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archbishop wuerl’S
ATTITUDE TOWARDS CANON 915 In the May 1st edition of the
Catholic Standard, Archbishop Wuerl reiterates his erroneous attitude towards
Canon 915. Read here.
(Please keep this window open as we will
be referring to the article throughout this analysis.) To understand this article, some background
information is necessary. During the
April 1008 visit by Pope Benedict XVI, a number of “Catholic” pro-abortion politicians
received Holy Communion. A careful
reading of those accounts reveals that such was done out of view of the Holy
Father; he simply couldn’t see what was going on. Was that by design? Hmmm.
One of those so receiving was
Rudy Giuliani. To his credit, Cardinal
Egan of
At any rate, Catholic internet
sites are comparing the actions of Cardinal Egan with the non-action of
Archbishop Wuerl. Read some here and here. As you can see, there was much speculation
about if and how Wuerl would respond.
For the worse, Wuerl ended that speculation. Read below why we believe his so-called
“Reflection Again on Faith and Public Life” is a travesty.
He starts his article by asking
“have we not been down this road many, many times before?” Well, yes we have – by sheer necessity. That necessity is occasioned by disdain for
Canon 915. In the piece below (about the
Washington Times interview) we quoted Canon 915 in its entirety; for
convenience, we have emboldened it. We
want to point out to His Excellency that we too are tired of rehashing Church
teachings. However, our concern for its
integrity, as well as the salvation of souls, impels us to broach this matter
once again. We will continue to do so as
long as ecclesial disregard for Church teaching renders such necessary. In other words, we’re not going away!
After touting the Rally for Life
that the Archdiocese sponsors on the day of the March for Life, the Archbishop
delves into the meat of his missive, that is, why he thinks it is acceptable to
distribute the Body and Blood of Christ to pro-abort politicians in the
Archdiocese of Washington. To start,
let’s look at Canon 915 (below).
Certainly we can agree that those pro-abortion politicians, by their
various votes to facilitate baby-murder and other ongoing support of the same,
are examples of those who “obstinately persist in manifest grave sin.” Notice what follows. They “are not to be admitted to holy
communion.” It does not say “should not
be admitted”, but rather “are not to be admitted”. If the first phrase, rather than the second,
was the one found in Canon 915, we’d agree that such constitutes an option to
deny Holy Communion. However, we do not
have the suggestive, but rather the imperative voice in operation in Canon
915. In short, Canon 915 mandates that pro-abortion politicians
be denied Holy Communion. The language
is quite crystal-clear on the matter.
He then hearkens back to the
June 2004 bishops’ meeting. He quotes
the conclusion of that meeting, that is, the individual bishops have discretion
within their own dioceses. Right there,
that’s blatant disregard for Canon 915, for that canon does not admit of an
option in the matter of denying Holy Communion to pro-aborts. But wait!
There’s more! We need to blow the
dust off our recollections of that infamous meeting, and recall the outright
subterfuge that occurred, that most likely induced some misguided bishops to
arrive at that erroneous confusion. Not
only were they misguided, but downright deceived. To be fair to the current Washington
Archbishop, there is no evidence that he concurred in, or was even aware of,
the deception. No, that honor may very
well belong to his predecessor, Cardinal McCarrick. Read this account. On the occasion of that meeting,
then-Cardinal Ratzinger (now the Holy Father) sent to the conference a letter
stating that if someone such as a pro-abortion politician presented him/herself
for communion, then “the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute
it.” Cardinal McCarrick, the head of the
task force working on the question of Holy Communion for pro-aborts, did not divulge the full contents of the
future Holy Father’s letter to the other bishops. Thus, they arrived at their vote based on
deliberately-obfuscated guidance. Since
that meeting, this concealment on the part of McCarrick has been broadcast far
and wide. Surely the current archbishop
is aware of that fiasco – especially since both Wuerl and McCarrick reside
within the Archdiocese of Washington!
Why, oh why, did not Archbishop Wuerl make mention of that in this
Standard column??
Moving on, we see that the
archbishop says “a decision regarding
the refusal of Holy Communion to an individual is one that should be made only
after clear efforts to persuade and convince the person that their actions are
wrong and bear moral consequences”. For
heaven’s sake! This matter has been
bandied about for years, now! During all
these many years, have not the bishops of these politicians yet fulfilled their
solemn, God-given duty in teaching and rebuking these individuals? If not – why on earth are they waiting? However, not even that is an excuse! Given the high-profile nature of this discussion,
these politicians cannot possibly claim that they are ignorant that they cannot
support abortion and receive Holy Communion, without committing yet another
mortal sin, namely sacrilege. They know
very well what they are doing; that’s why they were so careful not to receive
during the papal Mass in view of the Pope.
They’re simply sticking their fingers in the eyes of faithful Catholics
while piling upon their souls one mortal sin after another. In addition to giving cause for great
scandal, they jeopardize their own eternal salvations; yet the great majority
of our
His next sentence is “presumably this is
done in the home diocese where the bishops and priests, the pastors of souls,
engage the members of their flock in this type of discussion. In the case of
public figures who serve in
Let’s all make clear to the archbishop our
profound disappointment in this shirking of responsibility. Perhaps a diversion of funds from the
Archbishop’s Appeal to another worthwhile charity might be in order, as well. We also need to make clear to the
archbishop wuerl’S
Let’s move onto another question
– this one about pro-abortion Catholic politicians. When asked about that, the archbishop starts
rambling on about excommunication. We do
notice that not one word was mentioned about the denial of Holy Communion to
these individuals: in other words, the enforcement of Canon 915. Click here to
see the entire code. Canon 915 is short
enough, so we’ll quote it right here: “Those upon
whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared,
and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be
admitted to holy communion.” Will any sane person deny that the blatant
support of mass baby-killing is “manifest grave sin”? It doesn’t take a theological genius to see
that the enforcement of Canon 915 is not an option in the case of the pro-abort
politicians. Are we as a church so
desirous of powerful and wealthy worldly contacts that we’ll literally sell our
corporate soul, not to mention the blood of aborted babies? Actually, Cardinal McCarrick answered that
question already; go to the “McCarrick watch” page and look at the second item.
ARchbishop wuerl
hindering summorum pontificum? First, let’s examine the document
itself and the Holy Father’s accompanying letter
to the bishops. Article 2 makes
quite clear that the permission of the local ordinary for the celebration of
the Tridentine Mass is NOT required!
However, the current Archbishop of Washington doesn’t seem to understand
that point, judging from a letter that he sent in January 1008. See here
for details on that letter. What part of
“the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his
Ordinary” is confusing to so many prelates?
DIGNITY MASSES IN DC AND
STONE RIDGE SUPPORTS GAY
LIFESTYLE Gay apologists will be foisting their 12th
Day of Silence upon our schools. Read
the pro-gay yarn here. Then read some
truth about this propaganda/debacle.
Scroll down the Mission America page and you’ll see a list of
participating schools by state. Go down
the
MARXISM AT
Shortly after we originally
posted this expose of faulty social teaching, our colleagues in
OPEN IDOLATRY AT SHRINE
OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION This occurred on November 13, 2007. The occasion was the “28th Annual
Interfaith Concert: A Celebration of the Sacred in Song, Dance and Chant.” This took place in the
Please write to the rector
yourselves. See the letter for the
address – or email him! Sin against the First Commandment was
committed on that evening. The pagans of
the false creeds were ill-served by the pandering and terrible example
presented by Shrine personnel and clergy.
UNDER ARCHBISHOP WUERL,
HOLY COMMUNION WILL REMAIN VULNERABLE TO DESECRATION The article below details how the Archbishop was silent as Nancy
Pelosi, unrepentant in her pro-abortion stance, sacrilegiously received Holy
Communion. Our colleagues at California
Catholic Daily interviewed the archbishop shortly after that occasion. Read it here. Also read here
what Father Neuhaus has to say about this dismal state of affairs.
PELOSI COMMITS SACRILEGE
TRINITY COLLEGE MASS ON JAN 3, 2007 – aRCHBISHOP wUERL NON-RESPONSIVE We published the announcement below, attempting to prevent the
anticipated bestowal of Holy Communion to a publicly dissident Catholic who has
used her position to support baby-murder, and who has in effect pledged to
continue to do so. We sent our letter to
Archbishop Wuerl on December 26, 2006 via Certified Mail. The return receipt indicates that the
chancery received it on December 29th. We received no reply (which is, sadly, no
surprise). Others contacted the chancery
and received the lame, cop-out canard that “the archdiocese has nothing to
say”. Owing to the local bishop’s responsibility
for all that occurs in his see, such an excuse is a lie. Now we must let the archbishop know,
respectfully but in no uncertain terms, our displeasure. He can be contacted at the below address or
at chancery@adw.org.
To aid in your communications,
we provide the following points that you may wish to include.
1) Point out that he has a pastoral concern
for Ms. Pelosi’s soul while she resides in this archdiocese during the
congressional session
2) Point out that he, through his silence,
has allowed Ms. Pelosi to incur the guilt of a sacrilegious Communion, which is
itself a mortal sin
3) Point out that he has provided scandal to
the faithful at large through his apparent indifference to the Eucharist
4) Point out that Canon 915 mandates (not
suggests) the correct stance in such matters as directed by the Holy See
5) Point out that your contribution dollars
may shrink as a result of his spinelessness (sadly, this may be the only thing
that catches his attention)
6) The president of
Will the chancery like us as a
result? Of course not. However, we are the Church Militant, not the
Church Mellow nor the Church Milquetoast.
We’re not put on earth to be liked, but to be obedient to Our Lord. By the way – there were Christian stalwarts
who spoke the truth during Pelosi’s grandstanding in early January. Go to www.prolifenews.tv
to see more.
To contact His Excellency Archbishop Donald Wuerl:
Phone: 301-853-4500
PELOSI
TO ATTEND TRINITY COLLEGE
Bishop Wuerl, up
until now (at least to the best of my knowlege) has not had occasion to make
his attitudes on such matters explicit since he came to
As far as
ettiquette goes, "Your Eminence" is not a proper salutation for him,
as that is reserved for cardinals. "Your Excellency" is
appropriate. If you send "snail-mail", I recommend that you
send it via certified mail with return receipt requested.
Also, please
go to the Trinity website, www.trinitydc.edu,
and see how they chortle not only about Pelosi, but also about Kathleen
Sebelius, governor of
Please check
back here for updates. And now, the
article..
Will New
Archbishop of
Pelosi scheduled
to attend Mass at
By John Jalsevac
WASHINGTON, December 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)—a
pro-abortion legislator who claims to be a practicing Catholic—prepares to celebrate
her new role as House Speaker-elect, she also plans on airing her purported
faith during an upcoming public Mass. On Jan. 3, Rep. Pelosi is scheduled to
attend Mass at
In response to the announcement, however, American Life League has implored
Archbishop Donald Wuerl of
The former Washington Archbishop, Theodore McCarrick, consistently refused to
take any disciplinary action—even the most basic of refusing Holy
Communion—against Catholic politicians who persistently and publicly espoused
views that seriously contradict Catholic teaching. The current Archbishop,
Donald Wuerl, who was installed in June of this year, has not yet indicated how
he will deal with such renegade Catholic politicians. Pelosi’s attendance at
the Trinity College Mass will be a test-case for Wuerl on the
issue.
"Rep. Pelosi has been unwavering in her support for abortion and is
downright defiant toward the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human
life," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League.
Brown has written to Archbishop Wuerl requesting that he do all in his power to
stop the event. "Rep. Pelosi has a tremendous opportunity to make a
difference for all human beings as the most powerful Catholic in
Congress," said Brown. "Unfortunately, she continually supports the
very act that destroys life rather than protects it. It is for this reason that
a Catholic institution should not condone or support her position as a
legislator."
American Life League and other conservative and Catholic organizations in the
In the past Pelosi has announced her intent to continue receiving Holy
Communion, despite her pro-abortion views.
"Allowing Rep. Pelosi to receive honor at a Catholic college sends mixed
signals about what the Catholic Church teaches," said Brown. "The
bottom line is, abortion kills a living human being created in the image and
likeness of God and is therefore always wrong. Because of this truth, it is
unconscionable for Rep. Pelosi to call herself a Catholic in good standing
while supporting the heinous act of abortion. We are hopeful that Archbishop
Wuerl will intercede in this situation and prevent Rep. Pelosi from adding to
an ongoing scandal."
"It is shameful that
The office of the Archbishop of Washington was unable to provide any statement
from the Archbishop for LifeSiteNews.com by press deadline.
To respectfully contact His Eminence Archbishop Donald Wuerl:
Phone: 301-853-4500
(End article)
SPEAKER
SCANDAL AT
Unfortunately, we learned of
this talk only a day before by reading this article from the Washington
Times. We didn’t have time to
organize a public protest at the talk.
However, there is still much that can be done. This talk occurred at the invitation of the
Law School Dean, Ms. Veryl Miles; moreover, it occurred with the full consent
of CUA President Fr. David O’Connell.
Below is contact information for these individuals, as well as for
Archbishop Wuerl, who is chancellor of CUA, and Bishop Lori of
Fr David
O'Connell phone 202-319-5100 email president@cua.edu
Ms. Veryl
Miles phone 202-319-5625 email miles@cua.edu
Also, the CUA
public affairs office, as cited in the release cua-public-affairs@cua.edu
Archbishop Wuerl email chancery@adw.org
Bishop Lori phone 203-416-1364 email bishopsoffice@dpt.org
In addition to communicating
with the above individuals, let’s take advantage of the fact that this
weekend’s (Sept 16/17) second collection is for the benefit of CUA. We believe this is God’s providence in
allowing us this opportunity to exercise some Spiritual Works of Mercy (admonish
the sinner, counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant). You may wish to drop a note in that envelope
explaining why you are not giving them money.
We have developed this as
a possible stuffer for that envelope.
Please feel free to use it as you deem best (copying the flyer,
borrowing points for your own note, etc).
We have yet another means to
deal with the debacle of Sept 14th.
As stated above, individuals are reporting this blatant non-profit violation
to the IRS. The proper vehicle for doing
so is IRS Form 3949A. Click here for the form. We have completed the name, address and EIN
of CUA; please complete the rest of the form in your own words and submit it
per the instructions.
As stated before, we learned
of this too late to initiate any public protest. In the future, if you learn of anything
similar, please notify us at alerts@restore-dc-catholicism.com. YOU are our eyes and ears!
ADW
Priest Punished for Speaking On the Gay-Priest Scandal On
the front page of the April 27th edition of the Washington Post
appeared an article regarding Rev. James Moran, former chaplain of the
During this past Holy Week,
at Mass for hospital staffers and patients’ relatives, he related his story,
handing them a sheet that went into more detail. He spoke out against the hierarchy that has
white-washed the problem of gay priest-abusers over the years. Although he was due to retire in two months,
the Archdiocese of Washington contacted him the day after that Mass and told
him that his priestly credentials were immediately revoked. The Washington Post article can be found at this link. The link
also includes a pdf file of his handout to the Mass attendees.
We share Father Moran’s
belief that he’s being unjustly punished for speaking out. He was due to retire in a few weeks anyway;
why did the chancery deem it necessary to revoke his faculties? Supposedly they said Father’s actions were
“inappropriate”. We find that odd, given
Father Peter Daly’s recent comments in the Catholic Standard (click here for details). If Father Daly can arbitrarily vilify good
people because their opinions differ from his, and get away with it, why is
Father Moran being punished for speaking the truth? Is it because Father Daly is voicing an
opinion deemed by the chancery to be “politically correct” (even though
patently unjust), while Father Moran’s rebuke of the Church hierarchy hits just
a little too close to home? Hmmm????
Please contact the chancery and speak out for
this priest!
CITY OF PHILADELPHIA’S GRAND JURY REPORT ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF
MINORS BY CLERGY was released on
September 21, 2005. In that report,
many acts of rape and perversion, committed by those ordained to be alter Christi , are described in very
explicit detail. We do urge you to read
it. Yes, it is graphic. Yes, it is hideous to view. But please bear in mind that those young boys
experienced that horror beyond
description. Read it for their sakes, to
fully appreciate the filth and degradation that has polluted our clergy. The source of this cancer is two-fold: 1)
dissent from the Magisterium, both in teaching and liturgy and 2) homosexual
behavior. We do suggest that you not
allow children to view it, because of its horrific content. Then alert your friends and resolve to fight
this deadly encroachment before more young lives are destroyed. The report can be found on the Philadelphia
District Attorney’s web page at: http://www.philadelphiadistrictattorney.com/pages/1/index.htm. Several pdf files comprise this report; it
may take some considerable time to download, but it would be worthwhile. The main report is the “Grand Jury Report”
pdf. If you open that file up, point
“Acrobat” to page 45 (it will say “page 40” in the text itself). Look at the top paragraph, and note the
incident that took place in
We understand that many
good people take umbrage at the investigation itself. Among them is William Donohue of Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. They cite that clergy of other denominations
were not subjected to this investigation, even though there were allegedly
molesters amongst them. In making this
complaint about “selecting one institution out of many”, Mr. Donohue forgets
two key facts. First, not only are
individual acts of rape being investigated, but also the organized and
protracted cover-up of these crimes on the part of the bishops by moving the
perpetrators from parish to parish. We
might want to remember what caused Richard Nixon’s downfall in the 1970’s. It wasn’t so much the break-in at the Watergate,
but the subsequent cover-up and obfuscation that destroyed his presidency. The second fact is even more crucial. We, as Catholics, should not complain that we
seem held to a higher standard. Ladies
and gentlemen, such higher expectations (regardless of motives) ARE
CORRECT!!! The “big bad media” actually
have it right when they hold us to higher expectations of moral behavior. Face it!
We are the Roman Catholic Church.
We have the Sacraments. We have
the fullness of the Deposit of Faith! We
have the Magisterium and Sacred Tradition.
We have so much more than all the other denominations combined. Is it any wonder that Our Lord demands more
of us than He does the Episcopalians, Baptists, Jews, etc? Let’s act like mature adults and stop the
insipid whining and sniveling. Let’s
take our lumps in all humility, and in repentance, purge the evil from our own
midst.
VATICAN DOCUMENT ON HOMOSEXUALS AND THE PRIESTHOOD The
ALLEGED ABUSE AT MOTHER SETON PARISH IN
“LACK-BACK BISHOPS” MOVIE REVIEW Most of us have heard of “Brokeback
Mountain”, a movie that glorifies sodomy and adultery while trivializing the
pain inflicted upon the innocent family members of those committing the
abominations. Apparently the film is
well-crafted, with music and scenery utilized to induce the unsuspecting viewer
to suspend his/her rational processes to swallow the siren call of the gay
propagandists. These tactics seem to
have been successful with the individual who reviewed the movie for the
USCCB. The text of their review is here. Please read it yourselves; it’s unbelievable
how this reviewer waxes lyrical over this tripe, calling it a “serious contemplation on loneliness and connection”. The review does acknowledge that “The
Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality is unambiguous. As the Catechism of
the Catholic Church says, homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered"
and the inclination itself is “objectively disordered.” At the same time,
homosexually inclined persons “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and
sensitivity” (#2357 and #2358).” Obviously, he/she is confusing respect of the
person with sympathy for their destructive sin.
He/she goes on to say that “What gives the film its power is the
vividness with which it tells the story of an unresolved (albeit objectively
immoral) relationship.” Oh, really
now! Could you imagine these people
gushing over Adolph Hitler’s skill with words (No one can doubt that Hitler was
an eloquent speaker)? Of course
not! Moreover, the reviewer wrote,
“While the actions taken by Ennis and Jack cannot be endorsed, the universal
themes of love and loss ring true.” That
ridiculous! Ennis and Jack displayed
absolutely no love when one uses the word “love” correctly. Clearly they lusted after one another, but
they showed no concern for their own, or each other’s, immortal souls. They certainly showed no love to their
families, who had first claims on their love.
This reviewer is clearly befuddled by the emotional impact of this
film. But at least they gave the film an
“O” rating (for morally offensive). No
they didn’t – at least not originally.
They had given it an “L” rating (limited adult audience). It wasn’t until several pro-life and
pro-family groups criticized the USCCB on their websites that they changed
their rating; in other words, the USCCB had to be shamed into issuing an
appropriate rating to this sinful propaganda.
This reviewer really should be fired, and moreover, the USCCB is in
clear need of a general housecleaning, as evidenced by this drivel emanating
from them.
BISHOPS AND DEATH PENALTY The USCCB, at their semi-annual meeting in November 2005, focused on the
death penalty. Regardless of our varying
positions on the death penalty, we can see that in the bishops’ inordinate
attention to this issue, there is an abysmal lack of perspective. Less than 100 capital criminals are executed
each year. That’s less than 2.5% of the
babies that are aborted EVERY DAY (based on 4500 abortions/day). Yet at that bishops’ meeting, not one peep
was uttered about that horrible atrocity.
Closer to home, in
SEX-ED ABOMINATION IN
SILVER SPRING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Parents
with children enrolled at St. Bernadette’s, St. John the Evangelist and St.
Mary of the Mills are dealing with threats to the innocence of their children
that stem from the archdiocese. Children
as young as kindergarten age are having foisted upon them insidious material
from the “Child Lures” program. It is
touted as a “safety program” for children, but the children are exposed to
age-inappropriate topics such as pornography, date rape, incest. Of course, the children are also taught in
this program that the gay lifestyle is to be accepted. No Catholic morality nor doctrine is taught. The Archdiocesan School Superintendent,
Patricia Weitzel-O’Neill, told parents that they could not opt their children
out of the program. Now we know that is
blatant violation of Canon Law and other Catholic doctrine, all of which
recognize that in God’s order, parents are the primary teachers for their
children, and it is they who know what’s most appropriate for their
children. Catholic teachers and pastors
are bound by Canon Law to respect that, not to arrogate those God-given
prerogatives to themselves. To add
insult to injury, the archdiocese will not allow the program to be taught by
parents outside the classroom! Also,
please note that this program IS intended for the entire archdiocese! The
above schools are “pilot locations.” If
this usurpation of parental authority remains unchallenged and uncorrected at
these schools, many of us will find our
parental authority likewise pooh-poohed!
The USCCB has made clear
that a classroom environment has NOT required by their recommendation. Other dioceses throughout the country, while
implementing this, are acknowledging the rights of parents to opt their
children out of the program, should they deem that the best for their
children. Why does our own Archdiocese
of
For more information on
“Child Lures”, go to www.childlures.com. The parents mentioned above have formed their
own website: www.catholicfamiliesunited.org. Visit this site to see how you can help. Of course, contact the archdiocese and let
them know your displeasure.