+ Remember Terri Schiavo +

Catholic housewife Terri (Schindler) Schiavo (above, with her Mom) died four years ago today, March 31, 2005, from being put to death -- being dehydrated and starved for 13 days.

A judge ordered that prolonged and monstrously cruel form of capital punishment against Terri, and police (a guard in her room and snipers on the roof) enforced it.

There was water in her room for a plant, but none at all for Terri's parched lips and mouth.

Terri's crime was being disabled and having a husband who wanted her gone.

As you can see from the photo above, Terri was NOT "dying," NOT "in a coma," and NOT "a vegetable."

Before and during Terri's prolonged execution, many Catholic cardinals and bishops pleaded for her life and called her execution deliberate murder.

But after Terri's execution was complete, Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles issued an unfortunately confusing statement. He did say that Terri "has caused all of us to focus more deeply upon the value of each human life from conception through natural death."

And he said, "Our Catholic moral tradition always calls us to give the benefit of the doubt to life, not to death."

But then the Cardinal added, "At the same time, legitimate Catholic medical ethical guidelines exist to help us as we face these very important questions."

He also said, "It seems to me that the dignity and graces of a natural death have been violated through this endless process, and that what should be a time of quiet and peaceful prayer with a loved one has somehow become the platform for many groups with various agendas."

The Cardinal also talked about "end-of-life decisions."

And Cardinal Mahony said we "need to engage more fully the moral and technical dimensions of prolonging human life as well as allowing a person to die peacefully according to God's design."

What "natural death" was Cardinal Mahony talking about? Terri was NOT dying. And by saying "endless process" and "platform for many groups with various agendas," was the Cardinal criticizing the valiant pro-life legal battle to save Terri's life?

What "time" was Cardinal Mahony talking about when he said, "what should be a time of quiet and peaceful prayer with a loved one?" Remember, Terri was NOT dying.

Why did Cardinal Mahony speak of "end-of-life decisions?" Terri was IN NO WAY anywhere near the end of her life -- not until the judicial execution of her began.

By saying "prolonging human life" in a statement about Terri, was Cardinal Mahony leaving himself open to the interpretation that he was criticizing the giving of food and water to her?

By saying "allowing a person to die peacefully according to God's design" was the Cardinal saying that is what should have been done to Terri? Again, she was NOT dying; and Catholic teaching is that water and food are our RIGHTS and are NOT "medical care" or "extraordinary means."

It is inescapably the fact that the phrases "prolonging human life" and "allowing a person to die" are used by the anti-life propagandists and pressure groups. All pro-life Catholics of every rank need to be careful to avoid such terms.

A straightforward statement in defense of Terri before she was tortured and slain was what she needed. And it would have been much preferable to a confusing one issued after her execution.

Why bring this up now? So we remember Terri.

But also, what Catholic leaders say is extremely relevant right now to countless incapacitated, disabled, infirm, ill and aged Angelenos, Californians and all Americans. They are in danger of being put to death or denied life-saving treatment.

All the more so if Barack Hussein Obama's socialized medicine takes effect. Rationing and "futile care" and cost-effectiveness, not reverence for your life and mine, will be the deciding criteria.

In this vein, it was very good of Cardinal Mahony, two years ago, to come out strongly against a California "assisted suicide" bill (that ultimately failed) and to blast then-Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez for supporting it. The Cardinal quoted Pope John Paul II's encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) to good effect.

You can read about Cardinal Mahony's strong pro-life message at:
http://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/07-04-09/front1.htm

Be sure to visit Terri's family's anti-euthanasia site: www.terrisfight.org

Let our byword always be, Remember Terri Schiavo! God rest her soul. Amen.

Hillary Rodham Clinton exhibits amazing cluelessness

When Hillary Rodham "Clinton" was in Mexico City recently and visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, she asked Monsignor Diego Monroy the astounding question, "Who painted it?" and he replied, "God!" So reports the Catholic News Agency (click on this post's title).

We have amateurs governing us. And they have incompetent staffs who don't even know how to brief them before events.

Recall the recent fiasco in which Barack Hussein Obama decided that a suitable state gift for the visiting English prime minister was an astoundingly clueless, classless and cheapskate gift of 25 DVDs -- and of a kind that doesn't even work in England.

Even Jed Clampett might have known better. (Not Jethro, though.)

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us and for Mexico -- protect us and Mexico from all pro-aborts, including those who think they know it all but really don't know anything.

The photos above are from the Catholic News Agency story.

More proof that liberal Catholics are addicted to pro-abortion politicians

Holy Cross Father John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, rationalizes his decision to award abortion extremist Barack Hussein Obama an honorary doctorate and to have him give the 2009 commencement address (all this on May 17, by the way) by saying, among other excuses, that Notre Dame has honored previous presidents of the USA.

Actually, Notre Dame has never honored a pro-abortion chief executive.

You can read all about the Fr. Jenkins-Obama scandal, and join 177,000 (and counting) other pro-lifers in signing a petition against the invitation (click on this post's title).

It is good to hear that Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix has written (see LifeSiteNews.com) Fr. Jenkins to point out that his invitation is "a direct act of disobedience" to the U.S. bishops, who wrote in 2004 that Catholic institutions should not invite or honor pro-aborts.

Wouldn't it be nice if Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles would add his voice to that of Bishop Olmsted in urging Fr. Jenkins to disinvite Obama? (Note: This is basically a rhetorical question.)

One benefit of the big scandal is that it is activating many ND students and alumni and probably turning many into pro-life activists from now on.

That so many people want ND to disinvite Obama is proof that American Catholics (me included) love Our Lady's university and want the school to be fully Catholic the way it used to be.

Let us pray for the University of Notre Dame, for Fr. Jenkins, and for everyone involved. Above all, let us pray for all of America's preborn babies.

"Full, conscious and active participation"

As you might recall, on February 27 Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles made the claim, in an online chat session at his 2009 Religious Education Congress, that in what was the Catholic Mass all over the world for 16 centuries or so, the Tridentine Latin Mass, "...there is no participation by the people, and I don’t believe that instills the spirit of Christ among us."

So was the Church wrong about the central act of worship? And wrong for a whole millennium and a half? We need clarification.

Did all those saints through the ages, who loved and lived for the Mass and who wrote of its glories -- and all those popes, bishops, and priests who suffered martyrdom for saying the Mass, and all those religious and lay Catholic faithful who suffered martyrdom for being at Mass -- did they not have "the spirit of Christ" instilled in them at Mass?

If only the martyrs could have had leotard-clad "liturgical dancers" to gape at, and celebrants in clown costumes, and rainbow banners looming, and Kool-Aid pitchers instead of chalices, and wicker baskets instead of ciboriums, and 1960's "folk" music instead of Gregorian Chant.

And pro-abortion, pro-homosexual-agenda politicians trooping up to Communion. That occurrence is a frequent feature of Mass nowadays around the USA, after all.

When the Vatican II fathers, in their Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, wrote of "full, conscious and active participation" by the faithful, "both inwardly and outwardly," they did not mean to green-light the abuses of the past 45 years or to deep-six the Tridentine Latin Mass.

And anyway, what liberals bill as "full and active participation" by everyone is not always that. How "active" is it when the congregation sits and watches a few people gyrate in the aisle?

Also, liberals never explain why they don't let the New Mass, which they believe embodies "full and active participation," be said in Latin. Is "full and active participation" in Latin bad?

The Rev. Walter Hoye, now serving 30 days

Pray for the Rev. Walter Hoye. He is now serving 30 days in the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, Calif., for doing pro-life sidewalk counseling in "violation" of an Oakland ordinance that bars pro-lifers but no one else from approaching people who appear to be heading for an abortion business.

The judge, Stuart Hing, went after the Rev. Hoye for refusing to bow to his demand that he stay 100 yards away from an Oakland-area abortion business for the next three years.

The judge gave the Rev. Hoye that sentence this past Friday (click on this post's title) and had him thrown into jail right away. Judges ordinarily or often let real criminals stay free during their appeals -- but Hing is treating the Rev. Hoye as worse than a criminal.

Of course -- because the Rev. Hoye belongs to that most despised class: Pro-life activist.

The day after Hing imprisoned this heroic pro-life minister, a career criminal out on parole for assault with a deadly weapon shot four Oakland policemen, killing three of them and leaving the fourth declared "brain dead."

Mmm, boy, judges in the Oakland area really have their prioritites straight: Imprison ministers for saving babies' lives and helping moms, but let violent criminals go free.

Tonight, in Oakland, the Rev. Hoye's wife Lori and some Oakland pastors were to hold a vigil for him outside the Santa Rita Jail.

Happy St. Joseph's Day!

Happy St. Joseph's Day!

St. Joseph, pray for us, our Dads, our Moms, our families, our children, our Church. Amen!

Please pray for pro-life hero Rev. Walter Hoye at his re-sentencing, Friday, March 20, 2009

Please pray now and on Friday, March 20, for the Rev. Walter Hoye, the pro-life sidewalk-counseling minister up in Oakland.

At 2 p.m. on the 20th, the Rev. is to appear in court for a re-sentencing based on his refusing, at his previous sentencing, the judge's demand that he promise to stay away from the abortion business.

Click on this post's title and scroll down slightly to Thursday's second entry. It tells all about the Rev. Hoye and the case.

Cardinal Mahony had to testify in court in Fresno

Here (click on this post's title) is the L.A. Times story about our Cardinal Roger Mahony's testimony this past Tuesday at a clergy sex abuse civil trial in Fresno.

The case involves a lawsuit against the Diocese of Fresno by two brothers who say that when they were children in the San Joaquin Valley a monsignor molested them from 1959 to 1973. Cardinal Mahony was a Fresno diocesan official for some of those years.

You can see the Fresno Bee's report on the cardinal's testimony here:
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1268751.html

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2009!

Okay, I'm heading for the sack and I don't have a good illustration of St. Patrick handy right now -- but I still want to wish you and yours a Happy, Holy, and Blessed St. Patrick's Day 2009.

On St. Patrick's Day let's be sure to say a prayer for all the Irish people, the spiritual children of the great and beloved Apostle of Ireland.

God bless you and keep you!

Let's keep praying for Pope Benedict

Probably you have read the letter (click on this post's title) that Pope Benedict XVI issued last week about the reaction to his lifting the excommunication of the four SSPX bishops.

There are some poignant personal passages in it, no? The two that I cannot forget are these:

+ "I was saddened by the fact that even Catholics who, after all, might have had a better knowledge of the situation, thought they had to attack me with open hostility."

+ "At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them - in this case the Pope - he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint."

These two passages are proof, as if any were needed, that the Pope needs our prayers.

To change the subject slightly: The passage below, also by the Pope in last week's letter, is a powerful and pointed reminder to liberal Catholics that what they term "pre-Vatican" IS STILL THE CHURCH:

"But some of those who put themselves forward as great defenders of the Council also need to be reminded that Vatican II embraces the entire doctrinal history of the Church. Anyone who wishes to be obedient to the Council has to accept the faith professed over the centuries, and cannot sever the roots from which the tree draws its life."

We can presume that the Pope's terms "the entire doctrinal history of the Church" and "the faith professed over the centuries" include the liturgy -- so that anyone who rejects or refuses the Latin Mass, the Mass of the Ages, should have a lot of explaining to do.

The other prayer that Jesus has given us

What a treasure we have in the Our Father -- and what a treasure, too, is the other prayer Jesus has given us, the one in His parable of the tax collector at the back of the temple.

We should recall that prayer every day, and Lent is an especially good time for that, naturally. As St. Luke tells us in his Gospel, 18:9-14 (click on this post's title):

"But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Were you at the wREC? What can you tell us about it?

If you were at the wREC, please tell us about what you saw, good or bad, if you have the time and the inclination to. Thanks in advance!

Latin Masses still hard to find in Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Tridentine Latin Masses are still hard to find in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, reported the online California Catholic Daily in a must-see article on March 3 (click on this post's title).

It turns out that the archdiocese sold Daniel Murphy High School and, beginning February 9, had the chapel there "dismantled." This was reported in the February 20 Tidings.

A regularly scheduled Latin Mass used to be celebrated in that chapel, but no more.

The California Catholic Daily report has the latest on the few places where the Tridentine Latin Mass is celebrated in our Archdiocese. Be sure to read it.

Sure would be nice if the officials of a certain Archdiocese I could name would be even halfway generous in complying with our Holy Father's wish that the Latin Mass be in every parish.

And the argument that "nobody wants" the Latin Mass is COMPLETELY PHONY.

The powers that be in the American Church, from the bishops on down to the seminaries and the parish level, have done everything possible for the past 40 years to stamp out the Latin Mass and to blot out all memory and understanding of it.

They have even falsely implied to lay Catholics, and sometimes have even falsely told them, that Vatican II got rid of the Latin Mass. They have also falsely insinuated that it is "bad."

So the American hierarchy and clergy extirpate the Latin Mass for two generations and then say nobody wants it. They have MADE SURE that most Catholics do not ask for it, because most Catholics do not have any idea of what they are missing and have no way of finding out.

The honest, and pastoral, thing for our hierarchy and clergy to do would be to reintroduce the Latin Mass themselves and give Catholics a fair and honest chance to see if they like it.

Anyone who brags about "diversity" in our Masses, how many languages in which our Masses are said, is NOT practicing "diversity" when it comes to one language -- Latin, the universal language of Mass from the 4th century to the 20th, and one our Pope wishes to resuscitate.

Latin Mass at Thomas Aquinas College's just-dedicated new chapel, Sunday, March 8

Sure would be wonderful to be at the 8 a.m. Latin Mass at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula tomorrow (Sunday, March 8).

But of necessity because of the danger of overcrowding, access to the campus this weekend is by invitation only, with passes sent out previously.

As the online California Catholic Daily reported on Thursday, TAC alum Fr. John Berg, superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, will say that extraordinary form Mass at 8 a.m. on Sunday for his fellow TAC alums and for TAC students.

Plus, at 11 a.m. Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Diego will say the ordinary form Mass in Latin at TAC.

All this is to happen in TAC's supremely Catholic and supremely beautiful new Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, which was dedicated today (Saturday the 7th).

Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles was to be the principal celebrant of the dedication Mass, and three bishops, two abbots and "more than 40" priests were to concelebrate.

That Mass was to be in English but with "the Gloria, the Sanctus, etc." in Latin, and some hymns in Latin, too.

Hope no one there who does not like the Latin Mass plugged his ears during the Latin segments.

Be sure to visit the TAC web site:
http://www.thomasaquinas.edu/

Demand for Latin Mass is good among priests and seminarians

Good news! Lots of priests and seminarians are learning how to say the Latin Mass, reports the National Catholic Register of March 1, 2009 (click on this post's title).

Not only that, but EWTN and the priestly Fraternity of St. Peter have teamed up to make an instructional DVD -- and chanceries and seminaries are requesting copies.

Says the Register, "In his introduction to the DVD, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, says that 'the Holy Father wants this form of the Mass to become a normal one in the parishes.'"

Presumably His Holiness did not say the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is exempt from his wishes.

In Chicago, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius offer training for priests and seminarians, as well as workshops for lay Catholics.

The Register also says seminaries are offering courses and workshops on saying the Latin Mass.

That, of course, is in line with Pope Benedict's express wish, in par. 62 of his Sacramentum Caritatis in February 2007, that all seminaries teach their seminarians Latin so they can say the Latin Mass, "use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant."

Here in Los Angeles, is Cardinal Mahony implementing that wish of the Vicar of Christ?

Cardinal Mahony vs. the Latin Mass

Tom McFeely of the National Catholic Register (click on this post's title) is among those who have commented on the odd remarks that Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles made about the Latin Mass during his annual live chat session at his Religious Education Conference on February 27.

Mr. McFeely's essay is woth reading.

Here are ways to bring parishioners together

In your parish, do the folks who go to the English-language Masses and the folks who go to the Spanish-and-other-language Masses get together much?

Yes, in many parishes they do, but not all parishes. Sometimes people seem content with the friends they already have, and they do not seem interested in making new ones.

But every parish would be stronger if everyone knew everyone else. Even more cooperation on parish and Church projects than already exists would follow.

The parish schools help a lot, of course, because kids become friends and because parents want to work together for the benefit of their kids and the school. But sometimes more is needed.

One way to bring parishioners together is for the parish, or parish groups, to hold outdoors bilingual Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy rallies -- say, on the school grounds, or by the church's flagpole, etc. Another way is for the parish to sponsor a public Eucharistic or Marian procession along the streets of your community.

Of course, Rosary rallies and Eucharistic processions are valuable and necessary in their own right, and every parish needs to hold them. But they can also serve to unite a parish.

Having a reception afterwards in the parish hall, with light goodies and refreshments, can be a vehicle for people to make friends, right when they are fresh with the glow of the event's success.

Joint sponsorship of such events can work. Already existing committees, one English-speaking and the other Spanish-or-other-language, can join in the planning and can urge their members and families and friends to participate. They can also join in the work necessary.

In events like these, everyone who loves our Blessed Mother and the Rosary, and the Blessed Sacrament (in the case of a procession), can join together. Who knows -- some people might also pick up some of the others' language that way.

A parish festival that has goodies for all groups of people can work, too, but those take a whole lot of work and enthusiasm, of course.

The best way of all, as far as Ole Q is concerned, is for everyone in the parish to get together and pray outside the abortion mills that are within your parish's boundaries -- sometimes lots closer to your church and school than you think. It's wonderful to see how saving babies brings different people together right away and very closely so.

What do you think -- are ideas such as bringing people together via prayer rallies and processions naive? Unworkable? Do you have additional ideas? What has worked in your parish? Please let me and all of our friends know.

A nice reminiscence about Cardinal James Francis McIntyre

An anonymous commenter has left a nice personal reminiscence about having served Mass for Cardinal McIntyre. You can read it at the post "Let's pray for Cardinal McIntyre" of July 22, 2006.

Archbishop Niederauer slaps Most Holy Redeemer Parish again

Good news (click on this post's title): Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco, and formerly of L.A. and St. John's Seminary here, has stopped de facto homosexual-h.q. Most Holy Redeemer Parish in S.F. from having a play that, said the parish's bulletin, "explores the subject of homosexuality within a Christian, adolescent context."

Hmmm: Homosexuals and adolescents -- where have we heard anything like that in the Church before?

Wouldn't it be logical for Archbishop Niederauer now to take the next step and clean house -- really clean house -- at that parish?

No doubt that would spark a big rebellion there. And it that case, wouldn't the next logical step for Archbishop Niederauer be to shut down the parish?

After all, lots of bishops are closing parishes these days.

Or... Archbishop Niederauer could place the parish under interdict. (Okay, I can dream.)

By the way, the Fr. Malloy-Gibbons Cooney blogspot (click on this post's title) is, and has been, doing a masterful job of exposing homosexual activism at Most Holy Redeemer Parish.

Fr. Malloy is recovering after surgery. Deo gratias.

Friend Gibbons Cooney of http://johnmalloysdb.blogspot.com/ up in San Francisco reports that Fr. John Malloy, S.D.B., 87, had prostate surgery on Monday and seems to be recovering well.

Deo gratias, and let's keep praying for this great, courageous and faithful priest.

Would you like to hear an anti-abortion homily in a Catholic church in the Archdioese of Los Angeles at least once in your life?

Okay, my headline employs some sarcasm. And true, once in a while, usually a great while, someone reports having heard an anti-abortion homily or at least having heard about one in the Archdiocese.

But now there is definite good news: Father Peter West of Priests for Life will be preaching the homilies at all Masses on the weekend of March 14-15 at St. Bernardine of Siena Catholic Church, which is at 24410 Calvert Street, Woodland Hills 91367.

The Masses are at 5 p.m. Saturday and 7, 8:30 and 10 a.m. and 12 noon and 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Please pray for Fr. John Malloy, SDB

We must pray for Salesian Father John Malloy, who in retirement runs the S.F. Bay Area blogspot "A Shepherd's Voice." His friend (and ours) and colleague Gibbons Cooney reports (click on this post's title) that Fr. Malloy was in the hospital last week and was released this past Saturday, but was to go back to the hospital to have "a procedure" there yesterday (Monday).

Fr. Malloy is a courageous priest in his 80's who is pro-life and who stands up to the homosexual-agenda types in the S.F. Bay Area, including those in the Church. Oremus!

Cardinal Mahony on the Tridentine Latin Mass

Thanks to commenter Nancy for tipping me off about a, well, frankly, unusual comment by Cardinal Mahony.

Every year, Cardinal Mahony holds a live, online chat session in conjunction with his annual archdiocesan Religious Education Congress.

The following exchange between a questioner and the cardinal took place in this year's session [click on this post's title], which was held last Friday:

"Ann Scolari: What are your thoughts on the Trindentine Mass?
Cardinal Mahony: Ann: The Tridentine Mass was meant for those who could not make the transition from Latin to English [or other languages] after the Council. But there is no participation by the people, and I don't believe that instills the spirit of Christ among us."

I am sorry to have to say it -- and I say it respectfully -- but there are many things wrong with the Cardinal's answer.

How can anyone possibly say that what for a millennium and a half was Catholic worship -- Catholics praying along with the Latin Mass -- does not "[instill] the spirit of Christ among us" -- ??? How could any Mass, which by definition includes the Gospel, the Consecration and Communion, not "[instill] the Spirit of Christ among us" -- ???

How can anyone possibly say that Catholics' reverently following and praying along with every step of the Latin Mass means "there is no participation by the people" -- ???

How can anyone possibly say, "The Tridentine Mass was meant for those who could not make the transition from Latin to English... after the Council," when the Latin Mass existed for a millennium and a half before the Second Vatican Council (which I suppose is "the Council" that the Cardinal was referring to, as if no other Councils mattered anymore) -- ???

How can anyone possibly say Catholics "could not make the transition from Latin to English," as if that was the problem, and as if a change in the language was the only change in the Mass, never mind that so much Catholic prayer was removed from the Mass -- ???

How can anyone possibly say "after the Council," as if the Second Vatican Council mandated that Mass be said only in the vernacular, which it did not -- ???

In fairness to the Cardinal, I want to say that a live online chat session does not really give a person a chance to formulate his thoughts carefully and thoroughly. But if he had to do it over, would he say anything differently?