Pope calls for Internet evangelists

Pope calls for Internet evangelists


Vatican City, May 20, 2009 / 11:21 am (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI is calling upon young people to evangelize using the Internet as the Church prepares to celebrate the World Day for Social Communications.

At the end of his Wednesday general audience, the Holy Father launched an appeal asking that cyberspace be a place that promotes a "culture of respect, dialogue and authentic friendship where the values of truth, harmony and understanding can flourish."

Speaking English, the Holy Father recalled how in his message for this year's celebrations, "I am inviting all those who make use of the new technologies of communication, especially the young, to utilize them in a positive way and to realize the great potential of these means to build up bonds of friendship and solidarity that can contribute to a better world.

"Young people in particular, I appeal to you: bear witness to your faith through the digital world!" the Pope urged.

"Employ these new technologies to make the Gospel known, so that the Good News of God’s infinite love for all people, will resound in new ways across our increasingly technological world!"

The World Day for Social Communications will be held on Sunday, May 24 this year.

Bishop Sheridan - letter to Notre Dame President

Bishop of Colorado Springs on the Notre Dame scandal...

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May 15, 2009 A letter to Notre Dame President Father John Jenkins, CSC
Bishop Michael J. Sheridan, S.T.D.

If we consider the many threats to our faith and the practice of religion that come from outside the Catholic Church (e.g., the increasing civil legislation that seeks to redefine marriage; the proposed rescinding of health care workers’ right of conscience; the mounting efforts to make contraception and abortion-on-demand ever more available — even to the very young), it is particularly disturbing to witness the scandalous turmoil within the Catholic Church over the invitation from the president of the University of Notre Dame to President Barack Obama to speak at this spring’s commencement and be awarded an honorary degree.

Several months ago, Holy Cross Father John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame, announced that he had invited President Obama — the most radical and ardent pro-abortion president ever elected — not only to speak at the university’s commencement exercises, but also — incredibly — to receive an honorary Doctor of Law degree.

The invitation was given and its acceptance announced without any prior consultation with the local bishop, John D’Arcy. Bishop D’Arcy immediately responded by telling Father Jenkins that his invitation flew directly in the face of the 2004 teaching of the American bishops, Catholics in Political Life, which stated that "the Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor whose who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions." Bishop D’Arcy asked Father Jenkins to rescind his invitation. Father Jenkins replied that he would not do so.

The uproar over this whole affair is not unexpected. Many bishops, as well as students and alumni of Notre Dame, and countless Catholics throughout the country, have made their outrage known. The sad fact is that it was a majority of people who claim to be Catholics who helped elect President Obama. But this does not excuse Father Jenkins’ disobedience toward his own bishop, as well as the United States bishops as a whole. I do not suggest that Father Jenkins’ invitation was done out of malice, but his continued intransigence is not befitting a Catholic priest.

Last month I wrote to Father Jenkins with my own plea that he cancel the president’s appearance at Notre Dame. I did not make the letter public at that time, but, having received a number of questions from the faithful of our diocese, I have decided to do so now. My letter follows:

April 11, 2009

Rev. John L. Jenkins, C.S.C.

President

University of Notre Dame

300 Main Building

South Bend, IN 46556

Dear Father Jenkins,

I join my voice to those of many of my brother bishops and those of hundreds of thousands of lay faithful to ask that you rescind your invitation to President Obama to speak at the Notre Dame commencement and receive an honorary degree. As you know, the priests and brothers of Holy Cross have long been associated with this diocese. In the years of my service here, I have found them to be among the very finest of our clergy. This unfortunate decision of yours now reflects negatively on these good men.

I have read your apologia in defense of your action. It is not convincing. Your attempt to justify your invitation by appealing to the title of the 2004 publication of the USCCB is little more than an exercise in legalism. We Catholics must be about the business of standing unambiguously and always on the side of life. Regardless of the title of the document, Notre Dame, arguably the premier Catholic university in the United States, has sent a message to countless Catholics that you will not take this stance. I am convinced that this will prove to be most unfortunate for the university and for the faith of many, many Catholics. And your invitation to the president speaks far more loudly than your disclaimer that you disagree with him on the life issues.

Even though you have made it very clear that you will not withdraw your invitation to the president, my conscience demands that I express my profound disappointment.

May Our Lady, patroness of the university and Mother of the church, seek the graces needed for you to reverse the action you have taken.

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Most Rev. Michael J. Sheridan

Bishop of Colorado Springs

source: The Colorado Catholic Herald

Whether the Church should excommunicate anyone?

According to St. Thomas Aquinas:

"The Apostle (1 Corinthians 5:5) ordered a man to be excommunicated.

Further, it is written (Matthew 18:17) about the man who refuses to hear the Church:: "Let him be to thee as the heathen or publican." But heathens are outside the Church. Therefore they also who refuse to hear the Church, should be banished from the Church by excommunication.

I answer that, The judgment of the Church should be conformed to the judgment of God. Now God punishes the sinner in many ways, in order to draw him to good, either by chastising him with stripes, or by leaving him to himself so that being deprived of those helps whereby he was kept out of evil, he may acknowledge his weakness, and humbly return to God Whom he had abandoned in his pride. In both these respects the Church by passing sentence of excommunication imitates the judgment of God. For by severing a man from the communion of the faithful that he may blush with shame, she imitates the judgment whereby God chastises man with stripes; and by depriving him of prayers and other spiritual things, she imitates the judgment of God in leaving man to himself, in order that by humility he may learn to know himself and return to God." (Summa Theologica, suppl., q. 21,. a. 2).

The Church Militant continues to be attacked...
Bishop Blair bans New Ways homosexual ministry workshop

God bless,

Dave

Diocese issues ‘Q & A’ to explain termination of dissenting catechist

More house cleaning. ;)

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Madison, Wis., May 8, 2009 / 03:53 pm (CNA).- In response the backlash that occurred following the termination of a Madison catechist due to her "serious dissent" from Church teachings, the diocese has produced a "Q & A" document to clarify any confusion or rumors which have surfaced following the incident.

Ruth Kolpack, a 35-year employee of the Diocese of Madison, was fired in March by Madison Bishop Robert Morlino for failure to "present the complete and authentic teaching of the Church." The bishop’s office also noted that Kolpack is in "serious dissent on fundamental doctrinal issues" and should not be in a role where she is entrusted with teaching the Catholic faith to others.

Some groups such as Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful have organized support for Kolpack saying that she was fired due to a graduate thesis that she wrote calling for "women’s ordination." They also claim that Bishop Morlino has plans to shut down St. Thomas Parish. Both of these allegations were strongly denied by the diocese in their document.

Before Kolpack was fired, the bishop offered her the opportunity to "assure him that she would faithfully carry out her role as a catechist of the Roman Catholic faith."

Kolpack said that she could not "in good conscience" comply.

More... Diocese issues ‘Q & A’ to explain termination of dissenting catechist

Diocese of Phoenix excommunicates priest

Bishop of Phoenix Thomas J. Olmstead is cleaning house, thanks be to God!

God bless,

Dave

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Phoenix, Ariz., May 9, 2009 / 05:54 am (CNA).- A priest from the Diocese of Phoenix has been excommunicated for joining a breakaway sect, it was announced on Monday.

The excommunication of Rev. Chris Carpenter, who had been on leave from the diocese for three years, was issued in April but made public on Monday. According to the Arizona Republic, Bishop of Phoenix Thomas J. Olmstead said the decision came because Father Carpenter had joined an offshoot church, the Reformed Catholic Church.

Father Carpenter is banned from participating in Mass, Communion or other religious ceremonies either as a participant or a celebrant. He was well-known as the movie reviewer for the Catholic Sun newspaper. Citing health reasons, he took a leave of absence in 2006 after 10 years at Christ the King parish in Mesa, Arizona.

Rev. Carpenter, who is openly homosexual, has long disputed with the diocesan leadership over ministry to the homosexual community, the Arizona Republic reports.

In an e-mail to friends, Father Carpenter said the Reformed Catholic Church supports ordination of women, full participation of homosexual members and a married priesthood. He reportedly plans to begin a parish in California.

Rev. Gene Young, another former Phoenix priest excommunicated by Bishop Olmsted, is also a member of the church.

A third priest of the diocese, Monsignor Dale Fushek, was excommunicated last year.

source: Diocese of Phoenix excommunicates priest