Fr. Girouard expelled from the SSPX

Fr/ Patrick Girouard has been formally expelled from the SSPX by Superior General. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the SSPX continues to implode. 

What about my situation with the Neo-SSPX? In mid-October I received my second and last Canonical Monition from Fr. Wegner, but it failed to change me into a “softie”, and I didn’t bother to answer it. On Monday, feast of the great martyr St. Catherine, I received, by registered and priority mail, an envelope with beautiful Swiss stamps! Yes, it was from Menzingen! From His Excellency Bishop Bernard Fellay himself! A letter in French, with a title in big fonts and capitals: DECREE OF EXPULSION OF REV. FATHER PATRICK GIROUARD. Yes, my dear readers, another head has rolled off the Menzingen guillotine: Mine! I will give you the full text in a later edition, but the words are pretty clear: I have been expelled!


Oh, what a tangled web we weave....

Self-styled commentators on the Papal Apostolic Exhortation obsess with Capitalism, while ignoring societal moral collapse

 "...there resides in Us the right and duty to pronounce with supreme authority upon social and economic matters" 

Pope Pius XI 

Pope Francis brings the hammer down on Liberalist innovators, reiterating
the Magisterial teachings on economics by Popes Leo XIII and Pius XI

It is fascinating to watch various capitalist media outfits (such as the preposterous The Atlantic's attack on the Pope - with the accompanying "sinister" photo of the Pope to prove what a crypto-communist he is!), as well as being joined by a noisy crowd of dissenting neo-con clerics performing mental and verbal handstands in their attempts to interpret and twist the papal statements on so-called trickle-down economics. Consider the article from First Things, and substitute "contraception" for "economics" and you get the subjectivist picture. Think of the evasive Winnipeg Statement as you read it.  Some will think: how can you compare sexual ethics to economic ethics! Precisely my point. The Faith, the Magisterium, Authority is reduced to immanentist subjectivist relativism: this is social modernism in all its ugliness.

These neo-social modernists inform us the problem is the Pope's "statist" mentality; he is affected by "Peronism" etc. Capitalists forget that the Popes denounced social modernism as rigorously as dogmatic modernism. They forget that the voice of the Church has spoken authoritatively on the heresy of Liberalism: be it dogmatic, social, or economic. Capitalism is a by-product of Liberalist political economic theory, and the Church can do no other than to denounce this evil of false liberty. It is no coincidence that these same capitalist-Liberalists glory in the false theory of separation of Church and State. How could they not, since they reject economic policy being subservient to morality; and, by extension, the Church being the sole arbiter of morality (c.f. Immortale Dei)?

This mania for talking money certainly proves Pope Francis' point that we have a serious problem with the idolatry of same. These neo-con Catholic capitalist-Liberalists forget that the Church's criticism of communism was on moral grounds. 

We need to realize that capitalism and socialism are not so much merely economic systems but, ideologies - in essence forms of  "religions" - and that assorted neo-con and champagne-socialist clerics are both  engaging in apostasy (being social modernists) of the worst sort. Within this context, carefully reasoned arguments will not work because we are attacking the "dogma" of capitalism (or, socialism). Within the context of His Holiness' Apostolic Exhortation, neo-con Catholics (liberalists) should try a little harder to re-read the mind of the Church. Conversion is the only way, a change of heart - just consider the evasiveness and obfuscation from the above linked First Things article. Consider the mind-boggling distortions that a George Weigel is capable of; to masquerade as "orthodox", yet be a social modernist - of the "right kind" of course, so as to maintain his "conservative" credentials. Such a man would be rightly silenced during the reign of earlier Popes (c.f. Ubi Arcano, Pius XI). 

For the purposes of this post, lest there be any doubt, I shall quote exclusively from that great Pope, Pius XI (no doubt, dependent from which perspective you view him, either was a crypto-communist or a crypto-fascist) to demonstrate that the mind of the Church has not changed.  

"...it is, nevertheless, an error to say that the economic and moral orders are so distinct from and alien to each other that the former depends in no way on the latter".  Pius XI

The Catholic Church has always - read the Popes!  - strongly criticized economic forms that debase man and lead to moral decay. 

"Free competition, while justified and certainly useful provided it is kept within certain limits, clearly cannot direct economic life -- a truth which the outcome of the application in practice of the tenets of this evil individualistic spirit has more than sufficiently demonstrated". Pius XI


The Church has always, and will continue to oppose powerful, international money lenders, their lackeys, and the bitter and evil fruits they produce. The Church is opposed to Socialism, and She is also a critic of Capitalism - the product of such theorists as not only the protestant, Smith, but the Jew, Ricardo. In other words, Capitalism is not Catholic. 

"Accordingly, twin rocks of shipwreck must be carefully avoided. For, as one is wrecked upon, or comes close to, what is known as "individualism" by denying or minimizing the social and public character of the right of property, so by rejecting or minimizing the private and individual character of this same right, one inevitably runs into "collectivism" or at least closely approaches its tenets". Pius XI 

Unless this is kept in mind, one is swept from his course upon the shoals of that moral, juridical, and social modernism which We denounced in the Encyclical issued at the beginning of Our Pontificate". Pius XI

The Church values quality over quantity - capitalism values quantity, it reduces the human person to quantification. The Middle Ages were the high water mark of civilization: the powerful guilds though expressing free enterprise, certainly did not reflect capitalism. That cynical scoundrel, Henry VIII, perhaps an early proto-capitalist "baron", put to good use capitalist theory: he, along with his henchmen stole the Church's wealth, impoverished the average Englishman, debased the value of money ("coppernose" Henry), culturally debased the nation--- all activities we are accustomed to seeing committed by voracious contemporary capitalists. 

"an immense power and despotic economic dictatorship is consolidated in the hands of a few..." Pius XI 

As to a critique of socialism - none is needed. Just read the history of Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany (yes, the Nazis were socialists) or Red China.... But the myth that capitalism is some sort of panacea needs to be exposed for the lie it is. 

All of this raises a very good question: where are the priestly rants against immorality, where are the numerous commentaries against familial collapse.....why are neo-con Catholic Liberalists uncomfortably squirming when the Pope denounces social injustice and capitalist oppression? Have they lost the Faith? 

Sadly, too many churchmen just want to talk politics, not religion. If we talked more religion - indeed, actually "lived" religion, the economy would correct itself. Interestingly, the Liberalists clerics not only do they get their economics wrong, but they are also acting as gravediggers of the Church, by ignoring the moral collapse about them. They join hands with the legions of dogmatic neo-modernists Liberalists in attacking our Pope, the Faith, the Magisterium and Apostolic Authority, and in doing so, they do the devil's work. 

"Free competition has destroyed itself; economic dictatorship has supplanted the free market; unbridled ambition for power has likewise succeeded greed for gain; all economic life has become tragically hard, inexorable, and cruel". Pius XI 

This spirit of evil individualism is not isolated to economics, it pervades all of life. It is any wonder that contraception and abortion are so popular in capitalist and socialist economies? Both debase the human person, reducing him or her to a unit, a pawn in the hands of the powerful. 

What is the solution? Let us listen to the words of Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski (The Deeds of Faith, Harper and Row, 1966 p. 68):


Let no one tell you that the crisis of the modern world is a crisis of culture or economics or political organization.These are no more than autumn leaves falling from trees, to be swept away by the winds...We do not need a new civilization, new morals, new economics, new political and social systems. We need new love, new reverence for others, new freedom. 

When I look at the history of social and economic theories, I can no longer agree with the traditional division between capitalism and collectivism. It seems to me there is little to choose between them. The proletariat is still not free. It was set free only once - on the Cross. All that has happened since shows that man does not enjoy the respect of his fellow men. He is still a slave, whether of the State or of wealth. And the shackles are as heavy in either case. The problem needs to be stated clearly: it is the problem of the free man versus the slave. The future belongs to those who can give freedom, inner freedom. We know who did this most effectively - the Father of the world to come, Jesus Christ. And we, his servants, what do we do? 

Sometimes we become deeply involved in inner problems and undertakings. But one chapter of scripture, read with understanding, can give more to the world than the most sophisticated political discourse. Let it therefore be our mission, to preach the word like the Apostles, and to do good among our brothers who are thirsting for love. Let us serve! Let us dare, like John XXIII, to kneel before our brothers and humbly kiss their feet. 


Recommended Reading: Ubi Arcano 
                                           Quadragesimo Anno  

Latin Mass Community under threat from the Archdiocese of Boston

Reports coming out of the Archdiocese of Boston do not bode well for the future of a stable parish community that is offered the sacraments according to the usus antiquior. As most Catholics are aware, or should be, parish community life is essential to the building up and keeping of the faith. We attend Mass to go out and live the Mass. The Mass should be integral to our life outside of church. 

With the various evil forces bearing down on Catholics, it is essential that Catholics be provided the opportunity to belong to vibrant parish - with a strong pastoral plan - lest (e.g.) the youth (as is so often the tragic case) of the parish be easily seduced by the world, the flesh and the devil.  

Spiritual life is not built in isolation - this is a lesson that seems to have been learnt well by such diverse religious communities such as the Mennonites and ultra-Orthodox Jewry. As such, the report from Boston is deeply disturbing.  

From the Boston Catholic Insider: 

As implementation of the new Pastoral Plan in the Boston Archdiocese progresses, complaints continue to come in about problems with the plan.  The latest comes from the Latin Mass Community at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes–the only church where the Latin Mass is celebrated daily and weekly–which is currently under a threat of being disbanded by the Boston Archdiocese.

As background, in March 2007, the Boston Archdiocese announced that the Traditional Mass held at Holy Trinity in Boston was being moved to Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls, effective April 22, 2007.  Holy Trinity was subsequently closed and relegated to profane use.  Someone familiar with the situation shared the following background with us:

“The ability to formally join the parish was especially important for those who had come to Mary Immaculate from the Latin Mass Community at Holy Trinity in Boston.  The Archdiocese had considered these people a movable apostolate which could be moved from Holy Trinity to facilitate its closure.  To lure them to Mary Immaculate, they promised a pastor favorable to the Extraordinary Form (Fr Charles J. Higgins ’88 ) and parishioner status so they could not be easily moved.

To read more.

Pope Francis on the crisis in the Family

Further words of wisdom from our Holy Father from Evangelii Gaudium. Note the sense of urgency.... notice the identification of the family as the transmitter of the faith; of marriage being undermined at its essence...

66. The family is experiencing a profound cultural crisis, as are all communities and social bonds. In the case of the family, the weakening of these bonds is particularly serious because the family is the fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another; it is also the place where parents pass on the faith to their children. Marriage now tends to be viewed as a form of mere emotional satisfaction that can be constructed in any way or modified at will. But the indispensible contribution of marriage to society transcends the feelings and momentary needs of the couple. As the French bishops have taught, it is not born “of loving sentiment, ephemeral by definition, but from the depth of the obligation assumed by the spouses who accept to enter a total communion of life”.[60]


67. The individualism of our postmodern and globalized era favours a lifestyle which weakens the development and stability of personal relationships and distorts family bonds. Pastoral activity needs to bring out more clearly the fact that our relationship with the Father demands and encourages a communion which heals, promotes and reinforces interpersonal bonds. In our world, especially in some countries, different forms of war and conflict are re-emerging, yet we Christians remain steadfast in our intention to respect others, to heal wounds, to build bridges, to strengthen relationships and to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2). Today too, various associations for the defence of rights and the pursuit of noble goals are being founded. This is a sign of the desire of many people to contribute to social and cultural progress.

Apostolic Exhortation EVANGELII GAUDIUM

The Pope has released an apostolic exhortation which can be found in its entirety here. No doubt this will make people mad for a variety of reasons. Progressives are talking about his firm stand against women priests and any relaxation of his stand against their favorite sins. Conservatives may also have reason to feel uneasy as he speaks out against spiritual worldliness and infighting amongst Catholics. Press reaction to the exhortation has been mixed. The National Catholic Register hails it as a guide to Christian outreach. The Washington Post concentrates on his denunciation of trickle down economic theories and his critique of capitalism. The BBC on the other hand headlines possible changes to power dynamics at the Vatican with decentralization. Here are some excerpts that struck me as I scanned the document. Go read it for yourself. EVANGELII GAUDIUM

Get it while it's hot. Someone is offering the exhortation in popular reader formats here. Last time this happened it didn't last long so jump on it.

94. This worldliness can be fuelled in two deeply interrelated ways. One is the attraction of gnosticism, a purely subjective faith whose only interest is a certain experience or a set of ideas and bits of information which are meant to console and enlighten, but which ultimately keep one imprisoned in his or her own thoughts and feelings. The other is the self-absorbed promethean neopelagianism of those who ultimately trust only in their own powers and feel superior to others because they observe certain rules or remain intransigently faithful to a particular Catholic style from the past. A supposed soundness of doctrine or discipline leads instead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism, whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyzes and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying. In neither case is one really concerned about Jesus Christ or others. These are manifestations of an anthropocentric immanentism. It is impossible to think that a genuine evangelizing thrust could emerge from these adulterated forms of Christianity.

96. This way of thinking also feeds the vainglory of those who are content to have a modicum of power and would rather be the general of a defeated army than a mere private in a unit which continues to fight. How often we dream up vast apostolic projects, meticulously planned, just like defeated generals! But this is to deny our history as a Church, which is glorious precisely because it is a history of sacrifice, of hopes and daily struggles, of lives spent in service and fidelity to work, tiring as it may be, for all work is “the sweat of our brow”. Instead, we waste time talking about “what needs to be done” – in Spanish we call this the sin of “habriaqueísmo” – like spiritual masters and pastoral experts who give instructions from on high. We indulge in endless fantasies and we lose contact with the real lives and difficulties of our people.

97. Those who have fallen into this worldliness look on from above and afar, they reject the prophecy of their brothers and sisters, they discredit those who raise questions, they constantly point out the mistakes of others and they are obsessed by appearances. Their hearts are open only to the limited horizon of their own immanence and interests, and as a consequence they neither learn from their sins nor are they genuinely open to forgiveness. This is a tremendous corruption disguised as a good. We need to avoid it by making the Church constantly go out from herself, keeping her mission focused on Jesus Christ, and her commitment to the poor. God save us from a worldly Church with superficial spiritual and pastoral trappings! This stifling worldliness can only be healed by breathing in the pure air of the Holy Spirit who frees us from self-centredness cloaked in an outward religiosity bereft of God. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of the Gospel!

98. How many wars take place within the people of God and in our different communities! In our neighbourhoods and in the workplace, how many wars are caused by envy and jealousy, even among Christians! Spiritual worldliness leads some Christians to war with other Christians who stand in the way of their quest for power, prestige, pleasure and economic security. Some are even no longer content to live as part of the greater Church community but stoke a spirit of exclusivity, creating an “inner circle”. Instead of belonging to the whole Church in all its rich variety, they belong to this or that group which thinks itself different or special.

Audiobooks for People With Catholic Tastes

I was just sitting here enjoying my morning coffee along with one of my other pleasures, looking for new audiobooks, when I ran across this little gem. Somebody should really tack this one up on one of the sidebars... but not right now. I need more coffee...

Maria Lectrix

   public domain audiobook podcast – for people with catholic tastes

Pope Francis meets Vladimir Putin at the Vatican

Mr. Putin greeting the Supreme Pontiff 

In the afternoon of Monday 25 November 2013, the President of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Mr. Vladimir Putin, was received in audience by the Holy Father Francis. Mr. Putin subsequently went on to meet with the Secretary of State, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, who was accompanied by the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

Vladimir Putin kissing an icon at the Pope's flat

During the cordial discussions, satisfaction was expressed for the good existing bilateral relations, and the Parties focused on various questions of common interest, especially in relation to the life of the Catholic community in Russia, revealing the fundamental contribution of Christianity in society. In this context, mention was made of the critical situation faced by Christians in some regions of the world, as well as the defence of and promotion of values regarding the dignity of the person, and the protection of human life and the family.
Furthermore, special attention was paid to the pursuit of peace in the Middle East and the grave situation in Syria, with reference to which President Putin expressed thanks for the letter addressed to him by the Holy Father on the occasion of the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg. Emphasis was placed on the urgency of the need to bring an end to the violence and to ensure necessary humanitarian assistence for the population, as well as to promote concrete initiatives for a peaceful solution to the conflict, favouring negotiation and involving the various ethnic and religious groups, recognising their essential role in society.
[01755-02.01] [Original text: Italian - working translation ]
[B0783-XX.02]

My Story, Your Story, and The Truth

In today's global civilization, we are confronted with a Walmart of worldviews. We find ourselves in an entangled and sometimes toxic web of ideologies, religions, nationalisms and ethnicities. We generally resolve this cognitive dissonance by doubling-down on our own prejudices in opposition to those with whom we disagree. We tend to pathologize and demonize the other. We frame these conflicts as zero-sum and negative-sum competitions. And if we are right and they are wrong, then we also had be sure that we have the might in the coming battles. Is there some other way to adjudicate between the competing metanarratives that shape our lives and identities, determining how we think and act, what we hold to be true and good, and even which facts and evidence we recognize as relevant to our disagreements?   William Grassie

Each of us has a story which forms our own personal worldview. This narrative becomes increasingly important to us the older we get. It grows out of our experiences, the things we learned at our mother's knee, the traumas and pain we suffered, the joys we felt and so on. It forms the basis of what we believe about God, the world and other people. This narrative may be at odds with those of other people, other groups and in some case at odds with truth itself. Sanity requires that we continually adjust our own personal narrative to the demands of truth.
 
We have all seen what happens when someone tries to conform truth to their own personal narrative. They become so invested in their personal story that all conversation, no matter how innocent or remote, eventually turns to their favorite topic. I spoke this morning to someone who has a serious grudge against doctors and pharmaceutical companies. No matter how hard I tried the conversation returned to the same "all doctors are bad" narrative. Becoming enmeshed in this sort of story blinds us to the truth. In this case the truth is that there is a fundamental difference between a doctor who sets a broken limb and one who prescribes anti psychotics. Not all doctors, or all people for that matter, can be painted with the same broad brush however tempting that might be.

This world of competing narratives has infected certain Catholic groups as well. We have seen how traditionalists and liberals mutually demonize each other. The enemy is no longer human, no longer a precious soul for whom Jesus died on the cross. Unfortunately this tendency to demonize and dehumanize those with competing narratives has led many to abandon  self reflection and self-criticism. Publicly shedding light on our faults and shortcomings often places us in the position of being seen as traitors to the cause. We are seen as offering ammunition to the enemy.

This is an especially difficult problem for Catholics because we really do believe that there is an objective truth that transcends all subjective narratives. Moreover, we believe that we can know something about this objective truth through revelation and the teaching of the Church. The real problem begins for us when we confuse our own personal narratives with all their inherent human flaws and weaknesses with that objective truth. We may end up proclaiming our own personal narrative with an air of authority it does not warrant. Personal failure or disagreement becomes an attack upon truth itself.

Truth is. It does not depend upon our poor, frail ability to grasp it. We see these things through a glass darkly but our hope is that one day we shall look truth in the face and see clearly in that light. This is often quite difficult and the cognitive dissonance often leads to a temptation to give in to anxiety. We have hope and faith to sustain us. Nor are we the only ones tempted. Some see the failures of Catholics as evidence that there is no such thing as truth. This leads us to attempt to hide those failures and cover up scandal. However, in doing this we unwittingly accept the demonic lie that because Catholics are sinners then there is no truth.

Jesus, in his parables and sermons, gives us many clues that the way he sees people is quite different. He tells us to love our enemy and that flies in the face of our logic. He tells us to pray for those who persecute us and that seems madness. We try to hedge our bets by loving and praying in the most confrontational way possible, justifying it by claiming the most loving thing we can do is confront people with their sins. Even to our limited view that seems a cheat. We would like to throw stones while Jesus says "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." Could it be that he wants us to look into the face of our enemy and see him as He does? Could it be that He wants us to look into those eyes and see, not a demon or even an enemy but a person whom God loves every bit as much as he does us?

BREAKING NEWS from SCOTLAND: Confidential file documenting clergy homosexual and sex abuse handed over to Police

Alan Draper, the rigorous fighter against horrific sexual criminality being committed in the Diocese of Motherwell reports that a dossier has been handed over to Scottish police, due to the obfuscation and feet-dragging by the bishops. 

The attempt by the bishops' public mouthpiece, Peter Kearney, to criticize Draper is pathetic. The bishops themselves should have immediately contacted police in their respective dioceses when the crimes happened. What we have here is culture of coverup. It needs to be exposed!

Homosexual and sexual abuse is rife; the situation is nearly apocalyptic. Please pray for the victims of these evil men, these filthy abusers of our youth. Please pray for the church in Scotland, that she may be rid of these Judases!

From the Guardian: 

A confidential file of letters from Scottish bishops detailing more than 20 secret abuse cases has been handed to police by a former safeguarding adviser to the Catholic church.

The intervention by Alan Draper, a former adviser to the Motherwell diocese, comes as the church attempts to draw a line under unfolding sex-abuse scandals by announcing a series of measures to be read at all masses this weekend on behalf of the Scottish bishops. However, describing the initiatives as a "charade", Draper says it is time for criminal investigations and an independent Scottish government inquiry into sexual abuse in the church.

The letters, dating back to 1995, include every Scottish diocese. One bishop, who describes abuse against "two severely mentally-handicapped young female adults", asks Draper to destroy his letter after reading it. Another refers to an abused child as a "young female parishioner". while a 15-year-old boy is described as "sexually mature".

A Catholic media spokesman, Peter Kearney, said the church would co-operate fully with the police, but added: "If someone has been in possession of material which they felt showed criminal behaviour, they would be expected to explain why they had taken 18 years to hand it to the authorities."

"The letters were given to me in confidence, and for a long time I respected that," explains Draper. "But the church has failed to reach out to victims and I have felt increasingly frustrated with their inability to manage the situation. It's a matter of public interest that the file be revealed." 

The full article may be read here. 

August Horch would not be pleased

August Horch

"Audi" - Latin to listen. The other day I witnessed a scene that reflects the incongruity of culture and society. An Audi pulled up on the street where I live with the noise of rap coming from inside. I noticed that the noise was also emanating from an Audi. Such is the world we live in, whereby a barbarian will think nothing of indulging in same inside a motorcar that represents - at least in the mind of its founder - civilization. It is also a most dangerous thing that a barbarian has the financial resources to (most likely lease) or purchase an Audi, or the like. 

And it seems to be a plague.... Bentley, once the car of choice for the gentleman (such as my great grandfather), now populates the driveways of footballing and rapping half and quarter-wits. 

But back to Audi - August Horch would not be pleased. Surely, in a motorcar with a name like Audi, one could be a little bit more selective in one's taste. Perhaps Mozart would be a far better choice. 

In Memoriam: C S. Lewis (1898 - November 22,1963)

Often overshadowed by other events on November 22,1963 was the passing of writer C.S. Lewis. Lewis converted to Christianity under the influence of his friend J.R.R. Tolkien while at Oxford. His books on apologetics, his Narnia series and other novels have spawned a virtual publishing empire. This particular anniversary of his death is quite significant. This is the fiftieth anniversary of his death and in Canada that is quite important. Let me quote the relevant section of the copyright act.

6. The term for which copyright shall subsist shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Act, be the life of the author, the remainder of the calendar year in which the author dies, and a period of fifty years following the end of that calendar year.

That's right... Canada is a "life plus 50" country under copyright law. When the copyright on C.S. Lewis' works expires at midnight on December 31,2013 everything published during his lifetime will pass into the public domain in this country. Of course this does not apply to anything published posthumously. Not only will C.S. Lewis join such immortals as William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, Lord Byron, William Blake, Robert Herrick and a host of others by having a plaque dedicated to him in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey. His works will join theirs in being the part of the common heritage of mankind... at least in Canada.

Marianna Popieluszko: 1920-2013

The eyes of a suffering mother

On November 19th, 2013, Marianna Popieluszko, the mother of Bl. Jerzy Popieluszko, passed to her eternal reward. 

"I call on the editors of this blog to take this post down."

"AN ABSOLUTELY UNFAIR, INAPPROPRIATE, AND UNWARRANTED ATTACK ON A PARISH, A CONGREGATION AND A PRIEST."

I don't like being yelled at Vox, so here is a repeat of the post you found so offensive. I was not the one in charge of getting the room, merely the one who traveled by TTC an hour and a half to find the room unavailable. Everything reasonable was done. Should you find a need to vent your anger, go somewhere else. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the things we insisted on when beginning this blog two years ago was that we should meet face to face once a month. The meetings are fairly simple. We say the Little Office of the BVM, read a selection from St. Francis de Sales and have some discussion. Afterwards we go for breakfast. Since we mostly live some distance away from each other we have chosen to meet at St. Vincent de Paul parish. This is a mission parish run by the priests of the Oratory at Holy Family. Typically each time we meet someone has to chase after the priest in hopes of catching him before he gets into his car to return home to get the key to the meeting room. This month we failed and had to adjourn to a nearby restaurant for breakfast immediately after mass.

This brings up two questions. First of all, why do a group of men have to travel such distances, well over an hour for some of us, to find some sort of fellowship and community?  Why is this so rare? The other question is like the first in reverse. What has happened to the community at St. Vincent de Paul Church? Are we looking at the future of the Catholic Church in Toronto?

Pray for the Church in Scotland, that she be freed of the Homosexual "mafia" in the clergy

Fr. Matthew Despard

Dear friends, I shall not be providing any further details on the situation of the suspension of Fr. Matthew Despard until the immediate storm over the said suspension subsides. I can only inform you that, from my contacts on the ground, the Catholic community is in great distress. 

The local Church in Scotland has been shaken over the past year with the admissions of Cardinal O'Brien, with whom, I believe I wrote of firmly, but charitably. You may recall, that I rejected the attempt by the hierarchy to conveniently scape-goat the man, when he would be unable to defend himself.

I have written about the horrendous Carfin Homosexual Rape Scandal, that the Motherwell authorities have, and continue to cover up; I have written about the culture of lies and deceit, about Fr. Patrick Lawson and the persecution that he is suffering...let us not forget him!

I therefore ask all of you - those who support, and even those of you who are critical of Fr. Despard, to calm down and to pray for Scotland and the Church in Scotland. One thing we can agree on, is that there has been and is a terrible crisis of active homosexuals in the priesthood in Scotland. 

I ask all of you to pray for those victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the clergy.

I also also you all to pray for those involved: that Fr. Despard, and the other priests who may or may not have been mentioned in his book; that the Apostolic Administrator always keep the truth and the purity of the Faith in mind. 

May God bless my Motherland of Scotland. St. John Oglivie, pray for us.

Pervert Paul Milarvie functions as priest; Fr. Matthew Despard suspended

The Scottish homosexual crisis continues unabated as Fr. Matthew Despard is suspended, while admitted pervert priest Paul Milarvie is a priest in "good standing" and even in the local curia. 

On 16 May 2002 [Prot. n. 886/02/0] to an unidentified bishop, Cardinal Estevez, then Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, wrote:

This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, conscious of the experience resulting from many instructed causes for the purpose of obtaining dispensation from the obligations that derive from Holy Ordination, and after due consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, expresses its judgment as follows:

Ordination to the diaconate and the priesthood of homosexual men or men with homosexual tendencies is absolutely inadvisable and imprudent and, from the pastoral point of view, very risky. A homosexual person, or one with a homosexual tendency is not, therefore, fit to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. [Emphases added]

Homosexuality and the Priesthood

In light of the controversy concerning homosexuality and the priesthood it would be useful to review what the Church actually says about this matter. In 2006 the Congregation for Catholic Education published an instruction.

 

Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders

The Catechism distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies. Regarding acts, it teaches that Sacred Scripture presents them as grave sins. The Tradition has constantly considered them as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law. Consequently, under no circumstance can they be approved.....In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called "gay culture".

This was based upon an earlier instruction, Religiosorum institutio, issued in 1961. 

4. If a student in a minor seminary has sinned gravely against the sixth commandment with a person of the same or the other sex, or has been the occasion of grave scandal in the matter of chastity, he is to be dismissed immediately as stipulated in canon 1371, except if prudent consideration of the act and of the situation of the student by the superiors or confessors should counsel a different policy in an individual case, sc., in the case of a boy who has been seduced and who is gifted with excellent qualities and is truly penitent, or when the sin was an objectively imperfect act.

If a novice or a professed religious who has not yet made perpetual vows should be guilty of the same offense, he is to be sent away from the community or, should the circumstances so demand, he is to be dismissed with due observance of canon 647, § 2, 1°. If a perpetually professed religious is found guilty of any such sin, he is to be perpetually excluded from tonsure and the reception of any further Order. If the case belongs to the external forum, he is to receive a canonical warning unless, as provided for in canons 653 and 668, there be grounds for sending him back to the world (cf. Stat. Gen., art. 34, § 2, 4°).

Lastly, should he be a subdeacon or deacon, then, without prejudice to the above-mentioned directives and if the case should so demand, the superiors should take up with the Holy See the question of his reduction to the lay state. 

For these reasons, clerics who in their diocese or religious who in another community have sinned gravely against chastity with another person are not to be admitted with a view to the priesthood, even on a trial basis, unless there be clear evidence of excusing causes or of circumstances which can at least notably diminish responsibility in conscience (Circular Letter of S. C. of the Sacraments, n. 16; Canon Law Digest, 4, p. 314).

Advancement to religious vows and ordination should be barred to those who are afflicted with evil tendencies to homosexuality or pederasty, since for them the common life and the priestly ministry would constitute serious dangers. 

 

The real issue is the implementation of these norms in our seminaries and religious institutes. The spreading of gossip and the propagation of rumors, whether in the Diocese of Motherwell or here in our own, does not serve anyone's interests. Given the situation I would not be surprised if the Catholics of Motherwell inundated the Vatican with requests for redress. However, what this has to do with a bunch of bloggers half a world away who do not even have a clear idea of what is going on in their own seminaries and religious institutes is beyond me. Better you should ask where your future priests are going to come from and how are they going to be trained?

Get ready for Pope Francis to put an end to the fraud of Medjugorje

Three Popes, the local Ordinaries, all in unison against the constant disobedience and rebellion against the legitimate Authorities of the Church. While the CDF is preparing a formal ruling on the matter of the "apparitions" at Medjugorje, now now have this from the Supreme Pontiff: 

Purported visions of Mary, if taken in the wrong spirit, can sow confusion and distance people from the Gospel, Pope Francis has said.

Curiosities distance people “from the Gospel, from the Holy Spirit, from peace and hope, from God’s glory and God’s beauty,” the Pope said during a homily at morning Mass in the Vatican guesthouse.

“Jesus says that the kingdom of God doesn’t come in a way that attracts attention,” the Pope said, according to a report by Vatican Radio.

Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from Luke (17:20-25), in which the Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God will come.

Jesus answers that the “coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed”, and tells his disciples not to “run in pursuit” of signs of his Second Coming.

“Curiosity pushes us to want to hear that the Lord is here or over there, or it makes us say, ‘Well, I know a visionary who receives letters from Our Lady, messages from Our Lady,’” the Pope said. But Mary is “not a postmaster of the post office sending out messages every day”.

Fr. Matthew Despard and the Scottish Homosexual Crisis

On the 15th of November, we learnt that Fr. Matthew Despard was suspended of all ministerial duties at St. John Oglvie's Parish. As a Scottish Catholic from Motherwell, with deep connections  to the Catholic community, I am outraged by this unjust action. Where are the suspensions of degenerate priests who have been indulging grotesque sin? Why the continued cover-up? 

I had hoped that this would not happen; indeed, we thought that a suspension was in the offing over a year ago, but, the hierarchy backed off fearing serious legal repercussions. It is certainly very, very strange that it took the hierarchy several years to finally deduce that Fr. Despard has committed a "crime" worthy of suspension. This suspension is but another attempt to divert attention from the main issue: it is not the minutiae in Priesthood in Crisis, but the central theme that is the issue. 

The suspension of Fr. Despard is indicative of the depth of the crisis, and the denial by the hierarchy that there is anything wrong. Decades of homosexual activity amongst clergy of all ranks will inevitably create a whole network of secrecy and blackmail. 

An example of denial and coverup is the Carfin Grotto Homosexual Rapes coverup. To the bitter end, Bishop Devine continued to deny that anything happened.  He continued to deny that homosexual activity was happening in the Diocese of Motherwell, when I and my contacts in Motherwell know full well from direct contact and information from a person or persons who shall remain anonymous that the sin of sodom was being committed at the seminary.  I do not say that that sin is being committed to this day, I only write of what I definitely know: but very serious questions arise: are these priests still active, do they hold active ministry, have they been promoted into the hierarchy or other positions of power.....

And what of the implications for blackmail? Who else knows? We must presume, until evidence to the contrary, that active homosexuals maintain a strong and perhaps dominant position in the Diocese of Motherwell, as well as across Scotland. The persecution of Fr. Patrick Lawson, which I have documented; the promotion and protection offered to Fr. Paul Milarvie - even promotion to the local curia - all demonstrate that there is a homosexual mafia within the Church in Scotland. 

They may be able to bury Fr. Despard's book; they may be able to turn him into a "basketcase" after several years of intense pressure; but they will not silence the thousands upon thousands of Catholics and men and women of good will who know that the hierarchy is corrupt and covering up a decades long homosexual scandal. 

I encourage all readers to review the articles we have carried on the Homosexual crisis in Scotland under the Scottish Crisis. 

A Dead Parish

One of the things we insisted on when beginning this blog two years ago was that we should meet face to face once a month. The meetings are fairly simple. We say the Little Office of the BVM, read a selection from St. Francis de Sales and have some discussion. Afterwards we go for breakfast. Since we mostly live some distance away from each other we have chosen to meet at St. Vincent de Paul parish. This is a mission parish run by the priests of the Oratory at Holy Family. Typically each time we meet someone has to chase after the priest in hopes of catching him before he gets into his car to return home to get the key to the meeting room. This month we failed and had to adjourn to a nearby restaurant for breakfast immediately after mass.

This brings up two questions. First of all, why do a group of men have to travel such distances, well over an hour for some of us, to find some sort of fellowship and community?  Why is this so rare? The other question is like the first in reverse. What has happened to the community at St. Vincent de Paul Church? Are we looking at the future of the Catholic Church in Toronto?

BREAKING NEWS: Fr. Matthew Despard suspended

We have received reports in the press that Fr. Matthew Despard has been suspended from priestly ministry. A full report will be carried by Montfort later on Sunday, after he obtains further reports from his contacts on the ground in Motherwell. 

This blog supports the courageous stance taken by Fr. Despard against the homosexual mafia that has infiltrated, and is in the process of decimating the local Church in Scotland. 

Much more to follow, as the information flows in ....

Cardinal Bartolucci on the Second Vatican Council, the New Mass and the destruction of the Liturgy

From the New Liturgical Movement blog; an interview of the recently deceased Cardinal Bartolucci. What follows is a deeply disturbing account of rupture between the Council and the post-conciliar innovators.

What was the intention of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council? How did they change liturgical music?

The Fathers of the Council had no intention of changing the liturgy, and therefore also (did not intend to change) sacred music in its relationship to it, and in its form, which indeed were both confirmed in the post-Conciliar period. Pope Pius XII had begun the reform of Holy Week, but in Mediator Dei had also expressed clear indications and laid out the principles for an authentic understanding of the liturgy, which were unfortunately disregarded later on. Also, knowing John XXIII, I am sure he would not have permitted all the changes which have extremely impoverished the liturgical life of the Church. I personally recall that the Sistine Choir sang very often during the assemblies of the Fathers, and the applause and approval which it received were the most profound testimony of how we were appreciated for our role in the liturgy....

Toronto Priest makes urgent appeal for the Phillipines

SPIRITUAL PRIDE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

The Catholic Church has always placed great emphasis and regard on education. There still are, and will always continue to be outstanding Catholic schools. Unfortunately, far, far too many have collapsed. More puzzling, at least initially, is the collapse of seemingly "orthodox" schools. That is, schools that have "strict" rules, "the Rosary", a "Catholic environment", copious "daily prayers", and so on.

It becomes even more mysterious - or does it ? - when one considers schools that are parochial, exclusive, elite; children are - so we are told - selected carefully; coming from "devout" families....

A relative of mine on a number of occasions told me that she is not interested in the result of the "education" of the child upon graduation, but rather 10 years down the road: this space of time allows one to see if their is lasting quality and true results.  One can then judge a school more correctly. Mysterious it seems, when one sees youth after youth from an ostensibly superior Catholic education turn out completely rotten. 

However, this seeming mystery can be unraveled with the help of St. Theresa of Avila. As with every organization, including a school, the fish rots from the head down. The curtain of mystery is parted once one begins to explore the motivations, actions, decisions, formation (or lack thereof) of those in authority. 

The collapse of the state-sponsored Catholic school system here in Ontario, was inevitable, once the official Catholic school system took on board authority figures from the Ministry of Education. The secular rot would immediately penetrate into the system, exacerbating an already troubled school system that was top heavy with nominal Catholic teachers and head Staff. 

The late, great Cardinal Ambrozic had, for years, gathered a dossier on corruption and deviance within the school system when he was a bishop. Yet, upon reaching the position of Cardinal Archbishop, the "case" of reforming the Catholic system disappeared. This is not surprising given the support the Cardinal would have needed, and would not have received. The best of generals cannot conduct any type of campaign without certain necessities. Consider Field Marshall Rommel's lack of petrol in north Africa and you begin to understand that even a genius can be quickly curtailed and defeated. Cardinal Ambrozic, without support, without "petrol" etc. knew he was unable to fight an offensive "war" against the secular infiltrators, and corrupted parents. A defensive "war" was also out of the question, and from the days of the agreement between Cardinal Carter and Premier Davis, local Catholic parents have been fighting a "partisan" war with officialdom ever since; the most recent exchange being the issue of the so-called Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs). 

Against such a backdrop, efforts were made to establish truly separate Catholic schools. But something has gone wrong: the fruits are the same as from any school. St. Theresa would suggest to us that the downfall of a good, even highly virtuous undertaking invariably involves a lack of humility. I believe that the us versus them mentality, the sense of feeling religiously superior (this will not happen to us), aloof, different "better", has created a quasi-gnostic perspective, opening up the situation for a nearly quietistic and rigoristic approach to religious ritual, ironically being more a focus on the teachers and administrators need for feeling good, then an actual assessment of what is being done now and for the future of the youth. We have spiritual pride. 

It becomes even more tragic when clergy are involved with parochial schools gone bad. That over-zealous and simple-minded individuals blunder, and badly, one can perhaps understand: but when a school shows every sign of imploding, and clergy are unable to read the signs, we have a problem. When young Catholics are seduced with seeming ease after years of a Catholic education, it is time to reassess what they were actually learning. By their fruits ye shall know them. Too many - far, far, far too many young Catholic people leave "Catholic" schools no different than the rest of their generation. But one does not truly learn the faith from a textbook; facts of a religion may be learnt by anyone, with no faith. The faith is learnt through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, and constantly nurtured. The faith is also sustained by living in community, within the Body of Christ. Looking around, it is quite evident that our Catholic community is decimated. 

More on community in further posts...

Amish Gone Wild

I recently watched a PBS documentary on the Amish. These are Anabaptists, a subgroup of the Mennonites. One of the things that impressed me was the fact that almost 90% of Amish children choose to be baptized into the church once they come of age. You might think that that this is because of the tight rein kept on them from a young age. This may well be true but the aspiring control freaks among you may be shocked to learn of the rumspringa or running around. This is a period of time in an adolescent's life beginning about age 16 and ending with baptism and acceptance into the church. Young Amish may choose to dress and act like their contemporaries in the outside world. They may even drink, smoke or use recreational drugs. None of these behaviors is considered a bar to eventual baptism and church membership.

The familiar pattern amongst Catholics is for adolescents to drift away from the Church soon after confirmation. I would not be a bit surprised if church attendance and parish involvement of Catholic adolescents was quite the opposite of that of the Amish. Much of this information is apocryphal but we all know of families whose grown children have drifted away from the Church or who have descended into outright rebellion. I think we need to question why this is so.

On one hand some have chosen to go easy on children in hopes that they will remain in the faith of their parents. Don't make too many demands and maybe they won't run off. Other parents have chosen a more strict approach, even going so far as home schooling to avoid the corrupting influence of our schools. For those who cannot home school, faith based private schools are available. None of these approaches seems to have had the near 90% return rate of the Amish communities. Why?

POPE FRANCIS and LOVE OF CHRIST

Our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, preaches through actions; following the angelic St. Francis. May all of us see in this image the true face of Catholicism. Truly Pope Francis is the Servant of the Servants of God. 

Pope Francis embracing a disfigured man in Rome