St. Ignatius Loyola, ora pro nobis!

via Good Jesuit Bad Jesuit (a great blog)

Ignatius, lived during a period when, perhaps surprisingly to some people, these same reformers who rejected the papacy denied human liberty. Did you know that? At the heart of the reformation, as it came to be euphemistically called, is the denial that man has a real human freedom with which he can either choose to serve or choose to reject God.

Well then, who is saved? "Who?" the reformers will say, "That's easy. Those are saved whom God predestines. They get the grace; they cannot help being good. Sadly, you must add, and the evil of those who will be lost cannot help being bad." But no freedom. The cardinal heresy of the Western world is the denial of human freedom. 

Ignatius then, you would expect to stress man's free will. Of course we need divine help. We need divine light and strength, who doubts it? But we must want to cooperate and we are not coerced to do so. In Ignatius' vocabulary a saint is a person who wants to be a saint. It is both that simple and that awful. Hell is very real and it is no injustice, though it's a great mystery. Why not? 

Because God gave us a free will to either serve Him or reject Him. And if we want to, as every page of the Exercises brings out, we can be either just sufficiently cooperative with God's grace to keep out of hell – a big risk needless to say; you're taking a chance. 

Or you can give and give and give more and more. That's why there could be only one motto for St. Ignatius which he bequeathed to his sons: "for the greater glory of God." That comparative degree is at the heart of Ignatius' spirit. Not just for the glory of God or the great glory of God, but the greater. "My friend," he would tell us, "exert yourself; push a little harder; do more."

"More than what?"

"More than you're doing."

"But I'm doing all that I can."

"Try harder!"

That's Ignatius.

Link (here) to Saint Ignatius Loyola - Jesuit Saint  by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

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Federal judge vindicates Cardinal Dolan, rules Milwaukee archdiocese right to shield cemetery funding

via Catholic Culture

A federal judge has ruled that the Milwaukee archdiocese was justified in setting up a $50 million trust fund for the care of cemeteries.

Creditors of the archdiocese, which is now in bankruptcy, had argued that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who was then Archbishop of Milwaukee, acted improperly to set up the trust fund. The creditors argued that the fund was created in order to shield archdiocesan funds from plaintiffs in sex-abuse lawsuits. Cardinal Dolan had replied that establishing the fund was mandated by state laws, which require secure funding for cemeteries.

Federal Judge Rudoph Randa sided with the archdiocese, ruling that the cemetery funds could not be included in a listing of assets available for payment of archdiocesan creditors.

 Photo 

Arch Mil statement

Have you signed the Wisconsin Personhood Amendment petition?

Well, then, let's remedy that!

The ten step Marty Haugen song writing program

This is an old post but it's the first time I've seen it.

Step one:

Make sure that you write your Marty Haugen song in the right environment and setting. It will really help if you put on a Barbara Streisand or an Andrew Lloyd Webber CD; the inspiration they give will really boost your song writing ability.

Many Marty Haugen wannabes claim that they personally find Kermit the Frog singing Rainbow Connection a real inspiration in their efforts to follow in the song writing footsteps of the Master.

Step two:

Think about things like your favourite pet. If you don’t have a pet, then think of Lassie or Barney the Dinosaur.

Step three:

Choose a song structure from the following options:

1. Verse, chorus, verse
2. Chorus, verse, chorus
3. Verse, chorus, verse, bridge

continue at the ox files

HT PM

Taylor Marshall on the Franciscans of the Immaculate situation

Father Stefano Manelli

Pope Francis has instructed that the Franciscans of the Immaculate may not celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. No more Latin Mass for the FIs – without permission.

Readers of my blog know that I am an associate member of the Franciscan of the Immaculate’s MIM. I’ve been a fan of the Franciscans of the Immaculate for awhile now.

So what’s going on?

The order’s founder is Father Stefano Manelli. He is a man known for his sanctity. He received his first Holy Communion from Padre Pio in 1938. He is also the author of one of my favorite books on Mary, Devotion to Our Lady. I give out copies of this book.

Over time Father Manelli has gravitated toward the Latin Mass of 1962, the Latin Breviary of 1961, and to Msgr. Brunero Gherardini’s reading of Vatican II.

Here is my subjective, non-authoritative, outsider’s interpretation of the facts:

continue at Canterbury Tales

Yep, go read, great post.  

Also this: Vatican Insider Interview with FI Spokesman

Brewers offering $10 food/merchandise/ticket vouchers to game attendees in August

My family discussing Chesteron's views on distributism with Bernie Brewer

After what seems like a month of bad news, let's have a palate cleanser, shall we?

From the official site:

Fans should plan to bring their appetite for baseball, food and drink to upcoming games at Miller Park because for the month of August, the Brewers are treating.

All fans attending any of the 12 Brewers home games in August will receive a $10 voucher for free concessions, merchandise and game tickets at Miller Park.

After a terrible season of terrible players and the revelation that the team's biggest star is a cheater and a liar, do the Brewers really think they can just pay me to show up to Miller Park?

Well, if they do, they're exactly right. I'm already looking at ways to clear my schedule to get to more August games. Kudos to Mark Attanasio for investing in the fans.

ESPN has more:

"We were finalizing something like this to give back to our loyal fans just as news of Ryan's suspension hit," said the team's chief operating officer, Rick Schlesinger. "Mark decided he wanted to make a dramatic impact that would cost more money."

The best part of this promotion is that the vouchers can be combined. Most coupons for any store or vendor cannot be combined. But these can such that if my family wanted to buy, say, this $24.99 Yovani Gallardo bobblehead, we could throw our three $10 vouchers together and get it for free.


Now let's be honest: I'm almost certain to spend my vouchers on sausage, but it's nice to know I could get merchandise.

MilCatHerald: Catholic Roadtrip across Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a wonderful place to explore during the summer months with its lush rolling hills, valleys, forests and farmland. It’s also home to many Catholic shrines, sites and destinations. Some are internationally known, while others are small, quaint places cherished by the locals. As we did in fall 2011, the Catholic newspapers in the five dioceses in the state, (Superior, La Crosse, Madison, Green Bay and Milwaukee), have collaborated on this Catholic roadtrip across Wisconsin, highlighting some of the special, inspirational Catholic sites our state has to offer. We invite you to take a Catholic roadtrip this summer to visit some of these uniquely Catholic treasures in our state.

1. St. Joan of Arc Chapel
Marquette University Campus
1250 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Milwaukee County

The St. Joan of Arc Chapel, in use during the 15th century in France, is a hidden gem located just south of Raynor Memorial Library on the Marquette University campus since 1966. It was gifted to Marquette in 1964, dismantled and sent to the campus for the university to reconstruct.

Featuring a heated floor, the chapel is a vibrant part of the spiritual lives of students, faculty and staff. According to legend, elevated behind the altar is the stone that St. Joan of Arc prayed on and kissed before a statue of the Virgin Mary. The stone remains a few degrees colder than surrounding stones. Free tours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays; large bus groups call (414) 288-6873. Attend Mass at 7 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 4. For information visit www.marquette.edu/chapel.

continue at Milwaukee Catholic Herald

Great article! 

Bp. Ricken: What is marriage, anyway?

Following the Supreme Court's recent decisions concerning marriage, more than ever, Catholics and other Americans are confronted with the fact that our culture and our law is increasingly unable to understand what marriage is. What we are seeing playing out in our courts and state legislatures is, in fact, the result of the steady erosion of our society's capacity to know the truth about marriage: a truth that goes beyond custom and tradition and which is inscribed upon the very nature of reason itself.

As a Catholic bishop, I have two ways of discussing marriage. The first is by preaching the divine revelation that has been imparted to Christ and to his church. If you read what Christ says about marriage when he is asked the famous question about divorce, you find Christ's moral teaching at its most absolute. In fact, it is so absolute that even his disciples are taken aback by Christ's forcefulness on this matter.

Over the centuries, the church's theological tradition has unpacked Christ's teaching on marriage to show that it is a union of one man and one woman for life and open to life. Among other things, this has illustrated the sacramental nature of marriage. But as much as I believe the church's teaching about the sacrament of marriage and the way it helps to express the spouse-like love of Christ for his bride the church, I understand that the sacramental dimension of marriage is not something I can assume that non-Catholics, including most non-Catholic Christians, will accept.

In the Catholic tradition, however, we believe — because we know — that the truths of faith are also knowable, in part or in whole, through reason. This is important because it enables Catholics to make an argument for marriage as a union of one man and one woman for life and open to children based on reason rather than arguments based upon either feelings or revelation.

This becomes obvious when we ask ourselves: What are the ends of marriage? What is its purpose?

The answer is that marriage has two ends which are inseparable from the other that makes marriage different from, say, a friendship or a father-son relationship. The ends are a two-in-one flesh, emotional and bodily union that is simultaneously orientated towards procreation. These ends are realized through the act of conjugal love.

continue at The Compass

PS> Bp. Ricken made the trek to the three shrines a week or so ago.  He posted updates on his Twitter account(he's very good about updating it too). 

Badger Catholic receives one millionth page view!

Time to celebrate!

 Early this morning, the Badger Catholic received its one millionth page view!

Congrats to Matt on his absolutely great work over the years.

(Though if I hadn't joined the staff, this great accomplishment might have been delayed by minutes...or even hours.)

Confirmed: Public Extraordinary Form Mass at Guadalupe Shrine will continue under Friars

I was able to confirm that the 9:30 am Sunday Traditional Latin Mass will continued at the Guadalupe Shrine in La Crosse(also heard the Cardinal himself has confirmed) and will be celebrated by the Friars of the Immaculate.

Still in question is whether or not the Friars can celebrate Mass in the Friary in the EF.  The answer appears to be no.

On my to do list(maybe I should do a post on this list?) was "Start a La Crosse Latin Mass Society."  With the Friars handcuffed now, I'll just cross that off.

Fr. Maximilion's comments make me feel a little better. 

Pope Francis severly restricts/bans Friars of the Immaculate from saying the TLM

All the details are at Rorate: IMPORTANT: Pope Francis severely restricts the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate from celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass, imposes the Novus Ordo on all their priests
UPDATE: FULL TEXT OF THE DECREE that abrogates Summorum for the FFI 

Sandro Magister's latest column (For the First Time, Francis Contradicts Benedict) has the details.

The total ban on the Mass begins August 11th of this year. 

HT Andrea & Creative Minority

My "home parish" (Guadalupe Shrine is not a parish) is staffed with the Friars who celebrate the Traditional Mass.

I have no idea what this means at this point.  But if everything indicated is true, it appears that the fears of this pontificate were indeed well founded.  Why he is "picking on" the Friars is unclear as well. 

This comes on the heels of this: Cardinal Burke sees ‘perfect continuity’ between Popes Benedict, Francis in liturgical teaching

And this:
First EF Solemn Masses at Franciscan Friary in Griswold, Connecticut

especially this:

Readers may also be interested to know that the friars will be switching over to the usus antiquior beginning this Ash Wednesday as their primary form of the Roman liturgy.

UPDATE: Fra. Angelo has thoughts on the matter.

The restrictions on our community are specific to us and have been put in place for reasons specific to us.  Pope Francis has not contradicted Pope Benedict.  The visitation of our community began under Pope Benedict and the Commission was recommended by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz who was appointed to the Congregation by Pope Benedict.

UPDATE 2: Hmmmm...   Rorate makes this note and I assume he means our dear Father Angelo

Rorate has learned from its own sources that the "internal dissidents" were led by an American member of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate who was notable for his opposition and hostility to the any criticism of Vatican II, in direct contrast to the Italian friars of the FFI, many of whom adhered to the "Gherardini line" of loyal but unflinching criticism of at least some elements of the Conciliar documents.

UPDATE 3: Fr. Z has comments on the situation

Friars of the Immaculate are these guys:


This is terrifying.

Byzantine Catholic priest expelled to Wisconsin

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. -  A Byzantine Catholic priest who was expelled following claims that he sexually abused boys in New Jersey is living in Wisconsin.

The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic notified parishioners that 49-year-old Glenn Davidowich received and accepted notice removing him "from the clerical state" effective April 2.

He had been on leave since 2011, when the eparchy reached a $200,000 settlement with a 36-year-old Hopewell man who claimed he was abused.

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian told The Star-Ledger of Newark the eparchy settled a second lawsuit in June.

Property records show he lives in Manitowoc, Wis., with his partner in that venture.

continue at Channel 3000

First point) Banishment to Wisconsin is clearly a step up in the world from New Jersey.
Second point) If only priests were able to marry..... oh wait, Byzantine priests are allowed to be married.

Wis. State Journal profiles Bp. Morlino, live chat at noon on Madison.com

Go there, read both articles.  I think both articles are really well done.  Seriously, go read them!

Just a tidbit:

When he arrived in Madison in 2003, Morlino privately told friends he wanted 30 men studying to be priests within a decade. There were six seminarians then; there are 34 now.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee, with more than double the number of Catholics, has 28 seminarians. The Green Bay Catholic Diocese, also larger than Madison, has 23.

Whole article: Ten years in, a tenure of big changes for Bishop Robert Morlino

Also check out:  Away from diocesan work, Robert Morlino is an easygoing guy who keeps it light

If you have time(I've got a meeting otherwise would love to participate)

Join me at noon today at http://t.co/hneMTKxTn8 for a live chat on Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino's 10-year tenure and religion coverage.
— Doug Erickson (@DougEricksonWSJ) July 29, 2013

I think it would be good to have some solid Catholics join the chat.

Milwaukee's Dan Miller on the Guadalupe Radio Network today

40 Days for Life National Director David Bereit and Dan Miller at a pro-life vigil in 2012.

You might remember that last month I was Lauren Muzyka's guest on Culture Lifeline on the Guadalupe Radio Network.

Another Wisconsin Catholic will join her today as Milwaukee's Dan Miller will join her at 1:30 p.m. Dan is the leader of Milwaukee's 40 Days for Life campaign and one of the nation's best sidewalk counselors. Dan is also the president of Pro-Life Wisconsin Education Task Force.

Click here to listen.

Christ the King Cathedral, Superior, WI

Well since it's locked all hours of the day, we went to Mass at the Superior Cathedral to get a look.  The grounds are huge and looking around outside it definitely feels like a Cathedral.  Unfortunately the interior suffers from a pretty painful wreckovation.  I'd love to see original pictures if anyone knows where I could find them.  Mind you, not a Level 1 Wreckovation(ala Milwaukee Cathedral), but a pretty good scar still visible.  Even some odd anti-symmetry stuff going on in the ustabe choir loft.  But I did get a sense of what must have been a strong Catholic presence in the north woods.  The liturgy was a little below average.  The priest on one hand talked about hearing Confessions for 11 hours at a Steubenville conference, but also was one of those walk out in the middle homilists and executed the post-communion sitting?  First time I've ever seen that.  Was very nice to talk to after Mass, and from what I've seen in the diocese is probably more orthodox than most.  Still, I get the sense that some folks cross the bridge for Mass.  Music, surprisingly not terrible considering everything located up by the sanctuary.  Unfortunately piano accompanied some parts like the Responsorial Psalm, but the organ was used for most hymns.  Hymns selection was also decent, the recessional was something I've heard at the La Crosse Cathedral(best cathedral music program in the state).  I should take notes, I can't remember which hymn it was now.

My son was none too impressed with the sanctuary.

This poor organ wants to go home to her choir loft.

St. Kateri

I'm told these are the confessionals

Cdl Burke Zenit interview: Bringing the Liturgy Back to the Real Vatican II

The abuses of the sacred liturgy that followed the reforms of the Second Vatican Council are “strictly correlated” with a great deal of moral corruption that exists in the world today, says Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.

In an exclusive interview with ZENIT on the sidelines of Sacra Liturgia 2013, a major international conference on the liturgy held in Rome at the end of June, the Vatican’s most senior American says poor liturgies have also led to “a levity in catechesis” that has been “shocking” and left generations of Catholics ill prepared to deal with today’s challenges.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Cardinal Burke, who serves as Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, also explains the importance of liturgical law, Pope Francis’ approach to the liturgy, and why the sacred liturgy is vital to the New Evangelization.

continue at Zenit

HT New Liturgical Movement

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Parish members mourn suicide of priest at Cudahy church

More than 200 mourners gathered Monday at a Cudahy church to remember Father Jan Kieliszewski, who was found dead Sunday morning at nearby Nativity of the Lord Parish.

The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office ruled Kieliszewski's death a suicide, according to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Archdiocese spokesman Julie Wolf said the priest had been ill for a couple of weeks.

But Wolf said she knew of no other circumstances that might have prompted Kieliszewski's suicide, such as a disciplinary action or investigation. And his name does not appear in the thousands of pages of sex abuse documents released by the archdiocese as part of its bankruptcy earlier this month.

"There's nothing, nothing in his file that would explain this," Wolf said. "It was a complete shock to everybody."

continue at JS

details at Fox6

Part two of our interview with PLW's Sam Guzman

Recently, Pro-Life Wisconsin Director of Communications Sam Guzman sat down to answer some questions with us. If you missed part one, click here to catch up. (You won't regret it; his conversion story is compelling!) Read on as Sam discusses his work and the state of the pro-life movement in Wisconsin.

You started as PLW's communications director about six months ago. How did you get involved with the Pro-Life movement?

Growing up, my family was always strongly pro-life, and we volunteered at Pro-Life Wisconsin from time to time. My mom is in broadcast media, and she was in the thick of the pro-life debate frequently on the radio. Discussing pro-life issues was pretty common at home. I would say that, because of my family, I was always in the pro-life movement to some degree or another. Working with Pro-Life Wisconsin has really ignited that passion in a new way, however, and I love what I do.

With a virtual media blackout on pro-life issues, how is your work as communications director bringing the tragedy of abortion into the public consciousness?

Social media is absolutely key. That’s why I have put it at the forefront of our communications strategy. You really don’t have to go through traditional media channels anymore, and when you use social media, it is people powered. In other words, your message is shared because people believe in it, not just because you paid thousands of dollars for a TV commercial or you got lucky enough to be invited onto a talk show. I prefer it that way. It’s a much more exciting way to communicate.

Regarding what I do every day, I try to create provocative and compelling messages that will generate conversations. Sometimes these are sad, highlighting the horror of abortion. Sometimes, they are positive, demonstrating the beauty of the culture of life. But most of all, they have to be thought provoking. It is working, and we are reaching people far beyond our constituent base because people are talking about us more than ever before.

This recent image Sam created for PLW's Facebook page went viral quickly.

What's your favorite accomplishment thus far in your tenure at Pro-Life Wisconsin? 

That’s hard to narrow down, but I would say watching our social media presence grow. I’m a big believer in the power of social communication, and our Facebook page and Twitter account have grown significantly since I started. It’s a lot of fun coming up with challenging and inspiring messages to communicate, and then watching them reach tens of thousands each day.

Abortion grabs most of the pro-life headlines. After abortion, what is the greatest threat to human life? What is an emerging threat to human life?

I would say a growing number of doctors failing to respect the human dignity of their patients. We are seeing an increase in medical doctors choosing to hasten death for their patients instead of fighting to sustain their lives. This happens in hospice homes, with patients on life support, and in any number of other scenarios.  Whether they are wanting to reduce costs or harvest a crash victims organs, it is a grave evil and a violation of human dignity for a doctor to end a human life. As I said, this is a growing problem and something we intend to raise awareness about. 

As far as emerging threats, I would highlight the transhumanism movement. Most pro-lifers don’t even know what transhumanism is, but it is huge danger. In short, it is a movement among medical and technology professionals seeking to advance human evolution by combining human beings with technology. Examples are things like human-animal hybrids and brain implants to enhance our cognitive abilities. There is a Russian billionaire who has pledged to figure out how to download the human consciousness into a computer so we can live forever.

This sounds like science fiction, but it is a very real movement that includes some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world. It is a direct assault on the human person, however, and we must fight it.

With the redefinition of marriage, the looming imposition of the HHS mandate and other cultural challenges, it seems as though there's been a lot of bad news lately for Catholics. What are you seeing within the pro-life movement that might provide cause for optimism?

I see two things that are encouraging. First, there is an openness to new methods. Abortion has been around for 40 years, and that is a tragedy. Many pro-lifers are beginning to look for new and innovative ways to end it once and for all. Because of this, we are seeing some exciting new organizations leading the way on a national level, like Personhood USA and your own 40 Days for Life. These organizations are mobilizing people because they are willing to break out of the traditional methods and try new things.

Second, I believe there is a growing awareness that this is a spiritual battle and not just a political battle. That has always been at the heart of what we do at Pro-Life Wisconsin, but sadly, I think that recognition has faded among some in the pro-life movement. There has been too much reliance on political maneuverings and not enough faith in the power of Jesus Christ. Prayer must be central to our efforts, or God will not bless us and we will never end abortion. Fortunately, I am seeing a growing call to prayer and repentance among the pro-life movement, and this can only bear good fruit. 

Do you think our generation will live to see the end of abortion?

Yes. I think the youth are waking up to the humanity and personhood of the unborn child. I think this trend will only continue, and soon, abortion will be unthinkable to the majority of Americans. But there is still a lot of work to do! We can’t be complacent. It will take all of the passion and energy we have to put an end to this evil.

Are there any exciting educational projects on the horizon at PLW that you can share with us?

Absolutely. After 20 years of fighting on the front lines, we have a renewed focus on personhood---the dignity of every human person. That is, and always has been, our core message, and it is going to permeate all of our educational efforts going forward. Video is going to be central---both informal video blogging as well as more high-quality productions. Visual media is incredibly powerful, and we intend to harness it to spread the personhood message.

There are more major changes in the works for us as an organization, but I can’t talk about them just yet! I will say, however, that is in exciting time for Pro-Life Wisconsin. We are dedicated to innovating and using creative methods to communicate a Culture of Life.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Sam. God bless you and your work!

Vigil for Life expands in Madison

Madison-based Vigil for Life has reported a dramatic increase in the number of babies saved from abortion at the local Planned Parenthood over the last few months.

The organization has held a public vigil to end abortion in front of Planned Parenthood every business day since January of 2011.
Touching hearts

“The Lord has used our witness to touch the hearts of abortion-vulnerable women and men,” said Vigil for Life President Bette Weisshaar.

“For all the rhetoric about a ‘woman’s right to choose,’ we know that most women have abortions when they feel they have no choice. Our presence and prayers have demonstrated our solidarity and support with women struggling with crisis pregnancies, and this encouragement has empowered many of them to choose life.”

Vigil for Life was established in 2007, but from then until 2012, its participants might only experience one or two confirmed saved babies a year.

Over the last six months, however, about five Planned Parenthood clients a month have decided to seek care elsewhere.

continue at MadCatHerald

Finding a home at Old St. Mary's in Milwaukee

My family and I recently left the large suburban parish where we had been members for 21 years.  It wasn't an easy decision to make; it took us ten years (seriously) and it involved much prayer and discussion.  But over the course of the last few years, worship there felt more distracted than prayerful.  It was time to find a new church to call home.

After a year of church shopping, we finally found our new home downtown at Old St. Mary, the oldest church in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  The church is so beautiful that it's impossible for me to become distracted for long; there's always a statue, painting or stained glass window to draw my attention back to the Lord. [magnificently put]  The rich history of prayer and beauty within the walls of the church help me to deeply know the Lord's presence and peace whenever I spend time in prayer at Old St. Mary. I've been attending the daily 7 AM Mass there for the past six months and that experience has been so spiritually uplifting for me that I easily get out of bed early in the morning eager for worship.  It's the highlight of my day!

continue at Imprisoned in my Bones


I did find an old post I did on Old St. Mary's but I just had black and white photos.  I've never been there in person but I'm putting it on my list!  I will be visiting a few churches in Milwaukee later in August. 

An interview with Pro-Life Wisconsin's Sam Guzman

Pro-Life Wisconsin's Sam Guzman

Sam Guzman took over as the director of communications at Pro-Life Wisconsin in January. A recent convert to Catholicism, he represents the increasingly youthful face of the pro-life movement. Sam was kind enough to take some time to sit down and answer a few questions about faith, fatherhood and the state of the pro-life movement in Wisconsin.

You recently moved to Wisconsin. Where did you relocate from, and why?

My wife and I moved from Colorado, specifically the Colorado Springs area. I grew up in Wisconsin, but moved to Colorado after meeting my wife online, as that is where she lived at the time. I never seriously considered moving back to Wisconsin until I heard that Pro-Life Wisconsin was hiring a Communications Director. While I thought it was a long shot, I submitted my resume. After going through the interview process, they offered me the job! I was surprised and happy.  We moved back January of this year.

What parish do you attend?

I attend St. Stanislaus in Milwaukee. Yeah, Latin mass!

Who's your favorite saint, and why?

That is a hard one! There are so many saints I love and admire. But if I had to choose, I would have to say St. Louis de Montfort, who is my patron saint. Coming into the Church, I struggled with Catholic devotion to Mary. After reading “True Devotion to Mary,” the light bulb went on and I embraced devotion to Mary as my spiritual path. Of course, St. Louis is mostly known for his teachings on Our Lady, but there is so much more to his spirituality. He was a poet and an incredibly deep and mystical saint. He writes about Divine Wisdom with such a fiery passion, and after reading him, I always go away inspired to live a more holy life.

You're a convert to the Catholic faith, right? What's the story of your conversion, and when did it take place?

Yes, I am a convert to Catholicism. It is difficult to share my story briefly, but I will do my best. (Someday, God willing, I will write a book!) While attending a fundamentalist Baptist university in college, I began to feel a strong disconnect between the faith I knew and the faith of the early church. Would St. Augustine (my hero at the time) really have gone to Victory Independent Fundamental Baptist Church and ended each service with an altar call? How did the earliest Christians worship? Baptist worship just didn’t seem to fit with the little I knew about church history. I began to delve into the history of Christianity and to read the early church Fathers as much as possible.

 Also, at the same time, I was a guard at the school’s art museum. Ironically, this virulently anti-Catholic Baptist school had an art gallery filled with priceless Catholic art. It spanned the 2nd to the 19th centuries. It was incredibly beautiful stuff. I would spend the hours of my shift browsing the paintings and trying to translate the Latin inscriptions. I looked up some Latin prayers online, and was actually memorizing the Hail Mary in Latin, just because I thought it was cool to pray in Latin (a dangerous thing to do--Our Lady is the most effective evangelist!). Again, though, I felt distant from the Christians who created this art work. Obviously, they had strong faith. Yet, according to what I believed, they weren’t true Christians. What did they really believe, and why?

In short, I was drawn to the beauty, depth, and richness of historic Christianity. The impression grew that the Protestant Christianity I knew was missing something essential, and was actually foreign to the faith of Christians through the ages. The search for a more historic faith lead me to the Anglican tradition. I thought, “Here is a middle way between Catholicism (which I would never consider) and Protestantism.” I considered the ministry and becoming an ordained Anglican priest. However, in choosing an Anglican denomination in which to pursue ordination, the division that characterizes Protestantism really hit home. I always knew Protestants were divided, but it never really bothered me. But when I saw dozens of Anglican “churches” all claiming to be the true Anglicans, co-existing with whacked-out liberal Anglicans like the Episcopal Church in the USA, I knew there was a deeper problem. Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17 told me this shouldn’t be. Why such confusion in the name of Jesus? So I began to study the break with Rome that had started the chaos.

For about three years, I studied church history and theology in my spare time. After graduating college, I began to study more earnestly. I vacillated between repulsion and attraction, fascination and disgust. After much internal struggle and turmoil, I eventually came to the conclusion that the Catholic church was the one True Church that Jesus had founded in 33 A.D. It was the body of Christ, and if I wanted to be true to Jesus, I would have to become Catholic. I decided to convert around mid-2011 and was confirmed Easter of 2012. There’s so much more I could say, but that is the short version!

Sam, Laura and Peter Guzman

You and your wife Laura have a one-year-old and another little one on the way. What has fatherhood taught you?

Being a father has been one of the greatest joys of my life. More than ever, it has taught me the beauty of each human life. My little boy is so full of a personality all his own, and it is great fun watching him explore the world, learn, and grow. I can’t wait to meet our new baby soon, and see the ways in which he is uniquely gifted.

One way being a parent has challenged me is in seeing how much Peter looks up to me. He wants to do everything I do. It’s very cute, but it also reminds me of my great responsibility to be holy example for him. More than what I say, he will learn from what I do. I strive to be a good man and a saint for his sake.

Tomorrow, we'll be back with part two of our interview with PLW Communications Director Sam Guzman.

Media miss major point in Milwaukee abuse story

During the years when reports of clerical sexual abuse were crossing the desk of the former archbishop of Milwaukee, Rembert Weakland, OSB – who resigned his post after revelations of his own homosexual predations and a payoff were publicly exposed in May 2002 – was pushing explicit sex education and pro-homosexual programs in his archdiocese.

One of the striking revelations in the 6,000 pages of documentation released July 1 by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki is that the majority of complaints against offending priests – both current and those of a historical nature dating back decades – landed on Archbishop Weakland's desk between 1979 and 1990.

Indeed, 29 of the 42 complaints of sexual abuse by archdiocesan priests that led to the archdiocese filing for bankruptcy in federal court were reported to Weakland in that period.

The first such report to reach Weakland, in April 1979, concerned Fr. William Effinger, from the father of a minor male who accused Effinger of molesting his son. Later, in the "summer of 1979," Weakland recounted in his autobiography, A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church, he "had accepted my homosexual orientation," and begun his infatuation with Paul Marcoux, which led to Marcoux's charge of "date rape" and a $450,000 settlement, paid by the archdiocese.

continue at Renew America

Time Magazine covers Wisconsin Personhood Amendment

Heady after a string of recent antiabortion victories, Wisconsin Republican lawmakers are testing the unity of the pro-life movement with a new push for a personhood amendment. The effort is the latest in a series of campaigns dividing activists who oppose abortion.

The bill’s author, André Jacque, a Wisconsin state representative, said last week that just eight lawmakers have signed on to sponsor the amendment, which would grant human embryos the same civil rights as people and effectively ban abortion under the state constitution. It does not appear poised to move much further even in Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled legislature, which has enabled a number of recent restrictions on abortion.

The Wisconsin amendment has become a litmus test for antiabortion activists in the state, much like the growing rift nationwide between the nascent personhood movement and more established pro-life groups.

Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/07/24/personhood-movement-continues-to-divide-pro-life-activists/#ixzz2Zyo6lb1a

Old form of Mass attracts new generation

Raised to be anti-Catholic, Hernandez began to look for a Christian denomination with historical relevance and formal liturgical practice. Though he thought Catholicism seemed too ritualistic, his first stop in his search for a church was attending a Mass to “get it out of the way.”

“It all clicked,” he said, when he saw the Latin Mass “in all its glory.”

Now he is a regular attendee at the Extraordinary Form Latin Mass celebrated each Sunday at 9 a.m. at Sts. Francis and Clare Mission in Edgewater.

Likewise, his girlfriend, Vida Tavakoli, knew she had found her home in the Catholic Church when she first attended Latin Mass in England.

Formerly an atheist, her aversion toward religion changed at the end of her college career, when she became a Protestant. During her post-collegiate travels she became resolute in converting to Catholicism after attending a Missa Cantata, or sung Mass, in the parish of her favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien, a devout Catholic who penned the “Lord of the Rings” series.
Joshua Hernandez is a former Protestant who credits the traditional Latin Mass for his conversion to Catholicism.

continue at Arch. Miami 

HT AS

Travel firm's bankruptcy upends Green Bay World Youth Day pilgrimage plans

The excitement of attending World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro turned to disappointment for 24 Catholics in the diocese of Green Bay after learning that the agency overseeing travel arrangements to Brazil claimed bankruptcy June 10.

As a result of ITC Tours' bankruptcy filing, the diocese of Green Bay's pilgrimage to Brazil was canceled. Joe Bound, diocesan director of the Department of Education and pilgrimage coordinator, said Green Bay was among around 20 U.S. dioceses affected by the bankruptcy.

Paul Jarzembowski, program coordinator for youth and young adult ministry in the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, said he was not sure of the exact number of dioceses working with ITC Tours. "We're trying to track that down," he told The Compass, Green Bay's diocesan newspaper.

Green Bay's pilgrims each paid $3,900 to attend World Youth Day with the diocesan contingent.

"The diocese has agreed to refund all of the payments made to those who issued checks for WYD 2013," Bound told The Compass in an email. He said the diocese is in the process of seeking a full refund of $79,499 paid to ITC.

continue at Fishwrap

Abortions ending in Green Bay

40 Days for Life National Director David Bereit and 40 Days for Life-Green Bay Coordinator Jim Ball enjoy lunch at Lambeau Field after a vigil in 2012 

From Fox 11:

GREEN BAY - The only clinic that provides abortions in Green Bay will end the medical procedure next week, according to federal court documents obtained by FOX 11 On Special Assignment.

The Ob-Gyn Associates clinic is familiar to many. It's located on Webster Avenue on the city's east side next door to Bellin Hospital in the Medical Arts Building. But FOX 11 has learned the practice is being sold, and the new owner, Bellin Health, will not provide abortions.

I think the money quote--and one that shows that the culture may, in fact, be changing--comes later in the article:

Jeff Mason is the former Chief Executive Officer of BayCare Clinics in Northeast Wisconsin. Now a medical consultant, he says Bellin's acquiring of Ob-Gyn Associates is a good business move.

"I think the service of abortion is an inflammatory one that causes a lot of emotion and negative branding and I don't believe any healthcare provider is well served by being in that business," said Mason.
 

Congrats to the pro-lifers in Green Bay!

The Program for next Sunday's 11:00 AM Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, La Crosse

…may be found here (PDF format). Those in the Marian Catechist Apostolate will be making/renewing their Solemn Consecration at this Mass, which will be celebrated by Cardinal Burke.

The Knights of Divine Mercy Schola Cantorum will be singing the proper chants for this Mass (in English), leading the Greek/Latin Ordinary, and singing a couple of harmonized Marian and Eucharistic hymns. This will be the Schola's 5th(?) year singing for the Marian Catechists' Mass at the Shrine.

Thoughts on the Ryan Braun suspension

As Matt posted yesterday, Brewers slugger and 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun was suspended yesterday for the rest of the 2013 season.

I suppose the most obvious take here is that this story is one more reminder that we shouldn't take sports too seriously. The passion that many of us have for the Brewers, Packers, Badgers, Bucks (LOL, j/k!) and Golden Eagles can be fun, but at the end of the day, it's just a diversion.

Still--that's what makes Ryan Braun so disappointing to me. Watching the Brewers is supposed to be a diversion from all the lying, cheating and general corruption in our world. The economy is terrible. The headlines in the news are terrible. Our president is terrible.

But hey--at least I can take my son to the ballpark and forget about it all for a few hours a handful of times every summer. As James Earl Jones said in Field of Dreams:

They'll arrive...as innocent as children, longing for the past....It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces.

I have written about how the Brewers provided a glimmer of temporal light two summers ago when we lost our baby to a painful and long miscarriage.

But it was more than that. And it was more than a much-needed escape. You see, the Brewers became the first real shared hobby that my four-year-old and I could bond over. He sat through six games, absolutely absorbed to the last pitch. He'll point out Ryan Braun or Rickie Weeks in the on-deck circle from row 15 of Terrace Reserved. And each day, the first words out of his mouth are "Daddy, did the Brewers win? Can we watch the headlights? (ha!)"  I'm still sad about the two children I've lost, but baseball has given me an awesome tool for cementing my father-son relationship with the little man that we do have. For that I will always be grateful.

What makes me most angry about Ryan Braun is the feeling that he stole the legitimacy of those memories. Probably the most fun I've ever had with my son was attending the Brewers playoff rally at the Summerfest grounds following the regular season. Peter and I went early to get a good view in front of the stage. We had a blast, and for Peter the pinnacle was seeing Ryan Braun speak at the end of the event.



My son Peter at the Brewers 2011 Playoff Rally

I'd been hoping to avoid the "Ryan Braun is a cheater" conversation with my son for the last 19 months, but last night there was no further avoiding it. I know it is unrealistic to think that ball players will be good role models. But I'm still mad that something I hoped would be pure and wholesome to share with my son is as sordid as the rest of our cultural cesspool.

I'm not just angry toward Ryan Braun for the memories that have been tarnished. I'm angry about the future too. How do I react when Braun is back in the starting lineup next spring? I won't cheer when he takes the field, but do I boo? When he's up with men on base in the bottom of the 9th, do I root for him to come through with the game-winning hit? Am I contributing to the problem by even buying tickets to see the team he plays for?

I don't know the answer to these questions.

Ultimately, I'll probably be back at Miller Park next year. Maybe because I'm a hypocrite. Maybe because I naively believe the end of the Field of Dreams quote I referenced above:

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.

Baseball has never been perfect. You've got the Black Sox scandal of 1919, the exclusion of black players into the 1940s and Pete Rose's gambling problem among its black eyes. But baseball--like America--represents an ideal. In spite of its imperfections, we strive for and celebrate what's best about it.

And that, I suppose, is why Ryan Braun can't completely sully my memories of 2011. In the end, those memories weren't about him. They were about me and my son.

Dates when Cardinal Burke will celebrate Mass at Guadalupe Shrine

Cardinal Burke will be the main celebrant for the Shrine Mass at 12:15pm on the following days:

July 19 & 20
July 29, 30, 31
August 1, 2, 3

Sorry, didn't get this out before I took off for camping. 

I'll be there for a couple of em, not sure yet which ones.  Yes, we are spoiled here, I'll just pick my Cardinal Burke Mass by which works with my schedule. 

I think that the Knights of Divine Mercy Schola sings for one of the Masses but as of yet Aristotle hasn't confirmed with me which one.

Planned Parenthood in Johnson Creek…CLOSED!

The Planned Parenthood in Johnson Creek CLOSED this past Friday, July 19! This is a direct result of PLW’s defunding efforts at the State Capitol.

While this clinic did not perform abortions, it did distribute abortifacient contraception and refer for abortion. Here’s Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s statement on the closing.

We aren’t done yet! We would love to see every Planned Parenthood close, along with all other abortion clinics in the state.

A big thank you to all of the committed prayer warriors who have picketed this clinic for years. Your faithfulness has been rewarded!

Pro-Life Wisconsin

Former priest, dismissed on abuse charges, suing Milwaukee archdiocese

A former Milwaukee priest who was removed from ministry after being charged with sexual abuse but cleared by a jury in a civil trial, is seeking $450,000 in damages from the archdiocese.

Marvin Knighton says he was removed from the priesthood wrongfully, after a jury found him not guilty on sex-abuse charges. Church officials, conducting an independent inquiry, concluded that the charges against him were credible even if they did not meet the “reasonable doubt” standard required in civil law.

Knighton’s claim came to light in bankruptcy proceedings for the Milwaukee archdiocese. His name appears, alongside the names of sex-abuse victims, on the list of archdiocesan creditors.

continue at Catholic Culture

HT acardnal

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity reflects on “books most studied” in formation

Recently, Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Regina Rose shared her thoughts about Community Director Sister Louise Hembrecht. We invite you to find out for yourself how a newly professed Sister views authority in our Congregation.

2000 self-help books are published every year world-wide. On Amazon.com alone, there are 423,723. What is evident here is humanity’s search for the authentic self. It is my belief the women entering religious life are deeply involved in this search and they arrive here with hopes of discovering vibrant, living illustrations of authenticity.

continue at FS Christian Charity

Ryan Braun suspended for remainder of 2013 season

I know, the pope's in Brazil, and I haven't even got a post out today(camping was fun), but this is a Sconnie blog.

It's official: Major League Baseball has suspended Ryan Braun for the remainder of the 2013 season.
Braun has accepted the punishment, meaning there will be no appeal. There will be no hope that he beats MLB once again. In fact, the amount of games missed was apparently negotiated between Braun and MLB.

The suspension spans 65 games. Not 50. Not 100. Not for life. So, I don't know. I guess the two sides came to an agreement. For my part, I think anything more than 50 games is absolute baloney. This is the first time that he has been actually suspended, he should not be suspended for more than set 50 game penalty for performance enhancing drugs.

Because, you know what, he wasn't technically suspended for that. He was suspended for violating the Joint Drug Agreement in the Basic Agreement. His actual violations were not specified. So well PEDs are probably what he was suspended for, MLB won't even come out and say it.

continue at BrewCrewBall

The statements from both Braun and MLB borderline on ridiculous on how totally ambiguous they are.

Guess what, should have kept Prince and let Braun go. 

Fanatic Friday: Big Bear Chase Me edition

In honor of the great outdoors this weekend.

Warning: A bit of language

Novena for Venerable Solanus Casey

Please pray with us a 9-Day Novena, July 23-31, 2013 to commemorate the 56th Anniversary of the Death of Fr. Solanus.

Daily Mass with Novena Prayers including Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Prayer for Beatification of Venerable Solanus Casey.

continue at Solanus Casey Guild

Solanus Casey was born in the La Crosse Diocese and attended seminary in Milwaukee.  

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He was a huge Detroit Tigers fan. 

Eighty-five-year-old Brother Leo recalled that Fr. Solanus had “a great sense of humor. He would tell little jokes—often on himself. The friars would kid him a lot, too. He loved hot dogs smothered with onions and he loved baseball. Even when away from Michigan he would keep tabs on the Detroit Tigers. It was his simple and down-to-earth manner that made it easy for people to relate to him. No one seemed intimidated by him.”

Duluth/Superior area Mass recommendations?

Will be camping near Superior this weekend.  Any recommendations on a good place for Sunday Mass?  I have yet to visit the Superior Cathedral, anyone know how the liturgy is?

Duluth is beautiful, I wanted to go to school there once upon a time.

Sure wish I could visit this but it has been demolished.... *sigh*

Pro-Life Wi: Pope Condemns Abortion…in 1588

Abortion didn’t start with Roe v. Wade, and neither did the Catholic Church’s opposition to it. Way back in 1588, Pope Sixtus V issued a Papal Bull, called Effraenatam, excommunicating anyone directly involved in abortion, and calling on civil authorities to punish abortionists severely. He uses strong language to condemn abortion, calling attacks on the unborn person “brutal, cruel, ferocious and inhuman crimes.” Here’s some more from the declaration:

Who will not condemn to a most grave punishment the impiety of him… who has deprived children of life before they could naturally see light or could be protected by maternal body from ferocious cruelty?

continue at Pro-Life Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Family Action "strongly supports" the Wis. Personhood Amendment, calls for abortion facility inspections

From the desk of WFA president Julaine Appling:

As the stories broke about the Kermit Gosnell abortion horror, one thing we learned was that the state of Pennsylvania had not inspected his abortion facility for seventeen years. Considering this was a place that purported to be a “clinic” and claimed it dealt with “women’s health” and performed surgical procedures that generally required some form of anesthesia that seems to be an outrageous amount of time with no state inspection.

So, how long do you think it’s been since any of the four remaining Wisconsin abortion facilities have had an inspection? Surely it can’t be as long as 17 years, can it? The answer to that question is, who knows how long it has been? Apparently, there are no records available that clearly tell us when any of these abortion facilities was last inspected. As ridiculous as that may sound, it’s the truth. And the bottom line is we have no idea what really goes on in those abortion places.

We’ve made some real and substantial progress on incrementally controlling and regulating abortion in the Badger State over the last 3 years with bills requiring abortionists to ascertain as best they can that the woman is not being coerced, outlawing web-cam abortions, and most recently requiring that a woman seeking an abortion have an ultrasound and that abortionists must have admitting privileges to a hospital within 30 miles of where the abortions are being conducted.

But one area we have not addressed is the inspection of abortion facilities. Surely it should be carefully considered and soon, while the Gosnell atrocity is fresh on everyone’s mind. We could have a Gosnell situation brewing right in our own state and not know. That’s not a risk we should take.

continue at Wisconsin Family Action

Speed Dating

Catholic Memes

Rebuilding the Brewers

Can we trade Yuni for a sausage-to-be-named-later?

On Tuesday, we discussed the Brewers' empty farm and why a lack of impact talent in the minor leagues bodes poorly for the future of Milwaukee baseball--especially since the team can't afford to be big players on the free agent market. Even if the Brewers begin drafting well, it will still be years before the youngsters are Major League ready.

Still, the team can certainly make moves this summer to help expedite the rebuilding project. The draft and free agency are not the only tools for improving the roster; a series of strong trades before the July 31 deadline would go a long way toward realizing the possibility of October baseball sooner rather than later.

Fortunately, for a team this bad, the Brewers have a pretty good number of players that should fetch some decent prospects. Let's take a look at who I'd like to see moved:

Rightfielder Norichika Aoki: Aoki, who has proven to be an excellent and cheap import from Japanese baseball, is in the second year of a very affordable three-year contract. He's a good contact hitter who is patient at the plate and draws walks. There's not much power in his game, but with decent speed and defense, he wouldn't be a bad piece for a contender with an opening in the outfield. Ultimately, what makes Aoki most intriguing is that he comes cheap and will be back for 2014. The Brewers might like him back at his cheap salary for next year, but if they can get a quality prospect, they should flip him because they simply won't contend next year.

Starting Pitcher Kyle Lohse: When the Brewers signed Kyle Lohse just before the season began, I was unhappy. Not only did they give three years and $33 million to an aging veteran to play for a team I didn't expect to contend; they also gave up a first-round draft pick to sign him. But Lohse has put together a nice season, and quality starting pitchers are ALWAYS in demand at the trade deadline. It would be nice to see the Brewers get an impact prospect in return, but there is added value in shedding the final two years of the contract, freeing up money for free agency.

Starting Pitcher Yovani Gallardo: It would be tough to part with Gallardo, who has been a member of the core for so many years. Still, a deal for a proven starting pitcher could bring a quality prospect and salary relief for rebuilding. While I'd like to see a full rebuild, I think Gallardo is likely to stay because--other than a three-game stretch a few weeks back--he's been terrible this year.

Relief Pitchers John Axford, Francisco Rodriguez, Mike Gonzalez and Jim Henderson: While the Brewer bullpen singlehandedly sunk the 2012 season, this year's edition has quietly put together an excellent season for a team that otherwise stinks. Any of these four guys might find the radar of a team with a bullpen opening, especially since all four have experience closing.

Bad teams like the Brewers simply don't have the lead enough to warrant paying back-end bullpen guys the big bucks. Axford is probably due for another raise next year. Rodriguez and Gonzalez will be gone after this year. And I tend to think that, given the small sample sizes of their work, relief pitching statistics are heavily subject to luck. I'd flip any of these first three guys for anybody who might contribute to the big league team down the road.

Henderson is under team control for several more years, but he's older than you'd think and could suffer the curse of Brewer closers, many of whom drop off the face of the Earth without warning (See also: Dan Kolb, Derrick Turnbow, Trevor Hoffman and last year's edition of John Axford.).

Guys who won't be going anywhere--But I wish they were: Earlier in the year, when it looked like Corey Hart would be coming back in late April, May, early June, after the All-Star Break, I though the might provide a versatile bat for a contender--and save Milwaukee some money. But with the news that he'll miss the rest of the season, the only contribution he might make to the Brewers is by signing a team-friendly short-term deal in the offseason.

And like Kyle Lohse, third baseman Aramis Ramirez is an aging veteran with a big price tag. He can still hit, and it would have been nice to deal him for a prospect and salary relief. But two stints on the disabled list mean that he'll probably be with the Brewers for the rest of the year--and probably for the rest of his contract.


There we have it. Let's hope Brewer general manager Doug Melvin is on the phones restocking the farm system. And while we wait to find out who is shipped out, who do YOU want to send packing from Milwaukee?