Nassau County Police Corruption, Again

Newsday and News12 are reporting on a major lawsuit filed due to yet more corrupt Nassau County Police officers.   What should happen, but probably will not is that officer  Anthony DiLeonardo should lose his extremely high paying job (over 100K of course) and be charged with attempted murder and all other appropriate charges.  Nothing has changed much in the Nassau County Police force since the days of officer Greco, the first Nassau County police officer to be charged with brutality.  We Long Islanders have to pay extemely high taxes due to the very overpaid police and school employees and then have to pay even more due to lawsuits filed by innocent civilians victimized by these same rich people.

From the News12 report:

"A Nassau County police officer unlawfully shot and attacked an unarmed man after a night of barhopping and managed to hang on to his six-figure job, Newsday reports exclusively.

Newsday obtained the Nassau County Police Department's internal report into the affair. The report found that officer Anthony DiLeonardo recklessly escalated a roadside verbal dispute when he shot at a cabdriver, Thomas Moroughan, five times, hitting him once in the arm and once in the chest in 2011.

The cabdriver was arrested for assault and reckless endangerment after DiLeonardo accused him of trying to run him down with his cab. Charges were later dropped when prosecutors said there was evidence the officer had been drinking; the report obtained by Newsday notes that he admitted to investigators that he'd had eight to 10 drinks."

Byzantine Catholic Church, Westbury, NY

St. Andrew the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church

I recently posted on St. Francis Polish National Catholic Church in East Meadow, which is not in communion with Rome.  Now I would like to point out St. Andrew which is in communion with Rome.  They have Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 9 AM.

From their website:

The first Divine Liturgy in St. Andrew the Apostle Church was celebrated on December 25, 1974. Bishop Michael Dudick established this parish to service the Byzantine Catholics who had moved to the suburbs of Long Island initiating the presence of our Eastern Catholic Church in Nassau County.


St. Andrew’s Church is truly an American Eastern Catholic Church. Our services and songs are conducted in English, the language of this country, while our Theology and Traditions go back to the foundation of the early Christian Church.

Thayer man discovers the Catholic Church while studying in Israel

From the Catholic Diocese of Wichita, a familiar conversion story of a protestant who became Catholic after studying the early Church as well as its Jewish roots.

“The more we came to know Catholicism, the more we identified commonalities with Judaism, especially in liturgy,” said Umbarger. “Getting to know actual Jews and actual Catholics exploded this myth, and gave us the uncomfortable task of determining whether or not the churches we had been brought up in actually were based on New Testament models.”


Second, Umbarger began to read the church fathers “ravenously.”

“Over and over again, I discovered that the earliest documents of the church reflected a Catholic framework,” said Umbarger. “Non-Catholics had to either force the words of the fathers to contravene their plain sense, or to find heresy in their writings, usually endorsed in an official sense in the Catholic Church.”

The Last Counter-Reformation Pope

From Catholic Exchange:

George Weigel looks at Pope Paul VI, the Charlie Brown of Popes, everything he did got all messed up.  Only Weigel puts it more scholarly like and as usual he has a great understanding of the big picture.

"Paul VI, to be sure, helped hasten that transition. He brought the Second Vatican Council to a successful close—although he did not provide keys for the authentic interpretation of the Council’s accomplishment, leaving that task to John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The lack of such keys during the 13 years between the Council’s conclusion and Pope Paul’s death was one reason why the wheels seemed to fly off the Catholic Church for two decades. Amidst the chaos, Paul VI tried to craft an exercise of the papacy adequate to the Church’s reformed self-understanding as a communion of disciples in mission. Yet virtually every one of his accomplishments in implementing the Council had its shadow-side."

Bishop Murphy to Ordain Two Men to Priesthood on 6/27/13

2013 Ordinations

The website of the Diocese of Rockville Centre has more info on the two men, both 27, who will be ordained to the priesthood this year.  I was hoping by now there would be the same short bios on the 14 men ordained to the permanent deaconate, but I do not see any on the DRVC website or at the Long Island Catholic website. That is too bad as it would be good for the people of the Diocese to know who the men are and their backgrounds.  There is a slideshow of pictures here.  The growth of the ranks of deacons has been a great untold story in the Church since the 1970's.  Even without much fanfare, or much support in some areas, the diaconate continues to grow and have contributed greatly to the Church.

Americans United for The Pope at Kellenberg

Reminder:  Thursday night there will be 2 video presentations shown at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale at 7:30 PM.  The first is on Mexican Priest Martyrs and the second is on the story of revert Judy Hehr.  For all the details see the post below, or click here.  These evenings are run by Arnold Pilsner who does a great job.

Viva Cristo Rey! The Cristeros Versus the Mexican Revolution

Catholic Culture.Org has an article by Christopher Check who gives an overview of the incredible story of The Cristeros.  These Catholic peasants were the subject of the recent film - For Greater Glory starring  Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Peter O'Toole, Bruce McGill, Ruben Blades, and Eduardo Verastegui.

This summary of the article gives the overview-

"Less than a century ago, the devoutly Catholic population of Mexico was de-Christianized by atheistic revolutionaries who declared war on the Catholic Church. Citizens who refused to comply were captured, tortured, and violently murdered. In this article, Christopher Check provides an excellent overview of the Cristero cause and how they restored the Catholic faith to Mexico."

Mother protecting her kids runs over a convicted rapist

For those of us who love justice and hate evil, this is a great story!

"A would-be carjacker messed with the wrong mom.

A Texas mother protecting her kids from an alleged knife-wielding carjacker engaged in a terrifying hand-to-hand fight behind the wheel of her vehicle that ended with the suspect being thrown out, run over and hospitalized.

"I told him he messed with the wrong witch," Dorothy Baker told ABC of her frantic battle coursing the roads of Baytown, Texas.

Police say Ismael Martinez, 54, snuck inside the backseat of Baker's parked unlocked minivan waiting for her to return from a CVS drug store when he sprung up on her.

Allegedly holding a knife to her oldest son, she says he demanded that she drive him to the nearest ATM"

St. Genevieve Church has Fitness Ministry

I like this idea a lot:

"St. Genevieve Catholic Church parishioners recently celebrated the first anniversary of its fitness ministry with a Bayou Bash. Ministry members and their guests line danced the night away, showing off the numerous hip-hop, country, and Zydeco line dances they work out to in their Monday and Tuesday night fitness classes.


St. Genevieve Catholic Church, which is located near Slidell, was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
...

"Knowing that many church parishioners are suffering from ailments relating to aging, a fitness ministry was determined to be the best way to tackle both issues - raising money for the parish hall while improving the health and well-being of church members and others in the community.


For the past year, the St. Genevieve Fitness Ministry has offered line dancing classes every Tuesday night for a donation of $2. That weekly dance workout has been extended to Wednesday nights, for the same fee. Both sessions are from 7 to 8 p.m."

Read the rest of the article here.

2013 Priestly Ordinations Rockville Centre, Brooklyn

From St. Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie)

June 22, 2013, 11:00 AM
Diocese of Rockville Centre
Saint Agnes Cathedral

Deacon Jason Grisafi
Deacon Brandon O'Brien


June 29, 2013, 11:00 AM
Diocese of Brooklyn
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint James

Deacon Dwayne Davis
Deacon Raymond Flores
Deacon Stephen Giuletti
Deacon Paul Kim
Deacon Killick Pierrilus
Deacon Lucon Rigaud


July 6, 2013, 9:00 AM
Syro-Malankara Exarchate
Shrine of Our Lady of Czestpcjpwa
Doylestown, Pennslyvannia

Deacon Michael Edathil

Deacon Fortunatus Mugisha & Deacon Vian Ntegerej 'Imana
will be ordained in their home parishes in Uganda, then return to the Diocese of Rockville Centre
for two years of priestly service before returning permanently to their home in Uganda.

Catholic Video Presentations at Kellenberg High School

This is a very good group and I highly recommend this evening.   I was able to go to these events a long time ago and they were always interesting.  If you are in the area consider attending, it is free.  It is Thursday night, June 20th @ 7:30 PM at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale.

AMERICANS UNITED FOR THE POPE, INC 
Where the Pope is, there is the Church
 TWO EXCELLENT CATHOLIC VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

Mexican Priest Martyrs

Blessed Justino Orona

Blessed Atilano Cruz

                        

      In the 1920’s the Catholic Church was brutally persecuted in Mexico.  Churches were closed and priests were hunted down and killed.  With the help of the laity, priests went into hiding and risked their lives offering Mass and hearing confessions for the love of God and their people. 

      Among the many priest Martyrs are Father Justino Orona and Father Atilano Cruz.  In spite of the ever present danger of certain death they continued to do their priestly work.  They joined the countless others who stood up to the oppressive government under the banner of “Long live Christ the King and our Lady of Guadalupe!”  Hear the true story of how these priests died from two men who helped the priests in the last days of their earthly life.  Very inspiring!

**********************************************************

Judy Hehr

SHE MADE MILLIONS BUT COULD NOT FIND HAPPINESS WITHOUT GOD

            In her high school years Judy fell in with the wrong crowd and embraced self destructive behavior.  She was into drugs, heavy drinking and sex.  She came close to committing suicide.

            After high school Judy became a sales representative for a printing firm and was tremendously successful.  But even though she became a millionaire and had four beautiful children and a loving husband her life was still empty.  Then God stepped in and she tells her amazing conversion story.  Today she is in love with her faith and has become active in the church as an inspiring speaker.  Come and hear this extraordinary journey back to God.

COME AND BRING A FRIEND

Thursday  June 20th   7:30pm Kellenberg HS – 3rd floor meeting room Directions to the 3rd floor Emmanuel Marianist Retreat House meeting room.  Drive past the auditorium (main doors with three levels of steps on the right: the outdoor crucifix on your left.) Keep going around the building until you will see an outside elevator for the Emmanuel Marianist Retreat House.  Take the elevator to the third floor and follow the signs music room. – Thank you.)

Long Island's Only Dairy Queen

This may be hard for most Americans to believe, but up until June 10th Long Island had no Dairy Queens.  The first one opened in my hometown of Massapequa and I am sure more will follow. 

Dairy Queen Holds Grand Opening In Massapequa

Superman and Jesus

From CNN - 

"Baltimore, Maryland (CNN) - As the new Superman movie takes flight this weekend, filmmakers are hoping the Man of Steel lands not only in theaters, but also in pulpits.


Warner Bros. Studios is aggressively marketing "Man of Steel" to Christian pastors, inviting them to early screenings, creating Father’s Day discussion guides and producing special film trailers that focus on the faith-friendly angles of the movie.

The movie studio even asked a theologian to provide sermon notes for pastors who want to preach about Superman on Sunday. Titled “Jesus: The Original Superhero,” the notes run nine pages.

“How might the story of Superman awaken our passion for the greatest hero who ever lived and died and rose again?” the sermon notes ask."

Jesuit says Britain and US are ‘crazy’ for backing Islamists in Egypt

Some common sense from The Catholic Herald in the UK:

"Fr Boulad said the Muslim Brotherhood had a systematic plan to harass Christians so that they would leave Egypt and that among their tactics was the kidnapping and rape of Christian girls.


The organisation also invokes human rights to silence critics in France, Canada and elsewhere, using the courts against people who speak up, he said. The government cries “Islamophobia” and it “is politically incorrect to be an Islamophobe”, he said.

“The United States, France and Great Britain are supporting this. It’s crazy,” he added.“Intellectual and factual terrorism is being implemented not only in Egypt but all over the world. You cannot speak up. They go to court; they accuse you. “As long as Islam is not reformed, we are going to catastrophe,” Fr Boulad said.

Fortunately, he added, some people had the courage to speak up.

He said he hoped that liberal democracies would support the growing coalition opposing the Egyptian ruling party."

No 'Definitive Plans' for Sacred Heart Parish, Says Diocese

From NorthFork Patch.com

"The Sacred Heart parish continues to evaluate its future -- with no absolute plans in place, a representative for the Diocese of Rockville Centre said Wednesday.

“The Diocese is not aware of any definitive plans for any buildings on the Sacred Heart parish campus. The parish, along with the Diocese, continues to evaluate the best use of all of its resources for its parishioners,” said Sean P. Dolan, spokesman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, after a number of requests from Patch about the future of the church, rectory, and convent."

"The Sacred Heart Church, closed since December, as well as the rectory and carriage house, is one of seven properties listed as 'endangered' by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, was built in the late 1870s.

Despite a sit-in by some parishoners to keep church services going at the Roman Catholic worship house, was ultimately considered too much of a danger to keep open."

Chinese parents left childless do battle against once-child policy

From MSNBC, a story about the dangers of a culture of death, run by a government out to keep the birth rate low.  The problems of overpopulation in China can be worked on with moral methods.  The problems caused by this immoral one child policy are much deeper and will hurt China more and more in decades to come.  

"In her grief, Zhang, 59, was forced to come to terms with the marginal life of a childless middle-aged woman of few resources in a society where children and the extension of the family line are essential to a person’s survival. She began to blame her husband, feeling he did not support her enough to have a second child. Zhang retreated from society, even living in a monastery for several years to escape the pain.

Each year 76,000 families in China lose their only child, according to an annual report by Chinese Ministry of Health in 2010. In June 2012, for the first time, over 80 parents from all over the country who had lost their only child marched to Beijing to protest the policy and the meager compensation they are given in front of the National Family Planning office.

Zhang heard about the protest and began to think about her own experience. Having one child had not been her choice. Indeed she had been pregnant twice after she gave birth to her son, thinking that, as a farmer, she would be exempt from the one-child policy.

But she says her county’s family planning department coerced her into having abortions under the threat of losing her husband’s teaching job and their house. The abortions were administered late, she said once when she was five months pregnant and once at eight months, when a gruesome procedure is required.

NBC could not confirm Zhang’s allegation, but reports of forced abortions have caused international outcry in recent years. In June 2012 city officials in China apologized to a woman who was forced to have an abortion and disciplined three people responsible for it. The apology came after gruesome photos of the mother and the fetus sparked outrage among Chinese netizens."

 

The Chinese Ministry of Health released data in March that 336 million abortions 222 million sterilizations have been performed since 1971. (The one-child policy was implemented in 1979, but other family planning policies were enforced before it)."

2 Long Islanders ordained Jesuits Priests

 Yesterday, at Fordham University in the Bronx, 2 Long Islanders became Jesuits:

Rev. Mr. James Donovan, SJ (NYK), 48, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up on Long Island. Mr. Donovan’s Catholic education dates back to grammar school at Our Lady of Lourdes School in his hometown of Malverne, New York, followed by Maria Regina Diocesan High School in Uniondale.

Rev. Mr. Peter Folan, SJ (MAR), 34, is a native of Massapequa Park on Long Island, New York. A 1996 graduate of Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, Mr. Folan attended the University of Notre Dame and earned a bachelor’s degree in the Program of Liberal Studies and German in 2000.

The Charismatic Renewal and the Catholic Church

The Catholic World Report takes a look at the history of the Charismatic Renewal movement within the Church.    This is a short background history focused mostly on the origins in Italy, sparked by Sister Elena Guerra, and does not look at the movement today in the US, which I think would make a good followup article.

"The Charismatic Renewal was eventually sparked in the Catholic Church in 1967, not by any intervention of the pope or clergy, but at the level of the laity at a students’ retreat at Duquesne University, in February of that year. Interestingly, tradition puts in an appearance here as well, as Duquesne was founded in 1878 by the Holy Ghost Fathers, members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. From there the flame went almost simultaneously to Notre Dame where, in the words of Dorothy Ranaghan, writer and witness of the beginnings, after the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit


Summer school brought in priests, nuns, and lay people from all over the world. And so we held prayer meetings and crowds attended and hundreds were baptized in the Holy Spirit and they took the baptism in the Holy Spirit back to their home countries. It was a wild and wonderful summer. There were no Life in the Spirit Seminars [they hadn’t been written yet], we just laid hands on everyone and prayed right away and amazing things happened. Given our youth and inexperience it is all the more evident that it was God’s work, not ours."

1 Year Anniversary of Priesthood

Fr. Michael Duffy, from St. Kilians parish in Farmingdale, and the blogger at Father, Where Art Thou? has reflects on his first anniversary of his ordination here.

Debunking the Myths of a Good Death

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: New York University
Kimmel Center, Room 914
60 Washington Square South, New York

A discussion about euthanasia and the value of suffering toward the end of life


with Dr. Margaret SOMERVILLE, Founding Director, Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University, Montreal, and Daniel P. SULMASY, MD, PhD, Kilbride-Clinton Professor of Medicine and Ethics, Department of Medicine and Divinity School; Associate Director, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, Chicago

Presented by Crossroads Cultural Center

This event is dedicated to the ongoing debate about the possible legalization of assisted suicide or, in some cases, even euthanasia.

 End-of-life issues are not easy to discuss because they involve very fundamental questions, such as the meaning and scope of individual freedom, the very value of human life and the nature of the medical profession. For this event, we have asked our speakers to help us understand better two very basic questions.

The first question is: what motivates the current push towards assisted suicide? What cultural forces are at work and how should we respond to them? Contemporary culture places a disproportionate emphasis on individual autonomy, but is that the only criterion? Is our death really just our own? Or does the idea of legal euthanasia ignore that fact that how we live and die has profound consequences on the lives of people around us?

This last question leads us to second theme that we would like to discuss tonight, namely the apparent inability of our culture to attribute any value to the unavoidable suffering that is associated with dying. Nothing makes suffering more unbearable than the perception that it is utterly meaningless. But is it really so? Is it possible to discover a possibility of good even in suffering?

The event is open to the public and free of charge.