Sunday Meditation: Reflecting on the Good Shepherd

"I know my sheep and they know me." John 10:14 

Does your diocese have a good shepherd? Does your parish? How can you tell? Scripture says, "By their fruits you shall know them." The measure of a good shepherd is how zealously he defends the faith and protects his flock from scandal. If you are fortunate enough to have a good shepherd, be sure to express your gratitude.

And now I have a story to tell from my own two dioceses, Richmond and Arlington. Arlington is blessed to have many faithful priests. How grateful I am for them because they have kept Arlington from going the way of so many places that have essentially lost the faith altogether. Fr. John Hardon, S.J. warned about the crisis of faith for years and predicted that entire dioceses would lose the faith. Has that happened in your diocese? He described the crisis in a 1997 article that outlined what has become ever more obvious. Who can deny it today?

What are these 2 silly women doing?

What are these 2 silly women doing?

1) The older "blonde" woman is washing the younger woman's hair.
2) The older woman is looking for lice in the younger woman's hair.
3) The younger woman is getting her head massaged.
4) The younger woman fell asleep; the older woman is trying to wake her up.
5) They're participating in a seance.
6) They're 2 of the 3 witches in Macbeth practicing their line, "Double, double, toil and trouble" while waiting for their cauldron to bubble.
7) They're members of an odd sect. (Correct answer)
8)  They're self-described empowered companions on a journey (to nowhere).
9) The older woman is anointing the younger with something, an egg perhaps.
10) They're friends of Harry Potter waiting for their broomsticks (I see a bright green one overhead making its landing). 
11) They're pathetic charlatans
12) They're trying to be what they will never be, and will go to their graves with their dreams unfulfilled.

Fortunately Nilsson has the answer for us. Sing it, Harry!

Now that the Synod is Over the Spin is On

Actually it started even before the Synod started with dissent groups all over the world writing letters and organizing their own alternative synod in Rome through Catholic Church Reform International (CCRI) formed in June 2013. CCRI is a coalition of over a hundred dissent groups around the world (CORPUS, Call to Action, We Are Church, Women's Ordination Conference, Roman Catholic Womenpriests USA, Voice of the Faithful, American Catholic Council, Loretto Women's Network, etc.). Although I know they are not particularly orthodox at the national level, I was surprised to see The National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) included as a support group with a link to their president, Rebecca Woodhull I plan to contact my bishop on that one!

One More Reason to be Concerned about Bishop Cupich -- CTA loves him!

Call to Action is thrilled with Bishop Cupich's appointment to Chicago where their national office is based!

Now if you don't know about the dissidents at Call to Action, you have been deprived of many head-shaking experiences: the puppet Masses (See ridiculous video below.), the endorsement of abortion, contraception, sodomy, etc., the frequent rabid dissent at their conferences where nuns beat the drums (literally). Yes, a Call to Action's endorsement definitely makes a person suspect. Now, I wonder what Bishop Cupich thinks of the Chicago-based group. Someone should ask him. Catholic Citizens of Illinois, a faithful group of Catholics, has the press release on their website.

Press Release: A Humbler, More Pastoral Church

Now a little history....