The following is a story that is running in the new edition of the Catholic Anchor. The paper asked the Senatorial candidates a series of 10 questions most closely connected to Catholic doctrine and teaching. For us Catholics all we have to read is number #1 and know how we can and can't vote. There are non-negotiables we must adhere to as Catholics, regardless of our ideas about government. Some will try and paint the positive law as the highest law of the land, but it is not. Natural Law is supreme, and in fact guided the positive law our founders used as the philosophical basis for the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and federal statutes. We must not be confused and tricked by political rhetoric.
The following excerpt from the Senatorial profile in the Anchor is more than enough information to read to know that as a Catholic it would be WRONG and Anti-Catholic to vote for Lisa Murkowski. I challenge ANYONE, lay or religious, to debate me on this. I will accept that challenge publicly if need be.
At the Red Mass held at the Cathedral in Anchorage a few weeks ago, I was violently assaulted while going up to receive the Body and Blood of Christ when I saw a woman with a Scott McAdams button on. I was assaulted in the same way when watching the recent KAKM debate and Sen. Murkowski espoused what essentially equates to the Albigensian Heresy. We can not and must not elect officials like this, especially ones like Sen. Murkowski who stand behind the banner of The Faith.
Alaska U.S. Senate candidates answer questions about abortion, immigration, ‘gay marriage’ and capital punishment
The Catholic Anchor asked each of the Alaskan candidates for U.S. Senate to respond to a list of questions related to the issues of abortion, immigration, religious freedom, embryonic stem cell research, school vouchers and capital punishment. Candidates Joe Miller (Republican), Lisa Murkowski (Republican), David Haase (Libertarian) and Ed Gianoutsos (Non-affiliated) responded below. Candidate Scott McAdams (Democrat) did not respond to the questions.
1. Do you support overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which asserted the existence of a federal constitutional right to abortion?
JOE MILLER: Yes.
LISA MURKOWSKI: No. As a life-long Roman Catholic, I am personally opposed to the practice of abortion. As an elected official however, I am required by the Constitution and my oath of office to uphold the law of the land.
SCOTT McADAMS: Did not respond.
DAVID HAASE: Life begins at conception; life is given by God to the woman carrying it to care for it, not the federal government. Government needs to get out of God’s business. I would do everything in my power to persuade a lady not to have an abortion. However, to call in the government to stop and or punish her, that is past standing in the way of a sinner.
TED GIANOUTSOS: I support replacing Roe with a “Prevention first, abortion last” law that is more restrictive. Preventing unwanted pregnancies is the only practical way to dramatically reduce abortions.
As most of you reading this are probably well aware, I have stayed out of the political fray during the general election cycle. In fact, I have stayed away from my blog for quite a while. My readership is down, and I regret that for one reason. This post is possibly the most important post I have made pertaining to Alaskan Catholics, and American Catholic Politics in general for that matter.
•°- the kingdom of man -°•
You see, here in Alaska we currently have 2 Senators. Both, list themselves as Catholic. Tragically, neither of them would ever pass a test given to Catholic public officials of whether they uphold the faith in their actions as public servants. Even more heart-wrenching, Lisa Murkowski goes not only against her party and her faith, but publicly flaunts her hypocrisy and heresy by attending Mass around the state and receiving communion, while voting for and sponsoring legislation in clear contradiction to the precepts of the faith.
St. Thomas More, one of the patrons of this blog and featured in the masthead, said famously during his trial where he faced punishment of death that "...I am the King's faithful servant, but God's first." This is how ALL Catholic public officials should live, with this as their Motto. Unfortunately, if you asked Lisa Murkowski this question: "Whom do you work for, whom do you serve first and foremost?" I am deathly - eternally, afraid that she would say, "The people."
•°- not in good conscience -°•
We know Sen. Murkowski's record on abortion. (If you dont, you can read it here: [Link]) The most troubling part, is how she explains her basic stance on it. It relates to her vision of the role she has as a Senator. It relates to whom she feels she serves first and foremost. That master is not God, that master is man and the state. She has stated repeatedly that:
As a woman, and as a mother, I believe that abortion is a very personal issue that must be left to a woman and her physician, and not to elected officials.
For those that haven't read Archbishop Chaput's book, Render Unto Caesar, I beg of you... I plead with you, please go read that book before voting. [You can buy the book here.] He puts out in print what we as Catholics need to understand as people that are engaged in society and the responsibilities placed upon us. Voting and public service are part of the highest duties we must observe. What we must not do, is ignore our Catholic conscience and operate in a manner that is pragmatic, self-serving, or that focuses on the needs of man before the will of God.
I prayed about this post heavily, for weeks. I obviously was a Joe supporter during the primary, mostly because of Murkowski's past record, and what Joe offered that she did not. Joe is not Catholic, although his wife was raised Catholic and still adheres to the faith, his values and principles are much more in-line with Catholic teaching than Sen. Murkowski's. Therefore, my humble little blog endorsed Joe. Not that it mattered.
At this point, not only am I endorsing Joe again, but I am pleading with fellow Alaskan Catholics that we must not, and can not vote for Lisa Murkowski in good conscience. Look, we know Joe has made mistakes in the past, and some of them seem to be contradictory to where he stands today. But all of these things were in the past, and he stands before Alaskans today with a new vision, and a new resolve. He doesn't make excuses for his transgressions.
Lisa on the other hand does. Her record on Abortion is ghastly. Her explanation is different depending on the audience and the proximity to an election. Lisa side-steps the abortion question, side-steps her faith when it is brought up, and side-steps how her faith intertwines with her duty as a Senator. Her record on Native Issues, those in disadvantaged situations, is weak. Her stance on spending, taxes, and jobs is that of a statist. Combined with her apparent socio-political philosophy, she is the furthest thing from a More-ian or Chaputian Catholic official. She was over the top in last nights debate when she disagreed with teaching Creationism in schools, in any way shape or form, although she did want to note that "God gave us our souls, but..." I won't even get into how she essentially asserted the Albigensian Heresy, I think you get the picture.
•°- this isn't about politics... -°•
I don't want to mention the economy, jobs, spending, the deficit, Obama-care, or anything of the sort. I want to mention one thing... when we get to Heaven, every single action or inaction that we make in our lives will be weighed against us. I pray that I will be convicted of being faithful to God and choosing him above all else. That is why, I must compel you all to vote for Joe Miller and not vote for Lisa Murkowski. Scott McAdams is so anti-life, pro-Obama Care, anti-family that he shouldn't even enter the equation.
This is about life. This is about God. This is about family, country, freedom, and eternity.
A Catholic in good conscience can not, and must not vote for Lisa Murkowski. There is no sound, valid, or legitimate argument that a person can have that could justify a person to vote for her. If you think you have one, I ask you to email me, and plead your case. I am confident that based on CATHOLIC TEACHING, and not my own opinion, I can convince you otherwise.
This post isn't about her as a person, or her heart. I cannot judge her in that way, and I shall not. I have had limited personal interaction with her. (I was hoping to see her at the Red Mass this fall, but she was absent although she later that day had a RALLY only a couple of miles from the Cathedral where she invoked the "Yes We Can" rally cry of Barack Obama.) This post is about her as an elected official, one that calls herself Catholic.
Lisa Murkowski is the closest thing to a modern day Richie Rich. It profits a Senator nothing to trade their soul for the whole world, but for Alaska?
Lisa Murkowski is wrong for Catholics and wrong for Alaskans.
From the Catholic Anchor: On Sunday, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Family Cathedral, Archbishop Roger Schwietz will celebrate the annual Red Mass, and all are invited. Held annually in many American cities, the Red Mass is a special Mass at which the church prays for all who practice law, especially asking the Holy Spirit's guidance for attorneys, judges and politicians. After the Mass in Anchorage, there will be a brunch at the Marriott Hotel. Alaska Governor Sean Parnell, Attorney General Dan Sullivan and Superior Court Judge Frank Pfiffner are the keynote speakers. The origins of the Red Mass are traced to the 13th century, when the first known Red Mass was offered on behalf of the supreme court of the Catholic Church, the Roman Rota. Clerics wear red vestments, since the color signifies the Holy Spirit. The annual Red Mass celebrations in Anchorage are sponsored by the St. Thomas More Lawyers' Society of Alaska. All are welcome to the Mass. To make reservations for the brunch, contact Jenny Michaelson atjmichaelson@caa-ak.org.
Monday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., all are invited to a lecture, “Angels and Demons” by Dominican Father Michael Hurley of the Western Dominican Province. The talk is free and takes place at the Holy Family Center, on the campus of Holy Family Cathedral in downtown Anchorage. The event is part of the Dominican Forum that offers lectures, workshops and seminars that “engage the critical issues of the church and society in the light of faith and scholarship.”
In 18 days the 40 Days for Life campaign will begin across the country. This movement has done so much to prevent abortions, convert hearts, and put pressure on death clinics. The 40DFL organization has mobilized pro-life warriors like no other group.
As of today there are 238 communities that are going to be participating in this falls campaign. The campaign includes Prayer, Fasting, and Constant Vigil. From their website here is what they say about their mission: 40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a three-point program:
Prayer and fasting Constant vigil Community outreach
40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion in their own neighborhoods, for their own friends and families. It puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end of abortion in America.
The 40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities ... and the entire world. From Noah in the flood to Moses on the mountain to the disciples after Christ's resurrection, it is clear that God sees the transformative value of His people accepting and meeting a 40-day challenge.
Vision and mission 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America.
The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.
Unfortunately, there isn't a Kenai Peninsula campaign. But, there is an Anchorage one. You can find the information at the: 40 Days for Life - Anchorage site, their campaign starts September 23rd. If you want more information, you can contact the head of the Anchorage leadership team:
Just a friendly reminder - Today is voting day in Alaska.
To vote on Proposal 2 in Alaska, you may have to turn the ballot OVER in some places. Make sure you remember to vote for this measure as it is listed LAST on the ballot.
The Catholic Anchor has mentioned Proposal 2 at least ten times in the past 3 weeks.
The church I went to today?
It made a brief announcement today during the "Liturgy of the Bulletin". All they mentioned was that there was a printout of the Archbishop's letter of a suggestion that we should vote "Yes on 2."
It wasn't inserted. It didn't have a title. It simply was placed near the bulletin.
Shameful.
The homily didn't even come close to mentioning it, instead it was full of heterodoxy pertaining to tolerance, heaven, and salvation.
At least the Anchor is sticking up for Catholic teaching, kudos to them.
I haven't blogged about proposal 2 in a while. This is due mostly because of the happenings in Anchorage. For my non-Alaskan readers... I promise I will get to more universal topics, but this one is important even if you aren't an Alaskan Voter.
We haven't heard it in our area during any homilies lately... but that doesn't mean that this issue isn't CRUCIAL to Alaskan Catholics. (For the record, I cannot make it to daily Mass, due to my job and the times in which daily Mass is held in my area.)
There is still time to sign up for the Catholic Family Retreat next weekend in Denali.
The plan is to meet on Thursday near the entrance to Denali and then spend the weekend together on retreat. There will be Mass, Adoration, prayer groups, formation, hiking, fellowship, and other activities all in the great outdoors! The leaders of the retreat will be priests from the Community of St. John, an amazing group of very devout and orthodox priests. They lead various retreats throughout the year and you can find out what to expect at: Eagle Eye Formation
Here is more info:
First Annual Bald Eagle Eye retreat (Aug 19- 22) for families and young adults aged (35+) August 19- 22, Denali Park campground This year, in response to previous requests, the Brothers of St. John will be staying in Alaska for an additional weekend retreat and time of formation. Join us at a campground in Denali for a weekend of theological and philosophical formation sessions, meals in community, Mass, Adoration, and time to grow as a family. ContactJen Bergmanatntaboutu@yahoo.comor218-839-5366for more information and to sign up. The cost is $200 per family.
(Since a lot of new traffic has come to read this story, I am giving a brief synopsis of the situation, as there seems to be some confusion based on emails that I have received, including who requested the move [The Archbishop or the Episcopals]).
After learning last week that Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church was slated to hold an Episcopal Bishop "consecration/ordination" on September 4th, 2010, we posed some questions on this blog regarding whether that was proper. We also were perplexed that the Archdiocese was willing to host it due to the fact that Katharine Schori would be presiding over the event. (Read Original Post here)
We then posted Vatican documents explaining our position and mentioned that we would be writing a letter stating our concerns and questions regarding the matter. (Link). Our intention was never to be right, but to get the event moved from the Catholic church. Our reasons were grounded in Catholic teaching, and concern for the Sacredness of the CONSECRATED Church, Altar, and the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. At this point we were unsure the person responsible for granting the OK for this event. We were especially concerned, due to the vetting policy of the Archdiocese.
We then posted a letter to the Archbishop explaining our position and asking our questions. We sought understanding and clarification, but most of all we sought a change of heart. We included with our letter, a petition for those wishing to sign on to the letter that they also include some sort of prayer, almsgiving, or fast that they would dedicate to the Archbishop, the Parish of OLG, and this matter. You can read the letter here: (Link.)
Almost immediately, the Archbishop posted an open letter to the faithful. It explained that he was the one responsible for allowing the Episcopals access to the Church and that he did so for reasons of outreach and in the spirit of "being a good neighbor." You can read that letter here: (Link) As you can imagine we were quite saddened by this news, but were committed to getting signatures to the letter, and sending it off, with the enclosure of the spiritual bouquet. We were hoping that prayer would change hearts and minds.
Less than an hour later, the letter had been removed from the Archdiocese website. (Precisely, the link was taken down.) This confused us as to its meaning, but we waited in hope that it meant that the Archbishop had some change of heart. We had to wait until the next day, but our hopes were realized! Although we haven't received official word from the Archdiocese we learned from various sources that the event had been moved. (end synopsis).
So we checked on some of the Episcopal websites and it seems that the Archbishop has decided to move the Episcopal "consecration" that was slated to occur at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on September 4, 2010. (Full Story)
Our Bishop has "...not fled in fear of the wolves," and has made a very difficult, but courageous decision. He has chosen his flock over the niceties of "ecumenical outreach." He has upheld the Sacredness of the Church, the Altar, and the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Alas! Our job is not done! In fact, the difficult part is just beginning. Our Archbishop is sure to face fire and attack over this decision. The wolvesworld is sure to criticize this decision and attack the faith and attack him personally. We must blanket him with spiritual support -
WE MUST PRAY.
This is a joyful time and we must offer prayers of joy, gladness, and thanksgiving. Yet, we must also pray for the Angels and Saints to intercede for us and for our protection. The devil does not like to lose, and he is sure to look for a way to strike back an make amends for this defeat. It is our job to battle against him and defend our faith and defend our courageous Bishop. As the lay faithful, as the Ecclesia Militans, we must take Heaven by force.
From the days of John the Baptist until now, The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force! -Matthew 11:12
Be sure to write the Bishop and thank him for his courageousness, and tell him you will pray for him:
I ask that anyone that reads my blog to please read this post, and seriously consider joining us in our effort. (For more info please see the other posts regarding this issue.)
After extensive prayer we have decided to write a letter to the Archdiocese of Anchorage, and the Archbishop, his Excellency Roger Schwietz, asking that the Episcopal "consecration" which is scheduled to take place on September 4th at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Anchorage, is moved from the Church and performed elsewhere.
In that effort we have drafted a letter, which we have decided to make public, to give our readers across the world the opportunity to add their names to it before we send it. We do this with humble and heavy hearts. We do not wish to send this letter, but we feel called as faithful Catholics to do so. The truth and Sacredness of our Catholic churches and the teachings of the Church must be protected from that which fight against it. Although Ecumenism can produce good fruits when implemented correctly, it is very, very apparent that in this case Ecumenism has slid into giving scandal.
Signing our names to a letter is not enough though. In fact, if all we did was send a letter, there is little hope that the hearts and minds of those involved would change. So I ask, that along with pledging your names to our letter, that you also pledge something to the spiritual bouquet that we plan to send along with the letter. So, we ask that if you would like us to place your name on the letter that you submit these things to: angelsdefendus@gmail.com
Name
Parish
Diocese
A prayer, fast, or almsgiving that you are donating "spiritually" for the Archbishop or for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
We are hoping to send this letter off in the next few days, so please do not delay in sending me that email. It only takes a quick second. If you have any questions, regarding either the letter or the spiritual bouquet, please contact me.
A final note: This issue is not the "concern of a small group of Catholics." It actually spans across the country, and for that matter the world. The Archdiocese, the Archbishop, and the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been pulled into this. We found out about this situation on Saturday, and after doing a quick search we come to find out that this issue has spread across the "Catholic Blogosphere and Forum" world. We must stand together as a faithful Catholic community of Christ to defend the truth of the Catholic faith.
[[Update (2:19pm): The Archbishop has posted a letter to the Archdiocesan website. He explains why he originally agreed to let the Episcopal church use Our Lady of Guadalupe, and why he still stands by that decision. This letter is obviously a response to the questions raised previously elsewhere and similar to those that we posted on this blog. We still intend to send this letter, and in fact feel it is even more appropriate in light of the confusing statements made in the Archbishop's letter.]]
[[UPDATE (2:33pm): We are a little confused, but the Archdiocese has taken down the Archbishop's letter originally posted on the front page of their website. You can still find that letter here. We are in patient and prayerful hope that there may have been a glorious change of hearts and minds, and so we wait in joyful anticipation to find out exactly why the link was taken down. More to come...]]
Please sign our letter (email: angelsdefendus@gmail.com), please contribute to the spiritual bouquet, and please continue to pray.
The Most Reverend Roger Schwietz, OMI Archbishop of Anchorage 225 Cordova Street Anchorage, Alaska, 99501
Your Excellency Archbishop Schwietz:
We, the undersigned faithful, humbly and regretfully write to you regarding the planned use of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Anchorage, by the Episcopal Church on September 4th, 2010. The planned consecration of a new Alaskan Episcopal bishop by Ms. Katharine J. Schori comes as a shock and gives grave scandal to all Catholic faithful that learn of it.
In the 1993 Vatican document: Pontificium Consilium Ad Christianorum Unitatem Fovendam, the application of principles and norms of Ecumenism were outlined for the Catholic faithful. In that document the Pope, through the writing of Edward Cardinal Cassidy, conveyed to the Catholic faithful the way we should bridge the divides of Christian disunity. He said the proper method is in truth. Precisely it was stated that:
“The Second Vatican Council clearly asked Catholics to reach out in love to all other Christians with a charity that desires and works actively to overcome in truth whatever divides them from one another.” Para. 9
Because of Ms. Schori’s well known and outspoken opposition to Church teachings, we the undersigned feel that allowing this consecration to occur in a Catholic church gives scandal to the faithful. The reason this extends beyond Ecumenism and into scandal is because the consecration will be performed by a woman bishop who teaches that female ordination is a positive development, that openly and active gay & lesbian priests are a positive component of the faith, and that individual salvation (the idea that we as individuals can be saved through a personal faith or trust in Jesus) is a “heresy.” Therefore, we the undersigned humbly ask that this event be prevented from occurring within a Catholic church.
We are quite ignorant in the ways of Ecumenism, and have not found a suitable answer as to how this is beneficial to the Catholic Church or its faithful. Therefore, we seek clarification as to our misunderstanding of the way in which the use of a Catholic Church for such an event, by the personalities involved, helps bolster, ultimately, Holy Mother Church. We ask this out of a sincere desire to better understand our Catholic Faith and our role as the Ecclesia Militans.
Our confusion stems from the fact that the Archdiocese has a very committed and strict adherence to the vetting policy that Your Excellency has put into place. Many of the undersigned have expressed situations where faithful Catholics have had difficulty leading, participating, and promoting events of a Catholic nature within the Archdiocese due to this policy, and yet see this Episcopal event planned and approved. Therefore they are confused in their understanding of the vetting policy.
We, the undersigned faithful humbly request that you answer certain questions so that we can better understand why this event has been given clearance in light of Canon Law, the Catechism, and the Archdiocese of Anchorage Vetting Policy. We ask these questions sincerely, and with humble hearts, in light of the teachings of the Catholic Church:
• Will the Eucharist be removed from the Tabernacle during this event? • Will the Altar be used for any reason, or for Episcopal Communion? • Will Consecrated vessels which belong to the Archdiocese, Parish, or Catholic Priests be used in any of the ceremonies? • Who from the Archdiocese will oversee this event to ensure that no desecration to any Sacred elements occur? • Is there any prohibition or set of guidelines imposed upon those Episcopal leaders who will be officiating in terms of what they can physically do, their use of the Sacred Sanctuary, their use of any items, or specifically what they can say in terms of theological teaching? • Is this event open to the public or can a representative of our choosing be selected to witness this event for the sake of understanding, Catechesis, and Ecumenism? • Since this will be a non-Catholic ceremony, with non-Catholics in charge, is there a contingency plan as to what will happen should the ceremony, or those leading it, undertake actions or words that are contrary to the teachings and Sacredness of the Faith or the Church?
Finally, we humbly ask that this event not occur at Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is sadly ironic that it is slated to be officiated by a woman bishop who is clearly in defiance of the Magisterium and the teachings of the Church, in a church dedicated to Our Lady who was so accepting of the will of God. The striking contrast between Our Lady of Guadalupe and Ms. Schori are difficult for many to accept. Therefore, for the sake of preventing Scandal; out of reverence for the sacredness of the Church, Altar, and Sanctuary; the fact that those participating are directly opposed to the teachings of the Catholic faith; and that there are many outstanding questions which the faithful fear don’t have answers, we humbly request that Your Excellency think of his Catholic faithful first and move this event from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
We present this letter to you with humble hearts. We have no desire to appoint blame or indict anyone in this situation. We honestly and sincerely desire only to preserve the honor and glory deserved of Holy Mother Church, Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist, and the faith and humility of the undersigned.
We ask that a written response be presented to us as soon as Your Excellency can produce it, and we will continue to pray for you, all the priests, and the whole Church. We do not envy your role as shepherd of us most unworthy flock of sinners, and humble ourselves before God as we send this brazen letter. As a sign of our faith, we have also included a spiritual bouquet from those who sign this letter for your Excellency, and for the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We ask all of this through Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Jesus.
Respectfully,
cc: Prefect Archbishop William Joseph Levada Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine Faith Piazza del S. Uffizio 11-00193 Rome, VATICAN CITY
Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship Piazza Pio XII 10-00193 Rome, VATICAN CITY
Reverend Steve C. Moore Vicar General Archdiocese of Anchorage
Reverend Thomas T. Brundage Moderator of the Curia & Judicial Vicar Archdiocese of Anchorage
It is with sadness that I have to pass along news of the confirmation that former US Senator Ted Stevens has died in a plane crash that occurred near Dillingham, Alaska.
This post is written in light of the situation discussed in the previous post. It is in regards to the scheduled Episcopal consecration of a new bishop at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Anchorage. The presiding Bishop is slated as Katharine Schori.
Ecumenism is sometimes a double-edged sword, or more precisely a catch-22. While we as Catholics are called to seek Christian Unity through inter-faith dialogue and understanding, we often find ourselves in situations that require us to either compromise our belief in the teachings of the faith, or to argue against true Christian unity to support the doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Faith.
The Vatican wrote about this in 1993 in a document entitled:
The point of this document, which in english is entitled DIRECTORY FOR THE APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES AND NORMS ON ECUMENISM, is outlined in Section I, paragraph 9:
The ecumenical movement seeks to be a response to the gift of God's grace which calls all Christians to faith in the mystery of the Church according to the design of God who wishes to bring humanity to salvation and unity in Christ through the Holy Spirit. This movement calls them to the hope that the prayer of Jesus "that they all may be one" will be fully realized. It calls them to that charity which is the new commandment of Christ and the gift by which the Holy Spirit unites all believers. The Second Vatican Council clearly asked Catholics to reach out in love to all other Christians with a charity that desires and works actively to overcome in truth whatever divides them from one another. For the Council, Catholics are to act in hope and in prayer to promote Christian unity. They will be prompted and instructed by their faith in the mystery of the Church, and their ecumenical activity will be inspired and guided by a true understanding of the Church as "a sacrament or instrumental sign of intimate union with God, and of unity of the whole human race".
Many Catholics that have learned of the scheduled consecration are taken aback by it. There is a confusion and scandal that has arisen due to several unanswered questions. Not the least of them, relates to the bolded emphasis I made in the above quote.
How does this event, desire and work actively to overcome in truth what dividesthe Episcopals from us?
What divides us from the Episcopals that are lead by the likes of Ms. Schori is a deep chasm of flawed episcopal theology and belief. Women are not to be ordained as priests let alone bishops. Her status as a priest and even more so as a bishop is invalid, and therefore allowing her access to a Sacred and consecrated place such as a church does not seem to overcome in truth that which divides us. The Vatican document on Ecumenism goes further to explain when such "sharing of resources" should occur in paragraph #137:
137. Catholic churches are consecrated or blessed buildings which have an important theological and liturgical significance for the Catholic community. They are therefore generally reserved for Catholic worship. However, if priests, ministers or communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church do not have a place or the liturgical objects necessary for celebrating worthily their religious ceremonies, the diocesan Bishop may allow them the use of a church or a Catholic building and also lend them what may be necessary for their services. Under similar circumstances, permission may be given to them for interment or for the celebration of services at Catholic cemeteries.
The fact that the Catholic church is consecrated or blessed, is an important factor to pay attention to here. Not only that, but the Episcopal church does have a place to hold this, we assume that the reason for coming to Our Lady of Guadalupe is for space/attendance reasons. This is hardly a valid or adequate argument for allowing such an event to occur, especially in light of who would be conducting the ceremony. This event is bringing scandal to the faithful and the Church. If you do a google search you will see several forums and blogs that are discussing this with many of the conversations falling into angry concern over the fact that this event has seemingly been approved by someone within the Church. Our prayers are that a change of hearts and minds will occur, and that the appropriate decision to prevent this event from occurring in a Catholic church will be made.
In an effort to express our concerns we are currently working on a letter that we hope will be available for all to sign. Look for that sometime later today. If you would like to "sign" it, I request that you email me with your name, parish, and diocese. It is important that we make our request in a concentrated fashion, and in a respectful way.
. This information was sent to me and several others:
Katharine J. Schori
Consecration of the 8th [Episcopal] Bishop of Alaska will take place Saturday, September 4, 2010, 2 p.m., at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3900 Wisconsin Street, Anchorage, Alaska. ... Following the Consecration ceremony, a reception will be held at the Lunney Center, next door to the church. This is an opportunity for all to meet and greet both the new Bishop Mark Lattime and the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. (Source)
····•····
...the consecration and ordination is scheduled for September 4 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Anchorage. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will be the chief consecrator. (Source)
The following are pertinent parts of the Archdiocesan Vetting Policy:
This is the page that is linked under Vetting, on the main page of the Archdiocese of Anchorage's website. If you notice the 3rd bullet-point on this memo it says (Original Emphasis) (My Emphasis in red):
This policy is applicable to anyone sponsored by or usingany Archdiocesan or Parish resources.
Seems like a pretty clear statement and policy. So why then is Our Lady of Guadalupe being rented/loaned/used by a Christian Denomination whose principal leader speaks contrary to the teachings of the Church? Here are some quotes by the woman that will be "consecrating" a new bishop at Our Lady of Guadalupe:
Anglicans should be led by local communities rather than powerful clerics, Jefferts Schori argued in a Wednesday (June 2) letter to her church’s 2 million members. And, after 50 years of debate, the Episcopal Church is convinced that gays and lesbians are “God’s good creation” and “good and healthy exemplars of gifted leadership within the church, as baptized leaders and ordained ones.” (Source)
The Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori derided individual salvation calling it 'the great Western heresy: that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God.'
In her opening address to the church's General Conference in California, Jefferts Schori said it was a "heresy" to believe that an individual can be saved through personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ acknowledged in a prayer of repentance. (Source)
How are these teachings acceptable for a person that will be leading a religious ceremony at Our Lady of Guadalupe?
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There are two major problems that I see with this situation:
1. You are inviting in a religious denomination and a "bishop" that espouse teachings that are directly contrary to those of the One True Church - not only in their construction but in their essence.
2. The double standard that this creates is mind-numbing. I know of several groups, apostolates, speakers, and events that have been denied time and time again in their requests to use facilities, advertising and resources; while this group seems to have full use of OLG.
Does this have everything to do with procedure and the vetting process? Yes, there is a vetting process, and YES it should be followed. In fact, I applaud the Archbishop in taking a stand to ensure that the faithful are safeguarded against heresy, dissident teaching, and heterodoxy. What I cannot understand is how in pursuit of this goal there are good, pious, devout, orthodox, doctrinally sound persons that are not permitted to speak for "procedural reasons." Again, I understand the need for the vetting process, and I understand the necessity in being obedient and following rules and procedure - I work in the legal field; what I can't understand is how procedure is king. How form trumps substance.
How is it that this Episcopal event will occur inside a Catholic church, while some Catholic groups and people are shunned to homes and restaurants to have their events, ones that adhere to the teachings of the Faith? Why are some events which are approved not given space in bulletins, at announcements, or talked about by parish staffs? These questions may have answers, unfortunately no one seems to know what those answers are.
Other Questions linger:
Will the Eucharist be removed from the Tabernacle during this ordination?
Will the Altar be used?
Will the Consecrated Vessels of OLG be used in any Episcopal ceremonies?
Will the the Sanctuary of OLG be used for this "consecration"?
Will anti-Catholic teachings be allowed to be uttered from the Ambo?
I do not take pride or joy in posting about such things. Some might say that this is gossip or rumor. They would be incorrect. This situation is public and posted on multiple websites. The entire world is free to see that a Woman, pro-gay/lesbian, Episcopal bishop will be "consecrating" a new Episcopal priest in a CATHOLIC church. Simply posting about it, and asking questions should be completely acceptable. All of these questions must have answers... I am simply asking the questions.
It hurts so bad to know people that have been denied access to their own church facilities and resources because there is a safeguard procedure in place that is used in a manner which seems to be against them and for outside anti-Catholic groups. As recently as a month ago I saw a parish bulletin with an advertisement for a local Labyrinth. Yet, some people are forced to email me their events and info in an effort to get the word out, as they have been denied access to and the ability of using parish bulletins and resources to disseminate their approved information.
I pray that there are good explanations to all my questions... I think we would just like to hear them. If our churches are used as platforms for distortion and heresy, but not as sources of Truth and Doctrine, what chance do we have to give the Faithful proper formation? If the area where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated is used by those opposed to the true teachings of the faith, what does that say about our belief and our understanding of what occurs in the Sanctuaries of our churches?
I trust in our Archbishop. He is a holy, holy man, that has show recently how he is willing to put the true teachings of the faith, and the protection of his "flock" as his first priorities. I know that in the end the right thing will happen. Therefore we must continue to pray for him, for wisdom, courage, understanding, and fortitude.
Please leave comments, but be charitable. I would love to hear others opinion of this, but I don't want this to descend into attacks against persons. Ideas are open for any criticism, people and the judgment of their souls is for God alone. It is important that we use the internet as a place of intellectual debate, and not to pile-on against people. Please prayerfully consider your words before posting.
Friday, August 6th, 2010 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm °•° Marty's New York Bagel Deli (Inside/Adjacent to): Title Wave Books - Midtown (Website) 1360 West Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, Alaska 99503-2510 •°•
There are two Title Wave Books... this is the MIDTOWN location.
As stated, we are attempting to meet in the Bagel Deli. If need be we will "spill-over" into the bookstore. (If the deli is full, no seats, etc..) It might be easier to locate Title Wave Books so that is why we listed it.
Please comment in the Comment Box below if you have questions, comments or concerns. I will attempt to answer email or comments sometime tomorrow after 12:00pm (Noon).
Hope to see many of you there. It should be easy to find us, just look for lots of children and people speaking loudly and animated about the Catholic faith. Please come meet us for coffee, chat and Catholicism.
Bloggers Confirmed: Joe (Me) - Defend Us in Battle Mindy - The Devout Life & possibly more! (I know exciting right?)
***UPDATE***: Looks like we are probably going to meet up somewhere near downtown, probably a coffee type place. Stay tuned for details. I will be posting an updated post sometime tonight, so all the info will be there by the morning. The plan is to meet around 3/4ish tomorrow afternoon. Then, Divine Liturgy - Feast of the Transfiguration at 7pm.
Keep voting below though... so we have an idea of what people are thinking. •°•••°°•••°•
I will be in Anchorage tomorrow all day. Mindy over at the Devout Life and I were throwing around the idea of having an Anchorage area Catholic Blognic. (If you don't know what a blognic is, I supply Fr. Z's past blognics as reference: WDTPRS: Blognics.
The plan would be to meet somewhere with food & beverages. It would basically be a way to put faces to names, meet fellow Catholics, and talk about blogging, the Church, and who knows what else. We haven't decided on a time or place, but it would be "KID FRIENDLY." It also will be scheduled around the Divine Liturgy I am attending tomorrow. (So we would be thinking in the 3/4pm-6pm-ish range.)
Please let us know how many of you would like to do this and would be willing to attend? It would be in the Anchorage area, so as to be centrally located.
Please vote in the poll thingy and make comments as necessary. This is obviously time sensative so spread the word on facebook, twitter, plurk, google-wave (RIP), Live Journal, and BBSes.
PS The poll script messes with the blog color... for some odd reason.
The Catholic Anchor has a wonderful story about a young Anchorage attorney, that converted to Catholicism, jumped head first into the faith, and is now attempting to answer the call of a religious vocation. Her name is Tara Clemens and she needs your help. She is trying to become a Dominican Nun at Corpus Christi Monastery. (A contemplative cloistered order in California)
Here is part of her story from the Anchor:
In praying to find a job, she “stumbled across” a vocation prayer which she began to say. Then, one day in the kitchen, Clemens’ Protestant mother articulated a possibility that had never crossed Clemens’ mind. “She said, ‘Just promise me you’re not going to become a nun,’ recalled Clemens, whose “jaw hit the floor” at the idea. Still, Clemens couldn’t make the promise. “I said, ‘I can’t do that. I don’t know what God might call me to in the future.’” But the idea of the religious life was anathema to Clemens. “Inside, I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, we are not going there!’ But I felt like I needed to take it to God in prayer,” she explained. So she did – in addition to reading about religious vocations and attending discernment retreats. Now, two years later, she is applying to enter the Corpus Christi Monastery — a Dominican congregation of contemplative nuns in California. The nuns promote devotion to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for the salvation of souls. To support themselves, they bake altar bread for Mass.
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•·Financial Obligations·•
Like many professionals that receive a religious calling, paying off debt plays a huge part in the overall process. To enter most religious orders, one must be free of all debts. Tara is a lawyer, and I can tell you from personal experience, law school loans are no easy thing to "take care of."
So how can you help? Well Tara has joined with The Laboure Societyto help satisfy her financial and debt obligations. The major way in which they succeed in doing this is through the generosity of others. Tara has also set up a website to help in this effort. (http://supporttarasvocation.wordpress.com/)
There are many ways to support those called to be priests and religious – prayers and various activities to encourage our priests and religious are vitally important. But an article published by National Catholic Register in 2007 highlights another problem: educational debt. More than ever, young men and women called to give themselves in service to God and the Church need your spiritual and financial support. I am deeply grateful to those who have already responded or will respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to support priestly and religious vocations, including my own. In addition to working to pay down my debt, I, like many others, are depending on the generosity of others to be free of the educational debt that hinders pursuing God’s call. To that end, I have decided to work with The Laboure Society to reach this goal. The Laboure Society exists to provide financial assistance to individuals who must eliminate educational debt in order to pursue their vocation to priesthood or religious life in the Catholic Church. All contributions are tax deductible and donations may be made online through their website or by mail.
Please prayerfully consider making a contribution and please pray for me, as I will be praying for all of you. God bless!
So please think about helping her out! Check out her website, and maybe leave a comment and tell her that you are praying for her. Also, leave a comment at her blog and tell her where you heard about her story, maybe she will pray for me!
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Prayer
In the meantime let us pray for Tara and others discerning Dominican vocational callings:
Blessed Jordan, worthy successor of St. Dominic, in the early days of the Order, your example and zeal prompted many men and women to follow Christ in the white habit of Our Holy Father. As patron of Dominican vocations, continue to inspire talented and devoted men and women to consecrate their lives to God. Through your intercession, lead to the Order of Preachers generous and sacrificing persons, willing to give themselves fervently to the apostolate of Truth. Help them to prepare themselves to be worthy of the grace of a Dominican vocation. Inspire their hearts to become learned of God, that with firm determination they might aspire to be “champions of the Faith and true lights of the world.” Amen.
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