Another priest thrown under the bus?

Rather, isn't it simply compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People? 

“Please keep Father Spaulding, St. Timothy Parish and the person who brought forward the accusation in your prayers.” - Rev. David Sanfilippo, vicar of priests.
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Rev. John D.“Jack” Spaulding, pastor of St. Timothy’s Catholic Community in Mesa, was placed on administrative leave Friday after a Diocesan Review Board Thursday night determined there was a “credible”allegation of his involvement in sexual misconduct with a minor. It allegedly took place more than 25 years ago when he was pastor at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish in Scottsdale.
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Between 1989 and 1996, nine young people of St. Maria Goretti said they were hearing voices and getting messages, or “locutions,”from Mary. Spaulding, who said he also began to get messages, instructed them to record their messages, which were compiled and examined by a diocesan commission. Its report in 1995 said the locutions were “explainable in the range of ordinary human experiences” and were not supernatural.
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The diocese released a statement Friday afternoon that Spaulding, 67, had resigned as pastor on Monday, and that Bishop Thomas Olmsted had accepted it and was consulting with others in the diocese to name a new priest for St. Timothy, one of the largest parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
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Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery released a statement Saturday morning saying his office has received no allegations or investigative report from law enforcement regarding Spaulding, nor is it participating in any criminal investigation arising from his suspension.
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Olmsted said the case will be referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome for further proceedings. Spaulding’s resignation is effective July 4 and “came after a separate investigation by the diocese into concerns that the parish had failed to follow certain financial and human resources policies and procedures,” the diocesan statement said. It said the diocese wants to “assure the faithful of St. Timothy that there was no finding of embezzlement or other such financial crime or impropriety” on the part of Spaulding or parish staff. “Father’s Spaulding’s resignation on Monday from his position as pastor was based upon his recognition that a change of leadership was necessary at the parish,” the two-page statement said.
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Olmsted said he took his action on the sexual misconduct allegation in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by national bishops several years ago. - Source
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Prayers for Fr. Spaulding.

Who are you going to believe?

Faith in what?
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Do you believe the One Holy Roman Catholic Church, the Vicar of Christ and the Bishops in Communion with him? 
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Or do you believe popular culture which governs public opinion effecting changes in civil law and traditional morality?  Or, if you are trying to be a faithful Catholic, do you believe a schismatic bishop who claims to speak for the CDF?  Or a priest who has left ministry?  Or the bloggers and journalists who claim sitting bishops are liars and Marxists, and that they throw unwitting priests under buses?  Or do you believe dissenting Catholics who form their own 'worship' communities and new age retreat centers and tell you every one is wrong - except the gays?  Or do you believe spurious mystics who claim the Virgin has been telling them secrets for 30 years - but they can't reveal them?  Who do you believe?
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So, who do you believe?
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Bishop Fellay of the SSPX claims:  "These are the words from the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: “But you know, it’s the priests, it’s the bishops, it’s the Catholic universities: they are full of heresies!” That’s what the the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith told us in June 2009! So they know that the situation in the Church is dramatic. If they are able to say that it is full of heresies everywhere, it really means something! At the same time, they act as if everything is fine. It is disappointing and confusing, my dear Brethren, but that’s the situation." - Source
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Thirty years and still going strong: "Since the beginning of the apparitions, over 40 million pilgrims have come to the small, hilly village to pray, fast, repent, and get a glimpse of the visionaries. Some have documented “miracles” such as rosary turning to gold, supernatural sightings, the dancing sun and healings.  If this is a hoax, six individuals have given 30 years of their life to maintaining the charade. Each of them has continued on with their lives; marrying, having children, working. None of the visionaries took a vocation in the Catholic church. They all chose secular lives." - Source
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Fr. Corapi:  "The leadership of the Church has made it clear to me they don’t want me anymore. They have a right to do that and I have to accept that. So, I’ll do what I can outside of the Church. I’m not leaving the Church. I am simply doing something else in life so that I won’t wither up and die, and so that you can still derive some benefit from my gifts from God." - Source
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But what have your bishops and cardinals in communion with the Pope told you?  What does the Catechism teach?  What do the various Vatican dicasteries tell you in the Pope's name?
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One, Holy, Roman Catholic Church - Jesus Christ.
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Let the dead bury their dead...  follow Jesus Christ. 
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Art: Synaxis Of The Holy, Glorious And All-praised Twelve Apostles

Corpus Christi

Body and Blood of Christ, strength and courage of martyrs, save us.
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"Martyrdom is witnessing to the truth, and paying for the witness. In other words, we're living in the age of martyrs in two senses. First, on the level of suffering and pain. For many, suffering due to physical pain has been reduced by advances in science; thus, the deepest pain is not in the body, but in the soul. In the souls of the just, there has been an ocean of suffering. One sees so much evil in the world, and often it is very close to home. It is a deep suffering. When we see evil perpetrated, committed by people whom we dearly love, it causes us deep suffering. And so that's martyrdom, you might say. But when we accept such suffering as a witness to our love for Jesus Christ, we are practicing martyrdom, and, with his grace, we can even enjoy the experience." - Source
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"Given that, to make bread the wheat must be ground, and to make wine the grapes must be crushed, so I want my members to be broken and ground by the beasts' teeth to become a sacrifice pleasing to God." - St. Ignatius of Antioch


Photo:  Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini during the Corpus Christi procession.  I very much admire a monstrance like the one shown.  Photo source. 

I saw this at Mark Shea's blog and watch it all of the time now.

I love this!

NY Allows Gay Marriage.

I forgot it is legal in Massachusetts too.
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The issue will be on ballot for the 2012 elections in Minnesota as well.  Momentum to legalize gay marriage is growing, and so is frustration and anger on the other side of the issue.  As everyone knows, I'm against it - gay marriage that is - so need I say more or hurl invectives and condemn everyone to hell?  I don't think so.  The fact is, laws change.
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I wonder how individuals adjusted to the novelties brought on by the French Revolution, especially as laws began to change?  We know quite a bit about that, don't we?  But what was the actual experience like?  For instance, closer to our own time - what was it like in Nazi Germany when the laws began to change?  When old people and mentally disabled people were euthanized?  Culture changed radically for the German people - just as it did for the Russian people after 1917.  There was Christian resistance of course, but the laws changed nonetheless.  I'm not saying legalizing gay marriage makes us like the Nazis or the Communists or the Jacobins, I'm just wondering out loud what it was like to live in a society where traditional morality was no longer the standard, when Christian teaching was found objectionable and obscene.
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We may find out soon enough.
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Does that mean we should lose our peace over it?  I mean our interior peace - if indeed we have that.  That interior peace comes as a result of living in union with God's will.  Trusting God, though thousands around you fall.  Seeking God above all else - seek first the kingdom of God, and all of that.  Working and doing what we must, but with detachment and without anxiety, contempt, or hatred.  Letting the dead bury their dead.  At least that is the disposition of soul I'm finding necessary to remain faithful. 
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One friend left a comment on Fr. Corapi saying: "Let it go and let him go in peace to the new phase in his career."  That is very good advice.  In his precautions, John of the Cross tells the religious soul, "Never be scandalized or astonished at anything you happen to see or learn of, endeavoring to preserve your soul in forgetfulness of all of that.  For should you desire to pay heed to things, many will seem wrong, even though you live amongst angels, because of your not understanding the nature of them."
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You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
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Of course whenever I quote John of the Cross readers object because the counsel may not apply to them in their state in life.  Nevertheless I believe there is something in John's precautions that is helpful for a soul's balance in ordering one's priorities.  For instance, in the case of the Corapi scandal - Christ's answer to Peter's curiosity regarding the apostle John and his future come to mind, "how does that concern you?  Your business is to follow me."  Like the guy or not, Corapi is responsible for his own choices and in the end has to give his own personal account to God for his conduct.  So, let the dead bury their dead.  That's pretty much my personal attitude about the gay marriage thing as well.  When they ask for my shirt, I'll give them my coat as well.
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As St. John says, "Take Lot's wife as an example, because she was troubled at the destruction of the Sodomites and turned her head to watch what was happening, God punished her by converting her into a pillar of salt.  You are thus to understand God's will: that even though you live among devils you should not turn the head of your thoughts to their affairs, but forget these things entirely and strive to keep your soul occupied purely and entirely in God, and not let the thought of this thing or that hinder you from doing so."
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How can you believe when you seek approval from men?
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Christians are not approved by the world - indeed, Christians often do not approve of one another - all the snark online verifies that much.  But how does that concern me when my job is to follow Christ?  St. Seraphim Sarovsky assures us, "Keep yourself in peace and thousands around you will be saved."  So there you have it - that is what I understand by the words, let the dead bury their dead.  It is in reality a going out of sorts - outside the city gates, bearing the insult Christ bore.  For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking one which is to come.  Through him let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of lips which acknowledge his name.  Our life is hidden with Christ in God and I need to fix my eyes on him, who inspires and perfects my faith.
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Right now, that is what I need to do - let the dead bury their dead.

God alone.

Forgetting all else...
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When I first returned to the Church, many years ago now, I remember attending my first Mass at the most traditional church in town.  My friends and I looked like hippies, long hair, beards, dressed in torn jeans, t-shirts and trinkets and amulets.  I was so intent upon attending Mass I made my friends sit in the second or third row from the front.  I was completely oblivious as to who else was there or how people were dressed, whether I fit in or not.  I had recently become captivated with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - my eyes were fixed, as it were, my heart burned. That day I went to communion, again oblivious to my surroundings and the people who were there.  I was instantly convinced and understood that Jesus was truly and really present in the Eucharist.
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The next day I immediately began to go to daily Mass, and spent as much time as possible with the Blessed Sacrament in prayer.  It seems to me all of my attention was upon Jesus.  I never paid much attention to the priest, except as needed for confession, nor the people who attended Mass.  I never involved myself in Church affairs, church gossip, criticism of priests or bishops or the way Mass was said, or anything like that.  Nothing else mattered to me - I could easily recollect myself in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  I was like that for a long, long time.
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And then I wrecked everything by trying to become a monk and getting involved in the controversies that infect the Church and religious life and the laity.
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I keep trying to figure out how to return to my early love...  to let the dead bury their dead. 

When Bishops Go Wrong: Mexican Bishop and the San Elredo Community

This is what happens.

Saltillo, Mexico, Jun 23, 2011 / 05:48 pm (CNA).- The San Elredo Community, which is backed by Bishop Raul Vera of Saltillo, Mexico, plans to request that civil unions between same-sex couples from now on be referred to as “marriage.”
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Bishop Raul Vera Lopez of the Diocese of Saltillo has repeatedly expressed support for same-sex unions.

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In March of this year, Bishop Vera Lopez published a statement on the diocesan website expressing support for the “sexual, family and religious diversity forum.” The event was aimed at “eradicating what some sectors of the Church believe about homosexuality” — especially the belief “that homosexual acts are contrary to God.” - CNA
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So some bishops aren't faithful to Catholic teaching?
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It is one thing to welcome persons with same sex attraction, and to invite them to full communion with the Church in accord with Catholic Church teaching on sexuality, sin and conversion from sin, but it is quite another to deceive them and affirm such persons in the mistaken notion that homosexual acts are not sinful but good.
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Photo: Bishop Raul Vera Lopez

I'm appalled and disgusted by the holy Roman Catholic bloggutsphere!

Shame, shame, shame !!!
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I cannot believe the infighting, the bishop bashing, and the nasty, corrosive allegations hurled against innocent-until-proven-guilty, priests-run-over-by-buses by the Catholic professional bloggers as well as those rank amateur Catholic blogs which comprise the base of Catholic online news portals.  Trads and Neo-Caths and other bloglodites alike are acting like rabid junkyard dogs.  (I know!)  Why, it is disgusting and debased - their conduct beneath contempt.  Even the highly critical, outspoken Michael Voris is scandalized and disgusted and indignant over the venomous diatribes polluting the one, true holy Roman Catholic Internet.  Like Mr. Voris, I refuse to have anything whatsoever to do with this hateful smear campaign.   
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Hey, remember what Mother Angelica said about her network and the bishops?
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When other bishops tried to gain control of EWTN and stifle her loudly orthodox voice, she famously said, "I'll blow the damn thing up before you get your hands on it." 
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The nerve.  That's right - put those bishops in their place, but don't ever say nothin' bad about... well, you get the point.  Shame!

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. 

Midsummer's Eve

It is still St. John's Eve, though just past midnight. The night illumined by fires before the Feast of the Baptist. It was a tradition in the early days of Christendom to have a bonfire in honor of the saint who was a "burning and shining light." (John 5:35)  In some places, they still do...

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...  Ah! Reminds me of a play I once saw... the dialog echoes in me mind...
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"But after all, it has only been midsummer madness. Lady Iris, wouid you be good enough to ring for my wrap?"
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" Certainiy, princess!"

" And get rid of those damn cowbells!"

"May I help you, princess?"

" Thank you, Lady Iris... Goodbye, goodbye. I shall always feel a strong attachment to you all. (Let go!)"

"I can't. I'm stuck."

" Let go!"

"It's my bracelet. It's caught on you...

"Bring down the curtain!"


Yes dear readers, I shall always feel a strong attachment to you all... after all, it has only been midsummer madness!




Art: Midsummer Night's Dream by P. D. White.

Fr. Corapi clarifies that he is not leaving the Church.

Vocation was to preach.
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Fr. Corapi's latest statement is interesting, wherein he explains that he is not leaving the Church nor the priesthood - he is simply not going to be ministering publicly as a priest, and only in that sense he will be working outside the Church.  I'll let him tell it.
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June 23, 2011
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I think it’s a bit too easy to arrive at an erroneous conclusion when you base it on a fallacious presupposition. For instance, some very kind and fine people assume that I have “left the Church.” Please, understand this, I have not left the Church. I love the Catholic Church and would not “leave the Church.” I have resigned from public ministry, which is rather anticlimactic to be sure since I was out of it anyhow due to the suspension or “administrative leave,” which is tantamount to suspension. There are elements of this that you don’t know about, and that’s not your fault.
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Once a man is ordained a priest he remains a priest for all eternity. Holy Orders is one of the three sacraments that imprints an indelible mark on the soul. What the Church can give or remove is “faculties”, which authorizes the person to publicly administer the sacraments.
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The leadership of the Church has made it clear to me they don’t want me anymore. They have a right to do that and I have to accept that. So, I’ll do what I can outside of the Church. I’m not leaving the Church. I am simply doing something else in life so that I won’t wither up and die, and so that you can still derive some benefit from my gifts from God. It may not be as good as before, or it may be better. The only thing I know for sure is that I’m not going to disobey the Church and attempt to “minister” as a priest, and I’m not going to lay down and die. I’m not ready to do that just yet. As a matter of fact, you might be pleasantly surprised at what’s in our future. Stay in touch. We may not have the old meeting places anymore, but we have some new ones and I would like to meet you there. - Blacksheepdog
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Doing as the bishops say, but not exactly how they expected you to do it.
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I'm very much reminded of Mother Nadine Brown who has also determined to continue her ministry while remaining Catholic.
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When Brown made her move, she too had consulted lawyers, canonical as well as civil. It seems to me, agree with her or not, she acted within her rights as a baptized Catholic lay person.  Mother Nadine and companions were never excommunicated or placed under interdict, although their Public Association was canonically suppressed and they were dispensed from their religious vows.  (I've been told these were private vows and they were not technically religious.)  As a lay person, Nadine Brown appears to be acting within her rights and is not using the name "Catholic" except to identify the Companions as a group of Catholic laity.  Brown's statement doesn't mean she is not a faithful Catholic either - she did exactly what the Archbishop asked her to do.

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Sadly, neither of these situations inspire confidence in the bishops of the Catholic Church for the followers of these ministries.
 

Fixing a hole.

I don't control the ads.

Priests and political office.

What a Spanish Bishop has to say about it.
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Rome, Italy, Jun 22, 2011 / 03:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A Spanish bishop is reminding Catholic clergy that being actively engaged in politics is incompatible with priestly life.
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The comments by Bishop Ingacio Munilla of San Sebastian follow the election of a priest to the city council in Gudina, Spain.
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“The priesthood, as an aspect of parenthood, is the universal father of all,” Bishop Munilla told CNA while on a visit to Rome.
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Fr. Antonio Fernandez Blanco was elected as a Spanish Socialist Party member in the Galician town of Gudina last month. After a suspension from priestly duties and a warning from his local bishop, Fr. Blanco offered his resignation as a local councilor.
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“It’s specific to the laity to bring Christ into public life - political life as well. So it’s the domain of lay people to get involved in politics, but not for a priest, because he has to be a father to people with all political opinions and (this) may reduce the ability to be paternal.”
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The internal law of the Catholic Church – which is called canon law – expressly forbids clerics from running for political office. - CNA
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Fortunately the priest came to his senses, resigned his position and returned to ministry.  See - it can happen.

Fr. Corapi is listening...

And so is God.
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I'm very impressed by the support Fr. Corapi's followers are offering him - adding their good advice as well as their thanks for the role he played in their conversion.  I'm reading the many comments at his website, not what the blogs are saying in his defense, rather the simple pleadings of the countless ordinary people he has influenced and inspired to dedicate themselves to Christ and His Church.  I think such support and the prayers of the faithful can help Fr. Corapi reconsider his decision and not abandon his priesthood.  I have confidence love can conquer every obstacle.
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O Mary, Queen of the Clergy, ora pro nobis!

Healing video for the very, very angry.

The English Martyrs: St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More

Some of my favorite saints are the English martyrs, since they suffered and died for issues not unlike those of our own day; fidelity to the Pope, the Eucharist, the defense of marriage, and so on.  In those days the priests faithful to the Church were forced underground to minister to the faithful; risking their lives to say Mass and administer the sacraments - their singular purpose being the sacred exercise of their priesthood for the salvation of souls.
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Today we commemorate the feast of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, a layman.
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Art:  St. John Fisher.  More images here.

Something about conversion stories... and the danger of relapse.

When you find unchanging peace on your way, then fear; because you are far from the right path by which the righteous go with suffering feet. - St. Isaac the Syrian

Conversion stories are edifying and oftentimes amazing.  Sensational sinners repent and come into the Church and the world stands in awe before the grace and mercy of God.  Frequently they demonstrate the efficacy of prayer and sacrifice, the sacraments, to effect such conversions.  Christ tells us in the Gospel heaven itself erupts in joy over just one sinner who repents.
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We must not be too ready to trust young men who have great devotion; we must wait till their wings are grown, and then see what sort of a flight they make. - St. Philip Neri

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In our times, the idea of conversion sometimes carries with it an expectation of honors - like the Prodigal Son's homecoming - celebrated with parties and gifts and even celebrity.  I sometimes get the impression that some Catholics have adopted the Protestant attitude of born-again Christians as regards the grace of conversion.  Many think you do it once and you are saved for life - and there is some sort of immediate reward, as least something as pleasant as a good 'approval rating'.  Especially when they write a blog or a book about it.  That can be a lot to live up to.
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A virtuous life consists in mortifying vices, sins, bad thoughts, and evil affections, and in exercising ourselves in the acquisition of holy virtues. - St. Philip Neri

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The reality is that conversion is an ongoing process wherein one never is immune from backsliding or relapse - especially when one's sin was habitual and sensual - Philip Neri said sins of sensuality and avarice are particularly hard to cure.  The Gospel tells us, 'how narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life', and that is just the road, the way that leads to life.  Thus one never arrives at some point in one's journey where one can say, "I'm healed and okay now.  I've arrived.  I will not fall back."  For many of us the struggle never ends.  Through the action of grace we may go 'from strength to strength' but we are always dependent upon God's grace and mercy, and we must deny ourselves each day and take up our cross to follow Christ, who was hassled and harried, scoffed at and despised and all of that stuff we think we know about him.
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We must never trust ourselves, for it is the devil’s way first to get us to feel secure, and then to make us fall. - St. Philip Neri

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Moral conversions which involve recovery from substance abuse or sexual addiction are not only hard fought, they can be very difficult to verify.  For example, the penitent St. Margaret Cortona was refused entrance into the Third Order of St. Francis for three years while the friars tested her virtue - and then suspicion of her virtue never ceased to plague her.  Another example, in our day, rarely if ever are moral cures recognized or accepted in the process for the canonization of saints.  This is no more evident than in the cause for Matt Talbot.  Numerous claims of moral cures and conversions (from addiction) are attributed to Talbot, yet none have been accepted as miraculous.  Perhaps a few could be accepted now if it could be established that a person persevered without relapse until death, but I don't know if any such case has been postulated so far.
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All sins are highly displeasing to God, but above all sensuality and avarice, which are very difficult to cure. - St. Philip Neri

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My point is that the devil delights in pulling us back into sin - the more dramatic the conversion, the bigger the convert, the greater the effort to snare him back - to make him 'return to his vomit' so that his 'last sin may be worse than the first'.  I sometimes think that is why the Lord permits some of us to keep falling into our former sins, so that we may become more and more humble, and by repenting, glorify his mercy that never gives up on us, 'for he knows we are but dust', weak and inconstant - our only constancy being our need for his mercy, for our conversion and our salvation is so unstable.  We need patience to do God's will.  Patience involves suffering.  And perseverance.
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He who cannot put up with the loss of his honour, can never make any advance in spiritual things. - St. Philip Neri

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Art: St. Dismas' deathbed conversion.  I have no information on the artist or the painting.

Weiner Dog and the Gay Pride Parade

In 2008 Anthony Weiner along with other NY politicians and celebrities marched in NYC's 2008 Gay Pride Parade.  No surprise there, right? 

However, watching the video of the parade, how can anyone think gay is normal?  And yet St. Cecilia's in Boston intends to host a Mass in celebration of Gay Pride.
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H/T PML  

S. Luigi Gonzaga

"How can a young man remain sinless?"  Asks the psalmist.  St. Aloysius is the answer.
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Art:  The Vocation of Luigi Gonzaga, Guercino.  Narrative here.

Mark Shea on Corapi.

The best analysis and advice yet.
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I would caution any Catholic in his five wits to steer far far away from this guy. Some will (rightly) speak of their gratitude to him for helping them understand their faith better in the past. That is meet and just. But it is one thing to be grateful to him and another to form a faction or schism around him. You must not be of Peter, Paul or Apollos, but of Christ. Dog is not Holy Church. He is not a prophet. He is, rather, Tertullian: a guy with the gift of the gab who is on a trajectory toward complete rebellion against the Church he claims to love and defend. God grant that he repent and come to his senses and that his "fans" not follow him into rebellion. - An Analysis

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Bonus:  Memorable quotes from Corapi.
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201. I am a religious priest.


203. My habit reminds me, I am not home, but I am on my way.


212. Freedom is not being able to do anything you want to do.


226. When we abuse freedom, we step outside the boundary set by GOD, and we suffer the consequences.

273. It DOES matter how we live.


277. Many of us would prefer to take the easy way out.


292. I can't be more Catholic than the Church.


111. Do you run when things become difficult?


141. When a priest tries to lead a worldly life, he dies spiritually.


144. A good shepherd doesn't run off when the predator comes.


183. Unless we humble ourselves, there will be a terrible price to pay.


199. When a priest becomes enamored with this world, he is on a slippery slide downhill and his faith is lost.

219. Except for the grace of GOD, there go I.

[Corapi quotes source: here and here.]
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Corapi responds. 
SOLT responds  +CASE CLOSED+
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Photo: Source

More Corapi Crap.

Why it is important to know what happened.
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First off, why is it important for Catholics to know the details of what went wrong with Corapi?  Because there is a hierarchy within Catholicism and because priests are the ones with the power to forgive sins, to baptize, to marry, to confirm, to direct and counsel and teach - in union with their bishops.  Because if they deceive or seduce us or just one member of the faithful, they weaken the faith of the weakest and repel many of those just beginning to look to the Church for salvation.  Because to know how the wolf got into the sheepfold is to know how to be more vigilant in the future.  And because it looks as if Corapi and his lawyers are not telling the whole story - and setting up obstructions to those who want to do so. 
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Agree with me or not, the stuff coming out now is confirming quite a lot of what critics have speculated since the news broke last Spring.  National Catholic Register has published some key details about the case which reflect negatively upon Corapi's claims. 
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A few important details:
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Father Gerard Sheehan, regional priest-servant of SOLT and Father Corapi’s religious superior in the U.S., confirmed June 19 that the order’s investigation faced complications created by a civil suit filed by Father Corapi against the former employee who had accused him of sexual misconduct.
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“When she left the company, she signed a contract that she would not reveal anything that happened to her while she was at Santa Cruz Media. Father Corapi paid her for this. Father was suing her for a breach of contract,” said Father Sheehan, though he did not specify why Father Corapi had initiated the non-disclosure agreement.
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Obstruction of justice?
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The civil suit against the former employee created a problem for SOLT investigators.
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“In canon law, there can’t be any pressure on witnesses; they have to be completely free to speak. The investigation was compromised because of the pressure on the witnesses. There were other witnesses that also had signed non-disclosure agreements,” said Father Sheehan.
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The investigation was halted after Father Corapi “sent us a letter resigning from active ministry and religious life. I have written him a letter asking him to confirm that decision. If so, we will help him with this process of leaving religious life,” said Father Sheehan.
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He expressed disappointment that Father Corapi chose not to remain in SOLT and to refuse the order’s invitation for him to live in community, leaving his Montana home. Father Sheehan said he had tried to arrange a meeting with Father Corapi before any final decision was announced, but had not heard back from him. Father Sheehan said that SOLT would issue a statement shortly.
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“We wanted him to come back to the community, and that would have meant leaving everything he has. It would have been a drastic change for him,” Father Sheehan said. “We will continue to move pastorally and charitably, taking steps to protect his good name.” - NCRegister, Joan Frawley Desmond
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Links:

So far the best coverage and analysis I have found is here:
The Deacon's Bench
The Anchoress
Te Deum Laudemus
Caelum et Terra

Our friends, the angels.

None are closer.

One last feel-good film-post for Father's Day

Happy Father's Day dads!

Mass Chat: Shaken

When one thinks of all the priests and religious who have fallen...
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The almost famous ones, as well as the nearly hidden ones.  One could compose a list of them I suppose; the EWTN priests, Black SheepDog.com, Mother Nadine Inc, a couple of Cistercian LTD monasteries, local priests - straight and gay, and so on.  What do the saints say?  "I'm more surprised by what sinners don't do than by what they do."  I suppose that means we probably shouldn't allow ourselves to be shaken when we hear of scandals - yet that is what being shaken and sifted does.  It not only knocks idols off their pedestals - it shakes us out of our complacency and self-righteousness.
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On the other hand, the famous, in your face church people:  The dissenters, heretics, whatever you want to call them - no scandal can touch them.  Perhaps because they have nothing to hide - they've no facades to maintain and polish.  The McBriens and Chittisters and Farrows stopped the cover up:  No cloisters, no habits, no rules, no hiding behind religious decorum.  They are way out of the closet with their embrace of all things liberal and all things equal and relevant.  They aren't on any pedestals - they walk amongst us.
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They all scare me.
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And so I keep thinking...
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 'Work out your salvation in fear and trembling.' 
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And, 'the just man is scarcely saved.' 
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And, 'truth has dwindled from the sons of men, falsehood they speak one to another, with lying lips, with a false heart.'
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And, 'Put no trust in princes, in mortal men in whom there is no help.' 
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And, 'The Lord is my help and my salvation, whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom shall I shrink?  Though father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.'
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"Likewise, you younger members, be subject to the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble."   So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.  Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.   Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.  The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.  To him be dominion forever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5
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Things to watch out for: pride, arrogance, vanity, vainglory, asking for donations, secrecy, living alone, no accountability, and self-promotion.
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Photo:  Corapi Dog - before he dyed his fur black.

The Most Holy Trinity

Black Sheepdog Barking....

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That's all.

Crazy Stuff Dad's Say - an idea I got from Jim Anderson's son.

On the light side.
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Larry did a post for Father's Day titled Crazy Stuff Dad's Say.  It's a fun read.  Inspired by Larry, I decided to list some of the crazy things my dad used to say.
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If Larry comes from a "Father Knows Best" style home, I come from a ...  err ... Charlie Sheen's house.
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Printable stuff my dad said.
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"Why you little son of a bitch!"
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"Shut up or I'll shut you up for good!"
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"You talk like you have a paper ass!"
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"Your ass sucks buttermilk!"
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"Blow it out your ass!"
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"You wouldn't make a pimple on a priest's ass!"
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"You wouldn't make a pimple on an artist's ass!"
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"You're no damn good!"
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"I love you with all my heart and soul."
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"I'd cut off my right arm for you!"
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Yelling out the door after me when I left home for good:  "Get the hell outta here and don't come back you..."
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So anyway dads, love your kids, stay close to your sons, train them well - with love and esteem and basic support - like food and clothing and shelter.  Try to stay out of jail.  Don't get drunk, don't swear and curse, don't commit crimes, don't lie, don't cheat, don't molest, don't terrorize.  Be a man - a man of God preferably.
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My dad finally embraced Catholicism and died a happy death about 20 years ago.  Praise God!
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Photo:  Mums and dadums after the Lawrence Welk Show on Saturday night.

Capital sins that can bring down even the great.

Pride, vainglory, and avarice.
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Pride is "an inordinate desire for one's own excellence." Pride is said to be "complete" when a person is so filled with it that he refuses to subject his intellect and will to God, and to obey His commandments. Such a person has contempt for God and those who represent Him. In a sense, a person with complete pride makes himself a god.
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However, pride may also be incomplete: Here a person does not reject God or his superiors; rather, he simply thinks of himself too highly. 
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Associated with pride is "vainglory," whereby a person has an inordinate desire to manifest his own excellence and to receive praise. Of course, every person should be proud of accomplishments and be thankful to God for the ability to perform well. However, such a disposition differs from the person on "the ego trip" who is motivated to do something simply for future praise and recognition, or always has to talk about "I did this" and "I did that" so as to impress people and receive their praise.

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St. John Vianney taught, "Pride makes us hate our equals because they are our equals; our inferiors from the fear that they may equal us; our superiors because they are above us."
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Avarice "is the inordinate love of having possessions or riches." A person, motivated by greed, is preoccupied with having and having more. A greedy person attaches such value to wealth and possessions that the accumulation and retention of them become the major goal of life and take priority over everyone and everything else. Greed comes in different forms: For instance, some are greedy with material things, always wanting more and only giving the surplus, the "little tip," the something that will not be missed. Some are greedy with time, only doing what will benefit them in some way. Some are greedy in their relationships, collecting people for status or using people for advantage. A person easily becomes hard-hearted and blind to the needs of those less fortunate. Sparked by greed, a person can take on a sense of self-sufficiency, complacency and independence of God. - Source
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"Work out your salvation in fear and trembling."  Let's pray for the conversion of sinners - in other words - one another.

Corapi - The words of a disgruntled employee/business owner.

Creepy.
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Corapi's announcement sounds and reads like a disgruntled employee's desperate attempt to defend his work history, defame and blame his management for his failings, and reinvent himself by the launch of a new business.  I find it ironic that the unidentified female former employee who initiated the 'morals' investigation was referred to as a disgruntled employee by Corapi's media company, and as Corapi lamented, she's the 'one for whom I did so much'.
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I've received a few emails asking what I think of Corapi's statement.  I haven't ever changed my mind about him since the accusations first surfaced.    His recent announcement and public reaction have been fairly predictable.  In my opinion, the announced continuation of the 'business' under a new name is typical SOP by for-profit evangelists.  Unfortunately, when the money comes in, the Spirit goes out.
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I'm just responding to Corapi's announcement here, his statement and my reaction means nothing - both are simply personal opinions.  Instead I will wait to hear what the Bishop has to say on Corapi's status as a priest, and possibly what his religious superiors have to say regarding the investigation.  Then there is something to discuss.

Carl Jung

 The Red Book
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Clicking on a link I found at Spirit Daily, I read an article on Carl Jung, Fascinating Facts You May Not Have Known about Carl Jung.  The author discusses the fact that Jung had taken an interest in the occult and wrote his dissertation, “On the Psychology and Pathology of So-Called Occult Phenomena”.  I'm not surprised, who amongst the modernist thinkers of the late 19th early 20th century hadn't dabbled in the occult?
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I believe Jung's openness to religious experience is one reason for his popularity amongst the more progressive post-Vatican II contemplative communities of nuns and monks.  A fact which may help explain to some extent, their openness to New Age spirituality.
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"He who wishes to go to Paradise must be an honest man and a good Christian, and not give heed to dreams." - St. Philip Neri


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Art:  The Shadow, from The Red Book

News on Fr. Corapi

Talk is that Corapi will be making an announcement very soon, and it sounds as if he will be resuming his  apostolate where he left off.  One account quotes Corapi as declaring he is “not extinguished!”  The hope is that the accusations against him were proven to be not credible. If that is the case, it is very good news for the Church to have a priest declared wrongly accused and innocent of all charges.

Update:  Corapi made his announcement.  It looks as if he will be resuming his 'ministry' outside the narrow confines of the Roman Catholic priesthood.

Answering a question about gossip.

I've read it numerous times online, 'gossip is a mortal sin.'  Numerous times I have said, 'no, it is not.'  So is it or isn't it?  Idle chatter is generally an imperfection.  Idle chatter generally includes harmless gossip and sometimes juicy tidbits.  What is needed for it to be mortal sin?  Grave matter, full knowledge, and full consent, which, for all intents and purposes, involves intent.  For gossip to be grave, that is - a mortal sin - it usually consists of detraction, calumny, and rash judgement.  Rumor mongering and tale-bearing, when it harms the reputation of another or relates a fact otherwise unknown can be gravely sinful, depending upon the harm caused, damage done, etc.  If the rumors are true, consent and intent comes into play, as well as the 'need to know'.  If the story is factual and public knowledge and one repeats it to comment or ask a question - well it can get to be rather complicated.  Therefore one has to understand what mortal sin consists of.  Briefly, it has to be:
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a) An act of grave matter that is...


b) Committed with full knowledge and...

c) Deliberate consent.

All three dispositions must be present.
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If we go with the 'all gossip is a mortal sin' idea, that means that most bloggers, journalists, news anchors, reporters, as well as church basement  donuts and coffee clutches are rife with gossip and all of us are going to hell.  If one is so concerned then one ought to cease from blogging and commenting online and enter a monastery.  Oh wait - they're online now as well.  See, John of the Cross was right, "the majority of humanity will be lost!"
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Sarcasm aside - don't mistake what I say for spiritual direction.  Instead, study your catechism and ask your confessor or spiritual director, and sometimes ask him to explain it further if you are still confused. 
   

Sometimes a way seems right to a man, but the end of it leads to death.

The enigmas of the lived life...
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But will I ever learn?  I received some provocative emails and phone calls in the past few days.  These days so much information assails us - all at once - that discernment can become clouded and confused if we are not careful.  Much of the information I would rather not know, especially since most of it only confirms what I already knew.  Lately I've encountered very deceptive people who harbor a great deal of rancor and anger in their hearts, a few are even vindictive and downright hateful.  A sure sign of the absence of the Holy Spirit.  I frequently find refuge and counsel in the prayers of the rosary, in the scriptures, and in my art... "Realistically painted subjects function as signs whose meaning reveals itself to those responsive to the enigmas of the lived life."

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The precautions from proverbs. 
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He who corrects an arrogant man earns insult; and he who reproves a wicked man incurs opprobrium.

Reprove not an arrogant man, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man, and he becomes still wiser; teach a just man, and he advances in learning.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
If you are wise, it is to your own advantage; and if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it.

The woman Folly is fickle, she is inane, and knows nothing.
She sits at the door of her house upon a seat on the city heights,
Calling to passers-by as they go on their straight way:
"Let whoever is simple turn in here, or who lacks understanding; for to him I say,
Stolen water is sweet, and bread gotten secretly is pleasing!"
Little he knows that the shades are there, that in the depths of the nether world are her guests! - Proverbs 9
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False scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a full weight is his delight.

When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom.
The honesty of the upright guides them; the faithless are ruined by their duplicity. - Proverbs 11
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Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes, and a scourging to the inmost being. - Proverbs 20

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I am more and more convinced that, as Edith Stein once said, "Words cannot save us now, only the Passion of Christ..."  Hence my tendency to believe that suffering opposition in patience and charity is better than ranting and railing against the wickedness that besets and surrounds us.  Even when I fall at every step - perhaps especially then.
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Art:  Allegory of Painting, Vincent Desiderio

Fr. Richard Hogan

Fr. Hogan died.
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STATEN ISLAND, NY (Priests for Life) - Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, expressed sadness today at the death of Father Richard Hogan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St Paul who was released in 1995 to be the full-time Associate Director of Priests for Life. He served in that capacity for five years. - Read more.
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Brief biography.
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Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

The source of our problems.

Sin speak to the sinner in the depths of his heart.  There is no fear of God before his eyes.
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He so flatters himself in his mind that he knows not his guilt.  In his mouth are mischief and deceit, all wisdom is gone.
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He plots the defeat of goodness as he lies on his bed.  He has set his foot on evil ways, he clings to what is evil. - Psalm 35

Gospel creeps.

"To suffer and be despised." - St. John of the Cross
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That prayer of John of the Cross always fascinates me.  Our Lord invited the Saint to ask him for any favor he desired, and John prayed, "To suffer and be despised."  John of the Cross did suffer and he was despised - by members of his own order, in fact his prior despised and persecuted him. 
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To suffer and be despised seems to me a very hard thing to embrace - human nature absolutely rebels against it.  People are usually despised because they are perceived as bad, or they are of a lower, meaner status.  In the Gospel, many despicable people followed Jesus or sought his attention - some were even kind of creepy.  The Samaritan woman, the Magdalen, Zaccheus, the lepers, and so on.  Social outcasts.  Peter himself was despicable when he denied Christ three times.  And of course, Christ was despised and put to death.
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So what's my point?  I'm not sure.  Just that to suffer and be despised is difficult to bear - especially when you realize you really deserve such treatment.  I think that is what fallen human nature rebels against most and seeks to deny.  It's such a mystery.
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Anyway - I've been pondering the issue lately...  But I'm running out of answers.   

Michele Bachman announces candidacy...

No surprise there.
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Here is one reason NOT to even consider voting for her:
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Bachmann and her husband, Marcus, are born-again Christians, and it was God, she says, who encouraged her to run for higher office. - CNN
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The other reason for me is that I could never take her seriously - much like Sarah Palin - too pretty.  All she's got is her Mary Tyler Moore charm and the fact that she's one of the few truly pro-life candidates ever to seek the nomination.  Like Palin however, I'd be afraid she'd nuke the Middle East to hurry the rapture along.  I laughed at this comment to the article linked above, it's from one of her constituents:
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Brad:  I live in Bachmann's hometown of Stillwater MN. She is completely NUTS! Most of us are ashamed of her. Please focus your attention on other candidates, she doesn't deserve any more time in the spotlight. Cheers.
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Deserve it or not, she and all of the others will be driving us nuts for the next year and a half.  Politics is nothing but an endless campaign.  So, who really runs government when these folks are always on the trail?

What is worse than women in pants?

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What?

Chill

June 13, The second apparition at Fatima.

On this date in 1917, Our Lady appeared to the three children at Fatima a second time.  The day is not only the feast of St. Anthony, but the feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament as well.
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13 June 1917
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About fifty people turned up at the Cova da Iria on June 13, as the three children assembled near the holmoak tree where the Lady had appeared. The children then saw a flash of light followed immediately by the apparition of Mary, as she spoke to Lucia: "I want you to come on the 13th of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. Later, I will tell you what I want."
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Lucia asked Mary to take them to heaven and was reassured in this way: "I will take Jacinta and Francisco shortly; but you will stay here for some time to come. Jesus wants to use you to make Me known and loved. He wishes to establish the devotion to My Immaculate Heart throughout the world. I promise salvation to whoever embraces it; these souls will be dear to God, like flowers put by Me to adorn his throne." This last sentence is found in a letter written in 1927 by Sr. Lucia to her confessor.
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Lucia was sad at the first part of this reply, saying: "Am I to stay here alone?" Mary replied: "No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don't lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."
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One of the witnesses to this apparition, Maria Carreira, described how Lucia then cried out and pointed as Mary departed. She herself heard a noise like, "a rocket, a long way off," and looked to see a small cloud a few inches over the tree, rise, and move slowly towards the east until it disappeared. The crowd of pilgrims then returned to Fatima where they reported the amazing things they had seen, thus ensuring that there were between two and three thousand people present for the July apparition. - Source

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Pray the Rosary every day.
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At every appearance Our Lady asked that the Rosary be prayed every day: "Pray the Rosary every day."  It is also important to note that Our Lady promised the children:  "He (Jesus) wishes to establish the devotion to My Immaculate Heart throughout the world. I promise salvation to whoever embraces it; these souls will be dear to God, like flowers put by Me to adorn his throne."
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Our Lady never said go here or there to find out secrets and see signs, she came to call sinners to repentence, to ask that we consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart; she came to help us on the narrow path to salvation for the glory of God.  All of this is contained and obtained in and through the secret of the Rosary.  Our Lady's assurance to Lucia is for us as well: "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."

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Don't go to strangers.
  
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Icon: T. Nelson

St. Anthony of Padua

In thanksgiving for the patronage of St. Anthony and favors granted.

Snark Bait

A new feature.
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Call it a synopsis of nothing if you like, but this new feature is simply a redux of my old random thoughts posts with a little bit of 'pepper' - which ought to excite some of my more unstable commenters to some degree, and possibly generate a bit of snark and lots of back-talk - or rather, behind-the-back-talk via emails and twits, that is.
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Ageism, or another reason why Fr. Z will never be a bishop.

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Fr. Z writes about the Detroit ACC, a convention that would be of interest to only a very few progressive Catholics as well as a few people in the Detroit area.  These types generally belong to the same group of Catholic liberals who would have sought to block men such as Fr. Z from ordination.  Thus one can understand the animosity.  I lived and suffered through the same progressive church people so I know what these people can be like.  That said, the contempt shown by Fr. Z and his ilk regarding the age and infirmity of these Christians is hardly charitable.  God permitting, Fr. Z and his host of followers will live to see their lives fall apart in sickness and old age and mockery as well.
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On the Detroit ACC - How a Bishop responds.
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As you may be aware, a group calling itself the American Catholic Council will be meeting at Cobo Hall on the weekend of June 11 and 12. Despite my attempts to engage in a dialogue with them about this planned event, the organizers of this conference have not replied to me directly. I have a number of concerns about this event and caution any Catholic against participating for reasons expressed already in previous communications sent by the Archdiocese.

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In order to fulfill my responsibilities, so clearly enunciated by the Second Vatican Council, of fostering of communion with both the local and the universal Church, I am compelled to caution any priests or deacons who may be considering participation in this liturgy. It is not being celebrated with my permission as required by the law and the good order of the People of God. Further, clergy should be aware of the impact of forbidden concelebration with those who are not in full communion (canons 908 and 1365). This is a serious delict, for which recourse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is required, and which may result in dismissal from the clerical state (cf. Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela, 2001 and 2010).
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I ask that you pray with me for the unity of the Church. As we commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin in this upcoming Solemnity, may the Holy Spirit come afresh on all of us, keeping us united in the love of God and keeping our attention and energies focused on the task of sharing Christ in and through His Church.
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Sincerely yours in Christ,
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The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit - Te Deum blog
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"I ask that you pray with me for the unity of the Church." - Archbishop Vigneron  (See the difference?)
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Photo credit for the walker photo: Fr. Z at the Detroit ACC.

On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit

"How great is God's compassion on our misery, that is to say, our inattention to His care for us, when God says: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock" (Rev. 3:20), meaning by "door" the course of our life which has not yet been closed by death! Oh, how I wish, your Godliness, that in this life you may always be in the Spirit of God! "In whatsoever I find you, in that will I judge you," says the Lord.
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"Woe betide us if He finds us overcharged with the cares and sorrows of this life! For who will be able to bear His anger, who will bear the wrath of His countenance? That is why it has been said: "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation" (Mk. 14:38), that is, lest you be deprived of the Spirit of God, for watching and prayer brings us His grace.
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"Of course, every good deed done for Christ's sake gives us the grace of the Holy Spirit, but prayer gives us this grace most of all, for it is always at hand, as an instrument for acquiring the grace of the Spirit. For instance, you would like to go to church, but there is no church or the service is over; you would like to give alms to a beggar, but there isn't one, or you have nothing to give; you would like to preserve your virginity, but you have not the strength to do so because of your temperament, or because of the violence of the wiles of the enemy which because of your human weakness you cannot withstand; you would like to do some other good deed for Christ's sake, but either you have not the strength or the opportunity is lacking. This certainly does not apply to prayer. Prayer is always possible for everyone, rich and poor, noble and humble, strong and weak, healthy and sick, righteous and sinful.
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"You may judge how great the power of prayer is even in a sinful person, when it is offered whole-heartedly, by the' following example from Holy Tradition. When at the request of a desperate mother who had been deprived by death of her only son, a harlot whom she chanced to meet, still unclean from her last sin, and who was touched by the mother's deep sorrow, cried to the Lord: "Not for the sake of a wretched sinner like me, but for the sake of the tears of a mother grieving for her son and firmly trusting in Thy loving kindness and Thy almighty power, Christ God, raise up her son, O Lord!" And the Lord raised him up.
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"You see, your Godliness! Great is the power of prayer, and it brings most of all the Spirit of God, and is most easily practiced by everyone. We shall be happy indeed if the Lord God finds us watchful and filled with the gifts of His Holy Spirit. Then we may boldly hope "to be caught up . . . in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thess. 4:17) Who is coming "with great power and glory" (Mk. 13:26) "to judge the living and the dead" (1 Peter 4:5) and "to reward every man according to his works" (Matt. 16:27). - St. Seraphim of Sarov

My Killing Fields

PUBLIC NOTICE: Some one is killing my ivy hedge.
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I have chain link fence on the property that I planted with Engleman ivy.  After a few years it forms a hedge in the summer, and in the winter the bare vines catch snow and are rather nice.  The ivy hides the industrial looking fence quite well.  Unfortunately my neighbors never liked the fence nor the ivy.  The ivy sends out trailers into the lawn, although while mowing the lawn the trailers can either be mulched or easily pulled out as you go.  The photo shown above illustrates the healthy ivy hedge, the photo's below show the dying hedge which borders my neighbor's front yard.  Both the fence and the vine is planted on my property.  In the back yard, another manicured hedge layers the ivy hedge.
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Facing the neighbor's.

The fence from the neighbor's side.

Dead portions of the hedge.

I have made it a point to be a good neighbor to these people, so I am quite surprised they would hack away at my hedge, cutting it off my fence and possibly even attempting to kill it out.  I have always been friendly and generous towards the family, often initiating conversations and so on - therefore one would expect they would have had the decency to approach me if they were having problems.  For the past few days I have tried to catch their attention to discuss the matter, but they seem to be avoiding me.
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I have a very low tolerance for two-faced people, but that doesn't deter me from addressing such issues as they arise.