Deuling Catholics - Part 2

Having hoped my conversations with Jim Buck, "Catholic" past President of the Board of Directors of Ecumenical Minsitries of Oregon was over, he kept going.   Well, he started this coversation and I can do this until Doomsday.  These last emails are the most telling.  The casual put-down of Bishop Vasa proved the point so well. 

I pray our new Archbishop will cut this umbilical cord first.    We can't change Catholic hearts when we're dragging around anti-Catholic darkness (EMO). 

Here we go again:

 # 7

Carolyn,

I would err on the side of both of us contemplating continually  whether we are right.  You are certainly more convinced of your position than I, but I don't think labeling an organization like EMO as evil gives you any credibility, not when the Catholic clergy who have served on its board or committees over the past couple of decades have done so in good conscience and with strong moral fiber.  Those I know well who have served would never join an "evil" organization and you cast aspersions on their character (individually and collectively) by so labeling the organization. 

 It is healthy to harbor some doubt about your convictions--and even more so your judgments about others.  

Jim

Jim,

If I had any doubts about EMO, I wouldn't act on just a weak opinion: a doubtful conscience.   It doesn't matter how long we've belonged to EMO, to give it credibility.  Belonging to this "convental" organization is wrong for the Archdpdx. 

Belonging because of simple ignorance can be changed by leaving.  To learn and remain is "invincible ignorance", says Bishop Robert  Vasa, Diocese of Baker, OR. 

I don't have to contemplate this issue, thanks anyway.

God Bless you and Happy Advent and Merry Christmas, I really mean this.

Carolyn

# 8

Carolyn,

I see a glimmer of hope in your final statement.  You are sincere without a doubt, however, ultra-orthodoxy has been historically the bane of our Church as sincere as some of its proponents were.  It was and continues to be motivated by fear and stems from darkness not the light of Christ.  Its effects on the Church were inimical with pro-life as it sowed violence, division and hatred.  Christ's admonition of love thy neighbor must take precedence in our faith and our works.  From what you write, which is an eye into the soul, I question whether this precept truly guides your work.  Your conversion I believe still lies ahead, perhaps mine as well.  I will pray for the fullness of it.

May Christ's love and internal peace become fully present this Christmas--and I do mean this also.  

(Should Bishop Vasa ever come to this Archdiocese, who knows, I may have to take up a blog site like yours.)  

Jim

Jim

In an nutshell, your final email was a statement of your ideology and not complete Catholic theology.

The dark statement about those in the pro-life movement shows why Portland's liberal "Cocoon Catholics" keep alive this lie so they can feel superior.

Getting federal grants to support EMO's survival is from the pockets of everyone, of every belief through taxes.  The other grants EMO receives are from organizations that support anti-Catholic ideals

55,000,000 innocent unborn are killed, created by a loving God. Not to be destroyed by those who act like they are and ignored by EMO.

The Archdpdx Office of Justice and Peace needs the EMO connection to stay as a budget item. They take their info and use it happily.  They have for decades.

EMO is still evil for the Archdpdx to belong to.

I won't change my mind.  Your first email didn't do anything but prove my point.

Merry Christmas,
Carolyn
"Any one thinking of the Holy Child as born in December would mean by it exactly what we mean by it; that Christ is not merely a summer sun of the prosperous but a winter fire for the unfortunate."
– G.K. Chesterton

Folks, please look for yourselves.   We have beem feeding this Beast with our time, talents, and treasure for long enough.  Realistically speaking this lands at the doorstep of Archbishop Vlanzy and then Mary Jo Tully (who has been on the Board for years).   http://www.emoregon.org/ 

From VOCAL 2005 Things haven't changed.          STRANGE BEDFELLOWS - ARCHDPDX & EMO

"Facts are stubborn things...our wishes, the dictates of our passions...cannot alter the facts and evidence." John Adams

Dueling Catholics

Last week I was taken to task by an Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon board person, Jim Buck, over the term "evil" I used to describe EMO.  I stand by this "evil" description in the light of what the Church teaches.  There are many emails I have sent regarding this issue.  www.vocalnews.org  and I'll connect even more dots in a while.  There are six responses just to let you know.

I think the emails are over now and want to share with you negative "synergy" happening, something we are warned against by the Holy Father.  This is when basically we hang out with people who believe differently than us and slowly become them, losing our way.
Dueling Catholics

#1
Carolyn,
As a life-long Catholic I have been closely associated with EMO for the past eight years and know first-hand the positive ministries they have related to assisting the homeless, hungry, HIV patients, refugees and others.  I have met many individuals from all faiths working hand in hand through this organization.  These people are incredibly Christ-like in their concern for their brothers and sisters and are working to preserve and uplift life.  Your wholesale judgment against EMO seems contrary to what Scripture tells us about making judgments.  EMO has taken no official position supporting abortion and contrary to your website provides important help to those in need.

Anyone who communicates with this level of vehemence has other issues that should be confronted.  Yours is not a voice of love, respect or support of life as that must begin with a sincere yearning for the truth.  You don't seek truth, you seek instead to rant, judge and condemn without a factual or even remote theological basis for your actions.   You don't represent Catholic faith but are doing a good job of trying to fragment it rather than nourish it.

Jim
Jim,

I appreciate your defense of EMO.  However, your credentials as a Catholic cause your opinions to be null and void.  There is no "vehemence" in my words, and I am a seeker after the Truth.  Your "theological basis" is not Catholic, unless you've changed your opinions valuing all life.

Look into EMO.  You will see factual, truthful opinions and as a practicing Catholic, I do think EMO is an alliance we should not brag about.  We have different ideas of what Christ's True Church will tolerate, the good things don't out weigh the evil.

God Bless,
Carolyn

#2
Carolyn,

Thank you for your wish of blessings my way.  God (and every one else probably) knows I could use them.  What I fail to comprehend is how you can be the judge of who has "credentials" and who doesn't  in this Church.  

Pope John Paul II talked about ecumenism as the "future of the Church" and for you to say we shouldn't be pursuing such alliances in the pursuit of a unified Church in Christ's name seems antithetical to what the popes since Vatican II have been urging.

Our own Church is not wholly innocent or omniscient in all its decisions and neither is any other church organization.  EMO's decisions since I've been associated with the organization are largely around policy issues dealing with the poor or the environment.  These typically align almost 100% with Catholic positions on the same issues.

EMO has not taken a position on abortion or even one on end of life issues that I am aware of.  If you have contrary information to share, I'd be happy to take a look at it. 

In conclusion, I'll trust some day that God will be the ultimate judge of my credentials--not only as a Catholic either.
Jim

Jim,
As a Catholic are you against abortion, for parental notification, against partial birth abortion, for one woman, one man in marriage, see active homosexuality as a disorder or has Vatican II changed that too?

Here are folks that say it very succinctly.

"Whether canonical or self excommunication, out of communion is out of communion with the Church.

If not that, the Church Body becomes a community of “cafeteria Catholics”.
In actuality, protestants sitting in a Catholic Church.

Homosexual acts were not accepted by the Jews, by the Apostles or by the Early Church fathers.

Seemingly large numbers of people in our society are attempting to rewrite the meaning of Sacred Scripture.

Supporting or defending the sexual acts of homosexuals places a Catholic outside the Eucharist, outside of the teachings & traditions of the Catholic Church, and outside of Sacred Scripture.

Least we forget, as evidenced in Scripture, sexual acts between people of the same sex are mortal sins. Sins so mortal & grievous that entire cities were destroyed where these homosexual acts were exclusively practiced. 

Gay marriage is De facto support of the sexual acts of homosexuals, bisexuals, transgendered, people in various stages of re engineering their sexual organs, etc.

When a Catholic supports or defends gay marriage, the person places him/herself outside the faith practices of the Church. 

Similar yet more grievous than Catholics who support, defend or practice sexual experimentation between single people and divorced people."

Here's one on abortion. 


“Excommunication issue. If someone rejects the teaching of the Church knowing that such a doctrine, moral or dogmatic, is the constant teaching of the Church, that person is automatically, at least materially, excommunicated.”

“Why?” 

“Because he is no longer a Catholic?”

Yes, that is correct, that person has self excommunicated him or herself from the Church Body and the Body of Christ.

“Am I missing something here?”

No. 

“A Formal excommunication would be a public juridical act, issued by a bishop.”

Yes, normally formal excommunications are issued only after a bishop has provided proper counsel to a person in which he formally addresses their error.
(As Sacred Scripture requests should be done in Matthew 18:15 and Luke 17:3.)


As I understand it, formal excommunications are done when a person turns their private error into a public scandal. 

Recently Kathleen Sabelius’ bishop (after years of dialog with her) announced publicly that she was not to present herself for Communion until she confesses her sin and makes public changes to her voting record as it concerns abortion."

Jim, have you changed your mind on these issues from your 2004 campaign in a public sort of way?  

It would clarify your stand on life and not lead people into error as does Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon  on these subjects. No opinion on abortion for EMO?
 A look at their liberal "progressive" churches and their attitudes on the unborn would tell one otherwise.  It seems like active homosexuality is a slam dunk too.

God Bless, Carolyn
 
#3
Carolyn,

I am not sure what you mean by "active" versus inactive homosexuality, but I am against abortion, for parental notification and against partial birth abortion.  I never said anything differently in my campaign.  I refused to fill out Right to Life's forms because they didn't allow for qualifications to the answers and in other cases they simply did not transfer information carefully from the form to their media releases.  I have no faith in that organization due to its inaccuracies of dealing with information and I witnessed it first hand.  I was in favor of civil unions from a legal perspective for the protections (medical, privacy matters, etc.) it offers homosexual individuals. 


I also see a huge difference between what we practice as Catholics and what is formulated in civil law.  I fear for any theocracy that assumes government control.  The Church should have learned valuable lessons with our not so illustrious history as the Holy Roman Empire.  We need to remain a Church not a government.  Legislators are sworn to uphold the law--civil and criminal law not the laws of any particular church.  At times the civil law may conflict with our own practices as Catholics, but we can choose to act individually as the Church teaches.  That doesn't mean we should force our beliefs on everyone else as a dictatorial Church.  The Catholic Church's own standing on morality has not always been right on every issue.  The Church condoned slavery for many years as an example.  That didn't make owning slaves morally right because the church hadn't condemned it yet.

The differences some churches have with regard to homosexuality and even abortion should not sever dialogue or discussion on other points otherwise we will get no where on unification.  These differences do not diminish either the work of other churches in caring for the poor and doing Christ's work which I see occurring every day.  To label them "evil" for holding differences in belief is simply overly judgmental and, in my opinion, morally wrong.  When you slander an organization as "evil" you slander people who in good conscious are following Christ, including some or many who may agree wholeheartedly with all your preconditions;  just because as whole they all don't doesn't warrant condemnation as you summarize.  The alliance of or with EMO does not mean the Catholic Church endorses all their beliefs, but that we can meet and discuss and help each other grow in understanding.   Your judgments examine the specks and miss the whole. 


While you seem excessively concerned with homosexual acts, there are probably many Catholics engaging in sexual acts seen just as sinful according to Church teaching, but I don't see any reference to that element of sin within our own heterosexual population.  Why the focus on the homosexual population when it comes to sinful sexual behavior?  Are you saying their sin is greater than that of heterosexuals whose practices are sinful?   A partnership does not condone any particular behavior between a couple other than a commitment to love each other and be committed to their needs.  We have Catholic marriages that are celibate; how are you to know what homosexual unions are celibate? I prefer to let God be the judge of what people decide to do sexually.  The Church can teach and I value the Church as a teaching Church, but judgment is not our as individuals to make. Priests can make it in a confessional setting, but even that is limited and exercised with special care.
Jim


Jim,
There are errors in your last letter.  The first is your stand on abortion and homosexual marriage.  These are intrinsic evils for all Catholics yet, you did support them in your 2004 campaign for state representative in District 50.   You wrote :  ".....but I am against abortion, for parental notification and against partial birth abortion.  I never said anything differently in my campaign"   Please click....  Jim Buck's Moral Compass   Scroll down to District 50.  And what about Planned Parenthood's endorsement?

 Pro-Life Opposed to Legalized Abortion - NO!  Favors Parental Notification before Teenage Abortion  - NO!  Favors Marriage Definition of One Man, One Woman  -NO!  Opposed to Minority Status for Homosexuals - NO!  Opposed to Increased Taxes and Spending - NO!  Favors Education Vouchers - NO!

Your soul is your own business, but the soul of the Archdiocese of Portland is the business of all Oregon Catholics.  These are the teachings of Christ Himself, not of men.  They need to be defended against those even with good motives who don't get it.

For the Archdpdx to be involved so closely, spending limited resources to belong to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is ridiculous.  Can't  we have "dialog" with EMO churches who hold completely different moral beliefs on the dignity of life.  Do we need to pay for this?  What about pro-life churches?  It appears that we have no "dialog" with them and  it's free. In fact, the knowledge of EMO is well known and pro-life churches wonder why we're on the wrong team.

Being with EMO so long, you seem to have become more like them and less in love with the True Church.  What I see is "Synergy", a blending of ecumenism which melds beliefs together.  Some Catholic beliefs have been in place since Christ walked the earth and cannot change, as He cannot.  The Holy Father warns us against "synergy?   While always loving our protestant brothers and sisters in EMO, we do not change our beliefs to theirs.

"I urge you brothers to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles in opposition to teachings that you have learned, avoid them.  For such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the innocent." Romans 16:17-18

Your defense of anti-Catholic beliefs of EMO and the put down of the Church is an error and shows little knowledge of Her and shows your heart.  There seems to be no balance in your attack of Church teachings.   Isn't there anything nice to say?

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."
Corinthians 1:25


God Bless you,
Carolyn:


#4

Carolyn,
I disagree with the characterizations of OFC based on my responses and positions then, but enough of that as I am not going to convince you and you certainly can't convince me of what my own beliefs were or are.  We clearly disagree on the boundaries of church and state.
EMO has members who are orthodox and I've been at meetings with very fundamentalist oriented churches.  I am not sure who EMO should be in dialogue with who are more pro-life than Catholics, Greek Orthodox, other middle eastern denominations, etc.  We're in consistent communication with very conservative Protestant churches as well.
Truth is not as absolute as you seem to believe.  Again EMO's energies in its ministries is caring for the most vulnerable.  It doesn't fund Planned Parenthood or other agencies supporting abortion.  It hasn't favored political positions supporting that.  It certainly doesn't deserve the descriptor as "evil" that you use.
I will continue to pray for you in hopes your words don't discourage people trying to get together across church lines to help others as Christ would like us to do.


Jim


Jim,

The characterizations of you by Oregon Family Council's Voter's Guide show that you are having a hard time looking yourself in the face.  If they had been so wrong about you there would have been some complaint from you.  There was time to get corrections on this guide and answer the "orange postcard" effort to tell the truth that you weren't pro-life for the unborn.  Real pro-life John Lim won that election.  Since you were so public about your feelings, if they have changed you need to publicly let this be known.


"EMO is a covenantal membership organization dedicated to respond to God's call to the unity of all people"  The Catholic Church has a covenant with Christ not David Leslis, the EMO Director.

This is why Catholics don't belong to such as EMO, National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches etc. Those groups posted on the EMO website Ecumenical Minsitries of Oregon don't have Roman Catholic listed.  If we look at the The Pew Forum...Church Pie Chart
  Oregon Catholics are needed to fill the void of these littler churches.  We are deep pockets and plus our beliefs could meld with theirs.  It's Synergy nothing less.

You're statement "Truth is not as absolute as you seem to believe."  Shows how blended you are, or poorly cathecised.  It's like the Mission of the Atonment, a blending of Catholic and Lutherans at Sunday services.

You have one foot planted in mid-air and the other on a slippery rock.  There IS absoute Truth: Christ, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Being on the Board of EMO could be a good political move for a Democrat like you but, it's not wise for you to say you're  Catholic and  throw overboard the True Church and Her Teachings.

God Bless,
Carolyn

#5
Carolyn,
Your accuracy in what you write is about as bad as some organizations I have criticized when evidence clearly points to just the opposite.  EMO lists "Roman Catholic" in the first sentence on their home page regarding what groups constitute their organization.   The "Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland" is shown under their "membership" listing  in the category of "About Us" if you click on that button.   How can you then say that "Roman Catholic" isn't represented on their website or isn't a member of the organization when it's there in black and white?    How can you have credibility when you can't even get these simple facts straights?


My dictionary shows "covenantal" in the "ecclesiastical" definition as follows:
"Ecclesiastical . a solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts ofthe gospel.


This in no way impinges on our covenant with God as a Church.  How you can construe it otherwise again only testifies to the spirit you bring to the work.  I trust in divine judgment and I am convinced there will be a reckoning for those who believe they are the ultimate judges here on earth for what is righteous.


Jim

Jim,

Hold on...why would I be concerned that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland get OUT of EMO, if they weren't represented on their web page and PART of IT?  You are the one not making any sense.  Think about it.

"Ecclesiastical - A solemn agreement between members of a church.....acting in harmony with the precepts of the gospel"
Okay, that's why we don't enter a "solemn agreement" with EMO, National Council of Church, Church Women United, World Council of Churches..and other blended groups.  I have a real problem with the Metropolitan Community of Churches, which is homosexually oriented and Catholics can't be in a solemn agreement with them.  Pure and simple.


These people are not Catholics for a reason.  We are needed for credibility, connections and money not our religious views on moral issues we hold dear.  We can't be part of them as their group.  I repeat, David Leslie, executive director of EMO is NOT the Pope.

It seems like you are confused as to what a Roman Catholic is...it's much easier for me,  a convert with many spiritual experiences to compare what you're going through as a cradle Catholic.


The Catholics involved in EMO might get a swift kick in the pants when the new Archbishop comes.  Symbolic, of course.

Carolyn

#6
Carolyn
You wrote:  "Those posted on the EMO website Ecumenical Minsitries of Oregon don't have Roman Catholic listed. "  You preceded that by writing  that Catholics don't belong to such as EMO. . . "    The statements did not appear to me to be accurate.  Clearly, Catholics can "belong" to EMO if our Archdiocese already is a member.  I was taking what your wrote as a statement of fact.  If you meant something other than you wrote literally, you might have clarified it.
You don't see eye to eye with our current archbishop from the content I reviewed on your website.  I guess it's only fair to say some won't see eye with the next one either.  I don't see any real problem with that.  Many issues are not simply black and white--there should be room for dialogue on them.
My definition of a "Catholic" is without a doubt different from yours.  You are entitled to your opinion, but unless your theological training and moral leadership are superior to the Archbishop I will defer to his judgment on the issue.


Jim

Jim,

Any Bishop does not trump the teachings of the Catholic church. Ours is not on board 100% with EMO and acts on a doubtful conscience.

EMO is light years away from where the Roman Catholic Church is going.   They are into more than doing good works.  I'm sure that there are many well meaning people in EMO.

You need to re-read what I've said in my last letter.  I know EMO has Roman Catholic listed on their website.  I repeat...why in the world would I complain about the Archpdx in EMO if we weren't listed on the EMO website.

All through the years, it's been repeated over and over again.  Get the Archdpdx out of EMO.  Out means OUT.

Yes, in my opinion EMO is evil.

If you're right,  I'll be an alarmist, crazed lunatic.  What if I'm right?

God Bless,
Carolyn

Hopefully this is over.

Little Lent & Letting Go of Archdpdx Baggage - EMO

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.   Letting go of all spiritual baggage: inside and outside.....

         According to present [1907] usage, Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle embracing four Sundays. The first Sunday may be as early as 27 November this year, and then Advent has twenty-eight days, or as late as 3 December, giving the season only twenty-one days. 

With Advent the ecclesiastical year begins in the Western churches. During this time the faithful are admonished:

• to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love,
• thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
• thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world

(With thanks to NewAdvent.org)

Saint Andrew, the first apostle The Church celebrates the feast of Saint Andrew on November 27th, an important date in the annual liturgical calendar, because it determines the date of the First Sunday of Advent, which is the Sunday nearest this Feast. Saint Andrew is the patron saint fishermen, and of both Scotland and Russia.

Andrew, the first Apostle called by Jesus, was a fisherman from Bethsaida and the brother of Simon Peter. A follower of John the Baptist, Andrew recognized Jesus as the Messiah when John baptized Our Lord in the Jordan River, and he introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. The two brothers continued as fishermen until Jesus called them as Apostles.
After Pentecost, it is believed that Andrew went to Greece to preach the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

Saint Andrew, called the "Protoclet" (or "first called") by the Greeks, was crucified at Achaia by order of Roman Governor Aegeas during the reign of Nero. He was bound, not nailed, to the X-shaped cross in order to prolong his sufferings. According to tradition, he preached from the cross for two days, and died on the third day.

•  Little Lent lasts until Christmas Day.

 First We Fast, Then We Feast:

That's why Advent has traditionally been known as a "little Lent." As in Lent, Advent should be marked by increased prayer, fasting, and good works.  all great feasts have been preceded by a time of fasting, which makes the feast itself more joyful. Sadly, Advent today has supplanted by "the Christmas shopping season," so that by Christmas Day, many people no longer enjoy the feast.

OLD BAGGAGE.

As you will see in these pictures, this is something we cannot glorify Our Lord with by condoning this in any way.  We are culpable of the evil this promotes, The pictures from 2010 have regressed to more bizarre, boundary-less behavior that is too unsuitable to share. 

• We see the signs of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Catholic Coalition of Welcoming Communities and their Catholic parish contingent at the
  "Gay Pride" parade.  Taking dignity away from beautiful gifts from God.
• Oregon Catholics would have a chance at spiritual freedom, making friends with protestant churches that are of like mind.  They are some of our best allies.  Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon leads us from the narrow path.
  
• We pray and fast for the purity of our souls and the soul of the Archdiocese of Portland.

God Bless you and yours.

CCHD - WE HAVE THE POWER: JUST SAY NO!!!

We have the power to stop Catholic Campaign for Human Development that is a drain on the Culture of Life in Oregon and across the nation.

We have the power by letters and calls to the Archdiocese and our Pastors to give our time, treasure and talent to things that aren't lip service as we continue to belong to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.  Our Office of Life, Justice and Peace get their progressive ideas and no pro-life ideas from them.  EMO is a spiritual cancer. There is no reason to belong to their organization. Its their mission it to undermine and destroy things we hold dear for Christ.

They have no respect for our Doctine, the non-ordination of women, as the pretend "masses" and "ordinations" have a welcome mat in these member churches. .Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon - EMO  Note the list of churches that include the homosexual "church" Metropolitan Community Church harbor of homosexuality and a lifestyle that made us bankrupt.  Let's just say "no".

Attached is from Reform CCHD Now chance to state your abhorrence to giving our collection plate money to radical groups.  They and EMO are in the Culture of Death that doesn't see God in every one.  We have different values and should distance ourselves from those who change us, and we seem to have no effect on them except monetarily.    Worth Saving from the Culture of Death - click.    Keep looking it will be worth it.

The little girl will appear.  She's also on the VOCAL blog to see.

Jesus says:

Matthew 10:14  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Matthew 10:15  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Matthew 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Archbishop Dolan - Surprise win at USCCB. Tradition trumps liberalism

Today is a wonderful day.  The Lord has surely smiled on us with the election of Archbishop Timothy Dolan is new president of the USCCB.  Below on the right is Archbishop Timothy Dolan reacting with our Eastern Oregon Bishop Robert F.Vasa on hearing the news.

The successor to Cardinal George was his vice-president Bishop
Gerald Kicanas who was considered the winner before the vote.  This upset has only happened once before in the sixties.  We have dodged a bullet through the Grace of God.

To see what we would be in for google  "Bishop Gerald Kicanas" and see what a serious scandal this could have been.  Bishop Kicanas is an old friend of Archbishop Vlazny. They both have the same take on many things we have been fighting here, a soft spot for active homosexuals, women priests, not fighting abortion and Kicanas was the second bishop to declare bankruptcy in his diocese due to homosexuality. 

Bishop Kicanas is going to be here in Oregon on Monday November 22nd for the annual mandatory, it seems, Tobin Lecture from the Office of Justice and Peace.

What is the Tobin Lecture - why spend so much money on this?
Monsignor Thomas Tobin (1897-1978)
Tobin Lecture with Bishop Gerald Kicanas

Archbishop Timothy Dolan needs our prayers as he guides the Roman Catholic church.  And a big THANK YOU DEAR LORD for his presidency.

Our prayers ARE heard.

REMEMBER JUST SAY 'NO' TO THIS WEEKS CCHD COLLECTION SAFE OUR FAITH.
Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19
Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

ATM's at Oregon Churches, Extorsion of Priests and Parishoners for Money

"It seems the only answer to the new Church collection is that we are no longer at Sunday Mass for spiritual nourishment, but to be treated as if we're ATM's.  Our priests and parishes will be penalized if they don't have a good reason for not getting to their goal. Money forcibly taken for this reason?  Sounds like extortion. (The term extortion is often used metaphorically to refer to usury or to price-gouging, though neither is legally considered extortion. It is also often used loosely to refer to everyday situations where one person feels indebted against their will, to another, in order to receive an essential service or avoid legal consequences due to social or political beliefs.Thanks wiki) The love of Christ is nowhere to be seen, or read, in the campaign manual. Click on link.  It might take time to view, thirty-six pages to read...but here's a sample

      "Sharing Our Faith" - Manual on Capitol Campaign  (Click on link above. Might take time to view, thirty-six pages to read...but here's a sample)If the link doesn't work go to http://www.archdpdx.org/

          Page 3   Hiring Nebraska Firm to Run New Campaign
"The Archdiocese of Portland retained the services of the Steier Group, a Catholic fund raising and development firm, to help manage the campaign."
Steier Group says:  "We assign a team of professionals to each client. Your campaign manager will be dedicated to your project – and only your project – throughout the effort and will handle the day-to-day campaign activities. Your campaign manager will be directly supervised by a campaign services director, as well as our CEO, Jim Steier. Your campaign manager will be supported by a staff of public relations and media specialists, full-time graphic designers, full-time grant writers and experts in planned giving, direct mail appeals, online fundraising, stewardship programs, major gift solicitations and event planning."

      Page 4.  Penalties for Priest and Parish
120% of collections are goal or parish will be penalized without a good reason. 75% collected goes to Archdiocese and 25% to parish.  Any funds over targeted amount are divided 50/50 Archdiocese and parish.

"Parishes will be asked to make every effort to achieve their goal. A parish seeking to adjust its target must provide the archdiocese with justification for  the adjustment in order to be approved by the Archbishop.  Plans to raise funds for new construction or renovation must be approved by the Archbishop in writing.  If a parish follows the recommended campaign procedures, the parish will
not be assessed any financial penalty if it does not reach its campaign target."
(VOCAL- priests have confirmed this form of penalty for other campaigns as well.)

      Page 4.  Annual Archbishop Catholic Appeal
"The Annual  Archbishop’s Catholic Appeal (ACA) will be conducted during the Capitol Campaign. Ministries and programs remain in need of the funds generated by the ACA.  The ACA and the capital campaign may fund similar needs. Extensive communications and marketing is planned to clearly explain the need for such levels of funding."

       Page 7  Parishioners are judged on giving abilities.  Large Donors are "courted".
"All parishioners will be evaluated and assigned to a specific campaign phase and section based on their gift request for the five-year campaign.

Whereas the evaluation needs to include local knowledge regarding the donors’ ability to give, each family’s current annual adult envelope giving will provide a starting point for the evaluation.  To assist in the evaluation of donors, the following matrix will be employed at the parish-level (and the Steier Group will train parish administrative  assistants and secretaries in the use of the matrix."

       Page 13  Collection Agency to Assure Giving
"Pledge collection and tracking process is being reviewed and proposed to be handled by the Cavan Corporation, a Catholic consulting and redemption company specializing in parish and diocesan offertory,pledge collection, tracking and redemption.
      For Pilot Phase Parishes, these meetings will be held from mid-May-August, 2010.
For Wave #1 Parishes, these meetings will be held from September, 2010-January,
2011.
 (There is a quiet period of a few weeks in the campaign for Advent)
For Wave #2 Parishes, these meetings will be held from mid-January-May, 2011.
For Wave #3 Parishes, these meetings will be held from May-August, 2011.

NOVEMBER 20-21  CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CCHD)
USCCB's "Renewal of CCHD"
CCHD How to Shoot Yourself in the Foot.
December 12, 2010 -  Retirement Fund for Religious
January 16, 2011 -  Catholic Communication Campaign
April 3, 2011 -  Catholic Relief Services
May 8, 2010 - Collection for Catholic Charities of Oregon
May 22, 2011 - Collection  for Catholic Home Missions
June 26, 2011 - Collection for the Holy Father (Peter’s Pence)
 
N.B.  The Archbishop's Annual Appeal spends almost $400,000 to oversee the yearly $3,600,000.00 they ask for annually to pay for salaries and perks for employees (that includes one million dollars from Oregon Catholic Press as a grant)
We can only imagine what it costs for $50,000,000.00 overseen for five years.  It will assure those involved a hefty salary for those years.  Funded by us.
The new campaign has no loving kindness or fruits which we would be able to see for families or the unborn.  We need to be good stewards of our money. 


"Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given."
Mother Teresa

Latin Movie Star Posts Video: 'Every Voter Must See Before Elections Tuesday'

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1 /Christian Newswire/ -- Latin movie star-producer-singer, Eduardo Verastegui, was so moved when he saw Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke's videos, that he immediately added the Spanish subtitle versions to his website at www.DuraRealidad.com.
Verastegui implores fellow Latinos to watch these two new videos as soon as possible, saying, "Every voter should watch these videos before voting, Tuesday, Nov. 2."
Verastegui adds, "Each powerful, short video gives you truths you must have about the most important issues when voting, and how to select the best candidates. The new videos at DuraRealidad.com will help you vote to protect our children, our families, our communities and our culture from the Culture of Death."
The two short videos are excerpts from an exclusive interview that Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke gave in Rome on Oct. 20 to Thomas J. McKenna, president of Catholic Action for Faith and Family. Burke, whom Pope Benedict will make a Cardinal on Nov. 20, heads the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's "supreme court."
In the video excerpts, Burke explains that Catholics must work to promote the 'Common Good' and the 'Golden Rule' by voting for political candidates who most strongly oppose aborting babies, embryonic stem cell experiments, euthanasia and so-called homosexual "marriage."

Says Verastegui, "Millions of Latinos have no idea it's a sin to vote for candidates who promote these fundamentally grave evils, which attack the very foundations of society. These two new videos will help you vote with an informed and clear conscience for candidates who will protect our families and promote the 'Golden Rule' for all."
The videos are also available at McKenna's website, at: www.CatholicAction.org
Verastegui's screen fame came as a telenovela star in Spanish language "soap operas," before becoming the producer and lead actor of the 2006 movie "Bella," the story of a man who finds redemption in helping a young woman with a crisis pregnancy keep her baby. The movie is credited with saving the lives of 200 babies so far.
Catholic Action for Faith and Family is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting Catholic principles.
Christian Newswire

"Throw the Poor Dog A Bone" part two- Catholic Sentinel Scam

Dear Advocates for Life,

During the year, diverse letters to the editor are printed. That's the bone.  But the Catholic Sentinel shows it's hand during the elections.  In the letters to the editor, candidates are promoted that support abortion and active homosexuality. I say promoted because there is no editorial comment or disclaimer on what it means to vote as a Catholic.  

Voter's guides from Oregon Family Council and Oregon Right to Life are not "allowed" in most of our churches: we feel like there's a war with the Archdpdx. We are indeed the "poor dog".

The Catholic Sentinel has such a low subscription rate that it is being funded by the Archbishop's Annual Appeal to keep it afloat.  The El Sentinel, the Spanish language Archdiocesan paper is given out free of charge and has been for a long time.  There is a liberal bent to this paper too and there is definitely an agenda. It also advertises for Susan B. Komen Foundation who gives money to Planned Parenthood that focuses on minority abortions.
For one woman's great explanation go to Why I can't give to Susan B. Komen

So these "Catholic" newspapers are given to our churches "free",  passing on their progressive bent to unsuspecting Catholics with our own money.  For some reason we subsidize a dying newspaper and their employees.  Low subscription rates were probably the catalyst for this action. It seems the illusion of having a great newspaper is needed.  Below is information to educate.

Catholic Sentinel, Robert Pfohman is editor -  bpfohman@archdpdx.org

5536 NE Hassalo St.
P.O. Box 18030
Portland, OR 97218
Telephone (503) 281-1191
Toll Free (800) 548-8749
Email sentinel@catholicsentinel.org

El Centinela  editor Rocío Rios Niño was born in Colombia, South America. She worked six years at the El Espectador newspaper in Bogotá, Colombia’s major daily newspaper. It is the oldest newspaper in Colombia. Since its first issue to the present its motto has been "El Espectador will work for the good of the country with liberal criteria and for the good of the liberal principles with patriotic criteria". It was initially published twice a week, 500 issues each. It defined itself as a "political, literary, news and industrial newspaper"She worked three a half years doing television reporting on Colombia’s top television station, Caracol news. She came to the United States in 1998 to learn English and became editor of El Centinela, the Catholic Sentinel’s Spanish-language sister newspaper in 1999.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
Good News. Catholics nationwide are getting behind pro-life, pro-family candidates more than two years ago, voting for the lesser of two evils, if needed. Mentor, Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, is incremental in his approach to changing hearts and minds. The Faithful Citizenship USCCB booklet isn't cutting it for thinkers.  Now it's time to pray, possibly holding our nose to save at least one baby for sure.

Here are links to a voters' guide if needed. Oregon Right to Life Voter's Guide   Oregon Family Council (can't find download for OFC)  Gubernatorial candidate Chris Dudley has said he will support parental notification, ending state funding for abortions and partial birth abortion.  The ORTL guide doesn't reflect all subsequent conversations of people you would trust.  Dudley has a pro-life reputation to the pro-aborts.  He has his foot in the door to the Culture of Life. His fate is sealed if he wavers.  John Kitzhaber is pro-abortion and supported by NARAL.

Remember the Vatican trumps the USCCB, the Archbishop and priests on everything in the Church.  A non-perfect pro-life candidate can be chosen over a more pro-abortion one.  Not to vote is voting for evil.  Go to the Vatican website for the Catechism if needed for backup.

Rome's Cardinal Burke on voting for Catholics.

Who Is That Guy......Saturday, at six, in Salem

"Discover and Re-discover GK Chesterton. Common sense for the world's uncommon nonsense."  St. Joseph Catholic Church of Salem is honoring the "Apostle of Common Sense".  He should be a must read for everyone who can read.

GK Chesterton lived a remarkable overflowing life. Men especially would like to know that he loved a good port and a cigar..so in his honor they'll have about four different wines.  You'll be waited upon with food and drink seemingly never ending. Dale will answer any questions and there is a "special guest".   Quite a wonderful evening.

Some of GK's quotes from the American Chesterton society, to never let him be forgotten.   American Chesterton Society

"Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions." - ILN, 4/19/30

"Impartiality is a pompous name for indifference, which is an elegant name for ignorance." - The Speaker, 12/15/00 

"An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." - On Running After Ones Hat, All Things Considered, 1908

"What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism." - Sidelights on New London and Newer New York

"He is a [sane] man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head." - Tremendous Trifles, 1909

“Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable.”  GK Chesterton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) was an English writer of prolific and diverse output included philosophy, philosophy, poetry, play writing, journalism, public lecturing and debating, biography, Christian apologetics, fantasy and detective fiction.  (Thanks Wikipedia.)


Here's the info in St. Joseph of Salem's own words.
Its time again for the much anticipated
Third Annual G.K. Chesterton Steak and Wine Dinner!

This year’s event will be held on Saturday October 23rd
 at 6:00pm in the parish center. Once again we have invited back  Dale Ahlquist, President of the American Chesterton Society and EWTN host and a special guest.

Reservations are now being accepted by calling Rolando Moreno at the parish office (503) 581-1623.

721 Chemeketa St. NE
Salem, Oregon 97301 
________________________________________

See you there.

"Throw the Poor Dog a Bone" - part one

The Office of Justice and Peace under Chancellor Mary Jo Tully and Matt Cato threw the poor dog (Oregon Catholics) a bone (not granting $5,000 to Street Roots). Sorry, but that's nothing. It's long overdue and insulting considering the years and amount of our money that's been squandered to build up the culture of death. Let's not sing the Hallelujah chorus just yet.

N.B.  We have a "pro-life" budget of a little more than $1,000 a year.  This is for sending the USCCB Respect Life Packets to the Oregon Churches.

Newspaper (Street Roots) Livid Over Losing CCHD Funding Planned Parenthood
(more history in Throw the Poor Dog a Bone - part 2)

“So you have the power of money, which corporations have, and you have the power of people, which is what community organizing is,” Cato added. “The power of people which needs to balance the power of money, and that’s what community organizing is about, and a lot of people are uncomfortable with the poor having the voice.”  Matt Cato, Director of Office of Justice and Peace ways in on "redistribution of wealth" and the attitude of Catholics to the poor.

Western States Center Ties most of our CCHD "ACORN" type grantee organizations together. We have given hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars to support these types of causes over twenty to thirty years with the blessing of Mary Jo Tully and Matt Cato and all the Office of Peace and Justice leaders. Add it up.

2010 Grantees From CCHD from Oregon Catholics

Catholic Sentinel - CCHD Fall Grants of $75,000 Spring Grants $40,000

VOZ  $40,000 grant List of Grantors - We are the largest. - AFFILIATED WITH WESTERN STATES CENTER
Francisco Lopez past employee of Catholic Charities has been in leadership of VOZ, CAUSA both of which are past/present recipients of CCHD funds over many years. They morph - Voz Hispana Causa Chavista and support others. The grantee changes names but leaders are the same? Seems like their other supporters also support "reproductive services".
VOCAL - Saul Alinsky and Francisco Lopez?



Adelante Mujeures - $35,000 grant
VOCAL - 2004 post shows how long they've been grantees
Under Supporters on their site..no money from CCHD is listed. No mention of the $100,000's we've given them in grants since at least 2004 are they afraid that donors will run if a Catholics are mentioned. Why? Oregon Community Foundation that supports them and also abortion.


New Planned Parenthood PDX Building Given $75,000 Oregon Community Foundation too.

Adelante Mujeures Given $300,000 grant from us in Federal Tax Money in 2010.
One of 100 Best Green Businesses to work for in 2010.
_________________________________________
Oregon Catholics Paid $40,000 for Spring Campaign 2010

OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon - $5,000 - AFFILIATED WITH WESTERN STATES CENTER
Project: East Portland Bus Riders Unite!
Location: Portland

Oregon New Sanctuary Movement - $5,000 - AFFILIATED WITH WESTERN STATES CENTER
Project: Love Has No Borders Campaign
Location: Portland

Casa Latinos Unidos - $5,000 - RECEIVES GRANTS FROM ABORTION PROVIDER WHO ALSO GIVES LARGE GRANTS TO VOZ AND WESTERN STATES CENTER. ABORTION PROVIDER GRANTEE LIST
Project: Latino Immigrant Equality Parent Organizing Project
Location: Corvallis


Community Alliance of Tenants $5,000 - Abortion Provider, Western States Center, Social Justice NW links us together.
Project: Housing Justice Program
Location: Portland
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
USCCB Website Regarding CCHD Funding Policies

CCHD Funding Policies
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development fully upholds the Church's teaching on the sanctity of human life from conception through natural death. Organizations that receive CCHD funds must not participate in or promote activities that contradict the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, organizations that support or promote same-sex marriage, discrimination, racism, capital punishment, abortion, or euthanasia are not eligible for CCHD funding.To ensure CCHD funds are used in keeping with Catholic moral and social teaching, all applicants must go through a multi-step review process CCHD funds are allocated only to organizations that are incorporated and have an Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) tax exempt designation. If the applicant organization is not incorporated and federally tax exempt, CCHD may allow use of a fiscal sponsor to receive the grant funds and distribute them to the funded group. To qualify, the fiscal sponsor must be incorporated and must have a current 501(c)(3) designation. A fiscal sponsor does not direct a funded effort. Their primary purpose is to transmit the CCHD funds and oversee their proper use.

“Six-year” Policy
All organizations who have received funding for any period of six or more years since 1997 will be ineligible to apply to CCHD for a three-year period. This policy applies whether the organization received funding for six years on a continuous or intermittent basis. After the three-year interval, these organizations will be eligible for funding requests for up to another six years before the same interval cycle will be repeated. You should contact your area grant specialist to determine your eligibility for the current grant cycle. (vocal asks - WHO IS OUR GRANT SPECIALIST?)

OREGON policy : The Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants are awarded on the basis of need and not on religious affiliation
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Remedy  

Abandon the CCHD. It is not a mandatory collection.

The Archdiocese can make a list of organizations they feel are worthy of being funded.

Simply post this on their website for Catholics to choose from or not.

Saves administrative costs. Saves advertising costs.

Eliminates type of other past grantee organizations that were given money in the past that could be just friends of friends. History of Oregon's CCHD grantees were saved for at least twenty years.

Eliminate conflicts of interest that seem to have happened for decades.

There seems to be little or no regard to Jesus Christ's Roman Catholic church and her mission to save souls with Catholic funds entrusted to do His work. The Word has been silenced.

"..but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful." Mark 4:19

"The None Story"

IN THE 2016 Catholic Directory the SFCC is STILL posted.  Mary Jo Tully, as chancellor, was in charge of the religious communities of women.  We will see if her departure helped correct this direct  attack on the Roman Catholic Church.

As of March 2015 the  Sisters for Christian Community SFCC, is still in the Catholic Directory for the Archdiocese of Portland.  "Sisters" that belong to an Order that HAS canonical approval could very easily identify themselves as with that order and not SFCC.  They are not approved by Rome and could lead some well-meaning Catholics away from True church teachings.

Their website says in part: "By 1995 SFCC defined itself as a "prophetic-ecclesial community" driven to "speak the truth of love and grow in the maturity of Christ"      (Eph 4:15). SFCC continued to understand itself to be a community of consecrated women who are self-determining, self-regulating and self-governing and hold a common goal: that all may be one-the Christ prayer for unity and collegiality. To SFCC it is clear that only the Christ-prayer of unity makes all independence and collegiality possible and productive. Thus it is this Gospel prayer that forms the heart of the SFCC common spirituality, while it challenges each SFCC to take the uncomfortable risk of being prophet in her home town. Founded originally to concern itself with the restructuring of a hierarchical institutional Church, SFCC moved progressively toward what it came to understand as a "ministry of presence."
__________________________________________________________________

When Archbishop Vlazny was appointed our spiritual leader, along came a group of women approved by him. This group is called the Sisters For Christian Community. We have many in working in our Archdiocese.  FYI - Archdiocese of Portland phone number 503-234-5334 - Office of Religious Communities - Mary Jo Tully , Chancellor mtully@archdpdx.org (See below for names.)

"Sr." Joan Chittister in Spiritual Final Round

They are non canonical, meaning they are NOT approved by Rome.

Non-Canonical–adjective

1.  Not included within a canon or group of rules.

2.  Not belonging to the canon of Scripture.

It doesn't take long to see their negative feelings on the Vatican.

If we go deeper we see "women's rights" which addresses agreeing with the acceptance of abortion and women priests.

We have four "women priests" in Oregon sending the wrong message. Nice friendly ladies, working in some capacity for the Catholic church here, but leading people astray aka hell.

"Sisters for Christian Community" Started in Oregon on advent of Archbishop Vlazney's Term

SFCC Members From the 2009 Oregon Catholic Directory: 

Brandt, Judith, SFCC

Devlaeminck, Bernadetta, SFCC

Fouquette, Virginia, SFCC

Frolick, Jeanne, SFCC, OCP Music Contributor

Frolick , Patricia, SFCC

Kelley, Elaine, SFCC

Kitching, Mary Lou, SFCC

Kopp, Lillianna, SFCC   Friend of the Archdiocese who started this non-canonical order.

Manuel, Honora, SFCC

Mintonye, Sara, SFCC

Oakley, Diana, SFCC

Trager, Suzanne, SFCC

Trtek, Catherine, SFCC

 The New Nuns - Time Magazine 1972
In part below - full text above.

'The most radical of the new nuns have abandoned their orders to form "noncanonical" experimental communities outside the reach of church authority. But they do not consider themselves "ex-nuns."

A free-form, geographically dispersed group (32 states, Canada and England) called Sisters for a Christian Community (S.F.C.C.) was founded in 1970 to "experiment and pioneer new forms of religious life for the 21st century."

Essential to the undertaking, says Founding Sister Lillanna Kopp of Portland, Ore., is the elimination of the bureaucratic, authoritarian structures that have driven American nuns out of traditional religious orders by the tens of thousands since the Vatican Council closed in 1965.

Since that year, the number of U.S. nuns has dropped from 180-000 to 150,000—far more than can be accounted for by normal attrition. "We must be a pilgrim people on the road, unencumbered by luggage," says Sister Kopp, a sociologist and author, who left her order in 1969.

"Marble mother houses are what destroyed the old orders."


GREAT NEWS!! The Vatican is conducting an Apostolic Visitation of Religious Communities. It may be that SFCC is off their radar screen because it is non canonical. But we can make sure that if we're being led astray by the Archdpdx they will know.

Sister Kirsten Foley, FSE 203-287-5467
or write to her at: Apostolic Visitation Office, PO Box 4328, Hamden, Conn. 0651-9998
*It's hard to put into words how much our truly Christ lead priests and nuns (sisters) mean to us.

Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

Bishop Steiner's "Bubble Blessing" Blunder of "MOTA" and their Labryinth

We have a problem with our auxiliary Bishop's discernment of late. There are a myriad of questions regarding celebrating "mass" with Mission of the Atonement (MOTA); their so-called Catholic and Lutheran church and the homosexual promotion of  Community of Welcoming Communities after our Archdiocese was bankrupted because of this. Community of Welcoming Communities
Here's the letter I sent him in May 2010:

Hello Bishop Steiner,

Just a question as to your take on Mission of the Atonement. I saw that you blessed the labyrinth and know that this is a mixed Catholic/Lutheran church.

Do you know if the retired priest consecrates with the Lutheran minister and why is this not in the Archdiocesan Oregon Catholic Directory as a valid church.

Just want to get a handle on this.
Thanks,
Carolyn Wendell
503-769-4767

Since there has been no reply...and it's still going on, now it goes public.

Mission of the Atonement Mission of the Atonement (Synergy in Action) is a blend of what they term "Catholics and Lutherans" using the same readings, songs, etc. UNTIL to comes to Communion. Then they say they each go in their own lines for this "sacrament".

Mission of the Atonement attendance for a Roman Catholic believer, much less a Roman Catholic Bishop, shows that there is no understanding of how MOTA (Mission of the Atonement) conflicts with the Roman Catholic faith

What Mission of the Atonement says about the Roman Catholic church from staff person Susie Snortum. "She identifies herself as Presbyterian, but loves the blurring of denominational lines in the interest of worshiping our one God together."

NO FEAR OF LIVING AS HE WANTS.  HE'S ABOVE THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH?
Some questions: why is this needed for unity when it means watering down our True Faith? How does this "priest" do the mass with the same text as a Lutheran? This is NOT the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ so why is Bishop Steiner approving of this fiasco? Why does this get any attention of all?

Why does the Archdiocese allow this? Why does our Bishop "bless" a less than Christian labyrinth as a wonderful thing when it leads people away from the True Faith? (more coming your way about the labyrinth and its danger). Why is this NOT in the Catholic Directory, but encouraged, since it's still here?

These are a few examples of the "rotten fruit of this spirit".. A degradation of our clergy, and values.

Bishop Steiner's  Blunder in Print

"Welcoming Congregations" aka pro-homosexual churches traps from Satan, for those unaware

Catholic
Journey-Koinonia Catholic Community, Portland, OR
Sophia Christi Catholic Community, Portland, OR (a congregation of Oregonian women who think they're ordained including, Toni Tortilla, Ruth Broeski, Sandra McMaster, Suzanne Theil)
Sophia Christi Catholic Community-Eugene, Portland, OR
St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Portland, OR - (FATHER CHUCK LIENERT AGAIN Homosexual(active)Friendly and encouraged at all stages to continue and grow.
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Portland, OR
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Portland, OR

Catholic/Lutheran
Mission of the Atonement, Beaverton, OR

It is not necessary to join MOTA to have an "Ecumenical" Church. Just have a Roman Catholic that stands firm in the faith with lots of friends outside the Church. We don't have to blur the Truth to make friends or to believe we really are better than plain old Roman Catholics.  It's true Synergy at it's best.


"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." (Eph 5:6-11)

Alinksy Catholics in Archdpdx - Watch Out

Our Oregon Catholic State is going through and participating in the destruction of the Roman Catholic Church. The ugly head of the so called "American Catholic Church" is rearing it's head more boldly than ever in our state.

We need to follow Jesus Christ and not have our ears "tickled" by those whose hearts are confused and aren't quite sure of Vatican II, which had minimum changes made, and those in power that encourage this ignorance with zeal.
Oregon seems to be a great portion of this problem, from the Oregon Catholic Press Missals and music, to Catholic Sentinel sham etc, seemingly, knowingly advancing this liberal agenda more and more. We must not let this happen and save the Truth and Beauty of the Roman Catholic Church for every Catholic.

What ever you need to say to help this effort, I will be more than happy to post. We can do all things through Christ Jesus, and we will.


"We've had enough of exhortations to be silent! Cry out with a hundred thousand tongues. I see that the world has become rotten because of silence."
~
St. Catherine of Siena

Operation A-OK Sorta.

I came through the operation fine, but within two weeks I had a "mini stroke" which has left me 85% deaf in my right ear.  (I'm one of the 2% who have these after the operation.)

It has given me much reflective time. At first I was really angry with God...do prayers even work? After a while I realized that prayers have prevented more than I'd bargained for.

I'll be back soon, for those who have asked. I do thank you for your continued prayers and your insights. They are precious and needed.

( A year later, I realize that this has been a blessing and have learned many things from this experience.  One, how much God protected me from and how many people have so much more to overcome.)

Letters to Matt Cato Office of Justice and Peace from Concerned OR Catholic.

VOCAL says. Tomorrow morning I'm having my aortic valve replaced and another procedure to help my chronic atrial fibrillation. I've been quiet for a while, sitting on many things as I deal with this congenital condition found on a fluke. I ask for your prayers and forgive any typos, I have to get up early.

We need to open our hearts to the stirring of the Holy Spirit and rely on His words that He will never leave us. He will lead us through these dark valleys we all face in our bodies and souls. His Divine Will be done.

This correspondence was sent to me and I was given permission to share this with you. I have been waiting to see if our new Office of Justice and Peace/Respect Life Director Matt Cato and Father Tim Mockaitis the Respect Life Assistant Director would be any different from the over thirty years we've endured directors with an Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon mentality that has nothing to do with the Catholic Church. Please look at the links for documentation.

I want to thank Matt Cato for showing up at the Oregon Right to Life conference and going to a couple of workshops. This is the first time I've ever heard of a Justice and Peace director at an ORTL conference. Here comes the "BUT", as you will note in the correspondence, Matt has no clue about saving the unborn, contraception, cloning, fetal harvesting, buying eggs and sperm from college students, selling baby body parts, mixing human and animal DNA, death panels, assisted suicide, fetal homicide in hospitals, the depression, drug addiction etc, of most post abortive women and the pain unborn suffer during abortions, etc. As you will read: Matt Cato "would like more pro-life people to take positive stances towards life, to be for something." (UNREAL.VOCAL)

It is a travesty that once again Catholic Collection plate money goes to pay the salary, perks, insurance, retirement, confidence in him etc. to someone who has the term Respect Life added to his title and has NO CLUE.

It saddens me that according to attendees even at these L,P and J meetings for the Archdiocese, Fr. Mockaitis has not attended any meetings, nor do I believe he has a Respect Life Committee in his parish Queen of Peace in Salem. Matt Cato's parish St. Juan Diego has the Faith Cafe, with EMO churches, http://www.stjuandiego.org/social_justice.htm and encourages "sustainability" which is code speak for population control in most links regarding this. Plus they don't have a standing pro-life committee.

Once again the 35 Oregon babies die each day without the Catholic church opening it 's mouth.
Archbishop Vlazny speaks at the ORTL rally each year, but has given no money to Oregon Right to Life or to the Father Taaffe homes while Father was alive. He was VOCAL's spiritual director and told me.


HERE"S THE CORRESPONDENCE. THANKS DAVID FOR YOUR COURAGE AND HOLY BOLDNESS. He has highlighted his letters, VOCAL makes comments as noted.
******************************************************************
MAY 4th, 2010

Hi Matt, 

In your Newsletter you have a list of "Recommended Events Around the Archdiocese" that you think we should attend. By our attendance at these events we would indicate that we agree with the purpose of the event and goals of those sponsoring the event. I am wondering if you took the time to read the flyer for the May 1 demonstration and the web site of the organization sponsoring the event. (flyer shown below)

Blog link - http://www.maydaypdx.blogspot.com/

Does the Archdiocese agree with the statements that appear in the flyer and with the goals and objectives of the various organizations that are listed on this blog? Do you have a clue what these organizations are trying to accomplish? Do you think there is one pro life organization listed on the blog?

I can't imagine why I would attend. The reasons you list for attending do not explain what this demonstration is really all about - the promotion of socialism and Marxist ideology. Do we want to achieve worker rights in the same manner that were used in the former USSR - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Workers in these countries came under control of dictatorships and were merely slaves to the state and the working conditions and pay were miserable.
 
Do you think we should be like communist Cuba? There will be a May Day demonstration in Cuba. Should we support the Cuban demonstration? What is the difference between the Cuban May Day demonstration and the Portland demonstration? 

Think of the millions who died in the past as the result brutal socialist-Marxist regimes. You may say this is not about the promotion of socialism-Marxism . Just look on the blog. It reeks with organizations that promote socialism. 

The Catholic Church should not participate in any way in a May Day demonstration of this nature.

Wouldn't be better if the Archdiocese came up with a stand alone program that did not link the Catholic Church with the progressive socialist-Marxist movement. That program should be true to the peace and justice teaching of the Catholic Church as well as the promotion of the civil rights of the unborn. By doing this I believe more Catholics would be motivated in participating in a meaningful way. 

Sincerely,
David Lacheck
St. John Fisher Parish


From Matt Cato

Hello David,

Thank you for your comments. I'm not sure if we have met but I had worked with your daughter, my wife and I had attended SJF for years until we moved, and lots of my inlaws are parishioners. I'm really glad that Father Forbes is doing so well.

We are supporting this because one of the specific issues that the U.S. Bishop is focused on is immigration reform. One of the Archbishop's priorties is immigration reform. We do not support protests but we can support peaceful marches and vigils on worthy causes: the rights of immigrants is one such cause. (is this a one issue focus? No Archdiocesan promotion like it regarding Pro-Life issues VOCAL)

May I ask what you mean by progressive socialist-Marxist movement? Would you mind defining it for me so I understand your point correctly? I was also uncertain about "progressive" since most people consider that the opposite is "conservative" and Jesus was not a conservative. Nor was Jesus a capitalist. (note: this is the Jim Wallis/Soujournors take on Jesus, I don't know if they believe HE's actually God and not to be limited to the small minds of human creatures relatating the God of the Universe.VOCAL)

I wonder if you understand the implications of your comment that we don't want to be like Cuba and since Cuba has a May Day demonstration (this is not a demonstration) then we should not have a May Day march. If Cuba celebrated birthdays should we then not celebrate birthdays? Since the national sport of Cuba is baseball should we then not participate in or support baseball? (strange comparisons...off the subject VOCAL)

This support in no way diminishes the fervor we have against abortion but we'd also like to see more pro-life people take positive stances towards life, to be for something.(VOCAL - Deer in the headlight moment. This proves Matt Cato knows next to nothing about pro-life people and what we do. He should have listened to the whole conference. This was the topic of one of the workshops at the Oregon Right to Life conference last weekend. Matt was invited to speak at a breakfast before the ORTL conference held for all Pro-life Committee members.  He would not attend IF I attended.  So I did not. But to his credit stayed for a little while at the Oregon Right to Life Conference. He has not been seen at one since to my knowledge. Fr. Mockitis was absent.)

Again, thank you for expressing your concerns. And if you have the time I would like to know what you mean by socialist-Marxist.

Thank you David.

Peace,

Matt Cato
Office of Justice and Peace/Respect Life
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
Archdiocese of Portland
2838 E. Burnside St.
Portland, OR 97214
503.233.8361
mcato@archdpdx.org
justiceandpeace@archdpdx.org
www.archdpdx.org/jprespect

Hi Matt,

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my email. You must be very busy. I did not realize you and your family were past members of SJF. Unfortunately SJF does not have a Respect for Life Committee and no one has been appointed to represent the parish in pro life matters. I did attend the ORTL meeting and saw you but you were speaking to other people at the time. Also, I meet you when you conducted an informational meeting with the St Cecilia SOL group earlier in the year.

I am more than happy to answer your question as to what I mean by progressive socialist-marxist movement. Here are a couple examples from links on the maydaypdx blog. They represent what I mean with respect to socialist-Marxist. They tell us what they represent.

The International Socialist Organization says the following in part:

"We stand in the Marxist tradition, founded by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, and continued by V.I. Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg and Leon Trotsky.

A socialist society would not only take away the existing wealth of the ruling class, but also its economic control over the world. The means of production--the factories, offices, mines, and so on--would be owned by all of society. Under the current system, important economic decisions are left to the chaos of the free market and to the blind competition of capitalists scrambling for profits. Under socialism, the majority of people would plan democratically what to do and how do it."

The Freedom Socialist Party writes the following:

"THE FREEDOM SOCIALIST PARTY IS a revolutionary, socialist feminist organization, dedicated to the replacement of capitalist rule by a genuine workers' democracy that will guarantee full economic, social, political, and legal equality to women, people of color, gays, and all who are exploited, oppressed, and repelled by the profit system and its offshoot -- imperialism."

I am not aware of any Marxist or socialist organization or institution that opposes abortion. Are you? If so let me know. Also I don't see how these organizations are connected to immigration reform or the teachings of the Catholic Church.

As far as progressive is concerned I can only say that I do not know what a progressive stands for. Hilary Clinton says she is a progressive as do 83 members of congress who form the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Something must differentiate a progressive from a Democrat (no Republicans are members of the Caucus) otherwise there would be no reason to form the caucus. I would like to paraphrase G. K. Chesterton from his book Orthodoxy: "Proclaiming to be a progressive implies that one is moving toward an ideal goal and that it must be fixed. The only intelligible sense that progress or advance can have among men, is that they have a definite vision, and that they wish to make the whole world like that vision."

I have not seen or heard a person who claims to be a progressive identify a vision or a definite and fixed goal that the progressive is moving toward. However, all of those politicians who call themselves progressives, as far as I know, are pro abortion, pro homosexual marriage,pro embryonic stem cell research and pro euthanasia. And it seems to me they are dedicated in increasing the power of the federal government and ignoring the constitution whenever possible.

If you are aware of a politician who claims to be a progressive and is for an end to abortion and smaller government please send me the name of this person.

I consider all three, progressives, socialists and Marxists to be movements with similar objectives, as noted above, and these objectives are in direct opposition to the doctrines, dogmas and teaching of the Catholic Church and as such we should not be marching with people in these movements in a May Day demonstration. (a public meeting or march protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue. - from my dictionary.)


You made a comment about Cuba. In Cuba and other communist countries May Day parades express the view that Communism is a good thing. This is what May Day has been about since Lenin took control of Russia. Why should Catholics take part in a demonstration/celebration that promotes communism? Where is the connection to immigration reform?

Baseball and birthdays are not in anyway express political ideas and thus you are not making an apple to orange comparison.

You state: "This support in no way diminishes the fervor we have against abortion but we'd also like to see more pro-life people take positive stances towards life, to be for something. This was the topic of one of the workshops at the Oregon Right to Life".

Would you please explain what you mean by "positive stances toward life, to be for something". It sounds like a complaint of some kind to me.

I am for the following:

As noted below in my original letter I am for a Life/Peace/Justice (LPJ) campaign supported and funded by the Archdiocese that is a "stand alone" effort not connected with organizations that are not in agreement with the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding abortion and social teaching.

That effort should have a clear mission statement and contain outlined goals and objectives that are on line available to all who wish to view them. ( a five year plan make sense to me)  Abortion should be given equal attention in such a program. 

The program should be aggressively promoted with a requirement that all parishes participate. 

Posters and flyers could be created in the local Catholic schools by students. Awards could be given to the student with comes up with the best original flyer and poster. (of course this is not new it comes right from ORTL)

Parishes that excel in increasing parishioner involvement should be given special recognition (Perhaps a visit by our Archbishop) for their accomplishments. There would have to be a sensitivity to not over selling the program so as not to give parishioners the feeling they were being forced into the program.

I am in favor of writing letters (news releases) to local media informing them of LPJ activities that have helped people. Parishioners who have a gift for writing could be asked to participate.

Different parishes in the Archdiocese should be sharing ideas, information and accomplishments as well as failures. In part this could be done in vicariate meetings that have LPJ as part of the agenda.

In my original email asked a number of questions which you did not answer. I do hope you respond to the questions.

I close with the following from Mother Teresa of Calcutta to the National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, DC, Feb. 1994

Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.
Many people are very, very concerned with the children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about all the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions who are being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today - abortion which brings people to such blindness.

Sincerely,
David Lacheck

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Thank you David for your wisdom and love of Our Faith and the Dear Lord. So far there has been no further conversations that I know of. When they are available if they come...you'll know.  VOCAL

3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.

3:18 He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe, is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

3:19 And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil.

3:20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved.

3:21 But he that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are done in God.

The Book of John, the Words of Christ