Making Everyone "Happy" Except God
by Thomas A. Droleskey
I aim to be a happy bishop, sharing joys and laughs with you. So you will see me at the St. Patrick's parade, and at the new Yankee Stadium, and at processions and feast days and barbecues across our almost 400 parishes. Being Catholic is not a heavy burden, snuffing the joy out of life; rather our faith in Jesus and His Church gives meaning, purpose and joy to life. I love being a Catholic, I love being a priest, and I fully intend to love being archbishop of New York while loving all of you in the Church in New York. (Timothy Dolan, New Archbishop talks to News.)
Ah, the "happy" non-bishop, Timothy M. Dolan, has succeeded the aloof and rather dour conciliar "archbishop" of New York, Edward "Cardinal" Egan. "Archbishop" Timothy Dolan, a native of Saint Louis, Missouri, and the conciliar "archbishop" of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, between August 28, 2002, and Easter Sunday, April 16, 2009, promises be a veritable "second coming" of the late John Joseph "Cardinal" O'Connor, the conciliar "archbishop" of New York between March 19, 1984, and May 3, 2000. That is, there will be lots of jokes and openness to the secular media, some strong rhetoric on pro-life matters now and again, and a complete and full-throated embrace of conciliarism, especially as regards relations with those who deny the Sacred Divinity of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in Talmudic community.
"Cardinal" O'Connor was known, at least publicly, for his jocularity and his support for the ecumenical movement. O'Connor gave an interview, which aired on the American Broadcasting Company's Nightline program on Christmas night, December 25, 1998, in which he said that he did not dissuade a Catholic man, Stephen Dubner from converting to a false, dead, superseded religion, Talmudic Judaism, going on to say that "God is smiling on all of this" as his final comment about Dubner's act of apostasy, completed with the full approval of a man who deemed himself to be a "prince" of the Catholic Church. Consider this account of the advice that O'Connor gave to Mr. Dubner contained in a book review of the latter's book on his "conversion" to Judaism:
But like many a Jewish son before him, he couldn't separate from his mother. He wanted her approval. He presented his problem to Cardinal O'Connor, who artfully contrived a theological olive branch: ''Tell your mother that you have tried to study this, that you have prayed about it, this is not just a revolt or a rejection, this is not a dismissal of what you don't understand -- that this is where you think God wants you to be, an informed Jew.'' (BOOKS OF THE TIMES; Words Upon the Heart, Heard at Last)
The old "happy" non-bishop, O'Connor, also told a B'Nai Brith meeting in early-1998 that Judaism and Catholicism were meant to "coexist side by side" until the end of time. "This is what my boss (John Paul II) teaches, and I work for my boss.". The original citation for this came from a newspaper article that I cited in the printed pages of Christ or Chaos. There is also an allusion to this address in a reminiscence of O'Connor provided by the late pro-abortion "papal" "knight," Rabbi Leon Klenicki, in Full of Grace: An Oral Biography of John Cardinal O'Connor, edited by Terry Golway:
Once we invited him to talk at one of the Anti-Defamation League dinners. He was there to help present a booklet we had put out. During his speech, he told a story about how he once went to a Reform synagogue and he was the only one there with a yarmulke. Several Reform rabbis who were there looked at each others--I think they couldn't believe it--but everybody was laughing. The Cardinal had a serious point, too. Later that night, he said that he was in pain because there are Jews who do not want to exercise their Judaism because of assimilation or other reasons. It is their duty to practice their faith, he said, to prove that God exists and to refute the Holocaust. He sounded very much like a rabbi when he spoke. The crowd was all around him afterwards, shaking his hand and embracing him. I told him if he ever needed a job I knew a congregation that could use him. (Page 148 of Full of Grace: An Oral Biography of John Cardinal O'Connor.)
Well, just take a look at the first week's schedule of the "new" happy non-bishop, Timothy M. Dolan, as published in The New York Daily News. The schedule is full of "happy" things, including visits to the new Yankee Stadium, which is the transferred epicenter of all evil in the world, of course, and to the successor of my own beloved (and quite demolished) Shea Stadium, Citi Field, a "Holocaust" "remembrance" service at a Lutheran church under the Citicorp building on Lexington Avenue in the Borough of Manhattan and what is billed as "interfaith symbolic seder" at the headquarters of the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai Brith, a Masonic organization that is devoted to the promotion of all manner of evils under cover of law, including abortion and perversity. Here is the schedule for the "new" happy non-bishop, Timothy M. Dolan:
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2 p.m.: Mass of Installation, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 51st St. and Fifth Ave. The Mass is invitation-only, but people who snag a rare spot across the street can see the public procession, which starts at 1:30 p.m. Check local TV listings to see a live broadcast of the installation or watch it online at archny.org.
TOMORROW (April 17)
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1:10 p.m.: Home opener at Yankee Stadium.
FRIDAY (April 18)
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10:15 a.m.: Catholic Charities Mobile Food Pantry, Jesup Ave., the Bronx.
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7:10 p.m.: New York Mets versus Milwaukee Brewers, Citi Field.
SATURDAY (April 19)
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No public schedule.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
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10:15 a.m.: Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This is the best place to see the new archbishop this week.
MONDAY, APRIL 20
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Morning: Visiting Bedford Hills women’s prison, Bedford Hills, Westchester County.
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6 p.m.: Holocaust remembrance service, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Lexington Ave. and 54th St.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
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11:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.: Interfaith symbolic Seder, Anti-Defamation League headquarters, 605 Third Ave., between 39th and 40th Sts.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
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A tentative visit to Ground Zero.
"Archbishop" Dolan went to great lengths in a press conference prior to his installation as the conciliar "archbishop" of New York to state that "The most sacred responsibility that a bishop has, Tim, is to pass on the faith that remains changeless and has for 2,000 years" (Archbishop Dolan’s First News Conference - City Room Blog). His first week's schedule belies that statement as conciliarism's penchant for "interfaith" services is a direct contradiction of the teaching and practice of the Catholic Church from the time of her birth on Pentecost Sunday to the death of Pope Pius XII on October 9, 1958. The Catholic Church has consistently rejected and condemned the sort of "services" that will be given credibility as in accord with Catholic teaching and practice by the "happy" non-bishop, Timothy M. Dolan:
Lastly, the beloved disciple St. John renews the same command in the strongest terms, and adds another reason, which regards all without exception, and especially those who are best instructed in their duty: "Look to yourselves", says he, "that ye lose not the things that ye have wrought, but that you may receive a full reward. Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, nor say to him, God speed you: for he that saith to him, God speed you, communicateth with his wicked works". (2 John, ver. 8)
Here, then, it is manifest, that all fellowship with those who have not the doctrine of Jesus Christ, which is "a communication in their evil works" — that is, in their false tenets, or worship, or in any act of religion — is strictly forbidden, under pain of losing the "things we have wrought, the reward of our labors, the salvation of our souls". And if this holy apostle declares that the very saying God speed to such people is a communication with their wicked works, what would he have said of going to their places of worship, of hearing their sermons, joining in their prayers, or the like?
From this passage the learned translators of the Rheims New Testament, in their note, justly observe, "That, in matters of religion, in praying, hearing their sermons, presence at their service, partaking of their sacraments, and all other communicating with them in spiritual things, it is a great and damnable sin to deal with them." And if this be the case with all in general, how much more with those who are well instructed and better versed in their religion than others? For their doing any of these things must be a much greater crime than in ignorant people, because they know their duty better. (Bishop George Hay, The Laws of God Forbidding All Communication in Religion With Those of a False Religion.)
The spirit of Christ, which dictated the Holy Scriptures, and the spirit which animates and guides the Church of Christ, and teaches her all truth, is the same; and therefore in all ages her conduct on this point has been uniformly the same as what the Holy Scripture teaches. She has constantly forbidden her children to hold any communication, in religious matters, with those who are separated from her communion; and this she has sometimes done under the most severe penalties. In the apostolical canons, which are of very ancient standing, and for the most part handed down from the apostolical age, it is thus decreed: "If any bishop, or priest, or deacon, shall join in prayers with heretics, let him be suspended from Communion". (Can. 44)
Also, "If any clergyman or laic shall go into the synagogue of the Jews, or the meetings of heretics, to join in prayer with them, let him be deposed, and deprived of communion". (Can. 63) (Bishop George Hay, (The Laws of God Forbidding All Communication in Religion With Those of a False Religion.)
The holy Roman Church believes, professes, and preaches that 'no one remaining outside the Catholic Church, not just pagans, but also Jews or heretics or schismatics, can become partakers of eternal life; but they will go to the everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels,' unless before the end of life they are joined to the Church. For the union with the body of the Church is of such importance that the sacraments of the Church are helpful to salvation only for those who remaining in it; and fasts, almsgiving, other works of piety, and the exercise of Christian warfare bear eternal rewards from them alone. And no one can be saved, no matter how much alms, he has given, even if he sheds his blood for the name of Christ, unless he remains in the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church." (Pope Eugene IV, Cantate Domino, Council of Florence, February 4, 1442.)
POPE: We are unable to favor this movement [of Zionism]. We cannot prevent the Jews from going to Jerusalem—but we could never sanction it. The ground of Jerusalem, if it were not always sacred, has been sanctified by the life of Jesus Christ. As the head of the Church I cannot answer you otherwise. The Jews have not recognized our Lord, therefore we cannot recognize the Jewish people.
HERZL: [The conflict between Rome and Jerusalem, represented by the one and the other of us, was once again under way. At the outset I tried to be conciliatory. I said my little piece. . . . It didn’t greatly impress him. Jerusalem was not to be placed in Jewish hands.] And its present status, Holy Father?
POPE: I know, it is disagreeable to see the Turks in possession of our Holy Places. We simply have to put up with it. But to sanction the Jewish wish to occupy these sites, that we cannot do.
HERZL: [I said that we based our movement solely on the sufferings of the Jews, and wished to put aside all religious issues].
POPE: Yes, but we, but I as the head of the Catholic Church, cannot do this. One of two things will likely happen. Either the Jews will retain their ancient faith and continue to await the Messiah whom we believe has already appeared—in which case they are denying the divinity of Jesus and we cannot assist them. Or else they will go there with no religion whatever, and then we can have nothing at all to do with them. The Jewish faith was the foundation of our own, but it has been superceded by the teachings of Christ, and we cannot admit that it still enjoys any validity. The Jews who should have been the first to acknowledge Jesus Christ have not done so to this day.
HERZL: [It was on the tip of my tongue to remark, “It happens in every family: no one believes in his own relative.” But, instead, I said:] Terror and persecution were not precisely the best means for converting the Jews. [His reply had an element of grandeur in its simplicity:]
POPE: Our Lord came without power. He came in peace. He persecuted no one. He was abandoned even by his apostles. It was only later that he attained stature. It took three centuries for the Church to evolve. The Jews therefore had plenty of time in which to accept his divinity without duress or pressure. But they chose not to do so, and they have not done it yet.
HERZL: But, Holy Father, the Jews are in a terrible plight. I do not know if Your Holiness is aware of the full extent of their tragedy. We need a land for these harried people.
POPE: Must it be Jerusalem?
HERZL: We are not asking for Jerusalem, but for Palestine—for only the secular land.
POPE: We cannot be in favor of it.
[Editor Lowenthal interjects here] Here unrelenting replacement theology is plainly upheld as the norm of the Roman Catholic Church. Further, this confession, along with the whole tone of the Pope in his meeting with Herzl, indicates the perpetuation of a doctrinal emphasis that has resulted in centuries of degrading behavior toward the Jews. However, this response has the “grandeur” of total avoidance of that which Herzl had intimated, namely that the abusive reputation of Roman Catholicism toward the Jews was unlikely to foster conversion. Further, if, “It took three centuries for the Church to evolve,” it was that very same period of time that it took for the Church to consolidate and launch its thrust of anti-Semitism through the following centuries.
HERZL: Does Your Holiness know the situation of the Jews?
POPE: Yes, from my days in Mantua, where there are Jews. I have always been in friendly relations with Jews. Only the other evening two Jews were here to see me. There are other bonds than those of religion: social intercourse, for example, and philanthropy. Such bonds we do not refuse to maintain with the Jews. Indeed we also pray for them, that their spirit see the light. This very day the Church is celebrating the feast of an unbeliever who became converted in a miraculous manner—on the road to Damascus. And so if you come to Palestine and settle your people there, we will be ready with churches and priests to baptize all of you. (Marvin Lownethal, The Diaries of Theodore Herzl.)
Many, I know, respect the Jews and think that their present way of life is a venerable one. This is why I hasten to uproot and tear out this deadly opinion. I said that the synagogue is no better than a theater and I bring forward a prophet as my witness. Surely the Jews are not more deserving of belief than their prophets. "You had a harlot's brow; you became shameless before all". Where a harlot has set herself up, that place is a brothel. But the synagogue is not only a brothel and a theater; it also is a den of robbers and a lodging for wild beasts. Jeremiah said: "Your house has become for me the den of a hyena". He does not simply say "of wild beast", but "of a filthy wild beast", and again: "I have abandoned my house, I have cast off my inheritance". But when God forsakes a people, what hope of salvation is left? When God forsakes a place, that place becomes the dwelling of demons.
(2) But at any rate the Jews say that they, too, adore God. God forbid that I say that. No Jew adores God! Who says so? The Son of God says so. For he said: "If you were to know my Father, you would also know me. But you neither know me nor do you know my Father". Could I produce a witness more trustworthy than the Son of God?
(3) If, then, the Jews fail to know the Father, if they crucified the Son, if they thrust off the help of the Spirit, who should not make bold to declare plainly that the synagogue is a dwelling of demons? God is not worshipped there. Heaven forbid! From now on it remains a place of idolatry. But still some people pay it honor as a holy place. (Saint John Chrysostom: Eight Homilies Against the Jews)
So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics: for the union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it. To the one true Church of Christ, we say, which is visible to all, and which is to remain, according to the will of its Author, exactly the same as He instituted it. During the lapse of centuries, the mystical Spouse of Christ has never been contaminated, nor can she ever in the future be contaminated, as Cyprian bears witness: "The Bride of Christ cannot be made false to her Spouse: she is incorrupt and modest. She knows but one dwelling, she guards the sanctity of the nuptial chamber chastely and modestly."The same holy Martyr with good reason marveled exceedingly that anyone could believe that "this unity in the Church which arises from a divine foundation, and which is knit together by heavenly sacraments, could be rent and torn asunder by the force of contrary wills." For since the mystical body of Christ, in the same manner as His physical body, is one, compacted and fitly joined together, it were foolish and out of place to say that the mystical body is made up of members which are disunited and scattered abroad: whosoever therefore is not united with the body is no member of it, neither is he in communion with Christ its head. (Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos, January 6, 1928.)
"Archbishop" Timothy M. Dolan believes that he is passing "on the faith that remains changeless and has for 2,000 years"? He's a better jokester than he realizes as the "faith" he believes in, that of conciliarism, teaches doctrines and endorses practices that have been condemned repeatedly and consistently by the Catholic Church without any exception whatsoever. Indeed, the multiple defections from the Catholic Faith represented by conciliarism cause those who adhere to them to cast themselves out of the Church as Pope Leo XIII's Satis Cognitum, Number 9:
The Church, founded on these principles and mindful of her office, has done nothing with greater zeal and endeavour than she has displayed in guarding the integrity of the faith. Hence she regarded as rebels and expelled from the ranks of her children all who held beliefs on any point of doctrine different from her own. The Arians, the Montanists, the Novatians, the Quartodecimans, the Eutychians, did not certainly reject all Catholic doctrine: they abandoned only a certain portion of it. Still who does not know that they were declared heretics and banished from the bosom of the Church? In like manner were condemned all authors of heretical tenets who followed them in subsequent ages. "There can be nothing more dangerous than those heretics who admit nearly the whole cycle of doctrine, and yet by one word, as with a drop of poison, infect the real and simple faith taught by our Lord and handed down by Apostolic tradition" (Auctor Tract. de Fide Orthodoxa contra Arianos).
The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, and alien to the Church, whoever would recede in the least degree from any point of doctrine proposed by her authoritative Magisterium. Epiphanius, Augustine, Theodore :, drew up a long list of the heresies of their times. St. Augustine notes that other heresies may spring up, to a single one of which, should any one give his assent, he is by the very fact cut off from Catholic unity. "No one who merely disbelieves in all (these heresies) can for that reason regard himself as a Catholic or call himself one. For there may be or may arise some other heresies, which are not set out in this work of ours, and, if any one holds to one single one of these he is not a Catholic" (S. Augustinus, De Haeresibus, n. 88).
The man who appointed Timothy M. Dolan to be the new "happy" "bishop" at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI is himself, of course, one who has defected from the Catholic Faith for years as he has attempted to "reconcile" his defections with recourse to the Hegelian illogic of his mentor, the late Father Hans Urs von Balthasar, packaging this illogic at present in the wrapping known as the "hermeneutic of continuity and discontinuity," a philosophically absurd and dogmatically condemned thesis that blasphemes God the Holy Ghost by making expressions of dogmatic truth formulated under His direct and infallible guidance to be formulae that are limited by the alleged "inability" of men to to use human language, conditioned, it is claimed, by the historical circumstances in the formulae were made, to express truth adequately.
Ratzinger's War Against Catholicism contains just a few of the many ways in which Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, the chief conciliarist, contradicts the Catholic Faith, and it is Ratzinger's conciliarist "faith," not the Catholic Faith, to which Timothy M. Dolan subscribes, as a look at his first week's schedule indicates so very clearly.
Some might protest at this point that "Archbishop" Dolan is "pro-life." Well, as I will demonstrate shortly, this is not necessarily so. To the extent that it is, however, why should it be news that a man claiming to be a Catholic "archbishop" is pro-life? Have the conciliar "popes" appointed "bishops" who were not "pro-life"? (They have, of course.)
Furthermore, no one is truly "pro-life" who offends God, the very author of life itself, by offending Him in the matter of the worship that is His due, mocking that worship by means of the hideous evil known as the Protestant and Masonic Novus Ordo service, which is a sacrilege and thus a mockery of the Faith that Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has entrusted exclusively to the Catholic Church for Its eternal safekeeping and infallible explication.
No one is truly "pro-life" who endorses doctrinal defections from the Catholic Faith, including the new ecclesiology, false ecumenism, religious liberty and the separation of Church and State.
No one is truly "pro-life" who subjects students in purportedly "Catholic" schools to the rot of explicit classroom instruction in matters pertaining to the Sixth and Ninth Commandments in explicit violation of Pope Pius XI's absolute ban on such instruction, contained in Divini Illius Magistri, December 31, 1929.
And after thirty-six years of abortion-on-demand throughout the United States of America from the moment of conception until the day of birth, it is tragic that Catholics in the pew will stand up and applaud, in a Catholic cathedral, mind you, these empty words about the "sanctity of life" when Catholic politicians who support the slaughter of the preborn under cover of the civil law are never even threatened with excommunication by the conciliar officials:
The Resurrection of Jesus goes on in our apostolate for the struggling, searching, and marginalized, as thousands of those closest to Christ's Sacred Heart-the hungry, homeless, sick, troubled, and immigrants--find solace and help in our Catholic charities and healthcare. Conscious are we of former Mayor Ed Koch's observation that the Catholic Church is the glue that keeps this city together . . . and, and . . . the Resurrection goes on, as His Church continues to embrace and protect the dignity of every human person, the sanctity of human life, from the tiny baby in the womb to the last moment of natural passing into eternal life. As the Servant of God Terrence Cardinal Cooke wrote, "Human life is no less sacred or worthy of respect because it is tiny, pre-born, poor, sick, fragile, or handicapped." Yes, the Church is a loving mother who has a zest for life and serves life everywhere, but she can become a protective "mamma bear" when the life of her innocent, helpless cubs is threatened. Everyone in this mega-community is a somebody with an extraordinary destiny. Everyone is a somebody in whom God has invested an infinite love. That is why the Church reaches out to the unborn, the suffering, the poor, our elders, the physically and emotionally challenged, those caught in the web of addictions. (Archdiocese of New York - Press Releases; it should be noted that this sermon, while containing a reference to "Lady Liberty," contained not one reference to the Mother of God, not one. There was a reference to "John Paul the Great," however.)
The babies deserve more than empty words from non-bishops and sacrilegious applause from Catholics. These words are empty because the men in public life who support the willful murder of the innocent preborn are permitted to remaining perfectly good "canonical standing" in the structures of the counterfeit church of conciliarism. David Paterson, the Governor of the State of New York, is a pro-abortion, pro-perversity Catholic who was at Saint Patrick's Cathedral two days ago and approached for what he believed, albeit falsely, was the reception of Holy Communion, which was not denied to him.
Indeed, Paterson asked the members of the New York State Legislature (State Senate, State Assembly) to make "marriage" between practitioners of perversity "legal" in the State of New York just one day after he was present at Timothy Dolan's "installation" "Mass." He has not been threatened in any way canonically by conciliar officials. Empty words are not cause for applause, especially in the midst of what purports to be the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Indeed, the non-bishop and non-priest Timothy Dolan referred to pro-aborts such as Paterson, who has admitted to using marijuana and cocaine, as "respected civic and political leaders."
That the "pro-life" words spoken by Timothy Dolan in his sermon at Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Easter Wednesday, April 15, 2009, were indeed emptier than most people realize is proved by the fact that the Wisconsin Conference of "Catholic" "Bishops" did not oppose legislation two years ago to require all hospitals, including Catholic hospitals, to distribute "emergency contraceptives," which are abortifacients, to women after violent assaults. Only two conciliar "bishops" in Wisconsin, as far as can be determined at this writing, Robert C. Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin, and Jerome Listecki of La Crosse, Wisconsin, opposed the position taken by the Wisconsin Conference of "Catholic" "Bishops" (Wisconsin Bishop breaks from conference and opposes emergency contraceptives). Timothy Dolan did not issue, as far as can be determined at this writing, any statement that contradicted the policy announced by the official lobbying arm of the conciliar "bishops" of Wisconsin:
May 1, 2007 / 12:01 pm (CNA).- The Wisconsin Catholic Conference has decided not to oppose a bill that would require all hospitals, including Catholic health facilities, to distribute emergency contraceptives to female victims of rape.
A spokesperson for the conference said the group removed its objections to the bill after it was revised to allow hospitals to give women a pregnancy test before providing emergency contraception reported The Wisconsin Capital Times. The bill reportedly also includes the right to conscientious objection.
Kim Wades of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference told the newspaper that many Catholic hospitals are already dispensing emergency contraception to rape victims.
Emergency contraception, most often referred to as Plan B or the morning after pill, is composed of a high dose of birth control pills that has shown to prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of intercourse.
Sue Armacost of Wisconsin Right to Life said her group is not taking a stand on the bill, and that it is important to the group that the Catholic bishops were not opposing the bill, reported The Wisconsin Capital Times.
The only group lobbying against the bill is Pro-Life Wisconsin. Matt Sande, the group's director of legislation, said in a news release he opposed the bill because emergency contraception can work to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus and he considers this "pre-implantation chemical abortion."
The bill is likely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate and Gov. Jim Doyle would sign the bill if it makes it to his desk. (No opposition from Wisconsin Catholic Conference re emergency contraceptives.)
Mrs. Judie Brown, the founder and President of American Life League, with which Pro-Life Wisconsin is affiliated, wrote the following analysis of this scandal, which had the implicit support, it appears, of the then conciliar "archbishop" of Milwaukee, Timothy M. Dolan, and all but one of the other bishops in Wisconsin, an analysis that focused also on a similar tack taken by the conciliar "bishops" in Connecticut:
Recent reports from Connecticut and Wisconsin leave us wondering what in the world is going on in the world of "Catholic" health care. It would seem that the appropriate treatment for a victim of criminal rape has become a question of whether Catholic hospitals can be put in the position of doing the unthinkable. Reports from Connecticut were the first to come to our attention. The Connecticut state senate approved a bill that would require all hospitals — including the four Catholic hospitals in the state — to provide Plan B emergency contraceptive pills to rape victims.
What is most startling about this turn of events in Connecticut is that the state's Catholic bishops asserted their opposition to this law by advising the lawmakers that "Catholic hospitals provide emergency contraception to rape victims in the vast majority of cases. In fact, it is an extreme rarity when this medication would not be provided."
This statement is astounding. The Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life condemns the morning-after pill and makes no exceptions for cases of rape treatment, whether or not conception/fertilization has occurred. The academy goes so far as to say that this pill represents a good example of the absolute unlawfulness of any drug that has the potential to be an abortive agent. The academy makes it perfectly clear that anyone who is an agent in the provision of this drug is morally responsible for the outcome. Apparently this warning has not been taken seriously by either the Connecticut or Wisconsin Catholic hierarchy.
As if this dilemma were not already confusing to most Catholics, in the aforementioned statement to lawmakers the Connecticut bishops also wrote, "This bill is a violation of the separation of Church and state. The Catholic bishops of Connecticut are responsible for establishing and determining what moral guidelines Catholic institutions should follow; not the Connecticut General Assembly." But subsequent to this statement, these bishops dropped their opposition to the bill.
A similar scenario is playing out in Wisconsin, but with an added twist. It seems that there were lawmakers in the state who strongly opposed the measure requiring every hospital in the state — including Catholic hospitals — to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims. But when the Wisconsin Catholic bishops dropped their opposition to the bill, the lawmakers followed suit.
The outcome is at this moment uncertain, but the entire question of providing rape victims with abortive pills is seriously problematic from the Catholic perspective. There is a serious challenge facing these bishops and Directive 36 of the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services" published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is not helping. While the directives are designed to provide moral guidance in situations like this, Directive 36 (to which bishops in both states have referenced) is vague.
Directive 36 states:
Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault. Health care providers should cooperate with law enforcement officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.
The two words in this directive that are playing havoc with the lives of preborn babies are "appropriate testing." Try as we might, and as many Catholic physicians have, we cannot identify a single test that provides one hundred percent assurance that a preborn child has not been conceived. One Catholic doctor, Chris Kahlenborn, pointed out in his analysis of the problem, "EC [emergency contraception] has the potential to abort a newly conceived child in the preovulatory, ovulatory and postovulatory phases. Because the potential for abortion exists, it cannot be ethically given to rape victims in any stage of the menstrual cycle" [emphasis added].
In other words, even though the directive suggests that there are tests in existence that provide the treating doctor with the evidence he needs to assure that the morning-after pill is not going to abort a human embryonic child, there is no test that can assure beyond doubt that a human embryo in fact is not already there. As I told members of Congress several years ago, Catholic hospitals have a serious problem in determining how to respond to sexual assault. It seems that any number of experts in the medical and ethical field are not clear about the means for determining whether or not fertilization might have occurred. And furthermore, they seem to be waffling about the clear evidence that indicates how the so-called "emergency contraceptive" interferes with the normal development of the new life. Thus, even though Directive 36 provides a caveat for potential use of Plan B, the actual facts of the matter would prevent its use.
The larger question in this current debate is why any Catholic facility would ever have a single type of contraceptive on hand in the first place. While it is clear that laws are being passed that require the use of this deadly drug, it is not at all clear why not a single Catholic hospital is willing to stand its ground, refuse to use what the Church teaches are unethical drugs and go to court if necessary to protect its right as a Catholic facility to be Catholic in every aspect of its health care. Separation of church and state is a bogus argument. The idea that a state can require any Catholic facility to do evil simply because the state says it must is outrageous. But if bishops are going to comply with whatever the state requires, then no distinct difference is going to exist between morally ethical Catholic health care and its secular counterpart.
A Catholic moral theologian, Msgr. William Smith, put this entire situation in the proper perspective when he wrote, "It's wrong to say you can use anything that has abortifacient properties. Emergency contraception is double talk ... Catholic hospitals are not free to prescribe or provide anything with abortifacient properties without contradicting their witness." Amen! (Catholic hospitals and the 'emergency contraception' conundrum)
Mrs. Brown wrote a follow-up to this analysis in January of 2008 in which she quotes a medical doctor's plea to "Archbishop" Timothy Dolan to follow the lead of "Bishop" Robert Morlino in opposing the position of the Wisconsin Conference of "Catholic" "Bishops." There is no evidence that the happy non-bishop broke with the lobbying arm of the conciliar "bishops" in Wisconsin:
For those of you who were wondering, there is something foul in the Wisconsin air these days. It appears that even though the state legislature is pressing ahead for passage of a bill that would require all hospitals, including those with religious affiliation, to dispense "emergency contraception," the Wisconsin Catholic Conference has remained "neutral."
The bill, by the way, defines "emergency contraception" as either the morning after pill OR the IUD. And the state legislature has already given the bill preliminary approval, so the stakes are pretty high and the final vote is scheduled for January 23.
Now in the midst of this crazy problem with state Catholic conferences having difficulty dealing with clear defense of Catholic teaching, there comes the heroic stand taken by Bishop Robert Morlino and followed by support from his fellow Bishop James [actually, Jerome] Listecki. These two bishops have made it perfectly clear that they are not supporting any measure which compromises Catholic health care.
But, I ask you, what about the three remaining bishops and the bureaucracy that is advising them?
Bishop Morlino has been so outstanding in his articulation of Catholic teaching that he recently wrote to the Wisconsin legislature pointing out to them that the inane communications from Catholics for a Free Choice in support of AB 377 have nothing to do with Catholic doctrine. He wrote, "Irresponsibly claiming to be Catholic while rejecting the basic Catholic values that are to be embodied in emergency contraception legislation, is yet another source of scandal and confusion for faithful Catholics and all those who claim to be pro-life."
So why are the rest of the Wisconsin bishops and their conference not following suit? Well, perhaps the problem is political, but we certainly hope not. Or maybe they are confused, but we cannot see how. Or is the money they are afraid their health care facilities would lose? We dare not suspect such a thing! Anyway, there is some reason for the inertia.
This is why we are so grateful to Michael Phillips, M.D., who wrote to Archbishop Timothy Dolan on behalf of the Milwaukee Guild of the Catholic Medical Association:
Please join Bishops Morlino and Listecki in publicly opposing the current version of AB 377.
The lack of opposition from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Wisconsin Right to Life and our bishops has been used in testimony and press releases by Planned Parenthood et al to garner support from legislators who have previously opposed "emergency contraception" legislation. And their tactic has been effective. Each of the Wisconsin Guilds of the Catholic Medical Association speaks with one voice in opposition to this bill.
To my knowledge no representative of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference contacted our organization before dropping its previous opposition to this mandate.
The conscience rights of Wisconsin physicians and hospitals need to be protected.
Please allow our Guild members to meet with you to discuss this deceptive legislation. It is both discouraging and shameful that we have been ignored on this issue.
Praise the Lord for Dr. Phillips and his Catholic Medical Association peers. Having met with Dr. Phillips recently I can assure you that he is doing all he can to make sure the Wisconsin Catholic Conference is aware of how Catholic physicians feel regarding this oppressive legislation proposal. One has to wonder how such an eloquent physician could be ignored by the very people who represent Wisconsin Catholics in the state.
Please keep the Wisconsin Catholic bishops in your prayers. God knows, we need a miracle in that state and we need it now! (Pro-life news and information from American Life League.)
Timothy M. Dolan, the new "pro-life" champion? Don't you believe it. Not for one moment.
Indeed, as I have pointed out in many recent commentaries, one is not going to get the Second through Tenth Commandments right, including the Fifth Commandment, if one does not get the First Commandment right. To give any kind of credibility to any false religion is to blaspheme God, Who hates each false religions, which He wants to see eradicated from the face of this earth by means of the conversion of its adherents to the true Faith, the Catholic Faith, outside of which there is no salvation and without which there can be no true social order. And it was Timothy Dolan, after all, who recognized the representatives of false religions as follows:
...distinguished representatives from other revered families of faith....
"Other revered families of faith"? Revered by whom? Not by the true God of Revelation. "Other revered families of faith"? The jokester Timothy Dolan, who believes that God's "greatest gift to me is that I am Bob and Shirley Dolan's son," not the Catholic Faith, has no understanding that the true God of Revelation hates all false religion. believing that religions who are tools of the devil are "revered families of faith," which is, objectively speaking, utter apostasy. Timothy Dolan, who, unlike his conciliar predecessors (Terence Cooke, John O'Connor, Edward Egan) is not even a true priest, does not realize this as he makes a joke about his mother's being at Saint Patrick's Cathedral for his installation, "especially because there's a sale on at Macy's!"
Does the non-bishop and non-priest who "aims to be a happy bishop" understand this? Not at all. The auxiliary non-bishop, Richard Sklba, he inherited from his morally and doctrinally corrupt predecessor in Milwaukee, Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B., had the temerity to describe five false religions as pleasing to God in a presentation he made before Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI at the "John Paul II Cultural Center" in Washington, D.C., one year ago this evening, that is on April 17, 2009, prior to the false pontiff's committing, objectively speaking, grave Mortal Sins against the First Commandment by personally esteeming the symbols of these five false religions with his own priestly hands.
Here is Richard Sklba's description of these five false religions and their hideous symbols:
A silver menorah with seven lights. It symbolizes the perennial validity of God’s covenant of peace. Silver is frequently used in the Eastern European Jewish tradition. The menorah recalls the seven branched lamp stand used in the temple in Jerusalem.
A small, finely crafted edition of the Qur’an, in green leather and gold leaf edging. The Qur’an is the revered word of God, proclaiming God’s message of peace. Green is the traditional Islamic color.
A metallic cube representing the Jain principles of non-violence and respect for a diversity of viewpoints as a way to peace through self-discipline and dialogue.
The sacred syllable Om on a brass incense burner. Om is the primordial sound of creation itself, by which God’s liberating peace is made known. Bronze or brass are widely used for Hindu liturgical ornaments. Incense sticks are used in ritual worship among Hindu believers.
A bronze bell cast in Korea. In various Buddhist cultures, the sound of the bell demarcates the times of meditation, which leads to inner peace and enlightenment. (Many Acts of Evil Demand Many Acts of Reparation.)
Did Timothy M. Dolan rebuke Richard Sklba for these blasphemous words? Indeed, how could he? The man "recognized" by Timothy Dolan and Richard Sklba as the Vicar of Christ on earth stood there peacefully as these words were uttered, making a mockery of Pope Pius XII's reiteration of the consistent teaching of the Catholic Church concerning false religions and their idols:
Her deportment has not changed in the course of history, nor can it change whenever or wherever, under the most diversified forms, she is confronted with the choice: either incense for idols or blood for Christ. The place where you are now present, Eternal Rome, with the remains of a greatness that was and with the glorious memories of its martyrs, is the most eloquent witness to the answer of the Church. Incense was not burned before the idols, and Christian blood flowed and consecrated the ground. But the temples of the gods lie in the cold devastation of ruins howsoever majestic; while at the tombs of the martyrs the faithful of all nations and all tongues fervently repeat the ancient Creed of the Apostles. (Pope Pius XII, Ci Riesce, December 6, 1953.)
Sadly, the "joke" is on those who continue to think that the counterfeit church of conciliarism is the Catholic Church. It is not. Men such as Timothy Dolan want to make everyone happy except God as He has revealed Himself through the Catholic Church, which has never--and can never--endorse any kind of change in her doctrine and pastoral praxis that contradicts anything, no less everything, that has preceded a particular period in her history. While we must pray for men such as Timothy Dolan and his false "pontiff," Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, we must have nothing to do with them as they are enemies of God and thus of the souls redeemed at such a great price on the wood of the Holy Cross on Good Friday.
Unlike Timothy Dolan, the non-bishop and non-priest who saw fit NOT to mention the Mother of God in "mixed" company at Saint Patrick's Cathedral two days ago, we will never be ashamed to invoke the Holy Name of Mary and to exhort those whom God's Holy Providence places in our paths each day to entrust themselves to her by means of her Brown Scapular, Miraculous Medal and, of course, her Most Holy Rosary.
To Our Lady's Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart belongs the triumph that will vanquish the lords of Modernity and Modernism once and for all. May our own efforts to make reparation for our sins, many though they may be, to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary help to plant a few seeds so that more and more Catholics, clergy and laity alike, yet attached to the false structures of the counterfeit church of conciliarism will make the break once and for all and receive true Sacraments from true bishops and true priests who make absolutely no concessions to conciliarism or its false shepherds at any time for any reason, men who are never afraid to speak the truth and act with complete integrity in its behalf, knowing that no true pope can do, say or act as the conciliar "pontiffs" have done, said and acted.
Isn't it time to pray a Rosary now?
