looking at was this dude to the left, with his mascara, long hair and beard, and that plasticy twist tie thing wrapped around his head like a crown of thorns.

It appears the rectal rangers of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (only click that link if you are brave) held a "hunky Jesus" contest.

On Easter Sunday.

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

San Franciscans have flocked to Dolores Park in the city to compete in, or watch, what has become an Easter Sunday tradition - the "Hunky Jesus" competition.

Officiated by a gay charity group known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which has been active in San Francisco since 1979, the contest pits costumed and usually scantily clad men against each other for the distinction of being declared the most attractive Jesus.

Catholics have labelled the annual pageant blasphemous, considering that previous entrants have included "old school Jesus", "surfer Jesus" and "zombie Jesus", an irreverent take on the Easter message of Christ rising from the dead.

But the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence insist the contest is all part of their mission to "promote universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt".

Here's an idea ladies, why not have a hunky Mohammed contest on the first day of Rammadan instead?

Probably because they know catholics don't kidnap blasphemers and hack their heads off with bread knives when they get pissed. Muslims have been known to do that.

Anyone know when Kalifornia is slated to fall into the Pacific?

Habit? I don't need no stinking habit!

You know, I’m a big traditionalist. I think nuns should wear habits. Peggy Noonan once wrote something along the lines that the more traditional the habit, the better the nun. Nuns that run around in pant suits with butch hair cuts on their head are usually not thinking about the glory of God, but how they can be illicitly ordained by a crack-pot out on Lake Michigan. So naturally, I wasn’t pleased to see this little tidbit in the California Catholic Daily about a conference coming up where a disobedient prioress was asked to attend.

Disobedient nuns being invited to a conference in California? Say it ain’t so.

It’s so. Read on, true believers:

In April, the Immaculate Heart Community in Los Angeles will host a lecture by a woman religious who, seven years ago, publicly ignored a Vatican disciplinary order.

Sister Christine Vladimiroff, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania, will deliver an Anita Caspary Lecture in Los Angeles on April 13, reported the March 19 “Justice and Peace Newsblast” of the Los Angeles archdiocese’s Office of Justice and Peace.

In 2004, the Tidings, the archdiocese’s newspaper, reported in an article about a talk by Vladimiroff that the prioress had come into prominence in 2001 “for opposing a Vatican directive that one of its members, Sister Joan Chittister, not participate in a conference on women’s ordination.”

In an interview with the Tidings, Vladimiroff explained her take on the tension between being “prophetic” and obedient. “Prophetic,” she said, “means taking a risk and hopefully trying to turn that risk into perceiving the will of God in a particular instance. There’s tension between doing the politically correct thing or being so outside an institution you’re no longer relevant to it.”

In a 2001 letter to the Holy See, Vladimiroff noted that the Vatican saw Sister Joan Chittester’s attendance at the Women’s Ordination Worldwide Conference “to be in opposition to its decree (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis) that priestly ordination will never be conferred on women in the Roman Catholic Church and must therefore not be discussed.” Vladimiroff said that “after much deliberation and prayer” she decided to “decline the request of the Vatican” to forbid Sister Joan to attend. She did so “out of the Benedictine, or monastic, tradition of obedience.”

A “fundamental difference” exists “in the understanding of obedience in the monastic tradition and that which is being used by the Vatican to exert power and control and prompt a false sense of unity inspired by fear,” wrote Vladimiroff.

Vladimiroff said she did not see Sister Joan’s participation in the conference “as a ‘source of scandal to the faithful’ as the Vatican alleges. I think the faithful can be scandalized when honest attempts to discuss questions of import to the church are forbidden.” Vladimiroff said she could not be “used by the Vatican to deliver an order of silencing.” Indeed, according to Vladimiroff, “Benedictine communities of men and women were never intended to be part of the hierarchical or clerical status of the Church, but to stand apart from this structure and offer a different voice.”

All but one of the 135 Erie Benedictine sisters signed Vladimiroff’s response to the Holy See. Chittester spoke at the women’s ordination conference, and the Vatican disciplined neither her nor Vladimiroff.

The Erie Benedictines make decisions by “consensus,” said a 2002 Women’s E News article – which also noted that “the order prays not to the ‘Father, Son and the Holy Spirit,’ but to ‘Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.’"

That the Immaculate Heart Community would host Vladimiroff is not surprising. It is an order of sisters (now including lay men and women) that broke with the Los Angeles archdiocese in 1970 because Cardinal James McIntyre would not tolerate their version of Vatican II “renewal.”

RSSHugger

I know this post is not about catholicism, but it is intended for those of my readers that are also bloggers. So please forgive my departure from the path.

Have you seen rssHugger yet?

If you need readers for your blog, and who doesn't, RssHugger might be for you. It is a single site that brings together bloggers and readers. I can't really give an honest review on whether or not this works, because I have only just now signed up. The premise seems good, and as long as they can control spamming, it sounds very good to me.

How it works is that you sign up, and then have two options of how to use the service. You can pay $20 or you write a review of the site on your blog.. hence, this post. Bloggers help them grow by reviewing, and they help bloggers by getting us out there for people to see. Pretty good bartering system.

Go on over and find out more about it at RssHugger

More on communion in the hand!

You may remember this post on communion in the hand. Well, I came across some quotes on this infamous practice I thought you might like. And since the argument in favor of this sacrilege I hear most often is "that's how they did it in the early church", I have some early church fathers here as well to give you their feelings. Good reading, this!

Pope St. Sixtus I (circa 115)
He prohibited the faithful even to touch the Sacred Vessels: "Statutum est ut sacra vasa non ab aliis quam a sacratis Dominoque dicatis Contrectentur Hominbus..." (Read Num. 4: 15 Only the priests).


Pope St. Eutycbian (275-283 AD)
He forbade the faithful to take the Sacred Host in their hand.


St. Basil the Great (330-379 AD)
"The right to receive Holy Communion in the Hand is permitted only in time of Persecution." He considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault.


The Council of Saragossa (380 AD)
It was decided to punish with EXCOMMUNICATION anyone who dared to continue the Practice of Holy Communion in the hand. The Synod of Toledo Confirmed the Decree.


Pope St. Leo the Great (440-461 AD)
The practice of administering Holy Communion on the tongue of the Faithful was energetically defended and faithfully obeyed.

The Synod of Rouen (650 AD)
"Do not put the Eucharist in the hands of any layman, but only in their mouths." Thus, again Communion in the hand was condemned as an abuse.


The 6th Ecumenical Council, III of Constantinople (680-681)
It forbade the faithful to take the Sacred Host in their hand, threatening transgressors with Excommunication.


St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD)
"The Body of Christ must not be touched by anyone, other than a Consecrated Priest. No other person has the right to touch it, except in case of extreme necessity.” (Read “Inestimabile Donum”).


The Council of Trent (1545-1565 AD)
"The fact that only the Priest gives Holy Communion with his consecrated hands is an apostolic tradition."


Pope Paul VI (1963-1978 AD)
" ... This Method [on the tongue] must be retained..." ("Memoriale Domini").


Pope John Paul II
"To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained." (Dominicae Cenae, 11).

Oratory at Ave Maria to be dedicated!

Naples, Mar 26, 2008 / 01:24 am (CNA).- The oratory at Ave Maria University will be dedicated next week at a Mass celebrated by Bishop of Venice Frank Dewane, the Naples Daily News reports.

Ave Maria University President Nick Healy said in an e-mail to the university community that Bishop Dewane would dedicate the 100 foot-tall, $24 million structure at a Mass on the afternoon of March 31.

“We are very pleased to announce that Bishop Frank Dewane will dedicate the oratory at a special Mass and ceremony,” Healy wrote. “Thank you for your prayers.”

It is unclear whether the building will be dedicated as a church or an oratory. Oratories are places of prayer dedicated to a particular community, while churches are the spiritual centers of parishes. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals typically occur in churches, and not oratories.

The university had invited Bishop Dewane to dedicate the structure in January, but the January ceremony had to be canceled.

Due to concerns about church law, authority, pastoral care, and financial matters, it had previously been questioned whether the dedication of the oratory would even take place.

The building is the central structure in the 5,000-acre town and university being built by the Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan and the local developer Barron Collier Cos.

Bishop Dewane’s dedication of the building will allow Mass to be celebrated there.

Latin For Dummies!

Pray For Archbishop Lefebvre!

March 25, 2008
The 17th Anniversary of the Death of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the SSPX.

Archbishop Lefebvre has done more to preserve our traditions than perhaps any other. Without him, there would be no FSSP, no ICK, and quite possibly no Motu Proprio.

Pray for his soul on this, the 17th anniversary of his death.

De Profundis

De profúndis clamávi ad te, Dómine: Dómine, exáudi vocem meam. Fiant aures tuae intendéntes: in vocem deprecationes meae. Si iniquitátes observaveris, Dómine: Dómine, quis sustinébit. Quia apud te propitiátio est: et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Dómine. Sustinuit ánima mea in verbo ejus: sperávit ánima mea in Dómino. A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: specret Israel in Dómino.Quia apud Dóminum misericordia: et copiósa apud eum redémptio. Et ipse redimet Israel, ex ómnibus iniquitátibus ejus.

Monks Make The Big Time!

Berlin, Mar 24, 2008 / 10:01 pm (CNA).- After “blowing away” music executives with their performance of Gregorian plainchant, a group of Austrian monks has been given a record deal with Universal Music, the Independent reports.

Universal had been persuaded that there was a market for albums of Gregorian chant by the success of the video game Halo. The game, which has sold over 16 million copies, uses in its soundtrack a plainchant sung by male choirs without musical accompaniment.

Dickon Stainer, head of Universal Classics and Jazz, said, "Young people have an awareness of Gregorian chant, even though it's not something you come across in everyday life. It made us think that there was something in it."

The music company placed an advertisement in The Tablet and The Church Times seeking “men of the cloth” to sing on an album of Gregorian chants.

After a contact in London informed the Cistercian monks of Holy Cross monastery about Universal’s search for Gregorian singers, the 80 monks compiled a clip of their singing and put it on YouTube as an audition.

The professionally edited video begins with a shot of altar candles and then switches to images of monks clad in white habits walking in double file through the ancient cloisters. The video closes in a picturesque aerial shot of the Holy Cross abbey, set deep in the Austrian woods.

"I was blown away by the quality of their singing," said Tom Lewis, an executive at Universal. "They are quite simply the best Gregorian singers we have heard. They make a magical sound which is calming and deeply moving. They are using the very latest communication devices to get their music heard. They're very passionate and excited about this opportunity."

Lewis said the company had received hundreds of videos in response to its advertisements, but the Cistercians were the clear winners.

The monks have described their success as “divine intervention.” They were scheduled to record an album last year, but the recording session was cancelled after it conflicted with a visit to the monastery by Pope Benedict XVI.

The monastery, which dates back to 1133, has been famous for its relic of the True Cross.

Father Karl, a spokesman for the abbey, welcomed the news. "Gregorian chant is part of spirituality and our life," he said, according to the Independent. "Any profits will be spent on training future brothers."

Gregorian Chant, which is named for Pope Gregory I, had some popularity in the 1990s and was featured in several successful CDs by the group Enigma.

Stuck on Stoopid

I hate protesters for the most part. They are usually loud and annoying, and bother people that have nothing to do with what they are protesting. I know this guy that thinks he is a "performance artist". He likes to protest. Every Black Friday he walks around WalMart with an empty shopping cart, pretending to pick up items and look at them, and then put them back. There's a guy with too much time on his hands.

But anyway, the idiots in the picture above are protesters of the Iraq war. They call themselves the "Catholic Schoolgirls Against The War". They felt the need to protest the war on Easter Sunday, at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, by throwing fake blood on the parishoners. These genetic defectives have been charged with felonies.

Here's a bit of the article.

Chicago, Mar 24, 2008 / 12:53 pm (CNA).- Six people protesting the war in Iraq were arrested after they disrupted an Easter Mass at Chicago’s cathedral and threw fake blood at parishioners, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The protesters stood and shouted at the beginning of Cardinal Francis George’s homily in the auditorium at Holy Name Cathedral. As ushers and security guards tried to remove them from the area, the protesters squirted fake blood on themselves and parishioners dressed in their Easter best.

Some of the 600 worshippers in attendance booed the protesters. The demonstrators, who call themselves “Catholic Schoolgirls for Peace,” chanted as they were removed, saying, "Even the pope calls for peace."

“And so should we all,” said Cardinal George, drawing strong applause.

A small number of worshippers followed the protesters into the lobby to berate them for their actions.

"Are you happy with yourselves?" Mike Wainscott of Chicago shouted at the demonstrators as they were being handcuffed. "There were kids in there. You scared little kids with your selfish act. Are you happy now?"

The six protesters, ranging in age from 18 to 25, were all charged with felony criminal damage to property and two counts of simple battery for squirting the blood around the auditorium.

A statement issued Sunday afternoon by Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War said it protested at the cathedral "to reach both Holy Name's large Easter audience—including Chicago's most prominent Catholic citizens, who commonly attend Easter mass at the church—and the many more viewers and readers of the local press, which usually extensively covers their services."

There are plenty of ways to protest the war. But not by disrupting Holy Mass. I'm sure we're not dealing with actual Catholics that actually know their faith and give due reverence to the Blessed Sacrament. Just some punks looking to get their names in the papers.

And now I get to make fun of them!

Yay!

For he's a jolly good Papa!

Thanks to catholictradition.org

Our Holy Father is laboring under difficult circumstances. From many hostile fortresses he is battered as he struggles to restore Tradition. He is infallible when he pronounces on faith or morals for the universal Church on that which must be believed and or when he teaches in union with all the Pontiffs who maintained their apostolic oath to uphold Tradition and resist novelty. As Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger he was part of the novelty movement. So successful were modern Churchmen in their endeavors to "update" what must not be updated by definition, that we are all influenced by modern errors and the sentiments that accompany them, even those of us who think we are immune. The apostasy is worldwide and so invasive with its subtleties that we scarcely dare to take our eyes from Heaven for a moment lest we, too, will be swallowed up in its billowing waves. Our Pontiff is not indefectible, and he, too can fail out of human frailty in his ordinary duties.

In under three years he has done much to restore Tradition to its rightful place, but because he sometimes falters as he tries to right the Barque of Peter, there are those who deny his rightful authority and even his papal throne. Then there are those, who upholding his office, deny his infallibility or want to limit it even more than it is---a foolish endeavor because the limits of papal infallibility was defined by the Holy Spirit at the dogmatic Vatican Council I, and cannot be changed.

We sometimes grow impatient with his efforts, yet how could things be otherwise, after 40 years in the desert of anti-tradition and ceaseless change. How to undo everything is two years? Impossible. Like it or not we are being chastised by God, without pointing fingers at any single person, but chastised we are.

I am sure that we all say the prayers for the Pontiff after the Rosary and pray for him at Mass.

In the year of Our Lord, 2008, we ought to redouble our efforts on his behalf. For those of you are unfamiliar with our reparational directory, we have a page with prayers for the Roman Pontiff. The link at the bottom of the page will take you there. In addition I am encouraging us all to say the 31 Day Novena to St. Joseph, Patron of the Church, for his intentions. Then send him a birthday card in time for April 16, thanking him for all he is doing and tell him that you are praying for him:

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI PP.

Apostolic Palace

Via del Pellegrino

Citta del Vaticano

Vatican City State, 00120

Europe

Another one bites the dust.

Bishop Martino has been wasting no time with the consolidation of the churches of the diocese. It was announced that all 4 Pittston churches would be consolidated into one parish. St. Casimir, St. John the Baptist, and St. Joseph will all close. St. John the Evangelist is the only church left standing.

The diocese has been very careful to not use the word “close”. But that is what is going on. The churches are closing. Not shutting down for awhile. Closing.

It is inevitable. The fruits of Vatican II.

No priests.

No seminarians.

No faithful.

Now we are the point where the churches must close. For good.

I look down the river to Luzerne, where only Holy Family will remain. And there are rumors that may go as well. After a multi million dollar rape of the once beautiful building, I doubt it will close. But who knows? It is also clear what real estate is more valuable and therefore to remain open. The modernist, minimalist chuches with holy water fountains and the latest track lighting are all the rave.

In Wilkes-Barre, it will be quite an epic battle between two large churches a block away from each other, St. Mary’s and St. Nicholas. It will be interesting to see which remains open there. St. Nick’s has a convent and school. Wanna take a guess?

It is very sad to me, first of all that these beautiful old churches were wreckovated. I defy any one of my two readers to show me where, in any VII document it mandates the destruction of our sacred spaces? Where does it say to tear down the high altars, smash the statues, discard the relics of the saints that lie there, and to throw our Lord irreverently off to the side of the “worship space”?

The next time I hear about one of our few remaining untouched treasures coming into danger, I will be there. I hope you will too.

As for the closings, there is little we can do. There is little reason to doubt why our Bishop was sent to us. He is he to clean up and streamline. Instead of closing our churches, I wish he had taken a different route. Restore holiness and tradition to our faithful first. Bring them back into the fold. Show them the true way to worship, the hermenuetic of continuity the Holy Father speaks of.

But he has been all about business. We don’t need a business manager here. We need a shepherd.

Badly.

He is risen, alleluia!

Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008.

The Temple of Christ's Body is restored; He is risen, alleluia!
Today is the Feast of Feasts!

Easter Sermon
By St. John Chrysostom

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaias foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

Spend Good Friday Praying On All That He Did For You!

Prayer in Honor of the Five Wounds

Act of Contrition

As I kneel before Thee on the cross, most loving Saviour of my soul, my conscience reproaches me with having nailed Thee to that cross with these hands of mine, as often as I have fallen into mortal sin, wearying Thee with my base ingratitude. My God, my chief and perfect good, worthy of all my love, because Thou hast loaded me with blessings; I cannot now undo my misdeeds, as I would most willingly; but I loathe them, grieving sincerely for having offended Thee, Who art infinite goodness. And now, kneeling at Thy feet, I try, at least, to compassionate Thee, to give Thee thanks, to ask Thee pardon and contrition; wherefore with my heart and lips, I say:

To the Wound of the Left Foot

Holy wound of the left foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love whereby Thou laboured to overtake me on the way to ruin, and didst bleed amid the thorns and brambles of my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, in atonement for my sins, all of which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Wound of the Right Foot

Holy wound of the right foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for that love which pierced Thee with such torture and shedding of blood, in order to punish my wanderings and the guilty pleasures I have granted to my unbridled passions. I offer the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray Thee for grace to weep over my sins with hot tears, and to enable me to persevere in the good which I have begun, without ever swerving again from my obedience to the divine commands.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Wound of the Left Hand

Holy wound of the left hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for having in Thy love spared me the scourges and eternal damnation which my sins have merited. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of They most holy humanity: and I pray Thee to teach me how to turn to good account my span of life, and bring forth in it worthy fruits of penance, and to disarm the justice of God, which I have provoked.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Wound of the Right Hand

Holy wound of the right hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for Thy graces lavished on me with such love, in spite of all my most perverse obstinacy. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity; and I pray Thee to change my heart and its affections, and make me do all my actions in accordance with the will of God.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Wound of the Sacred Side

Holy wound in the side of my Jesus, I adore Thee; I compassionate Thee, O Jesus, for the cruel insult Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee, my Jesus, for the love which suffered Thy side and Heart to be pierced, so that the last drops of blood and water might issue forth, making my redemption to overflow. I offer to the Eternal Father this outrage, and the love of Thy most holy humanity, that my soul may enter once for all into that most loving Heart, eager and ready to receive the greatest sinners, and never more depart.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

Well I did it!

I sent the letter to my pastor that I have been agonizing over.

I requested the Extraordinary Rite at my parish.

The crap is on its way to the fan as we speak.

Here is the letter I sent, please feel free to use it as a template for your own letters to your priests.

Father -----------,

In his Christmas address to the members of the Roman Curia
on December 22, 2005, His Holiness Benedict XVI, shared his vision
of shepherding the Church on a path of greater unity, continuity, reform, and renewal. As an essential part of this vision, on July 7, 2007, the Holy Father released his Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum, clarifying the status and usage of the Missal of Blessed Pope John XXIII, published in 1962, prior to the liturgical reforms of 1970. The document also governs the use of other ritual books in use prior to these reforms.

The Holy Father explains that the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council found in the 1970 Missal, with its two subsequent revisions, remain as the Forma ordinaria of celebration of the Mass. The use of the 1962 Missal of Blessed Pope John XXIII is to be used as the Forma extraordinaria or extraordinary form of celebration of the Mass. Most notably, the Holy Father states that these two forms are not to be seen as two separate Rites of the Mass, but rather two forms of celebration within the one Roman Rite. The Holy Father clarifies this two-fold reality when he stated, "There is no contradiction between the two editions of the Roman Missal. In the history of the liturgy, there is growth and progress, but no rupture. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us, too…."

I would like to make this letter my formal request that Saint --------- Church, in the spirit of unity, continuity, reform, and renewal spoken of by the Holy Father, make the Forma extraordinaria
of the Mass available to the faithful.
I offer to make contact with the priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, and arrange a mass. All that would be required is your permission as pastor. I pray you will allow us to properly celebrate the Forma extraordinaria of the Mass at Saint --------- so that both God and the people of God will best be served.

The richness of the Sacred Liturgy is the heart of our Catholic faith. The Forma extraordinaria of the Mass has been the source of holiness for countless saints throughout history. May the richness of our Catholic liturgical prayer, now made more available to the entire Church, continue to lead us all to that same goal. In the words of our Holy Father, "Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith, itself, allows."

Respectfully yours,

Your Name Here

I wish more of you in the Diocese of Scranton and abroad will summon the courage to ask for what is our right to ask for in the Church. If more people ask for it, and more masses in the Extraordinary Rite are celebrated, it will become less of an oddity and more of a common occurrence.

As it should be.

I'll keep both of my readers up to date on Father's reply.

And The Hits Keep Coming!

As most of you already know, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting America next month and celebrating mass at the new National’s stadium in Washington DC. This is the Pope’s first visit to America since he was elected Supreme Pontiff, and the entire world will be watching.

And what will the entire world get to see? The sad state of liturgical music in America.

Why? Because Thomas Strehle, director of music at Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac Maryland has been chosen to organize the music for the Papal mass. "The most important thing to me is that everyone present is fully engaged," he said. "The music is aimed at allowing the assembly to take up its role and not just be spectators, but full participants in the celebration, no matter where they are sitting."

And what music has he chosen? Well, Tommy dug deep into the rich treasure of liturgical music, bypassing the Palestrina, Bach, and other composers in the Church and pulled from the top of the dung heap, you guessed it, Marty Haugen and his “Mass of Creation”.

I kid you not.

Marty Haugen, a Lutheran whose music is probably performed more widely in American Catholic parishes than that of any other composer, has produced ugly, ridiculous hymns that emphasize the sun, the moon, trees, and dancing--all set to primitive melodies that evoke a whimsical stroll through a field of organic sunflowers. Haugen’s banal ditties have been assaulting the senses of Catholics everywhere for 25 years. If his name is unfamiliar, his pathetic attempts at sacred music are not. Flip through your hymnal this Sunday. You’ll find him.

Catholics everywhere should be embarrassed.

Jeffery Tucker over at The New Liturgical Movement had this to say: ” It can't be a good thing. It will send a horrible message to the entire country, demoralize young priests, undermine the work of good musicians, and reverse progress at many levels. It sends the message that not even the Pope can override the anachronistic stance of the Liturgical Industrial Complex in this country.”

I fear he may be correct.

The Pope Rocks!

I am going to introduce a monthly award today called "The Rockin" award. The lucky recipient will be said to "Rock". Hence the title of today's post.

Why does the Pope "Rock"?

Because he went from using this modern art Papal staff popularized by JPII:



To this Papal staff of Pius XII and John XXIII:



Good choice Papa!

The Smear Goes On

Some of you may remember this post about the teachers and my diocese, The Diocese of Scranton. Well since then, the battle has continued to rage on. The teachers have walked out shutting down Holy Redeemer High School for one day, and some of the students walked out of class last week to show their "support" for the underpaid teachers.

This week, to further smear the Diocese and our Bishop, the union invited the parents of the catholic school students to an "informational meeting" which really turned out to be a rally for the union. And some 750 parents, unfaithful catholics all, attended that meeting yesterday with the teachers and union to see what they had to say.

If the Bishop wanted to have a one day class on the Cathechism of the Catholic Church I wonder if so many of them would have been there.


The Diocese has put together this fact sheet to answer the misinformation smear campaign by the teachers union. Let me know your thoughts.

Diocese of Scranton
Response to Misinformation Campaign

We understand that parents of Catholic school students are being asked to participate in a meeting this Sunday, March 9, with members of SDACT. For the past several weeks, SDACT has issued many statements with much misinformation and numerous false accusations about Bishop Martino’s decision on personnel practices in Catholic schools. It is expected that the leadership of SDACT will continue this misinformation campaign at Sunday’s meeting and beyond. In order to help everyone understand the real issues and the real numbers involved, the following fact sheet is provided:

Facts Regarding False Accusations
Made by Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers

SDACT Accusation: The Diocese of Scranton has acted in violation of Church teaching on unions; especially the 1891 encyclical of Pope Leo XIII entitled Rerum Novarum. (On Capital and Labor)

Fact: Rerum Novarum shows no objection to programs such as the diocesan Employee Relations Program. Paragraph 49 reads, “…it is most clearly necessary that workers’ associations be adapted to meet the present need. It is gratifying that societies of this kind composed of either workers alone or of workers and employers together are being formed everywhere, and it is truly to be desired that they grow in number and in active vigor.” [Emphasis added] Neither the civil law nor the Canon Law of the Catholic Church require the recognition of unions in Catholic schools. A union, then, is not required, essential or mandated.

SDACT Accusation: By not recognizing SDACT, the Diocese of Scranton is now out of the Catholic mainstream. Moreover, contrary to the above citation from Rerum Novarum, SDACT claims that a union is “the only real representation that provides for justice and dignity for workers anywhere.”

Fact: Not every diocese has a union in its Catholic schools. In Pennsylvania alone, where unions have a long history in secular employment, teachers laboring in the dioceses of Harrisburg and Erie are not unionized. Other dioceses in the nation do not have unions. Are all of them violating Catholic teaching? Are they denying justice and dignity to their workers? While unions are appropriate in some situations, they are not the only means to achieve justice for workers. By establishing the Employee Relations Program, the Diocese of Scranton has shown a commitment to Catholic social teaching consonant with other Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania and the nation as a whole.

SDACT Accusation: Teachers in Diocesan Catholic schools are grossly underpaid. Although money is not their primary aim, they need a union to ensure they are paid a “living wage.”

Fact: On February 28, classes at Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre had to be cancelled because a majority of the teachers refused to report for work. The average salary for the 67 full-time teachers at Holy Redeemer is $49,100. This does not include administrators. Salaries for teachers range from $23,400 to $61,465. The various salary ranges and the number of teachers in each range are:

15 teachers: $60,000 - $70,000
15 teachers: $50,000 - $60,000
20 teachers: $40,000 - $50,000
11 teachers: $30,000 - $40,000
6 teachers: $20,000 - $30,000 (these are first- and second-year teachers)

These figures do not include health care benefits, which total $536,946. This is the amount paid by the Diocese; it does not include the employee contribution. In addition, children of Holy Redeemer teachers who attend Catholic schools are receiving free tuition totaling $146,000.

SDACT Accusation: The Diocese has hired a “union busting” firm, and/or used anti-union websites, to help shape its personnel practices.

Fact: The Diocese has not hired a “union busting” firm, nor used anti-union websites or other such resources. The Diocese does consult with a Wilkes-Barre law firm specializing in labor relations, just as SDACT consults with a Philadelphia law firm with expertise in this area of the law.

SDACT Accusation: The Diocesan Employee Relations Program is a sham, and representatives on the program’s Employee Councils were hand picked by the Diocese or the school administrations, or somehow were coerced into participating.

Fact: Representatives for the Employee Councils were chosen by their peers. Each school was instructed to conduct a secret ballot election to accomplish this. The Employee Relations Program covers teachers as well as support staff such as aides, administrators, office staff, cafeteria staff and maintenance personnel. The program involves the formation of Employee Councils, Wage and Benefit Committees, Health Care Sub-Committees and Grievance Committees for each of the four regional school systems that were established last year in the restructuring of Diocesan Catholic schools.

SDACT Accusation: When Bishop Martino stated in a letter published in local newspapers that “This association’s leaders have reasons based on self-interest for wanting to retain their role in some of our schools,” SDACT President Michael Milz charged that this was a “despicable” union-busting tactic. In a subsequent letter to the Bishop, Mr. Milz claimed that “We do not request recognition out of greed or avarice…”

Fact: Prior to the decision regarding its recognition, SDACT’s dues-paying membership had significantly declined from 282 in 2001 to 219 in 2007. There are currently 713 lay teachers employed in the Diocese of Scranton. Despite the 63-person reduction in membership, SDACT’s leadership received the following annual stipends:

Michael Milz, as executive vice president of National Association of Catholic Schools Teachers: $25,660

Michael Milz, as president of SDACT: $12,872

Jim Lynch, as vice president of SDACT: $5,000

(Source: Form LM-3 Labor Organization Annual Report, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, as of Dec. 31, 2006 – the most recent period for which data is available.)