Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008)

REST IN PEACE

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn was one of my heroes in minor and major seminary (1976-1988). His epic Gulag Archipelago mirrored the conditions in many seminaries across the country at that time. The eerie parallel was obvious to anyone who had ears to hear or eyes to see. The Soviet Union had an elaborate system to identify, discredit, disgrace and isolate political dissenters. Anyone who dared defy the Communist Party was considered a traitor regardless of their patriotism toward Mother Russia. Communism was the only valid means of showing one's love for country and disloyalty to the party was seen as a threat to national security.

Likewise, anyone who did not embrace theological dissent (ala Charlie Curran, Richard McBrien, Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, et al), who did not engage in illicit liturgical innovation or who did not publicly disdain Cardinal Ratzinger was considered a 'problem'

Solzhenitsyn described how psychiatrists were on the Communist party payroll so they could crank out predetermined evaluations. Anyone not 100% loyal to the party could easily be diagnosed as having psychopathic anomalies which required isolation and extensive psychotherapy. Political dissenters and religious leaders who dared expose the nakedness of the state would be labeled as mentally incompetent. Ironically, anyone who dared defend the Magisterium and/or the Roman Pontiff were similarly diagnosed as 'rigid', the infamous code word liberals use to disavow their 'right-wing, conservative traditionalist' colleagues and classmates.

He told how the enemy used informants to spy on the prisoners in the Gulag. Words were twisted and taken out of context so that an ironclad case could be brought against the troublemakers. We, too, experienced certain seminarians who were faculty favorites and who listened at closed doors and literally spied on their contemporaries just to make reports to their dark lords and masters in formation. Since most bishops would not see it as negative that a seminarian had healthy Marian devotion, the double-speak technique was used so that a poor unsuspecting candidate for Holy Orders would have a notation in his evaluation saying: POSSESSES POSSIBLE SIGNS OF OEDIPUS COMPLEX. If you were known to oppose women's ordination, your file listed you as a potential MISOGYNIST. If you were loyal and obedient to the Pope, you had a distorted perspective of authority which expresses itself in domineering PATRIARCHIALISM.

We were not exiled to Siberia but orthodox papist seminarians were socially exiled and distrusted. Faculty, peer and psychological evaluations were the weapons used to frighten, intimidate and coerce 'dissidents' to stop quoting Denziger's Enchiridion Symbolorum or Aquinas' Summa Theologica. These were the pre-Catechism days, so only the SPIRIT OF VATICAN II could be invoked, never the actual LETTER as found in the authentic documents of the Council. Theologians and liturgists who pooh-poohed anything prior to 1965 claimed an equal dual Magisterium to the Pope and Bishops, namely, themselves. Situation ethics, probabilisim, consequentialism, etc., were party lines you never dare question just as in the former USSR it was forbidden to question the superiority of communism over capitalism. Christology from BELOW was national policy. Espousing dangerous ideas like the Divine Personhood of Christ or the inerrancy of Scripture or papal infallibility could get your chances of being ordained as slim as Solzhenitsyn's chances of being named Secretary General of the Soviet Union.

Reading Gulag Archipelago opened my eyes to the tactics and strategies used by dissenters to either brainwash orthodox vocations or to prevent them from ever getting ordained. The truth was that some of us were considered 'too Catholic' but our files shown to the bishop and diocese said things like: rigid, argumentative, uncooperative, narrow-minded, arch-conservative, etc. Just as Colonel Hogan and his heroes found a sympathetic Sergeant Shultz to help them, we, too, found some good guys on the faculty we could trust despite their colleagues attempts to be like Major Hochstetter of the SS.

The aftermath of the clergy sex scandal, however, bodes poorly for seminarians. In the old days, if you were expelled for being 'too rigid' (meaning, you were orthodox and probably a bit traditional), you could theoretically find a sympathetic bishop and diocese to ordain you and where you would serve Holy Mother Church for your entire priesthood. Now, in the alleged premise of weeding out potential pedophiles, any seminarian who gets kicked out of seminary and/or diocese has an almost impossible chance of finding refuge. The real perverts know how to play hide and go seek, but the innocent vocation seeking to remain orthodox in a mediocre to liberal seminary might get thrown out with the rest of the trash. Collateral damage does not have to occur. Some brave bishops and seminary rectors can and have been saving potential solid candidates for the diaconate and priesthood regardless of their past track record in notoriously heterodox places. Some seminaries, like Mount Saint Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD, and others, have surpassed themselves in previous and current high caliber education, formation and faculty.

My seminary career spanned the twilight of Pope Paul VI and the vim and vigor years of Pope John Paul II. My priesthood has experienced the heavy cross of his final years and now my time as pastor has entered the era of Pope Benedict XVI. We have an excellent bishop and a terrific vocation director in our diocese of Harrisburg, PA. If this combination PLUS the access to orthodox and spiritual powerhouses that every seminary should be, there would be NO vocation crisis whatsoever and the people in the parish would be in good hands once these pious men got ordained.

ad multos annos

Father Robert J. Levis, PhD, celebrates his 60th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood and is in good health

















GOD GRANT HIM MANY YEARS
GOD GRANT HIM MANY YEARS
GOD GRANT HIM MANY HAPPY YEARS

Father Bob Levis celebrated Mass of the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite on Saturday, August 2nd, at St. Ann Church, Erie, PA. A packed church came to offer thanks to God for six decades of priestly service (and many more to follow) given by this unsung American hero. The former Director of the Pontifical Center for Catechetical Studies is also professor emeritus at Gannon University and president emeritus of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. He was one of the founding fathers of the same CCC and hosted several television and radio series on EWTN. Father Levis is best known and beloved, however, for his consistent, staunch orthodox preaching and teaching and for his indefatigable defense of the Magisterium and the Roman Pontiff amidst a culture and climate of dissent, apathy, scandal, irreverence, infidelity, et al.

I first met my mentor while in minor seminary. Before the Catechism (1992) existed, Father Levis had his graduate students do linear critiques on the various catechetical textbooks being used in parochial school and CCD programs across the USA. Using the General Catechetical Directory and the National Catechetical Directory as a litmus test, they demonstrated the horrible deficiencies in most religion books at that time. Dogmas such as Original Sin, Real Presence, Sacramental Grace, Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility, etc., were conspicuously absent from some or all grade levels. Children were not taught all seven sacraments or that Jesus Christ was one Divine Person with two natures, human and divine. Almost everything their parents and grandparents had been taught at the same age level by the infamous Baltimore Catechism were now deemed 'too complicated', 'too technical', and of course, 'too traditional'. Memorization was seen as draconian since experiential formation was seen as superior to catechetical formation. Ironically, those same kiddies were being asked to memorize elements from the Periodic Table, States and their capitals, and all the Presidents in order. Learning the Ten Commandments in order, on the other hand, was seen as being 'pre-Vatican II'

Many of my generation remember when we went from Baltimore Catechism content to butterflies, clouds and balloons. While my parents learned O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo, I had to learn the insipid Kumbaya. I received my First Holy Communion on the tongue from the altar rail. By the time I graduated from eighth grade, however, the second graders were receiving in the hand and while standing. Deo Gratias, I met Father Levis who introduced me to the National and General Catechetical Directories and to Denziger's Enchiridion Symbolorum. I had clandestinely studied the 1917 Code of Canon Law on my own while in minor seminary and remember a professor once saying the next edition will be radically different. I graduated from college seminary the same year the 1983 Code was promulgated and eagerly awaited the upcoming 1992 Catechism. Father Levis got a copy of the French edition and was asked to give comments to help the American bishops at their next national conference meeting. While vindicated by both golden treasures of JP2, no one recognized that orthodox priests like Levis had remained faithful all along and never deviated one iota from the deposit of faith. The same could not be said of many of his contemporaries who dissented from Humanae Vitae, who advocated women's ordination, who embraced every liturgical innovation and abuse while disdaining every legitimate rubric.

When my vocation was being tested (on numerous occasions), it was Father Levis who preserved and saved me. I would not be a priest today were it not for his example, support, advice, prayers and friendship. It took me three seminaries and three dioceses to finally get ordained a priest in 1988 but had it not been for the tireless role model Father Bob exemplified, I would probably be doing talk radio today and nothing else.

Though he has never received any ecclesiastical honors or offices, he has always been a good, holy and devout priest. His orthodoxy is only outdone by his compassionate, priestly heart. He alone would visit my little brother Michael (who was wheelchair bound from Muscular Dystrophy) once a month to bring him Holy Communion and hear his confession. Fr. Levis drove through blizzards and snowstorms to anoint people their own pastors neglected. He always has time for divine mercy. The only time you would ever find him not wearing his Roman Collar was when he was on his sailboat, the Scrimshaw. A twenty-six footer, he would sail Lake Erie but usually take a small crew of potential seminarians or some uncommitted agnostics or a fallen away Catholic or two. While in the middle of a great lake, he would hear confessions, teach the faith and save souls as a true FISHER OF MEN. I was his worst first-mate since I could not swim and committed a mortal sin of boating: one time I had one foot on the boat and one foot on the dock and two began to separate. "Fall in" he said "and I'll fish you out." "I CAN'T SWIM!!!" He stood there incredulous and replied, "well, I'll bless you as you go under and preach a good sermon at your funeral Mass."

All kidding aside, having Father Levis at my ordination and vesting me and then at my First Mass the following day, was a great honor and joy for me. He asked me to preach at his 50th anniversary, which was the same year as my 10th. Imagine, a ten year ordained priest preaching at Golden Jubilarian! What an honor. I was asked again this year to preach at his 60th as I just celebrated my 20th. I expect my mentor to preach my Silver anniversary and seeing what good shape he is, had better prepare another sermon for his Diamond Jubilee fifteen years from now. In the meantime, I ask all of you to pray for Father Levis and to thank God He blessed the Church with such heroes. Vilified, shunned, ignored, persecuted, ridiculed, ostracized, maligned, misquoted, misunderstood, harassed and harangued; nothing could stop this priest from being the Alter Christus he was ordained to be so he could act in persona Christi to teach, to sanctify and to lead. I have heard many attack his character, his reputation and his honor yet I have only witnessed solid orthodoxy, manly piety and a huge, generous priestly heart. When my mother had to bury her second and third child and then her beloved husband of 39 years, only Father Levis and Mother Angelica could console her with their solacing words of wisdom. If I could be at least 1/10th the man and the priest Father Robert Levis IS and HAS BEEN for over 60 years, I would be grateful. I could never follow in his footsteps but I will do my best to emulate his example and his priestly zeal.

All rights are inalienable but none are absolute

I want to clarify my position for everyone. I did NOT mean nor intend to say that the First Ammendment did not allow us to freely criticize anyone or any institution, from the government to the church. I do believe in free speech. HOWEVER, it is never unrestricted free speech. There is no absolute freedom of speech just as there is no absolute freedom of assembly, of the press etc. The Bill of Rights does not designate one freedom as being more important than another and there is no hierarchy of rights EXCEPT the right to LIFE. The other rights, while not given by government but possessed by human nature, are protected insofar as they do not infringe on the rights of others or on other rights.

Therefore, I agree that Professor Myers is entitled to his opinions on religion and on Catholicism. He is entitled to speak them and print them. Where the limit is drawn is where his freedom of speech threatens the freedom of religion. Taking a Catholic Host and desecrating it is not free speech, it is hate inciting. In many places in the U.S. it is illegal (against state and federal law) to speak racial slurs and epithets since they are considered hate-biased and thus are not protected under the First Ammendment.

Likewise, provacative language which directly attacks, insults and offends a religion is just as biased and prejudiced.Criticizing priests, bishops or even the pope is protected free speech. Actions and words of the clergy are open for debate and opposition. What is not proper, though, are words and actions which go beyond a legitimate difference of opinion and now make a hateful, gross and offensive attack. Words and private deeds can hurt just as much as a rock thrown through a window or a slap on the face. Disagreement is protected by the First Ammendment but I do not think verbal assault is.

As a Catholic, I have theological disagreements on certain issues espoused by other religions but I RESPECT their right to hold them, teach them and defend them. My bottom line is that Professor Myers crossed the line between legitimate free speech and verbal assault on the Catholic Christian religion. It was more than expressing a private opinion when you ask others to bring you a consecrated Host, which can only done illegally since they must be stolen or taken by deceit. Then taking this religious item, considered sacrosanct by Catholic Christians, and showing public contempt by desecrating it, the hateful message being conveyed is evident. No non-Catholic has to believe in the Real Presence and they are free to disagree with any of our doctrines. When our entire religion is attacked, however, and our most sacred beliefs are horribly maligned, then that is an ATTACK and not an opinion any longer. Hate speech and actions, even when they do not directly harm another's person or property are nevertheless incendiary.

Neither I nor the Confraternity wish any harm whatsoever to befall Professor Myers. We pray for his safety and we condemn any and all acts and words of violence directed toward him. We only ask that he do likewise and refrain from hurling hateful, grossly offensive and repugnant attacks against our religion. I am not a Buddhist but I would never make a public display of smashing an idol of Buddha knowing it would greatly offend the members of that religion. For Catholics, desecrating the Host is more than vandalizing a church or burning a Bible. It is even more vile than desecrating a grave by digging up a coffin and destroying the body. For us, it is BLASPHEMY as well as SACRILEGE. Can we not pray that we can respectfully disagree without resorting to insult or attack?

Biologist Balks at Request to Apologize

"I am not contrite, I will not repent, and I'm certainly not going to apologize for tossing a cracker in the garbage. All the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy will get from me is laughter."

That was Professor Myers response today on his blog . The man is in need of prayer as he is evidently oblivious to the spritual danger he is in and the harm he has done to his soul. Mocking religion is not pleasing to God. Showing contempt for sacred things is sacrilege and it is a violation of justice since we owe reverence to God and we are obliged to show respect and reverence for the things of God.

His supporters are even more vituperative in their comments. The CCC never advocated and in fact publicly disavows any and all acts of violence or threats thereof upon the person of Professor Myers. We condemn hateful speech and deeds and challenge all parties to utlize peaceful, rational and polite discourse. At the same time, we strongly repudiate all acts of blasphemy, from the horrible art exhibit that depicted the Virgin Mary in elephant dung, to the crucifix immersed in a jar of urine, to this recent instance of sacrilige against a consecrated Host.

No one is laughing. Many of us are in tears that our beloved Savior would be subjected to such vile treatment AGAIN. Was it not enough that Jesus was scourged at the pillar, crowned with thorns, and then nailed to a cross for three hours until He died? Like Our Lady of Sorrows, we must weep at the foot of Calvary once more as the Body of Christ is treated with the same disdain and dishonor. PRAY FOR PROFESSOR MYERS. We wish him no harm, rather, we pray for his soul that he abandon his pursuit of offending Catholic Christians. He may never come to believe what we believe, but he can at least respect our right to believe and profess what we believe without resorting to beligerant ridicule and attack.

Catholic Clergy Call for Reparation in Response to Communion Desecration

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, July 29 /Christian Newswire/ --

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (a national association of 600 priests & deacons) respond to the sacrilegious and blasphemous desecration of the Holy Eucharist by asking for public reparation. We ask all Catholics of Minnesota and of the entire nation to join in a day of prayer and fasting that such offenses never happen again. (suggested: one Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and one whole day of fasting on Friday, August 1st, Feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri. If this is not convenient or feasible, then we also recommend Thursday, August 21st, the Feast of Pope St. Pius X)

We find the actions of University of Minnesota (Morris) Professor Paul Myers reprehensible, inexcusable, and unconstitutional. His flagrant display of irreverence by profaning a consecrated Host from a Catholic church goes beyond the limit of academic freedom and free speech.

The same Bill of Rights which protect freedom of speech also protect freedom of religion. The Founding Fathers did not envision a freedom FROM religion, rather a freedom OF religion. In other words, our nation's constitution protects the rights of ALL religions, not one and not just a few. Attacking the most sacred elements of a religion is not free speech anymore than would be perjury in a court or libel in a newspaper.

Lies and hate speech which incite contempt or violence are not protected under the law. Hence, inscribing Swastikas on Jewish synagogues or publicly burning copies of the Christian Bible or the Muslim Koran, especially by a faculty member of a public university, are just as heinous and just as unconstitutional. Individual freedoms are limited by the boundaries created by the inalienable rights of others. The freedom of religion means that no one has the right to attack, malign or grossly offend a faith tradition they personally do not have membership or ascribe allegiance.

The Chancellor of the University refused to reprimand or censure the teacher, who ironically is a Biology Professor. One fails to see the relevance of the desecration of a Catholic sacrament to the science of Biology. Were Myers a Professor of Theology, there would have been at least a presumption of competency to express religious opinions in a classroom. Yet, for a scientist to ridicule and show utter contempt for the most sacred and precious article of a major world religion, is inappropriate, unprofessional, unconstitutional and disingenuous.

A biologist has no business 'dissing' any religion, rather, they should be busy teaching the scientific discipline they were hired to teach. Tolerating such behavior by university officials is equally repugnant as it lends credibility to the act of religious hatred. We also pray that Professor Myers contritely repent and apologize.

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Class, Real Class

Magnificent vestments worn by the Roman Pontiff in Sydney

a REAL nun (what we called a R.N. in the seminary, as opposed to an L.P.N., i.e., 'Likes to Play Nun': no veil, no habit)

St. John's Valdosta Blog: For Priests and DeaconsARE YOU WILLING TO PREACH WHAT ISN'T POPULAR?

St. John's Valdosta Blog: For Priests and Deacons;ARE YOU WILLING TO PREACH WHAT ISN'T POPULAR?

Vatican Letter to Priests on Feast of St. John Vianney

VATICAN CITY, JULY 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).-

by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy,
to priests on the occasion of the Aug. 4 feast of St. John Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars.

Dear brother priests,On the occasion of the August 4 feast of St. John Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars, I greet you cordially with all my heart, and I fraternally send you this brief message.The Church knows today that there is an urgent mission, not only “ad gentes,” but also to those Christians living in areas and regions where the Christian faith has been preached and established for centuries and where ecclesial communities already exist. Within this flock, the mission, or the missionary evangelization (Redemptoris Missio, 2), has as its target those who are baptized but who, for different circumstances, have not been evangelized sufficiently, or those who have lost their initial fervour and fallen away. The postmodern culture of contemporary society -- a relativist, secular, and agnostic culture -- exerts a strong erosive action on the religious faith of many people.The Church is missionary by its very nature. Jesus told us that "the sower went out to sow" (Mt 13:3). The sower does not limit himself to throwing the seed out of the window, but actually leaves the house. The Church knows that it cannot remain inert or limit itself to receiving and evangelizing those who are seeking the Faith in its churches and communities. It is also necessary to rise up and go to where people and families dwell, live and work. We must go to everyone: companies, organizations, institutions and different fields of human society. In this mission, all members of the ecclesial community are called: pastors, religious and laity.Moreover, the Church recognizes that priests are the great driving force behind daily life in local communities. When priests move, the Church moves. If this were not so, it would be very difficult to achieve the Church’s mission.My dear brother priests, you are the great richness, the energy, the pastoral and missionary inspiration in the midst of the Christian faithful, wherever they are found in community. Without your crucial decision to "put out into the deep" for fish ("Duc in altum"), as the Lord himself calls us, little or nothing will happen in the urgent mission, either "ad gentes" or in the territories that have previously been evangelized. But the Church is certain that it can count on you, because it knows and explicitly recognizes that the overwhelming majority of priests -- despite our weaknesses and human limitations -- are worthy priests, giving their life daily to the Kingdom of God and loving Jesus Christ and the people entrusted to them. These are the priests who are sanctifying themselves in their daily ministry and who are persevering until the harvest of the Lord. Only a small minority of priests have gravely deviated from this mission, and the Church seeks to repair the harm that they have done. On the other hand, it rejoices in and is proud of the immense majority of its priests, who are good and exceedingly worthy of praise.During this Pauline Year, and pending the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God to be held in Rome this October, we call those who are receptive to this urgent mission. May the Holy Spirit enlighten us, send us, and sustain us, so that we might go forth and proclaim once again the person of Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected, as well as His kingdom.I greet you again, dear brothers, remaining always at your disposal. I pray for you all, especially for those who suffer, for the sick and for the elderly.

Vatican City State, 15 July 2008
Claudio Cardinal Hummes
Emeritus Archbishop of São Paolo
Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy

AmericanPapist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Confratenity of Catholic Clergy defends Humanae Vitae on its 40th anniversary

AmericanPapist: Not Your Average Catholic!: Confratenity of Catholic Clergy defends Humanae Vitae on its 40th anniversary

News Bytes

CLASH OF OPINIONS ON HUMANAE VITAE

Baltimore, Jul. 21 (CWNews.com) - A militant pro-abortion group has launched a publicity campaign encouraging Catholics to protest the Church's teaching on contraception, while a group of orthodox Catholic priests has urged other clerics to proclaim and defend that teaching.

The pro-abortion group "Catholics" for Choice has urged lay Catholics to lobby their bishops for a change in the perennial moral teaching of the Christian faith. Jon O'Brien, the president of the group, pointed out that most married Catholics ignore the Church teaching and use contraceptives. "It is time for them to speak out and say enough is enough," O'Brien said.

The leader of "Catholics" for Choice argued that in some countries where Catholic institutions exercise great power, people "are dying as a result of the ban" on contraceptives. His statement presumably referred to the argument that AIDS is spread by the lack of access to condoms.

However, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a group of 600 orthodox Catholic priests and deacons, meeting in Baltimore last week, strongly endorsed the Church's teaching. Referring to the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, in which Pope Paul VI reinforced the traditional teaching, the Confraternity approved a statement asking "all its brother clergy to teach, explain, and defend this timely encyclical."

"While sometimes a difficult teaching to embrace and maintain, it is nevertheless the only means to uphold the natural law and to safeguard the sanctity of the human person, marriage, and the family as well as civilization itself," the Confraternity proclaimed. The group pointed out that in the 40 years since Pope Paul issued the encyclical, the steadily growing public acceptance of contraception has been associated with epidemics of sexual promiscuity, deviancy, venereal disease, divorce, illegitimacy, and other problems including sharp increases in breast cancer and uterine cancer.

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Humanae Vitae: two score later

Forty years ago, Pope Paul VI issued his encyclical Humanae Vitae

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy celebrated the anniversary of this prophetic document at its 33rd annual convocation which met in Baltimore, MD, July 14-17. Dr. Janet Smith was the keynote speaker and she gave a concise and erudite synopsis on why this encyclical was written and what it meant. She also gave an illuminating post-mortem on the dissent from Humanae Vitae, from 1968 to 2008. Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, President of HLI (Human Life International), spoke on the diabolical dimensions of abortion and contraception. Just as individual bodies can be possessed or obsessed by demonic forces, so, too, corporate bodies (like society) can also be infected. Abortion and contraception, he maintains, are demonic obsessions plaguing our civilization. Intrinsic evils like these which seek to destroy the divine plan of marriage (i.e., love & life; unity & procreation), also affect the whole of society since innocent unborn human life becomes the direct and unjust victim. Fr. Peter West of Priests for Life spoke on the political response to abortion and the moral culpability of the faithful not voting (which can be a grave sin of omission). Bad enough when so-called Christians vote FOR pro-abortion candidates. Equally bad when pro-life Christians do not vote at all and by their absence in the voting booths, allow pro-abortion candidates to win by default. Fr. West pointed out the difference between candidate-oriented endorsements and issue-oriented endorsements. Clergy cannot endorse any specific candidate or party from the pulpit BUT they can and MUST condemn immoral policies, platforms, laws, and any issue which threatens the lives of innocent human beings.

The following resolutions were approved at this year's meeting:

1. We resolve as priests and deacons of the Catholic Church to reaffirm our unequivocal and complete acceptance and support of the magisterial teachings contained in the papal encyclical 'Humanae Vitae' (by Paul VI) as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of this prophetic document. Furthermore, we pledge to explain and encourage our faithful to fully know, understand and comply with authentic Christian morality contained in this encyclical, especially on the intrinsic evils of abortion and contraception.


2. We resolve as pastors and spiritual leaders to aggressively engage our people to defend and protect the sanctity of marriage as a union of one man and one woman. We strongly urge the faithful to exercise their political power as tax paying voters to elect and influence governors and legislators so they will enact state amendments to prevent the alteration, expansion or redefinition of marriage.


3. We resolve to express our profound gratitude to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for his first pastoral visit to the United States this past April and for his pastoral love and concern for the clergy. We appreciate his paternal words of support for priests and deacons as he spoke to the bishops of our nation. The CCC also thanks the Pontiff for his visit to Australia for World Youth Day since his love and concern for young people is a model for all pastors.


4. We resolve to follow the lead and continue the work begun by the Holy Father in his efforts to reintroduce more of the sacred into divine worship. The Pope teaches us by example in the gestures,materials, and manner in which he celebrates the Holy Mass. By emulating him in reverently and accurately following the rubrics as well as prayerfully saying the correct words (in other words say the black; do the red), we hope to offer fitting worship and to edify the faithful with the sacred mysteries we celebrate


5. We resolve to urge and exhort our bishops to give us an accurate and eloquent translation of the Roman Missal as soon as possible. Reverent worship of God, which edifies and nourishes the faithful, demands sacred language and sacred ritual (words & gestures). Therefore, we ask for a translation that is not patronizing to the intelligence of our people but instead inspires them to aspire to seek and embrace holiness.


6. We resolve to support every bishop who courageously defends the sanctity and integrity of the Holy Eucharist by denying Communion to notorious and unrepentent politicians who are openly supportive of abortion and/or euthanasia. We applaud those shepherds who make every effort to persuade and dialogue with these politicians in hopes of converting their minds and hearts to be completely Pro-Life. We also acknowledge that those whose obstinate hardness of heart prevent them from abandoning their allegiance to the so-called "pro-choice" defense of abortion make themselves ineligible to receive Holy Communion.


unanimously approved 7-17-08

Rev John Trigilio, Jr (president)

Food for Thought

www.CreativeMinorityReport.com

NOW in your local parish supermarket. Free prize inside, limited time only: Special Secret Decoder to translate polysyllabic words, sophisticated phrases and eloquent language into banal, pedestrian and simplistic verbiage for your local liturgist or liberal neighbor. With five boxtops, you can also order a companion decoder to decipher ICEL double-speak (new and improved edition from Vox Clara).

Larry Liturgy (pseudonym) admits Papa Ben's Novus Ordo 2.0 might just kill any hopes of future liturgical abuse, innovations and shenanigans by the left-wing elite experts (all who mysteriously have monosyllabic names, like Gabe, Tad, Ralph et al., and are conspicuously and frequently mentioned in the National Catholic Reporter).

Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful are seeking to create their own brand of spiritual food to compete with Papa Ben's. Problem is they only use outdated and expired materials from the 1960's and have an aversion to using recipes (which they consider to be dogmatic and doctrinaire). Hence, their alternative product is a 45 year old formula which is so amorphous and draconian (going back to the old days of Baal worship) that it has a limited shelf life. Consumers today are health conscious and avoid the sugar-coated, saccharin sweet nonsense of the Kumbaya days when theological dissenters and politico-social hippies were almost indistinguishable, in thought and dress. Today's mainline Catholics want QUALITY and GOOD TASTE, which are found in the non-generic name brand product put out by Holy Mother Church for two millennia, known as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (now in two flavors, Extraordinary Form and Ordinary Form). What attracts people to this high caliber product is its perennial truth, its perpetual source of divine grace and its pronounced reverence, all missing in the cheap, inferior quality from the abusers and innovators who seek to 'DO LITURGY' rather than to 'OFFER SACRIFICE & WORSHIP' to the One True God.

Silver Jubilee

His Excellency, the Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, celebrates his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood today. The former rector of Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD, is the ninth bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

ad multos annos

We are blessed to have our current bishop since he is completely orthodox (ran one of the best seminaries on the East Coast) and is a loyal son of the Church. Bishop Rhoades restored the Tabernacle in the Cathedral to the center of the sanctuary and he invited the Fraternity of Saint Peter to come and celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite on a weekly basis (formerly, only allowed once a month on a Saturday evening) in a gorgeous German church, one block from the Cathedral. Our number of seminarians have doubled since his appointment as our chief shepherd.

Liturgical Nazis Prepare For Conflict

Black-shirts and storm-troopers parade in full battle gear as Catholic faithful become restless with the latest rejection by the USCCB of proposed translations of the 2000 Latin Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. Correct and accurate are not diametrically opposed to edifying, reverent and eloquent. Unfortunately, the lower clergy and the laity suffer with the sometimes droll, often inaccurate and usually pedestrian ICEL English translations from the 1970 Paul VI Missal. Meanwhile, the latest John Paul II edition remains in the Latin and unused in most of the USA. Despite Bishop Serratelli's erudite article, 2/3rd's of his brother bishops in the United States did not approve the recent proposed translation. Evidently, too many polysyllabic, urbane and debonair words for the allegedly unsophisticated, mundane, and prosaic faithful who supposedly need banal, pedestrian and trite translations instead. Maybe we need Liturgical Sesame Street to help people learn about the ineffable and sublime sacred mysteries of authentic divine worship; or so we are led to believe by the 'experts.'

ALL PRIESTS, DEACONS & SEMS: Only Ten Days Left

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy reiterates its invitation to all priests, deacons and seminarians to our annual convocation. This year we meet at the Tremont Plaza Hotel in Baltimore, MD to celebrate the bicentennial of the Archdiocese and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae. JULY 14th - 17th are the dates and any member of the Catholic Clergy (Latin or Oriental) in good standing with his diocese or relgious community are welcome to attend. Cost is only $150 and our speakers include:

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien (tentative)
Archbishop of Baltimore

Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

Fr. Peter West
Priests for Life

Dr. Janet Smith (keynote speaker)
Chair of Life Ethics, Professor of Moral Theology
Sacred heart seminary, Detroit, MI

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy is a national association of priests and deacons that promotes ongoing spiritual, theological and pastoral formation of the local clergy in a fraternal environment. Besides monthly local chapter meetings (consisting of a Eucharistic Holy Hour, Liturgy of the Hours, Rosary, Spiritual Conference, opportunity for confession, and Benediction), the CCC also holds an annual convocation where orthodox speakers present pertinent lectures helpful to the average parish priest or deacon. Vatican II (Presbyterorum Ordinis), the Code of Canon Law and Pope John Paul the Great (Pastores Dabo Vobis) as well as the Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests, strongly encourage and exhort associations to assist the clergy in seriously persuing ongoing formation.

ATTENTION PARISHIONERS and ALL MEMBERS OF THE LAITY, please encourage your pastor, parochial vicar, deacon and seminarian to attend our annual gathering. Makes a perfect ordination or anniversary gift. Annual membership dues are only $35 (nice birthday present). Any donations or contributions are greatly appreciated. See our website for more information.

www.catholic-clergy.org

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

These are photos I took of the Washington Monument and the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, during my mother's recent visit for my 20th anniversary. Both of us reflected on how proud my dad would have been had he lived long enough to see the World War II Memorial finally erected. He fought in the US Navy during WWII and only got his discharge after he was already serving in the Korean Conflict. Needless to say, me and brothers were always proud of the old man and even though he never told us any war stories, he was our war hero because he served his nation with honor and distinction. His generation were willing to make sacrifices so that others could remain or perhaps for the first time embrace freedom. They placed their own convenience, comfort and even personal safety on the line for their country. Some things were worth risking your life to protect or obtain.

We have such patriots today serving in our military. Many brave men and women stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, but also in Korea, Europe and at sea around the world. We should not forget them this Independence Day. My two parishes have been saying the Prayer to Saint Michael every day after Mass since the first soldier, sailor, airman or marine arrived in the Persian Gulf. Many regular and reserve military have been on numerous dangerous tours and missions. Some have been seriously wounded and some have made the supreme sacrifice. No matter what your political affiliation and regardless of your personal opinion on the specifics of this particular war, remember the troops go when they are sent. The bullets, grenades, missiles and torpedoes kill and mame no matter why they were launched. Pray for peace, pray for a speedy end to the war and pray for the safe return of our troops. But remember, this will not be over in a short time. We had troops in Germany, Japan and Korea long after peace treaties had been signed. America cannot fight and run. We always stayed to rehelp rebuild and restore. Ironically, that component is often forgotten. One day, Father Brighenti and I visited Paris by taking the train from London and going through the famous Chunnel. Once in France, someone noticed we were Americans (could have been my VISA card that has the US Flag on it). We got a terse rebuke from someone who disliked President Bush and said we should stay out of foreign affairs completely. I replied that I did not have enough time to debate the decision to go to war with Iraq, HOWEVER, I did bluntly remind my French inquisitor that had it not been for the USA, he might be speaking German today and we would have flags with black swastikas emblazoned on red, rather than the traditional blue, white and red of the French drapeau tricolore. When we got back to Great Britain, it was comforting to see the opposite response. No matter where we went in London or elsewhere in England, people warmly welcomed us and once they saw were from the United States, they inevitably would throw in a spontaneous "God Bless America." Even those who did not like or approve of their Prime Minister Tony Blair and/or our own President George Bush, still showed a friendly alliance that expressed a multi-generational relationship and gratitude. We heard some of the real old-timers tell stories in the local pub of what happened during WWII and the nightly bombings of London by the Nazi Luftwaffe. Hearing an old British sailor tell how he became friends with an American who voluntarily came to the UK before Pearl Harbor (Dec. 6, 1941) and joined the RAF to fight Hitler and the Third Reich was something I'll never forget.

Fourth of July is our Independence Day but it is also our wake up day. We Americans have to ask ourselves, am I a good citizen? What am I doing to make my country better? Too many of us never vote but we all complain. Too many of us let someone else defend, protect, and serve us and we do little in return. Yes, we have the shame of slavery and segregation in our past and today we have the shame of racism and the horrors of abortion and euthanasia in this 'land of the free.' Freedom, as Pope John Paul the Great reminded us, is NOT equivalent with license or unrestricted liberty. Freedom is the power and ability to do what one OUGHT to do because one chooses to do it. As T.S. Elliot would say, it is doing the right thing for the right reason. We should never forget that Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini were ELECTED into office. Though they imposed a fascist regime, they got into power because they got the votes. After the war, Nazi soldiers and politicians were asked why did you go along with the evil that was done? Many replied "I was merely obeying orders" or "I was merely following party rules and regulations." Today, we have politicians who 'personally oppose abortion' but consistently vote 'pro-choice' (a real oxymoron since the unborn is given no choice whatsoever). Those who love America must want her to do and to be better in every way. Apathetic voters and party-hack politicians wreak more havoc on our nation that anyone can imagine.

On this Fourth of July, let us be grateful we live in a free nation where we can practice our religion without fear, intimidation or persecution. At the same time, since we live in a democratic-republic, we the people are responsible for what our government does or does not do. We elect people into office or we vote them out the next election. Do we vote with our pocket books and wallets and make decisions based on our own convenience and comfort OR do we stand up for principles like those who died to keep our country free? Those who died to erardicate slavery died for a noble cause. Those who neglect their constitutional right to vote commit a sin of omission when they allow those with evil agendas to get into office. The balance of the Supreme Court could be decided by the next President. How many Americans will vote based on the price of gasoline? How many will stay home because their candidate is not in the race? What about the men and women who have fought and died overseas for our nation? Was their sacrifice in vain? Show your appreciation to our brave military whenever you see one of them in public. And show them the ultimate respect by electing GOOD, MORAL and NOBLE politicians into office who place the common good before their own career management.

Feast of Saint Jose-Maria Escriva

St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer (1902-1975) was the founder of Opus Dei, the first and so far only Personal Prelature in the Catholic Church. Monsignor Escriva devised a theology and spirituality more than 30 years before the Second Vatican Council coined the phrase the universal call to holiness. Simply put, he advocated the notion that sanctity is not reserved for clergy and religious, but that everyday work can and ought to be means for personal holiness. For centuries, some had thought that the only way to heaven was to imitate the monastic life. Adopt and adapt a spirituality based on the monks and nuns, and the ordinary layperson might have a chance of Paradise, or so some believed. Over time, the monastic sprituality, which was very communal, regulated, religious and for celibates was diluted and distilled so that Joe and Mary Laici could have a possibility of holiness, too. Msgr. discovered what St. Francis de Sales and St. Therese of Lisiux learned beforehand: God calls everyone to holiness. St. Augustine taught about the reality of God giving everyone Sufficient Grace and it becomes Efficacious Grace to those who accept and cooperate with it. So, while not revolutionary from the theological standpoint, from common perception among the faithful, Escriva's idea was fresh and new. Sanctification via ordinary work? Daily work becoming the Work of God (opus Dei in Latin).

Look at the life of Our Divine Lord and the Holy Family in Nazareth. St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother spent 75% of their day and life WORKING, i.e., doing ordinary labor. Working in the carpenter shop, cleaning, cooking, washing, etc. Doing the mundane jobs and chores of ordinary life. The BVM and St. Joseph did pray at home, in synagogue and at Temple like all devout Jews of their time. Jesus, Mary and Joseph did not live in a monastery or a convent, however. They lived in an ordinary home and they did ordinary work. Thirty years Our Divine Savior worked, so much so that not only was He called the 'son' of a carpenter, but in one passage He is even called a 'carpenter' Himself. His public mission lasted three years after thirty hidden years working with His foster-father. Since the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph did not spend most of their day on their knees in prayer, it would seem logical that God is not calling everyone to live the life of a cloistered monastic. Some, He is, like the Carmelites, Poor Clares, Dominicans, etc. Most people He has called to live married and single lives and a few as consecrated religious or some men as ordained priests. Opus Dei merely helps members realize that their daily work will sanctify them if they do it well and do it for God. Daily prayer, weekly Mass, monthly confession and yearly retreat are still vital, important and indispensible. Yet, consecrating our daily work and allowing our work to sanctify us is also part of God's plan. Genesis reminds us that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. Pope John Paul the Great in his encyclical Laborem Exercens taught us that WORK is not a four-letter word. Work is holy when done well and done properly. If it is not good, then it is not good work. If evil, then it is the work of the Devil. Cab drivers, police, firefighters, teachers, construction workers, white collar, blue collar, politicians, doctors, lawyers, nurses, secretaries, retired, students, athletes, entertainers, clerks, managers, receptionists, CEO's, et al.; whatever your WORK, do it well, and do it for God and it will become a means of sanctification. Envisioning Christ standing next to you all day while you work might help you to work better OR if your work is not pleasing to God, either because you are not working hard enough OR you may be doing something displeasing or even offensive to God, then change your work. Politicians must enact legislation. That is their work. IF they create human laws that disobey the Divine and the Natural Laws, then their work is not holy, it is evil. Hence, promoting abortion, euthanasia or same-sex marriage laws is not doing the Opus Dei. Judges, too, must do their work but their work must submit to the Natural Moral Law, else their work is also not the Work of God. The same applies to doctors, pharmicists, teachers, parents, etc. Yes, we are to work and to do our best at work AS LONG AS our work pleases God. Violating His Commandments or His Natural Law is the work of Satan, not the work of God. Msgr. Escriva, however, taught that even the most menial, pedestrian job can become an Opus Dei, a work of God, like taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, grocery shopping, doing homework, vaccuuming the house, etc. Just like the Holy Family where work was done at home and in the shop, work can and ought to be a humanizing (and not de-humanizing) enterprise. Slave labor is not the work of God. Abusing workers or cheating employers does not please God. Fair pay for fair days work that respects the dignity of the human person is what the Lord wants us to do and to promote.

Gibbet VS. Thong

While some liturgists try to convince us that 'gibbet' is too arcane to use in the Sacred Liturgy, I urge them to recall the newer translations of Sacred Scripture (New American Bible) in the Lectionary so that every Advent we get Mark 1:7 or Luke 3:16 having St. John the Baptist saying "I am not worthy to unfasten the THONG of his sandal." Why abandon the traditional 'strap' and opt for the modern 'thong' ? When most contempoary Americans hear the word 'thong' they think of an immodest and quite obscene bikini bottom given more vulgar colloquialisms by the youth. Straps (of his sandals), on the other hand, are a more appropriate and accurate translation of the Greek himas or Latin corrigiam than thongs. Gibbet may be less familiar but I do not trust the same people who gave us thongs rather than sandal-straps. Speaking for myself, i.e., and I am unanimous in that.

From the Boss

Pope Benedict spoke to the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec via satellite and made these WONDERFUL remarks on the Sacred Liturgy and Most Blessed Sacrament:

"'The Mystery of Faith': this we proclaim at every Mass. I would like everyone to make a commitment to study this great mystery, especially by revisiting and exploring, individually and in groups, the Council's text on the liturgy, 'Sacrosanctum Concilium,' so as to bear witness courageously to the mystery."

The Pontiff affirmed that such study would help each person "arrive at a better grasp of the meaning of every aspect of the Eucharist, understanding its depth and living it with greater intensity."

"Every sentence, every gesture has its own meaning and conceals a mystery," Benedict XVI continued. "I sincerely hope that this Congress will serve as an appeal to all the faithful to make a similar commitment to a renewal of Eucharistic catechesis, so that they themselves will gain a genuine Eucharistic awareness and will in turn teach children and young people to recognize the central mystery of faith and build their lives around it.

"I urge priests especially to give due honor to the Eucharistic rite, and I ask all the faithful to respect the role of each individual, both priest and lay, in the Eucharistic action. The liturgy does not belong to us: It is the Church's treasure."


The Pontiff also expressed his desire that Christians would come to value Sunday more and more.

"May all of you become ever more deeply aware of the importance of the Sunday Eucharist," he said, "because Sunday, the first day of the week, is the day when we honor Christ, the day when we receive the strength to live each day the gift of God."

If only every member of the clergy and laity could heed and abide by these words of wisdom.

Forty Hours

HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM

My two parishes (Our Lady of Good Counsel & St. Bernadette) are having their annual Forty Hours devotions June 22, 23 and 24.  I ask for your prayers that we may see a renewal of reverence for the Real Presence, in all parishes and dioceses around the world.  I also ask for your prayers for a very important and urgent special intention.  Confidentiality prevents me from divulging any further details, but suffice it to say, I beseech any and all prayers for this matter which concerns a friend of mine who is in need of divine assistance.

ADOREMUS IN AETERNUM SANCTISSIMUM SACRAMENTUM