SNAP = Scurrilous, Nasty, Avaricious and Pernicious. They Advocate for Themselves

Latest target of SNAP, a crime syndicate masquerading as a victim advocacy group!

SNAP [Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests] claims to be a victim advocacy group. What they really are is a corrupt organization best personified by an octopus. Their tentacles reach out to attach sticky pads to often innocent victims and suck them dry to fill up the SNAP treasure chests. Groups like this do not help real victims. In fact, they use victims as cover to gird themselves in a faux legitimacy, using the faces and stories of victims to fill their coffers. Perhaps we need a network for those abused by SNAP!

Did the SSPX Really "Cover Up" the Fr. Rostand Case?

We're often given one-sided salacious stories framed in the worst possible light. This is especially true when the source has something to gain from putting the worst construction on the events and then magnifies them. The scandal of SSPX child abuser Fr. Arnaud Rostand is being used, once again, to bludgeon the SSPX. Every reader of the scandal is being led to presume that the leadership of the SSPX covered up Rostand's abuse and moved him around like the McCarrick crowd. After all, that's Fr. Rostand's claim and, of course, this priest abuser couldn't possibly be lying. Remember when McCarrick claimed he was really a good guy and didn't understand why he was being treated so badly? Narcissism is common among both homo and hetero sex abusers. Why would anyone believe anything they said?

Michael Voris Sinks to a New Low. No Bottom to their Sewer!

Just when you think Church Militant (CM) can't sink any lower, they prove there's no bottom to their sewer. 

Some Things are Worth Repeating: The SSPX Revisited

Editor's Note: I wrote this post in the midst of the lockdowns in 2020. In view of Church Militant engaging in their latest attack on the SSPX, I thought it was worth repeating. John Salvi, CM's "expert," is an apologist with absolutely no authority in the Church. Michael Voris, although he postures as an authority on just about everything, is a big-mouthed layman with a microphone and a green screen. He has absolutely no authority either. It's interesting that part of John Salvi's "expertise," discussed in this video, is his history as a 32nd degree Mason. He uses his wicked past as a credential. Voris rarely talks about his wicked past as an active homosexual and only revealed it when it was about to become public. Neither of these men, Voris or Salvi, are authorities and their statement that the SSPX is in schism is an opinion, nothing more. Voris has made attacking other Catholics a staple of his yellow journalism. Listening to him is like reading the tabloids at the grocery store checkout. Sensationalism unmasked! Here's what I wrote in 2020 and it is just as true today.

The SSPX Revisited

Archbishop Lefebvre -- Hero or Villain?

The Loaded Language Church Militant Uses Against the SSPX

Do you read the dictionary? Look up calumny and slander!

My mom loved words. She loved words so much she used to read the dictionary. I absorbed a large vocabulary and impeccable grammar at my mother's knee. When I took the SATs in high school I scored high on English, not because I knew all the rules, but because I knew what "sounded right." I also learned to use words properly -- the right word at the right time in the right context. My mom never used loaded language to manipulate others; she was too honest. Words were too important not to treat them with respect and use them with integrity.

We All Have a Right to Our Good Name!

Sins against the eighth commandment are legion. Slander and detraction are serious issues. Which brings me to Church Militant (CM) and its reporting on the SSPX -- again. 

Michael Voris recently reviled the SSPX as a "cult" on a CM Twitter thread implying that  anyone who attends or defends the SSPX is a "cult" member.  He used two examples to support his statement -- Let me repeat that. He mentioned TWO!!! comments left on the Twitter feed and went on to cast aspersions on every single member of the SSPX. But not only the SSPX, the entire Latin Mass community. He implied, based on TWO comments, that everyone who attends the Latin Mass is self-righteous and thinks they are "superior and Holy." And of course, many of CM's followers piled on. Omigosh, those TLM supporters are evil and "spiritually diseased."

What Would Mother Angelica Say about EWTN's Enabling of Calumny and Slander? Part 1

Editor's Comment: We live in a time where calumny, detraction, and slander slap us in the face every single day: in the media, in political races and hearings over judgeships, in casual conversations. How many Catholics see these things as serious sins against justice? People have an absolute right to their good names. That an organization like EWTN refuses to recognize this and redress the wrong they did should trouble every viewer. Any confessor will tell you that those who sin against the 8th commandment have an obligation to try to undo the wrong. It is especially baffling that EWTN refuses, since their participation in the calumny appears to have been out of ignorance not malice. Nevertheless, they still have an obligation to correct the error and promote the truth. 

Honesty Counts: Cardinal Sarah and the Withdrawal of His Signature from the Appeal

What a sad state of affairs. If you read my post earlier today, you know about the Vigano letter/petition, APPEAL FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD to Catholics and all people of good will. 

Among the several dozen original signers was Cardinal Robert Sarah. But after the letter was published, he denied signing it which led to a letter of fraternal correction from Archbishop Vigano.

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.

Should We Defend Ourselves against Defamation and Slander?

Dr. Hitchcock, take note! Slander is
a serious sin against the 8th
Commandment that requires repair.

  The post following this introduction is an email I received from friend and Wanderer journalist Dexter Duggan. Dexter wrote to me responding to yesterday's Sunday meditation on slander and righteous anger. He's experienced slander first hand from a Catholic historian who, by all common sense standards, should be an ally. Some readers may recall my posts relating the story of Dexter's abuse by Dr. James Hitchcock in his book, Abortion, Religious Freedom, and Catholic Politics. (See here and here.)

Indeed, Dexter knows what it is to be falsely accused, slandered, and vilified. He knows what it is to have your reputation continuously damaged by falsehoods published in a book used on Catholic college campuses across the country. He knows what it is to be defamed over and over on EWTN and in Catholic interview shows promoting the slanderous book. Hitchcock's refusal to correct the mistakes and defamation reflects more on him than on Dexter. And what it says about him is anything but complimentary to a man professing to be a faithful Catholic.

What possessed Dr. Hitchcock to attack Dexter and The Wanderer in the first place is beyond me. That he refuses to correct his errors and apologize for the slander certainly doesn't demonstrate a humble Catholic mind and heart (that the Lord "will not spurn"). It shows a pride and arrogance that is rather frightening to see in an aged man on the cusp of eternity.

Sunday Meditation: Righteous Anger and the Slandering of Good Priests!

What would Jesus do in the face of evil and injustice?

I've was walking around my house a few days ago so angry I couldn't sit down. If I could spit fire, it would have spewed out of my mouth white-hot -- lighting up every combustable item nearby! Ever since childhood I've hated injustice, and too many times I've seen the liars and demons go after good priests and kill their vocations.

The Diocese of Arlington criticizes "lapse of journalistic standards" over Fr. Escalante article.

Fr. Ron Escalante

Below is the statement on the Arlington diocesan website responding to the Blue Ridge Leader's article about the unjust treatment of Fr. Ron Escalante who was removed as pastor at St. Francis de Sales in Purcellville over an alleged "boundary violation" with a teenage girl. [See article here.]

Excuse my eye-rolling over the diocese's statement. What a bunch of hooey! We hear all the time about how bishops want openness and transparency. Don't believe it! My mom raised me to be too much of a lady to use the language that comes to mind. I doubt if protecting Fr. Escalante's privacy is the main point in all this and their attack on the Blue Ridge Leader is nothing but a diversion. I want to commend Valerie Cury and the Blue Ridge Leader for defending the rights of a good priest. I trust their investigation more than I trust the diocese's. If the sex abuse crisis has taught us anything, it's to be skeptical, not of the Church, but of the Church bureaucracy. My comments are in red.

Fr. Tom Collins: Slander and Racism in the Name of "Social Justice"

Indian activist Nathan Phillips racially targets
Mark Sandmann and his school mates whom
the media slander as  racist white boys. Who
are the real racists?

Mueller was careful to ensure the perpetuation of slander against Trump. Even though there was no evidence of Trump collusion with the Russians, Mueller was careful to say only that there was “insufficient” evidence of such collusion, rather than no evidence of collusion. When there is no evidence whatsoever to prove an allegation, there is indeed “insufficient” evidence.

Zero evidence is indeed “insufficient” to prove a case, but the word “insufficient” implies that some real evidence does exist. In Trump’s case, there was no “evidence” aside from the set of unsubstantiated allegations composed for the Steele Dossier, at the behest of Hillary Clinton.

Slander Scandal: The Hierarchy and the 8th Commandment

Editor's note: This is the lead article from the current issue of The Truth, Les Femmes' quarterly newsletter. If you'd like to check out back issues go to www.lesfemmes-thetruth.org

Most Catholics know the story of St. Jean Vianney giving a gossip the penance of emptying a feather pillow in the wind and then gathering all the feathers up again. When she exclaimed it was impossible, the saint observed it was also impossible to undo the damage caused by her gossip.

Fake News Matters! Are You Posting and Sharing Lies on Facebook and Twitter?

If you dispense fake news, no one will believe you
 even when you speak the truth, as the boy 
who cried "wolf" learned!

I'm working my way through the February issue of Chronicles and was intrigued by Scott Reichert's article, Why Fake News Matters. He points out that fake news comes from both sides of the political spectrum and seems to be motivated by agendas on both the left and the right to damage opponents.

I agree! And it's equally repulsive whatever the source. Fake news isn't a new problem. Aesop addressed it in his fables 500 years before the birth of Christ. Remember the little boy who cried "wolf!"?

I was concerned about fake news long before anyone coined the term. For years, a few of my email friends, one in particular, forwarded all kinds of questionable articles. Sometimes they wrote later to say it wasn't true after all. One friend began sending things out prefaced by, "I don't know if this is true or not, but...."

Bob Marshall Falsely Accused

When someone commented on my blog post that My Favorite Politician, Bob Marshall said handicaps were God's punishment on women who had abortions, I found it hard to believe. No wonder. It wasn't true. This is the typical kind of attack statesmen like Bob have to endure from bigoted know-nothings who will go to any ends to discredit him. What's especially disgusting is that Governor Bob McDonnell just presumed it was true without checking and publicly criticized Bob. That is exactly what Barack Obama did when a white police officer arrested his Harvard buddy. Check the facts, fellas, before you perpetuate slander especially when you are running as a pro-life candidate. Which reminds me, Mr. McDonnell, that you pledged on Laura Ingraham's radio show to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. But in the current budget PP gets a pass and abstinence funding gets the slash. Is this is another example of a "read my lips" Republican who will say anything before the election and do anything after? Shame on you, Bob McDonnell!