The iPadre Catholic Podcast

Yesterday, the Vatican came out with the long awaited assessment of the state of Women Religious in the United States.  Throughout the investigation, there were Religious Women shouting out cries of unjust harassment by the Vatican.  They played the card of the poor, helpless Sisters being attacked by the big, bad, wolf in Rome.

Anyone of sound mind could have told you the outcome of this investigation, even before it started.  Those of us who attended seminary in the last 30 years could write volumes on the problems with women Religious here in the USA.  From outright attack on the Church, Her morals and dogmas, to those who have gone off to worship some false gods of their own making because they have not been admitted to Holy Orders.

I think of the Sister who was chaplain at my local Junior College that pushed ordination of women on everyone who entered her office.  During the weekly Masses, Sister would read the Gospel, while the priest sat there twiddling his thumbs.  That Sister just plain hated anyone who loved the Catholic Church.

Yet, on the other hand, we must not forget those good Religious Women who have been faithful through these tumultous years.  Just like the men who suffered persecution in the seminaries for actually loving the Catholic Church, so many of these good Sisters were ostracized because they refused to remove their habits.  The “leadership teams”, since they no longer have Religious Superiors, constantly pummeled the women who remained faithful and true to their formed Catholic conscience.

Now, these “leadership teams” finally have to face the music for the damage they have done and the scandal they have caused for so many years.  Although, even if there were no repercussions to the Vatican investigation, we have no need to worry, the contraceptive attitude of the “bad and the ugly” is a self fulling prophecy.  Who, in their right mind would join a Religious Congregation that despises the original charism for which they were founded and the Church in whose service they have been consecrated.

Here is to the good Religious Sisters and Nuns who have put up with the nonsense for the past fifty years!  We love you!  You are the women who helped build the Church in our nation, you taught our children, cared for our altars, nursed the sick and shut-inns.  You inspired thousands of boys and girls to embrace vocations to serve Holy Mother Church.  You faithful Sisters, are the ones who inspired many a Catholic and non-Catholic alike by your beautiful life and your outward witness.  God bless all the good and faithful Sisters!

An article in the SEattle Times relates how the Bishop, Most rev. J. Peter Sartain, has written the faithful and Priests of his diocese requesting that every parish have petitions in support of  Referendum 74 in hope of repealing Washington’s same-sex marriage law. Pastors of three prominent parishes, including the cathedral have refused.  The battle lines are being drawn!

Priests at a number of Roman Catholic parishes in the area have said no [Someone else said no to God, in a defiant act of disobedience.  We call this pride! When the Bishop has a request, we respond as good and faithful Priests!] to the gathering of signatures for Referendum 74 at their churches — putting them at oddswith their archbishop on a statewide ballot measure seeking repeal of Washington’s same-sex marriage law.

The majority of parishes in Western Washington are expected to make the petitions available — some as soon as this Sunday, following Mass, according to a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Seattle. [Afraid to make waves and having the gall to say they refuse because they don’t want to hurt people.  People will hurtin hell if we fail to do our job!]

But pastors of at least three prominent Catholic churches in Seattle — St. Mary’s Church, St. Joseph Parish and St. James Cathedral — have notified members that the petitions will not be made available there.

God bless Bishop Sartain for his efforts.  These priests need to be removed, and put in a ministry where they won’t harm the souls of the people!

Read the whole article here.

Don’t forget, it’s not over.  It is the Octave of Easter – we celebrate for eight days.  With over 2 billion Christians in the world, that’s a pretty big celebration.

Check out this video below!

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=-jeLl-mNAxY

From Fr. Z’s blog:

The dreadful TIME Magazine (dreadful when it comes to anything about the Catholic Church) is having a poll and you should participate

From their site:

The 2012 TIME 100 Poll

Cast your votes for the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes that you think are themost influential people in the world. Official voting ends on Friday, April 6, and the poll winner will be included in the TIME 100 issue. The complete TIME 100 list will be chosen by our editors and revealed on TIME.com on Tuesday, April 17.

Note well the language: “influential”.

It does NOT say “whom you like” or “whom you agree with”.

It says “influential”.

Given what is going on in the USA right now, Timothy Card. Dolan, as President of the USCCB engagedon our behalf in a battle with the White House over the religious liberty and civil rights of all Americans… and making headway… is nothing if not “influential”.

Card. Dolan should be on that list. If he is on that list, he’ll get some “street kred”, though the newsies will ignore it. Will it make huge difference? Perhaps not. But when pundits and talking heads prattle about this our battle in the news, they could say, “Hey! Keep in mind that Card. Dolan is considered in the top 100 by TIME…”, or, if you are an enemy, “Why should the White House listen to Card. Dolan? Nancy Pelosi, Lady Gaga and Kathleen Sebelius are on the TIME list and Dolan isn’t! Theeeyyyy support the PREZ-i-dent!” Yes, newsies and talking heads can be that shallow. But this is the world we live in. You know that what I am saying is true.

Read more here!