More Water Under the Bridge as Archbishop Weakland Makes His "Announcement"

I suppose this AP story about Archbishop Weakland publicly admitting his homosexuality was intended to be a "bombshell," but it's really more of a dud of a scud missile that everyone saw coming, long ago. There's no need to rehash the sordid details here, this article does that for us.  But I would like to comment on one thought that came to mind as I read this sorry tale. 

Many years ago, perhaps as many as 20, I read an interview by Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, a Catholic psychotherapist who specializes in counseling homosexual men and women, in which he asserted that he knew for certain that there were at least 3 or 4 (I'm paraphrasing here) actively homosexual Catholic bishops. I recall the emotions of shock and anger and  . . . credence . . . that washed over me when I read that claim. Shock that a bishop -- a bishop! -- as well as priests could be implicated thusly ( I see now how utterly naive I was back then), anger that someone would even make such a claim about Catholic bishops, and, yes, credence -- a slowly unfolding, dread-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach kind of horrified realization, that this vile claim just might be true.

And, oh boy, was it ever true. Much more than I ever could have imagined back then. It is a truism to say that a lot has happened in the Catholic Church since the 1980s, back when the very suggestion that homosexuality was a widespread problem among the clergy then (and quite possibly even now), a lot of terribly murky, fetid, noisome water has passed under the bridge.  How much more such flotsam will pass by as the years flow into the past and as the Catholic Church (please God!) gradually becomes more purified, repaired, renewed, and restored by God's grace and by the courageous, heroic virtue of her priests and bishops, religious and laity? How long, O Lord? How long?

New Japanese Video "Game" Glorifies Rape and Abortion

Players earn points for acts of sexual violence, including stalking girls on commuter trains, raping virgins and their mothers, and forcing females to get abortions, according to the group's online statement.

Airplane Apologetics

Would you care for some coffee, tea, or truth?

Kevin was headed home at last, tired from a long business trip and eager to see his wife and kids again. He settled down in the back of the plane with his Bible and Catechism, looking forward to an hour of peace and quiet. But just before takeoff, two United Pentecostal preachers sat down beside him, and when they discovered he was Catholic, they were ready for a theological rumble. Reluctant yet prepared to “proclaim the Word . . . whether it is convenient or inconvenient” (2 Tim. 4:2), this Catholic lay apologist dove into a deep debate about the truths of the Faith. Little did he know what God was up to . . . at thirty thousand feet. (read article)

Are You Tired of Bibles Made Out of Paper?

Then try the new i-Bible. 

As a Catholic Apologist, This Is Not What I Mean By "Apologist"

But it's pretty hilarious, even so!

Shut Up

Does it Count? Here's the Bottom Line on Sunday Obligation

Most Catholics find themselves, from time to time, feeling a little blasé about fulfilling their “Sunday Duty.” No, that doesn’t refer to getting coffee and donuts on the way home from Mass, it refers to going to Mass. Sometimes Catholics slip into a minimalist mindset about their Sunday obligation of going to Mass, wondering to themselves, “What’s the absolute minimum of time I have to put in to ‘make it count’?”

Do you feel that showing up for weekly Mass is often no more than a roll call? And when it does feel that way, then are the spiritual goods still evident in your life? Do you ever find yourself asking, “Does it Count?” Do you struggle with some of the “requirements” of being Catholic? Come on . . . not even with one or two? Aha! That’s what I thought. So check out this very helpful Envoy Magazine article by Eric Scheske . . .

We Are At War! Are You Ready to Fight the Good Fight?

Bishop Robert Finn recently declared: "We are at war!" I couldn't agree with the good bishop more, and in response to his rallying cry, I have devleoped a plan to help Catholics everywhere get into high gear as the "Church Militant." Please click the banner to see how you can take part in this new apostolic project to combat error with truth and darkness with light. Join me!

Extreme Home Makeover — Depression Edition

I’m a California native, born & raised, and lived there most of my life. I never imagined I would ever see anything like this. Could it be a bizarre portent of worse things to come? I am starting to become inclined to think so. I hope I'm wrong. What do you think?

More Proof that Contraception & Abortion Are Killing Our Culture

For years, I've been giving lectures at parishes and conferences warning about the dire demographic consequences we are going to experience as a result of the blight of contraception and abortion. Here's a good depiction of what I've been saying, with a twist.

Extreme Shepherding

Israel Security Agency Expresses Concern About Assassination Plot Against Pope Benedict

As Pope Benedict's long-awaited visit to Israel nears, a new worry has emerged in the Israeli press about what some security experts fear will be an attack on the Holy Father during his stop in Nazareth.

The Pope will be in Bethlehem and Nazareth on May 13, the date which marks two important anniversaries in the Catholic Church: First, the 92nd anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, on May 13, 1917; and second, May 13, 1981, the date on which Muslim hitman Mehmet Ali Agca attempted to assasinate Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.

In 2000, I co-hosted the EWTN coverage of Pope John Paul II's Holy Land visit. I recall our being very alert to the possibiliy of an attack on the pope during that trip — keep in mind that this was pre-9/11 — and many were praying especially for his safe travel. Thank the Lord, nothing terrible happened.   

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz posted an eyebrow raising article on its website yesterday, saying:  

The Shin Bet security service does not want Pope Benedict XVI to use his so-called pope mobile in Nazareth next month, saying it may not be enough against any attack by radical Islamic groups. Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov will discuss the issue at Sunday's cabinet meeting.

The Holy See told the Israeli government that the pope wants to get as close as possible to his followers, so the Vatican hopes the pope will use the vehicle.

But the Shin Bet opposes this, citing pamphlets in Arab towns in the north calling for demonstrations during the visit. Other pamphlets by radical Islamists allegedly call for physical attacks on the pope. (read article)

Pope Benedict XVI Could Really Use Your Prayers

Click the image to open the PDF of this prayer. Please share it with your friends & family.

My Newest DVD Now Available: The Persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico

Father Jenkins' Continued Descent Into Madness

Notre Dame Prez Father John Jenkins seems to have lost all touch with reality, at least if his latest comments about the impending visit of Dear Leader to address the university's 2009 commencement audience are any indication: 

"We are very proud and honored to welcome the first African-American President of the United States in a few weeks as our commencement speaker. . . . This is a tremendous event for us.  We're tremendously proud. . . . President Obama clearly could have chosen any university in the country to give a commencement address, and they would have been just delighted to have him, but he's coming to Notre Dame, and we're exceptionally proud."

The hubris at work here is simply breathtaking. The fact that, to date, nearly 50 U.S. Bishops have publically denounced his decision to invite a notorious pro-abortion politician to address the graduates and receive an honorary doctorate from the university seems not to have fazed him in the least. And the fact that over 325,000 other Catholics have signed a petition denouncing his actions seems lost on him.

He doesn't seem to realize that, with each new self-congratulatory utterance he makes about this debacle — e.g., "To welcome the first African-American president will be . . . gratifying for all of us" — he only confirms the suspicions of scores of bishops and hundreds of thousands of other Catholics; namely, that he is incompetent and clearly the wrong man for the high position he's been entrusted with. His ability to polarize and antagonize is stupendous.

It's no wonder that the "replace Father Jenkins" train is swiftly gathering momemtum.

Anyway, pop some Tums if you want to read the latest twist in this tortured Notre Dame saga. And let's not forget to pray, pray, pray for this man. Let's remember him in our Mass intentions and pray the rosary for him.