Hat Tip to Gilbert and Sullivan: "I am the Very Model of a Modern German Cardinal"

Listen here. Too sadly true, but still funny:

Then I can write an article in favour of adultery
And praise unclean affections both unnatural and desultory
In short, in things political, peripheral and marginal
I am the very model of a modern German cardinal.

Vatican II Redux at the Synod: Follow Your Conscience

Archbishop Cupich lays the groundwork for those in immoral situations to justify receiving Communion while they remain in their sinful situations. Are we surprised?

Let's evaluate what's going on here.

Cardinal Dolan: Turning over a new leaf?

Cardinal Dolan: Synod should support, encourage, the 'new minority' of faithful Catholics

Well, there are a lot of leaves on a tree, but this "leaf" from the book of Cardinal Dolan gives me at least a little hope. The thought of turning over a new leaf reminds me of a story (maybe O. Henry) about a dying girl whose window looks out on brick wall with a tree in front of it that actually touched the wall with its branches. It's autumn and she's convinced that when the last leaf falls, she'll die. She watches the leaves drop and float to the ground one by one by one losing hope as she sees them fall. Finally, only one leaf is left on the tree. When that leaf falls, she knows she'll die.

In her apartment building lives an old man, a friend. He was a painter, but never a very successful one. He too is ill with a bad cold, but there's no doubt he'll recover. Only one day he gets much worse and eventually dies of complications from pneumonia. 

Meanwhile, the young woman finding hope in the fortitude of that last leaf, slowly begins to recover. When she's better she discovers that the painter, who loved her like a father, had gone out in the dark, the cold and the snow and painted a leaf on the wall of the building that, from her window, appeared to be attached to the tree's branch. She lived and he died out of love for her. What greater love than to give one's life for a friend.

I guess that's a digression, but let's hope that Cardinal Dolan isn't just turning over one new leaf, but an entire tree full.

This is the Pope's Synod, for Good or Bad the Results Belong to Him!

A secret plot to control the Synod? No; it's not secret at all.

Good News from the Synod: Faithful Clergy Speak Out!

Faithful bishops Speak:

Key Synod cardinal sets stage with ringing defense of Church teaching Thank God for those bishops defending the authentic Catholic faith.

Head of Polish Bishops: No Compromise Between Truth and Untruth And no common ground either!

Cardinal Napier Calls Rosica's Bluff Hopefully, many will continue to expose the distortion of the Synod by Fr. Rosica!

Polish prelate posts summaries of Synod talks, in apparent violation of procedures This was standard procedure by the Vatican press office at past synods. It certainly prevents Fr. Rosica and other Vatican press office reps from spinning and distorting the words of the Synod Fathers.

Is Fr. Haley Vindicated by What's Coming Out about "Gays" in the Vatican?

Here's a typical media spin on gay theologian Msgr. Charamso's "coming out."



Charming, eh?

Now, if you don't know about Fr. James Haley you should. He was a priest in the diocese of Arlington who, over a decade ago, blew the whistle on homosexual priests with porn in the closet and boyfriends in the bedroom. It was a message the bishop did not want to hear.

The Synod on the Family and the Crisis in the Church

Watch this important video. It points out how important the upcoming synod is. Many mystics predicted the assault on the family and this synod, if it undermines the indissolubility of marriage, will be promoting heresy. Watch this and pray. Pray especially for the brave bishops of the Church who are not fleeing from the wolves but facing them down. Note the discussion of the manipulation of language -- "new pastoral care" to affirm homosexuality and Communion for those in invalid marriages is compared to the distortion of Vatican II by alluding to the "spirit of the council." Bishop Schneider calls them "false words" and specifically identifies the strategies of Cardinal Kasper as "a lie."

Are You Prepared to Fight to Defend the Family?

This video shows exactly how Catholic groups undermine the faith. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is expert at this!

Pray that those who advertise themselves as Catholic will act like it. If they don't, challenge them to display truth in advertising. Like the sayings go, "Put your money where your mouth is." and "Actions speak louder than words."

The public circus is over --- at least for now

The Vatican released the full text of the closing message from the Synod today and it's actually quite good. Unfortunately, it can hardly undo the damage of the Ratio that went viral around the world last week to confuse Catholics and non-Catholics alike. That document focused almost exclusively on sexual issues (homosexuality, cohabitation, and reception of Communion after divorce and remarriage) and implied that the old rigid, intolerant Church has seen the light and is being transform into an open, tolerant pastoral one.

My own diocese (Arlington) joined the mainstream media this week with a frontpage CNS (Catholic News Service) article headlined "A place for gays, nonmarital unions."

What's Wrong with the Synod on the Family?

Plenty! I have high regard for Phil Lawler and he is no knee jerk critic. So when he points out problems, orthodox Catholics would do well to listen. I've highlighted a few particularly important passages in red. Pray for the Synod Fathers. If they "squander this opportunity" or, even worse, follow a liberalizing agenda that further confuses the faithful like so many clergy did after Vatican II and Humanae Vitae, God help them on Judgment Day. Check out the complete articles by clicking on Part I and Part II.

Part I -- Shuffling the Deck Chairs:

If what we hear from the Synod Hall is an accurate representation of the actual discussion, the bishops are missing the big picture. Worse, they are squandering an opportunity to deliver the one message that our society most desperately needs to hear....

[A]s we have lost our theoretical understanding of what constitutes real marriage, we have also lost our practical ability to hold marriages together. The widespread acceptance of divorce...was the first sign of that failure. But the problem grew exponentially with the acceptance of “no-fault” divorce laws, which made it possible for one party to sever a marriage contract. As Stephen Baskerville observed for Crisis magazine: “Today it is not possible to form a binding agreement to create a family.”...

Real marriage has three essential characteristics:

Another Infamous Interview with Cardinal Kaspar?

Cardinal Kasper claims papal support, raps critics in new interview

Cardinal Kasper: Pope wants bishops to decide on Communion proposal

Every time I hear the word "interview" linked with Pope Francis or Cardinal Kasper I get nervous. If Cardinal Kasper is telling the truth about Pope Francis, we have a lot to worry about! Is the faith a case of maintaining doctrine as long as the majority of bishops support it? Is changing doctrine okay as long as "collegiality" is respected and the synod of bishops gives thumbs up?

Remember how the expectations of Catholics were raised by the Pontifical Birth Control Commission back in the 1960s?

Want a Happy Family? Love Your Spouse!

The breakdown of the family is creating chaos in our society. As I consider the likely divorce of another member of my extended family, I can't help thinking how much easier life would be if we all just loved our spouses and our children enough to be faithful to our promises.

Loving families make happy children!

Sin seems pleasant at the time, but I know many folks who did what they wanted claiming "I have a right to be happy" and ended up even more miserable than they thought they were originally. Sin never makes anyone happy in the long run.

I'm re-reading St. John Paul II's 1994 Letter to Families. Here's a good paragraph for meditation and prayer today:

Experience shows what an important role is played by a family living in accordance with the moral norm, so that the individual born and raised in it will be able to set out without hesitation on the road of the good, which is always written in his heart. [Emphasis in original.] Unfortunately various programs backed by very powerful resources nowadays seem to aim at the breakdown of the family. At times it appears that concerted efforts are being made to present as "normal" and attractive, and even to glamorize, situations which are in fact "irregular." Indeed, they contradict "the truth and love" which should inspire and guide relationships between men and women, thus causing tensions and divisions in families, with grave consequences particularly for children. The moral conscience becomes darkened; what is true, good and beautiful is deformed; and freedom is replaced by what is actually enslavement. In view of all this, how relevant and thought-provoking are the words of the Apostle Paul about the freedom for which Christ has set us free, and the slavery which is caused by sin (cf. Gal 5:1)!

The synod on the family coming up next month has the potential to do great good, but could also be another flash point for spreading dissent and confusion like the release of Humane Vitae in 1968. No doubt the forces of evil are set to exploit and distort the outcome for their purposes.

The Vatican released a working document for the Synod in June. Read it here and please pray that the synod becomes a source of strengthening families that are so under assault today rather than one more opportunity for sowing confusion..