Snarling schoolgirl 'possessed by spirits' exorcised on street...

She claimed she was 'not bovvered' though.

Story here.

Bishop Cordileone - straight talker.

“Marriage is about fundamental justice for children,” he said. “Children do best with a mother and a father.” - Bishop Cordileone

Bishop Cordileone is one of my very favorite bishops in the United States.  Why?  Because he's a straight talker - he teaches Catholic doctrine clearly and distinctly, in direct language anyone can understand - and he does so with genuine charity and concern for the welfare of contemporary men, women and children.  In defending the family, he defends the Faith.

Washington D.C., Jul 3, 2012 / 04:07 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The legalization of “gay marriage” in America, even on a civil level, is unjust to children and poses a threat to religious liberty, warned Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif.

“Marriage is the only institution we have that connects children to their mothers and fathers,” he said. “So really, the question is, do you support that institution?”

In a June interview with CNA, Bishop Cordileone, who leads the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, explained that Church teaching against the redefinition of marriage on a civil level as well as a sacramental level is a matter of justice. 

He acknowledged that advocates of “same-sex marriage” point to studies that appear to indicate that children can do just as well with two parents of the same sex as with two parents of the opposite sex.

However, he called much of this research “flawed” and pointed to a recent article published in the leading peer-reviewed journal, “Social Science Research.” The article analyzed the 59 studies on the topic used by American Psychological Association and found that they were problematic because they utilized self-selecting or “small, non-representative samples” of the population.

In contrast, he said, a recent social science study conducted at the University of Texas at Austin – entitled “The New Family Structures Study” – examined a very large, nationally-representative and random sample of American young adults who were raised in different family environments, including with same-sex couples and with their married, biological parents.

The study measured various areas of wellbeing, including social and economic condition, psychological and physical health and sexual identity and behavior. It found significant differences between the individuals raised by their married biological parents and those raised in other situations, and “in no area were children better off in an alternative arrangement.”

Based on sound social science, this study complements common sense and “demonstrates what we’ve always known,” Bishop Cordileone said. “Children do best with a mother and a father.”

The bishop explained that this issue is of crucial importance because “we cannot have two different definitions of marriage simultaneously in the country.”

“Only one definition of marriage can stand,” he said. “This is not expanding the right of marriage. It’s changing the definition, or taking away something is essential to marriage – that it’s the union of a man and a woman for the purpose of the binding of the two and the procreation and education of the next generation of offspring.”

Bishop Cordileone also warned that the redefinition of marriage poses a serious threat to religious freedom. This is not merely a potential threat, he said, but one that is already being manifest in numerous ways.

For example, he observed, Catholic Charities agencies in numerous archdioceses have already been forced out of the adoption business because they believed it was best to place children only with a mother and a father.

The “rights of conscience and parental rights” are also at risk, particularly when it comes to education of children. - Read more.

Just last month Bishop Cordileone was asking for an oath of fidelity to Catholic teaching from CALGM, the Catholic Association of Lesbian and Gay Ministries. They refused.  The Bishop has since declared the association 'not authentically Catholic'.  Fr. Malloy of The Shepherd's Voice reported on that story here: Bishop Cordileone Requests Fidelity From Homosexual Activists--They Refuse.

And another thing...

I also want pull this section from the main article/interview I linked to, as it is something I've also been saying all along as well - it has to do with "how'd we get into this mess anyway?"

"Bishop Cordileone then emphasized that “gay marriage” is not an isolated problem but is rather connected to the broader issue of misunderstanding sexuality.

“This isn’t a new threat to marriage,” he explained. “It’s a huge problem, and it’s gone on for decades.”

He noted that the advent of the birth control pill led to an “explosion of contraception” that “divorced procreation from the conjugal act.” Other erosions to marriage quickly followed, including no-fault divorce, which was “a huge blow to marriage,” and experimenting with “open marriages.”

Suddenly, the traditional marks of marriage – fidelity, permanence and openness to children – were all gone, he said. Eventually, this led to a culture of “widespread promiscuity” as sex lost its meaning, a phenomenon that was serious “facilitated” by the common use of contraception.

Now, the bishop pointed out, marriage is seen merely as being about the legal benefits offered to the individuals entering into it, rather than as “a child-centered institution.”
But if marriage is simply about intimate relationships between adults, he asked, “why should the law even get involved at all?”

He observed that there is no real governmental reason to recognize sexual relationships between adults." - Source

Exactamundo! 
Pray for our Bishops.

H/T Ray at Stella

Mass Chat: Reading the letters of bishops from the pulpit.

Grave and serious issues.

Much has been discussed on blogs and in the news praising those U.S. Catholic Bishops (150+) uniting in response to the unprecedented threat to religious freedom stemming from the unjust "preventative services" mandate issued by Obama's HHS, which requires all private health care plans to provide coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, sterilization procedures, and related "patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity."

This weekend the letters of Archbishop Nienstedt and the statement of Archbishop Timothy Dolan were included in the weekly bulletin, and the pastor at my parish addressed both letters and the issue from the pulpit.  Included in the bulletin BTW, was the first ever appearance of Archbishop Nienstedt's letter supporting the marriage amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution - in defense of marriage.  (Up until this weekend, nothing has been said at my parish regarding the issue.)

The sense of urgency and gravity of these notices reminded me of the letter of the Dutch bishops read at all of the Masses during the Nazi occupation of WWII, specifically the pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Utrecht in the summer of 1942, protesting the Nazi persecution of Jews.  The action resulted in an increased, more brutal persecution against Jews and Catholics.  One may also recall how the Church in Germany publicly condemned the so-called "mercy killings" of physically and mentally disabled Germans in the 1930's by the Nazis.  They stopped it - but only for a time, and only after the bishops spoke out.  As we know, the policies were resumed and led to the Holocaust.

Pray for the bishops and the defeat of these policies, but keep in mind, it might just be the beginning of worse things to come.

Photo:  1938, the burning Synagogue of Bielefeld, Germany, during the Pogrom Night. Source

Sounds like restricting religious freedom to me: The Fr. JP Echert slapdown.

Support our priests.
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I would caution anyone against tangling with Fr. John Paul Echert, one of the 'best of the best' Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis.  Fr. Echert is a military chaplain and pastor of St. Augustine parish and Holy Trinity parish in South St. Paul, Minnesota.  He is a solid Roman Catholic priest, a biblical scholar, and a man without guile - a straight talker.  He is one of the few priests in the world I trust implicitly.
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That said, a local politician Fr. Echert obviously admires, insulted the priest in response to Father's respectful request for the state representative to reconsider giving his support to the efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota.  Fr. Echert's email reprinted below:  Full text at parish website
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Dear Representative Kriesel:



Greetings from Father John Echert, Pastor of the Parishes of Holy


Trinity and St. Augustine in South St. Paul. I am writing to you


specifically in regards to the proposed Marriage Amendment under


consideration here in Minnesota in light of an email exchange which


you recently had with my Associate Pastor, Father Robert Grabner.


Within your response you wrote, “Unfortunately I do not support the


Marriage Amendment and will not be voting for it.” I am very


saddened to learn this, especially since I had encouraged one of our


parishioners, one of your campaign advocates, to have you come to


our parish Fall Festival last October so that parishioners could meet


you in the days leading up to the elections. Also, as a military


Chaplain here in the Minnesota Air National Guard I have been using


you as a heroic example of resiliency in our monthly Yellow Ribbon


Program for recently returned deployers.    
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I ask you to please reconsider your position on this critical matter.



While we can legitimately debate issues related to finances and


politics, those that are grounded upon basic moral principles and


family values are rooted in the laws of God. I am commencing this


week with a parish campaign to promote support for a Marriage


Amendment in Minnesota; I hope that you will be among those elected


officials upon whom we can count for your efforts at the leadership


level to protect traditional marriage in our state.


Sincerely,


Father John Echert
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The threat against religious freedom.
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Kriesel's response was not only insulting, but threatening in tone - typical of the intimidation associated with the efforts by politicians to restrict religious freedom and coerce religious leaders into silence regarding moral issues.
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Mr. Echert,



I would like to respectfully remind you that the Internal Revenue


Service frowns upon churches and religious organizations devoting


time to influencing legislation. Your admission of the commencement


of a politically involved "campaign" will probably violate several state


and federal tax provisions.


Tyler
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How to respond.
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I agree with Fr. Echert that it is a good idea to respectfully voice your concerns and objections to Rep. Kriesel:
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Representative John Kriesel know your views on the issue of



the protection of marriage and also let him know your opinion


of his attitude towards Church activism on moral issues, you


can email him at rep.john.kriesel@house.mn, call him at


651-297-9010, or send mail to 451 State Office Bldg, 100


Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155
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Photo:  Lieutenant Colonel Echert - I believe this photo is Fr. Echert during Desert Storm.  Source

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H/T Eponymous Flower blog
I've just been made aware that American Papist has posted on the issue as well.

I ask you: "How many gays must God create before we accept that he wants them around?”

"How many gays must God create before we accept that he wants them around?”
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Minnesota State Rep. Steve Simon asked that question during a debate over a proposed vote on a same-sex marriage amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution, warning, “If this becomes part of our Constitution, history will judge us all very, very harshly,” he says.
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To his credit Rep. Simon was calm and civil in his comments, refraining from any invective or accusations of bigotry often heard in response to religious leaders asking the state to refrain from legalizing same sex marriage.  Likewise, Minnesota's religious leaders were just as calm and civil in their appeal.  They were not banner waving scare mongers railing against homosexuality.  To the contrary, one of Minnesota's best Catholic bishops addressed the issue calmly, reasonably and compassionately in his testimony before the Committee in the Minnesota Legislature.  From the Catholic Spirit:
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Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth testified May 2 before the House Civil Law Committee in support of a bill (HF 1613) that would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2012 to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. 
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“Based on God’s Word given in divine revelation, we believe that marriage creates a sacred bond between spouses,” said Bishop Sirba, speaking for the Catholic bishops of Minnesota. “We hold this to be true not only for ourselves, but for all humanity.”
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The church’s convictions about marriage “find ample support in principles which can be discovered by human reason and which have been reflected throughout human history,” he said.
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Bishop Sirba said “the committed relationship between one man and one woman calls forth the best of the spouses, not only for their own sake, but also for the well-being of their children and for the advancement of the common good.”
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In defending the institution of marriage, he emphasized that “persons with same-sex attractions are our sisters and brothers, and should not be deprived of their authentic human rights, including the most fundamental rights of all — the right to life and the right to love.”
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The Catholic Church opposes discrimination against any person based on a same-sex attraction, he said. “At the same time,” he added, “meeting authentic human needs does not require changing society’s definition of marriage.”
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Bishop Sirba said the bishops believe the amendment is needed because several legislative proposals in the past few years have sought to “transform marriage from an institution focused on the needs of children into a totally new legal entity centered on the happiness of adults.” - Catholic Spirit
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God created them, male and female...
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Rep. Simon's comments went 'viral' as they say, news desks around the world picked up on it.  Why?  Because many people are convinced God created human beings to be gay.  There are well meaning religious people and homosexual persons who insist that is true.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church doesn't pretend to know the cause of homosexuality, rather it asserts:
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2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
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Neither does the Church condemn homosexual persons:
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2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
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2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
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However, the Church must proclaim the truth about sexuality and marriage and teaches:
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2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are sanctified by the sacrament. - CCC
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The attempt to redefine nature.
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The debate and campaign to legalize same sex marriage will go on.  In the meantime, legislators in favor of legalizing same sex marriage have been throwing out subtle challenges to religious leaders who stand in defense of traditional marriage.  The challengers seek to denigrate traditional religious teaching, marginalizing it as out of touch with contemporary social needs.  I believe that is what was behind Rep. Simon's remark, which plays to a secularized audience accustomed to dismissing religious conviction to private practice and whose moral standards are based upon popular cultural sentimentality and moral relativism.  It is part of the cultural morass Benedict XVI warned about, “Today these basic human rights (religious freedom) are again under threat from attitudes and ideologies which would impede free religious expression.”
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"Religious freedom goes to the very heart of what it means to be human."
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As Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon explained at the conclusion of the recent conference in Rome on religious freedom by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences:
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(Glendon) said there is a "critical challenge for religious liberty" today. "Even in countries where religious liberty has a long and apparently secure constitutional foundation, the suspicion of those religious believers who claim to know truths about the human person leads to marginalization and even outright discrimination."
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Even in countries with few restrictions, Glendon added, "the academy and public life often portray religion as a source of social division, and treat religious freedom as a second-class right to be trumped by a range of other claims and interests."
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(O)ne of the principal ways in which religious liberty is violated is by construing it so narrowly as to confine it to the private sphere." - Zenit 
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My comment:
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I was watching the local news with a friend when the video with Rep. Simon was aired, and my friend who doesn't understand the big deal about same sex marriage said to me, "How would they like it if we banned religion?  Why don't we just ban religion and religious people?"
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I laughed and said, "Yeah.  Because that worked out so well for the Soviet Union."
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Religious freedom is the big issue - and don't kid yourself, same sex marriage threatens that.
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“We see before our eyes the evil fruits of life in a society which pretends to take the place of God in making its laws and in giving its judgments, in a society in which those in power decide what is right and just, according to their desires and convenience, even at the cost of perpetrating the gravest harm upon their neighbour.” - Cardinal Burke

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Photo: Rep. Steve Simon.  He's a nice guy.