My parish is in the Atlanta archdiocese. My pastor, who is black by the way, told me several years ago that Archbishop Gregory worked closely with Obama in his community organizing days. He praised Obama when elected— knowing his stance on abortion. That tells me all I care to know.
According to Wikipedia, he decided he wanted to be a priest before he converted to Catholicism when he was aged about 12 or 13: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilton_Daniel_Gregory He was Master of Ceremonies for Cardinal Cody and Cardinal Bernadin so is likely to be privvy to a whole lot of secrets. Reading this piece from Church Militant, it looks like he's another McCarrick without the abuse of minors: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news...tor-abp.-wilton-gregory-to-get-washington-d.c He says a lot about the abuse of minors but I couldn't find anything saying he is bothered about the abuse of seminarians. His track record isn't good. Looks like he and McCarrick were a double act at the USCCB. Only he and McCarrick knew the contents of the letter from Cardinal Ratzinger informing the US Bishops that Communion shouldn't be given to abortion supporting politicians - the letter that McCarrick withheld from the Bishops and misrepresented. Bishop Gregory was President of the USCCB when the Charter for the Protection of Minors was introduced - the one which exempted Bishops. He's a big supporter of Amoris Laetitia and seems to be a hit with the Jesuits, receiving honorary degrees from two of their universities. He's a think outside the box, grey area prelate. He also seems to be a supporter of pride parades, women's ordination and out and proud clerics. He backed this man to the hilt as suitable for working with victims of clerical sex abuse: https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/atlanta-priest-goes-to-drag-show Double Yuk. And the unfortunate faithful in Washington won't be able to utter a word against him for fear of being labelled racist homophobes. God help them. Reading up on some of these strange prelates, a common thread among a few of them is that they grew up in a home without a father. Spellman and McCarrick's fathers died when they were young. I think that the one who came down with hepatitis after attending Vatican 11 (his name escapes me) also lost his father in childhood. Gregory's parents divorced when he was a child, as did Schonborn's. Perhaps it's just a coincidence. Best to pray for them.
Cdl. Sarah compares current crisis in Church to Jesus’ betrayal on Good Friday Maike Hickson | https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/...is-in-church-to-jesus-betrayal-on-good-friday betrayal, catholic, crisis in the catholic church, crisis in the church, good friday, robert sarah March 27, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, has said in a new interview that the current situation in the Church may be compared to Good Friday when Jesus Christ was betrayed. In a March 27 interview with the French website Valeurs Actuelles, Cardinal Sarah spoke about his new book Le soir approche et déjà le soir baisse [The Day Is Now Far Spent] (a quotation from the episode of the Emmaus pilgrims in Gospel of St. Luke) and why he wrote it. “This book is most of all a call to lucidity and to wisdom,” he stated, adding that “the Church goes through a great crisis.” He wished to write this book for the faithful who are discouraged by the daily scandals that are coming to light. Sarah said he hopes that his readers will receive “the joy which Christ gives.” “It is the Resurrection of the Son of God,” he said, “which gives hope in the midst of darkness.” Further explaining the title of the book which refers to the episode of the Emmaus pilgrims in Gospel of St. Luke, Cardinal Sarah stated: “I believe firmly that the situation that we go now through in the Church resembles in all points that of Good Friday, when the Apostles have abandoned Christ whom Judas betrayed, because the traitor had wished for a Christ according to his ideas, a Christ preoccupied with political questions.” Here, Cardinal Sarah points to “a number of priests and of bishops” who today “are literally bewitched by political and social questions.” These questions, however, “will never receive answers outside of Christ's teachings,” the prelate added. That is to say, Christ “renders us more solidary, more fraternal.” “As long as we do not have Christ as our big brother,” Sarah said, “there is no solid charity.” “Christ is the only light of the world,” Cardinal Sarah insisted. “How could the Church turn away from this light,” he further asked, and how could she “lose herself in purely materialistic questions?” While there is a place for considering such questions as the problem of refugees, the prelate said that one first and foremost has to start with Jesus Christ Himself. For example, refugees often have to leave their countries due to “forces who have lost God, for whom it is all about money and power.” The Cardinal said that the Catholic Church must gain back “the sense of her great divine mission” to draw people to Christ, thereby learning to pray and “to forgive like Christ.” “Christ is hope,” he added. There is only Christ who can help us in the current Church crisis and “it needs an institution to lead to that Person: that is the Church.” Reminding his readers of the example of the Old Testament, Cardinal Sarah explained that “there always have been betrayals in the Church." "Today, I do not fear to state that priests, bishops, and even cardinals are afraid to proclaim what God teaches and to transmit the doctrine of the Church.” These clergymen, he added, “are afraid to be disapproved of, to be seen as reactionaries.” That is why they say “vague and imprecise things” in order to “avoid any criticism, and they embrace the stupid development of the world.” This adaptation is, according to the Cardinal, “a betrayal.” He also described such a negligent shepherd who does not protect their fold as “a criminal shepherd who abandons his sheep.” Moreover, if he does not teach the Faith, “he betrays his mission.” Because of this negligence of the shepherds, said Sarah, the “sheep are dispersed.” “That is what is taking place today. One does not know any more to whom to turn.” At the same time, Cardinal Sarah acknowledged that “there exists a strong majority of priests who remain loyal to their mission to teach, to govern, and to sanctify.” “But there is also a small number who give in to the morbid and villainous temptation to align the Church with the current values of Western societies.” *** Also from Maike Hickson... Blogs Catholic Church Thu Mar 28, 2019 - 2:21 pm EST German cardinal: preachers have ‘failed’ when laity demand overthrow of Church’s sexual teachings Blogs Catholic Church Mon Mar 25, 2019 - 6:27 pm EST Pope asks universities to disseminate his claim ‘diversity of religions’ is ‘willed by God’ *** And the following from Steven O'Reilly is interesting - What to do with a heretical pope…Nothing? March 21, 2019 And this is from Edward J. Barr - The Four Marks of the Church – Realities in the Midst of the Tempest March 19, 2019
It’s no coincidence Delours... It’s called the “father wound”. Men not having a proper bonding, relationship or abuse from their fathers...or lack of a father. It is believed to be one psychological reason why some men become homosexual. They are seeking the love from their father...that they did not receive. As a noted public reformed, catholic revert, homosexual JOSEPH Scambria(spell?) commented, “Fathers, love your sons. If you don’t, another man will,” Extremely, extremely, sad.
It is extremely sad. No doubt there are lots of theories as to what causes it. It's way beyond my ability to figure it out, and I shouldn't really be speculating. There was something peculiar about McCarrick's story that niggled at me but I can't put my finger on it. I'm not trying to make excuses for him. It's just that in the middle of all the condemnations I couldn't help thinking about the child McCarrick and the possibility that he could have been groomed to be the man he turned into. I don't suppose we'll ever know the whole story, and I'm not sure I want to know. Just as well that God is the ultimate judge because only He can see the whole picture including what leads us down the wrong path. Only God knows what's in our hearts and God is both just and merciful.
Exactly...hence the admonition to not judge souls. Actions and behaviors....just not the soul. Only God knows...only God can read our hearts.
Underground bishop, vicar general detained in China's Hebei province Xuanhua, China, Mar 29, 2019 / 05:01 pm (CNA).- A bishop of the underground Church in China's Hebei province and his vicar general were placed in detention this week, and a lay Catholic activist was jailed in Hong Kong. According to UCA News, Coadjutor Bishop Augustine Cui Tai of Xuanhua and his vicar general, Father Zhang Jianlin, were detained by officials of Hebei province this week. “The government’s aim is to paralyze the diocese. If the diocese fails to manage the community, then the government will use this as an opportunity to take it over,” an anonymous priest from the underground Church told UCA News. According to the UCA News, the bishop had been taken in custody the morning of March 29 after he received a text message in regards to his arrest. He had also been detained for indoctrination in April last year and was recently released in January. UCA News reported that Father Zhang was seized March 28 for violating a traveling restriction. Since his identity papers were confiscated, the priest has not been allowed to travel even to a neighboring city. In November two of Bishop Cui's priests, Fr. Su Guipeng and Fr. Zhao He, were abducted to be “indoctrinated on the religious policy of the Chinese government … because they refuse to enroll in the Patriotic Association.” Two priests of the Diocese of Chongli-Xiwanzi, also in Hebei, were also taken. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Yip Po-lam, a member of the Justice Peace Commission of the Diocese of Hong Kong, was jailed March 28. A court had refused to hear an appeal regarding a conviction she received five years ago for disturbing the peace during a protest. The peaceful demonstrations were protesting the controversial Northeast New Territories Development Plan, which displaced villagers and damaged property. Chairman of the Hong Kong Catholic Institution Staff Association, Alexander Yu, decried the court’s decision, stating Yip had acted justly, according to UCA News. “We agree with Yip’s action as her motives were genuine when calling on the general public to examine the injustices of the development plan,” he said. “The social teaching of the Catholic Church points out that our love for neighbors urges us to seek social justice.” The Church in mainland China has been divided for some 60 years between the underground Church, which is persecuted and whose episcopal appointments are frequently not acknowledged by Chinese authorities, and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, a government-sanctioned organization. In September 2018 the Holy See and Beijing reached an agreement meant to normalize the situation of China’s Catholics and to unify the underground Church and the CPCA. The agreement has been roundly criticized by human rights groups and some Church leaders, including Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong. In December, two bishops of the underground Catholic Church agreed to step aside in favor of bishops of the CPCA, in the wake of the September agreement. One test of the result of the Holy See-Beijing agreement may be the appointment of a bishop to the Diocese of Jining (Wumeng) in Inner Mongolia. The South China Morning Post reported March 29 that the diocese is nearing its selection of episcopal candidates, making it the first time that the Vatican and Beijing might agree on a bishop appointment since the September 2018 accord. Religious freedom is officially guaranteed by the Chinese constitution, but religious groups must register with the government, and are overseen by the Chinese Communist Party. The Sinicization of religion has been pushed by President Xi Jinping, who took power in 2013 and who has strengthened government oversight of religious activities. In 2017, Xi said that religions not sufficiently conformed to communist ideals pose a threat to the country’s government, and therefore must become more “Chinese-oriented.” Since he took power, crosses have been removed from an estimated 1,500 church buildings. Reports of the destruction or desecration of Catholic churches and shrines have come from across China, including the provinces of Hebei, Henan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Shandong. The US Commission on International Religion wrote in its 2018 report that last year China “advanced its so-called 'sinicization' of religion, a far-reaching strategy to control, govern, and manipulate all aspects of faith into a socialist mold infused with 'Chinese characteristics.'” Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners have all been affected. *** Why do people kiss the pope's ring?
"Pope Francis set to give ‘historic speech’ involving ‘persons of same sex’, leaked letter claims" March 29, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Pope Francis will meet on April 5 with several LGBT advocates about the matter of the decriminalization of homosexuality where he will then give a “historic speech … relevant to the subject matter,” according to several sources who have a leaked letter about the event to back up their claim. French sociologist and book author Dr. Frédéric Martel, who is an open homosexual, reported about the event on his website, referencing a letter of invitation to the event that was addressed to an LGBT activist. LifeSiteNews obtained a copy of the letter. The letter – dated March 4 and signed by Professor Raúl Zaffaroni and Dr. Leonardo Raznovich – is an invitation in the name of a Coordinating Committee of a research project regarding "criminalisation of sexual relations between persons of same sex in the Caribbean." It asks the individual addressee (a pro-LGBT activist at the U.N.) to join a “private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis to be held on 5 April 2019 at the Vatican City at 12.00 noon.” ... A Reuters report of December 2008 confirms that Vatican's stand at the time, saying that “Gay rights groups and newspaper editorials on Tuesday condemned the Vatican for its decision to oppose a proposed U.N. resolution calling on governments worldwide to de-criminalize homosexuality.” The Catholic Church was, together with the U.S., among those countries rejecting this non-binding declaration seeking to decriminalize homosexuality at the U.N. According to Martel, the Vatican diplomats “fought against the expressions 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity', which, according to their own view, have no juridical standing in international law. Moreover, to recognize these expressions could lead to a legitimization of polygamy or of sexual abuse, according to those diplomatic cables that Dr. Martel has been able to read. Furthermore, the French author names three nuncios who are dominant among those who fought this battle against the decriminalization of homosexuality at the U.N.: Archbishop Silvano Tomasi in Geneva, Cardinal Renato Martino and then Archbishop Celestino Migliore before the United Nations in New York. “Pope Benedict XVI, his Secretary of State Cardinal [Tarcisio] Bertone, and then the future Cardinal [Dominique] Mamberti, have been very active concerning this topic.” “To the general surprise,” said Martel, when it came to the final vote, “the Vatican voted 'no' to the U.N. Declaration on the decriminalization of homosexuality.” Even though it could have abstained from voting (with China or Turkey),” the author added, “the Vatican supported a violently homophobic counter-declaration carried out by Syria, Iran, and even Saudi Arabia.” In conclusion – and in light of the Vatican's history of dealing with this topic – Dr. Martel said that “Should Pope Francis defend the decriminalization of homosexuality in the Vatican on April 5, it would mark thus a change of a major line of policy concerning the gay question, profoundly breaking with the pontificates of Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedic XVI.” Dr. Martel has just recently published his book, In the Closet of the Vatican, in which he claims that there is a vast presence of homosexual men among the Catholic priesthood, especially in the Vatican. In one chapter, he presented, as true, the moral corruption that is taking place in the Diocese of Havana, Cuba; and likewise in another chapter, he describes a plan of Pope Francis and his collaborators slowly to change the Church's moral teaching. He also essentially confirmed the report of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò that Pope Francis knew of then-Cardinal McCarrick's own homosexual relationships. While he clearly has a bias against the more conservative prelates who try to defend the Church's traditional moral teaching – which can be seen in his recurrent innuendoes against them – Dr. Martel nonetheless provides much information since, through his own pro-LGBT stance, he has received many candid reports and open doors in the Vatican over the course of the past four years." https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/...ving-persons-of-same-sex-leaked-letter-claims
Xavier, It's like a very bad puzzle coming together but thank you for posting. NewsCatholic Church, Homosexuality Fri Mar 29, 2019 - 6:20 pm EST Pro-LGBT Abp. Wilton Gregory may be new archbishop of Washington, Vatican hints By Doug Mainwaring NewsCatholic Church, Homosexuality Thu Mar 28, 2019 - 5:15 pm EST French bishops spokesman calls homosexual relationships ‘something of God’ By Jeanne Smits, Paris correspondent Edited to add: BlogsCatholic Church Fri Mar 29, 2019 - 3:36 pm EST Evidence Pope follows blueprint to change Church by dissident cardinal who led St. Gallen ‘mafia’ By Maike Hickson
I watched the first episode of this series last Monday night and I agree with what this article states about it. In addition, I can't help but wonder how Father James Martin got this gig and why. Hmmm. Blogs | Mar. 18, 2019 Mixed Reviews for History Channel's New Lenten Series ‘Jesus: His Life’ Couldn't a Lenten series just tell the story, without calling Bible passages into question? Kathy Schiffer | http://www.ncregister.com/blog/ksch...ory-channels-new-lenten-series-jesus-his-life First let me say something positive: I like the visuals in the History Channel’s new eight-part Lenten series, Jesus: His Life. The acting is professional; the setting is authentically “Middle Eastern desert.” I am surprised by Jesus – the actor who portrays him is lively and energetic, not at all like the more serious performances I've come to expect in Bible films. The angel who appears to Mary is a surprise, as well: a buff, bald-headed black man. But I'm disappointed that once again, as has happened in years past with holiday specials, A&E Networks uses the holy season of Lent to spar with classic Christianity, to reinterpret and to question the authenticity of certain Bible passages. The creators of Jesus: His Life attempt to build credibility with a long list of 26 theological and academic contributors. Prominent in the first episode, which focused on the life of Jesus' earthly stepfather Joseph, were Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry (presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church); Rev. Otis Moss III (senior pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ); Simon Sebag Montefiore (author, Jerusalem: The Biography); Ben Witherington III (professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary); Joel Osteen (senior pastor of Lakewood Church who also serves as the executive producer); and Dr. Robert Cargill (Assistant Professor of Judaism, Christianity and Classics, University of Iowa). One of two experts representing the Catholic faith is Fr. James Martin, S.J. (The other, who doesn't show up in the first episode, is Fox News' Fr. Jonathan Morris.) Father Martin's role in the first episode seems to be to demonstrate that Mary was a feminist. When she was asked by the angel to become the Mother of God, Martin explains, “...she doesn't ask her husband or her father. She answers on her own. So this is a very strong woman.” But the expert who seems intent on dredging up controversy – and who is given a primary role in the series – is Dr. Robert Cargill. I should not be surprised by Cargill's questioning: Cargill, who has been called the “Skeptic in the Sanctuary,” sees his role as asking difficult questions. “This is where I stand,” Cargill wrote, ...atop the continental divide between faith and science, with one foot in the range of rigorous academic inquiry and skeptical scrutiny, and the other on the often slippery slope of competing religious worldviews. And from this marvelous vantage point I can survey both directions and ask difficult questions of both faith and reason. I imagine that I'll spend the remainder of my career here, the ever-searching soul attempting to mediate between the two. But Lent, it seems to me, is not a time for debating and deriding faith; rather, it should be a season when faith is nurtured and encouraged to thrive, when skepticism is set aside in favor of pure love. During Lent, the U.S. Bishops' website explains, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to sacrifice self-control through fasting. Robert Cargill, rather than leading the viewer toward deeper faith and understanding, chooses instead to prod the believer with questions, large and small. Joseph learned of the real story of Mary's pregnancy, he explains, not in a dream, as Scripture says, but through an “apparition” as he was walking in the desert. There are two problems with the census as reported in Scripture, Cargill asserts: (1) the Roman census took place 10 years after Jesus' birth; and (2) Roman censuses did not require people to return to their ancestral home. Cargill believes – and he asserts that most scholars would agree with him – that Luke used the census as a mere storyteller's device to get Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem, because Bethlehem in Judea is where Old Testament prophecy said that the Messiah would be born. And here Dr. Ben Witherington steps in, countering Cargill's skepticism with facts: We do, Witherington explains, have tax documents that show the Romans required people to group together as part of their ancestral group. If part of the family had moved, it would have been necessary for them to travel to their homeland to regroup with their relatives. Luke’s story of the Holy Family's travels is, Witherington insists, perfectly plausible. Then Cargill returns with his tiresome dubiety, asserting that the massacre of the innocents isn't historical. But in fact, there is independent evidence supporting the veracity of the Scripture story. The non-Christian writer Macrobius, who lived from A.D. 395-423, wrote about the massacre: On hearing that the son of Herod, king of the Jews, had been slain when Herod ordered that all boys in Syria under the age of two to be killed, Augustus said, “It's better to be Herod's pig, than his son.” (dicta 56 Malc.) Jesus: His Life begins on the History Channel at 8 p.m. Eastern time (7 p.m. Central) on March 25. Whether to watch the eight-part series during the Lenten season is a matter for personal discernment. On the one hand, it draws one's mind to Christ – which is more than one can say of most network television programs. On the other hand, it seems a sad replacement for Lenten practices such as personal prayer. And viewers can choose, instead, to watch EWTN at 8 p.m., to see the beloved late Fr. Groeschel talk about Satan; or if CatholicTV from Boston is available in your area, you might tune in to the show “Walk in Faith,” an interview show in which guests explain how faith, spirituality and conviction have shaped their lives for the good.
