Cardinal George Fan Club updates

Several good posts over at the Cardinal George Fan Club today:

• David of C-L-S challenges Catholics to show support for the Cardinal:

"Within Chicago, there are many who are becoming more vocal in their support for the Cardinal but that does not seem to be the case yet in the blog-o-sphere. "

"There is another group that is sitting quietly on the sidelines, thinking maybe it is true that Cardinal George did make a mistake. To these I would say, maybe he did. However, supporting Cardinal George is more support for the Church's hierarchical structure."

• Cardinal George speaks to the National Review on Pro-choice politicians, conscience and receiving Communion:

"Moreover, the objective 'disconnect' between professing the faith and voting 'pro-choice' creates tension in the community of faith, even at the altar." According to Cardinal George, objectively, no "pro-choice" politician should receive Holy Communion."

• Sex-abuse policies toughened: Archdiocese of Chicago, DCFS agree to new rules:

"Several new protocols to strengthen the already revamped policies were agreed to following a series of meetings with the state Department of Children and Family Services."

• John Maher tries to put the clergy sex-abuse scandal in some perspective:

"Priests accused of sexual abuse of children are a fraction of 1 percent of all such abusers. "

"To turn from the ideal to financial reality, while most sexual abusers of children are not sued for damages, Catholic dioceses have been sued for negligence for not removing accused priests from ministry. "

• Update: Cardinal George's message for Lent 2006:

Lent has begun. Last Wednesday we took the blessed ashes upon our foreheads and accepted the invitation of the Church to go into the desert with the Lord.

The desert is the place where Jesus prays and fasts to prepare for his public ministry. It was not the fasting sometimes fashionable today—dieting to have better health or a more attractive figure or to train for a sporting event.