Bishop Vasa: 'Remember, rejoice, return': A final goodbye to Father Eric Freed

Bishop Vasa's brother priest from his diocese, Father Eric Freed, was brutally murdered on New Year's Day.  Here is a newspaper article sharing Father Freed's funeral mass. 

Rest In Peace dear Father. 

 Will Houston/The Times-Standard

Posted:   01/07/2014 02:33:14 AM PST | Updated:   2 days ago

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eureka on Monday to attend their last Mass in the presence of the late Rev. Eric Freed of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Eureka.    Before the ceremony began, attendees consoled each other with embraces while others knelt in prayer.

After the opening prayer and readings, Bishop Robert Vasa spoke to the congregation as he had done the night before during a vigil at St. Bernard Catholic Church.    ”Each time we gather, it seems that the grief becomes a little more manageable,” Vasa said. During his homily, Vasa said that the community would share the grief of Freed's “untimely death,” but said that his teachings would still remain.  

”The torch is passed to all of you,” Vasa said. “Do not lose faith, do not lose hope. The examples and teachings Father Eric gave you, these too remain.”   As a way to begin after such a loss, Vasa told the congregation to utilize a characteristic that Freed exuded on a daily basis.   ”The commission here in Eureka is to love with the same joy that he possessed contagiously,” Vasa said.

Dance Farrell, who read scripture during the funeral Mass, said in an interview that Freed's joy in living was what brought everyone together.  "The one thing that he focused on more than anything else was the idea of joy,” Farrell said. “That joy that he brought is the reason all these people are here. Because he lived and shared that joy in a very real way.”

After the Mass ended, a funeral procession followed the hearse to St. Bernard's Cemetery. Mourners had the chance to say their final goodbyes -- some with a simple flower laid upon the casket while others fell to their knees and wept.   A reception was held after the burial where the many mourners were able to share their memories of Freed.  

Maria Homen said she first met Freed in 2001 when he was administrator of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Arcata.  "He was a friendly, nice priest who was really nice to talk to” Homen said. “I'm really shocked that this happened to him.”   For Homen, Freed's ability to connect with his parishioners made a lasting impression on her.  "He was able to explain the sermons and their meaning very well,” she said. “And he was really good with kids.” 

Arcata resident Diana Cavinta said Freed was very close to her family, even attending her daughter's second birthday.  "He was part of our family, our family life and religious life,” she said. “He was a wonderful person to everyone. It didn't matter if you were Catholic or a non-believer.”     Like Homen, Cavinta initially met Freed in Arcata and chose to follow him when he left to the Newman Center at Humboldt State University in 2006 and again when he moved to St. Bernard in Eureka. She even gave up her lunchtime jogs to go attend Freed's noon sermons.   Like many who knew Freed, Cavinta said she is having a difficult time coming to terms with his death.  "He sacrificed himself,” she said. “If he had to pick, instead of seeing someone else suffer, he would volunteer and take it. That's the only way I can justify it.”  

Vasa told the congregation that their grief will eventually pass, which will give them the chance to live as Freed did.   ”Remember, rejoice, return,” Vasa said. “We must do that.”

from Bill Diss: Fired from Benson High School in Portland

Dear Friends for Life and Purity,

I think many of you have heard that the school board, in a very strange manner, voted to dismiss me on December 16, 2013.  A bit of a strange Christmas present.  Life Legal Defense Fund will be assisting me along with the law firm of McKanna Bishop Joffe, LLP.  I do appreciate the prayers of everyone.  Please pray for my family and pray for those persecuting me.

It is my opinion that many administrators at Portland Public Schools will do everything to keep Planned Parenthood on the campuses.  I do not think that the district cares how much money they have to spend to keep Planned Parenthood and the philosophy of Planned Parenthood at the campuses of the district.

One of the board members, Bobbie Regan sits on the advisory board of the “mercy killing” organization Compassion & Choices of Oregon along with former Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette CEO David Greenberg.  I would imagine others support other anti-life activities in the area.

The following was released by Life Legal Defense Fund on December 17, 2013:

Portland Public Schools Terminate Employment of Pro-Life Teacher

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Staff

 

Portland, Oregon: On Monday, December 16, 2013 the school board for the Portland Public School District voted to terminate the teaching contract of Bill Diss, a teacher who has been an outspoken opponent of Planned Parenthood. Mr. Diss experienced censure in his teaching career beginning in 2007 when he publicly opposed the building of a new Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in downtown Portland. The current action follows Mr. Diss’ opposition to being forced to facilitate presenters from the Teen Outreach Program (TOP), a program administered by Planned Parenthood, coming into his tutorial session to recruit students.

“Bill Diss is a well qualified teacher with a track record of success,” states Dana Cody, President and Executive Director of Life Legal Defense Foundation. “As the circumstances surrounding this termination demonstrate, Mr. Diss has done nothing that would merit being fired from his job. LLDF will pursue every possible avenue in defending Mr. Diss’ rights in this matter, and hopes to see his rights ultimately protected despite PPS’ actions.”



Background: Bill Diss has taught Technology, Math, Computers and Electronics at Benson High School since 2002. He has also taught several classes at the community college level. He is highly regarded in his abilities and his success both by students themselves, by their parents, and fellow teachers. Mr. Diss is the only teacher in the state of Oregon who has been certified as qualified to teach college level computer science to high school students for dual credit. His initiative and hard work have attracted outside grants to Benson opening up even greater opportunities for Benson students. For the first five years at Benson High, Mr. Diss was rated as proficient or better, with numerous positive compliments in his reviews. Mr. Diss’ methodology and teaching style has remained substantially the same in all his years of teaching.

The positive reviews took a dramatic change for the worse, however, when Mr. Diss began to speak out in opposition to the building of a new Planned Parenthood facility in downtown Portland. Mr. Diss was involved in opposition activities on his own time, and did not bring his political or religious convictions into his instruction in the classroom. Nonetheless, he began to experience complaints about his political activities from school administrators, and his teaching came under sudden, rigorous scrutiny. Complaints, negative evaluations, letters of reprimand and formal meetings became a regular part of Mr. Diss’ life at school for as long as he engaged in outspoken, public opposition to Planned Parenthood.

Shortly after the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, presenters with the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) came to Mr. Diss’ tutorial classes to give a presentation recruiting students for the TOP program. When presenters entered the tutorial, Mr. Diss, consistent with District policy, asked for identification. He was handed a card that identified the presenters as employees of Planned Parenthood. This knowledge surprised Mr. Diss, and caused him serious emotional distress due to his well-known personal religious convictions and his years of work to oppose that organization. He expressed his dilemma to Benson Principal, Carol Campbell at the time and asked to be excused from being present for the presentation due to his religious convictions. His request was denied. He was told that he would be required to be present for the TOP presentation. Through the remainder of the school year during which he taught, Mr. Diss continued to have to deal with Planned Parenthood staff as they administered the TOP program.

Simultaneous to his request not to be involved with TOP, Mr. Diss’ teaching came under renewed censorial review. Mr. Diss accepted the input from school administration, but the year proved to be extremely stressful, including numerous classroom observations and meetings with school administration. On March 19, 2013 school administrators summarily demanded that Mr. Diss leave the school premises and not return—placing him on paid administrative leave. Mr. Diss was told to leave the school and was escorted off the premises by a police officer. This unnecessary show of force is symbolic of the animus faced by Mr. Diss throughout the year.

Again Thank you and God Bless You,
Bill Diss
503-334-6183

CCHD Names to Remember: Where are the Catholic Values?

Day labor site feels lack of support

Catholic Sentinel photo by Ed Langlois Men at day labor center try to stay warm while waiting for work. Ed Langlois Of the Catholic Sentinel Organizers of a Portland center for day laborers say support from city officials has waned. That is complicating a capital campaign meant to fund a permanent building on the site. The center, on city-owned land amid industry at Northeast Martin Luther King and Everett, is run by Voz Workers' Rights Education Project. In part with funding from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Voz gives workers a dry and central place to wait for employers to find them. The center also prevents wage fraud and other shady deals, which were par for the course when laborers stood on various corners around the city. When the site opened, the city offered a five-year lease. After that agreement expired in March, the Portland Development Commission offered only a month-by-month arrangement and said Voz could be asked to leave with six months notice. Leaders of Voz say the precarious standing has made it difficult to secure funders for a plan to construct better buildings. Romeo Sosa, executive director of Voz, says he has asked PDC to list the property in the name of Voz so that funders will have confidence. He does not want to buy the land or have it donated — just listed with the Voz name. (VOCAL: It is very bold of Mr. Sosa) "We want a permanent building," says Sosa, comparing the shed-like enterprise to larger and sturdier centers in Seattle, Los Angeles and Baltimore. More professional offices would not only be more humane for workers, but would attract more employers, he explains. The Seattle day labor center received $2 million in public funding and includes rooms for English and computer classes, a waiting area and a kitchen. Baltimore's center is housed on a donated mansion.  "Voz has done a lot of good work down there," says Valerie Chapman, pastoral administrator of St. Francis Parish, where Voz has offices.  "The place provides dignity for workers. They don't get caught out in the rain." Chapman recalls that the initiative was favored by business owners and residents of the neighborhood, who saw it as a way to prevent various corners from springing up as crowded day labor sites. "Month-to-month makes it really complicated for planning," says Chapman, who has also worked with the city on St. Francis Dining Hall, which provides free meals to people in need. "Funders need to know they will be around." Chapman says PDC is giving a mixed message: send potential funders to us for assurance, but also, we can have you leave the site with only six months notice. Portland gave $200,000 to Voz to start the center and has given $25,000 annually since, charging only $1 per year in rent.  (WHY do they need Catholic money?) "We have made it abundantly clear that our support is in place," says Shawn Uhlman, PDC spokesman. Uhlman says the commission has no intention of asking Voz to leave the property. Patrick Quinton, PDC’s executive director, has invited Voz to send potential donors to him to be reassured. Uhlman says PDC will do what it can to help if Voz wants to purchase the property, but does not simply sign over city-owned parcels. The 2013 market value of the land tops $360,000 — well out of the reach of Voz. The value has tripled since 2000 as industry has picked up in inner Northeast. Selling the parcel could mean a boost to the PDC, which is trying to reduce its land holdings. The original agreement between the city and Voz said the non-profit would work toward building a more permanent center on city site or elsewhere. The center was created with backing of former Mayor Tom Potter. The office of current Mayor Charlie Hales had not offered comment as of press time. "Support is not as strong as it used to be," Sosa concludes. "We feel the city sees it as us against them instead of us together. They say they support us, but we don't feel that." Sosa says if the center closes, day laborers will head back to the corners. (VOCAL: There is no movement forward for this organization.  It is a political movement and for Catholics, which all of the players say they are, disregards the Mind and Heart of Christ with pro-Abortion and pro-homosexual factors involved in VOZ)

Guest Post “Partisan Political Activity” : CCHD California Style

“Partisan Political Activity”
HOW Strictly D0
We Define It?
by William Snear

While doing research for a ZOGS article on ACORN. l became aware of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development`s operational design. Most of the approximately $9 million it collects every 

year is dispensed to community organizations.

 Not community organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs, but community organizations like ACORN. CCHD gave over $7 million to ACORN organizations before declaring it ìneligble for in 2008.

I have continued to be concerned that in the parishes I attend, there is no straightforward disclosure on Collection Sunday of CCHD`S modus operandi. So most of the congregation thinks that

CCHD is a conventional Catholic charity.

My concern recently spiked when I accidentally discovered the role that PICO California played in the campaign to pass California's Proposition 30 which raised the top state income tax rate on high earners to 12.3 percent. 

PICO California is a member of the PICO National Network, one of the largest networks of community organizations. The California unit comprises 19 faith-based affiliates.

ln the 2011-2012 grant year, CCHD gave 115,470,130 in grants to 12 of those 19 organizations. The affiliate in my diocese, San Bernardino's Inland Congregations United Change (ICUC) received $50.000.

I was surprised to learn that PICO California was teamed up with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE). the successor group to ACORN, in a massive effort

to pass Proposition 30. 

Even more surprising PICO Califomìa. which depends on offerings from good hearted worshipers. had contributed $259,000 to the campaign for Proposition 30.

Naturally. l wondered if any of that money was contributed to PICO California by lCUC. SO. I called Verne Schweiger. the staffer at the Diocese of San Bernardino's Office of Social Concerns

who manages CCHD matters and asked him to investigate. 

When we spoke again. he declined to disclose whether ICUC had contributed to the Proposition 30 campaign, but he did tell me that any such contributions would be a matter of public record.

l said that it would be unethical for the CCHD to collect funds under the guise of helping the poor if some of that money is going to political efforts. particularly something like Proposition 30.

He replied that there was no problem. because lCUC was not involved in partisan political activity. which would disqualify them from CCHD funding. Further his review of the ICUC audit had shown

that the $50.000 grant was spent tirely for the purpose described in its grant application` and ICUC does not support any initiative contrary to Catholic teaching.

After some intensive inquiry. I located the pertinent public records. PICO California established its own Proposition 30 campaign committee. ICUC did not contribute to the $259.90() that PICO California contributed. Worse`ICUC made an individual contribution of $54.000 to the PICO California Committee for Proposition 30 - $4,000 more than the grant it received from CCHD. The Orange County Congregation Community Organization contributed $90,000... $50,000 more than its CCHD grant.

Total 2012 contributions to the committee were $671,516. In addition to PICO Califomia's $259,000, 11 of the19 affiliated community organizations contributed $357,492 (which includes$206,992 from 5 of the 12 groups that received recent CCHD grants). The balance of $55,124 was contributed by others.

For many. the argument that campaigning for Proposition 30 did not constìtute partisan political activity is a hair-splìtting hedge. lt's true that it involved a ballot measure, not only sponsored

candidates, but Proposition 30 was Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown`s initiative. and support and opposition were more clearly divided along party lines than for most ballot measures.

The elephant in the grant office is why Catholics never should have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations that had hundreds of thousands of dollars available for Proposition 30: Catholic schools would have been better recipients.

It is the undeniable right of these groups and their supporters to contribute and campaign. though perhaps not at the same time they are receiving CCHD money. But it is certainly the right of people in the pews to know that their sacrificial giving supported an organization that spent almost $0.7 mil-

lion campaigning against the preference that many of the givers expressed on their own ballots. 

Honesty remains the best policy even in church.

Bill Snear is a dentist who lives in California. 

Contact him at billsnaer@verizon.net,)

Hearing Update from Bill Diss

Dear Brothers and Sisters for Life, Purity and Healing, Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17, RSV, Courtesy of Harmony Media) Hearing Details: I wanted to thank everyone who came to the hearing on Thursday, November 14, 2013.  I wish I could say it better but thank you so much.  There were probably 150 people.  They configured the room with some very big chairs and extra tables.  The room had a capacity of over 90, but they only let 47 people into the room. I wanted to thank my son and daughter who were so helpful.  My son called every day last week and many times, "Dad how can I help you?"  My daughter made up the nice big posters that were in the hearing room. I suspect there will be more hearings both with the district and in the courts.  I do encourage all to keep praying and please bring cameras, video cameras and recorders if the event is public.  It would be nice to have a recording or pictures from last Thursday.  The district did make a recording and hopefully we will get a copy.  Most meetings and hearings at public schools are public and thus can be recorded. The district placed a policeman at the door and then the head lawyer from the district stood by the door to prevent more people from coming in the room or from standing by the room.  She was joined by another school attorney who spoke against me and yet another school attorney who sat by the hearing officer. The district also blocked the elevators so that more people could not stand by the room.  All of the people then went back to main floor and prayed.  I think the magnitude of people praying at the headquarters from the district was yet again God outdoing the devil.  I thought of the following incidents through history. Devil's Act God's Act Adam and Eve fall to sin. The world is sent a savior. Joseph thrown in well. Joseph saves his brothers. Woman caught up with sin. A pharisee gets a lesson in true love. If any of you who were stopped by the head lawyer, Jollee Patterson, you may want to email her at jpatters@pps.net.  It would be interesting to hear her response on why they picked that room and why it was configured so that so few people were allowed in the room. I want to thank all who were praying around the world.  It was very hard to sit through the statements by Stephanie Harper, an attorney for the district, and then the statements by Frank Scotto, regional director, Carol Campbell, the past principal of Benson, and Jeandre Carbone and Barry Phillips vice principals of Benson.  District contact information is found at on the front page of the website http://www.pps.k12.or.us/ and clicking on Directory on the top left by News | Directory. The Oregonian repeated some of Mr. Scotto's remarks that when he observed me he found that I was militaristic.  His observation notes certainly did not indicate this.  He mentioned how I thanked students for their work and his only negative comment was when I exclaimed, "Listen Up." A vice principal from Benson also came and testified against me for some warnings I gave to a student in 2009.  When this same administrator found himself unassigned in 2011, I wrote a letter of recommendation for him.  Such is life.  I have heard that many who were chanting "Hosanna in the Highest" when Jesus came to Jerusalem were also there a few days later to chant, "Crucify him!" Special thanks to Mr. Davis a fellow teacher and Ms. Koenig the union representative who testified on my behalf.  Ms. McKanna, the lawyer hired by the district, also did a fine job.  She questioned many of the district actions especially all of the times that they have stopped me from working with children on basic math facts.  She questioned me on the effectiveness of time tables and I read the following from a student. In fact when I started I didn't know much but with the extra help you provided me I can now say my multiplication tables as fast as my name and much more.  For once I'm proud of myself. The crowd clapped and was reprimanded from Sascha Perrins.  He works for the district and was the hearing officer. The next step is for Sascha Perrins to make a decision.  Next week I will also be working on the grievances that we filed. I did make a closing statement and that is at the end of the email. Again and again thank you all for your prayers and for all who came last week.  There were many friends, students, parents and many I did not know. Please continue to pray and especially for those working in the school district.  There is an old saying, "When you go to bed with the dogs, you wake up with the fleas."  When one goes to bed with Planned Parenthood, as the schools in Portland and Salem have done, I do not know what you wake up with. Donations I wanted to thank all at Christ the King Church in the Clackamas area for their nice donation to help our outreach.  I think many of you know that Therese and others give out baby supplies, funds and information to many people going into Planned Parenthood.  We have tried to put on the heart of Christ and now mothers are holding babies near their hearts and not uncontrollable anguish. Our Hispanic ministry is doing very well and we have spoken at six churches in the area.  We could sure use a laptop so that our group can display videos.  Maybe someone out there is thinking of buying a new laptop and now you have a good place to donate your old laptop.  I also got a request from one of our helpers who was recently in a car wreck.  Does anyone have an older car they would like to donate or a contact for us? Closing Remarks at the Hearing:  I wanted to thank you all for being here this evening.  I looked at the thousands of students at Benson as my own children.   I loved them, I prayed for them, I laughed with them, I cried with them, I sang with them, I danced with them, I cheered with them, I cheered for them and yes I pushed them to levels that they thought they were insurmountable and uncomfortable. I had some motivational signs in the classroom and one stated: Did you bring your A game today? Some had their A game every day and some struggled every day. In 2007 a proud young man wrote me: I'm not to sure if you'll remember me but I was in you algebra class your first year at Benson and well I'm finally going to continue my education with Math being the foundation of my career in Finance and economics at UCLA. You may know all ready but You are without a doubt the best teacher Many have come across. I sit and review my notes which always state your quote "write out the original problem" which I often laugh at thinking back to your class.  The reason I'm writing you is because I wanted to say thank you for leaving "call-la-rada" (your home state) to in the end teach many like myself.  I have more fun with math than ever and that I will always remember you as my favorite teacher and your class. Thank you Mr. Diss In 2003 that young man had trouble finding his A game, but we worked together. Four years later he found his A Game. That folks is what it is all about! Again thank you and God Bless all of you.   God Bless you, Bill Diss Precious Children of Portland 503-334-6183   .