Heretical Harridan: House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi condemned a bill that would prohibit abortions during the final four months of pregnancy with exceptions for when the life or physical health of the mother was at stake.
Asked what the moral difference is between what Dr. Kermit Gosnell did to babies born alive and aborting those same infants moments before birth, Pelosi got annoyed refused to answer.
"As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this," Pelosi said. "I don't think it should have anything to do with politics."
This deplorable woman is a CINO - Catholic In Name Only. I wish her bishop had the guts to excommunicate her. She has given him numerous reasons to do so. Pelosi is the poster child for all those who claim to be Catholics but publicly speak against its very principles.
As a popular Democratic politician, she probably has a concierge-level reservation in the Kennedy Wing of Hell. (posted 6/18/13, permalink)
Congratulations ... to my cousin, Tommy Lyons, who just received the 2013 Golden Hawk Award from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia.
The Prep released a statement, noting that Tom Lyons (Class of 1960) "may be the walking definition of a 'Man for and with Others'. Throughout his life, Tom has worked to ensure that his success directly benefits his fellow man.
A native of Northeast Philadelphia's Oxford Circle section, Tom attended St. Martin of Tours. As a student at the Prep, he was a member of the freshman crew, acted in Cape and Sword and was a class officer. He then attended Saint Joseph's University, where he received a Bachelors degree in Marketing. After serving two years in the Army, he attended Temple University, where he earned a spot in Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honors society while attaining an MBA.
His professional career was spent in the Marketing Department of Astra Zeneca. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pharmaceutical Marketing and Research Association. He also served as an adjunct professor at SJU, West Chester and University of the Sciences. After retiring from Astra Zeneca, he and a colleague formed AIM (Answers for Issues in Marketing) where he worked for five years.
That, however, does not adequately measure Tom. He has been giving of himself in service to others his entire life. He was named Wilmington School District's Mentor of the Year and was President of the School Board and CYO Athletic Director at St. Margaret's Church in Narberth. He is also active in Aid for Friends, bringing food and companionship to an elderly home bound man.
Since retiring, Tom has remained active. He wrote a book, 'You Can't Get to Heaven on the Frankford El', with the proceeds going to defray the tuition for students at St. Malachy's, Sacred Heart and a school in Nicaragua. He is a member of the SJP Man for Others, which published a book about Fr. Rob Currie, S.J. '58, with proceeds supporting an award for a Prep junior. Tom is a contributor to The Prep News, the Irish Edition and The Spirit. He is on the board for the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute and the historical committee at St. Ann's Church.
Tom is extremely loyal. He serves on the Prep's Board of Governors and organizes many semi-annual class events. He and his wife Pat have three sons, TJ '87, Drew '89 and Sean '93.
It is for these reasons and many more that the Prep honors him."
I'm proud to be Tommy's cousin. And what a cousin he is - he and I are second cousins, meaning we have grandparents who were siblings. In our case, we are triple second-cousins, because three out of four grandparents were siblings. I also lived next door to Tommy when I was growing up - twice. From 1944-47 and 1955-62. He and I used to car-pool with teacher Nick Kueny to high school every day.
Tommy's award is well-deserved. He's a great guy. And a great cousin. (posted 6/12/13, permalink)
Book Review: 'Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians' by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert and Nina Shea
This is not a pleasant book. It contains documented accounts of the persecution - harassment, abuse, torture and murder - of Christians in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and former Soviet nations. A woman caught with a Bible is publicly shot to death. Priests, ministers and lay religious are abducted and never seen again. Three buses full of students and teachers are struck by roadside bombs. These stories of persecution and martyrdom will break your heart and make the book a difficult read at times.
The two major sources of anti-Christian persecution in the world are Islam and Communism. Christians are the world's most widely persecuted religious group, according to studies by the Pew Research Center, Newsweek, and the Economist.
Recently, Vatican spokesman Monsieur Silvano Maria Tomassi said, "Credible research has reached the shocking conclusion that an estimate of more than 100,000 Christians are violently killed because of some relation to their faith every year."
The U.S. government keeps telling us about our "friends," Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but these friends have decidedly anti-Christian attitudes. Saudi Arabia with its radical state religion, Wahabism, is one of the worst offenders. It's where al Qaeda movement began.
It is worth remembering that ... (more >>>)
Papal Bull: Pope Francis has attacked the "dictatorship" of the global financial system and warned that the "cult of money" was making life a misery for millions.
He said free-market capitalism had created a "tyranny" and that human beings were being judged purely by their ability to consume goods. He also said that money should be made only to "serve" people. Presumably other people, as opposed to the ones making the money.
When you sit on a golden throne, I guess it's pretty easy to lecture people that money is the root of all evil. Like many of his predecessors, this Pope is clueless about basic economics. The fact is money is simply a way to convert the fruits of one's labor into a tradable form.
Francis called for countries to impose more control over their economies to prevent "absolute autonomy" and foster the "common good."
Good luck with that. Such a policy has already been tried in his beloved Argentina. "It has driven millions of Argentines into poverty by destroying the value of their savings, both through raw expropriation as happened in 2008 with private pensions (the money was taken under the aegis of helping "the poor"), and by repeated currency devaluations - the product of a government printing money to pay for its expansion of power after there was nothing left to steal."
The fact remains that free market capitalism has pulled more people out of poverty than any church has ever done. It promotes freedom and opportunity. Take it away and you turn into 1950s China. Or present-day Cuba. Both of which, I would remind the Pope, became godless nations. And poverty-stricken.
How poverty stricken? Here's a sample: Cuba's supposedly "emancipated" women are still boiling their babies' diapers over fires and washing machines, when available in Cuba, cost an entire year’s salary (versus about 2.5 days' earnings for the average American). (posted 5/23/13, permalink)
Why Bother Going To A Catholic College Anymore? Gonzaga University will not allow students to organize a Knights of Columbus chapter because the group only admits Catholics – a violation of the school’s non-discrimination policy.
Gonzaga, a Jesuit Roman Catholic university in Spokane, had concerns over the requirement that "all members of a student Knights of Columbus group must be Catholic."
"These criteria are inconsistent with the policy and practice of student organization recognition at Gonzaga University, as well as the University's commitment to non-discrimination based on certain characteristics, one of which is religion,” wrote Sue Weitz, the university's vice president for student life – in a letter obtained by the Cardinal Newman Society.
Once upon a time, non-Catholics eagerly enrolled at Catholic colleges because of the quality of education. They were exempt from mandatory religion classes and often couldn't join any Catholic-only social organizations. But, these differences never stopped them from getting a good education and enjoying most of the school's social functions.
Gonzaga students told The Cardinal Newman Society they had been trying to get university approval for the group for about a year - but school officials have been less than helpful. But, if a Transgendered Dwarf Society wanted in, they'd probably be approved lickety-split and given their own restroom with miniature toilets. Sigh. (posted 4/11/13, permalink)
A Graceful Exit: Pope Benedict XVI is leaving the building, citing age and health reasons for stepping down as leader of the Catholic Church. Despite all the rumors about Vatican political in-fighting - such infighting predates even the 16th Century Medicis, I take Benedict at his word. It is said that the 85 year-old Pontiff is blind in one eye, going deaf and has become gaunt. Perhaps he has a terminal disease. Or Alzheimer's.
The world watched as Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, went through his final, painful decline. Many - including me - wondered if his decay in physical faculties was matched by a drop in mental acuity. It's good that Benedict is relinquishing his papal powers before this happens.
If you believe the prophesies of 12th Century prophet and Irish archbishop St. Malachy, the next Pope will be the last. Malachy supposedly wrote of the Last Pope: "In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit ... Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end."
That sounds ominous. On the other hand, the Mayans weren't so good at predicting the end of the world. (posted 2/28/13, permalink)
Pasta Miracle: If you're cooking spaghetti and you notice white steam, you may have elected a new Pope. (posted 2/22/13, permalink)
Another Twisted Tale: Sadly, we live in an age where pervy priest stories have become almost everyday news. Headline: 'Cross-dressing meth priest liked sex in rectory'.
Here's how the article begins: "The Catholic priest busted for allegedly dealing crystal meth was suspended after church officials discovered he was a cross-dresser who was having sex in the rectory at Bridgeport's St. Augustine Cathedral (in Connecticut). Monsignor Kevin Wallin was relieved of his duties in May, but the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport had continued to pay him a stipend until his Jan. 3 arrest - a day he was planning to fly to London on vacation."
Dubbed 'Monsignor Meth', Wallin was selling upwards of $9,000 of meth a week, according to his indictment. "In his post-priesthood, Wallin, 61, bought an adult specialty and video store in North Haven (CT) called Land of Oz that sells sex toys and X-rated DVDs. Investigators believe the shop helped him launder thousands of dollars in weekly profits."
While pastor of St. Augustine's, Msgr. Wallin often disappeared for days at a time; and rectory personnel became concerned and "notified diocese officials when Wallin, sometimes dressed as a woman, would entertain odd-looking men, some who were also dressed in women's clothing and engaging in sex acts."
Here's the most appalling part of the story: "In addition, diocese officials found bizarre sex toys in Wallin's residence, the sources said. Diocese officials consulted lawyers about the situation and were assured none of Wallin's behavior appeared illegal."
It is an indictment of Church hierarchy that their priority was consulting with lawyers rather than immediately throwing this pervert out of the Catholic Church. (posted 1-24-13, permalink)
Under The Front Lawn: The 1944 film, 'Going My Way' won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. You can usually find this Irish-Catholic celluloid epic playing on one of the movie channels around Christmas and St. Patrick's Day.
The film focuses on Father Chuck O'Malley (Bing Crosby) who rescues the fictional St. Dominic's parish in NYC from financial ruin while the elderly, curmudgeonly pastor, Fr. Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald), fights O'Malley's new-fangled ideas as well of his love of golf. Best line of the movie comes from Fr. Fitzgibbon: "A golf course is nothing but a poolroom moved outdoors."
Nevertheless, O'Malley's savvy helps him connect with a gang of kids looking for direction and handle the business details of the church's building fund, eventually winning over Barry Fitzgerald's character.
The film is a poignant reminder of the way Catholic parishes used to be - when everyone knew each other and the pastor stayed on until he died and was interred in the parish graveyard (if there was one) or beneath the church (if it had a crypt) or on the front lawn.
We have several friends who have buried favorite pets in the front or back yard. We've done this, too. Getting buried in the yard is, it seems, a reward for good pastors and good dogs.
Pastor John P. McHugh was pretty much the founder of St. Martin of Tours parish, on Roosevelt Boulevard near Oxford Circle in Philadelphia. Ordained in 1909, Father McHugh faithfully served as assistant in several locations before being rewarded with his own parish in 1923. He had to start from scratch, fund-raising to build the necessary stone structures: church, school, convent and rectory at St. Martin. Fr. McHugh had already constructed the first floor of a new, larger church (the upper portion couldn't be completed due to a shortage of materials during World War II), when he died in 1948 at age 66.
By all accounts, Father McHugh was beloved by his parishioners and, accordingly, was entombed on the lawn in front of the rectory. He was a favorite of my grandparents, parents and various uncles and aunts who were members of the parish.
His successor, Father Walter A. Bower (he became a monsignor in the 1960s), served longer, from 1948 until his retirement in 1974. When Monsignor Bower died in 1994, he was interred in a Catholic cemetery in Redding, PA. Front yard burials had become passé.
It's not just the burial policy that's changed within the Church. Since the 1960s, most U.S. bishops have placed 'term limits' on pastors, moving them every 4-10 years. Priests and pastors must always go where they're needed and, with today's shortage of Catholic priests, you will likely have less access to clergy if your area is losing population. And the ones you do see will be shuffled around like musical chairs as dioceses struggle to deal with diminishing resources. No more lifetime tenures, like Fr. Fitzgibbon. Or Fr. McHugh.
I have no memory of Father McHugh, although I'm sure I met him, since he was a frequent visitor to our home. He died when I was only five years old.
Growing trees and shrubs have put Rev. McHugh's tomb in shadow and, I suspect, few of the current parishioners of St. Martin's remember him or know much about him. The parish is in shadow too, having gone from a fairly prosperous Irish and Italian semi-suburban parish to a poor Hispanic urbanized one which struggles to meet its monthly overhead.
Nevertheless, if John McHugh merited burial within St. Martin of Tours parish grounds, he did much in his life to deserve it. God rest his soul. (posted 1-10-13, permalink)
