Photo Caption Call - 10/30/09

• Sick: Anti-aging skincare product uses aborted fetal tissue
• Update: More details on Miami expelling Regnum Christi
• Photo: Old Navy's new Graphic Tee might look familiar to you
• Commentary: On Bart Stupak's Collapse
• Claim: Pro-Life Democrats can still defeat pro-abortion "PelosiCare" bill
• Last call: Seeking paid volunteers for Hoffman in upstate New York 
  

{Even if you don't have a caption, you can rate your favorite captions (submitted by others) in the comment box.

View the last Photo Caption Call here. Submit new photos for AmP photo caption call to my email!

[Photo source: A resident in New York state, who actually snapped this photo while driving.]

Sick: Anti-aging skincare product uses aborted fetal tissue

From Jim Hoft at First Things, something you probably shouldn't read before lunch:

"This is just gruesome. A skincare company has started using aborted fetal tissue in its anti-aging skincare cream.Christian News Wire has the report.

Sure enough. Neocutis describes their Processed Skin Cell Proteins (PCP) used in their anti-aging creams on their website. From the Website:

"Through years of research, physicians discovered fetal skin has a unique ability to heal wounds without scarring. Inspired by this, medical researchers at the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland created a biotechnology process to extract the rich proteins responsible for scarless wound healing from cultured fetal skin cells. A small biopsy of fetal skin was donated following a one-time medical termination and a dedicated cell bank was established for developing new skin treatments."

The website goes on to console the purchaser: "No additional fetal biopsies will ever be required."

I doubt the people using this anti-aging cream really needed the reassurance.

Related - CNA: "Pro-life group calls for boycott of cosmetics company using aborted fetal cells"

Update: More details on Miami expelling Regnum Christi

Yesterday I broke the news that the Archdiocese of Miami has chosen to ban the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi from the territory.

Interestingly no local press has taken notice yet. Zenit publish a short story confirming the veracity of the letter I published yesterday and adding:

"Both Msgr. Souckar [chancellor of the Archdiocese of Miami] and Legionary of Christ spokesman Jim Fair were unavailable for comment.

The letter said that Archbishop Favalora made the decision based on alleged abuses of earlier permissions given to the Legionaries that restricted their work to attending to the needs of members of the Regnum Christi movement, a lay apostolic association connected to the Legionaries.

... The letter furthermore stated that the Regnum Christi movement is not permitted to work in schools or parishes in the archdiocese."

Here's what I can add:

Sources close to the situation tell me that this decision took place on Wednesday of this week, and that it was prompted largely by the letters of parents concerned that their children were being approached by members of Regnum Christi without parental consent and knowledge. These episodes, it was claimed, had mostly taken place in an affluent Archdiocese of Miami parish and school.

Yesterday and today the Archdiocese has been contacting parishes and schools where they believe Regnum Christi members were operating and making sure that these parishes and schools are aware of and in compliance with this new Archdiocesan policy.

Since this story surfaced yesterday, I've been trying to compile a list of other arch/dioceses which have taken similar measures against LC or RC (either banning them or restricting their access to diocesan property, etc). John Allen names seven, and I'll add two others (in bold):

• Baltimore, St. Paul-Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, Richmond, Fort Wayne-South Bend, Columbus, Miami, Seattle

As some commenters mentioned, Regnum Christi is active in many dioceses with no apparent problems or disputes with the local arch/bishop and diocesan structures.

Photo: Old Navy's new Graphic Tee might look familiar to you

Someone call Old Navy, Jesus wants His Sacred Heart back:

I'm not kidding.

Commentary: On Bart Stupak's Collapse

Bart, what happened?!

Earlier this week I was able to write about you standing up to Nancy Pelosi and fighting for pro-life amendments.

But yesterday a YouTube video of you surfaced which revealed that you intend to vote for Pelosi's pro-abortion health care bill even if all your amendments fail!

Now you are writing editorials which have you saying:

"I have not made unreasonable demands. I have simply asked that there be a straight up-or-down vote on my amendment reflective of current laws. If we had a clean vote on this amendment and lost, I could accept that. My pro-life colleagues and I simply want, and deserve, a chance to vote our conscience."

But Bart, you have had chances to offer pro-life amendments. And they have been voted down. Now you are going to give up and accept this pro-abortion bill?

What happened to the Bart about whom it was written, and who said when interviewed:

However, the Michigan Democrat said he will not be backing down: "I'm comfortable with where I'm at. This is who I am. It's reflective of my district. If it costs me my seat, so be it." {source.}

How much things have changed in a matter of days. Do you really think anyone will believe your claim that your conscience is only requiring you to offer and vote on amendments, and that if they get defeated, your conscience is fine with voting for the pro-abortion bill?

I guess you do, but it sure puts the other pro-life Democrats in a lurch, a big one. Pelosi is once again getting her way, picking off the leaders of those representatives who are against her. Your vote is ultimately the only thing you have that she needs from you, and saying your amendments don't matter when it comes time to vote - well, you don't have a future in poker. Let's put it that way.

===

Because this whole situation is complicated, I'll finish simply:

1. The lack of pro-life amendments in PelosiCare ought to be a deal-breaker for you. Don't let Pelosi strong-arm you into compromising your conscience, and your constituents. Frankly, if you vote for this, you'll probably lose your seat anyway. I'll help.
2. Stupak's amendment, whatever Stupak's personal philosophy about voting, is still GOOD. Just because he's having 11th-hour second-thoughts doesn't mean Catholics ought not still rally around his pro-life amendment, or any pro-life amendment that gets offered.

At this point, we'll see if pro-life amendments are even given a chance. That looks doubtful in itself.

Oh, and Hon. Stupak, it's not too late to change your mind again. The vote hasn't happened ... yet.

Claim: Pro-Life Democrats can still defeat pro-abortion "PelosiCare" bill

Personally, I have next to no confidence that this coalition will actually stand strong and not end up crumbling and voting for PelosiCare:

"Democrats for Life of America claims to have 40 congressmen who will vote against the House health care reform legislation if taxpayer funded abortion language is not removed from the bill, the organization announced on Thursday.

The 40 vote coalition concerns the refusal of the House leadership to include language that would prevent abortions from being paid for in any new health care reform scheme. If Hyde Amendment-type language were inserted into the bill, Democrats for Life of America (DFLA) says, taxpayer funded abortions in appropriations bills would be prevented.

Several attempts to insert such language have been unsuccessful in committee.

"I want to be clear, pro-life Democrats want to help pass health care reform but our coalition can in no- way support reform that includes tax payer funded abortions. If the leadership will remove that language, we feel confident that we can deliver enough votes to help put this much needed reform over the top in the House," Kristen Day, DFLA Executive Director, said in a statement.

“We believe in a big-tent Democratic Party, but to not allow Hyde language to be included in health care reform would force some pro-choice and pro-life Democrats to vote against health care reform. If we add this language, we believe we can help Speaker Pelosi get the votes to pass this legislation.” (CNA)

I will be blogging next on what I sald have to describe as "Bart Stupak's collapse."

Last call: Seeking paid volunteers for Hoffman in upstate New York

I promise this will be one of the last times I bug you about Doug Hoffman, the conservative candidate in upstate New York for its seat in the US House of Representatives.

This is the last weekend before folks up there go to the polls next Tuesday. I can connect anyone who is free this weekend with pro-life, pro-family organizations on the ground up there who can pay for travel, lodging and daily expenses. I think this is a very worthwhile use of your time.

The latest polls show Hoffman in a dead heat with the Democrat candidate Bill Owens, but Democrats typically have a much stronger turn-out-the-vote campaign, so Hoffman needs help this weekend and up until election day.

If you have a car and can donate some of your time this weekend or before and during the election day to this campaign, please do so. As I've said before, this may be a local race, but it has a potential to send a clear message to politicians in Washington DC that pro-life, pro-family, and economically-responsible candidates are the way to win in future elections, and now.

Please email me at "thomas dot americanpapist dot com" if you are interested or know someone who might be interested.

If you can't make it to upstate New York, but still want to help financially, here's how.

Through your assistance, I look forward to reporting good news next Tuesday.

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/29/09

• Exclusive: Legionaries of Christ/Regnum Christi expelled from Archdiocese of Miami
  
• Exclusive: Cardinal George urges every US bishop to take decisive action on Catholic health care concerns - and meet with their politicians 
• Video: Two-Faced Stupak? Democrat admits to constituents he would ultimately vote for health care even with taxpayer-funded abortion mandate
• Imperative: US Bishops urge *every* parish to utilize bullet insert on health care reform

"Hehehe, this will make an excellent Papist Picture of the Day submission!"

[Photo: AP Photo]

Exclusive: Legionaries of Christ/Regnum Christi expelled from Archdiocese of Miami

This was sent to me this morning and it appears to be authentic {update - the Archdiocese of Miami website has been updated to include a disclaimer confirming the materials I've posted here}:
Legionaries of Christ

I'm pursuing a couple sources who have background on the events leading up to this decision.

Always something crazy happening in Miami, it seems.

update: Miami is not the first archdiocese to ban LC/RC from its territory. The Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN did so back in December of 2004.

Can anyone find proof that other arch/dioceses have taken this action?

Exclusive: Cardinal George urges every US bishop to take decisive action on Catholic health care concerns - and meet with their politicians

Francis Cardinal George - President of the USCCB, together with Justin Cardinal Rigali (Chairman of USCCB pro-life activities), Bishop Murphy (Chairman of domestic justice and human development) and Bishop Wester (Chairman on Migration) have sent a letter to every Cardinal, Archbishop and Bishop in the United States asking for their "active and personal leadership" and to "redouble [their] efforts" that health care reform is done right. 

Right now, health care reform is wrong. 

I want to focus on what the bishops are urged to undertake personally.

In part the letter to them reads:

"The outcome [of this debate] will depend not primarily on advocacy done [by us] in Washington, but on what we do in our own dioceses and states to make the case clearly and persuasively to influence how our Senators and Representatives vote."

The letter includes many action items for the bishops, including:

• "Personally contact your Senators and Representatives who serve your diocese. In addition to letters and email, we ask you to speak personally to your members of Congress, in meetings and/or by phone."

The letter goes on to say, to both Senators and Representatives (im paraphrasing here):

• Please support an amendment to support conscience clauses and rule-out tax-payer funded abortions. If these amendments are not added to the bill, you must oppose the final bill when it comes to a vote.

The ramifications of this activity of the US bishops are extremely significant. 

To take one important example, Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco ought to call Nancy Pelosi, and ask that she follow the advice presented above. This then means that when she ignores his advice (as she undoubtedly will) and pushes through this pro-abortion health care reform bill, she will be intentionally and explicitly defying the personal request of her Archbishop.

It should now be impossible, in fact, for any elected Catholic official to claim that they voted for the final pro-abortion health care bill without knowing clearly, in advance, where their local bishop stood on this particular issue. 

I'll let us all ponder these implications for a moment. 

Updates to follow....

[This most recent activity from the USCCB goes even beyond their efforts to place a pro-life bulletin insert into every parish in America. I blogged on that story earlier today here. Make no mistake - this is going to be big.]

Video: Two-Faced Stupak? Democrat admits to constituents he would ultimately vote for health care even with taxpayer-funded abortion mandate

A couple days ago I showcased Rep. Stupak's (failed) efforts to get taxpayer-funded abortions out of the house-version of the health care bill. When asked about his objection to this funding, and frequent attempts to eliminate it, Stupak said:

"I'm comfortable with where I'm at. This is who I am. It's reflective of my district. If it costs me my seat, so be it."

The Conservative organization Heritage Foundation has since found video, however, which reveals Stupak claiming to his constituents earlier this year that he would eventually vote for a health care bill even if his pro-life amendments had already failed. In this video, Stupak argues that as long as he tries to make the bill pro-life, he's doing his job and can still vote for a bill that isn't actually pro-life:

{update - it appears the video has been removed. But before it was I had a chance to view it and confirm that it is real. Kathleen Gilbert at LifeSiteNews summarizes what Stupak said in the situation.}



I think Rep. Stupak has some explaining to do - and quick.

Imperative: US Bishops urge *every* parish to utilize bullet insert on health care reform

Yesterday I blogged about my claim that "How many bishops support the current health care reform? None of them."

My claim is born out today by this email sent out by the USCCB Pro-Life Activities secretariat. It represents an unprecedented mobilization of the Catholic faithful on a particular political issue.

It is simply incredible - the US Bishops want every parish in America to help them get the message out. It explicitly says that individual dioceses ought not to "opt out" of this innitiative.

I don't care if I overload my bandwidth having indivividuals download these materials - we need to take action, starting in your parish:

From: Tom Grenchik, Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

To: Diocesan Pro-Life Directors & State Catholic Conference Director

Re: URGENT: Nationwide USCCB Bulletin Insert on Health Care Reform

Attached [see below], please find an Urgent Memorandum highlighting USCCB plans and requests for diocesan and parish based activation on health care reform.

The President of the Conference and the Chairmen of the three major USCCB committees engaged in health care reform have written all the bishops and asked that the attached USCCB Nationwide Bulletin Insert on health care reform be printed or hand-stuffed in every parish bulletin and/or distributed in pews or at church entrances as soon as possible.

Congressional votes may take place as soon as early November. If your Arch/bishop is not in agreement with disseminating the bulletin insert, you will be hearing from his office immediately. You may wish to check with his office ASAP to see how you may be of assistance in distributing the Bulletin Insert, far and wide.

Tomorrow, the USCCB will be e-mailing these same materials to a large number of parishes across the country, already on a USCCB contact list. The parish list is incomplete, so we will still have to rely on diocesan e-mail systems to reach EVERY parish. Thank you for your great help with this.

Also included are suggested Pulpit Announcements and a Prayer Petition.

There is also a copy of a newly-released ad for the Catholic press, which may be printed as flyers for the vestibule or copied on the flip-side of the Bulletin Insert. The flyer/ad directs readers to www.usccb.org/action where they may send their pre-written e-mails to Congress through NCHLA’s Grassroots Action Center. If you wish to sponsor the ad in your local Catholic paper and need a different size, please contact Deirdre McQuade at dmcquade@usccb.org.

Please encourage parishioners to pray for this effort as well. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/healthcare.

Thank you for your urgent actions and prayers on behalf of this nationwide effort!

With this email are four attached documents - print these out, share them and take action:

1. HC Cover Note to Leaders, Final.doc (a digital version of the email above)
2. HC Bulletin Insert 10-23-09 Final.pdf (the one-stop nationwide parish bulletin insert)
3. HC Pulpit Announcement & Prayer, Final 1.doc (a how-to for distributing the materials)
4. HC Ad Saving_Lives_Flyer_FINAL.pdf (a flyer to be placed on bulletin boards, etc.)

Note especially this Suggested Prayer of the Faithful:

"That Congress will act to ensure that needed health care reform will truly protect the life, dignity and health care of all and that we will raise our voices to protect the unborn and the most vulnerable and to preserve our freedom of conscience. We pray to the Lord."

This prayer perfectly illustrates the main themes I have been harping on throughout this debate - that health care reform, as it currently stands, is not truly pro-life and universal, and that it contains no respect for (Catholic) conscience protection. These are glaring shortcomings that urgently need to be addressed!

Action items:

• Please ask your pastor if he intends to use these materials. If he is not aware of them - forward them to this post on AmP so he has access to them. Or, print them out and bring them to him personally.
• Perform the action items described in the materials I've provided in this USCCB bulletin insert.
• Pray that health care reform not be passed unless it is truly universal and pro-life.

Health care reform could be voted on as early as next week. These materials need to be in the hands of Catholics starting this weekend. Thank you for your efforts in serving our bishops and getting the word out. Godspeed.

New auxiliary bishop appointed to diocese of Joliet, IL

Another day, another bishop appointment.

The Vatican announcement:

Fr. Joseph M. Siegel, pastor of the parish of the Visitation in Elmhurst (USA), as auxiliary bishop of Joliet in Illinois (area 10,920, population 1,842,000, Catholics 667,000, priests 268, religious 718, permanent deacons 199). The bishop-elected was born in Joliet (Illinois, USA) in 1963 and ordained priest in 1988.

Here is the press release from the diocese. Whispers has more.

(For some reason, I'm tempted to make a Blues Brothers joke - any help?)

How many bishops support the current health care reform? None of them.

Over a month ago, I started compiling a list of bishops who have written or spoken about the current health care reform proposals being debated in Congress. This list quickly grew to 44 bishops.

Earlier this month, I copied the letter published by two key bishops and the top pro-life Cardinal in America (all of whom chair separate committees for the USCCB) who promised they must "oppose the health care bill vigorously" if crucial aspects of it were not changed. Well, it hasn't changed.

Today, Marcel at Aggie Catholics alerted me to a new statement of the combined Texas Bishops just released yesterday which repeats that same USCCB language about "opposing [the health care bill] vigorously."

The message of all these bishops is clear: "Yes we want reform, but we don't want this."

That's a clear message to politicians in Washington DC, especially President Obama and Catholic politicians: "Change the health care reform bill, or Catholics will have no choice but to vigorously oppose it."

Make no mistake, we are in the end game for health care reform right now. And right now, the health care bill is unacceptable to Catholics. Furthermore, the track record during this entire debate has been to downplay, ignore, or lie about the life issues that matter most to Catholics.

Therefore, if it comes down to a yes-or-no vote now, the only acceptable vote is a NO vote.

I'd like to see someone try to disagree with my claim. How can a Catholic politician vote for a bill which the combined US bishops say they must "vigorously oppose", without defying the clear practical teaching of the US bishops? 

Of course, plenty of politicians will do just that, because they have established a career of voting for things which the bishops oppose, but I want the record to be very clear about what they are doing on this most-important-of-issues. 

I don't mean to be authoritative, I mean to be very clear about what I am claiming. 

Quote of the Day: Self-appointed George Tiller replacement

Dr. LeRoy Carhart, friend of the late abortionist George Tiller, on why he wants to take over Tiller's late-term abortion practice:

"I have abortion on the front of this building, because I think abortion isn't a four-letter word. It's a part of life."

Further cognitive dissonance:

[Carhart] who once wanted to be a preacher, stopped going to church around 1989, for his own safety. He found a different calling.

Tomorrow, just before and after performing abortions, Carhart will pray at the bedside of his patients. (CNN)

I can't help but think of Isaiah 5:20-21 - "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who change darkness into light, and light into darkness ... Woe to those who are wise in their own sight, and prudent in their own esteem!"

At least, I hope it's self-deception at work:

Carhart doesn't mask his language. He's open and honest about what he does, sometimes uncomfortably so.

"We do kill fetuses," he says. "It dies because we give an injection into the fetus that causes the heart to just slowdown."

That's like saying, "Yes, I killed him, I held his head under water until his breathing just slowed down."

There's another name for that: murder.

Action: Donate to Help Elect a Pro-Lifer in NY-23 (who has a good chance!)

I've written before about the situation in New York's 23rd congressional district which goes to the polls next Tuesday.

My friends have been hard at work getting the word out about the pro-life candidate, Doug Hoffman, with a photo and an article in today's New York Times.

The Catholic Family Association has endorsed Hoffman:

CFA Executive Director: "Doug Hoffman embodies what our group promotes: pro-family stances on every important issue--from taxes to healthcare to abortion--facing Americans. Given the radicalism of his opponents, the choice is clear in NY-23."

The latest polls show Hoffman pulling into the lead, but with only days to go, we ought to help the pro-life, pro-family organizations on the ground seal the deal.

This is a local race with national consequences, for the reasons I've explained before, so if you can do anything to help out the efforts in NY-23, especially by donating any amount through the Susan B. Anthony List, it would be a good thing.

Let's send a message to the politicians in Washington DC that pro-life, pro-family, and economically-responsible candidates are the way to win in future elections. Let's start now.

Politics: Pelosi attacks Democrat Stupak to keep abortion funding

It's a sad day when our Catholic Speaker (Nancy Pelosi) continues to exert pressure on another Catholic representative (Bart Stupak) when the only "crime" he is guilty of is trying to make health care reform pro-life:

"Rep. Bart Stupak said Speaker Pelosi is not pleased with his effort to change abortion-related provisions in the healthcare bill being crafted by the House.

During an interview on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" show, Stupak (D-Mich.) said he is undeterred in trying to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not pay for abortions. Stupak, who opposes abortion rights, acknowledged that some in his party are upset with his public campaign to change the bill.

"The Speaker is not happy with me," Stupak said.

However, the Michigan Democrat said he will not be backing down: "I'm comfortable with where I'm at. This is who I am. It's reflective of my district. If it costs me my seat, so be it."

A portion of the interview can be accessed here. The entire interview can be seen here." (The Hill)

NARAL Pro-Choice America calls Stupak's actions a "shameful abortion ban plot."

In their email fundraising, they claim Stupak and others are trying to "impose an abortion ban on private insurance plans in the reformed health system." They go on to claim: "Millions of women could lose coverage they already have."

Well ... it should come as no surprise to AmP readers that NARAL's claims are a lie. Pro-lifers are trying to only maintain the status quo when it comes to abortion funding, and yet pro-aborts are claiming we are trying to make pro-life inroads in our amendments. 

I wish we were, but given the landscape, the best we can do is try to hold the line. And even those amendments are being voted down at every turn. 

===

Also, on a somewhat related note, I have it on good authority that Nancy Pelosi continues to attend Mass and receive communion here in Washington DC. As recently as this past Sunday.

Pelosi: campaigning for anti-life legislation for one day, receiving Communion the next.

There really is no excuse.

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/27/09

• Good: Church of Scientology convicted of fraud in France
• Update: Abp. Dolan backs Bp. Tobin, demands Rep. Kennedy apology
• Opportunity: Bring the Fatima Movie to your city!
• Today: A new bishop for Milwaukee?

(You may be fine, but doctrinal dissenters and liturgical innovators are terrified!)

[Photo: AP Photo]

Good: Church of Scientology convicted of fraud in France

This couldn't have happened to a nicer, ponzi-schemed "religion":

"A Paris court convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it more than euro600,000 ($900,000) on Tuesday but stopped short of banning the group as prosecutors had demanded.

The group's French branch immediately announced it would appeal the verdict.

Olivier Morice, lawyer for civil parties in the case, said the verdict was "historic" because it was the first time in France that the Church of Scientology has been convicted of organized fraud.

... Belgium, Germany and other European countries have been criticized by the U.S. State Department for labeling Scientology as a cult or sect and enacting laws to restrict its operations." (AP)

Evidently those countries have more common sense than our state department.

Update: Abp. Dolan backs Bp. Tobin, demands Rep. Kennedy apology

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York - who evidently has a modest blog of his own on the Archdiocese of New York website! - yesterday wrote about the regrettable situation of Rep. Kennedy's stupid, anti-Catholic remarks:

Over this past weekend, several people mentioned to me Representative Patrick Kennedy’s blast at bishops for allegedly dividing the nation on the issue of healthcare; you can view the video here. His remarks were sad, uncalled-for, and inaccurate.

The Catholic community in the United States hardly needs to be lectured to about just healthcare. We’ve been energetically into it for centuries. And we bishops have been advocating for universal healthcare for a long, long time.

All we ask is that it be just that -- universal -- meaning that it includes the helpless baby in the womb, the immigrant, and grandma in a hospice, and that it protects a healthcare provider’s right to follow his/her own conscience.

This is what the President says he wants; this is what we bishops say we want.

Bishop Thomas Tobin, Representative Kennedy’s bishop, has a good point: Mr. Kennedy owes us an apology.

A small proviso - President Obama has never said he wants to protect the helpless baby in the womb.

I'll repeat my action items from yesterday's post on this same issue:

• Contact Rep. Kennedy (through his press secretary kerrie.bennett@mail.house.gov) and demand he apologize to Catholics for his ignorant and hateful comments
• Contact Bishop Tobin (through his communications director - kdavis@dioceseofprovidence.org) and thank him for standing up for Catholics, and for the truth.

Opportunity: Bring the Fatima Movie to your city!

Ignatius Press is behind this production so I'm intrigued - Stephen Greydanus calls it "the best movie ever made about Fatima":

"Based on the memoirs of Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus dos Santos, and thousands of independent eyewitness accounts, The 13th Day is a dramatic retelling of the experiences of three shepherd children between May and October 1917. (Read more...)"

They have a great website where you can do all the multimedia stuff like watch the trailer and clips, download desktop wallpapers, pre-order the DVD, become a Facebook fan, and most importantly, "Be the first to show The 13th Day at your church, school, or local theater."

If you decide to host a screening, I'd be happy to help spread the word here on AmP.

Ph/t: AmP reader Jen.

update - already our first showing, this one from AmP reader Deacon Chris Hanson:

We are screening The 13th Day in Council Bluffs, IA (just across the river from Omaha, NE) on Sunday, November 15th. The movie is being shown at St. Albert's Catholic School, in the auditorium at both 4pm and 6pm. A free will offering is being taken, and proceeds will be given to Gabriel's Corner, our pregnancy counseling center of Council Bluffs. Gabriel's Corner is located right across the street from Planned Parenthood.

The address of St. Albert's School is 400 Gleason Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Please contact Jenny Van Soelen to reserve seats 712-328-2316

update - a second showing:

Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Jasper Georgia will be showing this film (with a light dinner) on Friday Nov. 13th starting around 6:30 p.m. (watch for info in the bulletin at www.olmjasper.com).

Today: A new bishop for Milwaukee?

The buzz is growing that archdiocese of Milwaukee will be the next episcopal vacancy filled by Rome - it has been without an archbishop since its former Archbishop Timothy Dolan was moved to New York City.

The local papers have been chattering about it for the last 24 hours, which is normally a sign. They are, however, mostly relying on Vatican rumor blog Whispers in the Loggia. Here are Rocco's picks:

Bishops Gerald Kicanas of Tucson (currently vice-president of the US bishops), Blase Cupich of Rapid City, Jerome Listecki of LaCrosse and Milwaukee's administrator, Aux. Bishop William Callahan OFM Conv.

I would disagree that Aux. Bp. Callahan is likely - that's what I'm hearing, at least. [update - I would also be surprised if it was Kicanas.]

Other names that keep appearing on my shortlist are Bishops Robert Finn, Michael Jackels, Alexander Sample, and David Ricken.

I'd put my money on Bishop Listecki of LaCrosse, but with so many names floating around, I'm still far from confident. We'll just have to see who the Holy Spirit has in mind.

And in the meantime - have you heard anything?

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/26/09

• Appearance: AmP speech on health care profiled by Denver Catholic Register
• Breaking: Largest group of Catholic doctors calls for "reset" of health care reform 
  
• Stupidity: Rep. Kennedy attacks the Church, and Bishop Tobin takes him to task
  
• Outrageous: Nun volunteers at abortion clinic - and what can be done about it

Before the Christmas rush, Pope Benedict offers a sneak peak of the official "Naughty & Nice" list, for those looking to improve their ranking.

[Photo: AP Photo]

AmP speech on health care profiled by Denver Catholic Register

My recent speech for the Archdiocese of Denver's very active theology on tap series has been covered by the Denver Catholic Register:

"Theology on Tap welcomed Thomas Peters, blogger for American Papist: Not Your Average Catholic! to speak on the Catholic perspective of health care reform at Braun’s Bar and Grill at 1055 Auraria Parkway on Friday, Oct. 9.

There’s no doubt the popularity of social media is on the rise. Peters’ blog speaks to, “the JPII generation about Catholic views of pop culture and politics.” He started it in 2005 because he wanted to establish a forum for the topics that mattered to his generation, presented from a perspective congruent with Catholic morals.

[Read the full article here.]

I'm happy to provide media background and interviews on the topic of Catholic involvement in the current health care debate. My personal email is [thomas at americanpapist dot com] and I check it regularly.

Breaking: Largest group of Catholic doctors calls for "reset" of health care reform

The Catholic Medical Association (whose leadership has already come out strongly against the proposed health care plan), has now as a body approved a resolution on health care reform at its 78th annual meeting this weekend in Springfield IL:

"The resolution calls upon Congress and President Obama “to ‘reset’ the effort to enact health care reform legislation, to reexamine their commitment to the principles of the current legislation, and to begin the process anew.”

CMA President Louis Breschi, M.D. explained the need for the resolution this way: “As physicians, we are highly concerned by the direction health care reform legislation has continued to take. The whole thrust of the legislation voted out of congressional committees is flawed. It tries to fix the real problems we have in health care with massive new government spending and mandates.

... The resolution also urges legislators and President Obama to respect the principles of subsidiarity, solidarity, and the patient-physician relationship, as well as to exclude funding of abortion and to provide meaningful protection for the conscience rights of health care providers in any legislation.

The complete text of the resolution can be found here.

Founded in 1932, the Catholic Medical Association is the largest association of Catholic physicians in North America.

We should listen carefully to their concerns both because they are experts in their field and also because they are trying to think about this question and practice medicine as good Catholics.

Stupidity: Rep. Kennedy attacks the Church, and Bishop Tobin takes him to task

Patrick Joseph Kennedy II, a democrat US House representative from Rhode Island and the son of the late Edward Kennedy, viciously smeared the Church in an interview with CNSNews.com (updated - fixed):



Transcript of Kennedy's comments:

“I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person - that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured,” Kennedy told CNSNews.com. “You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life-saving health care? I thought they were pro-life?” said Kennedy. “If the church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health care reform because it’s going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive. So this is an absolute red herring and I don’t think that it does anything but to fan the flames of dissent and discord and I don’t think it’s productive at all.”

Local Bishop Thomas Tobin wasn't about to let Kennedy get away with it, responding:

“Congressman Patrick Kennedy’s statement about the Catholic Church’s position on health care reform is irresponsible and ignorant of the facts. But the Congressman is correct in stating that “he can’t understand.” He got that part right.

As I wrote to Congressman Kennedy and other members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation recently, the Bishops of the United States are indeed in favor of comprehensive health care reform and have been for many years. But we are adamantly opposed to health care legislation that threatens the life of unborn children, requires taxpayers to pay for abortion, rations health care, or compromises the conscience of individuals.

Congressman Kennedy continues to be a disappointment to the Catholic Church and to the citizens of the State of Rhode Island. I believe the Congressman owes us an apology for his irresponsible comments. It is my fervent hope and prayer that he will find a way to provide more effective and morally responsible leadership for our state.”

"Irresponsible. Ignorant. A Disappointment. Owes us an apology."

... now that's taking the gloves off language. As Bishop Tobin is justified in using. Kennedy completely deserved this strong rebuke, because of his pro-abortion record, and because of his recent comments which are squarely against the facts, and unabashedly anti-Catholic.

Action items - updated:

• Contact Rep. Kennedy (through his press secretary kerrie.bennett@mail.house.gov) and demand he apologize to Catholics for his ignorant and hateful comments
• Contact Bishop Tobin (through his communications director - kdavis@dioceseofprovidence.org) and thank him for standing up for Catholics, and for the truth.

Outrageous: Nun volunteers at abortion clinic - and what can be done about it

Not only has this dominican nun been volunteering at abortion clinics for "at least six years", but her religious superior is actually defending her choice even now that it is under public scrutiny!

"A Dominican nun has been seen frequenting an abortion facility in Illinois recently - but not, as one might expect, to pray for an end to abortion or to counsel women seeking abortions, but to volunteer as a clinic escort.

Local pro-life activists say that they recognized the escort at the ACU Health Center as Sr. Donna Quinn, a nun outspokenly in favor of legalized abortion, after seeing her photo in a Chicago Tribune article.

... Sr. Donna Quinn, OP, is renowned in the Chicago area as an advocate for legalized abortion and other liberal issues.

... Sr. Patricia Mulcahey, OP, Quinn's Prioress at the Sinsinawa Dominican community, said in an email response to LSN that the nun sees her volunteer activity as "accompanying women who are verbally abused by protestors. Her stance is that if the protestors were not abusive, she would not be there." (LSN)

My father, Canon Lawyer Ed Peters, lays out at least three provisions in Canon Law which could be grounds for Sr. Donna's dismissal from the religious life.

Action items:

• LifeSite news is asking for individuals to respectfully express concern to the Prioress of the Sinsinawa Dominicans - Sr. Patricia Mulcahey, OP at Spatmul@aol.com.
• I think it is also appropriate to contact the local bishop to make sure he is aware of this scandal. I believe the Sinsinawa Dominicans are in the Diocese of Madison, WI. Their communications director can be contacted at brent.king@straphael.org

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/23/09

• Pictured: Pro-Life Pumpkin - Awesome Activism Idea!
• Politics: House Democrats Have Almost Enough Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care
• Wow: Did St. Theresa have an intercessory role in Anglican reunification?
• Video: Explaining Anglican-Catholic Reunicification
• Scandal: Notre Dame elects Fr. Jenkins to second term as President
• Pictured: World's first portable ultrasound!
• Stupidity: Patrick Kennedy says Catholic Church Fanning ‘Flames of Dissent and Discord’ by Opposing Health Bill Over Abortion Funding
• Outrageous: Baltimore City Council targets pro-life pregnancy centers

Rowan Williams thinks to self: If I become Catholic, will I have to trim my facial hair?

[Photo: AP Photo]

Pictured: Pro-Life Pumpkin - Awesome Activism Idea!

Are you planning on carving pumpkins this weekend? Well how about carving this:


From the American Life League:

There are many opportunities to be a voice for the voiceless, and most of those opportunities require us to go to a public place. But, on the eve of All Saints Day, the public comes to us!

So, make a pro-life jack-o-lantern and send your photos to us. Be sure to include your name, age and address in the e-mail, and we'll post the best ones on our home page!
It doesn't have to be anything fancy. It could be as intricate as the design here or as simple as the word "Pro-Life." Whatever your skill level, be creative and tell the world about the personhood of preborn babies!

Send your pro-life jack-o-lantern pictures to prolifepumpkin@all.org.

If you would like to duplicate this one, simply download the .pdf stencil and print it out. Tape the stencil to your pumpkin and, with a pointed object, like a small screwdriver, poke shallow holes along the perimeter of the image. With a paring knife, carefully cut out the areas shaded in black.

Way way way cool.

House Democrats Have Almost Enough Votes for Pro-Abortion Health Care

A reminder of the political stakes we are facing:

House Democrats said today that they have almost enough votes to get a pro-abortion health care bill through the chamber. The votes they say they have collected include almost enough for the government option, which would expand abortion funding even further.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked her top lieutenants this week to conduct a vote count to determine where members of the party stand on HR 3200, which pro-life groups oppose.

Three House committee have approved different versions of the bill, all of which include massive abortion funding and mandates, that Pelosi and top Democrats will meld into one measure.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairman Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat, said today that House Democrats have secured about 210 votes for a bill with the controversial public option.

That's just eight votes short of the 218 needed to approve the pro-abortion bill. (Lifenews)

To fill in the picture, it also appears that the Obama Administration is improperly (and illegaly) using the Health and Human Services website to promote these pro-abortion health care bills. Fantastic.

update - worse and worse:

• AP: Abortion divides House Dems in health care debate
• LN: House Democrats Likely Won't Allow Vote to Cut Abortion From Health Care Bill

Did St. Theresa have an intercessory role in Anglican reunification?

Jack Smith at the Catholic Key blog:

Yesterday we conveyed the suspicion of former Episcopal and now Kansas City Catholic priest, Father Ernie Davis, that the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux was behind the Vatican’s move to provide a structure to welcome Anglicans into full communion. Now, the Anglican Catholic Bishop of Canada strongly confirms that thought.

Father Davis, who leads St. Therese Little Flower parish in Kansas City which hosts an Anglican Use community, wrote of the news from the Vatican:

Anglicans and Catholics flocked to visit the relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux as they made a very recent pilgrimage to England. Her relics rested on her 2009 feast day at York Minster, the Cathedral of the Anglican Archbishop of York. When I read about that, I told the people here at St. Therese Little Flower that she was working on something big. In other words, preparations for this Apostolic Constitution have been in process for 170 years, and some of the preparations have been made at levels that are higher than popes.

The Traditional Anglican Communion Bishop of Canada saw the claim and sent an email today to Father Davis with remarkable details of St. Therese’ intercession. Here’s the email.

Video: Explaining Anglican-Catholic Reunicification

Aggie Catholics found this useful Rome Reports video:



The visuals themselves are fun to see.

Notre Dame elects Fr. Jenkins to second term as President

Administration FAIL:

The University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees elected Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., on Friday (Oct. 16) to a second five-year term as president of the University, effective at the conclusion of his first term June 30, 2010, Chairman Richard C. Notebaert announced on behalf of the Board of Trustees.

“The vision and leadership that Father Jenkins has demonstrated in his first four years in office have been inspiring and innovative,” Notebaert said. “Building upon the foundation set by his Holy Cross predecessors, he is making the aspirations of this University a reality. The Fellows and Trustees look forward to continuing our work with him in service to Our Lady’s University.”

It depends on what you mean by innovative.

Pictured: World's first portable ultrasound!

Not even kidding - talk about a revolution in sidewalk pro-life counseling technology:

The Star Trek Tricorder, a device that allows medics to check their patients in the field in the sci-fi TV show, took a step closer to becoming reality today thanks to a new device being shown off by General Electric in the US.

The device, which is a cross between a mobile phone and an iPod was shown at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Called Vscan, the clamshell designed gadget is aimed at doctors, and possibly would-be parents who could use it in their office or in the field to check the progress of unborn babies or other medical instances, rather than sending their patients to a specialist department for a scan.

Jeff Immelt, GE's CEO, said that the device, which will be available sometime next year, will be "very digitally capable", coming with a small screen and the ability to save the images. It won't, however, feature Wi-Fi connectivity which would give it the ability to send images to others. (Pocket link)

See a glimpse of it in action after the here.

I'm serious - we need to get this into the hands of pro-life sidewalk counselors.

Science is on our side.

Patrick Kennedy: Catholic Church Fanning ‘Flames of Dissent and Discord’ by Opposing Health Bill Over Abortion Funding

Patrick Kennedy needs to go back to CCD class:

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I) told CNSNews.com that the Catholic Church is doing nothing but fanning “the flames of dissent and discord” by taking the position that it will oppose the health-care reform bill under consideration in Congress unless it is amended to explicitly prohibit funding of abortion.

“I can’t understand for the life of me how the Catholic Church could be against the biggest social justice issue of our time, where the very dignity of the human person is being respected by the fact that we’re caring and giving health care to the human person--that right now we have 50 million people who are uninsured,” Kennedy told CNSNews.com when asked about a letter the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had sent to members of Congress stating the bishops' position on abortion funding in the health-care bill.

“You mean to tell me the Catholic Church is going to be denying those people life saving health care? I thought they were pro-life?” said Kennedy. “If the church is pro-life, then they ought to be for health care reform because it’s going to provide health care that are going to keep people alive. So this is an absolute red herring and I don’t think that it does anything but to fan the flames of dissent and discord and I don’t think it’s productive at all." (CNS News)

He is effective, however - the number of errors in his statement make it very not-worth my time to answer them.

Baltimore City Council targets pro-life pregnancy centers

Archdiocesan newspaper for Baltimore The Catholic Review:

Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and 10 members of the council are sponsoring a bill that Catholic leaders believe harasses pro-life pregnancy support centers.

City Council Bill 09-0406, “Limited-Service Pregnancy Centers –Disclaimers,” would require pregnancy support centers to post a disclaimer noting that they do not provide abortion or contraceptive services. Centers that do not comply would be fined $500 per day.

In an Oct. 16 letter to Rawlings-Blake, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien said the bill targets non-profit organizations whose mission is to help women carry pregnancies to term. He said it is “well-known” that pregnancy support centers are exclusively focused on assisting women in their choice for childbirth, and do not provide abortions or contraception.

So much for supporting women with crisis pregnancies.

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/22/09

• Action: Oppose the Chai Feldblum nomination
• Stupidity: Pro-aborts launch petition so *seniors* can keep abortion coverage
  
• Background: Abp. Di Noia asked dominicans for Anglican reunification prayers
  
• Video: No Government Funded Abortions! Period.
  

Cardinal Levada, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and world-champion darts player, contemplates his next throw.

[Photo: AP Photo]

Action: Oppose the Chai Feldblum nomination

Over at APP we're launching a project to stop the nomination of Chai Feldblum. I think AmP readers will have a special interest in our efforts because Belmont Abbey College is mentioned in the press release:

Today the American Principles Project and its sister organization American Principles in Action urged concerned Americans to contact their Senators over the impending confirmation of Chai Feldblum to a five year post on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). [read more.]

We have also written a "Simple Case against Chai Feldblum" laying out the case for why we oppose her nomination. 

Please join our efforts and take action in opposing her nomination here at American Principles in Action. There is also a Facebook group to help spread the word. 

If you want one example of why Chai is bad news for religious institutions (like Belmont Abbey College) in particular, take a look at this post: "Video: Chai Feldbum says Government should promote "gay sex is morally good."

I've written two posts for AmP on the situation of the EEOC persecuting Belmont Abbey College:

• Belmont Abbey College in hot water for daring not to pay for contraception 
  
• Surprise: Washington behind forcing Belmont Abbey to pay for contraception
  

Just imagine what would happen if Chai Feldblum is successfully appointed to the EEOC.

Luckily for Belmont Abbey College, they've retained the services of the Becket Fund. The Becket Fund is helping them out pro-bono, so if you want to support the Becket Fund's fine work then please click here and help support them.

I'm sure the Becket Fund wouldn't mind being put out of business (as far as defending religious institutions from government intervention), but looking at the times we live in, that's probably not going to happen any time soon.

Stupidity: Pro-aborts launch petition so *seniors* can keep abortion coverage

Someone should tell the folks writing NARAL's petitions that marijuana isn't legal (yet). They actually have posted a petition - and almost 32,000 people have signed it - which reads in part:

"Anti-choice extremists at the Family Research Council are launching an outrageous media and lobbying campaign claiming that Congress' health-care reform bills will deny seniors the medical care they need in order to pay for abortion."

Yes, you read that correctly - NARAL is worried that seniors might lose their medical coverage for abortion.

I'm very sure that Family Research Council is not worried that seniors will be paying for their own abortions. Seniors paying for abortions out of their medical coverage, after all, does not seem to be a very large demographic. 

FRC has been airing very powerful ads showing that abortion coverage and rationing of care for the elderly are both major (separate) problems in the current health care reform plans. But apparently NARAL's media division really thinks FRC could be so stupid as to think that senior citizens are paying to have their pregnancies aborted. 

And NARAL is happy to launch petitions referencing this as a real issue!

Often in the debate over abortion, the pro-life movement is caricatured as "unscientific".

Well, maybe we can begin to make the charge that the pro-abortion movement is illiterate and biased.

Background: Abp. Di Noia asked dominicans for Anglican reunification prayers

This little note from Augustine Di Noia, OP (that's him in white - he was one of the most important prelates involved in the recent Anglican reunification news behind Cardinal Levada and the Pope himself) to his brother dominican friars back in the United States reveals the beautiful mutual-uplifting of prayers that permeated the Vatican's proceedings:

"Today there was announced -- at press conferences in Rome and London -- the forthcoming publication of an apostolic constitution in which the Holy Father allows for the creation of personal ordinariates for groups of Anglicans in different parts of the world who are seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. The canonical structure of the personal ordinariate will permit this corporate reunion while at the same time providing for retention of elements of Anglican liturgy and spirituality.

When I asked the Friars (and other OPs - Ed.) to pray the Dominican litany from 22 February to 25 March earlier this year, the intention was that this proposal would receive the approval of the cardinal members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which was necessary if the proposal of some structure allowing for corporate reunion was to go forward. Our prayers at that time were answered, and now that the proposal has become a reality we can tell everyone what we were praying for then.

Context provided at the Dominican Friars' St. Joseph (East Coast) Province Blog.

I was honored to attend Di Noia's Mass of episcopal ordination back in July.

Video: No Government Funded Abortions! Period.

Great video, great organization, great cause:

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser clears up the story on abortion and health care reform. Contact your Senators today at www.sba-list.org/healthcare and tell them America doesn't want any government funded abortions, period!

I'm honored to call Marjorie a friend. Go support her activities at Susan B. Anthony today!

{Ph/t: Jimmy}

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/21/09

• Anti-Catholicism: Experts continue to question Catholics on the Supreme Court
  
• Open Thread: Anglican-Catholic Reunification
  
• Outrageous: Obama volunteer website promotes Planned Parenthood opportunities
  

"Aw Shucks! They promised me I could excommunicate someone today."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Anti-Catholicism: Experts continue to question Catholics on the Supreme Court

A sad reminder of what Catholics in public office still face:

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito voiced frustration Tuesday over what he called persistent questions about the court's Roman Catholic majority.

Alito aired the topic in a speech to an Italian-American law group in Philadelphia.

"There has been so much talk lately about the number of Catholics serving on the Supreme Court," Alito said in a speech to the Justinian Society. "This is one of those questions that does not die."

Alito complained about "respectable people who have seriously raised the questions in serious publications about whether these individuals could be trusted to do their jobs."

He said he thought the Constitution settled the question long ago with its guarantee of religious freedom.

Alito, 59, the son of an Italian immigrant, is one of six justices on the nine-member court who were raised Catholic, including new Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

... The Roman Catholic Church endorses positions on several high-profile legal issues, including abortion, the death penalty and gay marriage. Some commentators have argued that Catholics in the court's conservative voting bloc — Chief John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Alito — are likely to oppose abortion or otherwise apply Catholic teachings to their rulings. (AP)

Three quick thoughts:

• The elephant in the room here is social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. No one would complain about Catholics stacking the supreme court bench if they all were liberal on their views about these issues. No one complains about how many Catholics Obama has appointed to his administration, because all of his appointments agree with his liberal views on these issues. As I've said before, the kind of Catholic the President likes, is a bad Catholic (a "bad Catholic" is someone who actively dissents from the Church's teaching).
• Catholics on the supreme court who oppose abortion and same-sex marriage do not do so because they are Catholic, they do this because they can think. Catholic opposition to practices which harm human life and society are enlightened by faith through reason, not dictated by faith in opposition to reason. The bottom line here is that you don't have to be Catholic to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. But it can help your conviction.
• The recent case of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination is a perfect illustration of the ulterior purpose behind this stupid claim that there are "too many Catholics on the supreme court." The fact that Sotomayor promised to uphold the unjust precedent established by Roe v. Wade - and was never fundamentally challenged to express her opinion about homosexual marriage - guaranteed that pundits would not go after her too much for her religion. If she promised to uphold the natural law conclusions about the dignity of human life and the uniqueness of heterosexual marriage, things would have been very different.

Bottom line: there is no reason to accuse Catholics of being bad for America. Such a charge is always a cheap-shot which ignores the substantive arguments that Catholics bring into the debate, and the long tradition of public service that today's Catholics are proud to continue.

It's time to face our arguments, not accuse our religion.

Open Thread: Anglican-Catholic Reunification

I will be busy today attending to APP-related activities, but I want to allow the discussion about yesterday's news to continue. Here are the posts AmP published yesterday about the Vatican announcing special pastoral provisions for traditional Anglicans to be received back into the Catholic Church:

• Important: Vatican welcomes Anglicans into Catholic Church with Apostolic Constitution
• Commentary: Anglo-Vatican announcement has important American/African dimension
• Video: Vatican press conference on Anglican provision
• Raw video: Abp. Nichols of Westminster explains new Anglo-Catholic structures

Please be aware of these resources which provide ongoing quality coverage and commentary:

• Fr. Dwight Longenecker, a Catholic priest and convert himself from the Anglican Church
• Damian Thompson, a reporter for the UK Telegraph and an expert on UK Catholic issues
• Ed Peters (my father) - a canonical expert who is looking at how this will all work out
• The Anchoress, an amazing blogger who has been doing mega-coverage of this story

For those very interested in the internal politics of this news, do read the entirety of Robert Moynihan's most recent report from Rome. He was in the room when the Vatican press conference took place, and provides a unique and thorough perspective on the many dynamics that were and are at play.

... and that should provide ample fodder for you eager Papists .... and those eager to be Papists!

And, as in all open threads, AmP readers are welcome to drop appropriate links into the comment box.

Outrageous: Obama volunteer website promotes Planned Parenthood opportunities

If you're surprised, you haven't been watching who is President:

President Barack Obama promised when he was a presidential candidate in July 2007 that he would be a lapdog for the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Obama is now making good on that promise by promoting Planned Parenthood on his new volunteerism web site, Serve.gov. (LifeNews)

Ironically the search engine they use is called "All For Good". I typed in "Planned Parenthood" and "Washington DC" and found plenty of opportunities waiting for me.

Sure, this is bad. But of course I've come to expect this. President Obama believes in mainstreaming Planned Parenthood and its vision of "health care services" for women.

But let me take this new finding in a slightly different direction....

Ever notice how liberal Catholics who support the President are extremely vocal about any sort of charge made against the President which they think is unfair?

I think it is more revealing to observe their complete silence on other issues. Let's face it - the President supports the mission and organization of Planned Parenthood. That's the unavoidable conclusion to his political background, promises - and now - presidential administration.

So I probably won't be holding my breath waiting to see Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, Michael Sean Winters, and others of their ilk, hit the presses and airwaves with some sort of claim that the President isn't responsible for this sort of thing.

Well, maybe he isn't, but he sure is happy to see it happen on his watch. And he's less than silent about it.

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/20/09

• Raw video: Abp. Nichols of Westminster explains new Anglo-Catholic structures
• Video: Vatican press conference on Anglican provision
• Pop culture: Sacrament of Confession featured in yesterday's House MD episode
• Commentary: Anglo-Vatican announcement has important American/African dimension
• Get involved! Support a Catholic Speaker Month
• Breaking: Vatican welcomes Anglicans into Catholic Church with Apostolic Constitution
  
• Europe: Record pro-life rally in Spain gathers over a million demonstrators
• US: Diocese of Wilmington, DE files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
• Overview: New bishop appointment possibilities

"You want me to march in the parish procession for my penance, Father? Okay...."

[Photo: Reuters]

Raw video: Abp. Nichols of Westminster explains new Anglo-Catholic structures

Raw video from the press conference held this morning in London. This video features Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of England and Wales, explaining more about what the new Anglo-Catholic structures will look like:

Video: Vatican press conference on Anglican provision

From the Vatican's YouTube channel, interesting because it gives us a visual of what happened in Rome this morning:

Sacrament of Confession featured in yesterday's House MD episode

Regular AmP readers will remember that I like the TV show House, MD.

Yesterday's episode featured the character Dr. Robert Chase, who is a Catholic and, in the show's back story, attended seminary for a year before deciding he wanted to become a doctor.

At a pivotal point in the episode, Dr. Chase goes to confession.

I thought the show treated the Sacrament of Confession and the necessary contrition for absolution in a very good, even theologically-informed, manner. The priest came off as somewhat distant, but also as someone with integrity and a sure moral compass.

Nothing on TV about matters of faith is ever perfect, but Dr. Chase's choice to not seek absolution and remain obstinate, I predict, will result in even greater difficulties for his character in the episodes ahead.

House, MD - like most shows about hospitals, doctors and patients, is ultimately a drama about life's ultimates, about matters of life and death. With the stakes so high, it's good to see the show's writers also discussing such issues as faith, sin, confession and morality.

If you watched the show - what are your thoughts?

Anglo-Vatican announcement has important American/African dimension

The Anglican Communion includes over 80 million persons worldwide.

I'll leave it to others to look at the possibilities for reconciliation and communion with the Catholic Church in Africa, where the Anglican Communion is on average far more conservative than their British counterparts.

But let us not forget the large numbers of Anglicans (Episcopalians) in the United States - well over two million. Episcopalians in the United States are not all of one mold, but among their number there are many traditional "high Church" individuals, who would be most disposed to reunification with Rome. There are already numerous "Anglican-rite" parishes in the United States, which allow for the inclusion of some elements of traditional Anglican prayer in the Catholic Mass.

Cardinal George - President of the US Bishops - has released a statement to reflect on the US dimension of the decisions announced in Rome and London today which I include in full:

Today the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has received word of the new Provision in the form of an apostolic constitution issued by the Holy See for the reception into full communion with the Catholic Church of groups from the Anglican tradition. The USCCB stands ready to collaborate in the implementation of that Provision in our country.

This step by the Holy See is in response to a number of requests received in Rome from groups of Anglicans seeking corporate reunion. The application of the new Provision recognizes the desire of some Anglicans (Episcopalians) to live the Catholic faith in full, visible communion with the See of Peter, while at the same time retaining some elements of their traditions of liturgy, spirituality and ecclesial life which are consistent with the Catholic faith.

This Provision, at the service of the unity of the Church, calls us as well to join our voices to the Priestly Prayer of Jesus that ‘all may be one’ (Jn 17:21) as we seek a greater communion with all our brothers and sisters with whom we share Baptism. For forty-five years, our Episcopal Conference has engaged in ecumenical dialogue with The Episcopal Church, which is the historic Province of the Anglican communion in North America. The Catholic Bishops of the United States remain committed to seeking deeper unity with the members of The Episcopal Church by means of theological dialogue and collaboration in activities that advance the mission of Christ and the welfare of society."

I certainly intend to do my part - there is an English pub down the street and this evening I'm going down there to have a few pints in celebration of the 1st annual "Anglo-Catholic Reunification Day."

Get involved! Support a Catholic Speaker Month

Matt Warner at Fallible Blogma has a great concept and he needs our help to execute it.

It's called "Support a Catholic Speaker Month" where Catholic Bloggers pick a Catholic speaker to profile.

I've already grabbed up Dr. Janet Smith, but there are still plenty of orphan Catholic speakers waiting for a short blog post (at least a few paragraphs) from you to "flood the web raising awareness and promoting hundreds of Catholic speakers and blogs."

I'd love to see the AmP community get involved.

Also, as I've mentioned - I'm a Catholic speaker as well. I've recently given talks in the Archdiocese of Denver on "Catholic Principles of Health Care Reform."

If you are interested in having me speak to your Catholic audience, drop me an email at "thomas at ameircanpapist dot com." Thanks!

Matt is supposed to add me to this list of Catholic speakers so if you act fast you might be able to snag me! ;)

Breaking: Vatican welcomes Anglicans into Catholic Church with Apostolic Constitution

Some stories are so big it's hard to know where to begin.

So let's begin with what the Vatican is saying:

"Today’s announcement of the Apostolic Constitution is a response by Pope Benedict XVI to a number of requests over the past few years to the Holy See from groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full visible communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and are willing to declare that they share a common Catholic faith and accept the Petrine ministry as willed by Christ for his Church.

Pope Benedict XVI has approved, within the Apostolic Constitution, a canonical structure that provides for Personal Ordinariates, which will allow former Anglicans to enter full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving elements of distinctive Anglican spiritual patrimony.

The announcement of this Apostolic Constitution brings to an end a period of uncertainty for such groups who have nurtured hopes of new ways of embracing unity with the Catholic Church. It will now be up to those who have made requests to the Holy See to respond to the Apostolic Constitution." (VIS)

UK Telegraph reporter Damian Thompson (and "British Papist") is the man to read at this hour:

This is astonishing news. Pope Benedict XVI has created an entirely new Church structure for disaffected Anglicans that will allow them to worship together – using elements of Anglican liturgy – under the pastoral supervision of their own specially appointed bishop or senior priest.

The Pope is now offering Anglicans worldwide “corporate reunion” on terms that will delight Anglo-Catholics. In theory, they can have their own married priests, parishes and bishops – and they will be free of liturgical interference by liberal Catholic bishops who are unsympathetic to their conservative stance.

There is even the possibility that married Anglican laymen could be accepted for ordination on a case-by-case basis – a remarkable concession.

.... This is a decision of supreme boldness and generosity by Pope Benedict XVI, comparable to his liberation of the Traditional Latin Mass. The implications of this announcement will take a long time to sink in, but I suspect that this will be a day of rejoicing for conservative Anglo-Catholics and their Roman Catholic friends all over the world.

Also to read at this early stage: Deacon Keith Fournier (for more implications of this decision) and BBC News (to get an early sense for how the British press views this move). I will be updating this post as time permits today.

*At this time the text of the Apostolic Constitution is not available online.*

More....

• Damian Thompson: Archbishop of Canterbury criticises Rome for springing this announcement on him
• Fr. Z. Commentary on Note of the CDF about personal ordinariates for Anglicans entering the Catholic Church
• John Allen: Vatican reveals plan to welcome disaffected Anglicans
• Associated Press: Pope Approves Plan to Bring Anglicans Into the Fold
• Catholic News Service: Pope establishes structure for Anglicans uniting with Rome
• The Anchoress is following the story closely, and I'm pleased to see she is mindful of the huge implications of this move for more traditional Anglicans in Africa
• New York Times: Pope Approves Plan to Allow Anglicans Into the Fold
• [You have to laugh at National Catholic Reporter's take: "Pope okays new structures to absorb disgruntled Anglican conservatives"]

More #2....

• Canon Lawyer Ed Peters: First thoughts on an Anglican ordinariate
• AmP follow-up: Anglo-Vatican announcement has important American/African dimension

Record pro-life rally in Spain gathers over a million demonstrators

A spasm of life in the Catholic country of Spain:

A massive crowd of pro-life Spanish citizens captured international headlines Saturday after marching on the country's capital to protest plans to loosen abortion restrictions in the country.

Estimates for the numbers of those in attendance varied, with mainstream media such as CNN and the New York Times reporting simply "thousands" or "tens of thousands." However, the Christian Post reports that Madrid's regional government estimated the numbers of attendees at around 1.2 million, and a spokesman for one of the pro-life organizers said 1.5 million people attended. The U.K.'s BBC and numerous other media outlets also put the crowd at over a million. According to Agence France Press, police put the number at 250,000.

... Since 2000, Spain's abortion rate has climbed a whopping 59% - compared to a 10% rise in Britain and France, and falling rates in Italy and Germany - earning Madrid the title of the "abortion Mecca" of Europe from local pro-life leaders. The country now sees the killing of over 100,000 children in the womb each year. As many as 1 out of 5 of its pregnancies end in abortion.

... Saturday's rally also received endorsement by leaders of the Catholic Church in Spain. The Catholic News Agency reports that Bishop Demetrio Fernandez of Tarazona voiced his support for the March last week in a pastoral letter, warning that Europe is 'terminally ill' due to abortion. (LifeSiteNews)

Diocese of Wilmington, DE files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

From the Associated Press:

A bankruptcy filing by the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was the best way to ensure reconciliation and compensation for all victims of clergy sexual abuse in the diocese, the bishop said Monday.

The diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Sunday after hours of settlement negotiations failed with about a dozen alleged victims, including eight plaintiffs whose cases were scheduled for trial. More than 100 other alleged victims are pursuing compensation through dispute resolution instead of trials.

"It was clear to us in our negotiations that the amount of money that was being sought by the early victims and the finite amount that we had ... was not going to work," said the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, the bishop of the diocese.

... The Wilmington diocese, which serves about 230,000 Catholics in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, is the seventh U.S. Catholic diocese to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since the church abuse scandal erupted seven years ago in Boston.

Others are Davenport, Iowa; Fairbanks, Alaska; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; Spokane, Wash.; and Tucson, Ariz. The San Diego case was dismissed.

Overview: New bishop appointment possibilities

[The nifty photo to the right is actually a working graphic of the Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States.]

The past seven days have been overactive when it comes to appointing new bishops for the United States.

Last Thursday three new bishops were appointed - a new ordinary of Duluth, MN, a new ordinary in Pueblo, CO, and an auxiliary to Providence, RI.

Yesterday a Monday appointment was announced to the diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming (new bishops are typically announced for the United States on Tuesdays, after all).

(I'm kind of kicking myself over that last one because I actually had a very strong tip that it would happen this week. But, because I figured it would wait until Tuesday, and because I don't like blogging over the weekends (and especially Sunday, of course!) - I decided to wait to talk about it until Monday morning. Well, I didn't get to it on Monday until the appointment had already come across on the wire.)

Well, to get back in front of the prevailing winds of new bishop appointments, let me mention a couple things on deep background. Two dioceses in particular are on my radar:

• In the diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend, Indiana - currently held by Bishop John D'Arcy, and in which the University of Notre Dame resides - I've been convinced that the new appointment has been picked since early this month. My most current update is that, while the Vatican wants to make the announcement, they are deferring to the request of Bishop D'Arcy that the announcement not be made until the current Bishop's appeal concludes. I'm aware of other instances where Rome has chosen to delay announcing the appointment of a new bishop until the current one has had an opportunity to see to pressing local issues, such as the raising of funds or the settling of diocesan business.


• Across the country in the Archdiocese of Seattle, I'm being reminded that Archbishop Alexander Brunett reached retirement age and submitted his resignation in January. It was accepted and he was asked to remain until a replacement could be chosen and installed. Some recent past practice has been for the Bishop of Helena Montana to be sent as the replacement of Seattle's Archbishop with the Helena Bishop being replaced by Seattle's auxilliary Bishop. Seattle currently has two young auxiliary bishops, and the bishop of Helena (George Thomas) is still under 60.

In the wider picture, there are currently six dioceses with no bishop currently serving, and six more dioceses with bishops serving past the mandatory age of retirement.

So we'll see - today is Tuesday - maybe Rome will go for a solid six appointments in six days!

(Please note that at no time in this post have I created three pairs of six numbers. Catholics are against that sort of thing.)

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/19/09

"Tonight at the Vatican: Sonata for three pianos and alien monster."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Tomorrow: Major announcement on Catholic-Anglican relations?

Papist chatter across the herring pond in England is heating up, with confirmed reports of major simultaneous press conferences taking place tomorrow morning at the Vatican and London.

Damian Thompson gets us the goods - this press release came from the Vatican:

We inform accredited journalists that tomorrow, Tuesday 20 October 2009, at 11am, in the John Paul II Hall of the Press Office of the Holy See, a briefing will be held on a theme pertaining to the relationship with the Anglicans, at which His Eminence Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and His Excellency Mgr Joseph Augustine Di Noia OP, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments will take part. (Hat-tip, Fr Finigan.)

Meanwhile, this press release came from the Archbishop of Canterbury's office:

You are invited to a press conference with Archbishop Vincent Nichols (Archbishop of Westminster) and Archbishop Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury) on Tuesday 20 October at 1000. The press conference will take place at 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX.

For both Cardinal Levada (doctrinal issues) and Abp. Di Noia (liturgy and sacraments) to be involved, you know it has to be significant.

The conference will be taking place in the very early morning hours my time, so when I wake up tomorrow I'll take a look at the news wire and report back.

Outrageous: Liberal Catholics trying to lay health care reform blame on US bishops

Hold on to your hats -I'm going to try to make something very complicated, well, a little less complicated.

This is about the ongoing struggle between democrats (and their friends) who want health care reform to include money for abortion, and pro-life Catholics who don't want money for abortions to be included in health care reform.

Here is a list of the most important players in this fight:
1) Cardinal Justin Rigali, head of the US Bishops' pro-life committee, and those who work for him
2) The leaders of the democrat party who are crafting health care legislation, and are eager to appease their pro-abortion supporter
3) Amy Sullivan (writing in TIME Magazine) and other media-type individuals (who falsely claim to present a "Catholic" perspective on health-care reform, like Catholics United and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good) trying to give cover to the democrats and malign the pro-life activities of Cardinal Rigali and other pro-life Catholics

The latest salvo in this ongoing fight comes from Amy Sullivan, who wrote in TIME Magazine this weekend claiming that the US Bishops have been sending mixed and confused messages to democrats in Congress, making it impossible for democrats to honor the Bishops' demands that money not go to abortions in health care reform.

She claims that democrats in Congress were taken by surprise when Cardinal Rigali wrote this on October 8th:

"However, we [bishops] remain apprehensive when amendments protecting freedom of conscience and ensuring no taxpayer money for abortion are defeated in committee votes. If acceptable language in these areas cannot be found, we will have to oppose the health care bill vigorously."

In fact, it is more accurate to say that Cardinal Rigali had seen through the democrat-sponsored Capps amendment as being nothing more than a shell game to sneak abortion funding into health care reform anyway, and so he wrote the above sentences with a clear message for the democrats in Congress: "enough is enough."

Eliminating money for abortion in health care reform would be as simple as approving any of the multiple pro-life amendments (such as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment) which have already been offered. But no - democrats have voted down every single pro-life amendment which has been offered during the long course of these deliberations.

Which leaves us with a very cold, obvious fact: the reason there is abortion funding in the current health care reform proposals is because democrats put it there, and have repeatedly kept it there.

Sorry, Amy, you can't blame the bishops for this one.

If you are interested in this topic, do also read what Deal Hudson and Steven Ertelt have written. Deal Hudson takes a look at what may be happening internally at the USCCB during these negotiations, while Steven Ertelt has an expert source briefing us on what has been happening politically in Congress.

On the radar: NY 23

Last week I wrote:

In New York's 23rd congressional district, Doug Hoffman is the only pro-life candidate in a race which includes a democrat and an extremely liberal, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage republican. It's an important race for the national scene, for several reasons.

Let me briefly lay out those "several reasons":

• NY23 is the only congressional race this election cycle, so everyone is watching it, making the stakes very high.
• The pro-life republican candidate (Hoffman) is gaining far more grassroots support than the liberal, pro-abortion republican candidate (Scozzafava). He is a classic underdog, come-from-behind candidate. Now he has to beat the pro-abortion democrat (Owens).
• if Hoffman beats Scozzafava and Owens, it sends a strong message to the Republican Party about what kind of candidate will win in upcoming elections, namely, one who is strong on "social issues" like traditional marriage and pro-life. It says that "RINOs" (Republicans in Name Only) is not the way to go. People are more passionate about issues and the integrity of their representatives than they are about the letter behind a person's name.

Steve Ertelt at LifeNews is talking about this race, and I'd like to see it garner more Catholic attention.

If you are in upstate New York and want to help out, please drop me an email. Thanks!

Papist Half-Time Report: Priest coach finishes regular football season 8-1

After watching Notre Dame lose (barely) and the patriots win (big) this weekend, but before tuning-in to the trouncing that the Chargers are going to get from the Broncos tonight, it's the right time for a papist football story.

AmP reader Douglas lets us know about a newly ordained Priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis who is the chaplain and an assistant coach at Cardinal Ritter High School which is the #1 ranked school in class 2A (for football that is).  

They just finished the regular season 8-1.  Father Hollowell is one heck of a coach it seems.

The local diocesan paper reports: Faith, football and a fatherly instinct: Father John Hollowell knows joy and passion as a priest, teacher and coach

Also: A football Friday in the life of Father John Hollowell.

Monday surprise: New bishop appointed to Cheyenne, Wyoming

Early Monday news from up north:

Pope Benedict XVI named Father Paul D. Etienne, 50, pastor of St. Paul Church in Tell City, Indiana, as Bishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

Paul Etienne was born June 15, 1959, in Tell City. He graduated from Tell City High School and the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. He attended North American College, Rome, and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 1992. He holds Bachelor and Licentiate of Theology degrees from the Gregorian University, Rome. 

... The Cheyenne Diocese comprises the state of Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park and includes 97,548 square miles. The total population of the diocese is estimated at 515,000 people, with 52,397, or ten percent, of them Catholic.

Whispers has his virtual hiking boots on for this one.

The folks at Wyoming Catholic College must be happy.

update - this comment from below deserves to be included here. I love these personal stories!

"A story once appeared in our Archdiocesan newspaper about the Etienne family. I had a great chuckle reading the part about Fr. Paul and his brother Fr. Bernie (both Vocations Directors) both trying to persuade their brother Zach (now Fr. Zach) to come and be a Priest in their respective Diocese. Fr. Bernie and the Diocese of Evansville won (for lack of a better word). I guess this is the Holy Spirit's idea of a consolation prize...lol. May God continue to bless Bishop-Elect Etienne and the people of Cheyenne!" - Adam Welp

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/18/09

"My apologies, your holiness, the artist was rushed you see...."

[Photo: Reuters]

Important: Abp. Burke appointed to Congregation of Bishops

Good news for the Church in the United States, and the world, as reported by Whispers:

[Yesterday], B16 named the church's "chief justice" Archbishop Raymond Burke to the membership of the Congregation for Bishops, giving the 61 year-old prelate a seat at the dicastery's all-important Thursday Table, whose votes recommend prospective appointees to the Pope.

As a result, Burke's impact on the process and its outcomes could be felt for two decades; normally renewed on a five-yearly basis, Curial memberships automatically cease at age 75 for bishops and 80 for the college of cardinals, which the Wisconsin-born prefect of the Apostolic Signatura is likely to join at the next consistory, expected to take place sometime in mid-2010.

... Though it can only be gauged with time, the emergence of a potential "Burke effect" on Stateside appointments bears watching.

Any move that places Abp. Burke in a more prominent oversight role over the appointment of bishops in the United States is a good thing.

For "micronews", follow AmP on Twitter!

As a reminder, I receive far more news tips per day than I can possibly blog about, but I will try to be better about dropping these stories into my AmP Twitter feed. This allows me to pursue important stories in greater depth.

Miracle Video: Baby in stroller hit by train as mother watches

This is why we should pray to our Guardian Angel every day:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/16/09

• Spooky: This Halloween, Protestants celebrate "Reformation Day"
  
• Offbeat: Poker-playing priest has chance to win $1M
• Outrageous: Candidate for expulsion - Jesuit novice in Oregon province
• Silly: NCR's "simple fact" about marriage is neither simple, nor a fact
• Huh? Homosexualist Play To Be Performed at Four SF Catholic High Schools
• Pop culture: Katie Holmes places daughter Suri in Catholic pre-school
• Event: Support local pro-life in Washington DC
• Commentary: Sarah Silverman's modest proposal for the Pope, and what I propose for Sarah

How am I supposed to autograph this with a rosary?!

[Photo: Reuters]

Spooky: This Halloween, Protestants celebrate "Reformation Day"

As we prepare for the Holloween season (which seems to become a bigger and bigger deal in the United States each year, and that probably isn't a healthy sign), let's see what our Protestant brothers and sisters are planning.

PCANews at the Christian Broadcasting Network website has come up with a way to overcome the satanic/occult aspects of Halloween - a Reformation Day party! They explain it:

October 31 celebrates the day that the Reformation in Europe began with Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the Wittenburg church door, leading to a firestorm response in Germany. Why not use this occasion for a celebration of our Reformed heritage. And yes, this can be fun for the kids too!

[Here is what Reformation day involves:]

Why not have a celebration at church where all get dressed up as characters from the Reformation (I've dressed up as John Calvin, Martin Luther, a peasant, and even John Tetzel (the salesman of those infamous indulgences)? When I couldn't get a 16th century idea then I dressed as a Bible character. You can transform the fellowship hall into Wittenburg, Germany or Geneva. Here is an opportunity to go over the great "solas" of the Reformation: by Scripture alone, by grace alone, by Christ alone, by faith alone, and to God be the glory alone. Have people explain them. Show a video of one of the reformers. Draw murals of Reformation events.

Here are some other things our church has done over the years: Medieval line dancing (a lot like Scottish line dancing), Medieval relay races (put the indulgences in the bottle), bobbing for apples, German cover dish dinner, acting out your character (don't tell anyone who you are, but act it out -- the ideas are limited only by time and background).

It's ironic that protestants are choosing Holloween to celebrate the Reformation, considering that many Catholic families celebrate All Souls Day by dressing as Catholic saints. Of course - protestants probably won't be up for a good old-fashioned cult of the saints party like we are.

Then again, if protestants can play "put the indulgences in the bottle" to get in touch with their historical roots, and baptists can have bonfires burning Catholic bibles and books on spirituality by Catholic saints, maybe Catholics could celebrate Reformation Day by starting bonfires and burning figurines of heretics to get in touch with our historical roots? ;-)

(... I'm totally kidding of course. Well ... mostly.)

Offbeat: Poker-playing priest has chance to win $1,000,000

This is a *classic* off-beat Catholic story....

The Aiken Standard:

Andrew Trapp's interest in becoming a priest dates back to fifth grade at St. Mary of Help of Christians School in Aiken.

He followed through on that path. Now 28, Trapp is serving as the assistant pastor at St. Michael Catholic Church in Garden City Beach.
Father Trapp has a new moniker in recent weeks - the poker-playing priest. He's good at it, too. In a tape-delayed broadcast from Los Angeles on Fox on Sunday, Trapp beat a professional poker player to win $100,000 - an unexpected prize he will donate to St. Michael's fundraising efforts for a new church building.

... But he's quick to point out to the kids that he's not advocating serious gambling. The online qualifying tournaments had no entry fee, and his trip to Los Angeles was provided expense-free.

Earlier, Trapp had gotten permission from his parish priest and bishop to pursue the poker challenge.

I think there should be a ministry dedicated to people in casinos.

I've seen poker players use sunglasses to confuse their opponents.

I wonder how the other players felt this time around about playing across from a roman collar.

... I mean, I wonder if they fell for the Trapp.

*zing!*

Outrageous: Candidate for expulsion - Jesuit novice in Oregon province

In February of this year I blogged about the Northwest Province of Jesuits filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Now I find out the disturbing news that one of the Province's novices is, well, morally bankrupt:

Meet Cormac Brissett who's a novice in that province. He signed a protest in defense of public lewdness in a circular letter posted on-line by an apologist for pederasty, William A. Percy, in No to Sexophobia (May 3, 1995) with one of the founding members of Nambla. It's hard to believe that Mr. Brissett's opinions are a passing fancy, he's penned articles for Lavender Magazine, and intereviewed another pederastic intellectual,Edmund White, without the slightest criticism. It would be more surprising that Mr. Brissett would give up his unnatural tastes and intellectual defense of them than that the Jesuit order will perform due dilligence on its candidates for priesthood.

I'll leave the moralizing to Diogenes, but I'll write down my gut reaction: "What would Ignatius say?!"

Silly: NCR's "simple fact" about marriage is neither simple, nor a fact

My father Canon Lawyer Ed Peters writes a brief comment on National Catholic Reporter's recent editorial staff article on the US Bishops' new Pastoral Letter on Marriage. The bottom line:

"... advice from the National Catholic Reporter on how to improve pastoral letters on marriage might be read for possible amusement value, but not for anything that requires theological, canonical, and/or historical accuracy."

Silly NCR editors - theology is for theologians!

Homosexualist Play To Be Performed at Four SF Catholic High Schools

Friday is AmP off-beat news day, but I have a feeling today's stories are just going to be plain sad:

Four Catholic High Schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco are scheduled to host a performance of the condom-endorsing sex-education play Secrets. The play was written by openly lesbian playwright Patricia Loughrey. Secrets will be performed on October 14, 2009 at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School in San Francisco; on November 5, 2009 at Sacred Heart High School in Atherton; on January 19, 2010 at Mercy High School in Burlingame, and on February 9, 2010 at St. Ignatius College Preparatory High School in San Francisco.

The play depicts a teenager who is HIV positive. Some content in Secrets was considered, by the Fremont, California Unified School District, to be sufficiently graphic to require that a permission slip be signed by parents before their child would be allowed to see it. The Fremont Unified School District also posts an online flyer (in English and Chinese) for parents, informing them of the performance, and inviting them to watch a video of Secrets before giving their permission. The flyer also describes two of the scenes: “A character dumps dozens of brightly wrapped condoms on the floor with a discussion about which type of condoms are the best to use and how to use them effectively.” Another scene is a “Discussion about contraceptives and a visual display of them.” The production of Secrets in the San Francisco Archdiocese is sponsored by the Educational Theater Programs division of the Kaiser Permanente HMO. (California Catholic Daily)

Nothing like Catholic private education.

LifeSiteNews "attempted to contact both the diocesan department of education and schools showing the play; but no calls or emails have yet been returned."

Nothing like transparent diocesan administrations.

And down south, where the real nuts roll:

The University of San Diego, a Catholic institution of higher education, gave permission to Pride (a campus “alliance” of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered queer and questioning students) to hold a campus dance on Friday, October 9, 2009. According to an e-mail obtained by California Catholic Daily, Pride met with the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Vice President for Mission and Ministry to discuss the dance and other issues regarding the group. The two administrators agreed to permit the event on campus. In the e-mail, a student leader wrote to the members of Pride, “we can have a DANCE, not a social or mixer, a full-on DANCE!!!! The University and administration support us and will continue to support us sponsoring a dance on-campus. This is a great step in the direction that we want to go…”. By providing a venue for students struggling with homosexual tendencies to pursue romantic relationships, such dances may conflict with Catholic teaching on sexual activity outside of marriage. (Cardinal Newman Society)

Sounds like a mixed bag of nuts.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Katie Holmes places daughter Suri in Catholic pre-school

This is as close to tabloid coverage as you'll see AmP cover, so enjoy it while you can:


UK Daily Mail:

Katie Holmes has won a battle with her Scientologist husband Tom Cruise to enrol their daughter Suri in a Catholic pre-school.

The Church of Scientology has always been a bone of contention between the couple and Tom wanted three-year-old Suri to be raised a Scientologist.

But last week Katie enrolled the toddler at the Catholic Charities Yawkey Centre For Early Education And Learning in Boston, Massachusetts.

The family are living in the city while Tom, 47, films his new movie, the spy comedy thriller Wichita. Katie’s mother also flew in for her granddaughter’s first week at the pre-school.

‘Katie has been listening to her parents who are devout Catholics,’ I’m told.

‘She is not convinced by Scientology and has told Tom that she wants Suri to be educated as a Catholic – as she was.

‘They had been having huge problems agreeing on her school. To say they were having arguments is putting it mildly – but Tom came around to the idea in the end.’

Holmes, 30, has not been seen at the Church of Scientology for more than
five months.

But Cruise, who was also raised Catholic but converted to Scientology in 1990, remains an ardent follower.

However, the decision does not seem to have upset the couple's relationship.

Talk about a mixed-religion marriage.

Event: Support local pro-life in Washington DC

I've talked before about how there is something everyone can do to support pro-life activities in their local community. Sometime that "something" is as easy as having a good time.

I'll be attending this year's "23rd Annual Indian Summer Ball" (despite the chilly, fall weather) this weekend, where the proceeds go directly to supporting the wonderful and critical pro-life work done by the Northwest Center. Here is the event description:

Our annual Indian Summer Ball is one of Washington D.C.’s premier pro-life events. This black-tie affair features live music and dancing, a gourmet buffet, and a silent auction.  Over the past two decades, the Ball has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the work of The Northwest Center while providing a memorable night for all our guests. Reserve your ticket or sponsorship today!

This event will be held October 17th, 2009 at the Organization of American States near the National Mall.

Click here for more information including directions and ticket sales.

2008 Photos - 2007 Photos

There's still time for you to buy your ticket. Or, if you live outside of Washington DC, support the center directly. Washington DC is not only our nation's capital, but a sad "abortion capital" of sorts (admittedly behind New York City in total numbers of abortions per year).

Whatever government programs have promised to accomplish here, the most effective way of supporting a cultural of life directly is to provide local and immediate support for women who want to make the choice for life. I hope you'll join these fruitful local efforts.

Sarah Silverman's modest proposal for the Pope, and what I propose for Sarah

Professional attention-searcher Sarah Silverman has released a YouTube video called "Sell the Vatican, Feed the World" which will soon pass half a million views.

You are welcome to watch it, but we warned that it's extremely vulgar.

In the video, Silverman tries to make an argument that the Pope needs to sell the Vatican to feed poor people.

I'm not disagreeing with Silverman that poor people ought to be fed, but I'm sure sick of liberal know-it-alls getting away with stupid arguments and ignorant stereotypes of the Church. That's what I'm going to focus on.

Even the Associated Press has covered this story, and it doesn't help the reputation of the Church when Rev. James Martin, SJ - culture editor of the Jesuit magazine America, writes that Silverman may be onto something.

.... excuse me?!

Silverman is trying to claim that if the pope doesn't sell the Vatican to feed the poor, the pope and the Church are somehow being hypocritical - that their actions don't reflect their beliefs.

Well, let's take a look at the facts:

• The Catholic Church already feeds more people than any private institution in the world. In the world. There's not even a close second. As a Church, of course we could do more. But we are doing something - and its a lot of something. Silverman might give credit where credit is due.
• Silverman makes the slur that the Vatican was involved in the holocaust. Seriously, Sarah? The historical evidence firmly exonerates the activity of the Church during the holocaust. Pope Pius XII personally saw to the protection of thousands of Jews, at great personal risk to himself and the Church. As a person of Jewish ancestry, how dare she attack the institution credited by Jews the world over with protecting Jews when so many world governments were deaf to their cries. This is beneath even her.
• Silverman likes quoting Christian sayings back to the pope - does she know about motes and beams? I'm curious how much of Sarah's profits, including her movie profits, have you used to feed the poor? If she is tired of seeing starving people on TV, what has she done about it, besides uploading a self-promoting video to YouTube? Shouldn't those who work to feed the poor be outraged at the antics of Silverman, when she uses the plight of starving people to further her own popularity and distract from their needs?
• At the end of the day, it's just a really stupid idea even in itself. The assets of the Vatican (St. Peter's Basilica, etc.) don't have a fair market value. Who is going to buy the Vatican? The best use of the Vatican is to continue to provide a place of worship to the millions of people who are members of the Church, who are in turn the economic engine behind the Vatican's ability to feed the poor. Pure and simple.

Some of you may be thinking: "Thom, chill out, everyone knows this is a joke."

Well not so fast - we look at this proposal and find it preposterous, but plenty of people watch this and receive yet another confirmation of their ingrained opinion - frequently reinforced by pop culture - that the Catholic Church is a bunch of selfish hypocrites who use Christianity as a way of lining their fur-coat vestments.

Honestly.

So my last point is for Fr. Martin, who writes that Silverman "is on to something - like Jesus was":

• Attacks on the Church are not the correct opportunity for pius hand-wringing. The take-away from the Sarah Silverman proposal is not "Gee, I guess she has a point". Rather it is: "The only good point Sarah makes we Catholics already knew, now has she heard any of the points we Catholics have in response?"

I, and every serious Catholic, don't need Sarah Silverman telling us we need to do more as individuals and as a Church to feed the poor. However, Sarah Silverman and most everyone who listens to her, needs to know that the Church is attempting - to the best of its ability and despite all its human failings - to live out the gospel mandate of Jesus Christ to feed the hungry.

(A little example might help here, if Silverman promised to match the charitable output of the Church dollar-for-dollar in its care and feeding of the poor, she would be bankrupt in a couple days. And that's just a guess. Maybe she would be bankrupt sooner.)

So no, Sarah Silverman doesn't have a point. The Church has a point - it has the truth.

That's what we should be talking about.

I realize papists don't need to hear these truths from me, but when your friend or co-worker asks you, "so what do you think about that Sarah Silverman video?" ... you know what I have to say about it.

Answer Sarah Silverman, Teach the World.

Bishop Tri-Appointment Thursday!

Three new bishops appointed for the United States today!

Pope Benedict XVI has named Father Paul Sirba of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as bishop of Duluth, Minnesota; Father Fernando Isern of the Archdiocese of Miami, 51, as Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado; and Msgr. Robert C. Evans, 62, of the [diocese] of Providence, Rhode Island, as Auxiliary Bishop of Providence. The pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Arthur Tafoya, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Pueblo Diocese.

The Duluth Diocese includes 22,354 square miles. The total population of the diocese is estimated at 439,172 people, with 66,007, or 15 percent, of them Catholic.

The Pueblo Diocese includes 48,155 square miles. The total population of the diocese is estimated at 621,000 people, with 96,904, or 16 percent, of them Catholic

The Providence [diocese] includes 1,085 square miles. The total population of the diocese is estimated at 1,057,832 people, with 624,120, or 59 percent, of them Catholic

Whispers has details.

Papist Picture of the Day - 10/14/09

• Mature audience: Woman describes performing abortion while pregnant herself 
  
• Action: 4 things for Catholics to support before November 4th
• Huh? Notre Dame funds students to attend DC Gay March, hosts "coming out day"
  

Covert surveillance is not a Swiss Guard strength.

[Photo: Reuters]

Mature audience: Woman describes performing abortion while pregnant herself

WARNING: this post contains a graphic description of an abortion that may not be appropriate for some individuals. Please read with care.

I think it's important in the debate about abortion to have an honest dialogue about all parties who are involved.

I think this blog, written by a female abortionist, goes far in revealing the sort of extreme cognative dissonance that is necessary for someone to perform abortions. 

And yet, even in this situation, it's impossible for her to avoid her own humanity - and the humanity of the young human person she is destroying:

When I was a little over 18 weeks pregnant with my now pre-school child, I did a second trimester abortion for a patient who was also a little over 18 weeks pregnant. As I reviewed her chart I realised that I was more interested than usual in seeing the fetal parts when I was done, since they would so closely resemble those of my own fetus. 

I went about doing the procedure as usual, removed the laminaria I had placed earlier and confirmed I had adequate dilation. I used electrical suction to remove the amniotic fluid, picked up my forceps and began to remove the fetus in parts, as I always did. I felt lucky that this one was already in the breech position – it would make grasping small parts (legs and arms) a little easier. 

With my first pass of the forceps, I grasped an extremity and began to pull it down. I could see a small foot hanging from the teeth of my forceps. With a quick tug, I separated the leg. Precisely at that moment, I felt a kick – a fluttery “thump, thump” in my own uterus. It was one of the first times I felt fetal movement. There was a leg and foot in my forceps, and a “thump, thump” in my abdomen. 

Instantly, tears were streaming from my eyes – without me – meaning my conscious brain - even being aware of what was going on. I felt as if my response had come entirely from my body, bypassing my usual cognitive processing completely. A message seemed to travel from my hand and my uterus to my tear ducts. It was an overwhelming feeling – a brutally visceral response – heartfelt and unmediated by my training or my feminist pro-choice politics. 

It was one of the more raw moments in my life. Doing second trimester abortions did not get easier after my pregnancy; in fact, dealing with little infant parts of my born baby only made dealing with dismembered fetal parts sadder.

... and yet, she continues to perform abortions to this day.

There are several more examples in the same post of similar, incomprehensible thoughts and experiences related by the abortionist-writer.

If anything we've ever read has convinced us we need to pray for an end to an abortion, for the conversion of those who perform them, and work with greater self-conviction in the knowledge that our cause is just and desperately-needed in this world ... this was it.

4 things for Catholics to support before November 4th

As a Catholic active in politics, there are four races I'm following in the lead up to this November 4th.

If you have money or resources to help any of these races, they definitely deserve your attention!

• In Virginia, Catholic pro-life candidate for Governor Bob McDonnell is running against pro-choice Democrat Creigh Deeds. McDonnell is slightly ahead but needs help across the finish line. Deeds has gone after McDonnell aggressively for McDonnell's Catholic viewpoints on current issues.
• In New Jersey, Catholic pro-life candidate for Governor Chris Christie is running against pro-choice Democrat incumbent Jon Corzine. Christie is ahead but Corzine has been running a very mean, 100% negative campaign which is doing damage to Christie, including attacking his pro-life positions.
• In Maine, traditional marriage is on the ballot. StandForMarriageMaine is doing great work side-by-side with the bishop in Maine, despite advertisements from the other side which try to deceive Catholics, and the other side committing acts of vandalism.
• Finally, in New York's 23rd congressional district, Doug Hoffman is the only pro-life candidate in a race which includes a democrat and an extremely liberal, pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage republican. It's an important race for the national scene, for several reasons.

If Catholics across the country support these individuals and causes, we can have something significant to celebrate and be proud about in three short weeks! Thanks so much for spreading the word.

Huh? Notre Dame funds students to attend DC Gay March, hosts "coming out day"

What the heck?

The Cardinal Newman Society points out more craziness at Notre Dame:

A surprise move from the Student Activities Office allowed five students to attend a national gay rights demonstration in Washington D.C. Sunday, sophomore Jackie Emmanuel, president of the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), said.

The students were granted permission from the Office to use PSA funding to travel to the nation's capital to participate in the National Equality March over the weekend, Emmanuel said.

"The fact that we were University-approved was surprising but it was a wonderful surprise," she said. "The University hasn't always been entirely receptive in the past."

... She said her group hung out in the gay neighborhood of the city and stayed with friends to minimize costs. (ND Observer)

Whose bright idea was this?

A Notre Dame student sent me this photo they snapped on their phone at the student center a few days ago. In case you can't read it, the headline says "Coming Out Day - by signing this pledge:"

I'm guessing this is organized by Notre Dame's "Core Council for Gay and Lesbian Students" as part of their October 11th "National Coming Out Day"

Papist Picture of the Day - 03/13/09

• Video: Gay activists in Maine lie about Catholic support for homosexual marriage 
  
• Photo: Spot the Page 6 error! 
• Video: Guest co-host of the View serves up a needed Obama reality-check
  
• Report: Catholic University's liturgical abuse prompts vandalism, possible hate-crime charges
  
• Commentary: Bishop Sample prevents Bishop Gumbleton from appearing in his diocese
  
• Life: New York Times prints photos of abortion victims

Her first name may be "Mary", but her last name sure isn't "Poppins."

[Photo: AP Photo]

Video: Gay activists in Maine lie about Catholic support for homosexual marriage

CatholicVoteAction brings to our attention a duplicitous tactic being employed by homosexual activists in the lead-up to Maine's Nov. 4th marriage vote:

CatholicVoteAction.org Calls on Maine Group to Pull ‘Catholic’ Gay-Marriage Ad

Homosexual advocates have released a shameless new ad featuring a grandmother and two gay men urging Maine voters this November to approve ‘same-sex’ marriage. The grandmother in the new commercial speaks about her Catholic faith and the importance of the institution of marriage, but then urges voters to support ‘same-sex’ marriage.

Here is the video:

Look at how subtly this ad works: "I've been a Catholic all my life ... my faith means alot to me."

This ad is deceptive because it implies that this woman supports homosexual marriage because of her Catholic faith.

Of course, the universal Church only supports traditional marriage between a man and woman, as God instituted it, in harmony with natural laws which defend and promote human dignity and flourishing.

This video ad is doubly duplicitous because it ignores the clear teaching and activity of Maine's own Bishop Richard Malone, who is a staunch defender of traditional marriage and is mobilizing and urging Catholics in Maine to Vote Yes on November 4th.

I mean, who are Catholics supposed to believe - a woman who claims to be Catholic in an advertisement sponsored and run by homosexual-marriage advocates, or the local Bishop together with his priests in agreement with the constant teaching and universal witness of the Catholic Church? Really, it's not even close.

So let us come together and refute the lies being fed Catholics in Maine by those who created this advertisement. Catholics proudly support traditional marriage as God instituted it, and we won't let homosexual-marriage activists try to hide the clear teaching of the Church and their local Bishop from Catholics in Maine.

Visit www.standformarriagemaine.com where you will find ways to support their efforts to preserve traditional marriage. There's an action item for most everyone who is passionate about this issue. Even those of us who can't vote in Maine.

They also have documents and arguments showing why all citizens have an interest in supporting traditional marriage.

Photo: Spot the Page 6 error!

Can you see what the New York Post's gossip column "Page Six" got wrong?

And their fix wasn't really even any better (I mean, seriously).

Ph/t: Dawn Eden.

Video: Guest co-host of the View serves up a needed Obama reality-check

I don't know much about Rachel Campos-Duffy, but I love what she had to say yesterday on ABC's the View:

In related news, L'Osservatore Romano at least came out with an article calling Obama's Nobel peace prize "premature."

Of course, the word "premature" still implies that the President is pursuing a host of policies that will eventually make him worthy of receiving a peace prize.

I don't agree with that.

Report: Catholic University's liturgical abuse prompts vandalism, possible hate-crime charges

The University of Detroit Mercy is "a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions."

This is educational institutional code for "Catholic-but-dont-hold-that-against-us-we-really-dont-believe-this-silly-stuff."

In response, one zealous student made a stupid attempt to thwart a case of inevitable (grave) liturgical abuse, and may get charged with a hate crime as a result:

A UDM student reportedly stole four medallions depicting various world religions in an attempt to deny their recognition in the Sept. 24 Celebrate Spirit service, the university's opening {Mass}.

The student, who has not been publicly identified, entered Gesu Church between 7 and 9 a.m., according to the UDM Department of Public Safety.

The suspect stole the medallions representing Islam, Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism and disposed of them, officials said.

The medallions have not been recovered. The medallions representing Christianity and Judaism were still in place. (Source - The Varsity News)

The UDM website helpfully explains this "Procession of Medallions of Major World Religions":

* the Star of David (Judaism),
* the cross (Christianity),
* and the Star and Crescent (Islam) represent the three sister-communities who trace the origins of their faith to Abraham.
* The Yin-yang symbol (Confucianism),
* the Dharma Wheel (Buddhism),
* and the Om (Hinduism) represent the great religions of the East.

All faiths recognize the reality of the transcendent and attempt to engage believers with Ultimate Reality. The medallions are a sign of welcome to every expression of Spirit in this celebration as we move together through this coming academic year.

(The UDM website also explains what the "Liturgy of the Eucharist" is, for those of us who need sensitivity training:

The word "eucharist" comes from the Greek word for "thanksgiving." The gathered community first brings forward bread, the staff of life, and wine, a festive drink. We place these symbols of our life and joy into the hands of the priest, a chosen representative of this community and of the larger Church. He calls down the power of the Holy Spirit over the gifts, recalling the story of Jesus' own gift to us and asking that God transform them. Then with Jesus and the community he gives thanks to God. Our great "Amen" at the end is the sign of our acceptance of all that we have said and done together.)

And yes, for attempting to interfere with these great "signs of welcome" and "signs of our acceptance", the student may very well be charged with a hate crime. Too bad this young student isn't eligible for welcoming or acceptance, apparently.
Oh well, I guess he missed his chance.

The local Jesuit campus minister helpfully provides tus with the moral of the story:

"It's a sad thing that happened, and it illustrates how one person's inability to accept others can affect a whole community," said the Rev. Gary Wright, S.J., of Campus Ministry.

That's funny, becuase now I'm confused ... I thought the 2009 theme of the Celebrate Spirit! 2009 opening liturgy was what is written on the UDM website:

"As a result of this year's Celebrate Spirit, we hope that the UDM community will be more aware of the gift of creation, more moved to praise and thank God for it, and more empowered to take action to care for it. In the light of current social awareness and scientific understanding, we hope that all who participate will see environmental concern as more than a political position, more than a practical survival strategy. Rather it is a deep and necessary response flowing from our faith traditions, spiritualities, and ethical principles."

I guess environmentalism also has a vital role to play in UDM's "Catholic Mass."

Which is UDM code for "Interfaith-ecumenical-faith-healing-celebration-event-community-growing-environmentally-sustainable-equality-promoting-difference-negating-positive-thinking-hey-whatever-just-show-up-please-and-bring-a-side-dish-or-something-gathering."

Commentary: Bishop Sample prevents Bishop Gumbleton from appearing in his diocese

This is a sad, but encouraging story. It is certainly important.

It is sad because a young orthodox bishop had to tell an older, heterodox bishop to stay out of his diocese.

It is encouraging because the young orthodox bishop did this for all of the right reasons, in exactly the appropriate way.

Here is the statement of Bishop Sample of Marquette MI on the unwelcome attempted activities of Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, retired auxiliary of Detroit, in his diocese.

I am exerpting only a part of Bishop Sample's message, so I urge you to read all of it for context (I will bold the important parts):

There is a common courtesy usually observed between bishops whereby when one bishop wishes to enter into another bishop’s diocese to minister or make a public speech or appearance, he informs the local bishop ahead of time and seeks his approval. Only on October 9 did I receive any communication from Bishop Gumbleton, after this situation had already become public.

As the Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, I am the chief shepherd and teacher of the Catholic faithful of the Upper Peninsula entrusted to my pastoral care. As such I am charged with the grave responsibility to keep clearly before my people the teachings of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals. Given Bishop Gumbleton’s very public position on certain important matters of Catholic teaching, specifically with regard to homosexuality and the ordination of women to the priesthood, it was my judgment that his presence in Marquette would not be helpful to me in fulfilling my responsibility.

I realize that these were not the topics upon which Bishop Gumbleton was planning to speak. However, I was concerned about his well-known and public stature and position on these issues and my inability to keep these matters from coming up in discussion. In order that no one becomes confused, everyone under my pastoral care must receive clear teaching on these important doctrines.

I offer my prayers for Bishop Gumbleton and for all those who have been negatively affected by this unfortunate situation.”

And that's all there is to it. Bishop Sample is the head of his diocese, and when it comes to matters of public scandal - as he judged it would become if he allowed Bishop Gumbleton a pulpit in his diocese - there's nothing else to be said.

Of course, the organization which invited Gumbleton is saying plenty to the press - let's take a look:

Members of the Citizens for Peace and Social Justice group said they are appalled, sad and frustrated over a decision by Bishop Alexander Sample of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette to deny a Detroit bishop permission to speak publicly in Marquette this weekend.

"We're really confused about it," said Darlene Dreisbach, a member of the Marquette peace organization. "Doesn't that seem like the Middle Ages?"

"Yesterday afternoon [Bishop Gumbleton] called us and said he received a letter from Bishop Sample to not speak publicly," Dreisbach said. "He was not told why." {Given Bishop Sample's statement above, it seems very clear that he provided Bishop Gumbleton with a very definite reason why.}

"I don't know how one bishop can deny civil rights," Dreisbach said, adding that she now has to cancel every event planned for Gumbleton's visit. {Unfortunately, this individual confuses civil rights with the right of a bishop to prevent confusion being spread about what the Church teaches in his own diocese by a fellow bishop.}

Let's be clear about the timeline. Sample was evidently aware of Gumbleton's invitation, and had sent him notice that he was not allowed in the diocese. Gumbleton did not give Sample the curtesy of a response until the same day as the story was in the local news.

You know who else is defending Gumbleton? Gay bloggers, including one who used to work for Pax Christi USA while Gumbleton was heavily associated with it, who writes:

Bishop Sample is a damn fool -- running a Catholic gestapo in charge of policing who comes in and out of his diocese lest folks hear a thing or two about equal rights.

Sadly, this isn't the first time Bishop Gumbleton has been told to keep out from a Catholic diocese. Tucson, Arizona's Bishop, Gerald Kicanas, also wouldn't allow Bishop Gumbleton to travel to his diocese to