Fr. Richard McBrien v Fr. Frank Pavone on Fox News Sunday

UPDATED...

I caught an advertisement on Fox News yesterday in which ultra-dissenting priest Fr. Richard McBrien will go up against Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life on the Notre Dame Scandal. It will be on Fox News Sunday, which goes on in about 15 minutes (I went to the 6:30am early bird Mass this morning). If you miss it, I think it will be rebroadcast sometime later today (check your schedule). More than likely, it will end up on YouTube so if I find it, I'll post it.

Fr. McBrien teaches theology at the University of Notre Dame, but does not have the mind of the Church. Why he is still teaching there is beyond my understanding. This is what needs to change. Our bishops just can't wait for the biological solution to take care of those who use their teaching positions to promote dissent. A list of positions he has taken, which are clearly at odds with Catholic teaching, are found in this article at Catholic Answers in This Rock: The Faith According to McBrien.

McBrien's book, Catholicism, has come under fire more than once by the US Bishops.

When will these people be silenced?

I'm glad it is Fr. Pavone who can get to the point with brevity without compromising the Church's position.



UPDATE:

I watched the interview. I was able to put up some tweets on twitter - start at the bottom and work your way up. I'll elaborate a little here.

As I stated at the bottom, McBrien found his collar for the interview. He was explaining his interpretation of the USCCB statement from Catholics in Political Life in which it states that we should not be giving a platform or honors to people like Obama who are promoting the culture of death. Bottom line is that, as Bishop D'Arcy pointed out in his April 21st letter to the Notre Dame president, theologians or others are not responsible for interpreting that statement, rather it is the right and duty of the local bishop to provide that interpretation. McBrien, et al, are ignoring the interpretation offered by the bishop.

Fr. Frank Pavone made two excellent points:

1. Would the university invite an avowed racist on the same principles that it is inviting a president who advocates dismemberment and death for the unborn through nine months of pregnancy.
2. Advocating the reduction of abortions is as ridiculous as advocating the reduction of clergy sex abuse. The goal for both should be elimination. Both are wrong always and everywhere.
   
   
   

Related Links:

• Dealing with Dissent: Fr. Richard McBrien (Catholic Culture)


• McBrien: A Study of the Progressivist Mind (Fr. Z)

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Obama to speak on abortion at Notre Dame

This is no surprise at all, if it comes to pass. The scandal in the making is about to become about as scandalous as it can get. President Barack Obama is reportedly going to touch on the subject of abortion.

From the Washington Times:

At the center of the controversy is Mr. Obama's pro-choice position on abortion, which stands in opposition to the Catholic Church's teaching, and which some bishops and other Catholic leaders said should have disqualified Mr. Obama from being invited to address graduating students and receive an honorary degree.

Mr. Obama will be introduced by the university's president, the Rev. John I. Jenkins, who extended the invitation to Mr. Obama and has suffered harsh criticism including some calls to resign. The president is expected to speak for 20 minutes.

Mr. Obama will touch on abortion in his address, but will not dwell on it, the White House said.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Recent Posts on Te Deum for May 16th, 2009

The Elevation during the Solemn High Mass on St. Joseph the Worker, which was followed by veneration of a relic just received at Assumption Grotto of St. Augustine Schoeffler who had distant ties to the parish. See the full photo set at my smugmug page.

Recent posts:

• Notre Dame Scandal: Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit voices disapproval
• 80 Year Old Priest Arrested on Campus of Notre Dame
• Squirrels - you love 'em, or love to hate 'em....
• Is getting arrested for pro-life causes effective?
• Te Deum is Tweeting on Twitter
• A mother's sacrifice for the life of her unborn baby...
• Local Canon Lawyer Challenges Abp Wuerl's Interpretation of Canon Law on Politicians and Holy Communion
• Awesome Analysis by Fr. Z of Dissident Spin in NCR Article
• Gotta see video - Debate on Notre Dame Scandal
• Great Al Kresta segment on Angels...
• Archbishop Burke's Address at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (Full Text)
• Fr. Perrone's Sermon for the Feast of St. Monica (Extraordinary Form)

I still have picture series forthcoming. I just have to find time to edit them.

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

80 Year Old Priest Arrested on Campus of Notre Dame

Earlier today, I raised the question: What does getting arrested do to help the pro-life cause?

This is probably one of the most exceptional things I have ever seen: Notre Dame has an 80 year old priest arrested on it's campus as he sings Immaculate Mary. There is something ironic that the most pro-abortion president in the history of the United States is welcome on the grounds of a Catholic university under the guise of "dialogue" while an 80 year old priest is arrested for protesting it.

Our Lady is weeping, not just for the unborn who are murdered every day, and for the disobedience of Catholics at Notre Dame who brought this on, but for such abuse of a man of the cloth by her university.




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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Squirrels - you love 'em, or love to hate 'em....

We know Fr. Z hates squirrels....but, one has to wonder if even he would marvel at this. Me thinks he will still be contemplating a way to roast or sautee them even after watching the plight of the wee one...


Give A Squirrel A Helping Hand @ Yahoo! Video


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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Is getting arrested for pro-life causes effective?

I just saw Randall Terry being interviewed on Fox News in place of Dr. Alan Keyes who is in jail for civil disobedience. Randall Terry said that people would be on the inside, ready to disrupt President Obama's speech, which is exactly the kind of thing Bishop D'Arcy is warning humble Catholics to avoid.

While the bishops have been reticent over the past 40 years, this is changing, and it is not Randall Terry who is driving that bus, but the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not need public protests against the bishops to move them. Our prayers are needed at this time to continue to strengthen our bishops and to give them the holy boldness they need to take concrete actions. Bishop D'Arcy's last statement on April 29, 2009 couldn't have been stronger, keeping in mind that a bishop can only do so much canonically. What will be interesting to watch is what happens in the weeks and months after President Obama appears at Notre Dame. I would love to be a fly on the wall at the USCCB's November meeting.

I have seen different faces of the pro-life movement over the years. There are many ways to drive change in the culture, to shift it pro-life. The ultimately goal is to save the lives of babies, and the souls of those who would cave in to the culture of death for various reasons. At least, that is my position on the goal. Having laws overturned is just one of many objectives, as is educating the public.

That is my basis for raising the question, what does it do to get arrested through an act of civil disobedience? What about intimidatory tactics?

Some might argue that it draws media attention. Sure, it does when there are pictures of peaceful protestors crossing a line and getting that attention as they are arrested. Or, when there are disruptions of any kind, along with shouting and arguing. However, what do these things do to help those sitting on the fence, or those who are pro-abortion to change their hearts and minds?

I wonder if it doesn't have the opposite effect and actually drive people away, or harden their pro-abortion positions.

I look at people like Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life who has undoubtedly affected thousands, if not hundreds of thousands with his approach, and he does it without being jailed, condescending, or misleading. He too makes use of graphic pictures, but not as a primary tool. Many have been converted with the graphic pictures and videos he has, but he does not force people to look at them. Rather, they are there for the viewing in a list. He uses reason and dialogue, prayer, warmth, and some sound catechesis to move people.

I also look at Msgr Reilly, founder of Helpers of God's Precious Infants who uses a similar approach. Prayer is at the forefront, as is sidewalk counseling. It's not in any way condescending or intimidating in the way that it is done. Msgr. Reilly talks about the mission of his apostolate in this video at Gloria TV. (View pictures of past HGPI events in metro Detroit here, and mark June 13th down for the next vigil which will be led by the monsignor himself who is coming to Detroit for the day).

I don't doubt the sincerity of those who use civil disobedience or disruptive methods such as those being threatened by Randall Terry at Notre Dame this Sunday. I just have to ask....does it help or hurt? Think of the many ways the money being used to bail people out of jail could have been used to more productive ends in the pro-life movement.

I also can't help but think of the methods used by Christ most of the time. Sure, he went on an angry rampage through the temple with a whip - once. But, how many more times did he teach with gentleness, even in the face of terrible sinfulness?

God gave us all a free will. What it boils down to, is how we feel we can move people to exercise their free will in God-pleasing ways. Intimidation is actually a form of trying to force people to act a certain way. This is not God's way. Is this more effective at getting people to choose life than the methods used by people like Fr. Frank Pavone and Msgr. Reilly?

I don't think so. I just don't think so.

What say you?

I'll keep the combox open reasonable dialogue. Please be charitable. I'm hoping for some thoughtful discussion.

In the meanwhile, I hope and pray that Randall Terry, et al, don't become the focus of news coverage, taking away from the larger issue. We ought not draw attention to ourselves, but to the issue at hand. This means willingness to blend in with thousands of others in peaceful, prayerful protest.

UPDATE 1: 80 Year Old Priest Arrested on Campus of Notre Dame

UPDATE 2: Deacon Greg Kandra comments

UPDATE 3: I am beginning to be open to people being arrested with some reservations: "Jane Roe" - Norma McCorvey is Arrested at Notre Dame

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Te Deum is Tweeting on Twitter

You have probably heard of Twitter, and I know some of you are wondering what it is, or even rolling your eyes and thinking.....not another social networking tool!!! I tried avoiding it and can't any longer as it is a primary way to get news tips and to pass them along.


Twitter is a microblogging tool. It has limited characters that you can post (or tweet). So, there are many abbreviations in use, such as RT or ReTweet.


Even when I'm not blogging, I am usually scanning headlines at key Catholic sites and at the blogs of other Catholic bloggers. It is very difficult for me to post every piece of news that I see out there. Therefore, what I can do is to "Tweet" when I see something of interest, provided I have access at the moment. If you want to know what is going on, then follow me on Twitter and you will see more than I can give you here.


You can click on the icon in the upper right hand sidebar to see my "Tweets". You should not need a Twitter account to read up, but I think you will find it useful to follow many people on Twitter and for that, you will need a free account.


As an aside, I post initially at Plurk - another social networking tool which is not as popular as Twitter, but useful in that when I post there, it beams it over to Twitter and to Facebook. You can follow me in any of those places. Consider Twitter as primary. I don't have time for Facebook, as nice as it is. And, Plurk - a pretty cool site, is not as popular. Twitter is fast and easy for me and will likely remain long term.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

A mother's sacrifice for the life of her unborn baby...

This is a must read. I have seen it on a few sites and if you have not read it, you will want to.

I'll start you out here and you can follow the link for the rest of the story...

Mother-to-be sacrifices her chance of surviving cancer for her baby

By Linda Reid Chassiakos
May 11, 2009

She leaned on her husband, using his strength to hide her unsteadiness. Her steps were tentative, measured, cautious, with her gait more typical of a woman decades older than her late 20s. She could still walk, shake hands and almost smile, at least with one side of her mouth; she couldn't let the tumor take those gifts away -- not yet. She had to stay healthy another few weeks, until her baby was born.

The father-to-be gently guided his wife into her chair, helped her adjust her sari and, still clutching her hand, eased into the seat next to her. The neurosurgeon waited for us all -- oncologist, neurologist, obstetrician, pediatricians -- to be seated, before giving a brief update on his patient's diagnosis: astrocytoma, an aggressively malignant cancer of the brain.

For the neurosurgeon, the verdict was clear: An immediate operation was needed to remove the growing tumor. The invasive and complicated surgery -- under many hours of general anesthesia -- was likely to greatly increase the risk of fetal injury or death.

I couldn't keep my eyes off the mother-to-be's burgeoning belly. My mind struggled for alternatives: Could we not deliver the baby by C-section as soon as possible so she could have neurosurgery?

But as a pediatric resident working in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), I was sadly aware that -- at the time -- few infants younger than 28 weeks or weighing less than 2 pounds typically survived. This woman was 24 weeks pregnant, and her baby weighed only a little over a pound.

The oncologist said that if the surgery were delayed until the child was ready for life outside the womb, the cancer would probably be untreatable. The obstetrician said that if the mother-to-be agreed to the recommended surgery and subsequent chemotherapy, the fetus was unlikely to survive. The woman was faced with a heartbreaking choice -- her own survival or her child's.

Finish reading: Mother-to-be sacrifices her chance of surviving cancer for her baby



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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Archbishop Burke on EWTN's World Over Live Now!

Go to EWTN and watch Archbishop Burke in a taped interview made this past week for tonights episode of World Over Live. If you missed it, record it or watch it at one of the other encore times shown on the World Over Live webpage.



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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Notre Dame Scandal: Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit voices disapproval

A photo I took at Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron's Installation Mass on January 28th, 2009

In this week's Michigan Catholic is an article entitled, Catholics asked to pray for a nation on path to a "culture of death" (See UPDATE 2 below. Check back for live link which will be added when it is available online at the AOD). It is written by Chaz Muth of the Catholic News Service and I was unable to find it online elsewhere yet. Noteworthy is that, at the bottom of the article, it says, "the staff of the Michigan Catholic contributed to this story". I'm fairly certain that it was the part I have below about Archbishop Vigneron's disapproval on the issue at Notre Dame.

The statement is embedded in an article about Archbishop Raymond L. Burke's keynote address at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in which the head of the Aposotlic Signatura (Vatican's "Supreme Court") took aim at the Notre Dame Scandal.

What is interesting to note, is this paragraph near the beginning of the article which reads (my emphasis in bold):

Shortly after the honor was announced, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron voiced his disapproval. Privately, he addressed aletter to Fr. John Jenkins, CSC, president of Notre Dame, in March. Reminding Fr. Jenkins of the many historic ties between Notre Dame and the Detroit archdiocese, the archbishop expressed both his disappointment and disagreement with the school's decision. Archbishop Vigneron stands in solidarity with the US. Conference of Catholic Bishops on this mater - and the conference has said that politicians who support abortion "should not be given awards, honors, or platforms that would suggest support for their actions." (2004 Catholics in Political Life).

It's unfortunate that it was not made known before now, that Archbishop Vigneron had disapproved and sent a private letter to Fr. Jenkins. People were wondering why there was silence. Thanks be to God that he made his position known (and thanks to the people of the Michigan Catholic for sharing it with us).

This list at Life Site News as of this morning tallied 76 US bishops who disapprove. It appears that Archbishop Vigneron makes 77, the number of US Bishops voicing disapproval of the honor and platform about to be given to President Barack Obama.

For news agencies and others looking for the actual article, watch this Michigan Catholic page for the May 15, 2009 issue for the title I give in my opening paragraph.

UPDATE: The Archdiocese of Detroit has released a statement dated April 29th with the same information. . Perhaps it was some kind of oversight, but this news should have been out sooner and it warranted an article of it's own. I do wish it were displayed prominentely on the AOD's website too. I had to hunt down the tree for it. Regardless, as a Catholic in Detroit, I feel my archbishop has spoken for me.

UPDATE 2: The May 15th articles have been uploaded to the homepage of the Michigan Catholic. Unfortunately, the article I mention is not among those uploaded (perhaps because it is a CNS article which, in it's modified form as noted above, is not available on the web). However, the statement to which I link in the first update above, contains all of the elements right at the AOD website.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Local Canon Lawyer Challenges Abp Wuerl's Interpretation of Canon Law on Politicians and Holy Communion

I'm a little late getting this out due to the busy schedule I've had over the past two weeks, but it's better late than never.

Canon Lawyer, Ed Peters, who teaches at nearby Sacred Heart Major Seminary, and writes periodically on his own blog, In Light of the Law, looks closely at the words of Archbishop Donald Wuerl as they appeared in a "Inside Politics Daily" article: Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion.

I don't want to repeat the relevant quotes because Peter's isolates them in his eloquently written post. He presents the quotes offered in the original article, then offers some insight on those things.

Go read: A response to Abp. Wuerl's claims that canon law supports his inaction in regard to Nancy Pelosi. Do read the footnotes.

Related Links:

• Canon Law Prof Confronts DC Archbishop Wuerl on Refusal to Deny Communion to Pro-Abortion Politicians (LSN)

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Awesome Analysis by Fr. Z of Dissident Spin in NCR Article

It calls itself the National Catholic Reporter (NCR). I can't help but call it the National "catholic" Rag (and the "c" is not capitilized intentionally).

These kinds of analyses are particularly valuable because when you read things such as the article dissected by Fr. Z, you know some things are wrong and it gets under your skin, but you don't always know why. After Father puts a floodlight on it, you will find that he expresses what you seem to know, but can't quite express.

Father repeats certain things because they keep showing up and he is right. For example, one point he has stressed is that numbers, polls, popular opinion, etc., matter to dissidents. We need to always keep in mind that Our Lord was hung on a cross through popular vote. Also, if the majority of a population believed that stealing was ok, would it change it's moral status?

Another recurring theme in articles by dissidents is that if you support the Church's teachings without eqivocation, then you don't care about the poor or the marginalized. This is utter nonsense. It's actually just a little bait and switch.

Go read: Anxious NCR editorial - They KNOW they are losing and they are terrified!

I just wonder how much longer the Church will allow the NCR to use the name "Catholic". It should be renamed, if not to the Rag, to the NCinoR - the National Catholic-in-name-only Reporter.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Gotta see video - Debate on Notre Dame Scandal

Keep in mind as you watch this video that it was by popular opinion - a poll - that Our Lord was put to death. Remember the call of the people when given a choice, "Crucify Him!".

Indeed, we have never seen the bishops speak up and act as they have on this issue, and I truly believe we may be in for some surprises in the coming week and beyond.

Please also see yesterday's post on this topic with an action item involving prayer: Urgent Prayers this week - Notre Dame Scandal related

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Update on Aunt's Condition...

Thanks to those who have offered some prayers for my mother's youngest sister who underwent emergency surgery to remove a kidney which had become abcessed.

I went to visit her this evening and she looked, "500% better" according to one relative who was with her yesterday following one of many surgeries she will need to clean out infection. She was groggy, but alert when I went there after work, and even joking around a little. She looked pretty good, all things considering.

She will be in the hospital no less than 2 months, and could be there as long as 4 months.

Please keep her and her family in your prayers as she struggles through this.

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Urgent Prayers this week - Notre Dame Scandal related

Please watch this 3 minute appeal for prayer by Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV.

This link will take you directly to the video page where you can click and watch. I have embedding problems, otherwise I would show it here.

Also, note that we now have 74 bishops who have spoken out against Notre Dame's actions.


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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!