Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops Launches Political Attack Against Texas Right-to-Life

Posted on by charliej373

repairing the fence

By Charlie Johnston

(There are a lot of links in this article that cover some technical issues in detail. The article stands on its own, but to develop a sure feel for the serious issues involved here, the links will help enormously.-CJ)

I was shocked Friday to hear that the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops (TCCB) had issued an  advisory to all the parishes in the state banning Texas Right to Life (TRTL) from using parish sites for programs and urging Catholics NOT to participate in any TRTL activities or programs. It stunned me because I have spent a lifetime working with right-to-life groups – and TRTL is the best, most effective I have ever seen. In fact, if it were two groups, each half as good as it is, it would be the two best right-to-life groups I ever saw. I figured there must be some serious issue for the TCCB to issue such an edict against the best such group in the country.

When I read the Bishops’ statement, I was even more stunned. They listed three reasons, every one of them political rather than related to faith and morals. They did cite some matters of faith and morals to try to bolster the credibility of the political decision they had made, but they deftly misled readers about Catholic teaching. In each case their anger seems to stem from the reality that TRTL lives greater fidelity to actual Catholic teaching than the Bishops do. Let us take a look at each of the three reasons TCCB cited, along with a little history and context.

1)     The Bishops attack TRTL for being too pro-life on matters of abortion. TRTL has occasionally noted the TCCB’s absence of support for effective measures to protect unborn children, measures that TRTL HAS gotten mass support for and sometimes passed, despite the lack of support from Texas Bishops. In support of this attack, TCCB quotes St. John Paul’s Encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, which explicitly allowed pro-life Catholics to take an incremental approach when it was the only one that could improve existing law. I was working in the vineyards of the pro-life movement and statewide politics in Illinois when this came out. It was welcome, for we often had to make common cause with officials and candidates who had exceptions to abortion bans in order to get any progress at all. The Pope recognized and “baptized” our sincere efforts to re-build a culture of life with imperfect tools. What Pope John Paul the Great most emphatically did NOT do in this Encyclical was endorse “incrementalism” as a means of watering down pro-life legislation that had substantial support and could pass. That remained forbidden, within the context of sincere prudential judgment. The TCCB seems to treat “incrementalism” as a mandate. I think they are sincere on this – as their reflex position has been to support watered down life legislation. But it is a perversion of what St. John Paul wrote. In this case, then, the TCCB is condemning TRTL for failing to treat a perverse mutilation of St. John Paul’s Encyclical as Holy Writ. Even if TCCB’s interpretation of Evangelium Vitae was legitimate (and it is not), the disagreement with TRTL would be a political one, not a matter of faith and morals. It would be a matter of faith and morals only if TRTL was attacking the Catholic Church’s Magisterial position on life, itself. The Texas Bishops are apparently embarrassed that TRTL does a better, more effective, more consistent job of advancing the Church’s position on life than they do. Fine. Get more effective or keep quiet: do NOT launch a transparent political attack on the people who are doing the job you won’t do.

2)     The Texas Bishops attack TRTL for upholding Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues in hospitals. Texas has a bizarre law which allows a hospital to decide, unilaterally to remove ordinary care from a patient to let them die. They can do this even over the objections of the patient and his family. This is not confined to extraordinary forms of care, such as chemotherapy, but to basic care. You read that right: Texas hospitals can decide to impose death on a patient against his will after giving ten days notice of the decision to withdraw or deny life-sustaining medical treatment. Even more astonishingly, the TCCB has been a consistent supporter of that law, in direct contradiction of Catholic teaching. You will notice that they studiously did NOT cite St. John Paul in this particular, because St. John Paul was adamant that ordinary nutrition and hydration may NOT be withheld from a patient. The only appeal a patient has, once a doctor has made this determination, is to the hospital’s ‘ethics panel.’ In order to get the appeal heard, a doctor must sign off with the patient on the appeal. Once upon a time, people behaved ethically and there was no need for ethics panels. Now, we have ethics panels to give a secular imprimatur to the unethical things we do corporately. It certainly stung the Texas Bishops to hear these panels frequently referred to as “death panels.” But what else would you call a panel that has unappealable life and death power over its patients regardless of the patients’ wishes? And if the TCCB wants to quit being charged with supporting such death panels in contradiction to Catholic teaching, they could have adopted the more rational option of ceasing to support them rather than condemning the premier organization in Texas that upholds actual Catholic teaching. I was involved with such a case when I took up the cause of young Joseph Cronin, who went into a coma following an asthma attack. He was prematurely diagnosed as brain-dead and scheduled to be starved to death. Fortunately, several groups took to work very vigorously to save the boy. Foremost among them was Texas Right-to-Life. The only Bishop in Texas who worked to prevent this tragedy was retired Corpus Christi Bishop Emeritus Rene Gracida. Bishop Gracida was key to caring for the boy and his family and supporting his right-to-life. Readers at my old website flooded the hospital with calls, buying time for the boy to get a better diagnosis and win transfer to a new hospital not determined to kill him. The TCCB maintained what I presume they think was a prudent silence. The boy was rescued and transferred to safety in New Jersey. Tragically, he died a few months later, not because of the coma, but because a nurse bungled a routine feeding tube change which she was not supposed to do without someone else present. He drowned in his own blood. More recently, a Texas hospital decided it was tired of messing with a man named Chris Dunn and that it was time to impose death on him. They had an ethics panel and all sign off on it. Once again, it was Bishop Gracida and Texas Right-to-Life who rallied to the man’s aid. Once again, the Texas Bishops Conference was not interested in objecting to this execution of the policy they support. Sadly, in this case, the mother of the patient successfully fought the hospital for weeks, but Dunn eventually died of his illness about six weeks after the saga began. The Texas Bishops own language betrays them in this charge they make against TRTL. They condemn TRTL for advocating for the routine life support of nutrition and hydration while citing the “long-standing Church teaching requiring a balance of patient autonomy and the physician conscience protection.” This is just mealy-mouthed double-speak. The Church does NOT teach that basic hydration and nutrition can be withheld from a patient against his will and that hospitals have arbitrary sovereign control over life and death. In this case, the TCCB is clearly condemning TRTL for upholding Catholic teaching that this conference opposes. It is a rank betrayal.

3)     The TCCB objects to TRTL basing its voter-guides on the actual voting history of candidates rather than a “fair analysis” (read arbitrary assessment) of the legislator. This is downright incoherent. Almost every interest group – and certainly every credible interest group – bases their voter guides on actual voting records, answers to questionnaires, and a candidate’s past history. Otherwise, the interest group could just endorse their cronies, regardless of those cronies actual positions – and the interest group would quickly lose credibility. Even if the Texas Bishops had a reasonable objection (which they don’t), this would be political, rather than spiritual, grounds. It is unseemly and deeply offensive that Bishops who blanch at the idea of refusing communion to radically pro-abortion politicians will, in thundering tones, denounce the most effective right-to-life organization in the country insisting that the candidates they endorse actually act to protect life.

So what brought all this on? Well, it is a week and a half before the Texas primary elections. For years, the primary obstacle to effective pro-life legislation in Texas has been establishment Republican Joe Strauss, who was Speaker of the Texas House. Strauss and his allies killed most pro-life legislation before it could ever reach the floor. Understanding the problem, TRTL took the lead in identifying Republican legislators who talked pro-life, but worked to prevent pro-life legislation from being passed. That effort was so successful that Strauss chose to leave the House, rather than risk losing re-election. After a very successful session, TRTL took the lead again in working to ensure that the Republican contingent for the general election would be people who walk the pro-life walk rather than just talk – and so targeted a bunch of Strauss’ old allies in strangling pro-life legislation in the crib, before it ever hit the floor. Recent polling data had suggested that the Republican roster of candidates for the Texas statehouse would be the most reliably pro-life in recent history – and that many of the Strauss allies were headed for involuntary retirement. Ah, but the TCCB has a long history of alliance with the Strauss wing of the party. If Strauss’ influence is shot, then the TCCB must re-build their political influence from the ground up – and with people they have taken pains to alienate. So they brought their big gun to bear: ostracization a week and a half before the election, once again seeking to give political cover to their allies who are mealy-mouthed, at best, in defense of life.

I do not suggest that the TCCB is not pro-life (although, in the case of the end-of-life directives, it is near impossible to study the evidence and conclude that they are), but that their principles have become forfeit in a web of establishment alliances. Call it Crony Catholicism. Now, in a great test over which they value most, their principles or their alliances, they have made a frantic last-ditch effort to protect their alliances.

They have made a terrible long-term mistake in launching this entirely political attack on TRTL. Having taken a purely political approach, they open themselves up to a political scrutiny that religious organizations are not usually subject to. State governments have a lot of contracts and plums to offer. I once had a Lieutenant Governor try to recruit me to head a state agency in which I had no knowledge or experience. The selling points were that it only met four times a year and the pay was $200,000 a year. Mighty attractive, but it was clear that it was my conservative street cred the Lt. Gov. was after, not my expertise on the subject. Whatever my flaws, my principles are not for sale, so I declined…repeatedly. After this nasty broadside, the TCCB should not be surprised to find itself being subjected to a forensic examination of all its state contracts – and all such plums held by it and its Diocese’s staff members.

Ah well, the Texas Republican Party was in need of reform. The TCCB is in need of the same – and this political attack increases the odds dramatically that it will get some reform. So everybody will come out a winner. It would be a great blessing to have an unabashedly strong pro-life Texas Republican Party and an unambiguously strong, pro-life TCCB.

( This post has been updated to note that TRTL has traditionally avoided public criticism of TCCB despite differences in approach and that Chris Dunn died of his illness in the midst of the battle with the hospital, which was fighting to, but had not yet denied basic care to him. Normally I would spend a full week of research on a piece such as this, but since the original action had clearly been designed to impact an election just a week away, time was essential and the outlines of what happened needed to get out quickly. I add this link to the blog of Kassi Marks, a long-time pro-life attorney whose long direct experience with the issues clarifies it well.) 

 

 

 

207 thoughts on “Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops Launches Political Attack Against Texas Right-to-Life”

  1. All of these problems you candidly present, Charlie, are daggers to the heart of every believer. So disconcerting and heart wrenching.

    Just home from listening to this Gospel reading, Luke 6:36-38:
    “Jesus said to his disciples:
    “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
    Stop judging and you will not be judged.
    Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
    Forgive and you will be forgiven.
    Give and gifts will be given to you;
    a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
    will be poured into your lap.
    For the measure with which you measure
    will in return be measured out to you.”

    This was, of course, followed by Fr. W’s homily, one of clarification because these words of the Lord are often abused and misinterpreted. We MUST continue to judge with righteous judgement. Noted without intention to slap you on the back, Charlie… rather, noted to emphasize that judging with righteous judgement was an overarching theme you presented at TNRS and it is exactly what you have done in this analysis. I can readily see it will continue to be a critical skill as we move forward through this morass of a mess which we humans have brought forth.

    Praying for the Texas Bishops Conference…
    Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for them and pray for us all.

    “Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2: 34-35)

    Liked by 15 people

    1. Thank you Beckita for the clarification because I always thought the Lord wanted us to judge with righteous judgement but wasn’t certain when reading scripture. I mention this because a friend’s wife is having an affair with another married man and has broken up that relationship. So two relationships destroyed. I have been torn because I know we are not supposed to judge yet I feel that because she is committing a mortal sin I have to shun her because of this sin.

      With regard to Charlie’s essay, it appears that Progressivism has infected the TCCB. May GOD have mercy on their souls.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. What judging others does not mean:
        (1). It is not judging someone to be discerning with regard to his character or teaching.

        Many people cite Matthew 7:1 about not judging others, but they never bother to read down to verse 6, where Jesus says, “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine….” He was talking about people who are dogs and swine! To obey verse 6, you must make some judgmental decisions about the person’s character! “That guy is a dog! That guy is a swine!”

        Also, if you keep reading (Matt. 7:15), Jesus says, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” It takes a discerning sheep to recognize, “That’s not a true sheep! That’s a wolf dressed like a sheep!” It requires judging the man’s teaching as false.

        We live in times when tolerance, unity, and “love” (which usually means, being nice) are dominant themes in the church. If you dare to confront or expose sin, or if you label someone’s teaching as unbiblical, or the person as a false teacher, you get accused of being judgmental and unloving. But the Bible is clear that a pastor is being extremely unloving to allow wolves to prey on the flock or to allow sinning believers to infect the flock without confronting and exposing them.

        Note Romans 16:17-18: “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”

        It is not judging someone to speak to him (and, if necessary, to others) about sin or false teaching.

        I’ve heard people say, “I could never confront anyone about their sin, because we’re not supposed to judge others. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!” But this is to dodge a difficult, but loving, responsibility. If you see your child about to run in front of a speeding car, you would do everything in your power to warn him. If you see a brother in Christ about to ruin his life by sin or by believing false, damnable doctrine, love should motivate you to do everything possible to warn him.

        In our text, James was not being judgmental by confronting this sin in the church. In James 5:19-20, he states, “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

        On a personal level, such confrontation is the responsibility of every spiritual believer (Gal. 6:1). It should begin in private, unless the sin is public to start with (Gal. 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 5:1-13). If the sinning person does not listen to you, then take another mature believer with you, or involve someone else who can try to minister to the sinning person.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Maybe staying away is where the Holy Spirit is leading you, Karmy. Maybe Holy Spirit is not asking a complete shunning from you. Then, too, Jesus interacted with sinners to have an impact on bringing them out of sin. Often, a subtle, loving approach has great power. Consider, too, that while we know and must defend the objective truth of sin, only God knows all the mitigating circumstances in each particular circumstance. I just know I’ve been forgiven so very much and I want to be there for those who are struggling yet to do so in ways where the Holy Spirit leads. God bless us all.

        Liked by 5 people

        1. She thinks I’m the bad person because I won’t condone her sin. I listen to her husband and try to give him support but other neighbors support her because she tells “her side” of the story. That doesn’t go over with her because she doesn’t want him to have any support. I don’t care what either side of the story is because it’s none of my business, but I do care that she has broken up another relationship. She refuses to take responsibility for that. Says she had no part in it. She’s a protestant and thinks that if she says she’s sorry Jesus will forgive her but she will not give up her sin. I think, yes, he will forgive you but will expect penance for your sins.

          So Beckita what do you think about Bishop Thomas going to Las Vegas? Our priest was shocked and talked quite a lot about it at Mass yesterday. Not being familiar with diocesan politics, is this a big deal?

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Sounds like a difficult situation, karmy.

            Bishop Thomas was ready for a change. Now we can pray during this waiting period for our new bishop that he be a faithful one, filled with holy boldness.

            Liked by 2 people

              1. Praying every day, karmy, for a new bishop who is simply and completely filled with holy boldness, who is willing to defend the fullness of Magisterial teaching while defending the flock in these perilous times. If the new bishop, in his own style and ways, stepped up to lead initiatives that are an antidote to today’s evils, such as Archbishop Aquila and Bishop Poprocki have done, I would be beyond grateful. May it be, Lord.

                Liked by 1 person

      4. Charlie, after reading this piece I couldn’t help but think of a chess analogy

        “… if your bishop can only attack your on pawns and none of your opponent’s, then it’s a bad bishop” – http://www.thechesswebsite.com/good-bad-bishop/
        ” … but sometimes it converts … if the bishop can be improved, then it is no longer a bad piece, but can become a valuable one” – https://thechessworld.com/articles/middle-game/the-good-bad-bishop/

        So that is my prayer

        Gord from Canada

        Liked by 6 people

    1. It is disgraceful Annie. I tweeted Charlie’s article and 3 or 4 of Bishop Gracida’s (one of which was Charlie ASOH article) to the Texas Bishops. Then so that Charlie’s article would show up on the Texas Bishops’ timeline (and the TX governors TL) for all to see, I attached it to one of their tweets thanking the Texas governor for commuting a death sentence with the hashtag #AllLivesMatter. ❤

      Liked by 6 people

  3. Exactly Beckita! Daggers in the heart! Thank you for your wise words. And thank you Charlie for your reporting.

    I want to do something!!!

    Write more letters I guess. Anyone in particular? I also like to write kudos to the folks who are doing their mission on earth properly.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. I’d participate in a letter writing blast. From working in the Church, I have come to know it would have to be an en masse effort to make an impact. A few letters would not so easily cause those in the bishops’ conference to take pause. An absolute pile of letters landing on each bishop’s desk – with some days of praying and fasting to bolster the efforts – would have the possibility to prick each conscience, if not with immediate external results, certainly with an interior movement.

      Liked by 10 people

  4. Beckita – Somewhere around the time The Next Right Step site was taken down and A Sign of Hope emerged (no pun originally intended), I was traveling and missed its initiation and enrolling, until last week. Is there a simple way you can advise me how to retrieve and read all the posts over a month and a half? Thanks…..Ron Polomsky in Colorado

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Ron, I would just go to the “Home” page, scroll to the bottom, click on the purple rectangle which reads: OLDER POSTS and then scroll to the bottom to read the very first of Charlie’s pieces. You can work your way through the sequence. Glad you’re here with us again!

      Liked by 4 people

  5. The fact that you are posting so frequently (thank you very much), attests to the fact that the downward spiral is speeding up. God bless you, Charlie, and happy birthday. Thanks for being there for us!

    Liked by 13 people

  6. Terrible!!! Ugh!!! Right is right and wrong is wrong. So sorry you had to hear and write about this on your birthday Charlie… Sounds like they are becoming like the scribes and pharisees! ;-(

    Liked by 4 people

  7. I’m in Beckita! I have researcher and it looks as if :
    Most Rev. Edward J. Burns

    3725 Blackburn Street | Dallas, Texas 75219

    214.528.2240 | Fax: 214.526.1743

    Is where the statement was issued from.

    How many folks on this site plus 5 each of their friends…..

    Liked by 10 people

  9. I am…not surprised at all. Now for some good news!

    I have been a Catholic for a little over four years and am in the process of helping my second class of confirmation students prepare for the sacrament of confirmation. They will be confirmed on Saturday, March 17, so…pretty exciting. There appears to be a new generation of kids willing to keep and grow in the faith, at least in my neck of the woods. And I can’t help but wonder what they’d be doing or how much they’d care about Catholicism if I had decided to not help teach them. I may not make a big difference in their lives, but at least I’m trying. Gives me an excuse to talk spiritual stuff for an hour each Sunday to a captive audience, anyway. Also the deacon at my church is a pretty awesome guy and super orthodox, as is our priest.

    Also, my wife and I are expecting child numero cinco in August. I’m 29. Also, gave up all alcohol for Lent, which as of this post seems like a very rash decision indeed.

    Anyway, keep fighting the good fight, folks. Pray some hail Mary’s for these misguided bishops.

    Liked by 17 people

    1. Congratulations and prayers for your Confirmation class and your fifth child now developing in his/her mother’s womb, Chasepro! New Life on both fronts. Thanks for the sunshine!

      Liked by 6 people

    4. Chase, thank you for your efforts to help our Catholic youth be authentically Catholic. I taught religious education at our parish for years, and I know that it is a daunting task. Also, congratulations on the upcoming birth of Kid 5. We have 5 kids, too; would’ve liked more, but God in His infinite wisdom apparently decided that 5 was all I could handle… ha! Praying some Hail Marys along with you for these bishops.

      Regarding what the TCCB has done, the following verse comes to mind: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul?” I pray that they find their way, because it appears that their souls are in mortal danger because of what they are doing. This situation also brings to mind what I heard a fantastic priest say at a Lenten parish mission when we lived in California almost 2 decades ago. (His name is Fr. Daniel McCaffrey, STD; and he used to run–or at least be a massively huge player at–the Office of Family Life for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.) Fr. McCaffrey was speaking about shepherds who put worldly concerns over their sacred duty to lead their flocks in the truth of Christ and His Church. I’ll never forget how he thundered from the pulpit, “The floor of Hell is littered with the bones of bishops and priests!” May the bishops of the TCCB, and all of us, take heed of our duties and responsibilities regarding the Faith and the faithful; and may God have mercy on all of us.

      Liked by 10 people

  10. Ok, I will comment on this one. The daggers to the heart sting with an intensity that is almost overwhelming. How can I or any other believer trust that the Church leaders have our best interests in mind about ANYTHING when they will not stand as defenders of the faith and the faithful about this or anything. I trust the teaching of the Church, but I am not a theologian just a simple man who loves the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is heart wrenching that we would have to battle our leaders. I thank God that this does not shake my faith in the Church, but how many will turn from the Church because of this atrocity? I am reminded of a passage of scripture that tells those who would teach others Thai it would be better for them if they had a stone tied to their neck and thrown into the deep rather than lead the faithful into error. God will prevail

    Liked by 10 people

  12. What is it specifically that the TCCB is worried about losing or has to gain by engaging in this political attack? If we pull on the threads and follow the money, what will we find? They are clearly very motivated by something important to the TCCB organization to attack and undermine an effective Catholic organization like this.

    My other question is: must Catholics be docile and obedient, adhering to the expressed wishes of the TCCB by not affiliating with the TRTL? I have trouble with that idea because I am rebellious at heart and right is right. Steam is coming out of my ears, Charlie.

    You know, I can handle bad news in the secular world quite well, no matter how gruesome. But when my church, Christ’s holy church, does even mildly bad stuff, I get sick to my stomach and quickly move into a depressed or angry funk. I don’t like it one bit. I’m sure no one here does.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Be of stout heart, brother. We are not bound to be dumb sheep blindly following shepherds intent on leading us off a cliff. When bishops and priest pronounce upon matters outside their purview (and truly political issues are certainly that), we are not bound to do what they say, even if they invoke the authority of their office to make such pronouncements… precisely because they HAVE no authority in such matters.

      I’m thinking that the next time I can scrape together a couple of extra bucks, I’m going to send a donation to Texas Right to Life. I’m going to attach a note of encouragement, and I’ll make sure to tell them that I’m Catholic and am donating in response to the action that the TCCB has taken against them. I’d wager that countless others around the country are thinking along the same lines. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the TCCB efforts to marginalize TRTL backfire massively.

      That said, though, I’m tired of all this mess. Lord, whatever “it” is, bring it already.

      Liked by 9 people

        1. Ha, Patrick… I love it! “Bring it, Lord Jesus” shall henceforth be added to my daily prayers. I’m gonna go write it on a 3×5 and tape it to my bathroom mirror right now…. 🙂

          Liked by 5 people

      4. I think this type of Mess is already ‘it’, in part.
        So maybe be a little careful of saying bring it on:)
        I recall Jesus’ saying ….’ but can you ( are you ready to, so fast) drink of the cup?’
        ( I know it’s a little different:)

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Point well taken, Leslyek. 🙂

          By the way… I may be remembering wrong, but are you Simone’s mother-in-law? If so, please send her a “howdy” from me, would you please?

          Liked by 2 people

      5. I remember you saying something in that vein way back when: “Yep. Bring it.” Classic. Made me laugh so hard that it never dawned on me to duck. A lot of prayers gone up since then, eh?! Might have even mitigated some of the “it,” now that I think about it.

        Liked by 4 people

        1. Ha, MP! I can’t remember what I said the day before yesterday. How do you remember something that I said way back when? Yikes… I must be a broken record…. 🙂

          Liked by 3 people

      6. I posted on fb the list of TRTL endorsed candidates and a note saying that if I did not personally know a candidate, I always used their recommendations because they did know them. I have been affiliated with TRTL for many years: a fine organization.

        Liked by 4 people

    2. In reply your question of Catholics being docile, I found in a past article on the Texas Right to Life website entitled, “Bishop Rene Henry Gracida responds to attacks against Texas Right to Life (back in 3/3/2014),” he states, “…the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops has no canonical authority or official status in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and as the political advocacy arm of the bishops of Texas, the TCC is not the magisterial arbiter of moral doctrine in Texas (or elsewhere), nor does TCC hold any authority over individual Catholics.”
      So we the laity don’t have to take it. And to use Pope Francis’s own words, we can “Make a mess.”
      BTW, Church Militant is doing a Download segment on TRTL this Thursday.
      And Dallas Catholic blogger states that in Bishop Olsen’s diocese of Ft. Worth, people are planning to walkout of Mass if the Advisory is read.

      Liked by 7 people

        1. Yep, Patrick Daniel. It’s like sometimes, in families, our big brothers can act outside their “authority”, and try to push us around where they shouldn’t. And we should stand up to that. Bishop Gracida puts it well.

          Liked by 2 people

      2. This coming Sunday I will sit on the front row. If the advisory is read, I will stand up and turn my back to the lecturn, but I will not walk out. Nothing will keep me from participating in the Eucharist.

        Liked by 4 people

        2. Woah….or you could walk out and return just for Eucharist??

          I’m concerned at worst they could ask you to be seated or the ushers to escort you out 😦

          Listen to me, looking at the flip side again. I hope it’s a concern for effectiveness with least harm done; not fear-based ‘wilting’!

          Liked by 3 people

  13. Maybe I’m just a big kid, but my eyes always seem to gravitate to the pictures first and linger there. First, the fence image, then the Holy Familiy and Simeon image.

    Surely the Priests in the Temple should have been the first to truly ‘see’ and praise the Christ Child, but it was the righteous and devout Simeon, along with the old widow and prophetess Anna that we hear about. No mention of the priests. Who knows… maybe they didn’t spend a lot of time in the Temple courts with regular folk.

    That fence picture reminds me of a shot I took yesterday (minus the people):

    Someone had stuck some Fireball whisky bottles in the fence wiring (5 in all), along with looping twine attached to a bundled piece of red fabric. That chunk of desert to the right of the fence is the Ft. McDowell Yavapai Nation. To the left, Tonto National Forest. Not surprisingly the desert all looks like desert there, that fence notwithstanding. Four Peaks is up ahead in the distance. A nice Saguaro, maybe 100 -150 years old, towers at the fence line… of course there were thorny Saguaros everywhere.

    It was something of a prayerful slog along that road on the left, bound for a point between a major irrigation channel and the river. As much as I’m not a big fan of Google, there’s certainly nothing like Google Earth to help work out a route in detail. I’m still getting over a flu bug, so that saved me a bunch of guessing, zig-zagging and the like.

    As usual it took most of the way out for the heavy thoughts to die down. Really, the desert is a listening thing, so naturally it helps if you’re comfortable with your own thoughts… but it’s most efficacious if you can embrace the silence. I would say that God is doing all the talking at that point. Even if it’s really silent.

    Those lines overhead ran a few miles out to a husk of an old pumping station on Yavapai land. It was covered in decades of graffiti and apparently devoid of any electrical power.

    Some ground squirrels shot back and forth across the path, also a flock of rock doves flew low and overhead. The doves caught my attention because it was a rather large flock, and I’ve never really seen a flock of rock doves numbering that many. Neither the ground squirrels nor the rock doves seemed to give a whit about that fence.

    Nor did the moon, which you can see rising early up ahead and to the left. For whatever reason, the moon always reminds me of Our Mother.

    I had to work that fence a couple of times myself, even snagging a leg on some barbed wire. Eventually I popped through some thick stuff, right at the spot I was bound for on the river. Old Gold was there with the rest of his little band including a couple of new colts. A gift. I just sat there quietly for an hour or so, with the gentle sound of the river and occasional nicker from my buddy, remembering you all amidst these present struggles that we’re in.

    When I read stuff like this current piece from CJ, I’m tempted to hit the trail again, but really, just the remembrance of Sunday’s outing brings some measure of the silence back, even though there were no heroics involved… no marching around the abortuary with placards… no ripping my representatives at the town hall… no furious activity in the comments sections of various news outlets. Others will do those things and more as they are called. We’re all called to different things, however noble or foolish, important or trifling, large or small they may appear to others.

    Do it anyway.

    Liked by 14 people

    2. We have entered a very difficult time in the church. It reminds me of the Israelites wandering in the desert.
      If we follow the multiple times Moses failed or who’s life was threatened, we can see a correlation to our times and the failures of our own prelates in their mission.
      In the readings this Sunday, Moses appears with Elijah to Jesus and the apostles in glory, alluding that he is among the glorified even before Jesus opens the gates to heaven. But the fact that Moses was a murderer and Pharaoh had sought his death, that God sought to kill him at one point (only to be saved by his wife) then banned him from entering the promised land because of his sin at the rock, and apparently, according to St Paul in 2nd Corinthians 3:13, looses God’s glory shining from his face behind the veil, why does he still appear in glory on the mountain?
      We need to ponder the errors of our leaders in this light who are also lost in the “desert” of confusion. If one of the greatest figures in all of history was such a train wreck at times but still ends up in glory we can hope, despite their grave errors, that our spiritual leaders may also be recovered to heaven.

      Liked by 14 people

      2. I think it was Fr. Longnecker who was talking about a different facet of the Transfiguration today, namely that God always prepares us for trials. Makes me wonder if those Apostles were able to recall that vision of the Glorious Jesus during the Passion.

        I don’t spend much time pondering the errors of leaders these days, as it’s tough to keep tabs on, and there are plenty of wounded to tend to… and seemingly endless strays to round up.

        I’m still thinking about your fishing in the Baja theme. Last time I was out there deep, somewhere between Santa Rosalia and Mulege, it took me about 20 minutes to tear a muscle, snap my rod, and still land the first Dorado. My buddy had one on the line next, then thought he lost it when the line when slack. Turns our it was making a beeline for the boat, broke water about 10 feet away, then landed right in the boat at our feet. Hook and line was still firmly planted in its mouth. Go figure.

        We caught about 10 Dorado and a hammerhead shark that day. Twenty years hence we’re still talking about it.

        Liked by 4 people

        1. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this here, but just two springs ago we were out in a shallow reef catching cobia (ling) that were swimming pilot with some big tiger sharks cruising the reef. We chopped up some small chum and as the tigers swam by threw the chum out to get the cobia to come away from the shark and up to our baited hooks. After several hours, the tigers decided it was time to eat too and they started dashing about chasing fish. It was amazing to watch such a giant fish move with such agility and speed. One of the tigers swam very close to my side of the boat and rolled sideways looking up at me. I thought , “oh yea” and stuck my pole in the water and quickly rubbed its back with the tip. The shark shuddered excitedly then shot away about 30 feet, did a u-turn, then came right back to the same spot! A great big grin shone on my face and I blurted something like , “you want some more” so I did it again with the shark doing the same gleeful shudder.
          Astonished at this shark’s intelligence and personal interaction with me, I couldn’t help praise God for again showing me His wonders and gained some respect and endearment for one of His most feared creations.

          Liked by 8 people

    3. Michael Patrick, your post and especially the picture are an invitation to go on a virtual journey of escape.
      And when you mentioned that the moon reminded you of Our Lady, this came to my mind: “Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army in battle array?”

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Yes, “escape” is probably a good word. I always kind of thought of it as pilgrimage. A chance to catch my wind in the battle. I do take my entire territory of souls along in prayer on every outing. It’s quiet out there, but I imagine it gets pretty crowded sometimes. I especially like it when that lone American Coot shows up every once in a while.

        Liked by 2 people

  14. Perhaps Catholic Texans need to find a different place to tithe if the Bishops won’t let them practice their faith in their own parish or diocese. Money talks and if enough people make a financial stand that will surely get the Bishops attention.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I stopped donating to the Dallas Bishop’s appeal several years ago when they outlawed us from protecting ourselves on church property with the concealed ban. That in addition to I do not support their programs they set up to support the illegals. And to top it off (i’m sure just like many other dioceses) every since I have kept track (>20 years) they are not doing anything to combat the lack of “TRUE” Catholic instruction within the parishes or from the pulpit. The only parish I know of with 100% Catholic teachings parish wide is the FSSP parish but unfortunately it is almost an hour from my house so I am unable to get there often.

      I now nitpick and chose who I donate to and I don’t let the Bishop’s office do it for me. Bishop Burns has only been here for 1 year so I am still holding out hope that he is merely going along to get along with the other Texas Bishops but only time will tell.

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Right on, PRTX! My dear friend has a common quote, “No dogma, no dollar!” I too will not contrubute to the annual appeal b/c it does not support true and powerful Catholic programs. Years ago Ralph Martin wrote a book, “What is the Holy Spirit Saying At the End of An Age?” OR some similar wording. He talks about the bishops being more concerned with committees than serious Catholic teaching. We need a million more like Cardinal Sarah!

        Liked by 2 people

  15. Thank you, Charlie! We live in Texas and this is heartbreaking. Maybe the immigration method the Bishops prefer is coming into play here too. Perhaps the candidates the TRTL supports do not support the same method. Also, it seems like not allowing everyone to immigrate is being put on the same par as abortion and considered a pro-life issue by some. As a result, a person can choose to vote for a more pro-abortion candidate who is pro- illegal immigration, and then this person can say it is okay to vote for the pro-abortion candidate (because it is pro-life because it supports immigrants!!) because the bishop is ok with it. The push for lots of talks in Texas parishes in my area was strong prior to the Presidential Election and it was pushing for a reform of the immigration system. The timing was concerning and the timing once again is also concerning. Homilies by bishops were also not so funny- making light of the Presidential election. There are some humorous things in life that can be discussed in homilies, but life or death situations are not one of them. Prayers are needed. God bless you and keep up the good work, Kristen

    Liked by 8 people

  18. [SIGH] Lord, help us. By Thy Precious Blood, O Jesus, purify and sanctify Thy bishops and priests of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops and their staff. And, bless abundantly the people of the TRTL for their courageous standing for TRUTH.

    Liked by 8 people

  19. Sadly, I’m guessing that this “News” … ain’t to the regulars here. The Church was Hijacked after Vatican II, the 60’s, by Lavender Marxist Socialists … just like the US/EU Political Parties. We are now “Reaping the Whirlwind” of that Hijacking …. do we have the numbers, will and fortitude too …..???!!!??
    Ya want more Proof that godless LeftLiberal PC is destroying civilization?
    From what News I’m seeing, the EU has this very same “Policy” is now the “Norm” ! ;-(
    Jack Cashill: “Incompetence Wasn’t The Problem in Broward County”…

    https://theconservativetreehouse.co…mpetence-wasnt-the-problem-in-broward-county/

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 9 people

      2. BillBad42, I have that movie on vimeo. Fr. Pacwa, among others, speaks in it. It’s called A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing and is a docudrama on Saul Alinsky and how we’ve gotten to where we are today.

        Liked by 4 people

      3. Yes BB42 … that’s a good “Show” … and on EWTN too … during Election 16. The Usual Suspects complained about the show then and they now have their Crosshairs on EWTN now because of their refusal to NOT be in LockStep with The Vatican.

        Liked by 4 people

  20. We continue to acknowledge Him, take the next right step, and be that sign of hope…..(and on a lighter note: I think it’s Happy Bday to Charlie). 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  21. Wow … this is a seriously disturbing message. Why am I not really surprised? It seems like people are caving in all around to what is the easiest….to what will buy the most votes…. Does anybody think about God anymore and what He will have to say about the decisions that are being made? Why don’t people realize they are going to come face to face with God one day? Or have they stopped believing that? Sometimes I wish that the storm wouldn’t come and then I read things like this and hear or see other stories and I realize that we’ve sunk so far down, that there’s really no other way to pull us out of this deep, dark pit. Have Mercy on us Lord. And thank You for bringing together so many good, faith-filled people who congregate on this site. I’m not going to hang my head down though, but pick it back up and go out and be a Sign of Hope to others. Jesus, I Trust in You.

    Liked by 3 people

        2. Here’s the Bishops: and 2 archdioceses, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops includes:

          Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston
          Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio
          Bishop Patrick J. Zurek of Amarillo
          Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin
          Bishop Curtis John Guillory of Beaumont
          Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville
          Bishop Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi
          Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas
          Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso
          Bishop Michael F. Olson of Ft. Worth
          Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo
          Bishop Robert Coerver of Lubbock
          Bishop Michael J. Sis of San Angelo
          Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler
          Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria
          The conference is available for comment:

          Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops
          PO Box 13285
          Austin, TX 78711
          (512) 339-9882

          Email: https://txcatholic.org/contact/email-us/
          Twitter: @TXCatholic

          Liked by 5 people

    1. Hey, dear All,

      If you don’t live in Texas, this is still highly worthwhile because Kassi counsels you to help the cause by contacting your Reps to avoid TADA -like laws like the plague – to help set the tone of your coming legislative sessions.

      Do take another look, if you’re discouraged, as I was getting.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Here is how she puts it. I’d found it in her link to the sad Chris Dunn case:

        “This is not what we should be satisfied with in Texas. Take up Texas Right to Life’s call and notify your state representatives and senators and let them know that enough is enough with TADA. It needs to be repealed. You can go to that link, type in your address, and find out who represents you and their contact information. It is not too early to set the tone for the next legislative session. ” She gives you the link to click ( or ask me).

        Liked by 1 person

  25. I think Charlie you have vastly underestimated the deleterious Francis effect on the Church. I dare say that had Benedict still have been Pope this would not be the case in TX. But now that the current Pope has decentralized his authority, we now have popes and mini Vaticans in every diocese on the planet. And in China the underground church will be thrown under the bus.
    The TX pro-life movement is not alone:
    https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/errant-priest-blesses-abortion-in-isle-of-man

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Gary. I like the term “Francis Effect.” The radicals in the church seem to be emboldened by our new pope. I can’t speak more to this because I don’t understand church politics at all, but Francis’ presence has polarized church leaders to more definitively and publicly pick a side. They’ve come out of the woodwork and their true colors are being shown. Some are red as a rose or white as a lily, but unfortunately many are puke brown.

      After this Storm is over, I believe China is going to be one of the most Catholic countries on the planet.

      Our Lady of China, pray for us.

      Liked by 2 people

  26. Thank you for covering this and sending some traffic my way. I have blogged on TADA, the TCC, the organizational politics, etc., for years now, as well as being active legislatively and in other ways. And, yes, I have a great deal of knowledge about the Chris Dunn case. I am so eager for people to delve into this issue in a deep, substantive way, and then act on that knowledge so that we might have a more pro-life ethic when it comes to end-of-life issues as well. I am also eager for people’s eyes to be opened as to what organizations have what motives and true pro-life accomplishments. So, thank you for all of that. God Bless!

    Liked by 11 people

        1. Kassi, great article and links! I have shared it with others and have contacted the bishops too. I do hope that they will speak to you in a meeting. I am praying for culture of life advocates and for our church leaders. ❤

          Liked by 1 person

  27. Let’s not forget, these issues must be revealed. Yes it’s sorrowful and a broadside shot to the barque, but we will remain afloat. Must keep on praying.

    Liked by 5 people

  28. Looks like another Boomerang about to come back and whack the ones who threw it. Seems to be “going around” these days (pseudo-pun intended).

    Liked by 10 people

  29. Today, I choose to do the un-Liberal, learn Jesus’ Latin name:

    “YAY-soos KREE-stoos”, spelled “Iesus Christus”?

    Strange the pronunciation is so different… Latin in the Church was before my time…

    Liked by 6 people

  30. Hear! Hear! in regards to your post and Kassi’s letter to TCCB.
    The words and actions of TCCB defies logic and I am at a loss for words except to say … “Shame on you!”
    I suspect that will not carry much weight with them and so will be sending something similar to Kassi’s last paragraph.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. I read her blog and paraphrased some of her material as well…. letter sent! Hopefully we and all of our friends/family/everyone else come out in droves to let the TCCB how we feel.

      Liked by 6 people

  31. Oh my, as I read everyone’s comments, I feel as I might have written the same thing as some of you!

    Talking with my brother last night regarding this TCCB issue and he made a comment that I absolutely agree with… maybe some of you can relate, or maybe my brother and I were just trying to act like children too long with a blinded faith… but he said, “wow, makes me realize even more that I need to know who my Bishop “is” more… what happened to the days where there was no question to his authority…”.

    I have to admit, I go back and forth on so many things with this as I reflect on Charlie’s post and my brother’s comments…. I grew up “knowing” that my Priest, my Bishop, and the Pope were definitive in what they say and what I practiced… this, of course, is only partly true… I neglected to take into consideration our Magisterium and Tradition (growing up I don’t think my faith was formed as ideally as it should be). I wonder how many other practicing Catholics are still doing this? I wonder how many “Catholics by label” and other non-Catholic Christians see things like the TCCB and take that snippet to decide that our Catholic faith has now had that “paradigm shift” that was so overdue in their opinions…?

    See, I go back and forth, and I think a lot of it is because of my level of either testosterone or courage at the time, or how much I’ve let the Holy Spirit guide me… I don’t know for sure… but I go back and forth from (A)committing the sin of condemning these Bishops and other people who support these wild ideas for the motivations that I “know” must be immoral….. to (B) trying to just hunker down and pray for everyone and everything – wondering as in a book I am reading, “Where the HELL is GOD?” by Fr. Leonard…. to (C) getting totally pumped up as suggested in this thread to do a letter campaign to speak our minds…. to (D) just wanting to actively pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament to change all hearts soft to allow Jesus’ love in…..

    Obviously A, being like the Pharisee doesn’t do me or anyone any good….. B, the victim is NOT me and shouldn’t be any of us…. isn’t there some sort of “step” we should be taking 😉 ? C, the activist, sounds good and can work, but I always like guidance from those more eloquent in prose (Charlie, Steve, Al, Bekita, some of the other fantastic authors on this page!) in what is most effective, and D, the person I love most is the person with Jesus, in his presence….

    I will always do D…. I can’t turn back from the daily Rosary, Adoration, or daily Mass (which I’ve developed into mostly due to the influences of THIS group!)… nope, that’s me now and I love it…. I wish I could be a morning, noon, and night type of Mass guy (but got a family that might miss me…). I want to also do C…. so who might be able to provide some help on our “talking points”?? A, causes me to talk to a nice guy with a collar about all too often, so I’m working on that one, and I pray daily that I am B as minimal as possible (to never)…..

    I pray for these men to have a change of heart. Mother Mary please advocate for us all! God bless!

    Liked by 9 people

    1. I propose you write just one letter while in the pressence of the Blessed Sacrament. Seal it and ask a priest to bless it. Mail it and be at peace. Watch what God will do with that sole letter!

      He multiplies fishes…who knows, your letter may get passed around… The Holy Spirit will give you the right words. Just remember what Jesus said on the cross, “Forgive them..they know not what they do”

      Faith, Hope and Charity!
      😀🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

      Liked by 10 people

  33. A good bit of the bishops’ responses started long ago when the contraception pill came out and no bishops said anything against it except maybe a few of them. In fact if you go back to Boston’s bishops in the late 1800’s you’ll find that they started compromising with the politics and the Catholic schools issues then. Now it has all collapsed there. i.e. Philip Lawler’s book THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED.

    Liked by 7 people

  34. Texas Rep Matt Rinaldi thinks that the bishops got bad advice and also wrote to the bishops to set up a meeting. See below.
    from:
    https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/texas-lawmaker-goes-to-bat-for-embattled-pro-life-group
    “…In a letter to Dallas Bp. Edward Burns on Monday, Rep. Matt Rinaldi, a pro-life Catholic, denounced the TCCB’s recent “Parish Advisory” against Texas Right to Life (TRTL).
    He expressed doubt the bishops would intentionally deceive Texas Catholics, instead suggesting they may be getting bad advice from lay staff inside the TCCB. …”

    “….In his letter to Bp. Burns, Rinaldi called on “each of the TCCB’s member clergy in the coming weeks to conduct a personal investigation of the facts without using the TCCB’s lay staff as an intermediary.” He also offered to facilitate a meeting between TCCB clergy and Texas Right to Life staff to close the breach opened by the bishop’s statement….”

    Liked by 12 people

  35. The Conference of Catholic Bishops in every state have supported incrementalist approaches and opposed things like the “Personhood” campaign. We experienced this in Colorado in 2008 and were confused by the opposition until it became clear over the next few years that it was coming from the top. The Personhood approach is aimed at causing a trainwreck which will challenge Roe V. Wade by focusing on the personhood of the unborn. The incrementalist approach is actually what brought about the Roe decision because it didn’t go to the heart of the issue (see Blackman’s opinion that if the personhood of the unborn could be established, Roe wouldn’t stand). Americans United for Life have been “educating”the bishops on the “prudential” approach, using Catholic language to influence them. I can’t reference this right now, but spent years in the Personhood movement and can name names.

    Liked by 5 people

  36. The Church is under attack and the worst of it is from “Evil Agents Within” working in concert with “Evil Agents Without”! :;-(
    I’m not a big Voris Fan as all too often he comes across as one of those obnoxious Born-Again Baptist Types … but he is correct in the below:

    https://www.churchmilitant.com/video/episode/vortex-attacking-the-faithful?mc_cid=77c2f06530&mc_eid=2a0b6c7ef6

    No one here is surprised, I’m sure, as this was ALL foretold to us centuries ago!!
    The Scary aspect to me is … this Evil Cabal has become so powerful “Within & Without” that The Faithful, for the most part, have been intimidated, harassed, silenced &/or driven away!

    GOD SAVE ALL HERE!!

    Liked by 5 people

    1. I love this website, http://www.medjugorje.ws so full of pertinent quotes of the past:

      Quote of the day from a Medjugorje message ( March 1, 2018 )

      Our Lady of Medjugorje quotes

      “Holy martyrs died witnessing: I am a Christian and love God over everything.

      Little children, today also I invite you to rejoice and be joyful Christians, responsible and conscious that God called you in a special way to be joyfully extended hands toward those who do not believe, and that through the example of your life, they may receive faith and love for God.”

      ( From message, November 25, 1997 [O] )

      Liked by 6 people

    2. Crewdog, what an article. I like (or agree) with some of the Church Militant stuff, and don’t like (disagree) with other stuff. This article challenges my very Catholic core. My faith will remain and I continue to pray, learn, read, and absorb all that I can from amazing resources like the CCC, scripture, this website, and you all… however, my “being” a Catholic is absolutely being challenged with this article – at least in a sense of me sharing being a Catholic.

      I want to help others get to Heaven as I strive to. I want those who have never known Jesus or Mary, meet them somehow through me, through others, somehow…. I have recently started to boldly and in an engaged manner, discuss why my Catholicism is so much a part of me – why it didn’t make sense for anyone else to not want to join on the spot. Now, 15 years ago, I was way over the top, and often in your face an advocate of our faith, and I’ve learned that is not how it is done with about 99% of people… however, today I just want to share what I have in my faith and with Jesus and Mary with anyone, any way I can.

      This article…. this article provides me some very difficult to process thoughts (and insight) as to why other people look at me like I have the plague or something when they find out I am Catholic…. I knew of the abuse scandals from the news a while back… but never how widespread or common they were… the MSM had moved on to something else I guess and I followed…. I have heard the requests stated from Mother Mary and other sources to pray for our Priests and Bishops… wow, what She sees has to break her heart so badly. It sickens me and aches my heart for sure.

      Thank you for sharing this, and whether or not the entire article is right on or not, if 1/10th of it were true, it is so so sad. I am adding a new daily intention to my prayers – for the wolves and misguided in our Church hierarchy to soften their hearts and focus on Jesus – so they all can help “their” flocks do the same.

      God bless,
      Bill

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Bill, I think it’s important to remember that the sick, suffering, errant clergy and laity within the Church do not comprise the whole Church. There is nothing wrong with Holy Mother Church and her teachings. We can hold our heads with dignity, knowing we embrace the Church for the beauty, grace and truth which continue to flow from her. And she is an instrument of God’s Mercy. At the same time, we cannot hide from the truth of that we’re a Church comprised of saints and sinners and we live in a time where sin is rampant, serious and depraved. Then, too, remember the serious sins exist everywhere, in every faith, not just the Catholic Church. I don’t have the statistics at hand here but if you look them up, across every professional field, in every socio-economic level and sector of life, the problem of evil is real and evident. Here’s a piece with the grandson of Billy Graham expressing his concern that the sex abuse problem may well be even more problematic with Protestant Churches. I’m not justifying the sin. I’m simply saying it’s pervasive. And every one of us, via our own sins, have contributed to this disordered world. We.all.crucified.Jesus. We NEED Him so badly. Claiming anew His Precious Blood for His Holy Words tell us that “By His Stripes we are healed.” Maranatha! And Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth!

        Liked by 4 people

        1. Bekita, thanks! I agree on the prevalence of these horrible sins across humanity, throughout history really…. one of the only reasons we are more aware of them today is because of how connected we all are. Satan’s sneaky, manipulative, tempting influence can be seen anywhere you look, and could always have looked.

          You are absolutely right, and I agree that we NEED Jesus so badly. I love our Catholic Church, its rich tradition, every single member in it, consecrated and laity. No, these sins don’t compromise the whole church, that is very true. I just pray that we can all look someday at a Church, one Church, as we would again through the eyes of children and soak up its grandiose splendor and glory, and seriously just focus on Him (maybe that’s what we should be doing anyway???). I know that over simplifies it, and we have a lot of praying between now and then…. but you know what I’m getting at?

          Liked by 3 people

  37. I am asking for prayers for my grand kids and all of the school children here in my area. We have had 3 threats of school shootings yesterday and today, resulting in closings and lock downs of all the surrounding schools. These threats were made to the schools surrounding the school my grandkids attend. Their school was put on lock down all day today… but my granddaughter came home this afternoon crying, and told her mom one of the boys in her class walked up to another boy and hugged him and another boy said to him, “well the secret is out now, you’re gay, now you have to kill everyone. The boy responded by saying, “so what if I am, but you’re right, you shoot this half and I’ll shoot the rest of them.” They were immediately escorted from the class… These kids are in 7th grade…
    I have talked with my daughter and reminded her that she is the parent and she decides if it is safe to send the kids to school- or not to! If she feels any promptings from the Lord to keep them home! To LISTEN to this! and not to worry about what anyone thinks of this… including the school or worry about how many days they must stay home (her homeschooling will come in very handy here- thank God!). And I also thank God she is close friends with several of the teachers and also the Principal and his wife and kids!
    God had already arranged everything… He is..it is just so beyond any words I have to express my gratitude!
    Thank you for your prayers!!! 💜💔and💗💚!

    Liked by 8 people

      2. Me, too – in special way for those 2-3 boys: through many Saints, and deceased Dr. Conrad Baars ( who spoke to Popes about sexuality and need for authentic affirmation of All).

        Liked by 4 people

    3. Oh Snowy! I don’t know where you are but I’m in the Memphis area and my grandson’s boys Catholic high school received a threat of a shooting that was to happen yesterday. The school sent an email Monday notifying the parents. My daughter kept my grandson home. So terrifying and disruptive!

      Liked by 7 people

      1. Kim, I’m praying! Call me paranoid- but this all seems really oddly timed to me. We just heard yet another school was mentioned as being threatened… but can’t verify it yet.
        I am praying that this is just a bunch of kids pulling pranks to get out of school for a day or two (as bad as even that is it beats what I hope it isn’t…!) I just pray to God that this isn’t a plan put together by the 🤐 well, you know where I’m going with that one. Ugh!

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Yes, Snowy! I hate what it is doing to the children. Their innocence is stolen. Of course, our culture has been working on that for decades. My grandson was really frightened. I heard that many schools in the Memphis area had been receiving threats.

          Liked by 2 people

              1. Thanks so much, Dear Noreen. I do think it’s the flu as this is intense, wicked stuff. Father’s down with it so please pray for him as well. We were praying for you due to illness. I hope you are fully recovered now.

                Liked by 4 people

                  2. Been out of touch for awhile, but I am so sorry to hear that Beckita and Fr. Wang are ill. Especially the Most Holy Father of Missoula. Get well soon. Thanks for the 411, oh ye omnipotent one, jlynbyrd.

                    Liked by 3 people

                3. I have recovered and I am praying for you and Father to recover. This flu has been a real plague, as my daughter and I call it.

                  Liked by 2 people

            2. Beckita, I’m sorry! I didn’t realise you and Father Wang were so sick and am just seeing this today- Praying for both of you!!!

              Liked by 2 people

              1. Yes Snowy, they have been extremely ill. We have been praying for their recovery for quite some time now. Can you please pay closer attention to the needs of our “A Sign of Hope” community. 😉

                Liked by 2 people

                1. Why, I do believe we have a right funny stinker on board this ship. 😈 Charming and needed, BD, even if shocking at times. 😱🙀😵 But thanks so much for the prayers, Snowy. ❤️ So many here have already been through their share of it. I haven’t been this sick since the flu pandemic in 1957. There were eleven of the family Stuck in bed for days with my German gran tending to us all. God bless my Nanny.

                  Liked by 1 person

                  1. Beckita, when I read BD’s comment I blew out laughing- he never shocks me! I LOVE his humor! But I did feel badly that I didn’t realise how sick you both were! Most things float right over my head- what can I say! 😉 I pray for all here everyday
                    …. and BD- you better say a prayer for BD the Grouse- he disappeared about 7 days ago… here’s hoping someone didn’t eat him for dinner- I loved that little guy! Grouse is very tasty with butter and..OOPS!!🤭

                    Liked by 1 person

                  2. Wow Beckita, that’s awful. Didn’t I hear you say that you also had the Spanish flu back in 1918? Just wondering how that compared to both the 1957 flu and your most recent illness? 😉

                    Liked by 2 people

    5. Praying, Snowy. Kids are having to face so many confusing and difficult things today. God bless and protect your grandchildren and the other students.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Thank you, Janet! 🙂 it’s really good to see you! I just can’t figure out why people ignore everything… hoping it will go away. The child who said this needs help. Please say a prayer for him to!

        Liked by 2 people

  38. “No, the Church has never insisted upon the fact that the Pope will always say the best thing at the right time. Rather, the teaching of the Church would allow for the Pope perhaps to postpone out of cowardice, a right thing. Or when he says the truth, when he teaches the truth, he might do so in a way that includes an ambiguity.
    So we are responsible as Catholics to understand, not only what the Church teaches, but what the Church doesn’t teach to help clear up these misconceptions.”
    Dr Scott Hahn

    More marching orders from a guy in the know.
    “Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.” Pope Benedict XVl

    Liked by 9 people

      1. Will you please list the correct address for donations to Texas right to life. Is it 9800 centre parkway, no. 200. Houston TX 77036. Or po box 36560. Zip 77236. Or either? Thanks!

        Liked by 1 person

  39. Asking for prayers–I am on a Cursillo retreat team that starts tomorrow. Please pray for a successful retreat and that I will do ok delivering my Rollo. Thanks!! God bless!

    Liked by 8 people

  40. Praying for your grandkids, Snowy and Kim, and for all of our children and grandchildren. I am seeing certain signs in my grandchildrens’ schools of dysfunction, of which my grandchildren are a part of and they are in Catholic Schools! I will pray for your grandkids and please pray for mine. Our children are under the evil influence of the devil. May God and His Holy Mother protect them all!

    Liked by 10 people

  41. I don’t watch much TV (EWTN of course) and saw a very sad political add for a Democratic candidate that was very proudly showing the very large Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston and how she was helping keeping it open against the Christians trying to close it. Pray that the clinic will close and that she will not win.

    Thank you,

    Paul in Katy

    Liked by 8 people

  42. Today took me down a unexpected path of thoughts…

    We’re aware of the dangers globalism nowadays, but globalism has been around for a long time, some people even argue that globalist ideology has been around since Nimrod & the Tower of Babel. The globalists created Communism as a tool for global takeover & domination. What would be our fate if the Cuban Missle Crisis never happened? Would we be living in the Communist North American block of the New World Order? John F. Kennedy may of been bigger hero than world remembers, the hero of the free world? People say it was a inside job when they killed Kennedy, with Freemasons that infiltrated every level of society it might as well been a inside job…

    Liked by 6 people

  43. Hi Charlie
    With regards to your second point look into the Liverpool Care Pathway in the uk. It’s shocking and seems to be what you were talking about.
    I just wanted to let you know that I’m starting a blog hop linky next Friday with a focus on the faith and family. I’d love it if you posted some of your writings on their. If you wanted to follow me you’d receive notice of when it’s happening. I really pray God uses it to evangelise both within and outside the Church.
    God bless, Andrea

    Liked by 6 people

  44. Snowy & Kim, joining you in grandchildren prayers, trusting that you are also praying for mine. We do, in fact, pray a lot for each other here. I have been praying the St. Michael prayer daily for all our schools: students, teachers & administrators. Because I also follow Bishop Gracida’s blog, I’ve been reading up on TRTL and the work of Kassi the attorney. Praying and praying! 🙏🏼💟✝️

    In response to some who are questioning the authority of our Bishop of Rome – he is still only supposed to exercise his authority with regards to faith and morals and, so far, has not done more than offer his “magisterial” opinion (my little joke) on many other things. Canon Law is not changed. And, thinking of both our Pope and Bishop Gracida’s blog, twice he has offered writings on the Pope’s mental health. Have others of you noted that? Apparently he has chronic depression and has done all he knows to do to avoid anything that makes him feel “bad.” He has stated that he cannot live away from people and he never reads anything negative… I have included Pope Francis by name in my daily prayers to St. Dymphna and Our Lady of Mental Peace. 🙏🏼💟✝️

    And many of you I now pray for by name – I love this group of intrepid sherpas! And if I know your country, I pray for your country, too. I always end with The Lady of All Nations Prayer.

    Praying for God’s abundant blessing on all here. 🙏🏼💟✝️
    Thank-you and God bless you, Charlie, for bringing us all together.
    katey in OR

    Liked by 9 people

  45. Today is “Women’s World day of prayer”
    Theme: “All God’s creation is very good”

    *******

    Today’s apparition to Mirjana March 2, 2018
    http://www.medjugorje.ws

    “Dear children, great are the works that the Heavenly Father has done in me, as He does in all those who love Him tenderly and who faithfully and devoutly serve Him. My children, the Heavenly Father loves you, and it is through His love that I am here with you. He is speaking to you. Why do you not desire to see the signs? Everything is easier alongside Him.

    Also, pain lived with Him is easier because faith exists. Faith helps in the pain, and pain without faith leads to despair. Pain lived and offered to God raises up. Did my Son not redeem the world through His painful sacrifice? As His mother I was with Him in the pain and suffering, as I am with all of you. My children, I am with you in life, in suffering, in pain, in joy and in love.

    Therefore, have hope. It is hope that makes you comprehend that life is there. My children, I am speaking to you, my voice is speaking to your soul, my heart is speaking to your heart.

    Oh, apostles of my love, how much my motherly heart loves you. How many things I desire to teach you. How my motherly heart desires that you be complete, and you can be complete only when your soul, body and love are united within you.

    I implore you as my children, pray much for the Church and her servants – your shepherds; that the Church may be such as my Son desires – clear as spring water and full of love. Thank you. ”

    Liked by 9 people

    1. A couple of months ago, I opened the Bible to the Book of Esther. It has been with me off and on… I found myself praying for the jewish girls I used to know. I should have known today celebrates the victory!

      http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2018/february/purim-is-about-god

      Quote last paragraph in article
      “…Bottom line: on Purim, Jews celebrate the God who never changes, the One who’s the same yesterday, today and forever.

      And that’s what this holiday is all about. Remembering what God did then and why Jews and their Christian brothers and sisters can trust Him no matter what. No one who chooses to follow Him will be disappointed.

      So Israel, celebrate your God”

      Liked by 6 people

  46. Thank you, Katey, Beckita, Noreen and Diane! 💕✝
    Katey, I am also praying for Pope Francis, I just love him and I know he is suffering… I can’t begin to imagine the crosses he carries and thank God he does not read what is written online. Lord have Mercy!
    Thank you so much for your prayers, and yes, I am praying for everyone here, kids, grandkids and all of the children in our schools and everywhere in the world!
    Update: what happened in the schools here- not being dealt with properly. I don’t know what will come of this and I don’t know what my daughter and her husband will do. Just keep trusting in Jesus.🕯

    Liked by 7 people

  47. Ug. Breaks my heart. We are one hundred and one (101) years after Fatima. Her Immaculate Heart is going to win. God help the poor people who are in authority in the church who are not doing God’s will.

    Liked by 6 people

  48. The moon’s been so huge…Isn’t there supposed to be another manifestation in the skies, related to John Boscoe’s visions — in the Month of flowers”, March?

    Liked by 3 people

  50. By the way Carlie I had also said a MT for your birthday; so there’s probably a bunch who hadn’t reported it:)
    ( through also Saints Joan of arc and Little Flower, of course)

    Liked by 1 person

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Published by charliej373

Charlie Johnston is a former newspaper editor, radio talk show host and political consultant. From Feb. 11, 2011 to Aug. 21, 2012, he walked 3,200 miles across the country, sleeping in the woods, meeting people and praying as he went. He writes on cultural, global and political issues from an orthodox Catholic perspective. He emphasizes that we find God most surely through the ordinary, doing the little things we should with faith and fidelity. His constant refrain is that, to live real joy, we must acknowledge God, take the next right step, and be a sign of hope to those around us. He lives in the Archdiocese of Denver in the United States.