‘The last straw’: Georgetown alum and ‘Exorcist’ author canonically sues school after Sebelius row | LifeSiteNews.com

Posted on May 19, 2012 by pk

Several things are noteworthy in this article by Kathleen Gilbert.

  1. Georgetown is drifting further and further from its former Catholic moorings,

  2. [a person] plans to launch canonical action against the school seeking remedies “up to and including the possible removal or suspension of top-ranked Georgetown’s right to call itself Catholic or Jesuit in its fundraising and representations to applicants.”

  3. Much of this seems to have been caused by “John J. DiGoia, … the school’s first lay leader.

via ‘The last straw’: Georgetown alum and ‘Exorcist’ author canonically sues school after Sebelius row | LifeSiteNews.com.

by Kathleen Gilbert Fri May 18, 2012 21:14 EST

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – William Peter Blatty knows a thing or two about what happens when a hostile presence infiltrates Catholic bodies.

Blatty, author of both novel and film versions of the horror classic “The Exorcist,” is getting ready to launch a canonical suit against alma mater Georgetown University, calling U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ appearance as commencement speaker “the last straw” in the school’s relinquishing of Catholic identity.

A frame from the movie “The Exorcist” with a slight adjustment.

“The scandals that Georgetown has given to the faithful are too many to count and too many to ignore any longer,” said Blatty in an announcement.

The graduate of Georgetown’s Class of 1950 announced the creation of The Father King Society to Make Georgetown Honest, Catholic and Better, under which Blatty plans to launch canonical action against the school seeking remedies “up to and including the possible removal or suspension of top-ranked Georgetown’s right to call itself Catholic or Jesuit in its fundraising and representations to applicants.”

 

Share this article

Posted in Bishops, Church Doctrine/Teaching, Dissenting Groups, Education, HHS Mandate, Universities | Leave a comment

Supportive Ursuline nuns receiving millions in donations from contraceptive campaigner Melinda Gates | LifeSiteNews.com

Posted on May 19, 2012 by pk

Below is another case of a prominent Catholic, in this case Melinda Gates, wife of Bill Gates, taking a public stand and donating a large amount  of money to a cause in opposition to Church teaching.   This is scandal. Have we heard from a bishop?

It is greatly exacerbated by the complicity of an organization, calling itself Catholic, Ursuline Sisters.

by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman Fri May 18, 2012 20:19 EST

via Supportive Ursuline nuns receiving millions in donations from contraceptive campaigner Melinda Gates | LifeSiteNews.com.

May 18, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Dallas Catholic school administered by Ursuline nuns who have reportedly expressed their support for billionaire Melinda French Gates’ campaign to inject millions of women with contraceptive drugs has received at least $8.5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation during the past decade, LifeSiteNews.com has learned.

According to statements posted on the Ursuline Academy of Dallas website, Gates gave $5 milllion dollars to the school in 2006, “the largest single contribution received in the history of the Academy,” for the creation of the French Family Science, Math and Technology Center, which was given in Gates’ maiden name, “French.”

In 2007, Gates followed up with another $2 million “for science, math, and technology education as part of the Academy’s strategic plan for campus renewal and growth.”

In 2012 Gates gave another $1.5 million to the school during a fundraiser recorded on the website as well.

 

Share this article

Posted in Catholic Politicians, Church Doctrine/Teaching, Contraception, Dissent, Religious | Leave a comment

Loyola Jesuit Explains to Nancy Pelosi Why Catholicism Doesn’t “Compel” Support for Same-Sex “Marriage” « Campus Notes

Posted on May 16, 2012 by pk

From Cardinal Newman Society

Fr. Araujo wrote for The Mirror of Justice blog that Pelosi “does not understand very well what her religion—which happens to be mine as well—says about discrimination.”

Obviously, he says, people are forced to discriminate between any number of things in order to make decisions. He points out that the Church is only against “unjust discrimination.”

When people discriminate about who can marry whom, the discrimination that results need not be unjust and, therefore, not contrary to the religion of Rep. Pelosi. When the civil law (and the Church) prohibit minors from marriage, the discrimination is not unjust. When the civil law (and the Church) prevent marriages within certain degrees of consanguinity, the discrimination is not unjust. When the civil law (and the Church) do not permit marriages of several partners, the discrimination is not unjust.

Fr. Araujo wonders where the voices of outrage were to protest Pelosi (as well as President Obama) raising the specter of religion in a political issue.

But Fr. Araujo didn’t limit his remarks to politicians. He also took on a number of theologians who recently announced their support for same sex “marriage” as The Cardinal Newman Society recently reported.

He wrote scathingly of the justification those theologians use when they point to polls. He wonders where those theologians would be if 51% of Catholics favored slavery or sterilization of “imbeciles.”

via Loyola Jesuit Explains to Nancy Pelosi Why Catholicism Doesn’t “Compel” Support for Same-Sex “Marriage” « Campus Notes.

Share this article

Posted in Catholic Politicians, Church Doctrine/Teaching, Gay Marriage, Marriage Amendment, Persecution-Attack, Same Sex Marriage | Leave a comment

‘Catholic Standard’ Calls Georgetown’s Sebelius Invite ‘Disappointing’ | Daily News | NCRegister.com

Posted on May 15, 2012 by pk

via ‘Catholic Standard’ Calls Georgetown’s Sebelius Invite ‘Disappointing’ | Daily News | NCRegister.com.

The Archdiocese of Washington’s newspaper stated: ‘When the vision guiding university choices does not clearly reflect the light of the Gospel and authentic Catholic teaching, there are, of course, disappointing results.’

by CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY 05/15/2012

The Archdiocese of Washington’s newspaper has said that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ appearance as a featured speaker at a Georgetown University awards ceremony is a sign that the prestigious Jesuit school is not standing with the Catholic bishops in defense of religious freedom.

“One can only wonder how the selection of Secretary Sebelius for such a prominent role as a featured speaker can be reconciled with the stated Catholic mission and identity of Georgetown University,” the Catholic Standard editorialized May 10. “Secretary Sebelius’ vision on what constitutes faith-based institutions presents the most direct challenge to religious freedom in recent history.”

Continue reading →

Share this article

Posted in Abortion, Bishops, Catholic Politicians, Church Doctrine/Teaching, Government, HHS Mandate | Leave a comment

Bishops: Freedom of religion under threat in Canada over abortion and gay ‘marriage’ | LifeSiteNews.com

Posted on May 15, 2012 by pk

via Bishops: Freedom of religion under threat in Canada over abortion and gay ‘marriage’ | LifeSiteNews.com.

by John-Henry Westen

Mon May 14, 2012 12:47 EST

OTTAWA, May 14, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) today released a pastoral letter on freedom of conscience and religion. Issued by the CCCB Permanent Council, the letter expresses concern about an “aggressive relativism” in Canada that seeks to relegate religion to the private sphere.

Continue reading →

Share this article

Posted in Bishops, Church Doctrine/Teaching, Freedom of Conscience, Government, Persecution, Persecution-Attack, Religious Freedom | Leave a comment

EXCLUSIVE: Nuns issue statement defending billionaire contraceptive campaigner Melinda Gates | LifeSiteNews.com

Posted on May 15, 2012 by pk

via EXCLUSIVE: Nuns issue statement defending billionaire contraceptive campaigner Melinda Gates | LifeSiteNews.com.

by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

Thu May 10, 2012 07:49 EST

May 10, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A group of Ursuline nuns whom billionaire Melinda Gates had claimed in a recent speech supports her campaign to inject tens of millions of women in impoverished countries with Depo-Provera and other contraceptive drugs, has issued a statement defending Gates and the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, while simultaneously claiming to support Catholic moral teaching.

Continue reading →

Share this article

Posted in Church Doctrine/Teaching, Contraception, Dissent, Religious | Leave a comment

Archdiocese slams Georgetown U. invitation of Obama HHS secretary Sebelius | LifeSiteNews.com

Posted on May 15, 2012 by pk

via Archdiocese slams Georgetown U. invitation of Obama HHS secretary Sebelius | LifeSiteNews.com.

by Kathleen Gilbert

Mon May 14, 2012 11:56 EST

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Archdiocese of Washington has weighed in on Georgetown University’s invitation of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a commencement speaker in clear terms, saying that the school has unmoored itself from Catholic identity and chosen a stance against the country’s Catholic bishops.

Secretary Sebelius is the primary figure behind the HHS mandate forcing religious groups to provide free sterilizations, abortifacient drugs, and other forms of birth control to employees under the new health care law. She is also known for her extreme pro-abortion record, most notably her close ties with late-term abortionist George Tiller during her time as governor of Kansas. She is listed as a commencement speaker at Georgetown’s Public Policy Institute.

“With all of the people struggling so hard to preserve freedom of religion, and with all that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has said in defense of this important value, Georgetown’s choice of the architect of the radical challenge of such freedom for special recognition can only be seen as a statement of where the university stands – certainly not with the Catholic bishops,” states an unsigned editorial in the Archdiocesan newspaper. Msgr. Charles Pope of the Archdiocese’s official blog notes that the newspaper is “a recognized voice of the Archdiocese” and the editorial would have been reviewed by Cardinal Donald Wuerl’s senior staff.

 

Share this article

Posted in Abortion, Catholic Politicians, Church Doctrine/Teaching, HHS Mandate, Persecution-Attack, USCCB | Leave a comment

Ephesians, chapter 6

Posted on May 8, 2012 by pk

My friend Lee sent me the link to the video below by Glen Beck.  In it Beck describes his visit to the Vatican during which Pope Benedict XVI installed several new cardinals.  More importantly, however, Beck uses this as a point of departure to describe the persecution of the church, both Catholic and Christian, world wide.

From this link see the menu item: PERSECUTION.

There you may see the current issue of the DEFENDER which is an overview of the current world wide situation, and links to references in that article.

As I see it, the tide is shifting in favor of a secular, socialist swell which seeks to drown us by eliminating the influence of family and religion.  (Am I all wet?)  Anyway, this is serious and we need to be prepared to counter it.

Beck quotes Ephesians and I have included the relevant section below the video.

Pat

Ephesians, chapter 6.

10* Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil  For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens

Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate  and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Constant Prayer.

18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones  and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel  for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must

 

Share this article

Posted in Attacks, Church Doctrine/Teaching, Persecution-Attack, Religious Freedom | Leave a comment

Six Questions on the Translation of Pro Multis

Posted on May 4, 2012 by pk

With regard to pope Benedict’s recent instruction to Germany to use “for many” in place of “for all”, I found the following on the USCCB web site, for your interest:

Does this mean that Christ did not die for everyone?

No. It is a dogmatic teaching of the Church that Christ died on the Cross for all men and women (cf. John 11:52; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Titus 2:11; 1 John 2:2). The expression for many, while remaining open to the inclusion of each human person, is reflective also of the fact that this salvation is not brought about in some mechanistic way, without ones own willing or participation; rather, the believer is invited to accept in faith the gift that is being offered and to receive the supernatural life that is given to those who participate in this mystery, living it out in their lives as well so as to be numbered among the many to whom the text refers.

via Six Questions on the Translation of Pro Multis.

Share this article

Posted in Apologetics, Church Doctrine/Teaching, USCCB | Leave a comment

Public Comments Overwhelmingly Oppose HHS Anti-Conscience Mandate

Posted on May 3, 2012 by pk

Public Comments Overwhelmingly Oppose HHS Anti-Conscience Mandate.

The federal website Regulations.gov released the first round of public comments on the administration’s proposed anti-conscience mandate on Wednesday. The comments were overwhelmingly opposed to the measure: out of 211 comments submitted, only six, less than 3%, offered support for the mandate.

The mandate would require all organizations that offer health insurance to facilitate coverage of contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs, even if such drugs violate those organizations’ religious or moral beliefs.

The vast majority of the comments submitted focus on the mandate’s violation of Americans’ right of conscience, while a few discuss the health hazards of the medical procedures the mandate covers, and some call for full Obamacare repeal.
“As a Democrat, I will vote Republican if religious freedom is not protected and respected,” said one commenter, who identified herself as Arlene from Colorado.

An anonymous commenter from Missouri insisted that the mandate constitutes “a religious freedoms issue, not a women’s issue.”

The Heritage Foundation produced a video on the anti-conscience mandate in February, which showed that government intrusions in the health care sector such as Obamacare inevitably trample on Americans’ rights. Religions liberty is simply “the first casualty,” explained Heritage’s Jennifer Marshall.

 

Share this article

Posted in Freedom of Conscience, Health Care, Persecution, Politician, Religious Freedom | Leave a comment