Kindle Fire

Monday, November 5, 2012

Difficult for a rich person to enter heaven


That Catholics differ on social justice can be mainly traced to Augustine of Hippo. Augustine catered to the rich while trying to stay faithful to the gospel. Thus the rich did not have to sell all to get into heaven. They had to "expiate" their sins by alms giving, by bequeathing their estates to monasteries. This distinction made it ok to be rich contrary to the words of Jesus which stated that it would be very difficult for them to enter heaven. So even today the wealthy are persuaded that it is better to build 100 million dollar churches than to give to the poor. This is why Romero is ignored and empire builders are made saints. Augustine justified the rich while Jesus said it would be difficult for them to enter heaven. One could see how this translated in the Middle Ages to alms giving through indulgences which virtually purchased heaven. Thus the centuries continual courting and easing the conscience of the rich by the bishops. Cardinal Hayes ostracized the ambitious Spellman for getting to close to his rich friends. Cardinal Spellman knew the game well. Yet. largely ignored, is the action that Augustine asserted should accompany alms giving---forgiveness of enemies. How one was strongly held on to while the other practically forgotten suggests that the rich used the advice to justify holding on to their wealth. While using the artifice of Augustine to justify riches many today go to the extreme of saying that the poor deserve their misery because they are lazy. Dives never looked so good. Augustine and Ambrose owed their positions to rich Romans and they apparently never forgot it. Augustine's dalliance with Pinianus and Melania showed his willingness to ease the conscience of the rich. All of this does not mean that Augustine did not express concern for the poor in innumerable passages. What it says is that when it came to confronting the wealthy Augustine buckled. As he did when he consented to the use of force to compel Christians to enter the orthodox church. This is why wealthy, partisan bishops can continue without opposition in many quarters. Augustine made it easy for them.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Indian Priests to America while Indian Women are Abused


Without a conscience American bishops are paying for Indian priests to come here while the greatest need is in their homeland. How long can this abusive practice continue whereby money determines the pastor while the captives are not freed. The anointing of disciples specifically require freeing the captives. The bishops and pastors dwell in mediocrity while the people perish. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/world/asia/a-village-rape-shatters-a-family-and-indias-traditional-silence.html?hp

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Rape is still covered up on College Campuses


AMHERST, Mass. — This year has brought news of student athletes charged with sex crimes at Boston University and at Temple, along with countless other less publicized cases. There have been claims that Wesleyan University tolerated a fraternity house where the abuse of women was common. A gang rape at the University of Massachusetts was reported just this week. Enlarge This Image Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times Amherst College Enlarge This Image Ilana Panich-Linsman for The New York Times Dana Bolger, an Amherst College junior who said her rapist went unpunished, helped create a Web site credited with raising awareness about sexual violence at the school. But none has generated more soul searching, or scrutiny from beyond, than a woman’s wrenching account, published in a campus newspaper last week, of being raped in May 2011 by a fellow student at Amherst College and then being treated callously by college administrators. “Eventually I reached a dangerously low point, and, in my despondency, began going to the campus’ sexual assault counselor,” the woman wrote in The Amherst Student. “In short I was told: No you can’t change dorms, there are too many students right now. Pressing charges would be useless, he’s about to graduate, there’s not much we can do. Are you SURE it was rape?”

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Set the Markets Free. Not the Captives.


Let the free market reign. When workers complain about working conditions and strike I, since I have the money, will hire goons to beat the crap out of them. The Free Market is fantastic because it allows three year old females to be trafficked to all those admirable men who make our markets what they are. The free market is great I can store a years supply of the best food while the families of Spain and Greece can wait outside restaurants to salvage the scraps. What is Jesus talking about when he says: "I have compassion on the multitude." Does he not know they caused the hunger themselves? And surely Jesus is plumb out of his mind when he continues: "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED," Set the captives free? They chose their chains. And error of all errors; the Good Samaritan. What was that man doing walking alone anyway. The priest and the levite knew that. But the stupid, hated Samaritan had a senior or non-market moment. Let the free market roar so I can bribe officials who want to stop me from insider trading and screwing anybody I can. Why free the captives when the market is more catptivating? Why free the oppressed when they spoil all the fun. And if the blind stay blind there is more for me. Preach the Gospel to the Poor? Let them stay "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" and let me have my party!!!

Monday, October 1, 2012

Vatican II Fifty Years Later


Vatican II was a prodigious success. Relations with other Christians and other religions improved astronomically. The importance of baptism, not ordination, as the hallmark and responsibility of the followers of Christ. The recognition of the priesthood of all believers. Recognition of love as a primary end of marriage. Allowing Catholics to pray in their own language. The emergence of women in the church. And much more. The problem was that this was a cyclone which was not controlled. There was probably no way to control it because each side fought for its point of view negating a more practical catechesis for those not close to the council. In addition there were excesses. Some people in the renewal were just as intolerant as those they wanted to supplant. Others thought that anything goes. While there were structures that had to change, other structures like marriage and sex were not safeguarded wisely. On the whole, believe it or not, I think the church is more respected than it was before V2. Then it was considered an outdated institution that was out of touch. Few Catholics challenged the hierarchy while those outside considered the political ramifications. It is easy to repeat sound bites and charged words. Like less priests and closing parishes. Even many V2 critics acknowledge many of its positive aspects.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Bishops in Canada block foreign aid campaign for being too partisan


The bishops are not acting in accordance with Matthew 25: 31-46. Then again they have not for a long time. They insist on living in grandiose mansions with servants while Jesus did not have a home. Of course that is not the part they want to imitate. The fact that Jesus was male they will use to exclude women but the fact that he was poor is irresponsibly ignored. Their answer is they have to live according to their status. Then what is Jesus? Chopped Liver? And have they not learned that the reason all the religious orders insisted on a vow of poverty was because the hierarchy had forgot its mission. The actions of the Canadian bishops is scandalous just as the political actions of the American bishops are in covertly supporting Republicans. Few bishops, in my opinion, will pass the bar of Matthew 25.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Taxing Catholics and Independence of Bishops


While Germany is Europe’s wealthiest Catholic Church there are 25 million Catholics compared to the 75 million Catholics in the US. The numbers make up the difference money wise for the US church. As for the independence of the German bishops it may have to do more with the declining number of Catholics in Europe which keeps the European bishops on their toes. The American Catholic church is declining. Witness all those Indian and African priests making up for the unwillingness of American Catholics to join those ranks. The reason the Catholic bishops feel more secure is that religions are outwardly respected more in the US. As far as I am concerned that just means that there are more hypocrites in the US. Studies show that the morality of Catholics and Protestants are not in accordance with the gospel. Religion, at least in politics and in the media is still in. It will be interesting when that comes crashing down. Maybe the American bishops will become as humble as the German bishops. Perhaps wealthy Catholic Germans don’t use the church to exert power the way American Catholics due because the Church does not have the cachet that the American church has. The American Catholics are pretty fed up. It will be interesting what wealthy conservative Catholics will do when it becomes clear that they are betting on the wrong horse. The power vacuum that might ensue will hopefully be filled by the gospel.

German Bishops and the Church Tax


German bishops want to excommunicate any Catholics who opt out of the Church tax. Their reasoning is that those who refuse to pay the tax are opting out of membership in the church also. Many Catholics disagree. Notice how much the “Sacraments” are talked about in this issue. Critics rightly term the “Church of the Sacraments” as problematic. As if the very reception makes you a disciple rather than the imitation of Christ’s commands. Catholics know the sacraments more than they know the beatitudes which spell out the essential gospel. Somehow the sacraments can be reconciled with war and anger while the beatitudes not so easily. Indian and African priests come here on the money train to administer the sacraments while leaving the world’s poorest in their own country. Why can’t the Mafia be buried in the church when the hierarchy see the sacraments more as matter and form rather than discipleship.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Millions of children die before the age of five lacking basics

Fewer than seven million children around the world died before their fifth birthday from disease and birth complications in 2011 — a new low — the World Health Organization, theUnited Nations Children’s Fund and other agencies announced Wednesday. About 12 million children that age died in 1990, and the numberfell below 10 million for the first time in 2007, so the pace of saving children’s lives is accelerating, experts said. Half of all the deaths occurred in five countries: India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan and China. The leading causes, in descending order, were pneumonia, premature birth, diarrhea, birth complications and malaria. Most of those deaths were preventable with relatively cheap interventions, the United Nationsagencies said.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Undeclared Saints

Romero, the Jesuit martyrs  are shining examples of imitation of Christ. What is notable is that none of them have been officially recognized by Rome. Which means that the boys of the Tiber remains committed to Empire over the Way of Christ and remain more like the Scribes and Pharisees. They build cathedrals which have mausoleums for sale to the wealthy while the poor remain under-serviced. Another example of this lack of service which features Empire  is the inordinate amount of foreign priests who are in this country while they leave the poor in India and Africa neglected. American still has more priests per capita than African and India while more come here attracted by a better life for themselves not their people. This movement is driven by money from American bishops which foreign bishops relish more than service to their own people. 

There is indeed much good being done after the example of Romero and the Jesuit Martyrs. Little of it is coming from the chanceries.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

From Savings and Loans to Great Recession


First it was the Savings and Loans fiasco, then the Great Recession bailout. The banks got bailed out while ordinary people lost their homes. They had the nerve to blame the recession on homeowners who lost control. It was certainly that but the banks orchestrated the whole blowup and came out still giving dazzling bonuses to its incompetent leaders.
When running for President Hilary Clinton propose that there should be a cap on credit rates to a reasonable limit under ten percent. The banks responded that they lost so much on the savings and loan downfall that they had to recover their losses by raising credit card rates. What? Who caused the Savings and Loan disaster? The banks did. Now they wanted help for their mistakes. Talk about welfare fraud. Like the guy said about banks being worse than robbers. A thief takes what is in your wallet at that time. The banks destroy your whole life.

Banks manipulating interest rates and abusing credit cards.

This is an enormous problem of crime by the banks and cannot be over emphasized. This is the main reason for the great recession and why the economy is in the dumps and housing is in the cellar. What is most outrageous is that the banks have the hubris to fight regulations and are succeeding because congressman and senators have no morals and are afraid of losing financing to to getting elected again. The public rightly holds the banks and congress in low regard. Commonweal’s editorial of June 15 is a step in the right direction. This is a corruption, collusion and cover-up which is bigger than the crimes of the bishops because it has endangered a whole nation and destroyed the Middle Class.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Sharing with Others.

One of the gospel messages of sharing one's material possessions so that one will grow in spiritual riches is largely ignored by most Christians. Especially bishops who regale in their luxurious mansions with plentifule servants. Bishops like Oscar Romero who declare for the poor are ostracized while those who side with the rich are honored and praised. Francis of Assissi made poverty  the mission of his order because he knew that wars were fought over money and that the way to have peace was to renounce wealth. Christianity has been the source for too many to build empires rather than to build up the body of Christ, Christ's people. 






“For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. As it is written: Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.” (2 Corinthians 8: 9, 13-15)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Ganging up on the Sisters

Now we add intrigue and deception to a CDF which prefers dogma over the gospel and subjugation to Rome as more important than fidelity to Christ. By clearly choosing the reputation of bishops to the care of victims, the hierarchy has shown that it is the church of the powerful and rich rather than the poor and downtrodden. The group in Rome and the bishops of America become more ugly daily. Many are saying that many bishops do not agree with these ingquisition type actions. That is not good enough. A false unity is not more important than charity and the gospel. These bishops of conscience should act accordingly.http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=5101&comment=1&success=1#editcomments

Sunday, April 29, 2012

HHS as the bishop's savior.


One thing is true is that the bishops have somewhat successfully got us into discussing HHS rather than their continued rogue actions in administering the church. One of the most dangerous things is that those who defend the bishops here and elsewhere, admit that they are scoundrels but are duped into believing that dogma is somehow more important than morality. If we want to get to our gospel roots we really need to consider that our faith is a Way of Life as opposed to the church of Dogma. Morality is always more important than dogmas. One can be moral without dogmas while dogmas are dead without morals. So think about how the bishops are changing the subject. Their finances are still a scandal while their continued cover-up reveals their character. Consider this current review in America lest we lose focus. http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=13390

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Inquisition Church wants Religious Liberty.

I don’t think it is even close when it comes to the question of whether the bishops are so off base in making HHS a religious liberty issue. How the bishops and people like Weigel, Garnett and Co. make the imposition of a health law a matter of religious liberty really is a fantasy if one examines the matter closely. In a country which allows witchcraft, for which the church has had people killed, it would be really laughable if it were not so polarizing that the bishops are making a war out of this. I suggest that the religious liberty, of all those who are employed by the church or are convinced that the bishops are infallible and even those dissenting Catholics who would welcome inspiring leadership from the bishops, are infringed upon by this stance of the USCCB.

So all the people who blindly follow the bishops, wherever they meander, really have less religious liberty today than those who practice witchcraft. Think about it. They certainly do not have the “freedom of the Children of God” which Paul the Apostle writes about, but rather they are slaves of the bishops and the call to them the bishops might make if they divert from the party line.

It is akin to the actions of John Paul II who propounded for liberty for everyone except those who are inside the Catholic church.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

A Statement on Religious Liberty United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty

This is clearly the irony of Ironies. The RCC which from Augustine to the 20th century have denied others freedom of religion. The statement of Pius IX that "error has no rights" says it all. The bishops were aware of their lack of objectivity which compelled them to include other issues, like the seriously important one of services to immigrants. The other issues were marginal while the bishops main goal of attacking HHS recurs again and again. How some do not see this here is mysterious and baffling.

Originally, I was looking for an alternative to Obama. But the bishops, along with others on the far right have made Obama an easy choice. I imagine that the leadership in Washington and the democratic party are thanking God for this killer statement for the Republican party from the bishops. This is a greater gift than any super pac can produce. As Dolan prophesied, he has "helped his opponent." Immeasurably.

Fr. Richard O'Brien has accurately called the present crop of bishops the worst in American history. Damnably true. From their sheepish behavior in 2002, to their being called "worst than the Mafia" by a distinguished Catholic governor they appointed to the review board, to their continual proclivity towards political rather than pastoral behavior. This is a sorry, dishonorable bunch. And no contrived bombastic laughter by Tim Dolan can cover up this baldly, political group. A bunch of miscreants giving Catholics terrible witness.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Crucifixion is the Center of Christianity

Perhaps a more signifcant lacuna is the emphasis of the Trinity as the most important doctrine whereas the Crucifixion is the defining act of Christianity coupled with the Resurrection. A proof of how idiotic the hierarchy of East and West has been is shown how they divide over the "filioque" question. Like anyone really knows what that is or what it means. Yet heads have literally rolled over such idiocy. While we forget that we should only know Jesus Crucified as Paul exemplifie.

Likewise, the cacophony over religious freedom in the US today. The babel is all about the hierarchy's rights while there is a very low decibel defending the immigrants, the poor and women. All of which tells us that we have to clamor more for the Christian Way than for dogma. As we celebrate the central event of our lives, the Crucifixion, we might tell it like it is when giving a reason for our hope. Namely, contrary to the verbiage from the bishops and EWTN we might preach the gospel and, as Francis said, "sometimes use words."

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Meet Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York’s Newest Comedian

Meet Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York’s Newest Comedian
By Vinnie Nauheimer


Speaking at a diocesan convocation on public policy last week, freshly minted cardinal Timothy Dolan made his New York debut as a comedian. The critics all agree that the funniest line of the night was, “If you want an authoritative voice, go to the bishops. They’re the ones that speak for the truths of the faith.” The line was uttered with such solemnity that one almost forgot it was a comedy sketch. It immediately brought the house down and left them rolling in the aisles from belly laughter. Which bishop should we go to for the truth, Timothy Dolan? Should we go to Bishop Keith Symons or Bishop Anthony J O’Connell both of who resigned because they themselves were sexual abusers? How about Bishop Raymond Lahey who was caught bringing child pornography into Canada on his computer? What about Bishop Patrick Ziemann who was caught, in his car, getting oral sex from a priest forced to wear a pager so he could be summoned when the bishop had an urge. Perhaps we should consult Bishop Roger Vangheluwe who sexually abused two of his nephews. Okay, enough with the bishops, this could turn into a litany.

Maybe Dolan meant that we go to a higher level of authoritative voice, like that of a cardinal. Edward Cardinal Egan appointed a known abuser in 2002 to St. Benedict’s, a parish with an elementary school; the priest was subsequently defrocked. According to the Bronx Press Review, a parishioner called Cardinal Egan insane; did Egan speak for truth? In Chicago we have Cardinal George whose faux pas’ are legendary. The most recent involved Fr. McCormack, a known abuser from his days in the seminary, but Cardinal George refused to remove him. This despite Cardinal George being a signatory to the Charter for Protection of Children produced in Dallas in 2002. I’m sure he speaks for the truth. Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles is another stellar truth teller who spent untold dollars fighting survivors with his adamant refusal to release records of sexually abusing priests. Who would look to anyone but him for the truth? Maybe we should ask for the truth from Philadelphia’s recently deceased Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua who ordered aides to shred a 1994 memo that identified 35 Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests suspected of sexually abusing children? Now there was an authoritative voice that speaks the truths of the faith!

Certainly, we can look to the infallible pope for the truth. The fact that none of the above were ever fired speaks volumes about the amount of truth the pope is willing to part with.

So let’s repeat that line. “If you want an authoritative voice, go to the bishops. They’re the ones that speak for the truths of the faith.” With lines like that, Dolan proved himself a first rate comic, but good comedians need more than one good line to make a performance, and Dolan met the call. The NY Times reported on March 4, this line from the same performance, “I don’t recall a right to marriage.” In his jocular fashion Cardinal Dolan went on to say that every day someone finds another right. Well he ought to know, the Roman Catholic Church leads the way in finding new rights. They have the right to hide sexually abusing priests, they have the right to destroy evidence, they have the right to shuffle sexually abusing priests from parish to parish, diocese to diocese and in some cases country to country; talk about inventing rights! But more than that, let’s talk about inventing the right to the wholesale destruction of the lives of children without the expectation of consequence.

On a roll, the newly minted prince of Catholic comedy was greeted with peals of laughter when, straight faced, he told the audience, “It’s not about contraception and it’s not about women’s health, it’s about an unwarranted, unprecedented intrusion into a church’s ability…” The audience didn’t know which part of that statement was funnier, the “it’s not about women” or it’s “all about government intrusion into church affairs.” Of course, his hilarious line about, “Fat, balding, Irish bishops,” was in reference to the unwarranted, unprecedented intrusion into Irish governance by the Vatican when it issued a memo to Irish bishops saying that they didn’t have to obey Irish law! Therefore, the fat, balding Irish bishops didn’t turn in criminal priests who were raping, sodomizing and molesting Irish children therefore allowing the abuse to continue. The discovery of this memo warranted an unprecedented public reprimand of the Vatican by Enda Kenny Prime Minister of Ireland. To emphasize the point, Dolan said, “I hate to tell you that the days of the fat, balding, Irish bishops are over,”

For the sake of our children let’s hope he’s right!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Archbishop Martin of Dublin sees hope and work in the future.

Here is a piece by the Archbishop of Dublin on rebuilding the church in Ireland.
http://dublindiocese.ie/content/reform-church-ireland-facing-future-hope
This is a very sincere honest approach which seems to greatly differ from that of the American bishops who are more into politicization than evangelization. Though they give evangelization lip service. While Archbishop of Martin realizes that there is much work, reparation and healing to do which will take time, Cardinal Egan withdraws his apology as if nothing ever happened. It is a prodigious difference. While former ambassadors to Rome from the US identify themselves as such in declaring for Romney, Ireland, that most Catholic of countries, has withdrawn its ambassador to Rome. Ireland has always been the leader in the American church. Seems that it remains so as it recovers from its own enormous problems in the church.



Also notable is Archbishop’s Martin embrace of optimism and rebuke of the prophets of doom. He quotes the words of John XXIII and assents: “We feel – Pope John said – we must disagree with those prophets of gloom, who are always forecasting disaster”

Hope and humility from our brethren in Ireland. Something lacking in the American bishops as they continue to parade around like dominators rather than to get on their knees to rebuild the church.