Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Ex-student free to sue seminary

"A disillusioned seminary student who said he was expelled by the Diocese of Rockville Centre, L.I., because he complained that the school promoted "pro-gay and lesbian" literature can sue for breach of contract."

"Downey alleged the seminary promoted "pro-gay and lesbian books," including "Religion Is a Queer Thing," in violation of church teachings.

He also contended the word "pecker" was contained in the co-ed introduction to the Bible course."



This is a tough one for me, I like the pressure this brings on the seminary because it needs to be reformed or shut down, but I don't think the case belongs in court. I don't even want to know about the pecker thing.



Voice of the Faithful Long Island

For all the people who attended the VOTF meeting in Huntington

1) I am glad to see so many of you love the Church enough to want to act in the midst of incredible evil and corruption.

2) Please understand that the problems in this diocese stem directly from the reign of Bishop McGann, who for 20 years favored those who dissent from Church teachings. For example, he invited Richard McBrien to speak to all the priests in the diocese just as the VOTF leaders invited McBrien to speak to all of you. Consequently, watch very carefully those involved in the VOTF as some of them may be the same people who supported McGann and the Diocese for the past 20 years.

3) Understand also that there were brave souls who spoke out against the problems in the Diocese and were ignored or silenced. For example, Dr. Thomas Drolesky, a former writer for The Wanderer, now a “traditional Catholic”, complained about Msgr. Bud Ribaudo years ago. Also, those who found Fr. Papa in Southold to be surfing porn, with a couple of child porn site cookies on the Rectory computer, did the right thing by going to the police. There is no logical reason for VOTF to be supporting this priest at all.

4) Learn the difference between orthodox Catholicism and the false Catholicism espoused by many priests, nuns, and lay people over the past 30 years. Discover Ignatius Press, EWTN, Tan Books, Steubenville, Crisis Magazine, Latin Mass Magazine, National Catholic Register, Envoy, and other good apostolates.

5) Realize that not all religious communities are created equal—discover orthodox communities such as the Missionaries of Charity, Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Renewal, Marianists of the Meribah Province, Legionaries of Christ, Dominicans of Nashville , Benedictines in Huntington, and FSSP.

6) Realize that we young people are not attracted to groups that want to “change the Church”, we like the Church the way it is, especially the way it was before the mess of the 60’s and 70’s.

7) Understand that there are some good apostolates here on Long Island that already do some of the things you want to see- Lay Preachers, Americans United for the Pope, Fatima Holy Hour, Faith and Reason Catholic library and bookstore in Massapequa, Mariamonte in Huntington, Catholic Shopper in Nesconset, Faith on Tap, Center for Catholic Studies at Nassau Community College, etc..

8) Understand that Bishop Murphy, although not perfect, is still a giant improvement over past leadership.

9) Promote authentically Catholic schools such as Franciscan University of Steubenville, Christendom, Thomas Aquinas, Ave Maria, Magdalen, etc.. Forget the schools of your youth (such as Georgetown, Notre Dame, or the local Catholic colleges) as difficult as it might be, they are no longer worthy of being called Catholic.

10) Help return Catholicism to the Church by advocating the return of some Latin to the Mass, statues of saints to the Churches, Liturgical correctness by priests, and traditional devotions. Many of the same priests who molested teens are the same people who fought to remove any sign of traditional Catholicism from the Church. This should tell you something.

11) If leadership is your concern, make sure that those you follow are in agreement with Church teachings and practice. Ignore any priests who try to celebrate Mass as if it were a private show with him as the host, ignore anybody who advocates changes in Church teachings, ignore anyone who talks about Reiki, massage, or the enneagram.

12) Understand that there are groups out there that have been fighting corruption in the Church long before VOTF came along, such as Roman Catholic Faithful, Diocese Report, and Catholics United for the Faith. Support these groups if you really want to rid the Church of corruption.

13) Ask your leaders why they do not respond to questions via email from young people who do not agree with their choice of speakers.

14) If you want to support “priests of integrity” might I suggest you become familiar with Frs. Driscoll, Hewes, Graham, Pereda, Fasano, Arcoleo, Batule, Mason, Eichner, Fink, and Scarmozzino. These are all local priests who are known for their orthodoxy. (I am sure there are others)

15) Read this blog if you want to know what is really going on in the Diocese of Rockville Centre :)

16) God Bless you!

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Former president of St. John's University dies

He retired while I was a student there, and I don't think that the school had any particularly Catholic flavor to it then, or now. The article points out that the school grew to become the largest Catholic University under Fr. Cahill and that the school had relatively few problems when he retired. Unfortunately the article could not say that the school grew to become more Catholic or that it taught Catholicism to students. St. John's is another University that would best be described as formerly Catholic.
Man in St. Pat's Sex Romp Dies

The man involved in the infamous radio stunt at St. Patrick's Cathedral died of heart failure at 38. You just never know the hour or day.....

Monday, September 29, 2003

Just got back from a Faith on Tap meeting. Steven and Patty McDonald spoke and were wonderful. Steven was a NYC police officer who was shot and paralyzed for life. He has spent his life preaching forgiveness from a first hand point of view. He is a very inspiring figure with a strong Catholic faith. He is still on active duty for the NYC police department and was promoted to the rank of detective. It is so great to be able to get together with so many serious young Catholics, and to drink Harp Lager at the same time!

Sunday, September 28, 2003

Thanks to Confessions of a Recovering Choir Director for linking to: I Was Robbed! by Leila Miller . This is the story of a fellow Gen X cradle Catholic who reverted after discovering orthodox Catholicism. This is the great cry of my generation of Catholics--WE WUZ ROBBED! And we were.
I am listening to Jeff Cavins interview Mark Shea and Amy Welborn about Catholic blogging. I found this through Marian Brother JL. The blurb about blogging on the Relevant Radio site says:
"The Catholic blog ring, known affectionately as St. Blog’s Parish, is one of the most organized and thriving regions of the Internet subdivision known as the Blogosphere."