who seem to be more vibrantly orthodox and better catechized than their parents.

I grew up in Detroit and attended a Jesuit high school (which today does not allow pro-life speakers). My sons attend O'Gorman in Sioux Falls and seem to know, almost instinctively, how to BE Catholic. I'm biased, of course, but it seems that they and the majority of their peers are much further along in their faith journey. Living these past 10 years has renewed my belief that Catholic Culture lives, indeed thrives, at least here in South Dakota. These kids are our future.

Great piece, as usual, John. Thanks for your direct and unafraid approach.

Cardinal Stafford's reflection on the 40th Anniversary of _Humanae Vitae_ is also an amazingly blunt assessment of the state of the priesthood in America. And he was talking about 40 years ago, about priests ordained *before* Vatican II. And he was the only one in the citizen of Baltimore who supported _Humanae Vitae_.

I grew up in the 1980s Catholic church which was to borrow a phrase "beige Catholicism". Much of the vibrancy, imagery, and dogma had been stripped from the Church. It was not until I was 28 that I heard of the Real Prescence in the Euacharist, never said the Rosary, or that abortion and contraception were wrong. Surely, some of the blame for this is mine, but not all. "Beige Catholicism" has been stripped of what makes it unique and ultimately what makes it Christ's church.

As far as the topic of the Bishops, they often appear to me, whatever their theological stripe, to be cold hearted careerists only focusssed on climbing up the Episcopal ladder.

As far as their covering up for the deviant abusive priests:

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [17] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Luke 18:16-17

In a very real way, the Bishops have kept children away from Christ and His Church by the cover up. I also think there are alot of homosexual Bishops and they were uncomfortable with disciplining their priests for homosexual(pederast) behavior. Homosexuality in the priesthood and episcopacy is not fun to talk about , but it is one of the major problems in the church.

With all that said, is it any wonder why the Church seems so irrevelant to many people?

"So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." Rev 3:16

Another great one by Zmirak.

The most tragic consequence of this election was not only that the Catholics voted in a radical abortionist, but the harsh reality that America is no longer a Judeo/Christian Nation. To think otherwise is a joke.

America, including Jews and Catholics, voted "loud and clearly." We were "given the test" and failed. Life was the ONLY issue in this past election, but most of Americans, including over half of Catholics and Jews, sold out to "the economy." So much for the first commandment.

I doubt we will have to wait long to realize not only the deception of "Obama the messiah", but to also come back full circle to "nothing to sell out TO." God has shown us time and time again that despite his great mercy and justice, he refuses to remain mocked forever.

Pope John Paul II told us nothing is ever a coincidence. I remember thinking of that late this past summer when Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn passed. Who knew better than he the consequences of a country that "forgot God?" It was less than 30 years ago when he gave that famous speech at Harvard, only to be booed.

At least we can be grateful to the strong remnant of faith that DOES reamain, and with MUCH thanks to our faithful remnant of Holy Bishops, priest, and deacons. Pope Benedict has hinted more than once that the church will likely get "smaller and stronger." I suspect we are already there, maybe not yet "formally", but certainly by the actions (or inactions), of our faith. At best, American is "culturally Judeo/Christian."

As Fulton Sheen would say, "What a great time to be a Catholic." After all, the darker it gets, the greater the stars shine!

May God bless the faithful remnant!

I'm almost starting to think that it is near to impossible to be a faithful Catholic in our culture. And that it almost requires a separation from the society, not unlike how the Amish have preserved their way of life and beliefs.

I forget where it was, but I remember a recent blog post on here about students in Catholic schools whose beliefs on premarital sex and the like pretty much fell into line with the country as a whole.

How do we combat all of this, while remaining part of society and not retreating entirely? How do you raise Catholic children anymore? I'm not looking for advice, but I think we underestimate the challenge.

Isn't it, perhaps, time to return to the Leonine Prayer after the Holy Mass has concluded? An enforced prayer vigil for the proud, the lukewarm, and the ignorant...

If you'll permit me a bit of verse...

The Horde of Mammon is approaching flushed with victory and drenched in the blood of our children...the Church must close ranks and fight. Let St Michael lead us.

At the end of the nineteenth century Pope Leo XIII defined Americanism as a heresy which, in effect, endorsed freedom of religion rather than the traditional Catholic notion of tolerance of religion. American Catholics, particularly recent Irish immigrants, were focused on assimilating into the largely Protestant US. Many American Bishops of the time were similarly inclined. The Faith became relative.

We live in a different era with different issues, but the compromises Lawler alludes to are part of a long tradition of trying to make the Faith fit into the pluralist, Calvinist sensibilities of this nation. Catholics, despite their huge numbers, have become intellectually marginalized. Irrelevance indeed.

[quote=Ann]I'm almost starting to think that it is near to impossible to be a faithful Catholic in our culture.

Ann, one of my favorite quotes is from St Thomas More and gois something like this; "the world has never been so bad that a good man cannot live in it."

We must be saints here in this fallen world before we can be saints in heaven. Now is the time for saints. If we will all be Catholic that is exactly what we will be and we will make the world a little better to boot.

JMJ

I am 58 years old and attended a "Catholic" college. I had chosen this college, inter alia, because my father was an alumnus and had told me that he had learned to appreciate his Catholic faith and understand its doctrines through his theological studies there. His faith was strong and thoroughly orthodox.

Each of my four years I took theology classes, hoping to gain a deeper appreciation of my Catholic faith. But it seemed that the Theology Department of this "Catholic" college had changed somehow since my father had been there. They seemed more interested in Rudolf Bultmann's peculiar views on eschatology than the teachings of the Church doctors. When I left this institution of "higher learning", I realized I had learned much more about Catholic doctrine by memorizing the Baltimore Catechism in Catholic grade school.

I fear that my experience was the norm in so-called "Catholic" institutions of higher learning during the late 1960's and early 1970's, as professors of theology abandoned their faith to grasp for the approval of the academic elite, just as the Kennedys sought to ape the intellectual corruption of the establishment.

For the most part, my classmates seemed to absorb the evident contempt of their professors for the Church's teachings. Some seemed to regard her orthodox doctrines as optional, reflecting theologian's attitudes toward Humanae Vitae. Many regarded her teachings as merely foolish.

Now it seems we have a Church divided between those who strive to be faithful to its orthodox traditions and those who have found it comfortable, convenient or socially advantageous to belong, but who will compromise or ignore any article of faith, commandment or precept for similar reasons. The latter are the lukewarm and they will be spit into the eternal fire, to join the unrepentant theologians.

TICK...TICK...TICK!

This is the first time i have read anything from Inside Catholic, having found a link to this article on Spirit Daily - not only was the article excellent, but, reading the comments from readers gave me such a sense of elation to see how many wonderful, Awake Catholics there are out there! Thanks be to God! Onward Catholic Soldiers! I will be reading here regularly! May God Continue to Bless All of You!

In past centuries, many Catholics were not well educated about the faith. But they had one thing going for them: at least the culture that surrounded them basically did support faith.
But that culture has been eroded and chipped away, little by little, so that by today the popular culture does not support faith at all. Instead, it tells people that promiscuity, abortion, homosexual acts, etc., are "normal" and "natural" and should be accepted.
It's hard to go against the culture. Kids are exposed to hundreds if not thousands of hours of TV and other media selling them one message. Then they get one hour of church a week, if even that, and many do not get any religious education at all. So who is really forming their thinking? It's the culture, not the church. This is not good, and it presents a formidable problem for Catholics.

I wanted to thank you for this post, and for reference to this book, which I shall read. In a way it affords a purge, that I hope you will allow; as well this book and post handles perfectly a guidance of understanding towards the nucleus of the multiple dynamics that we see, many mentioned, that so many of us have been fighting for years.

I am a cradle Catholic, from non practicing households. Raised in an American secular home. Back then topic was aliens, Gold of the God's, Sybil Leek, Saturday Night Fever, Freud,... today is no different for the majority in observation. In the words of Father Pavone, "We did not come here to be absorbed by this or any culture." It was arranged for me to be educated as a Protestant with neighbors rather than as a Catholic. At 18 I returned home.

I've worked for various Churches over the years, and clearly see the influence of Protestantism in the Church, and imbalance, lack of education and sound Catholic Doctrine/ understanding, even on a basic level, and see it cultivated by authority as well. I have been practicing my Faith for 23+ years and we raised our children in the Church. Our only son a victim of what has become of the Church. I am now a Radical Practicing Orthodox Roman Catholic, like many struggling in this new American pseudo-Catholicism. I am a Sanctity of Life activist, outreach to new age and occultists, and have been for many years. I will never again volunteer or be volunteered for Church Council or any other Church grouping. But, shall maintain fighting whenever, wherever skills in writing, or speaking, or silent witness may allow. Even in the most Orthodox Churches locally, Council was controlled and directed towards all things secular, inclusive of fusion religion, pro-abortion, etc. and fighting in the Spirit altered nothing.

Some years back when in prayer, during the time to forgive our sons abuser, and all that came and still comes from that gateway - Jesus said that He alone shall handle them, and that the "Holy Priests of the Fire that had been planted in 'time' for this time, were coming and then here", and No One will shake them. I have hoped that Rome would step in, but on we go in God's Truth. A remnant shall remain. There is much talk of "Catholic Prophecy", within our own, within the Orthodox Eastern and Protestant Churches, and all shall be as the Lord said, and only as He said. So in many ways, in this light all is as it should be. Toe to Toe inside and outside. With no fear we fight on, and Cling unto Christ alone. Helping others to reach to The Messiah. He Is Coming. Jesus said, "When the time comes I will feed you." Wherever we are, may it be where He wants us, and may we live lovingly towards all with the Fire of His Truth. Pray, pray, and pray.

The majority of Catholics in America are no longer Catholic point blank, label Catholicism - by this last vote as example; yet it remains that nearly half still are, and that is where we work from, unafraid. Thank you again for this excellent writing.

We are now at a place and time where words no longer matter. It is just too easy to write them, to spread them around the globe, to read them and to forget or dismiss them.

This is clearly the Age of "Whatever!"

The media is both the message and the massage (depending on how you read the late Marshall McLuhan’s famous observation). He once wrote, "All media exist to invest our lives with artificial perceptions and arbitrary values." Hats off to Barack Obama and his 'Audacity of Hope' hype, for he has piped the tune, the media picked it up and broadcast it to our willing ears and now America is following, lockstep and all.

My point: Symbols and the vague appeal to "values" are now what rule the people, because in this post-modern age of relativism they excite emotions and imagination and lead to us exchange our citizen card for numerous consumer credit cards. Reason has been trumped.

It is now true that Christian virtue doesn't play in America. Social action—as recognized by the secular humanists—has become the standard. Oprah Winfrey is queen of the New Age and seemingly more popular than the Blessed Mother.

Yes, we Catholics have bowed low to the world and we are now trapped. The black widow's web has tethered itself to all four of our limbs. She doesn't sport a red and black hourglass for nothing. And don’t forget—she consumes her mate after he has fulfilled his subservient role. She is light, silent and deadly.

Our time is short unless we show solidarity. Yes we must mass both for Holy Mass and true communion in Holy Eucharist and for courageous action in the public square to speak and witness to the truth until the persecution comes.

I see no other option. Come Lord Jesus...quickly

Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism.

Almost ALL of the Clergy believe that mentioning race or gender differences is "out of line" ..... that has led us to our current condition. Single Catholic women and Mexican Catholics voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama, the leader of the Party of Death.

Satan says thank you for your Political Correctness.

Now can we adults get back to reality?

Mark are you aware that the term "political correctness" came FROM the communist party? If anyone thinks CP-USA died with Reagan and McCarthy, think again. It's just "repackaged" via the radical left. i.e., via the main stream media, the universities, and of course, feminism and "same sex marriage."

Obama is the "closer" to all of the years of the slow breakdown of the Catholic Church and the family. First they went after the Catholic faith. We just witnessed that they have indeed destroyed the Catholic FAITH in America, with the exception of course, of the remaining, albeit strong and tireless, remnant.

Now would probably be a good time to read up on Bella Dodd, the ex-communist who admitted to personally infusing the Catholic church with 1100 communist priests. Subsequently, she was converted by Bishop Fulton Sheen and fessed up, even under oath.

What's happening to American, from both a religious and culture standpoint, is sort of like the frog in boiling water. If you throw a frog in boiling water, it will die upon impact. If you heat the water slowly, just a little at a time, the frog won't even know he is boiling to death until it's too late to jump out.

p.s. Don't be suprised if New Age Oprah gets appointed to some time of "US/Whitehouse Preacher status." After all, she's been on satellite radio for a year now leading the Christians into "the new age."

p.p.s. The Eucharist is our ONLY hope.

Thank you Klaire, very informative and well said.

I believe it's time for Catholic Bishops to realize that the world views kindness as weakness. It is time for the Church Militant to demonstrate the leadership demanded by God.

How can we expect the laity to stand up for the unborn when most Priests don't have the courage to stand up to prideful, disobedient women and homosexuals who are destroying the Church from within?

As St. Ignatius of Loyola said, "we must pray as though everything depends on God and work as though everything depends on us"

Progressive and Passive has become passe' ........ sincere Christians must be willing to FIGHT for God's will.

I was born and raised Catholic.

In light of what we now know about the bishops' behavior over the last 40-50 years, I have come to the conclusion that Transubstantion is a myth. It cannot be that they even believe it. So now I no longer believe.

Don't waste your breath telling me that I am wrong. The clergy, the Bishops are the cause of my change of heart and mind. If there is truth in the sacrament of Transubstantion of the Eucharist and I can no longer see it or believe it or feel it, or even muster up enough faith to think about it, it is their fault, not mine. Their evil, seflish, hypocritical behavior, their failed evangelization is the cause. I have staked my immortal soul on being right about their hypocrisy.

And it is a slippery slope. Slowly, just about everything they have taught me over the years is coming unravelled.

I suppose you could say the brainwashing has worn off. Or it could be that the hateful example they have set has undone all the good works.

But since I have not seen a single member of the hierarchy display anything remotrely close to remorse for rape and sexual abuse, I will cast my lot with their victims, most of whom also
no longer even believe in God.

I for one do not believe that Almighty God would require forgiveness of me for someone who rapred my child. Anyone who thinks so is listening to something other than the voice of God.

Transubstantiation has always been a great mystery in the Church. We know Christ was an historical figure who told the Apostles to, "do this in remembrance of me." Christ's death was, of course, the ultimate sacrifice for mankind in redeeming us from the sin of Adam. We know that with God all things are possible and, thus, we cannot limit Him. As St. Ambrose said, "Could not Christ's word, which can make from nothing what did not exist, change existing things into what they were not before?"

Drawing from Scripture and the Fathers of the Church, the Council of Trent (1545-63) affirmed the Real Presence, transubstaniation, and the reason for Christ's institution of this sacrament.

"I have come to the conclusion that Transubstantion is a myth. It cannot be that they even believe it. So now I no longer believe.

Don't waste your breath telling me that I am wrong."

It appears that you get to make the rules. You are self-ordained to tell the rest of us that we are wrong to believe in transubstantiation (though you can't even spell it)..... and not to "waste our breath telling you that you are wrong"

Good luck with your one man truth parade. Sorry I can't march with you ...... tied up with the one true Church which Jesus Christ Himself started.

In no other work of God’s love is the Truth of these words shown so clearly as in the adorable mystery of the Most Holy Sacrament, where our God is completely hidden. When the Eternal Word took flesh, He hid His Divinity and appeared on earth as a man. But in remaining with us in the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus hides even His humanity and, as St. Bernard points out, appears only under the form of bread in order to show us how tender is the love He has for us.

Oh, my sweet Savior, I only wish that I could wash with my tears, and even with my blood, those places where, in this Sacrament, Your love and Your Sacred Heart have been so greatly insulted by humanity. But if that wish is not granted me, at least, my Lord, I wish and am determined to visit You often, so as to adore You as I today adore You, and to make reparation for all the insults You receive in this Divine mystery at the hands of men. O Eternal Father, accept this small honor which I, the most worthy of men, offer You today in reparation for the insults offered to Your Son in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Accept it in union with that honor of infinite value which Jesus Christ gave You on the Cross and still gives You every day in the Blessed Sacrament. O my Sacramental Jesus, if only I could fill the hearts of all people with love for You!

Aspiration: O loving Jesus, make Yourself known, make Yourself loved! Mary, Mother of the Blessed Eucharist, pray for us your children in great need of mercy and grace!

Mark, I found your post on transubstantiation very interesting. When I was about 15 years old, I questioned how it was possible that a piece of bread could become the body of Christ. And so I prayed again and again for an answer.

I remember that at that time, I had difficulty getting up to go to the early mass with my parents. So, I went to the later mass by myself. On one such occasion, I had just received communion and noticed when returning that the people who had occupied the pew in front of me had already left the church. I knelt down to pray to Jesus, asking Him again to explain how it could be possible that a little piece of bread could become his body.

For some reason I opened my eyes, and in the pew in front of me a little girl about 8 years old was standing there alone facing me. She was extraordinarily beautiful. But her most beautiful aspect was her eyes, because they were filled with a love that somehow penetrated to the greatest depths of my soul. I heard her say "hello" and instantly understood the answer to my question: with God, all things are possible.

But at the same time, I also realized I'd asked the wrong question. I should have asked instead: Why does Almighty God allow His body to be consumed by us? Somehow, that question was also answered instantly. He does it because of His love for us, which is so great, we cannot possibly understand it.

Then I opened my eyes to look for the little girl, but she was gone. I looked all around, even after mass, but couldn't find her. But whoever she was, I was certain she had come to answer my prayers.

A reminder for all of us Catholics:

TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (St. Louis de Montfort)

-It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.
-If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom of Jesus Christ must come into the world, it can only be as a necessary consequence of the knowledge and reign of Mary. She who first gave him to the world will establish his kingdom in the world.
-With the whole Church I acknowledge that Mary, being a mere creature fashioned by the hands of God is, compared to his infinite majesty, less than an atom, or rather is simply nothing, since he alone can say, "I am he who is".
-However, I declare that, considering things as they are, because God has decided to begin and accomplish his greatest works through the Blessed Virgin ever since he created her, we can safely believe that he will not change his plan in the time to come, for he is God and therefore does not change in his thoughts or his way of acting.
-God the Father gave his only Son to the world only through Mary.
-The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary.
-God the Holy Spirit formed Jesus Christ in Mary but only after having asked her consent through one of the chief ministers of his court.
-He began and continued his miracles through Mary and He will continue them through her until the end of time.
-The plan adopted by the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity in the Incarnation, the first coming of Jesus Christ, is adhered to each day in an invisible manner throughout the Church and they will pursue it to the end of time until the last coming of Jesus Christ.
-Such is the will of almighty God who exalts the humble, that the powers of heaven, earth and hell, willingly or unwillingly, must obey the commands of the humble Virgin Mary. For God has made her queen of heaven and earth, leader of his armies, keeper of his treasures, dispenser of his graces, worker of his wonders, restorer of the human race, mediatrix on behalf of men, destroyer of his enemies, and faithful associate in his great works and triumphs.
-When the Holy Spirit, her spouse, finds Mary in a soul, he hastens there and enters fully into it. He gives himself generously to that soul according to the place it has given to his spouse.

In the hearts of Jesus & Mary

We did not wish to go to Church anymore for some time, but that was not what Jesus wanted. And I yielded. My husband does not want to go, but he yields to my need to take of the Lord God. Don't let anyone take from you what has been given you by God.
Let them take your life, not your Faith brother. This is the time of times, and the narrow road. There are many very Holy priests, and Bishops etc. in this world by large majority, you know how politics works. If you choose to give up what is yours by right, your Faith and love in God, that is no one else's fault, in Truth. They will be dealt with and woe unto them; as we each shall be all - pray not woe unto us! Book of St. John, "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood..." Whatever wrongs are done, and more shall be everywhere in this life - be not of this world. Use the eyes God gave you, take of Him. It IS His body. Lanciano miracle. When I sit in that pew, 'i' am in my Fathers house - that's it, that's everything. For it is Christ that we Cling To.

And if all the buildings were to fall tomorrow, I've no fear, for 'i' am in my Father. He is ever with us. And if we end up in caves with Holy Priests of the Fire, I hope we'll stand next to one another.

P.S. - Our son has returned to Mass with us.

Warriors Fight my friend in all forms of battles, all sorts of foes, lights on, lights off...

Let that foe not be ourselves!

Matthew 24.

God Bless you Mark. ~Sue

Dear Mark,
Your story tears at my heart. I cannot tell with certainty if you meant to imply that you had a child of your own who was abused. If so, please know that I do not presume to understand your pain and righteous indignation. If someone abused a child of mine, I fear that I would take matters into my own hands, and count on a sympathetic jury.

But let me appeal to you: Don't let the men who betrayed the Eucharist rob you of one of God's greatest consolations on this earth. In my own darkest moments, one of the things which sustained me was the tangible sense of the Presence of Christ in the tabernacle. Since childhood, I've always been able to FEEL it--or I should say, Him. Occasionally I've wandered into a church and felt something strange, as if the place were 20 degrees colder--only to look up and see that the tabernacle was open and empty (perhaps for cleaning). I assumed that everybody had this experience--and only learned many years later that it was wondrous (and entirely unmerited!) Grace. So let me urge you not to push away Jesus in this His humblest and most tender outreach to the human soul.

Don't let the perverts and reckless stewards who betrayed the Eucharist rob you of it. Some post-war Jews, facing the unspeakable sufferings their people underwent, were tempted to abandon a God they felt had abandoned them. A wise rabbi responded to them this way, offering an 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not give Hitler posthumous victories." Nothing would have please that antichrist more than depriving Jews of the God Who loves them. Nothing would better please the devils who have tempted (perhaps possessed) sexual abusers into seducing the innocent and profaning the Eucharist (by consuming it deep in mortal sin) than this last victory: to rob you of Jesus.

Don't let them get away with it.

Let's pray for each other.

In Our Eucharistic Lord,

John Zmirak

Mark, maybe some wise words from St. Frances de Sales, who lived through his own time of church scandals, will be of help (and hopefully healing), to you.

"Those who commit these scandals are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder," destroying other people's faith in God by their terrible example. But I'm here among you to prevent something far worse for you. While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy their faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide. They're guilty, of cutting off their life with Christ, abandoning the source of life in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.”

__St. Francis de Sales

Maybe not you, but I know that MANY have used the recent abuse scandal as an excuse to dissent, when the real issue is something far deeper, and to be honest, much harder often not compatible with one'slifestyle. After all, to live in obedience to the church is not without sacrifice.

Whatever it may be Mark, there is NOTHING, including the horrors of being sexually abused, that cannot be healed by the Eucharist received worthily.

Never forget that the great goal of satan is to bring down the priesthood; no priesthood; no Eucharist, no Catholic Church. Only IN forgivness can we see/know the TRUE Presence. At least know Mark that Satan is VERY good at what he does.

I was taught by the Notre Dame nuns that we knew the true Church of Christ by the four marks. The Church was One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

It has been a long time since that Church has been clearly visible. The Catholic Church today no longer speaks with unity, with one voice, on faith and morals. She has been sullied with sex scandals, bishops covering them up, and liturgical abuses. She may maintain a universal presence in the world, but it is one that is no longer respected. And if her priests and bishops cannot agree on what the Teaching Magisterium teaches, then how can these men be truly Apostolic?

And as for those nuns who taught me my Faith. Most have long since gone onto their eternal rewards, only to be replaced by a few women who actually are pro-choice and vote that way every election. Instead of celebrating feast days of the Saints, they celebrate The Winter Solstice.

Where is the true Church today? I can't find her because her 4 marks are missing. Come Lord Jesus.

The Best article I've read in recent years. Thank You, and to all the wonderful posts- you are right on. My son who attends a faithful catholic university told me that his professor confirms this- this is the time of the faithful remnant. What is coming is going to be fierce- and the battle lines are drawn. What happens to Christians when they sell out and they along with the false shepherds betray the faith? The Lord allows for the enemy to overtake them- the begining is with this election. It will allow for the total destruction of what is left of Catholic morals and culture (generally) , but those who bring this house down are being used as well ( Obama). What IS really coming, is what the demographics show- ISLAM. We are after all aborting/contracepting ourselves out of existence. I lived under sharia (muslim) law for 7 years- I rediscovered my faith in this environment- it is a purifying fire -persecution, yet this is a fire that burns clean-Islam does not allow pornography, abortion, homosexual behavior, euthanasia or loud mouthed feminists - precisely all the evils our bishops have buckled under. From a woman who has had to veil and ride in the back of a bus, I say , I'll take it- the lesser of the evils- bring it on.

maybe we ought to focus on our holiness and quit spewing about everyone else? pray, fast, read scripture, rosary and confession....y'all doin that?

Thank you for your post,

Brought to mind the recent article this week of the US Treasury begins training under the Sharia - Arab Finance System this week - 3 days training?

... Reading Benazirs Bhuttos book Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West. The Prime Minister was a devout Muslim, and murdered for her faith by fanatical Muslims, in fact on the day she gave the last pages for this book, last year. In the book she speaks of the pollution of Islam from the Prophet Mohammad's teaching in which men and woman are absolutely equal, and there is to be no distinction. From the Quran, women's equality is in terms of political, social and religious. In fact his first follower was a woman, and one of power and business, who became his wife. She speaks of the factions, tribal values, Muslim jurists' thinking effected by pre and non Islamic influences, non-Arab societies...infiltrating Islamic teaching with "revisionist traditionalist dogma", invalid and "having no basis what so ever in Islam" - enforced - that has become predominant over the centuries resulting in the murder of woman, the complete suppression and disrespect of women, the Burka, no rights: First teaching of the Prophet: Read; which is now denied females - to death.

Can you shed any more light on this, direction. And if you are seeing any return to the Quran of the Prophet?

Thinking of Islams world altering influence of the 10 & 11th Century, Art, Science, literature, All Faiths welcome... "You have your religion, I have mine." of the Prophet...Men and women equal in a flourishing society. Thank you.

I have two qoutes for you,
1. Jesus said , " whoever leads these little ones astray, it would be better for you to have an anchor tied around your neck and cast into the sea".
2. "The floors hell will be lined with the skulls of bishops". This one was from I think St. John Chrystodem. I know it was from an early , "Doctors of the Church", speech. I hope and pray that some of these Priests, Bishops, and Cardinals will listen to someone and change their ways. As for me , I will put all my trust in The Father, The Son , and The Holy Spirit. And , I will pray for these errant souls. Peace

With twelve apostles the Church was founded and as long as twelve faithful bishops remain, the Church will survive. Just as Judas betrayed Christ and committed suicide, those members of the clergy who bring the Church into disrepute betray Christ and commit spiritual suicide ... but the Church will survive until the end of time - we know this because Christ told us so - so for those who are unsettled and fearful because of the effects of the scandals, fear not and trust in the Truth of what Christ taught: "on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" and "I will be with you always, until the end of time."

maybe we ought to focus on our holiness and quit spewing about everyone else? pray, fast, read scripture, rosary and confession....y'all doin that?
Written by ikb

How ironic, telling us we are being judgemental in a judgemental way....y'all catchin that?

Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Del., Joe Biden's home diocese, said the Democrat had called him in September, the night before Malooly was installed as bishop.

Malooly said the two agreed they would meet when scheduling allows to discuss Catholic teaching. The bishop said he did not advise Biden to refrain from Communion.

"I won't politicize the Eucharist," Malooly said. "I don't want to alienate people. I want to change their hearts and minds."

Politicize the Eucharist ??? That would be impossible because the Eucharist transcends politics.

This failed limp-wristed approach is SO frustrating.

I recommend as a good read the evidence of the wider situation of the pink mafia in the church in the book produced by Mrs Randy Engel "The Rite of Sodomy".

Her work is not the flavour of the month in many places either because of the wealth of evidence she presents.

I'm a convert to Catholicism who desired the Faith when I saw Pope John Paul II forgive his assasin in prison. I wanted that kind of love for others.

I went to a Newman Center as a guest of a friend in 1987 and despite the watered down immature version of the Faith that was offered there, Jesus found me.
Nine years later I was confirmed at age 46 and in 2000 I started attending the local parrish (& only choice, though very liberal) where God used me to bring 3 people into the Church through RCIA.
For a Lenten devotion I started attending daily Mass 2-3 times a week and never stopped. My family decided to get DISH because of EWTN programming and that's where I was introduced to the fullness & beauty of orthodox Catholicism in a global context and to a devotional life & spiritual communion in daily Mass. I devoured the Scriptures, the Catechism & learned the Latin Mass responses in appreciation of beautiful reverent Liturgy.

After 5 years I am well-catechized, strengthened by devotional prayers and understand who I am as a Christian: a member of the Church Militant on earth. With eyes of faith I am well aware of the spiritual warfare with which I am engaged where the eternal resting place of my soul is determined. Jesus comes in the Eucharist to strengthen me and our relationship has developed over time to the point where I know Him as my Bridegroom and He speaks His desires to my heart through remembrance of His Word in the Sacred Scriptures.
*Romans 8 says that nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ; no hardship, not even death...or even a Church filled with tares rather than wheat. The presence of so many weeds is disturbing, a cross to bear and makes the Church environment like a parched dessert, for the faithful remnant.

But to allow ourselves to lose faith in Christ's Real Presence in the Eucharist is to become that soil in the Parable of the Seed where it is choked off by the thorns & anxieties of daily life; by those falling into unbelief all around us. We must pray, Jesus help my unbelief! Give me Your strength to become a fool for Your sake unto good works for others.

Christianity is radical love. It has always been counter cultural (to selfishness). We have been told to conform to Christ through the renewal of our minds; & never to bend our knee to the world. The world is at emnity with God. We are to be in the world, not of the world, for the world. We are pilgrims passing through to that Promised land, the City of Light, Peace & Eternal Bliss.

Christianity is a blood covenant which makes it serious business. Jesus gave his life for me so that I could, in turn, give my life freely for others which is, ultimately for Him. In a secular culture the Christian life can be lonely on a fleshly level and even lonlier in a secular Church with even fewer to connect with spiritually, but praise God
who gave us the Communion of Saints to encourage & sustain us with prayer as we persevere in fighting the good fight.
The crown of Life is awaiting our victory through Christ.

Resist Satan, Mark! If you care for your soul, then stive to enter the Wedding Feast in the New Jerusalem. I can asuure you that it is what is most real. Begin glorifying the Lord during the Eucharistic prayer of the Mass-praise him all day everyday.
Faith is not a feeling...although Christ may grant them as consolations for you..rather faith is a conscious, active decision of the will to believe in Christ--no matter what.
Fan the fire of your faith. Strive to know the Faith. Embrace the Faith, Embrace Truth; share your faith & it will grow.
* Mark, Jesus loves you. * Come follow Him & know freedom. *

I have witnessed many miracles in the supernatural order. It's so easy for me to believe the Cause of all causes.

I have one question: If God can change bread into human beings, why can't He change bread into Himself instantly and remain "hidden" while looking like bread?

I'm re-reading Lawler's stunning and sobering book. I live in the Boston Archdiocese but am not a native of this state so I have been wondering for a long time how this place got in the sorry state I've seen it in since I came here in 1997. Lawler's book provided many answers to my questions. Since the election, I've also been pondering anew the prophecies of Fatima.

To paraphrase Our Lady of Fatima, "If she is not consecrated to My Heart, the errors of Russia will multiply throughout the world." I am not Nicholas Gruner conspiracy theorist, but the evidence is there that the errors of Russia (dialectical materialism, Marxism, abortion on demand, the socialist driven breakup of the traditional family, etc) are spreading and not receding throughout the world. I count Obama's election as one more piece of evidence that Russia's errors are multiplying. We are in for one big chastisement and purification because we Catholics have too easily accomodated ourselves to the world.

"The real scandal isn't the sick excesses of a few dozen pedophiles, or even the hundreds of priests who had affairs with teenage boys -- the bulk of abuse cases."

A FEW DOZEN PEDOPHILES! Gotta' love it. Tell a lie long enough, often enough, loud enough, one of these days it becomes fact.

Sorry, Professor, but you need more accountability when you state that there were only a "few dozen pedophiles or .... hundreds of priests who had affairs with teenage boys." And don't use that old argument that the bulk of priests were really "ephebophiles" and not "pedophiles"; bottom (no pun intended) line, they were all "pederasts".

So, Professor, just what is your definition of "a few dozen"? Is that a handful? A couple? Five-or-less dozen? How many make up ‘a few dozen’?” Or does it all depend on what YOUR definition of "a few dozen" is?

In 2003, the New York Times reported that the catholic church’s sexual abuse scandal in the United States involved some 1,200 priests- that's a hundred dozen - and more than 4,260 people who have claimed publicly to have been abused or are named in lawsuits as having been abused. Conservative estimates at that time (five years ago) placed those numbers at more than 1,500 and more than 10,000, based upon statistical methodology at estimating the numbers of crimes of abuse that have gone unreported due to death, personal shame, or silencing agreements. The numbers today keep growing with perpetrators closer to 2,500 - that's more than 200 dozen - and victims in excess of 15,000, and that's just in this country. If you want to really ratchet up those figures, count Ireland, Australia, Germany, Canada, and Australia. The actual numbers are mind-boggling.

Go back and read the John Jay Study.For a "writer in residence", one would think you'd want to get your facts straight.

Oh, but then I forgot! You're a fiction writer.

Have a blessed day.

Essential Norm,

How does your post address the article at all? Putting aside that fact that you're using estimates of perpetrators (who are obviously guilty until proven innocent), how does there being "two hundred dozen" pederasts disprove Mr. Zmirak's point, that weakness in the teaching of the Church's position, and a reliance on worldly things was what led to the sexual scandal, among other things?

Isn't it the person who persists in receiving Communion, while staunchly sypporting abortion, that is politicizing the Eucharist?

And they will persecute us for His name sake, that we know. The world will not hear of understand the Ways of God. And God hates the reasoning of men. And the two shall never be reconciled. God's Way or the world's way. He came that we may know, Life.

The question is are We striving in obedience to God? He sees all, what matters is what He thinks, not what others may think, believe, or do. Jesus said, "He who does not eat my flesh and drink my blood will not have life in him." "Take this all of you and eat." The New, and Everlasting Covenant. And in His Truth it matters not who is taking of His body wrongly, For God knows, and God help them. What are we doing? How is our relationship with God, while we are still breathing?

There are no words in the human language to reach of the internal joy that is God, and in taking of Him, Life beyond understanding. But We do understand, it is not us - but Him alone.

We are commanded to Receive this Precious Gift of Life in our Lord, and I will not yield my seat in the House of God, I will not accommodate satan in undoing myself for him. Difficult, absolutely, constantly - but this was promised for all in life. Especially He that takes the Hand of the Good Shepherd and says, Yes Master, I want YOU.

It does not matter who is there in the Church, and who has done what, God is judge, and as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord. Some days tall and strong, and some pulling along on the ground by the chin behind Him... When the day comes that we can no longer go into the Church, there is No fear. He shall handle His Bride, each soul, this world, etc... We cling unto God. Christ alone. Come Holy Spirit!

When we talk and listen to our Father each day, do we not care how He feels?

We must assault ourselves and yield to God's Will, that we be made worthy of the Promises of Christ. He has made His Will clear. He brought not peace,... and houses shall be divided.

This Jesus made clear to my heart, we are NOT to assault His Priests. All are to be sorted, and when I said woe unto them, that is the knowing put into my heart. They are His Priests and God help them. But then at the foot of the Cross learning of ourselves, what we have done and failed to do, each of us a sinner. How many good and Holy Priests have suffered for the evils of others? That is not righteous, that is satan. God is Righteous. Forgiveness is important. Not forgiving does not destroy the person who offended, but slowly destroys self. We can take any suffering in life and wear it convictedly, or we can offer back and marry it to the Cross. Give it to the Great Physician. And suffering may be great! But Christ Alone heals us, all the way through, where no man can reach, no human can Ever touch us. Trust Jesus and Love Him as HE loves us. Be obedient and Receive Him as He asked and did ordain for us called His. That we may always be.

It is about our relationship with God 24/7. Pray the Rosary daily and go to the Garden and kneel next to the Holy One of Grace. Walk wit Him. I refuse to allow anyone or anything to keep me from the One I Adore. There are times I do not have the strength, but He has enough for me and gives it freely, will I take it and strive to do right by Him? Please do not let anyone take from you what is yours. He is the Word of God Incarnate - eat and have life in you, and the joy that no man, no person can ever take away from us. The world will never understand it, but that we do! Amen. May we pray for one another and all always, to His Glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. +JHS+

Norm,
Take a deep breath, and pick up a dictionary. Pedophiles prey on pre-adolescents. How many cases of that type of abuse have been documented? Offer me some numbers and I'll revise my own estimates in the future. The bulk of the remaining cases were homosexuality pure and simple--with the added evil of older men abusing their position of authority. Pederasty, yes indeed. I'm not playing the terminology game; these men were deviants and deserve to rot in jail. Did I ever try to say anything else? Learn to read more attentively.

Great article Mr Zmirack.

There is a fantastic book by an Irish journalist, Hermann Kelly about this issue in Ireland.
Entitled 'Kathy's Real Story' it uncovers the false allegations made by a woman who claimed she was raped and abused in a Magdalene Laundry in Dublin and wrote a bestselling book selling over 400,000 copies. Kelly showed she was in her local national school all the time - after which she spent time in jail for petty theft.
Acknowledging that too much abuse took place in Ireland by a small number of priests who were allowed to run riot because of Irish episcopal dereliction of duty, Kelly also exposes the state compensation scheme which has encouraged false allegations by offering money but asking for a low level of proof - just being there.
This has led to further injustice - of innocent priests and lay people being falsely accused - all because of the sins of a few, the mismanagement of others and the 'wash our hands of it' compo scheme created by the Irish government.
A must read to understand abuse cases, and false allegations in Ireland.
America is not alone !