USCCB & CCHD - at it again!

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development will be rearing it's ugly head again soon in a parish near you. Don't be fooled by the public relations spin being staged by the USCCB.

Read the full report from the American Life League regarding CCHD. Click on over to http://www.reformcchdnow.com/ to see the whole sordid mess.

What's this new "Contemporary" Catholic teaching?

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations for the USCCB, recently posted on the death penalty on the USCCB Media Blog.

Naturally, she's against the death penalty, which is okay. It's her reasoning that catches the attention. Of course, the disparity of minorities on death row is highlighted (without the balancing fact that minorities commit a disproportionate number of crimes). She mentions the many cases where someone on death row has been found to be innocent through DNA testing.

But then she says the following:
"Contemporary Catholic teaching opposes the death penalty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church finds it acceptable only when there is no other way to protect society from a dangerous criminal."

Well, which is it? Does the Church allow for it or does it oppose it completely? It's almost as if she's saying that the Catechism teaches one thing but our "contemporary" teaching is different. I've only been back to the Church for 13 years, but I know that the Church can't teach that something is both right and wrong. When the Church opposes something, She does so officially and completely, as in abortion.

Is Sr. Walsh tipping her non-existant habit to the fact that, for all practical purposes, the liberal wing of the American Church has it's own set of rules, or that their "contemporary" thinking actually improves upon the Catechism?

The liberals like to talk about the pro-lifers not being so gung-ho on eliminating capital punishment. They say that to be truly pro-life, our side should give up our support of capital punishment. Well, I think we should take them up on the offer. In exchange for giving up capital punishment, we also outlaw abortion.

Think they'd accept the offer? I'm not holding my breath.

Oh, NOW it's a problem?

The Bishops are forming an Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty in response to the threats of the federal government.

The cornerstone on this threat has been, and remains, the creeping acceptance of homosexuals. This acceptance by society, and its full-throated endorsement and advocacy on the part of the entertainment industry, is now backed by the jack-boot of government. And NOW the Catholic Bishops of America are taking notice?

Forgive me for being a little cynical here.

For years, polls have indicated that self-identified Catholics are much more liberal on homosexuality than many Protestant sects out there. And why is that? Well, as any student from a 1970's era Catholic High School could tell you, the "leadership" has been very accommodating with regard to homosexuality. Archbishop Dolan himself has been very welcoming, if all the reports out of New York are true.

You can't invite the wolves in, make them feel at home, wink at their same-sex affliction, and then be shocked that they actually want to be treated no differently than straight people. Of course they're going to damn-near riot and threaten violence when they're "denied" the right to marry. Of course they're going to flip their pink-glitter covered lids when someone points out they're not "normal". Of course they're going to toss their Birkenstocks when someone says that "two mommies" might as well be "two wildebeests" raising a child.

What's amazing to me is that the Bishops are "shocked" at what's happening. Really? When the rest of us saw this coming way back when Clinton was in office? Sure, we should continue to fight the increasing secularism out there, and yes, it's good that the Bishops are taking note of it all. But it still seems to me a bit like showing up in Saigon in 1976 and asking where they sign up to fight the Vietnam War.

Bishop favor gun control? Who knew? (Everyone)

It's not a surprise that the USCCB would be in favor of banning all private gun ownership, considering that we're in a phase where pacifism is touted as the answer to evil in the world. One would think that they'd consider what's happened in England since private ownership of hanguns has been disallowed.

And of course, with the situation in Tucson, again, it's guns that kill people, not people that kill people.

Read about it (about halfway down) in the news brief from Catholic News Service :
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20110114.htm

And of course, the NCR (reporter, not Register), had an article about the Bishops and gun control:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/catholic-bishops-favor-gun-control-who-knows-it

More left-wing wackery from the USCCB

Not surprisingly, the USCCB has come down on the side of illegality with regards to the new Arizona law.

Part of the news release says:
"The U.S. Catholic bishops stand in solidarity with the bishops of Arizona in opposing this draconian law. We call upon the Administration to review its impact on civil rights and liberties. "

Boo hoo. Not a word about the civil liberties and rights of CITIZENS to not be shot and killed, or robbed or raped by hordes of mongrels prowling our streets. No, that's okay. In fact, I guess in the eyes of the Bishops, we should gladly open our doors to theft and assault.

These jokers can be counted on to come down on the wrong side of practically every issue. And even on the occasional time when they get something right, they're so mealy-mouthed about it that it's embarassing.

Read the news release (try not to laugh too hard):
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-080.shtml

**And look for my exclusive cartoons to appear on a recurring basis in the pages of the New Oxford Review beginning in May!

USCCB still doesn't get it

Not that I hadn't already given up hope on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), but their support of the healthcare overhaul - so long as it doesn't pay for abortion - is mind-numbing. As if the whole thing is just peachy, save for the abortion issue.

Time and time again, they come down in favor of socialism and, in this case, they've done so again.

They should just change their name to the United Socialist Conference of Communist Bishops, for crying out loud.

Where does your money go?

Thanks to work by those such as Real Catholic TV, the USCCB is under a little heat for their support of organizations who consistently work against Catholic teaching.

The Church teaches us that, in order to do good, we're not to cooperate with evil. Yet isn't this exactly what the USCCB is doing, when they partner with so many organizations that promote the tenets of the sexual revolution (abortion, homosexuality, birth control, etc.)?

How can I support my local parish, when I know that it has to turn over a particular % to the Diocese, who in turn financially supports the USCCB? Can I give a check with a note that says "Only for local parish support"? If I don't put anything in the basket, I know I'm shortchanging my parish. So I still give. But I ain't happy about it. I know God loves a cheerful giver, and He's not too happy with an "uncheerful" giver, but how does He feel about us middle-of-the-road guys - the "mixed feelings" givers?

Check out Real Catholic TV's latest, and keep an eye out at the :50 mark - they've picked up some art from the good ol' Cartoon Blog to highlight their news.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRBeEjJhG0k

The Judas League is at it again

Real Catholic TV has a couple of reports on John Carr, the guy who heads the U.S. bishops' Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development.
He's been there for quite some time, and apparently, through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (that group again), he's directed funding to a number of organizations that undermine Catholic teaching, most notably something called the Center for Community Change.

We have some good and courageous bishops, but time and time again the USCCB seems to be nothing more than an arm of the Democratic party. Seems we need a super-duper pest control company to weed out the liberal bugs at the USCCB. Judas would be proud of this group.

See the reports over at Real Catholic TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKBC8u15sQk

What the Hell, indeed.

No cartoon needed. Besides, any cartoon I'd come up with would be too offensive.

Catholic Husbandry 101

Since Sunday's 2nd reading was on the controversial issue of wives submitting to husbands, maybe the USCCB should have this inserted into the missalette. This way, you could listen to the whole version of the reading without offending the feminists in the pews. Although, on second thought, they'd probably still be offended anyway, since there's really no placating them.

I've not heard of any Catholic Husband's group complaining that the shorter version only deals with how husbands should treat their wives, but I've heard that the Catholic Husbands United for Marital Peace (CHUMP) have held symposiums on the issue. ;o)~

Today is March For Life Day - where is YOUR Bishop?

As the Grand High Pooba Obama takes over, will his radical views on abortion push the Church in America to actually fight back? History doesn't offer any hope, as most of the "leaders" are so wimpy, they'd get their lunch money taken at a Nerd Convention.

Will the few who stand up for Life finally override those who are still basically Democratic Party hacks? When the ball starts rolling on the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), will those "catholic" Democrats supporting it be called to task? No, not called to "dialogue" - there's been too much of that. Will the Church stand up?

We'll see. But I'm not optimistic, judging by how so many of our Bishops and their sheep in the pews have fallen head over heels for The Chosen One.

USCCB's CRAPP committee

[From Fr. Z's blog:
Stalled again: USCCB fails to pass draft translation of Proper of Seasons
— Fr. John Zuhlsdorf @ 5:28 pm
The USCCB says the draft translation for the Missale Romanum texts for the "Proper of Seasons" failed to obtain a 2/3 majority of favorable votes. Back to the drawing board.]

Read Fr. Z's take on it at:

What Does The Prayer Really Say?
http://wdtprs.com/blog/

They probably DO have a committee like this...

Hey, let's form a committee!

Members of the "Gang of 18" don't like being held accountable to the Faith they supposedly hold. Some Catholic members of Congress were highly critical of the Pope's remarks regarding Catholic politicians putting themselves at risk for excommunication based on their activities in office (most notably enabling and promoting abortion).

For two responses to this little temper tantrum:

First we have Father Euteneuer, of Human Life International, basically telling them to get with the program or hit the road : http://www.hli.org/press_releases_gang_of_18_leave_church.html .

Then you have the Gang of Bureaucrats at the USCCB, who couldn't get out of the way of a speeding train without forming a committee, offering a "statement" :

http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2007/07-088.shtml

While we should throw a parade for them not taking 2 years to put the statement out, it stills shows that "committee-speak" is never a good substitute for being clear and unambiguous. Guess they didn't want to offend all their "friends".

Baptism

In their recent document called "Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclination..." the USCCB state the following regarding the baptism of children:

"The document also reaffirms the Church's forbiddance of homosexual couples adopting children. However, it does say that the baptism of such children is a matter of pastoral concern and can only happen if there is a "well-founded hope" that the children will be raised Catholic. "

But baptism is NOT allowed in the following situation:

Legitimately married straight couple.

More than one child.

One spouse takes the children to mass every week. Prays with them every night. Teaches them the Faith as best as they can.

The other spouse was raised protestant and anti-Catholic. Not a church-goer. Decent person otherwise, but hates the Church, and refuses to consent to a Catholic baptism.

So in a situation where a true effort is made, no baptism. But two queers who "claim" that a child will be raised Catholic, oh, they're ushered right in.

What's wrong with that picture?