Sad to Say "Corrupt Government" is Not an Oxymoron but a Redundancy

I read two articles recently that illustrated how corrupt government is from the smallest local community at the town, village, and county setting to the Leviathan monster at the federal level. Citizens have little say and are often deliberately kept out of the discussion. The articles actually offered no revelation to me. Let's face it, money and power rule the world under the world's prince, Satan. Those useful tools, money and power, pervert many a soul, especially those in politics who seem to have god-complexes. 

Facts and Questions about the COVID 19 Crisis: Will the Outcome be Worse than the Disease?

Is this you, looking at our dystopian society?

Do you feel like you're living in a dystopian novel? Do you wonder what the end game really is? Do the censorship and attacks on medical people who deviate from the official narrative concern you? What do you think the economic impact will be for the country as we go forward? Do all the unintended consequences of the lockdown worry you? Are you curious about why politicians are telling the medical profession how to treat a disease? Lots of questions! I'm sure you have some of your own. 

Guest Post: Meet me in St. Louis, Dr. Hitchcock by Dexter Duggan

From the evil one's lips to Dr Hitchcock's ears?
"Hey man, you're good. Don't embarrass
yourself by admitting you goofed! Think
 about your reputation as a historian!"

Editor's comment: What responsibility does a Catholic have to correct slanderous comments about others -- especially when they are public and published? The damage is ongoing. Every person led to believe the false and damaging information is scandalized. And to the degree that they promote and spread the slander, the culpability of the instigator is magnified.

When I'm up before the early bird....

Well, it was one of those nights. I turned the light off around eleven, slept somewhat fitfully, and was wide awake at 4:30. So what does one do (after making coffee) when it's still pitch dark out and absolutely quiet? (Even the early bird is still in bed.) Here's my answer: Read morning prayer in my Magnificat, sit down with the unread stack of Wanderers, and then write a letter to my granddaughter.

The first article in The Wanderer that caught my eye was a reprint of Fr. John Hardon's commentary on the Real Presence. So many Catholics no longer believe and my granddaughter is working as the Admissions Director at a Catholic high school. She will have many opportunities to witness to her belief that Christ is really there in the school chapel simply by her reverence and frequent visits. 

So I was going to clip the article and mail it.

The Consequences of Not Listening: A History Lesson for Our Elected Leaders to Commemorate the Battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775

Barre was an Irish soldier in the
English army and a renowned
member of Parliament, noted by
HoraceWalpole for his"very
classic and eloquent diction."

A recent article in The Wanderer by Terence P. Jeffrey presented a fascinating bit of British history that directly relates to our country's beginning. He described a disagreement in Parliament between Col. Isaac Barre, a veteran of the French and Indian War wounded at the Battle of Quebec, and Charles Townsend, a politician who became Chancellor of the Exchequer and was responsible for the detested"Townshend Acts," a series of laws imposing taxes on the American colonies, the first of which was the Stamp Act of 1765. 

The Stamp Act required the colonists in America to purchase stamps for every printed document: newspapers, legal notices, ships' manifests, in fact, every commercial transaction. The money was to be used for troops to defend and protect the American frontier. Despite the use of the money, the real objection to the Act was the fact that it was imposed without the input of the colonial legislatures themselves. Hence the motto: "No taxation without representation."

During the debate in Parliament over the Stamp Act on February 6, 1765, Barre gave this sensible advice to the members of the House of Commons:

An Interview with Dexter Duggan on the "Family Feud" with James Hitchcock

Read the latest Catholic news!

Earlier this month I wrote a post about the "family feud" between Catholic historian James Hitchcock and The Wanderer, a conservative Catholic newspaper. Hitchcock's book, Abortion, Religious Freedom, and Catholic Politics, targets The Wanderer (and reporter Dexter Duggan particularly) with a tsunami of criticism.  But the charges, from the perspective of a regular reader (myself), are baffling since Hitchcock implies that The Wanderer and several of her writers, have thrown the pro-life issue under the bus.

Huh?

The Wanderer is one of the most consistent champions of babies in the womb and those who defend them in the Catholic media. The newspaper also publishes some of the best commentary on Catholic teaching about the entire range of pro-life issues: abortion, euthanasia, homosexual activism and same-sex "marriage", assisted suicide, reproductive technology, etc. How could a Catholic historian get things so wrong?

The "Family" Feud between James Hitchcock and The Wanderer: Why, Dr. HItchcock?

Hey, we may share the same last name, but
I don't get what's going on either.
It reminds me of a movie I made once.

As I wrote several months ago (Can We Disband the Circular Firing Squads?), I'm baffled by historian James Hitchcock's vendetta against The Wanderer and two of their writers, Dexter Duggan and Chris Manion (not to mention a host of others including Judie Brown of American Life League; eminent Catholic author Joe Sobran (RIP); Paul Likoudis, longtime journalist for The Wanderer (RIP); Pat Buchanan; Chris Ferrara of The Remnant; etc.).

Ferrara responded to one of Hitchock's previous attacks back in 2007 when Hitchcock's spleen apparently hit maximum inflammation. His recent book - Abortion, Religious Freedom, and Catholic Politics  is filled with errors, misquotes, and general sloppy scholarship. How sad.

Thought for the Day: Sola Scriptura Makes No Sense!

And if you interpret it any which way, and reject
the authority of the Church, the same applies!

I'm always catching up on my reading and this morning I'm reading the January 4th issue of The Wanderer. Great publication! Raymond De Souza has an article in his Live Your Faith series providing testimony from early Christians on the sacrament of Confession which proves it was practiced from the first century. He is refuting the contention by some skeptics that the sacrament was an invention from the Middle Ages and demonstrates through the writings of The Fathers of the Church (and others) to illustrate his point. But the paragraph that caught my eye was this:

Guest Post: Young Eastern Europeans Study Free Market Ways with Project Arizona

"It's the North Star of my life to look to God."

Dexter Duggan has a fascinating article at The Wanderer describing a project in Arizona that brings Eastern European interns to the United States to learn free-market philosophy to take home to their countries. These young adults know the reality of Communism and state very clearly that those who advocate for socialism have little understanding of what it really entails. We live in times when many who spout off about everything, know almost nothing. Check out Dexter's article. Here's the beginning:

Can We Disband the Circular Firing Squads...Please? The Shameful Attack by James Hitchcock on The Wanderer

My friend Dexter Duggan writes for The Wanderer. He lives in the Southwest so he experiences first-hand the devastation of the illegal invasion along the border and often explores the impact. I always look for Dexter's articles because he is insightful, but always charitable in his criticism of policies that are destroying our national character and threatening our safety.

So I've watched with alarm the attack on Dexter and The Wanderer by Catholic historian, Professor James Hitchcock, and, frankly, I find it baffling. It isn't anything new though. Chris Manion, another Wanderer contributor, addressed the issue in 2007, the 140th anniversary year of the paper, after Hitchcock attacked The Wanderer in the Human Life Review. Manion, who admired Hitchcock's work, interviewed him and The Wanderer gave the professor 3,000 words on the front page to express his concerns. What was his response? A year later he went after The Wanderer again with some specific swipes at Chris Manion. Just goes to show, no good deed goes unpunished.

What will it mean for the little ones in the womb if Hillary is elected?

If you're voting for Trump, raise your hand

Brian Clowes, Director of Research and Training at Human Life International, is urging voters to support Donald Trump. The impact to the babies in the womb if Hillary takes office is devastating, Clowes says. His reasoning should give every pro-lifer considering a third party vote or sitting out the election serious pause. Let me quote from the article which was published in The Wanderer on September 15th:

If Clinton is elected "Millions more babies will pay the ultimate price. The Obama administration has backed up the abortion industry at every turn, but President Hillary Clinton will go much further. Pro-abortion leaders universally acknowledge that the three highest priorities of Clinton's presidency will be abortion, more abortion, and even more abortion.

Sunday Meditation: A Lament for Bubble Gum Homilies

One of my frequent laments is what I call bubble-gum homilies (or pabulum from the pulpit). They may appear to give you something to chew on but there's no nourishment and all that chewing is for naught. I thought of that today while I was reading an article in The Wanderer by Deacon James H. Toner on Rocky Homilies. Here's a bit:

As critical as it is to be kind...compassion must not be purchased at the price of truth -- any more than, say, "pastoral sensitivity" ought to be practiced regardless of the jeopardy it might pose to what is morally right. There are times when honeyed homilies are as spiritually perilous as the fire-and-brimstone sermons of yesteryear, reminiscent of the psalm's warning: "their throats are yawning graves; they make their tongues so smooth!" (5:9 Jerusalem Bible; cf. Romans 3:13).... 

The Chickens Come Home to Roost in Altoona: The Legacy of Bishop Joseph Adamec

Grand Jury: Altoona Diocese Covered Up Sex Abuse of Hundreds of Children

Wanderer Readers will remember Paul Likoudis' series on Bishop Joseph Adamec's "reign of terror" in Altoona. Faithful Catholics in the diocese fought to restore orthodoxy to no avail. A 2007 article summarized The Wanderer's expose in these words:

In 1996, The Wanderer published a six-week series on Bishop Adamec’s “reign of terror” in the diocese, his persecution of priests and his malicious treatment of concerned laity who objected to his lavish personal lifestyle, his tolerance of liturgical abuses, the cultivation of his cult of personality and the dubious selection of seminarians. 

Another Head Rolls: Archbishop Nienstedt Resigns

UPDATE: June 20, 2015
An Isolated Nienstedt Tried to Limit Investigation

I'm not a big fan of liberal public radio, but it's beginning to look like all that smoke has fire behind it. Indeed, things aren't looking good for Archbishop Nienstedt and I'm afraid more revelations are likely to be coming out in the days ahead. So disheartening. Sometimes the bishops who appear to be orthodox use it as a screen behind which to hide. 

_____________________________

I read an article in The Wanderer this morning about St. John the Baptist and the dance that cost him his head. So glad I saw it before reading about Archbishop Nienstedt's resignation which I found very disheartening.

But the article on John the Baptist puts things in perspective. Herodias, whose sexual sins earned the ire of the saint, had it in for John and she schemed and planned until she had the opportunity to finish him off once and for all.

Archbishop Nienstedt, whose given name also happens to be John, has been stalked by the gay "marriage" crowd ever since he sent out CDs to his diocese defending Church teaching on homosexuality and the attack on marriage between a man and a woman. The gays tried to get him with accusations of sex abuse which never stuck. So they went after him for "mismanaging" sex abuse in the diocese. 

I don't know whether he mismanaged things or not, but all the signs are that the modern day Herodias lobby doesn't really care whether he's guilty as long as they get his head on a platter. His real crime is being orthodox instead of pandering to the gender Nazis. 

Nienstedt is one more orthodox bishop who publicly defended Church teaching who has now been chopped to pieces. He joins Bishop Joseph Martino and Bishop Robert Finn in early retirement, as well as Cardinal Raymond Burke who was as good as retired when he was named patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Let us pray that all these men, relegated to the proverbial desert, imitate Jesus spending some time in prayer and fasting and then come out fighting for the faith with voices of truth!

Articles about the Pope's Upcoming Encyclical on Climate Change

It won't be out for weeks, but the pope's encyclical on climate change is already stirring controversy. (Well, that's news, eh?) Shall we prepare for the coming document by reading what Catholic writers are saying? (We know the breathless cheerleading that will characterize the secular media.) Here are opinions on both sides of the spectrum. 

Vatican's Turn to the Left Will Make the Poor Poorer

Pope Francis the Climate Activist

Pope Francis' Message to Lima Climate Conference (You'll need to use your "translate" option.) 

Pope Francis and Climate Change with followup

I frankly would welcome an encyclical on stewardship of the earth. I remember

Interview with Cardinal Burke on Extraordinary Synod

This week's Wanderer carries an interview with Cardinal Raymond Burke evaluating the Extraordinary Synod on the Family. He points out some major problems with the outcome (no surprise to orthodox Catholics) including its giving the widespread impression that doctrine on marriage can change.

Does this sound familiar?

Groupon Discriminates against Second Amendment Businesses

The deal-maker Groupon has taken the anti-gun side of the gun debate by canceling the deal offered by a Texas gun dealer for a reduced cost gun class. According to an AOL report, Groupon has suspended all gun-related deals. Ironically, this took place after a Groupon rep called the gun dealer to increase the number of deals from 600 to 1500 because of demand. You can let Groupon know just what you think about their discrimination against the second amendment by contacting them here (support group) or here (investor relations).   

On a related subject, The Wanderer has a great front page article in the January 17th issue titled, "Obama's America Turns Meek Me into a Gun Owner" by my friend Dexter Duggan who lives in the Phoenix area where violence related to illegal immigration is rampant. Dexter speaks for many of us

What's Going on at The Wanderer?

I received my Wanderer in the mail yesterday, as always a week late thanks to the postal service that discriminates against small publications. As usual I gave it a quick scan to see what the main issues are. When I got to the back page the piece that particularly drew my attention was the "retraction and correction" related to recent articles on Tom Monaghan and Ave Maria University and town. I read all the articles and was disappointed that the paper was caving in the face of Monaghan's pressure. The retraction on its face is simply not credible.

Since the very first controversy at Ave Maria over the Monaghan-designed monstrosity of a church, I've followed the events at the school closely. My husband and I were thrilled to hear of a new Catholic college and town and joined the "founders club" early on with regular contributions. However, we withdrew in the light of growing problems over, not only the design of the church, but the draconian actions taken against the Ave Maria Law School in Ann Arbor. We were appalled at the forced move to Florida including the removal of Dr. Charles Rice from the governing board and the suspension of three law professor who sued the president of the law school, Dean Bernard Dobranski, and Tom Monaghan. The professors subsequently won a settlement including full reinstatement and an undisclosed financial award. But a promising institution that had a 100% pass rate for the Michigan Bar Exam in 2004 and was accredited in the shortest time possible, ranked at the bottom in the 2010 U.S. News and World Report review of law schools.

The Wanderer's series of articles by Marielena Montesino de Stuart on the situation in Ave Maria were very disturbing, but subsequent events indicate the criticism of Monaghan and University president, Nicholas Healy, are thoroughly justified. Naming the sports center after billionaire Tom Golisano with his consistent funding of pro-abortion politicians was shocking. Galisano gave a million dollars to the Obama extravaganza democrat convention, consistently supports dozens of NARAL-backed politicians, and most recently promised to support publicly pro-abortion Charlie Crist after he fled the Republican party to run as an independent. These are the actions of a man who claims he is pro-life?

With regard to the problem of Ave Maria's town charter that allows abortion, what is there to retract? No less an authority than constitutional scholar Charles Rice wrote an article in The Wanderer in the February 18th edition titled The Controversy Behind Monaghan's Ave Maria "Scheme". Professor Rice affirmed all the documentation from the previous article and concluded:

A curious question arises from the conclusion that the absolute prohibition of abortion in the first sentence of Section 6.5(V) is unconstitutional and void. If that prohibition is void, all that could possibly be left of Section 6.5(V) is the restriction on promotion, counseling and referrals. But if “promotion” of abortion is not counseling or referral, what is it? Does it include the performance of abortions? Can you promote abortion by performing abortions? The drafters of Section 6.5(V) drew a distinction between performance and promotion of abortion. But how can you perform abortions without promoting abortion? Promotion, unlike counseling and referrals, is a vague term and should not have been used in that context. If the absolute prohibition of abortion is void and if promotion of abortion can include performance of abortions, Mrs. Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s criticism has merit.

In any event, Mrs. Montesino de Stuart understated her case. Will Ave Maria Town be required to permit the performance of some abortions? Yes, if, as seems clear, Ave Maria is subject to the Fourteenth Amendment under the criteria ofMarsh v. Alabama.

The underlying problem here is that the architects of the Ave Maria scheme undertook to create a town and exempt it from the constitutional restrictions that apply to state and local governments and to private persons assuming public functions by the operation of such a town. The incoherence of that course legally means that it will apparently be up to the abortionists to decide whether some abortions will be performed in Ave Maria Town. Any claim to the contrary is, in my opinion, a misrepresentation.

Since Dr. Rice wrote this, Ave Maria has stepped into another morass (Is it because they're located in a swamp?) over Monaghan turning over a section of land so that eugenics pioneer Jackson Labs can locate in Ave Maria Town. In view of all these problems with Ave Maria and the obvious accuracy of the articles illustrated by the analysis of a constitutional scholar, exactly what is really going on at The Wanderer and why did they print a retraction (with a face-saving refusal to concur on one issue)?

Here's my educated guess. First, everybody knows The Wanderer is in financial trouble. It's mentioned in almost every issue. Second, Tom Monaghan has plenty of money to engage in a frivolous lawsuit which the paper can ill afford and he has shown himself perfectly willing in the past to go after those who disagree with him (Remember the professors at the law school in Ann Arbor?). Third, and this pains me to consider, Monaghan can "help" The Wanderer with its difficulties. All it takes is throwing a troublesome journalist under the bus and retracting a few facts that are true, but unpleasant for Monaghan.

If my third supposition is true, you will never see another critical item about Tom Monaghan and Ave Maria appear in The Wanderer's pages. You may even see full page ads for Ave Maria gracing the back page. And anyone who thinks Monaghan would buy an ad from a critic needs a reality check.

The Wanderer has been described as a "witness to the truth," a well deserved accolade. But if the paper caved to Monaghan over money, that witness is in mortal jeopardy: a newspaper that has been fearless in its reporting for over 100 years has sold its soul.  It's integrity will have been bought by a pragmatist who, while paying lip service to the faith, is willing to compromise Catholic values to get what he wants. Is Ave Maria really about the Blessed Mother and the promotion of the faith or is it the legacy of a man building a shrine to himself? Pray for Tom Monaghan and all those he is willing to injure to reach his goals. The list is growing. Pray especially that this is not the death knell of The Wanderer. I love the paper and have myself written articles for it. The mourning will indeed be great if the great witness to the truth becomes one more jockey in Tom Monaghan's stable.