Listecki defends pope, extends olive branch to abuse victims

If anyone was at the Chrism Mass, please comment.  It sounds like it was well received. 

"The Holy Father has been firm in his commitment to combat clergy sexual abuse, root it out of the church, reach out to those who have been harmed and hold perpetrators accountable," Listecki told the hundreds who gathered at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for the annual Chrism Mass, a Holy Week service in which he blessed the oils the church will use for sacraments in the coming year.

Listecki drew applause for a wide-ranging statement in which he apologized for the sex abuse scandal, reached out to victims and spread the blame for the mishandling of the Murphy case, citing Milwaukee church officials, civil authorities and the journalists who first brought victims' stories to light.

He said the church is indebted to "those brave victims" who have come forward to tell their stories, often "after decades of feeling ignored."

"Because of their persistence and perseverance, we know the church has changed," Listecki said. "We owe these victims-survivors our deep gratitude, and we acknowledge our own actions have not always expressed that gratitude adequately."

Full article at JSOnline
Photo: JSOnline - Tom Lynn

Fr. Hardon Quote

"Professed Catholics who practice contraception either give up the practice of contraception or they give up their Catholic faith."  - Fr. John Hardon, S.J.

Wisconsin Roundup

The New York Times hoped to damage Pope Benedict with a story about Milwaukee priest Lawrence Murphy(who died 12 years ago). See Cardinal Ratzinger An Evil Monster? H/T AmericanPapist


Judicial vicar of Milwaukee gives his account, corrects NYT on Fr Murphy case  H/T Father Z

The fact that I presided over this trial and have never once been contacted by any news organization for comment speaks for itself.

Bp. Peter Christensen of the Diocese of Superior issued a press release RE Fr Murphy - H/T StellaBorealis (diocese just sent it to the newspapers? not available online)


Davenport, Iowa bans the name "Good Friday and opts instead for "Spring Holiday."  -H/T New Advent

"The city council didn't know anything about the change. We were blind sided and now we've got to clean this mess up. How do you tell people the city renamed a 2,000 year old holiday?" said Edmond. 

Bishop David Ricken, Diocese of Green Bay calls for reflection on interfaith groups ESTHER & JOSHUA 

He(Ricken) also said he needed more time for reflection and prayer on the matter and commended the good works of both groups, particularly in the areas of advocating for the homeless and for immigrants. 

University of Wisconsin trains abortionists and performs abortions with taxpayer money

"UWHC has been paying for the rotation to date. We will continue to do so. Please let Planned Parenthood know," reads one of the obtained e-mails, by Carl J. Getto, for instance. He's the medical school's associate dean of hospital affairs.

Archbishop Listecki will receive his pallium from the Holy Father June 29th

Bishop Robert Morlino article on Sr Weisenbeck's "Network" letter

Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison published a well written and hard hitting rebuke of the "Catholic" groups that pushed through pro-abortion healthcare.  Here is an excerpt(my emphasis). 

I cannot pass over the actions of the Catholic Health Association and an organization called Network[Sr Marlene Weisenbeck as the leader], a lobby of American religious Sisters, who said, quite publicly, that what the bishops have taught is false. They said that the legislation does provide an adequate framework for a Catholic to follow his or her conscience about abortion. So, we had a trade organization — the Catholic Health Association — which calls itself “Catholic” and we had religious Sisters who call themselves Catholic, saying, “Sorry, bishops, you got it wrong, here is the teaching of the Church.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, unworthy though the bishops are, called the bishops to lead the people in faith; He did not call anybody in the Catholic Health Association and he did not call any of the Sisters in Network. To boot, those Sisters who signed the Network document said that they speak for 59,000 American Sisters — that would be every last Sister in the U.S. Yet, another grouping of Sisters came out publicly expressing their disagreement with Network. Unfortunately, the claim that these Sisters in Network represent all Sisters is actually what is false, not the teaching of the bishops.
And, of course, people like Speaker Pelosi could not do enough to wave the letter from the Catholic Health Association and the letter from Network to provide cover for Democratic legislators who wanted to waffle in protecting innocent human life. Speaker Pelosi is not called by Jesus Christ to lead the Catholic faithful, any more than the religious Sisters in Network are, any more than the leadership of the Catholic Health Association is.
The bishops are called to teach, sanctify, and govern. But, as I said before, with regard to the Holy Father, if people will not recognize authority, then they cannot lay responsibility at the feet of those to whom they are disobedient. The pope and the bishops are only responsible when their authority is accepted. The then-Cardinal Ratzinger himself has said, in our contemporary world, the word “obedience” has disappeared from our vocabulary and the reality of obedience has been anathematized.
In this way, very serious harm is being done to the Church because people in the Church wonder, “Who speaks for Christ? Does the Catholic Health Association speak for Christ? Does Network, an organization of religious Sisters, speak for Christ? Do they teach with the authority of the bishops? Is the bishops’ teaching just another opinion?”

Read the whole article at Catholic Herald

On the new FSPA leadership

Last week I posted that the FSPA in La Crosse have elected new leadership.

I found out that incoming president Sr. Linda Mershon, and the new leadership as a whole are concerned with the Catholic identity of the Franciscan Sisters(as opposed to the vision of Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck), and may be willing to shake things up for the better.

Let us pray for the new leadership!

By the way, if you have not done so, next time you are in La Crosse, you must visit the beautiful church, St Mary of the Angels Chapel.  Or even view an online tour

Naval Academy & Chanticleer sing Biebl's Ave Maria

A busy couple weeks. Here's something to help bring peace to our souls for the solemnness of Holy Week. Chanticleer & the US Naval Academy Men's Glee Glub sing Biebl's Ave Maria



PS> La Crosse's own Matthew Curtis is the soloist at 3:35

Fr. Klos on LCWR letter

Appeared in the La Crosse Tribune on Sunday

By the Very Rev. Michael E. Klos / Arcadia | Posted: Sunday, March 21, 2010 12:15 am 

In his column, which appeared in the La Crosse Tribune, E.J. Dionne Jr. is very wrong in his assertion that the letter released by "Network" represents the position of the 59,000 women religious of the U.S. Of course, it would appear that he got his information from the Associated Press, which very rarely gets its facts straight with regard to the Catholic Church. The fact of the matter is that out of 793 communities of women religious in the U.S., there were 61 signatories to this letter by congregation or organization.
These sisters claim that they must support this legislation, in opposition to our bishops, including our own former bishop, Archbishop Jerome Listecki, because of the many who will be helped. They dismiss as baseless the concerns of the bishops (who have lobbied for decades for health care reform) regarding abortion and conscience protection. If this is so, then there is one question which continues to beg an answer: If this legislation will not allow for the funding of abortion, and if physicians and nurses have nothing to fear with regards to the protection of their conscience, then why has language that specifically addresses these concerns been struck down at least five times so far in the formulation of this legislation? And now the Stupak amendment, which at least dealt with the abortion issue, has been struck down in the committee tasked with reconciliation.
This mirage of united opposition to the position of our bishops was quick in being revealed when the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious issued a letter, as an organization, supporting the position of the U.S. bishops. This organization of women religious, which has as one of its founding principles the support of the legitimate teaching magisterium of the bishops, represents 105 communities in the U.S. (about 10,000 women religious).
A bedrock of Catholic moral theology is that you may never do evil, even to bring about a good end. How did the sisters miss this? It is all very curious.

Why I don't live in California

Courtesy of Whispers in the Loggia


The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress founded by soon-to-be-retired Cardinal Mahoney. I honestly made it about 60 seconds before I had to click stop.  It is painful to watch.

FSPA elects new president

I just got a tip that the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, WI have elected a new president.  This comes on the heels of the now former president, Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck, endorsing the pro-abortion healthcare legislation passed by congress on Sunday.  

Franciscan Sisters elect leaders for 2010-2014

The 126-member General Assembly of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration completed three days of meetings March 18-20, 2010 at which they elected leaders for 2010-2014.
Sister Linda Mershon was elected president. Sister Linda has been ministering as FSPA Mission Councilor since 2006 and resides in La Crosse, Wis. As president Sister Linda is the official representative of the congregation. She will take office July 1, 2010, with the newly elected leadership team.
Sister Eileen Lang was chosen as vice-president. She is currently on sabbatical at Sangre de Cristo Center in Santa Fe, N.M. Prior to that, she was a resident of Superior, Wis., and served for nearly four decades, teaching and serving the Catholic Diocese of Superior. Her most recent position was diocesan chancellor. [that is the Vice-president-elect in Superior] As vice president Sister Eileen will assist the president in governing, and assumes the duties of the president in the event of the president’s absence.
Three members were elected as mission councilors, who, with the president and vice-president, constitute the FSPA leadership team.
The newly elected mission councilors are Sister Paulynn Instenes, currently serving as FSPA vice president in La Crosse, Wis., Sister Suzanne Rubenbauer, a resident of Eden Prairie, Minn., currently serving as FSPA co-minister of Affiliation, and Sister Rose Elsbernd of Frontenac, Minn. Sister Rose is currently director of Villa Maria Retreat Center.
Considering the welfare of each sister and the corporate good of the congregation, the leadership of FSPA fosters the life and mission in the Church and in the world. They promote the congregation’s goals and provide for continual renewal so that the needs of contemporary society can be served.
A new process for the 2010 election emphasized the importance for all eligible members to remain open to nomination for an office throughout the time of discernment from October 2009 to the present.
The 2010 election assembly is the 22nd election assembly for the congregation since 1910.

Photo (Left to Right): Sisters Paulynn Instenes, Rose Elsbernd, Linda Mershon, Eileen Lang and Suzanne Rubenbauer

 I hope and pray that Sr. Mershon support life and family. 

The Myth of Pedophile Priests

From Fr. Dwight Longnecker

As more pedophile priest scandals blow up across Europe we should be ashamed of the offenders and those who sheltered them and oppressed the victims. The guilty should be weeded out, removed from office and handed over to the civil authorities where they are guilty of crimes. Systems to avoid abuse must be established and rigorously maintained, and victims should be justly compensated for their suffering.

However, Penn State professor Philip Jenkins (who is not a Catholic) has written the most objective book on the subject, and he summarizes his arguments in this excellent article. In light of his work, we should remember some basic facts and principles:

• Priestly celibacy is not the issue - married men are more likely to abuse children than unmarried
• Most child abuse takes place within the home.
• All religious groups have pedophile scandals, and the Catholics (while the largest religious group) are at the bottom of the list statistically.
• Child abuse is prevalent in all areas of society: schools, youth organizations, sports, etc.
• Statistically, of all the professions, Christian clergy are least likely to offend. Doctors, Farmers and Teachers are the professions most likely to abuse children--not clergy.
• Among clergy offenders Catholic priests are least likely to offend.
• Catholic cases of pedophilia make more headlines because of anti Catholic prejudice and because the Catholic Church is bigger and more lucractive to sue.
• Pedophilia and Euphebophilia are different problems. The former is sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children. The latter is attraction to teenagers. Most cases branded 'pedophila' are actually 'euphebophila.'
• Most of the cases of euphebophilia are homosexual in nature, however the politically correct do not want this problem to be associated with homosexuality.
• The number of Catholic priests guilty of pedophilia is very small.
• What we now call 'cover up' was often done in a different cultural context, when the problem was not fully understood and when all establishment organizations hushed scandals. They did so for what seemed good reasons at the time: protection of the victims and their families, opportunity for rehabilitation of the offender, the avoidance of scandal to others. It is unfair to judge events thirty years ago by today's standards.
• When lawsuits are looming people smell money. We must be wary of false accusations.
• The accused must be entitled to a fair hearing. The church should insist on hard proof of the abuse, and for the sake of justice, ensure that the innocent are not prosecuted.
• When guilt is established the offender must be punished, not sheltered.
• Distinctions must be made between types of abuse. Some offenses are worse than others. Verbal abuse or corporal punishment during a time when that was acceptable, while lamentable, is not the same as sexual abuse or extreme physical abuse.
• Sexual abuse of an adult, or a sexually experienced older teenager is wrong, and damaging, and should be punished, but it is not the same as the sexual abuse of a younger, innocent child.
• Number of offenses must be considered. One lapse is not of the same seriousness as repeated, persistent and premeditated offenses.

I am in no way wishing to be soft of pedophiles and those who covered for them, however justice and truth demand an objective analysis of the facts.

HT Stella Borealis

Healthcare reform recap

The American Medical Association has weighed in on the new Universal Health Plan. Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve. The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no...

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.

Fr. Paul Marx, Requiescat in pace

Fr. Paul Marx, the famed pro-life missionary priest who founded Human Life International in 1981, and the Population Research Institute in 1989, died at 8:10 a.m this morning at the St. John's Benedictine Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. He was 3 months short of 90 years of age.  Photo: LifeSiteNews

Fr. Paul Marx founded Human Life International which is now headed by Fr. Tom Euteneuer(who also was in La Crosse at the Shrine OLOG last May for the Marian Conference).


I found out from my aunt that Fr. Marx was in La Crosse some years back(and she had met him). 

I was blessed to meet The Apostle of Life Father Paul Marx on two occasions, first at the American Life League World Conference in 2001, and then in La Crosse, WI, at a Pro-Life Wisconsin banquet. He told me to pray for him when we talked in La Crosse, so I've been praying for him for years. Rest in Peace, Father Paul, and praise God, and pray for us!

Here is one of Fr. Paul Marx quotes:

HLI was one of the first voices to consistently proclaim that abortion is the fruit of contraception, that foresight contraception often leads to hindsight abortion, and that massive contraception has caused increasing abortion worldwide.  Having visited and studied eighty-five countries, I challenge any bishop, priest, professor, or scientist to show me the contrary.  Abortion is the end point of the abuse of sex, which begins with the unleashing of the sexual urge by contraception.  -- The Warehouse Priest, page 262.

Update: My aunt who is also attending his funeral sent me his obituary.
http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/obituaries/pmarx.html

Bart Stupak -

In case you haven't run across this video yet, Bart Stupak says he'll vote for heathcare even if it would kill his own mother BACK IN November 2009!



Liberalism is a religion.  

HT; TheSacredPage

Why Obama doesn't care about the executive order

From Wisconsin Right to Life

Gee, Thanks Bart Stupak For that Bogus Executive Order!

Unlike yesterday’s very public signing of health care legislation, President Obama will sign the so-called abortion “compromise” executive order today privately at the White House. The “compromise” was reached when Rep. Bart Stupak caved and promised his “yes” vote on the health care bill in exchange for a meaningless piece of paper that does absolutely nothing to protect unborn children and leaves medical professionals, who do not want to participate in abortion, with little protection.
As the most pro-abortion president in the history of our nation signs this bogus executive order, he does so knowing full well that it does nothing to stop the new law’s massive government funding of abortion and it does not provide adequate conscience protections for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who are morally opposed to the destruction of the lives of unborn children through abortion.
The fact is, an executive order (EO) cannot override statutory law. While Stupak and Obama claim the EO will extend the Hyde Amendment abortion funding restrictions and the Weldon/Church conscience rights amendments to the new law, the fact is the Hyde Amendment and the Weldon and Church Amendments only apply to funds appropriated under the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) appropriations bill. The abortion funding provisions in the new health care law and the lack of conscience protections do not come under the umbrella of the LHHS appropriations bill.
In addition, the existence of the Hyde Amendment and the Church and Weldon Amendment are dependent on re-authorization every year by Congress. The Congress could simply decide not to renew them! And when you consider that the leadership of both houses of Congress is stridently pro-abortion and in the pockets of the radical pro-abortion lobby, the reversal of these important amendments is very possible.
So, thanks Bart Stupak, for trading your vote in exchange for massive government funding of abortion and leaving health care professionals unprotected. And to think..you had the power to stop it!

Note to self

Do not under any circumstances make the mistake of attending St. Olaf Catholic Church in Eau Claire, WI.

Here is the latest blog entry from their "Faith" formation.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Lenten Carbon Fast

Purchase more mindfully today.  Print, cut out, and tape together a "Wallet Buddy" where your credit card can remind you of questions about yourself before buying: (NewDream.org/walletbuddy2.pdf)

(Compiled from Lenten resurces by: Tearfund, Nat'l Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Programs, Prince of Peace Luterhan Church, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, Rock Springs Congregational UCC, IA IPL, NC IPL, and from Green America and The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change)

Posted by Kathy at 1:53 PM 0 comments

Check out more here 

I like this one:

Lenten Carbon Fast

It's hard to open ourselves upt to he realities of the climate crisis.  Today, learn something new about climate change.  (AmericaClimateChoices.org or ClimateCrisis.net)

 Umm, well I did learn this.   and the truth shall make you free(Jn 8:32) 

I'm sure not as bad as St Joan, Minneapolis, but really? 

Planned Parenthood: Healthcare passage will "significantly increase access to reproductive health care"; exec order "a symbolic gesture"

From JillStanek.com

By the way, this is the #1 pro-life blog out there.  

Now it all comes out. It didn't take long for Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards to revel in PP's financial gain from passage of healthcare in a Planned Parenthood statement just released. Note also Richards' dismissal of Obama's executive order....

For more than a year, PP has worked tirelessly for a health care reform bill that would fix our broken health care system, strengthen women's health, and achieve quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

Today, monumental progress was made toward achieving these goals with the passage of historic health care reform legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives, despite a symbolic gesture, in the form of an Executive Order, to anti-choice Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI), which has diverted attention from the central goal of health care reform - controlling costs and extending coverage.
As a trusted health care provider to millions of women and families across the country, Planned Parenthood applauds the fact that this legislation would extend health care coverage, including family planning, to tens of millions of women and families, guarantee access to affordable life-saving screenings for cervical and breast cancer and other serious health problems, protect women against gender discrimination by private insurers, end the practice of dropping coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and significantly increase access to reproductive health care.
The proposal also includes a commonsense provision to expand family planning under Medicaid, which would significantly increase access to essential preventive health care for millions of women....
Nonetheless, we regret that a pro-choice president of a pro-choice nation was forced to sign an Executive Order that further codifies the proposed anti-choice language in the health care reform bill, originally proposed by Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
What the president's executive order did not do is include the complete and total ban on private health insurance coverage for abortion that Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI) had insisted upon. So while we regret that this proposed Executive Order has given the imprimatur of the president to Senator Nelson's language, it is critically important to note that it does not include the Stupak abortion ban.

Thanks, Bart Stupak, you foolish man.
---------------
So the question is answered, is there such a thing as a pro-life Democrat.

Diocese of La Crosse issues corrective statement on FSPA president

This was ordered read or distributed on all parishes in the Diocese of La Crosse this Sunday.  It was read at my parish but probably not at more liberal parishes in the diocese(who had refused Arch Listecki's orders to disseminate his message during Sunday homilies in the past). 

This comes on the heels of Sr. Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA, La Crosse, publicly supporting healthcare legislation that actively promotes abortion and vocally opposing the US bishops(and urging others to do the same). Sr. Weisenbeck is also the former chancellor of the Diocese of La Crosse.

Oddly enough the FSPA started the first hospital in La Crosse in 1883 without government mandated abortion.  Apparently they feel that was a mistake and it would be best if the Catholic hospital they began stopped wasting time on unborn children.

D i o c e s e o f L a C r o s s e
Office of the chancery diocesan archives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2010 Contact: Ben Nguyen, Chancellor 608-791-2655
NEWS RELEASE
STATEMENT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LA CROSSE
On the Letter Issued by “Network” on Healthcare Reform
On March 17th, a letter issued to the media by “Network,” a social justice lobby group of some women religious, urged passage by Congress of the current Senate healthcare bill.
The Network letter sadly contradicts the Catholic Bishops of the United States, who, after working tirelessly for legitimate healthcare reform, had concluded that the current Senate bill would result in “expansion of abortion funding and of policies forcing everyone to pay for abortions…and must be opposed unless and until these serious moral problems are addressed” (March 15 letter of Cardinal Francis George, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops - USCCB).
The Network letter calls the bishops’ conclusion that taxpayer funding of elective abortion would result from the bill a “false claim.” This misleading and unsupported statement sows confusion about the truth of the matter and about who speaks for the Church. In the end, statements like this end up providing “cover” for politicians and others who want to appear pro-life but who are willing to see abortion deceptively included as part of health care.
It is particularly unfortunate that signatories of the Network letter include those whose religious orders have in times past heroically provided access to health care without compromising ethical principles.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse strongly stands with the completely clear statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoed by the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, opposing the current version of the health care legislation under consideration which expands funding for the termination of unborn human beings and violates conscience.
The provision of abortion funding and the lack of adequate conscience protection do not expand justice for all. Health care at the expense of lives of the unborn is not social justice.
Statements from individuals and groups such as Network directly undermine the tireless work of the United States Bishops and the pro-life faithful in America and in the Diocese of La Crosse.
- MORE -
2
To learn what you can do at this critical time, please see the Diocesan website www.dioceseoflacrosse.com
Rev. Msgr. Richard W. Gilles
Diocesan Administrator
Benedict T. Nguyen
Chancellor
Rev. Leon Powell
Vice-Chancellor
Rev. Joseph Hirsch
Office for Clergy & Vocations
Rev. Msgr. Robert Hundt
Judicial Vicar
Christopher Ruff
Deacon Matthew Ludick
Office of Ministries & Social Concerns
Sr. M. Stephania Newell, F.S.G.M.
Office of Consecrated Life
Jeff Heinzen, Alice Heinzen, Jeff Arrowood
Office of Family Life
Ann Lankford
Office of Catechesis & Evangelization
Christopher Rogers
Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Christopher Carstens
Office of Sacred Worship
Diana Roberts
Dr. Susan Holman
Office of Catholic Schools
Rev. Roger Scheckel
Missions Office
Travis Simpson
Office of Diocesan Buildings & Grounds
Andrew Gaertner
Office of Stewardship & Development
Stan Gould
The Catholic Times
The U.S. Bishops and the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious have officially responded to the Network letter as follows:
UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Clarification
Washington - A recent letter from Network, a social justice lobby of sisters, grossly overstated whom they represent in a letter to Congress that was also released to media.
Network’s letter, about health care reform, was signed by a few dozen people, and despite what Network said, they do not come anywhere near representing 59,000 American sisters.
The letter had 55 signatories, some individuals, some groups of three to five persons. One endorser signed twice.
There are 793 religious communities in the United States.
The math is clear. Network is far off the mark.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh
Director of Media Relations
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
STATEMENT OF THE
COUNCIL OF MAJOR SUPERIORS OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS
March 17, 2010
In a March 15th statement, Cardinal Francis George, OMI, of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, spoke on behalf of the United States Bishops in opposition to the Senate’s version of the health care legislation under consideration because of its expansion of abortion funding and its lack of adequate provision for conscience protection. Recent statements from groups like Network, the Catholic Health Association and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) directly oppose the Catholic Church’s position on critical issues of health care reform.
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the second conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious in the United States, believes the Bishops’ position is the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church.
Protection of life and freedom of conscience are central to morally responsible judgment. We join the bishops in seeking ethically sound legislation.
Mother Mary Quentin Sheridan, R.S.M.
President
On behalf of the Membership of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.  Christ have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven,   (have mercy on us.) God the Son, Redeemer of the world,   (have mercy on us.) God the Holy Spirit, (have mercy on us.) Holy Trinity, One God,   (have mercy on us.) Holy Mary, pray for us St. Joseph, pray for us Noble scion of David, pray for us Light of the Patriarchs, pray for us Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us Foster-father of the Son of God, pray for us Sedulous Defender of Christ, pray for us Head of the Holy Family, pray for us Joseph most just, pray for us Joseph most chaste, pray for us Joseph most prudent, pray for us Joseph most valiant, pray for us Joseph most obedient, pray for us Joseph most faithful, pray for us Mirror of patience, pray for us Lover of poverty, pray for us Model of all who labor, pray for us Glory of family life, pray for us Protector of virgins, pray for us Pillar of families, pray for us Consolation of the afflicted, pray for us Hope of the sick, pray for us Patron of the dying, pray for us Terror of the demons, pray for us Protector of Holy Church,  pray for us Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.) Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,   (graciously hear us, O Lord.) Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,   (have mercy on us.) He made him the lord of his household. (And prince over all his possessions.) Let us pray. God, Who, in Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in Heaven whom, on earth, we venearate as our protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. (Amen.)

Latin version can be found here:
http://www.fisheaters.com/litanystjoe.html

The face of the dissident LCWR

The Leadership Council of Women Religious(LCWR), a group speaking for 80% of women religious groups in the United States, has come out supporting the pro-abortion health care legislation(WaPo) now before congress. 


The LCWR claim the current healthcare legislation will not fund abortion and awkwardly offer no explaination.

And despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions. It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments – $250 million – in support of pregnant women. This is the REAL pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it.

The full letter

The pro-choice crowd think it does fund abortion and should fund abortion.  So does the pro-life crowd thinks it does fund abortion and it should not.  See In 150 words, how the current legislation funds abortion.(AmPapist)

The president of the LCWR(and also president of the local FSPA) made sure to sign the document not once, but twice.  In case you were not aware, she resides in La Crosse, WI. 

Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA (FSPA president 2002-2010)

Sister Marlene Weisenbeck, has been the FSPA president since 2002. She also serves as president for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Prior to that, she served the La Crosse Diocese in the Office of Consecrated Life, and as chancellor. Before she studied canon law she taught music at the high school and college levels. She holds a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master's degree from George Peabody College, Nashville, Tenn., and a bachelor's degree from Viterbo University, La Crosse. She currently lives in La Crosse.

If you would like to contact Sr. Marleen Weisenbeck to express your disappointment for her pro-choice stance, you can contact her at mweisenbeck@fspa.org

H/T
Fr Z 
American Papist
Creative Minority Report

UPDATE: This letter is NOT supported by all religious.  USCCB issues corrective statement.

Fr John Hardon SJ First Confession story.

It was a bright Michigan spring day.  The girls were in their dresses buckled in their seats as the family headed down to Detroit to meet with Father Hardon.  When we reached the residence, Father was called in his office and notified that we had arrived.  We met him at Lansing Reilly Hall, which was then the residence for the Jesuits at the University of Detroit.  It was 1993.  Sarah was seven and preparing to receive her First Holy Communion.  Father Hardon would be hearing her First Confession today.  He cheerfully greeted us and asked how we all were.  After a few minutes of relaxed conversation, he invited us to stay in a large gathering room filled with aged furniture.  Area carpets covered part of the hardwood flooring.  Father walked with Sarah to another smaller conference room where he would hear her confession. 

We were thankful that the room was empty and large so that the younger three girls would have some freedom to move about and play.  However, after some length of time, I began to wonder what was happening.  Shouldn't they be done by now?  Mothers worry, especially if they are like me.  I paced back and forth and finally I peaked out the door to see if anyone was in the hallway.  There they were.  How I wished I had a camera.  There was not much light in the hall except way down at the end so that Father and Sarah were in shadow.  He was holding her hand, walking down to the chapel to say her penance with her.  Such a loving, gentle priest taking such tender care of the young girl.

When they returned, Father told the story of preparing for his First Confession.  “I was in first grade, and the nun had written twenty-one sins on the chalk board for us to consider in preparing for confession.  Of the whole class I had committed most of the twenty-one sins.” Concerned that we may have missed some sins in preparing Sarah, I asked, “Father, what were they?”  “Well,” he said with his dry sense of humor, “I don't remember.  At the time I had not yet learned to take notes

Listecki comments on communion for politicians

From JSOnline

First off, what a bad photo.  Have you ever seen a good photo of a Catholic bishop in a newspaper?  Is there some secret contest that the worst photo winner gets an all expense-paid trip to Rome? 

Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki said Tuesday that he does not envision denying communion to politicians who vote contrary to church teachings. But he said that he cannot rule it out and that every case would have to be considered individually.
"You have to consider the impact of whatever that person is doing . . . whether you've tried to help them come to an understanding of the teaching," said Listecki, who fielded questions Tuesday at a Milwaukee Press Club's "Newsmaker Luncheon." "It's very difficult for me to see how somebody can be pro-choice knowing the teachings of the church. But individuals may be pro-choice and looking to limit abortions."  [so he will but he wont? ]
Listecki touched on a broad range of topics, although he didn't break new ground. Among the highlights:
• On whether the local bishop should have oversight of individually chartered Catholic colleges and universities: Listecki said any institution that calls itself Catholic, including colleges and universities, derives its identity from the local bishop.
"I would expect an open dialogue with them. I would expect them to understand, if they carry a Catholic identity, the relationship that they have with the bishop in order to maintain that Catholic identity," he said.  [Jesuits can relax, no record of cleaning up bad universities yet]
• On why he has refused to meet with representatives of the victims advocacy group Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests: Listecki said SNAP has "politicized" the discussion of clergy sex abuse. "I'm concerned with the healing," he said. "And I'm not too sure the issues brought forth by SNAP are about healing." [I agree, but I think SNAP has legitimate complaints, like the Weakland statue in the cathedral.  That has got to be an embarrassment to any Milwaukee Catholic]
• On the Vatican's inquiry into Catholic women in religious orders, and the fears of sisters that it's a crackdown meant to push them back into traditional roles:[Traditional roles of ... believing the Creed?  Praying?  Perfecting in virtue?] Listecki said the sisters have no cause to worry, and that the inquiry probably will assess what they're doing right, what they can do better and how closely they follow their charism, or purpose for being.
"My sense is one of the aspects the Vatican will be doing is to see how they are responsive to their charism, how they are living their faith," he said. "When you take a look at the power of religious women, we want to maximize that power. We don't want to . . . diminish that power."  [Keep on Reiki-ing and escorting mothers to abort their children.]

I guess I need to learn from St Francis de Sales' maxim,
You can catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a barrelful of vinegar

Especially the abortion-politician answer is confusing.  In the past I assumed Listecki was of the mindset of Arch Burke that canon law requires bishops to withhold communion in these circumstances.  Perhaps he would like to keep these matters private, I'm not sure.  But I would expect a more direct answer even to the Milwaukee press corp. 

Solemnity of St Joseph this Friday

I will be eating meat on Friday.

From Fr. Z 

From a reader:

Friday is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. I know that according to canon law, solemnities take precedence over any day of penance, at least in ordinary time. Are we still bound to abstinence from meat on March 19?

This sort of question comes up almost every year.  At least we won’t have the irritating problem of the Feast of St. Patrick this year.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law states:

Canon 1251: "Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ."

Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Winona

I recently found out that there is a TLM in Rochester, MN which is great news.  I left that diocese because too much liberalism specifically in the liturgy. Check it out here: http://www.rochesterlatinmasssociety.org

Here is a full list courtesy of Stella Borealis

Sts Peter and Paul, Mankato: 8:45 a.m. Mass every First Saturday; Confession before Mass

St Bridget's, Simpson (E. of Rochester airport), 1st Sundays: 4:00 p.m.; 3rd Sundays: 12:30 p.m.

St James Parish, St James, MN: 8:00 a.m. Saturdays, Low Mass;

Oratory of Our Lady of Ransom, Guckeen, MN: Sundays only; [between Fairmont and Blue Earth, south of I-90]

The last two I have not heard of before(and I cant even find the last one on a map).

I did hear that a new pastor is in town at Sts Peter and Paul in Mankato and wants to get rid of the Latin Mass there.  I hope not, but it sounds like the traditionalists there are getting the squeeze. 

... I will have to get a list together for Wisconsin.

Fr. Amorth says Satanic influence in Vatican

I saw this article originally on St. Louis Catholic's blog(an excellent blog by the way)Saint Louis Catholic: Spanish exorcist addresses claims of Satanic influence in Vatican

Now today Drudge picked up on the story that The Times in the UK picked up today. 

Fr. Amorth has written two well written books on Exorcism, An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist, More Stories.  It's been a while since I read them, but I remember the first book being better and the second being more of a discussion of sacramental(exorcised water versus holy water) for keeping safe. Both good books but not as good as Fr. Malachi Martin's Hostage to the Devil. 

At any rate, I did bring Fr. Malachi Martin into the discussion.  Martin also wrote a book called Windswept House where he claims the same thing that Amorth now claims.  In the general sense, of COURSE there is Satanic influence in the Vatican.  If the devil can influence little ol' me(quite well at times) how much more would he be interested in the leaders of the Church of Christ.  But on a more specific note, Satanic worship at the Vatican, it is impossible for me to say.  Judas among the twelve certainly shows us that even an apostle who knew Christ personally can be possessed by the devil.  So to be honest, I do believe Fr. Amorth, but this is certainly not the first age to suffer this.  Satanism is not new.  Our three enemies are the world, the flesh and the devil.  And the devil has a superior intelligence and...  Well like my great grandpa would say The devil works overtime.  He never takes a holiday.

So in conclusion; always remember to brush your teeth and pray for priest!

Sr. Christa Marie to leave Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI

The executive director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Sr. Christa Marie, FSGM,  has taken on a new position at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas.   Sister has accepted the position of president of the academy.  The article says that she will be leaving the Shrine by June.  


Sr. Christa Marie has done an amazing job with the Shrine.  I wish her the very best at her new position.

Christopher West coming to Stevens Point April 22nd

Renowned Theology of the Body speaker Christopher West is coming to Stevens Point, WI in April. I have read some of Wests books and found them to be excellent. 

The details are here:
God, Sex and the Meaning of Life
Date: April 22, 2010
Location: St. Peter's Church
Stephens Point WI, 
Presented By: Christopher West
Contact: Phil Lawson
Email: lawsphil@gmail.com
Description: This special evening presentation is for anyone searching for their ultimate purpose in life, as it breaks open the most basic truths and questions of human existence. With profound insight and humor, Christopher West begins to address the deepest yearnings of the human heart. Don't miss this opportunity to see one of the most sought after speakers in the church today!


Also nice to see the Diocese of La Crosse is training its teachers both in La Crosse and Eau Claire while West is in the area. 


If you weren't aware there was quite a bit of controversy a while back about a Nightline piece on him.  I would still highly recommend him. 

I do think it is very important to understand what Alice Von Hildenbrand said

Von Hildebrand holds the opinion that West's approach forgets the "extreme danger" that the realm of sexuality presents because of concupiscence. She believes, however, that sex can be sanctified through "humility" and a "spirit of reverence."

"My feeling is that [West's] vocabulary and his way of approaching it totally lacks reverence," said von Hildebrand.

"Reverence is the key to purity."

But this society has already un-reverenced sex.  Especially kids in public schools, where our current president is hoping to teach them sex-ed starting at kindergarten.  So if you are able to shield your children from health classes and watching tv, listening to music, looking at the way women dress today,  walking out the door then this talk might not be for you.  But since society has created a war on sex especially since the '60s, it will take someone speaking their language(albeit a bit vulgar in the broad sense of the word) to preach the Gospel to them. 

Time to void this check

From Pro-life Images

Liberalism - Definition

Got this from Johnny's Lunchbox

Pertinent definition of oft-bandied word ...
"Until the eighteenth century the term generally meant whatever was worthy of a free man, e.g., as applied to the liberal arts or a liberal education. This meaning is still current, but at least since the French Revolution liberalism has become more or less identified with a philosophy that stresses human freedom to the neglect and even denial of the rights of God in religion, the rights of society in civil law, and the rights of the Church in her relations to the State. It was in this sense that liberalism was condemned by Pope Pius IX in 1864 in the Syllabus of Errors (Denzinger, 2977-80)".<sup>1

1 Hardon, John, S.J. 1999 (2nd Printing, 2001). "Modern Catholic Dictionary", p. 317. Eternal Life. Brownsville, Kentucky.
"Denzinger" refers to Enchiridion Symbolorum (Handbook of Creeds) originally edited by Henry Denzinger and first published in 1854.</sup>

Catholic girls gone wild

See update
Just ran across this from the Cardinal Newman Society.

Study: Female Students More Promiscuous at Catholic Colleges

Researchers from Mississippi State University looked at a survey of 1,000 college students nationwide and were surprised to find that “women attending colleges and universities affiliated with the Catholic Church are almost four times as likely to have participated in ‘hooking up’ compared to women at secular schools. A “hook up” is defined as a casual physical encounter with a male student, without the expectation of an ongoing relationship.

Guess I should have went to a Catholic college....  KIDDING.

I wonder if universities like ... 
Marquette University - Milwaukee
St. Norbert's College - De Pere
Viterbo University - La Crosse

... have their recruiters train to elbow/wink/nudge male prospects with this study. 

Found a list of all Catholic Wisconsin colleges.  Not sure if this is up to date(I bet Dad29 knows).

In all seriousness, it would be great to see a Catholic college in Wisconsin take its identity seriously.  Catholic universities must engage the secular culture, not sleep with her.

H/T: Mr T in Nebraska

**Update
Only 39 Catholic women were interviewed for this study!

Cardinal Burke

By now you may have seen some speculation that Archbishop Burke will be named a cardinal as soon as this November.

While all three vaticanisti led their stories with an emphasis that the coming crop would be dominated by Europe and the Roman Curia -- including the "sure" elevation of the church's first American "chief justice," Archbishop Raymond Burke  

The post that Arch. Burke now occupies, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura; in effect, the church's "chief justice" as head of its top court, has historically always been filled by a cardinal.  Hence why the prediction is a pretty solid lock.  Another potential candidate is Archbishop Timothy Dolan, but it looks like he is saying he would not expect to receive the red hat this time around. 

I believe Arch Burke is about 62-63 years old.  I wont start speculating on the next papal election at this time.... but.... as Elmer J. Fudd would say "vewy vewy intewesting."

Calvary

From The Crescat...: Calvary...
... by Bernaert van Orley.

Bishop Ricken of Green Bay takes on CCHD reform

Bishop David Ricken the shepherd of Green Bay WI has taken it upon himself to clean up the mess the CCHD has created in his diocese.  He hopes to prevent his flock from funding abortion and homosexual "marriage" through Sunday collections.

Last Fall, Bishop David L. Ricken became aware of some inconsistencies between the principles of the Gamaliel Foundation and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The Gamaliel Foundation's affiliate organization in Wisconsin is WISDOM; two local affiliates of WISDOM are JOSHUA in Green Bay and ESTHER in the Fox Cities. About 18 Catholic parishes belong to either JOSHUA or ESTHER.

Read the letter posted by The Compass (GB diocesan newspaper) 

Last November Bp Robert Morlino, Madison(another Wisconsin bishop) has also decided to withhold any funds from CCHD until his own investigation can be made to understand what went wrong.

LifeSiteNews.com also picked up on the story.

I have also blogged on some of the previous developments. 

Quite frankly I do not understand the usefulness of the CCHD at all.

Dad29 has more on the latest findings   We are talking about alot of money here coming out of the collection plate.  Will Milwaukee, Superior and La Crosse follow suite?

Sandles & Fiddlebacks

The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (FFI) is a Roman Catholic Institute of Religious Life with Pontifical Right established by Pope John Paul II on 1 January 1998. The FFI was founded by two Franciscan Conventual priests and is a reformed Franciscan Conventual Religious Institute living the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi, the Regula Bullata, according to the Traccia Mariana.

The FFI is the male branch of the Franciscan family of the Immaculate. The female branch are the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. And the last branch of the family is the Franciscan Tertiaries of the Immaculate composed mainly of lay people. An offshoot of the Tertiaries are the Third Order Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate.

The FFI also care for the spiritual needs of pilgrims at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse.