The Bread of Life, and Eucharistic Miracles

What better way can we say goodbye to 2007 and hello to 2008 than to go to Mass and receive Communion on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God!

Click on this post's title for a great Catholic web site resource about the Eucharist. It even has a list of Eucharistic miracles by country.

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!

O Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come to me; but speak the word of comfort, my spirit healed shall be. And humbly I'll receive Thee, the Bridegroom of my soul, no more by sin to grieve Thee, or fly Thy sweet control. Amen!

Happy and Holy New Year 2008! God bless you and yours -- very, very much.

(The painting above is "The Madonna of the Host," by Ingres.)

More about that imagined ordination of women up north

Commenters want to know more about the imagined ordination of women I mentioned in the previous post, so I've done some searches on the Web.

The event took place in Santa Barbara this past July 22, according to a local news article (click on this post's title). A Patricia Fresen, who imagines she was previously ordained a bishop, officiated.

In the comments under that news article, the author of the article, Martha Sadler, says, "Roman Catholic Church leadership--from Archbishop Mahoney [sic] to [Santa Barbara Regional] Bishop [Thomas] Curry to Father Virgil and others--declined to comment on the subject of the women's ordination."

The story says the event "took place at an interfaith center in Santa Barbara that reporters agreed not to name in exchange for an invitation to attend."

http://www.calcatholic.com/ reported on July 30 that the event was at a retreat center called La Casa de Maria.

At lacasademaria.org you will find gems such as that their events for 2008 will include "The Great Tree Turns to Ash." Sounds like a panel on the Cathedral's big doors, no? Right up there with "Raven Eating Man's Liver."

You will also find an event entitled, "8th Annual Barrett Conference on the Ministry of All Women." Some Web probing indicates that this "Barrett" was Episcopal Bishop George Barrett (d. 2000), a flaming pro-abort.

Barrett's obit from the L.A. Episcopalian Diocese mentions that his "1975 'irregular' ordination of women to the priesthood" got him "temporarily barred from ministry in the Episcopal Church but helped spur its General Convention to formal action a year later."

The obit noted that Barrett was on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara and was its executive director, 1972-1977. The obit also said:

"...La Casa de Maria named the central building of its Ladera Lane campus in commemoration of Barrett’s 20 years of active participation on La Casa’s board of directors and his leadership in supporting its programs."

A La Casa de Maria "Holidays, 2007" -- that's right, "Holidays," not "Christmas" -- "Capital Campaign" fundraising letter lists Fr. Virgil Cordano, OFM, as one of three "Honorary Co-Chairs" and Bishop Thomas Curry as a member of the "Honorary Committee."

Also among the honorary committee members is Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Calif.), a nationally notorious pro-abort.

How would we address priestesses?

The photo above is of some liberal women this past July who were actually having a costume party but imagined they were being "ordained" Catholic priests. In the confines of our Archdiocese, by the way -- up north.

Scenes such as this bring up the question, "How would we address priestesses?"

Think any feminist ideologues would like being called "Father?" "Brother?"

"Mother" is already taken -- by centuries' worth of devoted, faithful sister superiors. For example: Mother Teresa, Mother Angelica.

"Sister" is already taken, too, for that matter.

Maybe "Spiritual Parent" would do. "Parental Unit?" "Sibling?" How about "Citizen," as in the French Revolution? Maybe "Comrade?"

Probably the only form of address that would satisfy feminists' pretensions would be, "Pope." But, after all, feminists have proved they think they know more than the Popes -- by, for instance, holding their pretend-ordinations.

Of course, feminists would not want to ever be Pope, because, as the joke goes, then they would lose their infallibility.

Another question is whether they would want to be married priestesses. That would open up a whole new can of form-of-address worms.

So, all in all, we might just have to settle for calling priestesses "Reverend" and leave it at that.

But as Duke Wayne would say, "That'll be the day."

What do you think?

Photo: The Independent, Santa Barbara.

Online: The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Probably you already use the following essential Catholic online resource, but here is how to find it, anyway:

If you click on this post's title, you will access the Catechism of the Catholic Church -- the 1992 edition with the 1997 corrections that harmonized it with the official Latin text that Pope John Paul II promulgated.

Happy hunting in this Catholic resource!

Merry Christmas, via Catholic poets

Merry Christmas! Click on this post's title to find wonderful Catholic Christmas poems. And enjoy, and pray with, the poem below. God bless you and yours!

THE CHRIST-CHILD
by G.K. Chesterton

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap,
His hair was like a light.
(O weary, weary were the world,
But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast,
His hair was like a star.
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary’s heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world’s desire.)

The Christ-child stood at Mary’s knee,
His hair was like a crown.
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.

Columnist writes sarcastic column

L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez has written (click on this post's column) a sarcasm-laden column today in which he says, "I've embarked on a mission to bring Cardinal Roger M. Mahony's assailant to justice."

I bring this up to point out that questions continue to abound about the Cardinal's account and that Archdiocesan officials would be doing him, and the whole Archdiocese, a favor by trying to clear up the questions and put the whole matter to rest.

A fundamental rule of public relations is that saying nothing is not a good idea.

In the meantime, let's all keep praying for the Cardinal and our Archdiocese.

Tony Blair has become Catholic. Good; now excommunicate him, if...

Ole Q wants to be the first to call for the speedy excommunication of English ex-prime minister Tony Blair (above), who was accepted into the Catholic Church last Friday, if he does not now profess all that the Church believes and teaches, such as being against aborting babies and committing sodomy.

The New York Times account (click on this post's title) says:

"Mr. Blair also faced concerns within the Catholic hierarchy in London and Rome, centering on policies adopted by his government during his 10 years in power that drew fierce criticism from the conservative hierarchy of the church. Among these were the Blair government’s support for stem cell research, gay adoptions and the legalization of gay civil unions, as well as its resistance to toughening Britain’s abortion laws."

The news report also says:

"According to the Catholic custom ordinarily followed in Britain, a convert, before acceptance at communion, is usually required to undergo the Rite of Reception, which includes the declaration, 'I believe and profess all that the Holy Catholic Church believes, teaches and proclaims to be revealed by God.'"

The article also says:

"John Smeaton, who heads the British Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said in an interview published earlier this month in The Spectator, a weekly journal popular among conservatives: 'We need to hear a full repudiation from him. Without one, having Blair as a Catholic is like having a vegetarian in a meat-eating club. It simply does not make sense.'"

If Blair is still pro-abortion, pro-contraception and pro-sodomy, as he was duirng his prime ministership, they could have received him into the Church and excommunicated him all in the same ceremony, to save time.

If Blair has repented, the Church needs to tell us that, or else he does, or both should, in order to avoid scandal.

About the Cardinal's account

Since I recently activated "comments moderation" here because of repeated bitter, completely off-topic and just plain wrong attacks by one or more troll-commenters, I've published most every comment. I love to hear what you have to say, and everyone else does, too.

Two comments, though, as I've already mentioned, I somehow accidentally deleted -- one on the Latin Mass.

A few other comments I deleted because their language about Cardinal Mahony was so hostile. Two whose language was more temperate I now think I could have published; they did question the Cardinal's account of his being attacked outside the Cathedral.

I hope those commenters will keep coming back here to offer their comments on all the topics we discuss.

Catholic blogdom and news sites elsewhere have published posts and comments about the Cardinal's account of being attacked, and you can see an example by clicking on this post's title.

What is going on, it seems, is that when someone, especially a public figure, offers an account of events that seems puzzling, the hearers cannot help being puzzled. They are going to wonder about the account.

That does not have to entail a lack of charity, a lack of sympathy, for the person who offered the account -- only a desire to know the whole story.

The Cardinal's account, after all, has ramifications for the whole Archdiocese and the whole Church. God forbid, will anti-Catholics and maniacs now think they can attack other members of our hierarchy and clergy, as well as our churches and our congregations, without being reported to the police?

Shouldn't the Cardinal cooperate with the LAPD? And of course, you and I obviously need to pray for the safety of every one of our shepherds, pastors, congregations and churches. What do you have to say?

New Catholic radio station in San Francisco

Speaking of radio in the City by the Bay: The online California Catholic Daily reported yesterday that Immaculate Heart Radio has begun broadcasting in San Francisco on 1260 AM.

Says the Daily, "Besides carrying many of EWTN’s shows, Immaculate Heart Radio features 'Catholic Answers Live,' regular broadcasts of the Mass and the rosary, as well as popular priests such as Fathers John Corapi, Frank Pavone, and Mitch Pacwa."

A poster at the Daily says: "If IHR doesn't reach your area very well, consider listening via: www.ihradio.org or www.CatholicChamber.com."

S.F. radio report on Archbishop Niederauer, Most Holy Redeemer Parish, etc.

KCBS Radio 740 AM in San Francisco has on its web site a report (click on this post's title) about Archbishop George Niederauer, S.F.'s homosexual-enabling Most Holy Redeemer Parish, the transvestite "Sisters" and more.

The station did a radio show yesterday (the 17th) about the whole thing and are broadcasting another one today (at 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.).

Check the story's posted links, too.

Fr. Thomas Reese is at it again

In the U.S. News & World Report article (click on this post's title) on the revival of the Latin Mass that I just blogged about, Fr. Thomas Reese, S.J. -- you'll recall that in 2005 he had to resign under pressure as editor of America magazine -- shows his true colors once again.

The story quotes Fr. Reese as calling the renewed popularity of the Latin Mass "more hype than reality." Naturally he'd say that; it's the liberal party line.

Then, speaking about the newer religious orders of sisters who have lots of vocations -- young, happy sisters who gladly wear traditional habits -- Fr. Reese says, "I have no problem with their habits."

Isn't that magnanimous of him! He'll actually leave these sisters alone and not order them to wear "civvies!" How generous can you get! (I'm being sarcastic.)

Fr. Reese followed his sentence about the young sisters' traditional habits with this extremely revealing opinion:

"On the other hand, if the [C]hurch ordained women, we'd have thousands more women coming forward." Talk about "more hype than reality!"

Notice what Fr. Reese is doing here: Singing the praises of ordination for women, but not advocating it outright, which would get him into trouble.

Mmm, boy, just what Holy Mother Church needs: Strident, lecturing, feminist liberal ideologues in the Catholic priesthood. Don't look now, but we have enough liberal ideologues there already!

When you think about ordination for women, think Bella Abzug in a cassock...and a biretta, for good measure.

I'll take Latin Mass Catholicism over Fr. Reese's brand any day. How about you?

U.S. News: "A Return to Tradition"

Good news: The U.S. News & World Report website has a December 13 story, "A Return to Tradition" (click on this post's title), that says:

"Now that Pope Benedict XVI has loosened the restrictions on churches that want to observe the pre-Vatican II rite, more parishes are availing themselves of the option. Call it part of a larger conservative shift within the [C]hurch—one that includes a renewed emphasis on such practices as personal confession and reciting the rosary as well as a resurgent interest in traditional monastic and religious orders."

Thanks to a tipster for this news!

"Tallying Church abuse"

Sister Sheila McNiff , coordinator of the Victims Assistance Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, has an op-ed (click on this post's title), "Tallying Church Abuse," in today's L.A. Times.

She illustrates her essay with a graph "put together by the archdiocese" that shows the number of abuse cases charged for each year from 1931 to 2006.

The chart indicates that the cases charged each year began to rise in the late 1940s, jumped in the late 1950s, reached their highest in the 1960s and 1970s through 1981, and have tailed off since 1982.

We should note that the rise in abuse cases among the clergy and the rest of society began after the liar and bisexual monster Alfred Kinsey issued his widely publicized but fraudulent "report" in 1947 that falsely claimed "children are sexual from birth" and most men commit sex offenses and perversions.

That "report" prompted state legislatures in the next 20 years to weaken and even abolish laws against sex crimes and to put burdens on crime victims, such as opening their past history to questioning in open court.

The Kinsey "report" also greased the skids to mainstreaming pornography, to the 1960s explosion of sexual sins and to the creation of the field of "sexperts" who have exposed even seminarians and priests to pornographic sex miseducation that teaches that sexual sins are not sins.

Sister Sheila says that starting in 1987, the Archdiocese initiated "ever more effective methods for dealing with claims of abuse."

She does not mention the, ah, less than "effective methods" the Cardinal took with Michael Wempe and Michael S. Baker.

We should not let what our long-deceased Cardinals did or did not do distract us from what needs doing now.

Even in the wreckage of the trail of victims, of perceived cover-ups, of scandal, and of loss of faith, not to mention $774 million in payouts, the Cardinal still presents us with Religious Education Congress speakers who tell us to read homosexual books and see homosexual propaganda movies.

Something is still wrong, and some things have got to change. Do you agree?

(Yes, of course I know that not all the molestations have been homosexual. But the majority have been.)

Gaudete Sunday is this Sunday, December 16

As we know, this Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent, is Gaudete Sunday. We are to rejoice that "the Lord is nigh."

As the old Catholic Encyclopedia (click on this post's title) and other sources explain, Gaudete Sunday takes its name from the first word of the verse in St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians: Gaudete in Domino semper: Iterum dico, gaudete. (Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I say, rejoice.)

Liturgy professor Father Edward McNamara wrote in 2004:

"...From all this it is clear that the custom of using rose-colored vestments on Gaudete and Laetare Sundays is to be maintained whenever possible...Rose, which has never enjoyed frequent use, serves as a reminder, by using an unusual color, that we are halfway through a penitential season."
http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/ZLITUR61.HTM

If the priest in your parish follows tradition and wears pink vestments this Sunday, be sure to thank him -- and please let ole Q here know he wore them.

Gaudete in Domino semper!

Here's where to get your "You CAN'T Be Catholic and Pro-Abortion" supplies

Give pro-life gifts this Christmas (and stock up for yourself, too) and get ready for a soul-saving, life-saving, pro-life 2008!

Get your life-saving, soul-saving pro-life books, DVDs, booklets, pamphlets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, patches, picket signs, bumper stickers, etc., NOW, at:

American Life League
P.O. Box 1350
Stafford, VA 22555
credit card orders ph.: (866) 538-5483
http://americanlifeleague.stores.yahoo.net/

Here are their items that read, "You CAN'T Be Catholic and Pro-Abortion":

t-shirts (Order #CBC01) -- just $15.00 each
22" x 22" picket signs (Order #CWS01) -- just $6.50 each
3-3/4" x 15" bumper stickers (Order #BO11F) -- just $1.00 each

They have items in Spanish, too! And they have lots of stuff for Catholic and other kids and young people!

Sophia Institute Press has GREAT Catholic books and artwork

How many publishers do you know whom a Blessed has endorsed? I know one: Sophia Institute Press. You should meet them, if you haven't already.

Here's that endorsement: Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote, “I am convinced of the good that the books published by Sophia Institute Press can do in helping people grow closer to God.”

So for your tremendous Catholic books and glorious artwork, browse their online catalog.

Until Dec. 17, they have a 25% discount (!) on all their books. And they guarantee stateside delivery by Dec. 24 or your order is free.

You can contact this great Catholic publisher at:

Sophia Institute Press
Mailing Address: Sophia Institute Press, Box 5284, Manchester, NH 03108
Street Address: 300 Bedford St. (5th Floor), Manchester, NH 03101
Telephone: 1-800-888-9344 / 1-603-641-9344
Fax:1-888-288-2259 / 1-603-641-8108
Website: www.sophiainstitute.com
Email: orders@sophiainstitute.com
anti-spam@sophiainstitute.org

Sophia Institute is a non-profit corporation as defined by the IRS Code, Sect. 501(c)(3). Tax I.D. 22-2548708.

Cardinal Mahony and pro-abortion mayor were prominent at procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe

I'm finally getting around to mentioning that, as local KABC-TV News reported (click on this post's title) on Sunday, December 2, L.A.'s Cardinal Roger Mahony and pro-abortion Mayor Antonio Villar(aigosa) were side by side, at least for a while, at that day's annual procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe in East L.A. (El Este de L.A.).

What messages do people inescapably take from the palling around? Politically naive people will think, wrongly, that Villaraigosa surely subscribes to all the Church's doctrines, including the sanctity of human life.

Other, more aware, people will think, "Our Cardinal doesn't mind that the mayor is pro-abortion."

As "a Catholic living with L.A.," I like to dream: What if a Cardinal of L.A. would use such a Catholic and Marian occasion to whisper to the mayor, "You know, Antonio, this would be a great time for you to decide, in front of all our fellow Catholics, and everyone else, to become pro-life, a defender of God's precious unborn babies. Okay?"

I know -- that's a wild fantasy. But why does it have to be a fantasy and not a reality?

If the Cardinal, the bishops and members of the clergy or anyone else have said things like this to our L.A. pro-abortion politicians in private, it is long past time that the Cardinal starts raising the ante by saying such things in public and loudly.

Babies' lives, and grown-ups' souls, are at stake!

Sure enough, the Colorado killings had a satanism link

If you're like me, one thing you thought of when you heard about the killings of Christians in Colorado last Sunday was, "Bet satanism was involved."

Then, a day or two later, the news came out that the killer had echoed the devil in writing, in an e-mail, "we'll be our own God's." [sic]

Now, today, an Associated Press news story (click on this post's title) about the killer reports this about him:

"After Murray rejected religion, he became fixated on people and groups that explore the dark side of spirituality, obsessing over the satanic lyrics of Swedish metal bands, for instance.

"Murray attended events held by [a] Denver-based occult group [...] during the last two years, but was turned down when he sought to become a member of the group. His involvement with them apparently ended in October."

Murray also heard voices -- a sign of a type of schizophrenia, as we know. So he had many problems.

We should always pray for the safety of our Cardinal, bishops, clergy, religious and laity, and of the Blessed Sacrament and all our churches.

Let us pray: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. Restrain him, O God, we humbly beseech Thee, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell satan and all the evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Colorado killer: "We'll make our own religion..."

Another AP news story today (click on this post's title) has this to say about the 24-year-old man who killed Christians in Colorado last Sunday:

"In an Oct. 6 post, nghtmrchld26 [evidently the killer] wrote about his anger at the church.

"'We'll make our own religion and be our own God's [sic] instead listening [sic]to some abusive pedophile church like what [sic] I was raised in telling us who's "saved" and who's not,' the person wrote."

Don't look now, but "We'll make our own religion" is also an agenda of the Catholics who "dissent" about sodomy, contraception, aborting babies, ordaining women and ending priestly celibacy. And "We'll be our own Gods" sure sounds as if it's right out of the first chapter of Genesis.

Colorado killer hated Christians...which brings up a point

An AP story today (click on this post's title) says this about the 24-year-old man who killed people at a Protestant mission center and a Protestant church in Arvada and Colorado Springs, Colorado, last Sunday:

"Authorities also believe Murray authored an anti-Christian diatribe online that closely repeated a rant by one of the Columbine killers, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

"The most recent post to the site, a forum for people who have left evangelical religious groups, was Sunday morning in the hours between his attacks in Arvada and Colorado Springs, according to KUSA-TV in Denver, which first reported on the writings.

"'You Christians brought this on yourselves,' Murray wrote, according to the station, which did not identify the site. 'All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you ... as I can especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world.'"

"The language in the post is almost identical to the text of a manifesto written by Eric Harris, one of the teens who carried out the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School.

"The online posts, under the pen name 'nghtmrchld26,' spanned several weeks, and in an earlier one, Murray appeared to reject offers of psychological help.
'I've already been working with counselors. I have a point to make with all this talk about psychologists and counselors "helping people with their pain,"' he wrote, according to KUSA.

"The station said Murray's posts were removed from the site after Sunday's killings, and that authorities were aware of them and investigating. Police in Colorado Springs and Arvada would not comment on the writings."

The point I want to make is that the killer wrote, "You Christians brought this on yourselves."

As we know -- and no one can dispute it -- that is the same charge that abortion aficionados and sodomy enthusiasts, including "dissenting" Catholics, regularly bring against the Catholic Church. They say it is "hate speech" for the Church to point out that aborting babies and committing sodomy are mortal sins.

And note that the news story says this killer's anti-Christian diatribe closely resembled one made by a Columbine killer. Law enforcement and the news media didn't stress the Columbine killers' hatred of Christianity at the time.

So when you hear anyone say, "Catholics / pro-lifers like you are to blame," or, "You Catholics / pro-lifers bring it on yourselves," pray for that person and tell him or her something like, "That's what the Arvada-Colorado Springs killer said. Looks like you need to pray for repentance and to love your fellow Catholics."

"The publisher you can trust with your Faith"

If you're looking for classic Catholic books, booklets, pamphlets, prayer cards, calendars and homeschooling materials that you can trust, contact TAN Books. They really live up to their motto, "The publisher you can trust with your Faith."

I can't say clearly enough or strongly enough that at TAN Books you will find real sustenance for your soul and real food for your mind. TAN's vast catalog of true and holy Catholic reading will strengthen your faith and call out to sheep who have gone astray or who have never known the Faith.

They are at:
TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.
P.O. Box 424
Rockford, IL 61105-0424
1-800-437-5876
www.tanbooks.com

An analogy about the Latin Mass

First off, may I apologize to a commenter for inadvertently deleting a recent comment about the Latin Mass. He or she believes it is useless to appeal to liberals to give us the Latin Mass and said we should go right to the Ecclesia Dei commission. He or she also predicted the comment might be "censored," and unfortunately my clumsy, typo-prone digits made that prediction seem to come true, contrary to my intent.

The official Latin Mass procedure laid out, as we know, is to go to our pastor first and, if necessary, go up the ladder from there. But as we also know, people's frustration with foot-dragging is completely understandable.

A quick comment about the Latin Mass:

The Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact dissolved in 1989-1991, thanks to the decades of prayers from much-maligned Catholics faithful to Our Lady of Fatima's request, and thanks to the anti-Communist cooperation of Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan ("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!").

But once liberty came, some people in the former USSR and Captive Nations, indoctrinated for several generations with official Communist atheism, had little or no context for faith, little or no vocabulary of belief. They didn't know what they were missing. (Many people had kept the Faith, underground; and for many others, Christianity is making a return now, Deo gratias.)

The situation is similar with Pope Benedict XVI's liberation of the Latin Mass. Some or even many Catholics today, indoctrinated for the last couple of generations with the lies that the Latin Mass was bad and was abolished, have little or no context and vocabulary for understanding the Latin Mass. They don't know what they are missing.

Fortunately, lots of Catholics -- more than the liberals want to admit -- are loving the Latin Mass and flocking to it. And more and more Catholics will come to love it when you and I teach them to understand what it is about. Amen.

(The beautiful image above is a detail from a larger illustration at an excellent and indispensable web site that has a Latin Mass tutorial and many other resources for priests and laity, http://www.sanctamissa.org )

Happy pro-life Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

Happy pro-life Feast of the Immaculate Conception! The painting above is "Saint Anne Conceiving the Virgin Mary," by the Flemish artist Jean Bellegambe (1480-ca. 1535).

The pro-life nature of this painting from 500 years ago is unambiguous. It ought to inspire each of us this Advent to become more actively anti-abortion now and for the rest of our lives.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death! Amen.

(The illustration above is from the excellent Catholic group Women for Faith and Family, at http://www.wf-f.org/ )

Archdiocese seeks restraining order against alleged cathedral intruder

A story (click on this post's title) in today's L.A. Times reports:

"The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has sought a temporary restraining order against a man it says made threats against Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and other employees of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

"The request for the order, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, seeks to prohibit 61-year-old Edward Filek from stalking, phoning or writing Mahony and two monsignors assigned to his staff. He also would have to stay 100 yards away from where they live, work or visit."

The article says this case is not related to the attack that the Cardinal said he suffered in July. It continues:

"...the incident began Sunday when Filek was escorted from the cathedral after allegedly refusing to leave. The LAPD arrested him that day, the court filing says. He allegedly broke into the cathedral the next day when it was closed, setting off the alarm. He was again arrested, the report says. On Wednesday, the document says, Filek again returned to the cathedral and, when escorted out, said, 'You'll be sorry.'"

News stories such as this are reminders that we should always be praying for the safety of the Blessed Sacrament in the cathedral and all our churches, and for the safety of the Cardinal, bishops and clergy, the staffs of all our parishes and everyone who worships in and visits our churches.

( The photo above is from www.cement.org )

LAPD calls Cardinal Mahony

Today's (December 6) Los Angeles Times reports (click on this post's title) that LAPD detectives have talked on the phone with Cardinal Mahony in the aftermath of the public revelations about his saying in October that someone beat and kicked him outside the cathedral last July.

The cardinal still did not want to make the attack a police matter.

However, I hear tonight that there is concern now about how to keep the cathedral safe from the attacker, who, after all, is on the loose and who could still be lurking near the cathedral or could return to the vicinity at any time.

Report: Cardinal Mahony told priests he was beaten up

Rumors had been going around about this for some time, but the news is in all the news media today:

Yesterday (December 4) the Los Angeles Daily News reported (click on this post's title) that Fr. Sal Pilato, principal of Serra High School, said Cardinal Mahony told his annual meeting of priests in October that back in July someone angry about the clergy sex abuse scandal beat him up so badly that he was hospitalized with injuries that then took a month to heal.

The article says:

"Mahony also revealed at the conference that he thought he might be attacked earlier when tensions over the allegations of sexual abuses by priests were at their peak, said [a] priest who did not want to be identified.

"The priest said he thinks Mahony and others mismanaged the scandal by not removing priests who were sexually abusing children sooner and failing to settle cases earlier. That lack of action has damaged the church's reputation and cost it millions of dollars, he said.

"Still, the fact that Mahony was attacked over the scandal and chose not to make it public impressed the priest.

"It appeared to him that Mahony was telling those gathered that if he needed to endure the assault to help people get through this trying time, so be it, that he 'should just take it because people were so mad, and rightly so,' the priest said.

"'I was moved. I really was,' he said."

The article also says:

"The Rev. Joseph Shea, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Glendale, sees Mahony's reaction to the attack as Christ-like...Some of the priests in attendance said Mahony should have reported the assault to police, while others were shocked that something like that could happen to the leader of the more than 4million Catholics in the Los Angeles Archdiocese."

Front-page news: The Baker scandal and cover-up

It's on the front page of today's Los Angeles Times, complete with color photo: An article (click on this post's title) about L.A. ex-priest Michael S. Baker getting a 10-year prison sentence for [homo]sexually abusing two altar boys.

He's been behind bars for two years and probably will serve just three years more. He's supposed to pay one victim $20,000 and he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The D.A.'s office says it is continuing to investigate Baker.

Cardinal Mahony today posted a brief statement on the Archdiocese's web site:
http://www.la-archdiocese.org/news/story.php?newsid=949

"Bella" doing well, can still use our help

Today's Los Angeles Times has an excellent article in the Calendar section on the makers and the marketing of the heartwarming pro-adoption film, "Bella."

The movie is doing quite a bit better than most smaller films not in major release. Many people like "Bella" so much that they're volunteering to promote it by seeing it several times, telling their friends about it, buying multiple tickets and even renting a whole showing at a theater.

There's a danger, though, that the Christmas mass-marketed hit movies could drive "Bella" out of a lot of theaters. So you and I should be promoting "Bella." It's literally a life-saver. You see...

More than a week ago, someone wrote that "Bella" had already caused seven moms to decide against aborting their babies. That was just one figure given, and who knows how many more moms have decided the same thing!

Be sure to read the Times article -- you'll enjoy it -- and also go to the film's web site: www.bellathemovie.com

See you at the movies!

This year's Our Lady of Guadalupe procession in el Este de L.A.

Today's Los Angeles Times carries a report (click on this post's title) about yesterday's 76th annual procession in East L.A. for Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.

The article's angle is that devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is continuing to spread to all Catholics. The article quotes Cardinal Mahony:

"The whole world's here,' Mahony said, looking at the sea of people around him. 'We are all brothers and sisters under her.'"

The only trouble with the article is that the reporter interjects the illogical, unsupportable and in fact insane opinion of "some historians" that because Our Lady appeared to San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (He Who Speaks Like an Eagle) on the Hill of Tepeyac, where idolatry had been paid to a "goddess" of the Aztecs, then that meant that "the Virgin of Guadalupe represents a melding of two strands of belief -- Catholic teachings about Mary and indigenous traditions about the Aztec goddess..."

At least the reporter does preface that remark with the qualifier, "Although Catholic leaders disagree [with that idea]..."

The destruction of the Aztec empire by Cortez's men and their Indian allies a decade before 1531 had shattered the beliefs of the Aztecs. Their belief-world had come to an end, they no longer offered human sacrifice to keep the sun rising, yet they were still here and the world had not ended. They were without any belief and did not know where to turn.

Obviously, Our Lady appeared on the Hill of Tepeyac to show the Aztecs that they should believe in Jesus and that She was their real Mother.

Maybe someday we can build Catholic churches where abortion mills once stood.

$500 million in payouts...today!

The Los Angeles Times online report (click on this post's title) today about now-ex-priest Michael S. Baker pleading guilty to [homo]sexually abusing two altar boys contains these two sentences:

"The developments in Baker's case coincided with the [C]hurch's first settlement checks to hundreds of alleged abuse victims. More than $500 million in payments was expected to be made today."

Could have built two-and-a-half new cathedrals with that kind of money.

Michael S. Baker pleads guilty

The now-ex-priest Michael S. Baker, 59, at left in the Los Angeles Times photo above, pleaded guilty today to [homo]sexually abusing two altar boys, reports the Times online (click on this post's title).

A 10-year sentence is likely for him. Says the Times:

"For many, Baker came to symbolize the [C]hurch's failure in protecting its most vulnerable parishioners: He was a man who allegedly molested more than 20 youngsters in his 26 years as a priest and had confessed his problem to Cardinal Roger Mahony in 1986. Instead of alerting police, Mahony sent Baker to a treatment center in New Mexico and later reassigned him to serve at nine other parishes where he victimized other young boys.

"And, when authorities sought records from the [C]hurch to help build a case against Baker, church officials vigorously fought to keep that information secret...Among the more than 500 alleged victims and 200 clergy members accused of misconduct, Baker's case was the one Mahony has said 'troubles' him the most."

Come to the procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe, this Sunday, Dec. 2!

Sorry for the late notice, but let's all do our best to be in the annual procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe this Sunday, December 2.

The procession, as the Archdiocese says (click on this post's title), "has been an East Los Angeles tradition for 76 years. The one-mile long procession will begin [at 12 noon] at La Soledad Church, at 4561 Cesar Chavez Avenue, near the corner of Cesar Chavez and the Long Beach Freeway (710).

"The procession will end with a Mass [celebrated] by Cardinal Roger Mahony at the East Los Angeles College Stadium, 1301 Cesar Chavez Avenue, in Monterey Park. At the end of Mass, the faithful in attendance will be invited to venerate the pilgrim image of the Virgin with roses. For more information regarding the procession, the public may call Resurrection Parish at (323) 268-1141 or visit (www.guadalupela.com)."

There is also this important news:

"The 2007 Guadalupe Committee has extended a special invitation to all the youth in the Archdiocese to take part in the procession. A page on Myspace has also been designed by the Office of Youth Ministry at the Archdiocese,www.myspace.com/pastoraljuvenilla, where Catholic youth can share their feelings, thoughts and experiences regarding the Virgin of Guadalupe as well as coordinate their participation in the procession."

(The photo above is a detail of the Jubilee 2000 mural at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church -- La Placita Church, 535 N. Main St. downtown. The artist is E.J. Harpham, Pacific Tilescopes. Saw this on: www.grconnect.com/murals )

Bring your roses/rosas por La Virgen!

"This Christmas, give them what their soul needs"

That's the motto of Mother of Our Savior Catholic Goods, a really special mail order firm where you can get every kind of Catholic gift imaginable, including items and supplies seen all too rarely in our country in the past 45 dry years.

They have a printed catalog, and you can also see their items online.

They are at:
Mother of Our Savior Catholic Goods
http://www.moscompany.com/
P.O. Box 100
Pekin IN 47165
toll-free 1-800-451-3993
fax 1-812-967-2980
info@MOSCompany.com

My words can't do justice to the beauty of Mother of Our Savior's traditional Catholic artwork, statuary, holy cards and greeting cards. Suffice it to say that they will awaken in you and your children, grandkids, relatives and friends a fresh and deep love of Jesus, Mary and our holy Catholic Faith.

They have Bibles, Catholic books, rosaries, scapulars, crucifixes, statuary, medals, jewelry, Nativity sets (outdoor and indoor), artwork framed or unframed, plaques, personalized items, holy cards, greeting cards, Catholic stationery, cassocks and other clerical apparel, holy water fonts and bottles, candles, church accessories, mantillas, homeschooling materials, automobile items, rubber stamps, bumper stickers, videos, CDs, DVDs -- and more.

"This Christmas, give them what their soul needs."