Faith and Precedent American bishops and the danger of same-sex marriage

In this article, Douglas Kmiec makes a pretty good case against same-sex marriage.
However, given his ardent support of Obama, I wonder what he'll be saying if "President" Obama (gag!) fulfills his promise to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide.

American bishops, led by New York's Cardinal Edward Egan, have drawn an important distinction in the wake of the imprudent and likely unauthorized effort by New York Gov. David Paterson to unilaterally promote so-called same-sex marriage by piggybacking on California.

Specifically, the bishops remind states to avoid invidious discrimination (e.g., discrimination against homosexuals in health designations, property ownership) without affirming a practice (same-sex marriage) which denies God's creative plan.

The first rectifies man's prejudice; the second has the implied temerity of ascribing bias to God himself.

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Advisory Council Has Voted to Award Order of Canada to Abortionist Henry Morgentaler

One of the main reasons for the success of pro-aborts is the silence of pro-lifers.

I recently began praying in front of an abortion clinic every week. It is a small group that prays the rosary, but there were 2 saves this past weekend :) Unfortunately, the pro-aborts never stop trying to force their "culture of death" on society.

LifeSiteNews has received confirmation through various sources that the Order of Canada Advisory Council has indeed voted to award the Order of Canada to notorious abortionist and militant atheist Henry Morgentaler. There is reported to be a movement among Members of Parliament and others to attempt to stop the award or at least protest it as being inappropriate and against the opinion of a majority of Canadians.

In an article in the National Post today, columnist Douglas Farrow reports that "The decision, which is to be announced in time for Canada Day, is clearly not driven by popular demand. For example, an online poll by the Globe and Mail, with over 300,000 respondents, went 92% to 8% against giving the award to Morgentaler." 92 to 8? are you kidding me? If that doesn't show what people feel about abortion and Morgentaler. what would?

The public and leaders of various organizations opposed to the granting of the Order of Canada to Morgentaler seem to have been deliberately blind-sided by this sudden development over Canada's major annual holiday weekend when most are pre-occupied by family and community activities. Nevertheless, pro-life organizations are scrambling to get as many people as possible to inundate the Governor General, the Prime Minister and Canada's MPs with emails and telephone calls protesting the decision.

story here

Order of Canada to be awarded to abortionist

Numerous MPs Condemn Morgentaler Order of Canada Decision

Archbishop Calls All Catholics to Demand National Award to Abortion Doc be Revoked

Interview – Philadelphia Cardinal Rigali: The Church Will Never Justify Homosexual Conduct

This reminds me of something I heard on EWTN last week:

"The Truth is the Truth, no matter who denies it"

"A Lie is a Lie, no matter who believes it"

Truth doesn't change!

Cardinal Justin Rigali, the Archbishop of Philadelphia is always ready to answer questions, even the hard ones. He spoke with LifeSiteNews.com last week at the International Eucharistic Congress about the Church's teaching on sexuality, in the context of the current attack on the traditional definition of marriage.

Asked why it has become more common to see some elements within the Church promoting what is contrary to official Church teaching on homosexuality, Cardinal Rigali was quick to point out that it is not 'the Church' but members of the Church which do so at times.

"This goes back to the time of St. Paul," explained the Cardinal, "St. Paul says they will be teachers with itchy ears." He added: "They will come up with all kinds of doctrines and this is what's happened in the history of the Church and the history of the world and this will continue to happen."

Cardinal Rigali said however that it was an "aberration" to justify "homosexual conduct and worse than that homosexual marriage."

"The Church accepts people as they are," he said. "Jesus says the church is like a net, it pulls in everybody, everybody belongs to the church, there are sinners, there are saints, there are people with wrong ideas. But the Church continues to proclaim what Jesus taught."

story here

Wanted - R

cross-posted from Catholic Media Review

Those of you who are fans of the movie Office Space will really appreciate the first part of "Wanted". In establishing how bad Wesley Gibson's life is, his workplace is parodied much like Office Space. His boss is a despicable, mean character... who also carries and uses a red stapler. :) His co-worker and friend is sleeping with his girlfriend. Basically, he feels his life is meaningless and without purpose.

One night, he meets Fox (Angelina Jolie....who. BTW, has waaaay too many tattoos :). She first saves, and then recruits Wesley into a Fraternity of Assassins. It is revealed that he has gifts and abilities he was unaware of; he is then trained as an assassin so that he can avenge the murder of his father, who he had never met (his father left when he was 7 days old). His father, a member of the Fraternity, was murdered by a guy named Cross. The plan is for Wesley to kill Cross.

I found the Fraternity to pretty arrogant and self-righteous. They act like they are doing something noble by deciding who to kill. To me, it was demonstrative of the moral relativism that pervades our society...."it's right if I feel it's right...there is no right and wrong.." They also have this healing bath that stimulates white blood cells and enhances healing. As an aside, one of the members of the Fraternity wore a shirt with a large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

There are a couple of surprises, such as the truth of his father's fate, and why Wesley was recruited.

There is also plenty of action and some really cool stunts.


Content Warnings: There are a couple of brief, but graphic sex scenes with his friend and girlfriend.
The "F-Bomb" is dropped quite often.
There are pretty graphic scenes where people are killed...and you see a close-up of the bullet entering/exiting the victim.

http://www.wantedmovie.com/

New Ad Takes Obama to Task for His Abortion Record

Obama is caught in his own double-talk. He lectures fathers that life begins at conception, but still supports abortion and infanticide.

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama is being taken to task for his recent Father's Day message in which he said that fatherhood begins at conception. A pro-family group says Obama's seemingly "pro-family" statements stand in a stark, disturbing contrast to his radical support for abortion, which is anything but "pro-family." That's because he does his best to play down just how radically pro-abort he is. Interesting that he has to hide it...

The 30-second television ad by Family Research Council's lobbying arm, FRC Action, airs today in several cities across the United States.

The ad begins with a clip of Obama's recent Father's Day speech at a Chicago Church in which Obama was addressing the problem of absent black fathers. He said, "We need fathers to recognize that responsibility doesn't just end at conception."

The camera then turns to FRC President, Tony Perkins, who holds his squirming young son Samuel in his arms and then asks the Senator, "If, as you say, fatherhood begins at conception, when does life begin?" Excellent question.


story here

Ad asks Obama: ‘If fatherhood begins at conception, when does life begin?’

Beginning of the Pauline Year

cross-post from Saints for all Times

This Sunday is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, and marks the beginning of the Pauline year, the year of St. Paul.

Please check out EWTN this weekend. They have plenty of coverage, including Mass and Vespers with Pope Benedict. They also have information on how to gain a plenary indulgence, which is a "get out of purgatory"card. :)

Gearing Up for the Pauline Year

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/paulineyear/

Web site dedicated to the Pauline Year being launched by CNA

Walmart vs. Planned Parenthood

A Wal-Mart parking lot in Richland, Washington was the latest front-line in the battle against abortion-giant, Planned Parenthood.

At the request of hundreds of pro-lifers, the store canceled an event in which Planned Parenthood would pass out information in the lot June 27.

American Life League sent out a press release June 26 to pro-lifers across the country informing them of this latest Planned Parenthood encroachment into neighborhood retailers.

"It's hard enough for parents to safeguard their children from Planned Parenthood's pervasive sexualized propaganda," said Marie Hahnenberg, a researcher with American Life League. "They shouldn't have to worry about exposing their kids to Planned Parenthood's aggressive agenda even in Wal-Mart's parking lot." Planned Parenthood is sick...they are obsessed with aborting/killing as many babies as possible.

Local protests were led by Jim Toth, pro-life chairman of the Knight of Columbus for the state of Washington, and after hundreds of calls and e-mails, the store decided to cancel the event.

story here

Pixar's Catholic Masterpiece:A Review of Wall*E

Pixar Animation Studio was founded in the 1980s by media moguls George Lucas and Steve Jobs, but whether they knew it or not, the guys who made their latest film release WALL*E (in theatres tomorrow) were working for God. So says this reviewer, anyway.

It’s not heresy. Catholics have been saying since at least the 2nd Century that God sometimes uses secular voices to speak to the world, especially when it comes to unreached peoples or neglected truths. Writing about the poets and mythmakers of ancient Greece, St. Justin Martyr put it this way, c. 155 AD: “Even unwillingly, these men were on your account forced to say many things by God’s compassion for mankind…For all these writers were able to see realities darkly through the sowing of the implanted word that was in them.” Well, storytelling techniques have certainly come a long way since the days of Pindar and Sophocles — WALL*E pushes the high-tech art of computer generated graphics to hitherto undreamed of heights — but God’s willingness to communicate vital realities via the mediums of myth and fable has apparently continued unabated. WALL*E (directed by Finding Nemo’s Andrew Stanton) is funny, touching, beautiful, clever, and wildly entertaining — but it may also be the most powerful warning against consumerism, idolatry, and addiction to luxury ever to be offered in a mainstream film.

Full Review Here

Review: 'Wall-E' is a classic

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/wall-e/

"Spe Salvi" Ready for iPods

Benedict XVI's encyclical on hope is now available in audio file.

With the collaboration of Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the audiovisual agency h2onews.org has launched an audio recording of "Spe Salvi," the Pope's second encyclical. And it is free.
The papal document can be downloaded in mp3 format, ready for copying to an iPod or other device, or recorded onto a CD.

The encyclical is available in Spanish, English, French, Italian, German and Portuguese. And it is soon to be made available in Chinese and Arabic.

The encyclical was recorded in English by Christopher Blum of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts of New Hampshire.

story here

Pope appoints U.S. Archbishop Burke to head Vatican's highest court

Excellent news to see one of my favorite Bishops moving up. This was discussed on Women of Grace on EWTN this morning and they seem to feel it won't be long before Archbishop Burke will be wearing a "red hat" :)

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed U.S. Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis to head the Vatican's highest court.

The Wisconsin native replaces Italian Cardinal Agostino Vallini who was appointed by the pope to replace Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who is retiring as papal vicar for Rome.

The pope made the announcements June 27, three days before the archbishop's 60th birthday.

As prefect of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature, Archbishop Burke will hear appeals of decisions issued by lower church courts.

A canon lawyer, the archbishop worked for the court during 1989-94 and was named a member of the body in July 2006. He also served on the Roman Rota, the church's central appeals court, before being named bishop of La Crosse, Wis., in 1994.

Archbishop Burke sparked debate within the U.S. church during the run-up to the 2004 presidential election.

He was the first member of the hierarchy to weigh in on the election-year controversy over withholding Communion from politicians whose votes contradict church teaching on fundamental moral issues. That's why he is one of my favorites...he defends Church teachings.

story here

Archbishop Burke appointed to head Vatican ‘Supreme Court’

Congratulations, Archbishop Burke

DEMOCRATS REACH OUT TO CATHOLICS

Two evangelical leaders, Rev. Jim Wallis and Rev. Tony Campolo, have pledged to reach out to Catholics and evangelicals by pushing the Democratic Party to change its Party Platform on abortion. Wallis told ABC News that “Abortion reduction (how about elimination?) should be a central Democratic Party plank in this election.” But he also stressed that no legal restrictions need to be embraced.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue responded as follows:

“Rev. Wallis and Rev. Campolo are to be commended for at least triggering a discussion within the Democratic Party on the subject of abortion. But by explicitly ruling out any legal restrictions, practicing Catholics are not likely to support them.
“After the Democrats lost in 2004, Paul Begala and James Carville wrote a book, Take It Back, admonishing their fellow Democrats to oppose partial-birth abortion and support parental consent laws. Such policy modifications were necessary, they said, because the public wants abortion restrictions. Evidently, Wallis and Campolo disagree.

“Two months after the Democrats lost in 2004, Sen. Hillary Clinton angered a pro-abortion crowd when she said abortion was a ‘sad, even tragic, choice.’ See? Just the mention of abortion being sad and tragic sets off the pro-aborts. Where does their obsession with killing babies come from? It has to be Satan. They didn’t want to hear it then, and they don’t want to hear it now. The most they are willing to accept is what Howard Dean told them at the time: no need to change positions, but ‘we can change our vocabulary.’ There’s the rub: This is the politics of deceit.

In all fairness, there is a group called Democrats for Life, but they are a powerless minority in the party. The top echelon of the party is is always pro-abort

story here

http://www.democratsforlife.org/

Vatican: Receiving Eucharist kneeling will be norm at papal liturgies

Receiving the Eucharist on the tongue while kneeling before the pope will become the norm at papal liturgies, said the Vatican's liturgist.

While current norms allow the faithful to receive the Eucharist in the hand while standing, Pope Benedict XVI has indicated a preference for the more traditional practice, said Msgr. Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies.

Kneeling and receiving Communion on the tongue highlights "the truth of the real presence (of Christ) in the Eucharist, helps the devotion of the faithful and introduces the sense of mystery more easily," he said in a June 26 interview with the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

Pastorally speaking, he said "it is urgent to highlight and recover" these aspects of the sacredness and mystery of the Eucharist in modern times.

story here

Communion kneeling, on the tongue: new Vatican norm?

Pope prefers Communion on the tongue, Msgr. Marini says

Barack Obama Supporter Says Gas Prices More Important Than Abortion

Once again, the liberal media bends over backwards to help Obama.

Donna Brazile, a Barack Obama supporter and CNN talking head, is coming under fire for saying that the price of gas is more important than abortion. Specifically, Brazile said Americans are more interested in hearing about gas prices than the reasons why Obama opposed a bill to stop infanticide. She's just trying to erase the issue for him. Since when is the price of anything more important than the babies lost to abortion?

Brazile's comments came during a debate among commentators on CNN responding to an Obama press conference.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked contributor Bill Bennett, a pro-life advocate, what he would have asked Obama had he been at the press event.

"I would have said 'Why are you to the left of NARAL, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein when it comes to abortion? Are you really there?'" Bennett said.

"Not that it's the only issue in the campaign, but I gotta question the guy's moral judgment, who doesn't see a problem with killing a baby after it's been born after eight months," Bennett added.

story here

Like everyone else, I'm interested in finding the lowest gas prices...here's where you can find the lowest prices in your area:

Search for gas prices by US Zip Code

Catholic group slams Love Guru

An American Catholic group has found the new Mike Myers comedy The Love Guru to be "morally offensive".

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has also criticised the film to be "vulgar and tasteless".

"We are thankful to the Conference of Catholic Bishops for having a feel for the pain of the Hindu and spiritual community by categorizing The Love Guru as morally offensive," Hindu community leader Rajan Zed said.



cross-posted from Catholic Media Review

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SSPX snubs pope call to rejoin Rome

The leader of a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group has rejected a Vatican offer to rejoin Rome, accusing Pope Benedict of trying to silence dissenting voices.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) that broke with Rome 20 years ago, said conditions set by the Vatican amounted to muzzling the traditionalists who claim to be the only true Catholics since Church reforms in the 1960s.

Keen to end this schism, Benedict agreed last year to their demand to restore the old Latin Mass. But he insists they must accept the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) before he can lift excommunication decrees against them.

"Rome is telling us, okay, we are ready to lift the excommunications, but you cannot continue this way," Fellay said in a sermon last Friday now posted as an audio file on the U.S.-based Voice of Catholic Radio website.

story here

Vatican proposal to SSPX

Vatican presses traditionalists with reconciliation expiration date

SSPX: The Plot Thickens

Bishop Fellay rejects Vatican conditions for reconciling split

Vatican paper: Pope Benedict XVI doesn't wear Prada

A bit of fashion news from the Vatican :)

The devil may wear Prada — but the pope does not.

According to the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, the bright red loafers that Pope Benedict XVI wears are not designed by the Milanese fashion house, as has long been rumored.

"Obviously the attribution was false," the Vatican newspaper said in its Thursday's editions.

"Such rumors are inconsistent with the simple and somber man who, on the day of his election to the papacy, showed to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and to the whole world the sleeves of a modest black sweater," it said.

Still, Benedict's fashion sense has often drawn media attention.

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Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Please tell me I didn't read this.
Please tell me that Spain, who recently liberalized their abortion rights (except, of course, the baby's rights) to kill unborn human babies, is actually going to put an ape on the same level as humans, and give them rights that are denied to HUMAN babies...

Spain's parliament voiced its support on Wednesday for the rights of great apes to life and freedom in what will apparently be the first time any national legislature has called for such rights for non-humans.


Parliament's environmental committee approved resolutions urging Spain to comply with the Great Apes Project, devised by scientists and philosophers who say our closest genetic relatives deserve rights hitherto limited to humans.

"This is a historic day in the struggle for animal rights and in defense of our evolutionary comrades, How about defending HUMAN babies like the one on the left? which will doubtless go down in the history of humanity," said Pedro Pozas, Spanish director of the Great Apes Project. A very sick idea to equate apes, or any animal, with humans.

Spain may be better known abroad for bull-fighting than animal rights but the new measures are the latest move turning once-conservative Spain into a liberal trailblazer. "trailblazer" might be a very appropriate term, considering where this "trail" is leading. :)

story here

Human Rights for Apes: Spanish Parliament Passes Unprecedented Resolution

Socialists and green party lawmakers grant rights to apes not enjoyed by humans

Multimedia project aims to promote abortion under guise of neutrality

A warning about "The Decency Gap"

A new low for pro-aborts...trying to deceive people about abortion.

Carlos Polo, the director of the Latin American Office of the Population Research Institute, warned this week that those behind the multimedia project called “The Decency Gap” are trying to portray themselves as neutral in order to “continue ahead with the intention of misinforming people about the reality of abortion.”

Several days ago, Polo unmasked the true nature of the project that claims to be neutral, and in response to negative media coverage, the leaders of “The Decency Gap” changed the homepage of their website. Nonetheless, Polo says that information about the project is still accessible on the site.

“Until recently the homepage referred to the Mexico City policy as the Global Gag Rule, echoing the most radical pro-abortion groups. In other words, the purpose of ‘The Decency Gap’ is regain access to U.S. funds, and the political backing that that represents, for all organizations that carry out or promote the legalization of the killing of the unborn around the world,” Polo stated.
“This about money, not art,” he continued. “This is about killing innocent children and not about saving women. To call it ‘decency’ to raise money from contributors by lying and even leading them to kill the unborn is characteristic of perverted art,” Polo asserted.

Polo went on to explain that the name of the project “has been carefully chosen to deceive people. But for those of us who follow these issues closely it is quite revealing. The term ‘The Decency Gap’ was coined by Poul Neilson, as the website explains on pages that can still be viewed.”


I actually got a laugh out of this YouTube. Watch the pro-abort squirm as she's caught in her lies.

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AOL co-founder seeks to give consumers power in health care decisions

Steve Case also addressed the Catholic Health Association.

The man who calls himself "the quintessential tech guy" has taken on a new challenge -- empowering consumers to take more control over their own health and to bring about a revolution in health care.

Steve Case, co-founder of America Online and former chairman of AOL Time Warner, spoke June 23 at the leadership luncheon at the 2008 Catholic Health Assembly in San Diego.

"Our nation's health care industry is at a crossroads with many ills and ... no clear remedies," he said. "And the more stories I hear, the more it's apparent that it's affecting everyone -- regardless of factors such as race, sex, age or income."

In 2005 Case founded Revolution Health Group and two years later he launched RevolutionHealth.com, a free health and medical information site designed to assist "the family's chief medical officer -- women and other caregivers," according to the Web site.

Case said that when he stepped down from AOL Time Warner in 2003 he thought "that maybe the whole experience of the Internet revolution was the kind of thing that probably comes around just once in a lifetime."

"But then I realized I was wrong," he added. "As I began to focus on the health care industry, I realized the potential to transform the consumer health experience might be greater than anything I had worked on in the past. And possibly even more significant in terms of contributing to the quality of life for all segments of society."

Case said he became more closely involved in the health care world about five years ago when his brother Dan was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

"It was through my experiences helping him fight his losing battle with cancer, coupled with dealing with the everyday health challenges of being a father of five children, that brought to light for me just how messed up our health care system really is," he said.

story here

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/

Study: Catholic Voters Favor Democrats, Could Help Pro-Abortion Obama

This is disappointing. There are too many Catholics that don't know or don't care that it is a grave sin for a Catholic to support a pro-abort.

Please see the Election 2008 section of the sidebar to find a couple of reliable voting guides for Catholics.

A new study of Catholic voters conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University shows them leaning more towards the Democratic Party this election. That could be a plus for pro-abortion Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Pro-abort doesn't completely describe Obama. He also favors leaving babies born alive despite an abortion alone to die.

With more than 47 million potential voters, Catholics are a popular group for outreach efforts of both political parties.

The study included a survey showing Catholic attitudes on social, political and moral issues have shifted during the Bush administration, although it concluded opinions regarding abortion and social justice issues have remained relatively stable.

The poll found a shift of three percent in favor of the pro-abortion position from 2002 to 2006. Also disappointing.

But the shift on other political issues could lead more Catholics to support Obama over John McCain, who opposes abortion and has repeatedly voted for sensible limits.

story here

And Don't Fall for This Trick:

Barack Obama May Throw Bone to Pro-Lifers With Abortion "Reduction" Plank

Deal Hudson says Catholics don’t know the real Obama

http://www.nobama.com/

http://www.stop-obama.org/

Hillary Clinton Returns to Senate After Ending White House Bid

She's baaaack..

One pro-abort pledges to campaign for another.

Hillary Clinton began the transition from presidential candidate back to full-time legislator, returning amid the cheers of colleagues and staff to the U.S. Senate today for the first time since ending her presidential campaign.

Clinton arrived in time for lunch with Democratic colleagues, telling reporters afterward that she was ``rolling up my sleeves and getting back to work.''

The 60-year-old senator shook hands with interns and junior staffers waiting in line as she climbed the marble steps outside the Capitol.

``Here I am, here I am,'' she told three Democratic colleagues waiting by the entrance to a foyer outside the Senate chamber.

The welcoming committee was made up of senators who had supported her candidacy for the party nomination against Illinois Senator Barack Obama: fellow New Yorker Charles Schumer, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

story here

Hillary Clinton Says She's Not Even Thinking of VP Job

Planned Parenthood Affiliate Backs Pro-Abortion Barack Obama Endorsement

From Letterman's Top Ten

Top Ten Things Overheard on Hillary Clinton's First Day Back at Work

10. "Nice of you to show up"
9. "Did you win?"
8. "We chipped in for a welcome back pantsuit"
7. "Should I take the Madame President nameplate off your door?"
6. "Hillary's choking another superdelegate"
5. "On the bright side, you can once again partake in endless debates about agricultural subsidies"
4. "Senator Clinton, please stop throwing wads of paper at Senator Obama's head"
3. "I can't believe your shrill message of fear didn't resonate"
2. "Please stop taunting her, Senator Kerry"
1. "We'll begin as soon as Senator Craig returns from the restroom"

Schwarzenegger pledges Health Care Reform

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged before an audience of Catholic health care leaders June 23 to continue working to achieve health care reform in a state where 6.7 million people are uninsured.

"Even if it takes praying 20 rosaries a day, every day I will be on my knees praying the 20 rosaries and we are going to get the job done," said the Republican governor, who is a Catholic. Well praying the Rosary sounds wonderful Arnold, but it would really be better if you, as a Catholic, stopped supporting same-sex marriage, which destroys the family and is is contrary to Church teaching. Please also stop supporting embryonic stem-cell research, which destroys life and is contrary to Church teaching. In other word, please support Church reaching Arnold.

Schwarzenegger also went to the 2008 Catholic Health Assembly in San Diego to congratulate Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of the San Francisco-based Catholic Healthcare West, on his new post as chairman of the board of trustees of the Catholic Health Association.

Calling Dean "an action hero," the governor said he took over a system that "was posting deep financial losses" and balanced the books within two years, "while maintaining the compassionate and high-quality service that defines your hospitals."

story here

U.S. bishops respond to new Pew study of Americans’ religious belief

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement in response to a study from the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life which reported that Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to religion.

The Pew study, which surveyed 35,000 adults, estimated that 92 percent of American adults say they believe in God or a “universal spirit.” It states that 74 percent of Americans say they believe in life after death and 63 percent say they believe that Scripture is the Word of God. Another 63 percent say they pray at home and read Scripture with their children, while 60 percent say they send their children to religious education programs.

The study reports that a majority of Americans affiliated with a religious tradition agree there is more than one way to interpret the teachings of their faith. The survey also states that most Americans don't think their religion is the only way to eternal life – even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise.

Commenting on the survey, Archbishop of Washington Donald Wuerl, who is chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, said, “History testifies that religious faith is very important to Americans.” “At every juncture of our past, Americans have called upon God for guidance, protection, and direction. There is a clear identification with religion in America which, for Catholics, reflects the dedicated efforts of priests, catechists and teachers in our history.”

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Pope denies Berlusconi communion

When you consider the high divorce rate, what is the point of marriage vows if people so readily will get a divorce? What meaning do the vows have?

The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's hopes of seeing communion extended to divorcees like himself have been quashed by Pope Benedict XVI.

Newspapers reported on Sunday that while attending a ceremony in Sardinia Mr Berlusconi had asked a bishop when the Church planned to change the rules.

But the Pope told a conference in Canada that communion can only be received by those free of major sin.

"We have to do everything... to receive [communion] in a pure heart," he said.

Mr Berlusconi has recently begun a major effort to try and get communion granted to divorced and remarried people like himself. Does Mr. Berlusconi really think he has the right to change Church teachings? Should the Church change her teachings to suit him, or to suit anyone who wants a pass on their lifestyle?

When he light-heartedly asked the Sardinian bishop when this would be possible, he was told he should "turn to a higher power".

But speaking via videolink to a conference in the Canadian province of Quebec, Pope Benedict ruled out any change to the Church's stance. Habemus Papam! I love B16!

story here

Cardinal Bagnasco: Impossibility for divorced and remarried to receive Communion

Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting' Bible

As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement's biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a "fruitcake interpretation" of the Constitution.

The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson's Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization's headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.

The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.

"Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.

Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy - chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, "a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application." Jesus is a radical? Pretty funny, coming from the most extreme liberal in the Senate.

"Folks haven't been reading their Bibles," Obama said. Including you, Obama. It is clear you have very little knowledge of scripture...just enough to distort it for your own purposes.


Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament.



story here

Dobson rips Obama for intentionally distorting Scripture

Focus on the Family Head James Dobson Criticizes Barack Obama on Abortion

Archdiocese halts church's annual gay pride prayers

KUDOs to Archbishop Nienstedt for reinforcing Catholic Teachings.

A Roman Catholic Church decision to prohibit a Minneapolis gay pride prayer service has many in the gay community up in arms, leading activists to call the action a troubling and telling sign from the Twin Cities' new archbishop. Troubling sign? I applaud him!

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis recently told staff members at St. Joan of Arc Church they could not hold their annual gay pride prayer service planned for Wednesday — an event held for several years in conjunction with the annual Twin Cities Pride Celebration, parishioners said.

Instead, the archdiocese suggested a "peace" service with no mention of rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"That descriptor (LGBT) was not possible on church property. We suggested they shift it, change the nature of it a little bit, and they did," said archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath.

"The reason is quite simply because it was a LGBT pride prayer service, and that is really inimical to the teachings of the Catholic Church."

Officials with the Minneapolis-based Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities, a grass-roots coalition promoting acceptance of gays in the Catholic Church, see the action as an attack by Archbishop John Nienstedt, who took the helm of the archdiocese in May.

In an e-mail to supporters, committee co-founder David McCaffrey called the move "yet another volley of dehumanizing spiritual violence directed at LGBT persons and their families under Archbishop Nienstedt's reign of "homophobic hatred." How ridiculous...the homosexual activists like to label anyone who won't condone their "lifestyle" as homophobic. Here's what the church really teaches:

from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

story here

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis forbids ‘gay pride’ service from church

LGBT PRAYER SERVICE NIXED IN MINNEAPOLIS

COMEDIANS GIVE MUSLIMS A PASS...but not Catholics

Lewis Black is at it again.
Hey Lewis, your anti-Catholicism is showing again.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments today on the most glaring double standard among comedians:

“Lewis Black’s new book, Me of Little Faith, has a chapter titled, ‘Islam. All I’m Saying Is, I Got Nothing to Say.’ The chapter is three paragraphs long, beginning with the following: ‘I have nothing to say. Nothing. And let’s leave it that way.’ But Black has plenty to say about Orthodox Jews, the Catholic Church and Mormonism. Indeed, his references are replete with vulgarities. Why is it necessary for comedians to use vulgarity to be "funny"?

“Black’s book was endorsed by George Carlin, who died yesterday. Carlin trashed religion for decades, but like Black he had no stomach for bashing Islam. Indeed, he justified Muslim violence. He readily admitted that ‘when all those beheadings started in Iraq it didn’t bother me.’ In fact, the beheadings were easy to explain: ‘You strap on a gun and go struttin’ around some other men’s country you better be ready for some action Jack.’ I guess he didn't know about Nick Berg (a contractor who was helping rebuild Iraq) and Margaret Hassan( a CARE worker bringing food and medical supplies to the Iraqi people). But I guess that explains why he focused on Catholics...that's probably safer :) Catholics, however, were never the victims in Carlin’s playbook—they were always the victimizers.

story here

Quebec Judge Overrules Father's Decision to Ground His Sixth-Grade Daughter

This is what Obama and his leftist buddies want to bring to the U.S. They want to inhibit the parents' right to raise their children and teach them. They want Government to raise their kids.


A Quebec youngster has used the courts to avoid parental discipline in a "landmark" case. The 12-year-old girl, who is too young to be named, went to court to force her father to overturn his decision not to allow her to go on a school trip. Her father had decided to ground her after he found out she had posted photos of herself on a dating website against his wishes. He's right... there are plenty of pedophiles stalking kids on the internet.

The sixth grader then took her father to court, arguing that his punishments were too severe.

Madam Justice Suzanne Tessier of the Quebec Superior Court ruled today that denying the girl permission to go on the school trip was an excessive punishment. I don't think it is. I think it's appropriate that she miss a trip because she disobeyed her father. But this should be up to him. The girl's lawyer, Lucie Fortin, said, "She's becoming a big girl" and described the school trip as "a unique event in her life", the Globe and Mail reported.

In arguing the case, Fortin cited Sections 159 and 604 of the Quebec Civil Code, which allow minors in some circumstances to initiate court proceedings relating to the exercise of parental authority. Section 159 is used in "extreme circumstances", such as cases of parental negligence. This father was trying to protect his child.

The father's lawyer, Kim Beaudoin said that her client is "stunned by this situation. He feels like he's lost his daughter". He is appealing the court's decision.

story here

Experience Shows Anti-Spanking Laws do More Harm than Good

KY abortionist charged with fraud and ‘gross negligence’ told screaming patient to ‘shut up’

A perfect example of how pro-aborts "care" about women.

A Kentucky abortionist has had his medical license suspended and is now under scrutiny for allegedly running a gruesome abortion clinic in Lexington where he committed Medicare fraud and put patients at risk in unsanitary, painful and possibly illegal abortions.

WHAS 11 reports that Dr. Hamid Sheikh has been indicted for allegedly billing Medicare for abortions he performed. The Attorney General’s fraud probe led the medical board to investigate further, leading to more allegations from the Kentucky medical licensure board. A consultant for the board has concluded the abortionist committed “gross negligence” and “put his patients at risk.”

warning: both articles contain some graphic descriptions

story here

"Hellish Abortion Operation:" KY Abortionist's License Suspended, Clinic Closed

The Happening - R

cross-posted from Catholic Media Review.

What a disappointment "The Happening" was.

The acting and the dialogue were both lame. I kept hoping the plot would pick up and get better, but it didn't. The characters were all so caricature-like, that at first that I thought maybe it was supposed to be a comedy-drama.
The "Happening" was something, originally believed to be a chemical attack of some type, that caused people to kill themselves. They never do tell us what the "Happening" was, but in the end it is insinuated that the grass and the trees are threatened by mankind. (I guess they had to slip a global warming reference in there somewhere :)

As far as content warning, there is no sexual content and no overtly offensive language. The main warning is some "gore" scenes where people kill themselves.

Don't waste your money on The Happening....It's NOT happening!

Provision Giving Planned Parenthood More Funding Stripped from U.S. War Supplemental Bill

Bad news for Planned Parenthood,

Good news for Pro-Lifers.

Pro-life groups across the U.S. are celebrating a victory with the removal of an amendment to the 2008 War Supplemental Bill (H.R. 2642) that would have given Planned Parenthood facilities discounted drugs at taxpayer expense.

The amendment, tacked on to a bill meant to fund the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, would have allowed for certain Planned Parenthood clinics and university healthcare centers to get drugs at further reduced prices, allowing for easier and cheaper distribution of controversial drugs such as birth control pills and the "morning after pill" or Plan B.

The U.S. House of Representatives, however, stripped the Planned Parenthood provision at the last minute and then passed the bill last night.

story here

Planned Parenthood Abortion Business Funding Removed From Troop Bill

McCain would undoubtedly veto Freedom of Choice Act, Catholic leaders say

More reason to support McCain if you support life.

After a meeting with Catholic leaders in Philadelphia last week, Sen. John McCain’s pro-life credentials are being questioned some pro-lifers who wonder if he would veto the Freedom of Choice Act, which if passed, would invalidate many of the laws that regulate abortion. Leaders who were present at the meeting informed CNA that they believe McCain would undoubtedly veto the bill.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was most recently introduced on introduced April 19, 2007 -- one day after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Act of 2003.

According to the American Center for Law and Justice the impact of FOCA being passed, would be to “create an absolute right to abortion that would override any federal, state or local law that simply 'interfered with' that right, no matter how compelling the justification for the law." It's pretty sick how the pro-aborts just can't get enough abortion...they want to permanently enshrine abortion rights despite the will of the people. They are so scared that Roe v. Wade may be overturned someday.

The Republican National Coalition for Life also was of the same opinion, saying, “The heart of the (FOCA) bill is a ban that would nullify all of the major types of pro-life laws that the Supreme Court has said are permissible under Roe v. Wade, including the ban on partial-birth abortions and bans on government funding of abortions.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who introduced the bill, saw the legislation differently, describing it as being about “the absolute right to choose” prior to fetal “viability.” However, the Republican Coalition for Life pointed out that FOCA goes even further. “The no-restriction policy would also apply after “viability” to any abortion sought on the grounds of “health.”

story here

and even more reason to be concerned about this:

Obama opens 15 point lead

Electoral College Projection Shows Obama Defeating McCain by Narrow Vote

The Clinic

I went to a local abortion clinic today to pray the rosary.
I felt pretty good about it, too.
There were between 20 and 30 people there, including 3 priests.
We also had a priest from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. That is the order that Fr. Benedict Groschel and Fr. Andrew Apostoli belong to.

Here are just some of the good people who came.
Here is a larger image.


The family in front was the parents, with 6 kids. 2 of the kids had Down Syndrome.
You'll notice some of the people are wearing red t-shirts. That is intentional.
Here's a closeup of the shirts they were wearing. I think I might get one :)

http://www.lztees.com/

check out the site...they have some pretty cool shirts.
You can get them here also
http://sacredheartbeats.bigcartel.com/product/lifeguard-red-tee

And here's the front of the clinic. They didn't have the sign hanging on the front of the building.
It was just on the ground leaning against the building. I'm guessing that might be a way of being "low profile".

Here's a larger image.



It's hard to read in this picture, but the sign just says "Women's Health Organization".
Doesn't that sound nice?
Almost makes you think they actually care about the women they injure or the babies they kill.

See the tall grass in front? One of my fellow prayer warriors was telling me that sometimes people put a miraculous medal or other religious medal in the grass, praying for an end to abortion.
It's impressive, the impact we can have. I think we made them very nervous. One of the clinic "escorts" kept walking outside to look at us. We simply stood across the street and prayed the Rosary. Despite being a place of death, I felt quite uplifted by being there to represent a culture of life.

Incidentally, one of the organizers is also involved with Bike for Life Pilgrimage
check it out.

Philadelphia Cardinal Rigali: One Must Believe What the Church Teaches to Receive Communion

KUDO's to Cardinal Rigali!

Someone please call Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy and Giuliani...they seem to think the Catholic Catechism is a book of "suggestions" or recommendations".

Cardinal Justin Rigali, the Archbishop of Philadelphia is in Quebec City for the International Eucharistic Congress - a week-long event focusing on the Catholic belief that Christ Himself is present in Holy Communion.

Cardinal Rigali, who is also the President of the Pro-Life Committee of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, discussed with LifeSiteNews.com the issue of worthiness to receive Communion in the context of Catholics who support abortion and same-sex "marriage", contrary to Church teaching.

"We're talking about the very life of the church when we're talking about the Eucharist and participation in the Eucharist," said Cardinal Rigali. "St. Paul tells us that anyone who receives the Eucharist must be prepared. This is the apostolic catechesis."

"St. Justin in the second century tells us: 'The only people who are to go to Communion are people who believe everything we believe'. So it's a question of our faith."

story here

St. John's Valdosta Blog: The battle against normalizing homosexuality:ADVICE FROM A SOLID PASTOR

St. John's Valdosta Blog: <em>The battle against normalizing homosexuality:</em><center>ADVICE FROM A SOLID PASTOR</center>

Euthanasia and the "Culture of death"

A look at the "culture of death" and how it pervades our society.
It can be very difficult to watch a loved one dying (I had 2 grandparents that had cancer and they both died over the course of about 2 years), but nothing justifies playing God and taking a life because we've decided whose life is worth living. Hitler already tried that.

Australia Jury Finds Women Guilty of Manslaughter in Key Euthanasia Case

Two women charged in a controversial euthanasia-murder case have been found guilty of manslaughter. The common law wife of a former pilot and her friend had pleaded guilty in a New South Wales Supreme Court to murdering Graeme Wylie.

The women had refused offers from prosecutors to plead guilty to assisted suicide and, as a result, the jury found them guilty of manslaughter.

The women are accused of following the advice of Australian euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke, who suggested they give Wylie a lethal dose of Nembutal. They reportedly imported the drug from Mexico and used it in his death.

Wylie suffered from dementia and couldn't remember his own birthday or how many children he had. Now aside from our Catholic obligation to defend life from conception until natural death, does that sound like someone who is capable of making life or death decisions?
Let's face it: Life is not always easy. It can sometimes be difficult. We should try to help someone who is going through a difficult time or is simply depressed, not encourage them to kill themself.

Shirley Justins, Wylie's partner, and their friend Caren Jennings are accused of murdering Wylie in March 2006.
story here

But that's not going to stop this guy, he is absolutely determined to end lives:

Australia Euthanasia Advocate Says Manslaughter Conviction Won't Stop Him.

The leading euthanasia advocate in Australia says a manslaughter conviction for two women he helped killed a former airline pilot won't prompt him to review or stop his efforts. Philip Nitschke says he will continue to promote euthanasia and assisted suicide despite the decision.

Euthanasia Provider to Alzheimer's Patients: The Best Remedy is Death

Teen girls made pact to get pregnant

This is like a bunch of kids playing "dress up", only much worse.

These girls have no idea what motherhood requires. Although I will admit it is nice to see teens wanting to raise a baby rather than abort it, the are not ready for motherhood. They clearly have no idea what they are getting into.

A pact made by a group of teens to get pregnant and raise their babies together is at least partly behind a sudden spike in pregnancies at Gloucester High School, school officials said.

Principal Joseph Sullivan told Time magazine in a story published Wednesday that the girls confessed to making the pact after the school began investigating a rise in pregnancies that has left 17 girls at the school carrying a child. Normally, there are about four pregnancies a year at the school.

Sullivan told Time that nearly half of the expecting students, none over 16, were involved. Sullivan said students were coming to the school clinic multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and "seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were."

Some of the girls reacted to the news they were pregnant with high fives and plans for baby showers, Sullivan said. One of the fathers "is a 24-year-old homeless guy," Sullivan told the magazine. How exactly did that happen? Where are the rest of the "fathers"? are they as happy as these girls?

story here

Catholic Charities’ affiliate faces possible legal charges for helping teenager obtain abortion

What a disgrace. Not only was an innocent baby aborted, but they violated the law, and Catholic teachings. Anyone involved should be shown the door.

A Virginia affiliate of Catholic Charities is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for helping a 16-year-old Guatemalan girl be fit with a contraceptive device and obtain an abortion, in possible violation of Virginia law and in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Catholic faith.

A story in the Washington Times reveals that four employees of Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Richmond (CCR) have been fired and one supervisor with the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services agency has been suspended, according to the Times’ federal sources and a secret April 19 letter written by three bishops to the 350 bishops of the United States.

Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City and Bishop Michael P. Driscoll of Boise, Idaho wrote the two page letter after a federal investigation was requested on April 23. The letter was publicized in the Catholic weekly The Wanderer.

story here

Catholic Charity Caught Helping Virginia Girl Obtain Abortion

Is Catholic Charities Catholic?

The Agenda

The advancement of the homosexual agenda (the homosexual agenda being forced on society) is causing problems with the Lutheran and Anglican Churches:


German Lutherans Poised to Elect Active Homosexual Bishop

German Lutherans may elect their first openly homosexual bishop. Horst Gorski is a senior cleric from Hamburg and is standing for the post of bishop of Schleswig in northern Germany.

The possibility of Gorski's being elected a bishop is dividing German Lutherans. Die Welt newspaper quoted Ulrich Ruess, a pastor in the northern city of Hamburg, who warned, "Many members of the community would have little understanding for a bishop with this kind of lifestyle."

Reuters reports that Gorski is a homosexual activist theologian who has set up "centres" for homosexual clergy. Lutheran officials refuse to take Gorski out of the running, saying that the church has no official stand on homosexuality. The Lutheran World Federation has said it does not intend to get involved in a controversy.

Prospect of gay bishop unsettles German Protestants

Anglican leaders respond to clergymen’s same-sex ‘wedding’

Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York on Tuesday released a statement in response to news that two Anglican clergymen who exchanged vows in May in a version of a marriage ceremony. The archbishops voiced “very great concern” and referred to previous Anglican teachings against sexually-active same-sex unions.

The same-sex ceremony, which used formal rites, took place at St. Bartholomew the Great Church in London in May. It was conducted for Reverend Peter Cowell and Reverend Dr. David Lord, who were already civil partners. According to BBC News, the couple reportedly exchanged vows and rings in front of hundreds of guests.

The ceremony was criticized as blasphemous, not in keeping with the regulations of the Anglican Church and for adding to the controversy over homosexuality within the global Anglican Communion.

Worldwide Anglican Communion at an End says Nigerian Primate

Conservative Anglicans to announce schism

and here in the Catholic Church, we have dissidents that advocate the homosexual agenda.
All of these are examples of what "the Agenda" does to society as a whole.

Abortion Ship Heads to Ecuador But Literally Runs Aground, Endangers Women

Did I read that headline correctly? An abortion ship running aground endangers women? It would do alot more damage to women by performing the abortions.

In 1999, abortion advocates devised a new strategy to bring abortion to nations that protect women and unborn children. After upsetting residents of Ireland, Poland and Portugal, the Dutch-based abortion boat recently arrived in the South American nation of Ecuador, where abortions are illegal. Leave it to the pro-aborts to find a way to abort babies, despite the law.

The pro-abortion group Women on Waves is behind the abortion boat and the group said it received an invitation from local abortion advocates to head across the Atlantic.

The organization recently traded in its converted tugboat, or trawler, for a high-end sailing vessel, but the group may be regretting its decision.

On its way to Ecuador, the Women on Waves ship, Harmony, ran aground in a tropical storm. LOL I hope the damage is permanent :)

story here

John McCain Keeping Open Mind to Embryonic Stem Cell Research Alternatives

John McCain has 100% record against abortion. He is also gradually moving toward adult stem cell research. Compared with a radical pro-abort like Obama, I'll take McCain anyday! McCain has said he'll appoint judges like Roberts and Alito who would overturn Roe v. Wade. Obama has already promised to only appoint judges who would uphold Roe v. Wade. The choice is clear!

In John McCain, pro-life voters have a solid presidential candidate against abortion but they have had concerns about his desire to spend public funds on embryonic stem cell research. However, the Arizona senator continues to keep his mind open to alternatives to the destructive practice.

McCain holds to the same pro-embryonic stem cell research position as Barack Obama but, unlike his pro-abortion opponent, McCain is open-minded to instead funding promising alternatives.

Responding to a new statement the nation's Catholic bishops produced opposing embryonic stem cell research on religious, scientific, and moral grounds, a McCain representative had some positive things to say.

Bob Heckman, director for conservative outreach for the McCain campaign, told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that, while McCain is "pro-life in his heart," his position on funding ESCR "was a tough decision for him to make, like it is for many pro-life Catholics."

He said McCain continues to talk about the subject with pro-life advocates like Princeton professor Robert George, a member of the President's Council on Bioethics, and one who would encourage McCain to look elsewhere when considering federal spending. I was particularly glad that McCain met privately with Fr. Frank Pavone.

story here

President Bush: Americans Face "Clear Contrast" on Abortion in Election

Capital Investors Look to Adult Stem Cell Research Over Embryonic for Success

Latin Confirmation Mass

from the Catholic News Service. I've blogged a couple of times this week about the Latin Mass, but this is the first Latin Confirmation Mass I've seen...and it's in my old diocese of Rockville Centre :)

Girls sing during their confirmation service at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, N.Y., June 15. Bishop William F. Murphy conferred the sacrament using the traditional Latin liturgy for children and their families who attend Mass celebrated in the Tridentine rite. (CNS/Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic)

'Some of us are owed an apology': Traditionalists and the Latin Mass

Latin Mass to return to England and Wales