Real Catholic Blog

As almost all Catholic media have, we’ve been tracking the public dispute (first here) between Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Diocese of Providence, R.I., and U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (then here). Now, NBC10 television in Providence has posted an online poll question asking who the public supports in this debate between two of that state’s most well known public figures. Here’s the question:

Do you agree with Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin that Rep. Patrick Kennedy is “less Catholic” because of his political beliefs?  

As of this post, Bishop Tobin has an almost 2-1 lead. Just goes to show that the Truth always wins. Oh, if only more politicians knew that. To vote, click here. I did. Can you guess which way I voted?

Here’s a report on Pope Benedict’s Angelus massage from Sunday:

Pope Benedict offers hope and inspiration to those injured in accidents during his Angelus message Sunday.

The Vatican has been in the YouTube age for some time, but it has released a DVD for priests on how to celebrate the Latin Mass, excerpts of which can be found on YouTube. Some see this as a signal that it won’t be long before the option is a little less optional and the Vatican gets the Bishops in gear in ensuring each parish has at least one Mass per weekend in Latin.

After all, it is the Latin Rite isn’t? This comes via Telegraph UK (of all places) and PewSitter.com, a magnificent Catholic news resource and which we welcome to our media links as of today.

Forgot what the Latin Mass was like? So have many priests. Here’s a refresher. The Vatican may be about to ensure that each parish, where possible, offer one Latin Mass as an option for those who choose to worship that way.

How can it be that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development still contributes money it collects at Mass to the corrupt organization known as ACORN? For years, ACORN was a beneficiary of the campaign, but that was before the public at large was aware of what this organization does and what it stands for. Recently, undercover journalists had several ACORN officials condone and even encourage what they thought was a prostitution ring. Last year, its fraudulent voter registration efforts were uncovered prompting FBI and attorneys general investigations in several states. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops promised that its partnership with ACORN, through CCHD, was done.

Apparently, not. That’s unfortunate. Now, several prominent Catholics are advocating a boycott of November’s collection for CCHD and, instead, give that money to righteous Catholic groups who do charity work CCHD purports to do, such as the Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul Society or your own parish’s poor box.  

Here is an excerpt of a letter published by noted political activist and Catholic Richard Viguerie:

You probably think you’ve never given money to ACORN and its allies. But if you’ve contributed to the annual November Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) appeal of the Catholic bishops, you’ve done just that.

Each November, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asks Catholics across the United States to contribute to the CCHD. Until last year, much of this money collected by the bishops’ appeal was funneled directly to ACORN.

Are you going to again let the bishops use your contributions — money that’s intended for charity — to promote extreme left-wing causes such as taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand? …

Scandals have forced the bishops to stop funding ACORN directly, but they still fund other groups closely tied to ACORN — groups that have the same aims and that use the same methods to promote a left-wing, extremist agenda.

Catholics are led to believe that their contributions to CCHD are used to help the poor — funding soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and other worthwhile projects that provide aid to the least fortunate among us.

In fact, it appears almost none of the money goes to the poor. Rather, it goes to organizations that engage in “community organizing” to promote a political agenda that many Catholics would find abhorrent, if only they knew. CCHD’s stated goal is “breaking the cycle of poverty,” but CCHD-funding organizations support policies that make it next to impossible for the poor to escape their circumstances. …

ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) received some $7.3 million from the CCHD in 1998-2008, and even more in earlier years. ACORN’s direct funding from CCHD was cut off in 2008, but only because of an eight-year-old embezzlement scandal that made it impossible to get a proper accounting of the money. It appears that the Bishops’ problem was with ACORN’s poor “accounting” practices, rather than with the goals and tactics of a group that blurs the distinction between a radical political organization and a Mafia-style racket.

ACORN is currently under investigation or indictment in 20 states for voter fraud. Its New Orleans headquarters, in a former funeral home, served as the address of more than 270 organizations, real or imaginary, most of which have received taxpayer funds. (Recent legislation makes ACORN and allied organizations eligible for billions of dollars more from federal, state, and local governments in the years to come.)

Recently, two fearless young people, carrying a hidden camera, showed that ACORN employees in a number of cities stood ready and eager to facilitate such criminal activities as tax fraud and the prostitution of underage illegal aliens.

Ralph McCloud, CCHD’s executive director, admitted to the Catholic News Service that “some of the funds that the Catholic Campaign contributed to ACORN in the past undoubtedly were used for voter registration drives.” Most, perhaps all, of those drives were conducted in support of politicians who support abortion-on-demand and other policies that most Catholics oppose.

Don’t be fooled by the CCHD’s recent cut-off of direct aid to ACORN. CCHD continues to fund other organizations that are clones of ACORN or closely allied with ACORN.

Read more about it here at Viguerie’s blog. He has a petition there that you can sign. He also asks that you forward it to as many people as possible to increase awareness of the situation with CCHD.

This letter from Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, R.I., to U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy, speaks for itself. Although it may appear unfortunate that a bishop and a prominent member of his flock are publicly feuding, and that it may be interpreted as a shame upon the Church, it is more important that the prominent member, who is bringing scandal upon the Church for his constant and intentional misrepresentations of Church teaching (and grave matters at that) is brought to light, not only for his benefit, but for the benefit of Catholics everywhere so that they may better understand Church teaching.

Furthermore, other Catholic politicians who do as Representative Kennedy does, must hear the truth publicly from the Church because they have not shown any willingness to listen to other exhortations to revisit their incorrect understanding of the Faith in the public square. In fact, the letter, released earlier this week and published below, is a good reflection for all of us.

Dear Congressman Kennedy:

Since our recent correspondence has been rather public, I hope you don’t mind if I share a few reflections about your practice of the faith in this public forum. I usually wouldn’t do that – that is speak about someone’s faith in a public setting — but in our well-documented exchange of letters about health care and abortion, it has emerged as an issue. I also share these words publicly with the thought that they might be instructive to other Catholics, including those in prominent positions of leadership.

For the moment I’d like to set aside the discussion of health care reform, as important and relevant as it is, and focus on one statement contained in your letter of October 29, 2009, in which you write, “The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.”

That sentence certainly caught my attention and deserves a public response, lest it go unchallenged and lead others to believe it’s true. And it raises an important question: What does it mean to be a Catholic?

“The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.”

Well, in fact, Congressman, in a way it does. Although I wouldn’t choose those particular words, when someone rejects the teachings of the Church, especially on a grave matter, a life-and-death issue like abortion, it certainly does diminish their ecclesial communion, their unity with the Church. This principle is based on the Sacred Scripture and Tradition of the Church and is made more explicit in recent documents.

For example, the “Code of Canon Law” says, “Lay persons are bound by an obligation and possess the right to acquire a knowledge of Christian doctrine adapted to their capacity and condition so that they can live in accord with that doctrine.” (Canon 229, #1)

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” says this: “Mindful of Christ’s words to his apostles, ‘He who hears you, hears me,’ the faithful receive with docility the teaching and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.” (#87)

Or consider this statement of the Church: “It would be a mistake to confuse the proper autonomy exercised by Catholics in political life with the claim of a principle that prescinds from the moral and social teaching of the Church.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2002)

There’s lots of canonical and theological verbiage there, Congressman, but what it means is that if you don’t accept the teachings of the Church your communion with the Church is flawed, or in your own words, makes you “less of a Catholic.”

But let’s get down to a more practical question; let’s approach it this way: What does it mean, really, to be a Catholic? After all, being a Catholic has to mean something, right?

Well, in simple terms — and here I refer only to those more visible, structural elements of Church membership — being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially.

Congressman, I’m not sure whether or not you fulfill the basic requirements of being a Catholic, so let me ask: Do you accept the teachings of the Church on essential matters of faith and morals, including our stance on abortion? Do you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish? Do you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly? Do you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially?

In your letter you say that you “embrace your faith.” Terrific. But if you don’t fulfill the basic requirements of membership, what is it exactly that makes you a Catholic? Your baptism as an infant? Your family ties? Your cultural heritage?

Your letter also says that your faith “acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity.” Absolutely true. But in confronting your rejection of the Church’s teaching, we’re not dealing just with “an imperfect humanity” — as we do when we wrestle with sins such as anger, pride, greed, impurity or dishonesty. We all struggle with those things, and often fail.

Your rejection of the Church’s teaching on abortion falls into a different category — it’s a deliberate and obstinate act of the will; a conscious decision that you’ve re-affirmed on many occasions. Sorry, you can’t chalk it up to an “imperfect humanity.” Your position is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It absolutely diminishes your communion with the Church.

Congressman Kennedy, I write these words not to embarrass you or to judge the state of your conscience or soul. That’s ultimately between you and God. But your description of your relationship with the Church is now a matter of public record, and it needs to be challenged. I invite you, as your bishop and brother in Christ, to enter into a sincere process of discernment, conversion and repentance.

It’s not too late for you to repair your relationship with the Church, redeem your public image, and emerge as an authentic “profile in courage,” especially by defending the sanctity of human life for all people, including unborn children. And if I can ever be of assistance as you travel the road of faith, I would be honored and happy to do so.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence

The following was issued by Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests For Life, earlier tonight. He urges prayer to end abortion and asks people to relate their experiences of prayer in saving lives from abortion on his Facebook page.

Brothers and Sisters,

Prayer is the cornerstone of the pro-life movement and the best weapon we have to save lives, always in God’s name. We have no doubt that prayer saves lives, but let us share now with each other and the world how prayer has specifically saved lives within the pro-life movement.

We invite each of you to share your story of how prayer has saved a life. We will share these stories with our members and with the world. Let us show the world how the Lord has heard our prayers and the lives that have been saved as a result.

God bless you. Can’t wait to read your stories!

- Fr. Frank Pavone

I don’t like saying I told you so — okay, in many respects, I do — but I hope the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have learned their lesson. Today, U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (a name that leaves no doubt about its ruthlessness), called for the IRS to revoke the Church’s non-profit status (see her piece on Politico.com). This is the thanks the Bishops get for swimming with the sharks all these years on health care, immigration and a number of other “social justice” issues.

The Bishops’ crime? They adamantly supported attaching the pro-life Stupak Amendment to the health care bill passed (barely) late Saturday night. Rep. Woolsey thinks the Bishops are more lobbyists than moral conscience, more fat cat than free speech; chutzpah judgments from her as she knows only of the former and none of the latter in each case.

Unfortunately, the Bishops think they have won a victory with the Stupak Amendment. In fact, they have only been played for enablers in this monstrous bill potentially becoming law. While they think they may have protected the unborn, Ms. Woolsey’s “progressives” eventually will strip out the Stupak Amendment. Meanwhile, the rest of the bill will ration care for the sick and elderly, making this a death on demand bill for people at any stage of life.

It’s the hottest of topics in the realm of Catholics and public policy: What, on the surface, seems to be the only good thing about the health care bill barely passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Saturday night, was the Stupak Amendment, offered by Representative Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) It upholds the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding of abortion, and explicitly denies any part of the health care bill from mandating insurance companies cover abortion services or compromises medical professionals conscience protections.

However, by passing the amendment and adding it to the bill, it made a horrible bill — which still violates Catholic teaching by eliminating health care to elderly and sickly people by rationing it and denying access to it — more palatable to certain members of the House, and was enough for them to vote in favor of the bill as a whole. Not only that, but certain radical feminists in Congress are not unhappy that the Stupak Amendment moved the bill forward to the Senate, where they are hopeful it will eventually get stripped out and eventually approved by the House after a conference report. So says U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the House’s chief deputy Democrat whip (see Life Site News).

On the other hand, as Matt Bowman of CatholicVote.org writes, passing the Stupak Amendment ultimately will make the bill distasteful for the abortion-on-demand crowd and force them to abandon ship.

So, a lot remains to be seen — and done. If you are concerned, and we all should be, it is not a time to relax under a false pretense, nor throw in the towel in frustration. Contact your senators and carry on the good fight.

There continues to be a lot of discussion on the acceptance of married Anglican priests into the Faith, as well as Anglican laity, who want to enter full communion with the Church. I have become fast friends with someone recently before she revealed to me she has left the Episcopal Church and now attends a traditional Catholic parish. She is in deep prayer and discernment over whether to make the complete commitment and transition. The Vatican’s recent announcement has plunged her into deeper thought about her current “orphan” status. She says she’s not the only one, either. So, here’s another video report on the issue, this one from Rome Reports.

Cardinal Levada speaks about the process for Anglicans/Episcopals, priests and laity, to enter the Church.

Yesterday’s two major off-year elections both were won by conservative Catholics who are staunchly pro-life: Virginia Governor-elect Bob  McDonnell and New Jersey Governor-elect Chris Christie (see ChristianityToday.com). The election of Catholic politicians who’s public policies are grounded in the Truth of Church teachings is always good. There is the added bonus, however, that McDonnell replaces Virginia’s first Catholic governor, a Catholic In Name Only, Governor Tim Kaine, who doubles as the DNC chairman.

Not only that, but Virginians also elected state Senator Ken Cuccinelli attorney general (Washington Post). McDonnell won election to that post four years ago. But it doesn’t end there. Rob Aristino ended the 12-year run of his opponent, Andrew Spano (LoHud.com) as Westchester County’s new county executive. Aristino has the distinction of hosting a Catholic issues radio program and interviews the cardinal once a week.

Besides their Catholic faith, these men share the promise of governing during challenging times. Throughout what undoubtedly will be trying decision making, we hope these men live up to the Faith — and have faith that they will.