Corapi fires back.

In a let sleeping dogs lie* sort of way ...

Regarding the charge of sexual impropriety—This song of greed has been sung many times before. I have never had any promiscuous or even inappropriate relations with her. Never. - Read more of the 'announcement' here.
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He makes a strong case... for what I'm not sure?
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"Onward!"  I keep thinking Charlie Sheen: 'Winning!'

*it's just an idiom.

Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel begins today.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, help and model in the dark night of faith, pray for us.
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In October of 1917 at Fatima, during the miracle of the sun, Our Lady showed herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel.  Mt. Carmel is in Israel of course, the site of the great Old Testament miracle which took place through the prayer of the prophet Elijah, defeating the false prophets of Baal.  It is also the place where Elijah observed the prophetic sign of a little cloud rising from the sea, which some Fathers have interpretted to prefigure the coming era of grace - the birth of the Messiah.  (Trivia: Today the Carmelite monastery at Mt. Carmel is called Stella Maris, or Star of the Sea.)  Traditionally, the little cloud, much like the Burning Bush which Moses beheld, images the Blessed 'Virgin who would be with child' foretold in the Isaiah prophecy. 
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At any rate, for a long time now, I have considered Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to be the primary help and model, indeed our refuge in the troubles that afflict the world and the Church, especially as they concern the persecutions of Christians in the Middle East and Muslim countries, as well as the heresy, apostacy and corruption which seems to infect Catholic culture in many places across the globe.

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Prayer

O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, blessed mother of the Son of God, immaculate virgin, assist us in our necessity. O star of the sea, help us and show us the way. Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who turn to you.


Holy Spirit, you who solve all problems, light all roads, so that we can attain our goal. You who gave us the diving gift to forgive and forget all evil against us, and who are with us in all instances in our lives, thank you for all things, as you confirm once again that we are never to be separated from you in eternal glory. AMEN - Source

I have some very heavy burtations on the Corapi deal.

A very darist-darison...
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Actually they are questions, but if anyone says anything mean, I'm claiming I'm having a 'heavy burtation'.
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So anyway.  Why hasn't the MSM picked up on this whole thing?  Where is the anti-Catholic, anti-priest mainstream media?  (Oh!  Oh! And where is Bill Donohue on the Catholic bashing Catholic brouhaha over the Corapi case??)  Think of it - the MSM gobbled up the Haggard story, they went nuts over Rekers call boy luggage handler, and don't even mention the hatchet job they did on Tammy Faye's failed attempts to make the best dressed list.  Fr. Corapi is supposedly such a high profile evangelist and former Hollywood almost-celebrity - rich and famous, life in the fast lane type of guy.  And what about Euteneuer?  How did they miss his story?  Famous exorcist and all of that?  Maybe because they weren't gay?  I dunno.  Maybe it is just an MSM burtation?
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You know what?  I never followed that Casey Anthony case, did you?  I didn't.
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But here's some news the MSM won't ignor:  Cardinal Schoenborn is even in more trouble now.  A whole bunch of his priests are in heresy and they are not suspended!  Yet... yet... Corapi was.  I know!  Anyway, remember my post the other day about The big one?  I wasn't even thinking of the Austrians.
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Little known factoid.  I once claimed to be part Austrian - but I can't prove it.  My brother claims my uncle told him we were descended from Austrian Jews - but he couldn't prove it.
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PSA:  The dog will bark sometime today.

Therianthropy - Shapeshifting and Cynocephaly... what if?

Amy Farrah Fowler Factoids.
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Therianthropy refers to the metamorphosis of humans into other animals. Therianthropes are said to change forms via shapeshifting. Therianthropes have long existed in mythology, appearing in ancient cave drawings such as the Sorcerer at Les Trois Frères. - Wiki
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Cynocephaly: The condition of cynocephaly, having the head of a dog — or of a jackal— is a widely attested legendary phenomenon existing in many different forms and contexts. - Wiki
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Editor's note:  I worked with a woman - a fervent convert to the Church now returned to paganism - who was convinced she was a dragon and could feel her tail swing as she walked.  People like her refer to themselves as Therians.  And they claim they have no mental illness.  Some even go through extensive cosmetic surgery or tattoo work to look like the animal spirit they imagine themselves to be.  I suppose the phenomenon is analogous to the transsexual experience; women trapped in male bodies and men trapped in female bodies.  I was thinking about wolves in sheep's clothing and then I thought of ...  Never mind.

St. Christopher

Top photo:  Black Sheep-Poodle

Saint Maria Goretti, virgin martyr

"The value of Christian virtue is so great, so overwhelming, so imperative, that it is worth more than life. Purity is not just a separate part of our being. It belongs to our existence as a whole, it is essential for our life. Purity brings us in harmony of body and soul." - Servant of God, Pope Paul VI

A martyr for purity at the beginning of the 20th century.  St. Maria Goretti is a lamp lighted for generations after her to find hope and help to follow Christ amidst a polluted world of impurity and hedonism.  For details on her life click here.
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Art:  Source.  For me the icon expresses the spiritual maturity, nobility and sobriety of the martyr-saint much better than most holy card images.

Mark Shea has something to say.

And he get's it right.
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Mercy and Forgiveness for Fr. Corapi and His Fans
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So the craziness from last week had died down as the True Believers moved on from assailing my emailbox with denunciations and demands that I stop questioning the veracity of a Living Saint. - Finish reading here.

"For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail to obey the gospel of God?"

"And if the righteous one is barely saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear?" - 1 Peter 4:17 - 18
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The Corapi fall is a big one.  Somehow I doubt it is THE big one however.  It could happen that one of these days there may be breaking news about a very high placed churchman - and maybe not a liberal one either.  If that happened, it will be THE big one.  There are actually some people wishing and hoping for such a drama - and these folks are not the so-called 'professional Catholics' who so many have been accusing of rushing to judgement on the Corapi case.  There exist people who claim to be more Catholic than the pope and the post-counciliar Church who are just waiting for what they call the "Novus Ordo" Church to fall.  For instance, I know of at least one Trad/Sede site which has had a sort of bounty out on a certain Cardinal in Los Angeles for years - 'anyone with incriminating evidence of whatever kind on Cardinal Mahony email us'.  I'm not sure, but I think there was some sort of monetary reward as well.  Every one likes the money.
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Yet this is what happens and has happened in the Church since the beginning - since Judas, since Simon Magus - right up to our own day.  In modern times we have come to know the infamous Rasputin, the Russian monk who deceived the Czar and Czarina.  We have seen Evangelical Protestant preachers and healers fall with great regularity throughout the 20th century, from Aimee Semple McPherson to Jim & Tammy Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, to Ted Haggard and Albert Odulele.  And that's just the Protestants.
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Not too many years ago during the priest scandals, the boy's club of Sebastian's Angels made the headlines - an organization of gay playboy priests.  And while the Bishop's scandal unfolded - the biggest, worst case scenario seemed to be the Fr. Maciel and the Legion of Christ scandal - though at first vehemently assailed as lies by supporters of the Legion and devotees of Maciel.  Indeed, Maciel was a favorite of Bl. John Paul II.  Amazing.  Then came Fr. Cutie - the famous 'Fr. Oprah' priest, as well as the other EWTN priest defectors.  In the past eleven years there have been dozens of cases of priests living double lives - priests in important positions and ordinary parish priests. Gay and straight.  And now of course, there is Fr. Corapi, whose case demonstrates it is not always just about sex either. 
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People we have to wake up however - we have to quit putting men on pedestals.  Respect and reverence their priesthood, and their status in the hierarchy, in so far as they represent Christ and His Church - but just remember they are flesh and blood - men tempted in the same way we are.  Just because someone wears a habit or a cassock, or sports a a tonsure or a biretta, or says Mass like Padre Pio, and preaches like St. Paul, or whatever your criteria is for holiness - don't attach too much importance to the man.  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.  "Do what they say, not what they do."
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It's amazing how easily we canonize our priests and religious and expect perfection from them.  I've read it on blogs numerous times - 'Cardinal so and so is a saint because he wears all the regalia and celebrates the Extraordinary Form of Mass.'  Or,  'Fr. so and so is a saint because he promotes the reform of the reform, or the TLM, or he wears the cassock to bed'.  Or, 'This monastery is the true monastery - the holiest monastery - because they celebrate the Liturgy in Latin and wear the habit and tonsure'.  Really?  Check the guest cabins.  And don't forget the people who attach the title "great" to everyone they admire.  (Nope - I'm not referring to JPII either.)
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I know a novice who slept with her spiritual director and was amazed when he got up in the night to go keep his hour of adoration.  (Although that is not bad - even if you are steeped in sin - do not stop praying: 'prayer is the trap door out of sin'.)  A friar once told me a story of two other friars engaging in mutual something right in from of the monstrance during their hour of adoration - when they thought the chapel was empty.  There are so many stories of holy people sinning it would make your head swim.  But I digress. 
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There for but the grace of God...  O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.
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"Never take a man for your example in the tasks you have to perform, how ever holy he may be, for the devil will set his imperfection before you.  Imitate Christ, who is supremely perfect and supremely holy, and you will never err." - St. John of the Cross
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"Reflect that many are called and few are chosen and that, if you are not careful, your perdition is more certain than your salvation, especially since the path to eternal life is so narrow." - Ibid
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"Anyone who trusts in himself is worse than the devil" - Ibid

Corapi Update: From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Robstown, Texas

But Father!  But Father!  Misleading the public?
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So anyway - I just got back from doing many, many very important errands and I'm all sweaty and over heated.  While pouring a glass of delicious tap water, I was just going to put on the recording of Penny singing "Soft Kitty" and for some reason I thought, "Maybe I should check my email."  And so I did...
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Breaking News:  From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Robstown, Texas.
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Fr. John A. Corapi submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity ("SOLT") early in June. SOLT is a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right with its regional office in Robstown, Texas.
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While SOLT does not typically comment publicly on personnel matters, it recognizes that Fr. John Corapi, through his ministry, has inspired thousands of faithful Catholics, many of whom continue to express their support of him. SOLT also recognizes that Fr. Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight.
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A woman, well known to Fr. John Corapi, mailed SOLT a signed letter detailing allegations of Fr. Corapi's sexual activity with adult women, abuse of alcohol and drugs, improper sacramental practices, violation of his promise of poverty, and other wrongdoing.
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After receiving the allegation, SOLT formed a three person fact-finding team to ensure that it handled this matter in accordance with canonical norms. The team included a priest-canonist, a psychiatrist, and a lawyer. Two were members of religious orders, and one was a lay Catholic. Two were men, and one was a woman. All three have national reputations and substantial experience in ecclesiastical processes related to priest disciplinary issues.
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As the Society was engaging this team, Fr. Corapi filed a civil lawsuit against his principal accuser. He contended that she had defamed him and breached her contract. The contract, according to Corapi's lawsuit, contained a provision binding the woman to silence about him. He offered the woman $100,000 to enter this agreement.
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SOLT's fact-finding team subsequently learned that Fr. Corapi may have negotiated contracts with other key witnesses that precluded them from speaking with SOLT's fact-finding team. Many of these witnesses likely had key information about the accusations being investigated and declined to answer questions and provide documents. - Read the rest of the sordid mess here.
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SOLT's prior direction to Fr. John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues. Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry. - Fr. Sheehan 

H/T Jimmy Akin for the SOLT link.  And DB Cooper for the tip.

Links:
National Catholic Register
Spirit Daily

The little Cristero: Blessed Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio

A good example for boys and men.

Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Río (March 28, 1913 – February 10, 1928) was a young Mexican Cristero who was put to death by government officials because he refused to renounce his Catholic faith. He has been declared a martyr and was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on November 20, 2005. - More.
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I love this kid, because like St. Peter Martyr who wrote "Credo" ("I believe") in his own blood as he was martyred, young Bl. Jose Luis took his finger, dipped in his own blood, to make the sign of the cross as he lay dying.
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An account of his martyrdom.
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"To break his resolve, he was made to watch the hanging of another Cristero that they had in custody, but instead José encouraged the man, saying that they would soon meet again in Heaven. In prison, José prayed the rosary daily and wrote an emotional letter to his mother, saying that he was ready to fulfill the will of God. His father attempted to raise a ransom to save him, but was not able to appease the government in time.
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Consequently they cut the bottom of his feet and obliged him to walk around the town toward the cemetery. They also at times cut him with a machete until he was bleeding from several wounds. He cried and moaned with pain, but he did not give in. At times they stopped him and said, ‘If you shout ‘Death to Christ the King’ we will spare your life.’ José would only shout, "I will never give in. Viva Cristo Rey!" When they reached the place of execution, they stabbed him numerous times with bayonets. He only shouted louder, "Viva Cristo Rey!" The commander was so furious that he pulled out his pistol and shot Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio in the head. After being shot in the head, he drew in the ground a cross with his blood and kissed it as his time expired." - Sanchez del Rio died on the vigil of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 10, 1928

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Prayer

O Blessed José, littlest soldier of Christ, whose last bloody steps brought you to the arms of our Lady and our Lord, keep healthy and strong the steps of our Lord's soldiers who remain here on earth, such that they may have your strength to endure and persevere to the end. Amen

Viva Cristo Rey!

Blessed Jose Luis, watch over, defend and protect all of the children whose innocence is threatened from all sides by evil, direct their hearts to all that is good and holy, and instill in their hearts a living faith and confidence in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ our King and Lord.  Amen.

Conversation with God.

Kat has a wonderful anecdote on the 'prayer of quiet' - well kind of...  I think it's a treasure.
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Art:  "Christ and the Canaanite Woman" - after Annibale Carracci

Frame Fillers: A little art show...

St. Peter Martyr - T. Nelson 2011

Acrylic/tempera technique on panel for antique frame.

Click on image to enlarge.  See more at my art blog, Up Your Street.

"Alcoholics and addicts are liars."

A priest once told me that a few years ago, adding, "I should know, I'm a recovering alcoholic - I lied my way through a good part of my priesthood."  Today the priest is retired, an old Franciscan who was once vocation director for an American province when I was in 5th grade.  It's amazing how people resurface in one's life - often just to help you understand something you couldn't figure out on your own. 
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That's all.

Memorial of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

How can the young man remain sinless?
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A coworker once asked me - with a slight hint of disdain in his voice, "Well what did this Frassati guy do to deserve to get beatified?"  The man was somewhat critical of all the men and women beatified and canonized during the busy reign of Blessed Pope John Paul II.  He also happened to be a guy who thought the Church was infiltrated with all sorts of demon-controlled beings and that the chastisement was going to happen on such and such a Thursday, but only between March and May of whatever year we happened to be in at the time.
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Plain and simple, Pier Giorgio lived the Beatitudes with heroic charity.  Ordinary is good.
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Pier Giorgio died on 4 July 1925.    

First fireworks for the 4th tonite...

Lectors and readers at Mass.

Someone had to say something.
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Adoro has a very good post on the subject:  The Word can speak for Himself - stop being so dramatic.
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Photo credit.

Mass chat: More nuts?

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Read Fr. Corapi's most recent post and the comments attached, evidently it's his 4th of July post entitled, Thoughts on Sheepdogs, Sheep and Independence. 
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Every once in a while I've surfed the web to read some of the comments left on the blogs that are willing to point out what's off with the entire Corapi makeover-reinvention campaign launch.  Surprisingly, there are some very sane posts and comments amongst the crazy ones.  I'll post just a few below.
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In response to Fr. Corapi's most recent post, a man identifying as a priest writes:

• From Father Edmund | July 1,
• Colonel Grossman’s commentary is deeply offensive and unAmerican. And Corapi further shows his lack of common sense and good taste by promoting it. So, I am a gooey egg yolk who needs the Hard Blue Shell in order to develop into something? I’m a sheepish sheep? I need to evolve into being a sheepdog? Garbage. Grossman’s rant is fascist to the core, and Corapi’s endorsement of it the same.
• Who cares if Grossman is a full-bird with a PhD (not PHD, Corapi)? His current musings are arrogant, elitist, and again: FASCIST. There is NOTHING in that article that a 1930′s-era Nazi would disagree with.
• These guys aren’t sheepdogs, they’re wolves. This is just like the schoolyard bully saying he’s a “born leader.” Both of them should have their posteriors kicked around the block.
• I’ll repeat what I’ve said here before. Corapi had two things going for him: unswerving loyalty to the Church and a trick voice. Now he stands revealed as a shallow, tasteless man. Take away the priest, and all you have left is a basket case. He still has his trick voice. That, alone, will not propel him to secular stardom. 

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From Caelum et terra a comment by a priest:

• Fr.GregACCA
• But seriously, y’all: very, very, very seriously. Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. Over the last few years, his behavior has taken on a depressingly familiar pattern, and this may well turn out to be a situation that somebody like Fr. Amorth will need to handle, if Corapi ever comes to his senses enough to realize this.

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A response from Elizabeth:

• Elizabeth
• Thank you Father, for your insight. In “Exorcism and the Church Militant,” Fr. Euteneuer took lightly at times the expelling of demons, and it was of concern to read his nonchalance in this regard. Of course, during the time period of penning the book, he was sexually abusing women in graveyards and/or locked rooms, etc., as he sought to release their demons through exorcisms.
• Then we find out that Corapi was Euteneuer’s spiritual director, and Euteneuer even told the “gravely harmed” woman (in the FTE case) that it was Corapi that told him to burn her diary (which held an enormous amount of damning info against Euteneuer) because it would cause Church scandal. Whether or not Euteneuer was telling the truth or not, who knows? But, I agree, Fr. Amorth should be brought in, and possibly sooner rather than later. Weak (but otherwise intelligent) Catholics are falling for this “dog’s” BS left and right.

Tom O'Toole has a good post on the court case:  Corapi Corrupted: part II

Mass Chat: Now this too sounds pretty nuts ...

"An unseen evil has re written history and has grown to control all aspects of global societies."
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I had never heard of Fr. John O'Connor before stunbling upon the following article.  I took an interest in his story since at one point he sought legal advice from the murdered Wisconsin priest, Fr. Alfred Kunz, who - if I'm not mistaken - was also friends with Fr. John Hardon.  Fr. O'Connor was dismissed from the Dominicans and from what I understand suspended from the functioning as a priest.  Apparently none of those things mean much any longer today.  Fr. Corapi continues to remain in good standing with the Church, right?  Anyway - Although Fr. O'Connor died in 2006, I have to wonder if his influence isn't very much alive today?  I'm thinking he just might be the source of most of the end-times/anti-Christ/socialist-bishop rumors and speculation floating around these days ?
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The Fr. O'Connor story.
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Many Catholics have probably never heard of John O'Connor but he was one of the first priests to acknowledge the cabalistic origins of Masonic Communism and to be expelled for opposing homosexual control of the church.
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Born and raised in Chicago, Father O'Connor was a Military Chaplain during the Second World War. He became curious about Hitler and the "anti-Semitism" of the Nazi regime. Many soldiers asked him why, when they liberated Jews from the concentration camps, some of the Nazi guards were themselves Jewish and had even been former mayors of towns in Germany prior to the War.
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O’Connor was ordered to be examined by a psychologist following a talk in which he named Cardinal Joseph Louis Bernardin, his Dominican brothers Benedict Ashley, William Bernacki, Peter Witchousky and his Dominican Superior Donald Goergen as members of the Gay Rights Movement. He claimed his Superior barred young men from joining the Dominicans if they refused to accept sodomy and homosexuality as a viable life style alternative. He had been informed of this by several young males who had sought ordination.
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O'Connor sought the advice of a Canon Lawyer, Fr Alfred Kunz. Fr. Kunz was brutally murdered in a ritualistic fashion after assisting in the investigation of a satanic pedophile cult connected to the priesthood.
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In the summer of 1991, Rome informed O'Connor that he was dismissed from the Dominicans. O'Connor packed his bags and left the River Forest Priory forever. He lived with his widowed sister until his death of natural causes Dec.7 2006.
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On Ash Wednesday, February 28, 1990, O'Connor wrote: "When I made my vow of obedience 40 years ago, it was first and foremost to Jesus Christ, His Mother and St. Dominic and in obedience to them only death will silence my witnessing to the Truth." -Source and Fr. O'Connor homily video
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Are you thinking what I'm thinking? 
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H/T Spirit Daily

"Why do these words sound so nasty?"

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me god.

In the name of the father, the son, and the holy ghost. Amen.

Sodomy
Fellatio
Cunnilingus
Pederasty

Father, why do these words sound so nasty?

Masturbation
Can be fun
Join the holy orgy
Kama Sutra
Everyone!

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Vile words.
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Now that Gay Pride month is over, I've been getting a couple of emails with photos of gay pride parades, and of course I've run across the same on one or two news portals and websites. The stuff 'they' do in their parades and carnivals is very celebratory and definitely gay all the way, as well as very theatrical, very Broadway, and very much reminding me of the Broadway musical Hair.  As a toddler (what?) I saw the original cast version on Broadway way back when.  I thought it was very cool but kind of lame - people pretending to be hippies - I was never one to take musicals seriously.  In fact, I've just mentioned two things I dislike the most; parades - any parade, and musicals - although there have been exceptions in that category (Springtime For Hitler).
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Gay people, those who promote the lifestyle and engage in homosexual behavior, hate the word sodomy - just like many more people hate the act, there seem to be a growing number of people today who really hate the word.  It reminds me of the parody from Hair - the song entitled Sodomy - the lyrics are at top.  It was meant to shock in those days, just as it was meant to exorcise the shamefulness of the act.  Today sodomy is not only associated with homosexual practice, it has been a successful sexual alternative to vaginal sex for heterosexuals who wish to avoid unwanted pregnancy.  Basketball players have been accused of that type of behavior in rape cases, as was the former president of the IMF, Dominique Straus-Kahn.  And some kids seem to be able to engage in it while claiming to retain their virginity, 'since it's not really sex'.  Creepy.
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So anyway.  Why does the sodomy word sound so nasty?
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For one, because what it connotes is nasty.  The lyrics from the song is sophomoric titillation, sung by a teen character just 'turning on'.  It's naive and meant to be funny as well - if you're 10 years old.  The musical as a whole wasn't really all that naive however.  It actually unearthed from the 'underground culture' of the time, all the stuff the establishment's moral code had up until the age of chemical contraception deemed unspeakable.  Kids were experimenting with drugs and sex and alternative lifestyles with greater license because of the pill.  Free-love - a concept that emerged amongst the early 20th century Bohemians - Margaret Sanger amongst them.  Hair is an example of how theater affects morality and politics in ways not always so subtle - although it is often dismissed as just 'entertainment'.   But I digress.
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PC vs. not PC.
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I'm not sure why gay activists and gay people hate the sodomite word so much.  On some level, contempt for the word has led gay Scriptural exegetes to attempt to change the meaning of the Biblical account of the destruction of Sodom and Gonorrhea (just kidding with that name!) to say that the cities of the plane were destroyed pretty much due to the inhospitality of the inhabitants.  Maybe it's a bit more complicated than that - but they've down played the sodomy aspect.  Even though most people would consider being sodomized by their hosts to be rather inhospitable.  I know!
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The lyrics of the Sodomy song from Hair ask why these words sound so nasty - while there is a not so subtle rebellion against Christian faith within the framework of the scene.  The young character pretends to be praying, using the 'nasty words' in a sort of ritualized chant, ending with an invitation to a communal orgy.  I see gay pride heading that way.  One of the photos a reader sent me shows a guy - most probably straight, dressed in costume for the parade, wearing a t-shirt sign, "I'm gay for today".  I think the gay thing is moving towards to what could become just such a sexually-fluid event like that - even if only engaged in during the carnival atmosphere of gay pride.  Media is getting close to promoting it as trend.  Therefore I think it reasonable to suggest that we're actually in Sodom to some extent.  Again, I digress. 
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So what is it?
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Nevertheless, I still have not figured out why sodomite is so offensive to gay people and those who like to sodomize their friends as a means of welcoming them or 'loving' them?   (Doesn't that sound radical though?)  Is it just because it is condemned in the Bible?  Or that there used to be laws on the books against sodomy?  Spiritual writers use the term in the Biblical sense and it is quite appropriate to do so.  Do people who engage in sodomy find it offensive?  If so, what does that say about their conscience - if anything?  (I must add I'm not judging anyone.)  Over eaters are gluttons.  Habitual drunks are alcoholics.  They usually can't overcome these things until they admit, or acknowledge these facts.  Therefore, is objection to the word sodomite just another form of denial?
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I don't know what other people think - but I too find the word nasty - but that's because I think the act is disgusting - no matter who is doing it.  It is what it is. 
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Now having said all of that, there is the real issue that today not a few people use the word in language that is purposely meant to hurt and denigrate the humanity of anyone who appears to have homosexual tendencies.  It is used to shame and condemn the person; 'hate the sin and not the sinner' is the rule of thumb, but there are many people who use the word out contempt for the person.  They use other more vile terms as well.  What to do about it?
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I don't know.
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Disclaimer:  This post is not intended to offend.
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Photo:  Scene from Hair

Fr. Gobbi: Mixed messages and locutions.

The Marian Movement of Priests:  Is It Safe for Faithful Catholics?

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Note: That is the title of an article from Catholic Online by Mary Beth Kremski.  It is a good question to ask these days when false mystics rise up around us.  Kremski's article is very good, based upon documentation from the MMP relaying the request by the CDF that the claim of locutions/messages be changed to Fr. Gobbi's private/personal meditations, while within the semi-private communication circle of the MMP, the supernatural character of the messages continued to be affirmed.  Nevertheless, the CDF never interfered with the apostolate.  To see why there was concern in the first place, please read Kremski's article.
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Silence of the tomb.
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With the death of Fr. Stefano Gobbi comes the assessment of his locutions and messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary to her priests in the Marian Movement of Priests and the faithful who support them in cenacles of prayer.  Many good priests and bishops have found spiritual support and encouragement through Fr. Gobbi's apostolate, I suspect most believe in the authenticity of the messages.  While it is true the CDF recommended that Gobbi no longer make the claim that the messages were from Our Lady, but rather his personal meditation, none of his writings were ever banned or condemned.  Fr. Gobbi cooperated willingly with the requests made of him by Church officials.  He strikes me as a very humble and holy man, deeply devoted to Our Lady and the priesthood. 
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Deluded or mistaken?
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Personally, I was immediately attracted to the spirituality of the Marian Movement since it emphasised devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as revealed at Fatima, but I never could 'get into' the Gobbi messages, nor did I carry any sort of veneration for Fr. Gobbi beyond his being a priest.  I actually lost all interest in him after the instruction from the CDF to refer to the locutions as personal meditations.  Likewise, his endorsement of Medjugorje helped me detach myself from trying to follow along with the messages, a few of which concerning the future were eventually proved wrong - at least in the literal sense.  Deluded?  Perhaps, but suffering from delusion doesn't always make someone a bad person - just mistaken.  Well intentioned, but deluded.  Sincere, but mistaken. 
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Locutions are apparently very popular these days amongst nouveau-mystics, yet they can be confusing phenomenon even for the saints.  For example, the Lord's words to St. Francis, 'rebuild my Church' is a very good example.  Francis thought he meant the run down church of San Damiano, but Pope Innocent III in his dream about the Saint understood that Francis and his order were called to help rebuild the whole Church - the people of God.  Hence the Pope himself approved and defined the mission of St. Francis, while subsequent popes have continued to do likewise for the Franciscans throughout the centuries.
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God's ways are not man's ways.
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St. John of the Cross explains why locutions are not always dependable, and how the recipient of the messages may misinterpret them.  I'm frequently reminded of Sr. Lucia of Fatima who wrote several things that seemed to hint at the contents of the third secret, yet when the secret was revealed and interpreted by the Church, some people felt there were contradictions and or omissions, although Sr. Lucia herself affirmed the secret had been revealed in its entirety, just as she affirmed that the consecration Our Lady requested was accepted by Heaven as being fulfilled.  Sr. Lucia, referring to the secret said that the details and meaning were "up to the Church to interpret".  In this she was absolutely correct.  She demonstrated great humility and obedience subjecting every thing to the better judgement of the Church, mistrusting even her own interpretation of events - since as John of the Cross states, "the soul is easily mistaken" - and in some cases even the person's spiritual director can be misled.
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Visions and locutions, even though from God, can mislead us. 
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St. John of the Cross in Chapter 19 of the Ascent lays out proof from Scripture on how this can be, for the sake of brevity, I will only high light a few passages to help explain the dangers and misunderstandings locutions can and do generate.
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"We mentioned the two reason why, although God's visions and locutions are true and certain in themselves, they are not always so for us.  The first reason is because of our defective manner of understanding them, and the second because their basic causes are sometimes variable.
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Clearly in regard to the first, not all revelations turn out according to the literal meaning.  The cause is that, since God is immense and profound, he usually embodies in his prophecies, locutions, and revelations other ways, concepts, and ideas remarkably different from the meaning we generally find in them.  And the surer and more truthful they are, the less they seem so to us.
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We behold this frequently in Scripture.  With a number of the ancients, many of God's prophecies and locutions did not turn out as they had expected, because they interpreted them with their own different and extremely literal method."
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The letter kills, the spirit gives life.
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John goes on to cite several passages from Scripture, explaining why and how the recipients got it wrong and events turned out not as human nature expected.  John then explains:
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"[...] Souls are misled by imparting to God's locutions and revelations a literal interpretation, and interpretation according to the outer rind.  As has been explained, God's chief objective in conferring these revelations is to express and impart the elusive, spiritual meaning contained in the words.  This spiritual meaning is richer and more plentiful than the literal meaning and transcends those limits."
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[...] "Anyone bound to the letter, locution, form, or apprehensible figure cannot avoid serious error and will later become confused for having been led by the literal sense and not having allowed for the spiritual meaning which is divested of the literal sense.  ('The letter kills, the spirit gives life' - 2 Cor. 3:6)"

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"It is impossible for someone unspiritual to judge and understand the things of God correctly; and one is not spiritual if one judges them literally." - All quotes from St. John taken from The Ascent, Bk II, Chapter 19
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Prayers for Fr. Gobbi.  Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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 H/T Spirit Daily

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

This year the Solemnity falls on the First Friday of July, which also coincides with the memorial of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus.

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Most Precious Blood flowing forth from the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a font of mercy for us, I trust in you.

Bishop Tobin expresses disappointment over Rhode Island civil union law.

Bishop Tobin has been outspoken against legislation which would permit same sex marriage or its equivalent, civil unions.  Rhode Island just did.  From Bishop Tobin:
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“I am deeply disappointed that Rhode Island will establish civil unions in our state. The concept of civil unions is a social experiment that promotes an immoral lifestyle, is a mockery of the institution of marriage as designed by God, undermines the well-being of our families, and poses a threat to religious liberty.
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In this context it is my obligation to remind Catholics of the teachings of the Church on this matter. First, the Church continues to have respect and love for persons with same-sex attraction; they are indeed children of God and our brothers and sisters in the human family. We pray for their well-being and offer them spiritual guidance and pastoral care. We also extend our love and support to families of homosexual persons who sometimes struggle with this difficult emotional issue.
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At the same time, the Church reminds its members that homosexual activity is contrary to the natural law and the will of God and, therefore, is objectively sinful. Persons with same-sex attraction are required to live the Christian virtues of chastity and modesty, as all persons are. The importance of these virtues is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures and in the constant tradition of the Church.
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Because civil unions promote an unacceptable lifestyle, undermine the faith of the Church on holy matrimony, and cause scandal and confusion, Catholics may not participate in civil unions. To do so is a very grave violation of the moral law and, thus, seriously sinful. A civil union can never be accepted as a legitimate alternative to matrimony.
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Can there be any doubt that Almighty God will, in His own time and way, pass judgment upon our state, its leaders and citizens, for abandoning His commands and embracing public immorality? I encourage Catholics to pray for God’s patience, mercy and forgiveness in these distressing times.” - Bishop Tobin.
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May God bless Bishop Tobin for reiterating sound Roman Catholic teaching so forcibly in these days of mass delusion and confusion. 
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In addition to praying for the intentions Bishop Tobin requests, I also think it is rather important to pray for the priests and bishops who remain in communion with the Catholic Church, rather than those who defect or abandon ship. 

BREAKING! Woman who accused him of sexual misconduct caught in lies!

The sexual assault case against him is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.       
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Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn, a French politician, and the woman, prosecutors do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself.       
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Since her initial allegation on May 14, the accuser has repeatedly lied, one of the law enforcement officials said. - Finish reading @ NYT