Here is a video of the rally put on by the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (now known as Nevadans for the Common Good) and the Industrial Areas Foundation.
Special appearances by Bishop Pepe and Fr. Bob Stoeckig.
Video: Nevadans for the Common Good
Incidentally, please explore this website for the Southwest Region of the IAF.
Showing posts with label diocese-las-vegas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diocese-las-vegas. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Bishop Supports Questionable "Interfaith" Group
Some news was brought to my attention by a concerned parishioner which will be of interest to all Las Vegas Catholics.
Many of the Catholic faithful in Las Vegas will be familiar by now with the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom which took place on May 22, 2012. This convention was put on by a group called the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC), also known as Nevadans for the Common Good. We are all aware of this event because Bishop Pepe, via the Diocese web site and in parish bulletins across our Diocese, strongly voiced his support for and encouraged all to attend the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good.
The Bishop and our Vicar General Fr. Bob Stoeckig have thrown the weight of the Diocese of Las Vegas behind them in full support through a strongly worded letter from the Bishop and through the work of Fr. Stoeckig and Deacon Tim O’Callaghan. In fact, Fr. Stoeckig himself is a member of the LVVISC (see bulletin).
The problem with supporting this interfaith rally for the “Common Good”, and with supporting the LVVISC in general, is that the LVVISC is not an independent and legitimate interfaith organization established by actual faith organizations. They are, in fact, a mere affiliate of a national political network called the Industrial Areas Foundation. The LVVISC is not only backed by the secular Industrial Areas Foundation, it is also run by Industrial Areas Foundation staff members.
The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) is a national network for community organizing and activism established by political radical and author of “Rules for Radicals”, Saul Alinsky, for the purpose of attaining power (as stated on their website). While the IAF’s local affiliates (such as the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee-see supporting documents below) purport to be concerned with Las Vegas’ social issues such as the trafficking of minors, local work for the common good is typically shelved before long and national political issues are soon given the priority and the funding.
The Bishop’s support for the interfaith efforts of the LVVISC is tantamount to support for the national political efforts of the AIF. Why should you care whether the Bishop and Fr. Stoeckig support the IAF? Because the Bishop’s endorsement gives the LVVISC/IAF credibility among Catholic parishioners and puts the resources of the Diocese at the disposal of the IAF by not just providing money (see supporting documents below), but also the very valuable time of our priests and deacons. The IAF will then in turn use the works of our priests and the donated money to further their aims and coordinate their own national political works in contradiction to Church teaching. Support for the good works of Las Vegas Catholics who are already working to improve Vegas itself are thereby diminished.
The text of the Bishop’s letter to parishioners is as follows:
Interestingly enough, not all these words are the Bishop’s own writing. It seems someone from the LVVISC/IAF has given him and other faith leaders a form letter that they can use to announce the event. You can also see the exact words our Bishop used in a letter from Christ the Servant Christian Church’s pastor, seen in the last paragraph of the May 2012 address. Like Bishop Pepe’s letter, this letter also goes on to describe how lots of other faith groups will also be supporting the effort. One may presume that since everyone else is doing it, then so should the Diocese of Las Vegas.
The information I am posting here regarding the IAF is simply the tip of the iceberg. Anyone wishing to fully understand the link between the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee and the IAF can simply start searching online to find a plethora of connections between the two. Furthermore, the deeper one delves into the organizing tactics of the IAF, the more apparent it becomes that the establishment of the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee is perfectly in line with the typical organizing efforts of the IAF, which is to use faith-based influence to improve their success. A list of IAF affiliates reveals a long list of localized “interfaith” organizations from Albuquerque, AZ to Washington, DC.
Further investigation into the Industrial Areas Foundation and its founder, Saul Alinksy, will also yield a lot of insight into the motives and belief system of the current group, which is diametrically opposed to the Catholic faith. Executive Co-Director of the IAF for the Southwest regions, Ernesto Cortes, Jr., has been integral to developing the “interfaith” organizing tactics among other organizing strategies that are employed by the IAF nationwide.
Rather than putting our time, talent and treasure into this “local interfaith” effort, why not support Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Living Grace Homes, First Choice Pregnancy Center, or another local Catholic charity? Anything else scatters our time, talent and treasure. Las Vegas Catholics are already putting forth tremendous amounts of human and fiscal resources to combat the ills in our town. If we Catholics put forth effort to benefit the questionable ethics and goals of the LVVISC/IAF, those are resources that will be siphoned off from valuable social work that upholds Catholic teaching and that builds up the Kingdom of God.
For a thorough analysis of the AIF from a Catholic perspective, please see this treatise from CatholicCulture.org: A Commentary on the Industrial Areas Foundation
Supporting Documentation:
LVVISC statement of Affiliation with the IAF
Funding by local Catholic Congregations
This letter from the LVVISC to New Song Anthem Church requests financial contributions. It is likely that the Diocese has received similar requests for financial support.
The Blaze article on the link between Obama and the IAF
Call to Prayer:
From A Catholic Prayer Book
Many of the Catholic faithful in Las Vegas will be familiar by now with the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom which took place on May 22, 2012. This convention was put on by a group called the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC), also known as Nevadans for the Common Good. We are all aware of this event because Bishop Pepe, via the Diocese web site and in parish bulletins across our Diocese, strongly voiced his support for and encouraged all to attend the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good.
The Bishop and our Vicar General Fr. Bob Stoeckig have thrown the weight of the Diocese of Las Vegas behind them in full support through a strongly worded letter from the Bishop and through the work of Fr. Stoeckig and Deacon Tim O’Callaghan. In fact, Fr. Stoeckig himself is a member of the LVVISC (see bulletin).
The problem with supporting this interfaith rally for the “Common Good”, and with supporting the LVVISC in general, is that the LVVISC is not an independent and legitimate interfaith organization established by actual faith organizations. They are, in fact, a mere affiliate of a national political network called the Industrial Areas Foundation. The LVVISC is not only backed by the secular Industrial Areas Foundation, it is also run by Industrial Areas Foundation staff members.
The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) is a national network for community organizing and activism established by political radical and author of “Rules for Radicals”, Saul Alinsky, for the purpose of attaining power (as stated on their website). While the IAF’s local affiliates (such as the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee-see supporting documents below) purport to be concerned with Las Vegas’ social issues such as the trafficking of minors, local work for the common good is typically shelved before long and national political issues are soon given the priority and the funding.
The Bishop’s support for the interfaith efforts of the LVVISC is tantamount to support for the national political efforts of the AIF. Why should you care whether the Bishop and Fr. Stoeckig support the IAF? Because the Bishop’s endorsement gives the LVVISC/IAF credibility among Catholic parishioners and puts the resources of the Diocese at the disposal of the IAF by not just providing money (see supporting documents below), but also the very valuable time of our priests and deacons. The IAF will then in turn use the works of our priests and the donated money to further their aims and coordinate their own national political works in contradiction to Church teaching. Support for the good works of Las Vegas Catholics who are already working to improve Vegas itself are thereby diminished.
The text of the Bishop’s letter to parishioners is as follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Tuesday, May 22, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom something quite remarkable will occur. Faith leaders and community members from all over the Las Vegas Valley will come together to focus on issues impacting families and to build an organizational response that offers great promise over time.
I encourage you to join me in attending this event. In addition to me, the Lutheran, Methodist and Episcopal bishops will be present with leaders from 65 churches, synagogues, mosques, schools and non-profits.
Many of our priests and parishes in the Diocese of Las Vegas are already encouraging or directly involved in this ground - breaking effort. This growing list includes: St. Christopher, Christ the King, St Andrew, Holy Family, St Peter, St John Neumann, St Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, and St Joseph, Husband of Mary. To those who aren’t, permit me to express my encouragement in the strongest possible terms that you send a delegation to discover what this work is all about. Please consider getting directly involved in this vital effort.
In these challenging times we hear the drumbeat of growing human needs in the Las Vegas Valley. Issues from human trafficking, particularly of minors, neighborhood crime and blight, the isolation of vulnerable elderly, immigrant integration and education require a deeply collaborative response.
The First Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good on May 22 is just such a response.
I encourage you to take this opportunity to step forward with others in a prayerful and constructive manner to help make our Valley a better place for children, for families, for the vulnerable, for all of us.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Bishop Joseph A Pepe
On Tuesday, May 22, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom something quite remarkable will occur. Faith leaders and community members from all over the Las Vegas Valley will come together to focus on issues impacting families and to build an organizational response that offers great promise over time.
I encourage you to join me in attending this event. In addition to me, the Lutheran, Methodist and Episcopal bishops will be present with leaders from 65 churches, synagogues, mosques, schools and non-profits.
Many of our priests and parishes in the Diocese of Las Vegas are already encouraging or directly involved in this ground - breaking effort. This growing list includes: St. Christopher, Christ the King, St Andrew, Holy Family, St Peter, St John Neumann, St Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, and St Joseph, Husband of Mary. To those who aren’t, permit me to express my encouragement in the strongest possible terms that you send a delegation to discover what this work is all about. Please consider getting directly involved in this vital effort.
In these challenging times we hear the drumbeat of growing human needs in the Las Vegas Valley. Issues from human trafficking, particularly of minors, neighborhood crime and blight, the isolation of vulnerable elderly, immigrant integration and education require a deeply collaborative response.
The First Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good on May 22 is just such a response.
I encourage you to take this opportunity to step forward with others in a prayerful and constructive manner to help make our Valley a better place for children, for families, for the vulnerable, for all of us.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Bishop Joseph A Pepe
Interestingly enough, not all these words are the Bishop’s own writing. It seems someone from the LVVISC/IAF has given him and other faith leaders a form letter that they can use to announce the event. You can also see the exact words our Bishop used in a letter from Christ the Servant Christian Church’s pastor, seen in the last paragraph of the May 2012 address. Like Bishop Pepe’s letter, this letter also goes on to describe how lots of other faith groups will also be supporting the effort. One may presume that since everyone else is doing it, then so should the Diocese of Las Vegas.
The information I am posting here regarding the IAF is simply the tip of the iceberg. Anyone wishing to fully understand the link between the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee and the IAF can simply start searching online to find a plethora of connections between the two. Furthermore, the deeper one delves into the organizing tactics of the IAF, the more apparent it becomes that the establishment of the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee is perfectly in line with the typical organizing efforts of the IAF, which is to use faith-based influence to improve their success. A list of IAF affiliates reveals a long list of localized “interfaith” organizations from Albuquerque, AZ to Washington, DC.
Further investigation into the Industrial Areas Foundation and its founder, Saul Alinksy, will also yield a lot of insight into the motives and belief system of the current group, which is diametrically opposed to the Catholic faith. Executive Co-Director of the IAF for the Southwest regions, Ernesto Cortes, Jr., has been integral to developing the “interfaith” organizing tactics among other organizing strategies that are employed by the IAF nationwide.
Rather than putting our time, talent and treasure into this “local interfaith” effort, why not support Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Living Grace Homes, First Choice Pregnancy Center, or another local Catholic charity? Anything else scatters our time, talent and treasure. Las Vegas Catholics are already putting forth tremendous amounts of human and fiscal resources to combat the ills in our town. If we Catholics put forth effort to benefit the questionable ethics and goals of the LVVISC/IAF, those are resources that will be siphoned off from valuable social work that upholds Catholic teaching and that builds up the Kingdom of God.
For a thorough analysis of the AIF from a Catholic perspective, please see this treatise from CatholicCulture.org: A Commentary on the Industrial Areas Foundation
Supporting Documentation:
LVVISC statement of Affiliation with the IAF
Funding by local Catholic Congregations
This letter from the LVVISC to New Song Anthem Church requests financial contributions. It is likely that the Diocese has received similar requests for financial support.
The Blaze article on the link between Obama and the IAF
Call to Prayer:
God, eternal shepherd, you tend your Church in many ways and rule us with love. You have chosen your servant, Bishop Pepe, to be a shepherd of your flock. Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he build your Church as a sign of salvation for the world. Amen.
From A Catholic Prayer Book
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Msgr. McAuliffe Listed as Treasurer of Our Lady of Wisdom
This past Friday Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe was sentenced to 3 years in prison for the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
But yet another unanswered question surfaces in relation to Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe.
Why is Msgr. McAuliffe listed as the Treasurer of Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Church (OLOW)?
Msgr. McAuliffe and Fr. Francis Vivona of OLOW are (or at least were) roommates supported by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Why does OLOW not have corporate board members that are officials of the Byzantine church hierarchy or who are parishioners of OLOW?
Perhaps an audit of OLOW is in order.
Call to Prayer:
~ Prayer to theVirgin Mary for Priests by Blessed John Paul II
But yet another unanswered question surfaces in relation to Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe.
Why is Msgr. McAuliffe listed as the Treasurer of Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Church (OLOW)?
Msgr. McAuliffe and Fr. Francis Vivona of OLOW are (or at least were) roommates supported by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Why does OLOW not have corporate board members that are officials of the Byzantine church hierarchy or who are parishioners of OLOW?
Perhaps an audit of OLOW is in order.
Call to Prayer:
O Mary,
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,
accept this title which we bestow on you
to celebrate your motherhood
and to contemplate with you the priesthood
of, your Son and of your sons,
O holy Mother of God.
O Mother of Christ,
to the Messiah-priest you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart;
guard priests in your heart and in the Church,
O Mother of the Savior.
O Mother of Faith, you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers;
give to the Father for his glory
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church,
in the midst of the disciples in the upper room
you prayed to the Spirit
for the new people and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters
a full measure of gifts,
O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with him at the beginning
of his life and mission,
you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside him when he was lifted up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice,
and you had John, your son, near at hand;
accept from the beginning those who have been called,
protect their growth,
in their life ministry accompany your sons,
O Mother of Priests.
Amen.
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,
accept this title which we bestow on you
to celebrate your motherhood
and to contemplate with you the priesthood
of, your Son and of your sons,
O holy Mother of God.
O Mother of Christ,
to the Messiah-priest you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart;
guard priests in your heart and in the Church,
O Mother of the Savior.
O Mother of Faith, you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers;
give to the Father for his glory
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church,
in the midst of the disciples in the upper room
you prayed to the Spirit
for the new people and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters
a full measure of gifts,
O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with him at the beginning
of his life and mission,
you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside him when he was lifted up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice,
and you had John, your son, near at hand;
accept from the beginning those who have been called,
protect their growth,
in their life ministry accompany your sons,
O Mother of Priests.
Amen.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
No Financial Audits for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in 10 Years
In the last several months the scandal at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) has brought up a lot of questions along the lines of "Why did Msgr. McAuliffe do this?" and "How could he?"
But there is a far bigger question that faithful and concerned Catholics should be asking:
In the Diocese of Las Vegas, all parishes are required to provide financial statements, but in addition to this, all parishes are audited every few years. That is, all parishes except St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
According to a highly credible and trusted source familiar with the inner workings of the diocese, Msgr. McAuliffe had been refusing diocesan audits for years. According to my source, Msgr. McAuliffe claimed that an audit infringed on his rights as pastor of St. Elizabeth's and therefore insisted the parish not be audited. Now we know why.
While Msgr. McAuliffe and SEAS did provide the required financial statements (which we now know were falsified), the church was not actually subjected to an audit in approximately 10 years. For a parish with a multi-million dollar budget and one as big as SEAS, this is highly irregular.
So again, why did the Bishop allow Msgr. McAuliffe to refuse an audit of SEAS finances when all other parishes were subject to financial audits? This a question which has not been answered in his recent letter to SEAS parishioners, which you can read here.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
But there is a far bigger question that faithful and concerned Catholics should be asking:
Why did Bishop Pepe avoid auditing SEAS for the entire duration of Msgr. McAuliffe's tenure as pastor?
In the Diocese of Las Vegas, all parishes are required to provide financial statements, but in addition to this, all parishes are audited every few years. That is, all parishes except St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
According to a highly credible and trusted source familiar with the inner workings of the diocese, Msgr. McAuliffe had been refusing diocesan audits for years. According to my source, Msgr. McAuliffe claimed that an audit infringed on his rights as pastor of St. Elizabeth's and therefore insisted the parish not be audited. Now we know why.
While Msgr. McAuliffe and SEAS did provide the required financial statements (which we now know were falsified), the church was not actually subjected to an audit in approximately 10 years. For a parish with a multi-million dollar budget and one as big as SEAS, this is highly irregular.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe Pleads Guilty
According to articles published today in The Las Vegas Sun and the Review-Journal Msgr. McAuliffe has pled guilty to embezzling funds from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton from 2002 to 2010. This is a question of $650,000 that was siphoned off by Msgr. McAuliffe from various parish sources, including the gift shop, church missions and novenas.
Here are some other articles carrying the same story:
The Republic
KTNV
KTNV News Coverage
Perhaps this calls for a reminder regarding a previous post on this blog exposing the process for collecting novena money in this Diocese, and the fact that there is a lack of accounting for thousands of dollars worth of these donations. Read the novena post here. There is still no public response or investigation into this practice.
Priests are human, and not immune to the temptations of the devil. Please pray for Msgr. McAuliffe, our Bishop and all the priests of our Diocese who are subject to the temptations of the world.
Call to Prayer:
Here are some other articles carrying the same story:
The Republic
KTNV
KTNV News Coverage
Perhaps this calls for a reminder regarding a previous post on this blog exposing the process for collecting novena money in this Diocese, and the fact that there is a lack of accounting for thousands of dollars worth of these donations. Read the novena post here. There is still no public response or investigation into this practice.
Priests are human, and not immune to the temptations of the devil. Please pray for Msgr. McAuliffe, our Bishop and all the priests of our Diocese who are subject to the temptations of the world.
Call to Prayer:
O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the Face of your Son and for love of him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop's hands. Keep them close to you, lest the enemy prevails against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation. Amen.
~Richard James Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, 1895-1970
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Parish Bulletin Confirms Federal Investigation
A letter from Fr. James Jankowski (Interim Administrator) for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) was published in the parish bulletin last weekend to address the concerns of parishioners regarding Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe's continued absence due to allegations of financial impropriety.
The letter states that the Federal authorities were initially contacted with the allegations of financial impropriety against Msgr. McAuliffe. The authorities then began their own investigation and subsequently notified the Bishop.
According the the letter, nothing can be resolved in bringing Msgr. McAuliffe back to SEAS until the Federal investigation has been completed.
You can read the full letter from Fr. Jankowski on pages 6 and 7 in the SEAS bulletin here.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The letter states that the Federal authorities were initially contacted with the allegations of financial impropriety against Msgr. McAuliffe. The authorities then began their own investigation and subsequently notified the Bishop.
According the the letter, nothing can be resolved in bringing Msgr. McAuliffe back to SEAS until the Federal investigation has been completed.
You can read the full letter from Fr. Jankowski on pages 6 and 7 in the SEAS bulletin here.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Teaching Islam at the 2011 Diocesan Conference
The 2011 Diocesan conference is coming up this November. A communication went out from the Diocese to those who are on the e-mail list for the Diocesan conference, with this image attached:
It may be difficult to read because the image here is small, but the text of the upper left side is as follows:
The Diocese has chosen a featured speaker for our Catholic conference who is not Catholic, or even Christian, and who is teaching a non-Christian faith. If these Islamic workshops are framed within apologetics (i.e., how to defend Catholicism to Muslims), it could be an understandable choice. But it does not look that way according to the description. Islam is a faith and spirituality that flatly denies the divinity of Christ.
Call to Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the One True Faith, and we pray that you will help us to have the strength to share our knowledge with those who have not yet heard the Good News and those who do not understand it. Bless and guide our Bishop, our Priests, and our lay people who work for the Diocese. Help each of them to keep faithful to your Spotless Bride, and to always promote the Faith especially among the Catholics who depend on them for guidance.
It may be difficult to read because the image here is small, but the text of the upper left side is as follows:
"Dr. Amir Hussain, a Canadian Muslim, is Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. He teaches courses Islam, world religions, and comparative theology. Presently he is the editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, the premier scholarly journal for the study of religion. Since 2005, he has written over 25 book chapters or scholarly articles about Islam and Muslims.
Workshops: Islam 101
Introduction to Islamic Spirituality"
The Diocesan website also has posted more information about the featured speaker and his workshop here. Actually, at the time of this post it is the only thing posted about the conference, under the heading of "Featured Speaker". From the website, the workshops are described as follows:Introduction to Islamic Spirituality"
"Workshop One: Islam 101
There are roughly the same number of Muslims as Catholics in the world. This workshop will give a basic introduction to Islam. It will go over basic beliefs and practices including the pillars of Islam and the articles of faith for Muslims. We will talk about the beginnings of Islam, including the story of the Prophet Muhammed and the revelation of the Qur'an. We will also talk about the contemporary situations of Muslims in the United States.
Workshop Two: Introduction to Islamic Spirituality
This workshop will build on Islam 101 and go into more detail about Islamic faith and spirituality. We will go more deeply into the 6 articles of faith for Muslims. We will also talk about the importance of intention and beauty for Muslims. Finally, we will examine Sufism, the mystical tradition in Islam."
There are roughly the same number of Muslims as Catholics in the world. This workshop will give a basic introduction to Islam. It will go over basic beliefs and practices including the pillars of Islam and the articles of faith for Muslims. We will talk about the beginnings of Islam, including the story of the Prophet Muhammed and the revelation of the Qur'an. We will also talk about the contemporary situations of Muslims in the United States.
Workshop Two: Introduction to Islamic Spirituality
This workshop will build on Islam 101 and go into more detail about Islamic faith and spirituality. We will go more deeply into the 6 articles of faith for Muslims. We will also talk about the importance of intention and beauty for Muslims. Finally, we will examine Sufism, the mystical tradition in Islam."
The Diocese has chosen a featured speaker for our Catholic conference who is not Catholic, or even Christian, and who is teaching a non-Christian faith. If these Islamic workshops are framed within apologetics (i.e., how to defend Catholicism to Muslims), it could be an understandable choice. But it does not look that way according to the description. Islam is a faith and spirituality that flatly denies the divinity of Christ.
Call to Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the One True Faith, and we pray that you will help us to have the strength to share our knowledge with those who have not yet heard the Good News and those who do not understand it. Bless and guide our Bishop, our Priests, and our lay people who work for the Diocese. Help each of them to keep faithful to your Spotless Bride, and to always promote the Faith especially among the Catholics who depend on them for guidance.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Inside the Tribunal Process
A reader brought up the claim that the Tribunal in the Las Vegas Diocese handles only marriage annulments and will not handle the case with Msgr. McAuliffe. I asked a canon lawyer to clarify the role of the Tribunal, and here is the answer:
Tribunals can handle processes in addition to marriage nullity causes. It is the church's court. Although it functions differently than civil courts, it can handle a variety of matters just like civil courts.
It can handle disputes (e.g., a secretary alleges that she was unjustly fired by a pastor). This is not common due to the fact that people don't know this, usually if they think of taking legal action they go to a civil court, plus the diocesan tribunal does not have any real enforcement ability except against clergy or religious.
The tribunal can handle penal processes. For example, it can process a dismissal from the clerical state (e.g., if a priest is accused of sexual abuse of a minor) or it can impose an excommunication.
This is the basic process for handling a penal matter:
1. A preliminary investigation is conducted by a local ordinary (by the bishop, vicar general, or another episcopal vicar). This does not mean that the ordinary must conduct it personally, only that he oversees it. An ordinary exercises executive power.
2. Canon 1722 states: "To prevent scandals, to protect the freedom of witnesses, and to guard the course of justice, the ordinary, after having heard the promoter of justice and cited the accused, at any stage of the process can exclude the accused from the sacred ministry or from some office and ecclesiastical function, can impose or forbid residence in some place or territory, or even can prohibit public participation in the Most Holy Eucharist." It seems that this canon in part has been invoked in what the diocese is calling "administrative leave."
3. Once the preliminary investigation is concluded, then the ordinary must determine how to proceed: whether to dismiss the accusations, whether to impose a penalty or some lesser penance or warning by executive power, or whether a judicial process must be initiated.
4. If the ordinary decides that a judicial process must be initiated, then he must direct the promoter of justice to initiate a tribunal process. Only at this stage is the tribunal involved. The promoter of justice functions as the petitioner and the accused as the respondent. Three judges must serve in the process with one of them as presiding judge.
5. The tribunal then accepts the promoter of justice's petition, cites the respondent, determines the joinder of issues, and gathers evidence (in addition to whatever was gathered in the preliminary investigation). The tribunal must be careful to protect the right of the accused to defend him or herself. All of this takes time.
6. Finally, the tribunal reaches a decision and either dismisses the process or imposes a penalty.
With Msgr. McAuliffe, it seems that they are still at the stage of the preliminary investigation. What is unclear is, if theft has taken place, whether the police will also be involved. What typically happens is that when criminal actions are taken by civil authorities, usually the ecclesiastical process is put on hold until the civil process is complete. Often, the results of the civil criminal investigation is taken as evidence in the tribunal process.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
New Vicar General Appointed
The Las Vegas Diocesan website has changed to reflect a new Vicar General, Fr. Bob Stoeckig. Fr. McAuliffe, now on leave due to the financial investigation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, appears to have consequently been completely removed from this influential position, although to my knowledge, no public announcements have been made.
Fr. Stoeckig is Pastor of St. Andrew's in Boulder City. You might recall this post, about the "magical" labyrinth at St. Andrew's.
Fr. Stoeckig was quietly transferred to St. Andrew's from St. Joseph Husband of Mary about 2 years ago (correct me if I'm wrong on how long ago this occurred), after that parish's coffers were found to have been completely drained. No allegations of financial impropriety were made against Fr. Stoeckig, but the fact remains that the large financial surplus the parish had enjoyed (estimated to be over $1 million dollars) disappeared under Fr. Stoeckig's administration. For example, solar panels in the parking lot, estimated to have cost upwards of $300,000 were installed, and it unclear where the rest of the money has gone.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Fr. Stoeckig is Pastor of St. Andrew's in Boulder City. You might recall this post, about the "magical" labyrinth at St. Andrew's.
Fr. Stoeckig was quietly transferred to St. Andrew's from St. Joseph Husband of Mary about 2 years ago (correct me if I'm wrong on how long ago this occurred), after that parish's coffers were found to have been completely drained. No allegations of financial impropriety were made against Fr. Stoeckig, but the fact remains that the large financial surplus the parish had enjoyed (estimated to be over $1 million dollars) disappeared under Fr. Stoeckig's administration. For example, solar panels in the parking lot, estimated to have cost upwards of $300,000 were installed, and it unclear where the rest of the money has gone.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe Placed on Leave
Over the weekend, the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton were informed that Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe, Vicar General of our Diocese, would be on leave and that a financial investigation at the parish would be conducted. Fr. James Jankowsi will be taking over in his stead. Little other solid information has been made available.
It is interesting to note that the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese, Fr. Francis Vivona, is Msgr. McAuliffe's own roommate. Fr. Vivona would typically be expected to be the one heading up the Tribunal that could investigate this case. Hopefully he will be excused from this particular case, considering the disturbing conflict of interest that this would otherwise present.
Two articles published recently give few details about the situation, but here they are:
Las Vegas Review-Journal
KTNV
Msgr. McAuliffe should certainly be considered innocent until proven guilty, as are all priests who are placed on leave or investigated. Let us all pray to the Lord that this will be resolved in a timely manner, and that all innocent parties will be cleared of wrongdoing.
Call to Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we place our trust in your Divine Will, that the truth may be brought into the light and that your Holy Spirit will guide those involved in the investigation. We ask that Msgr. McAuliffe be shown your tender mercy and care, and that you strengthen your Holy Priest in his time of tribulation. Through the intercession of Mary our Mother, St. Joseph her Most Chaste Spouse, and St. Michael the Archangel, we pray to the Lord. Amen.
It is interesting to note that the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese, Fr. Francis Vivona, is Msgr. McAuliffe's own roommate. Fr. Vivona would typically be expected to be the one heading up the Tribunal that could investigate this case. Hopefully he will be excused from this particular case, considering the disturbing conflict of interest that this would otherwise present.
Two articles published recently give few details about the situation, but here they are:
Las Vegas Review-Journal
KTNV
Msgr. McAuliffe should certainly be considered innocent until proven guilty, as are all priests who are placed on leave or investigated. Let us all pray to the Lord that this will be resolved in a timely manner, and that all innocent parties will be cleared of wrongdoing.
Call to Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we place our trust in your Divine Will, that the truth may be brought into the light and that your Holy Spirit will guide those involved in the investigation. We ask that Msgr. McAuliffe be shown your tender mercy and care, and that you strengthen your Holy Priest in his time of tribulation. Through the intercession of Mary our Mother, St. Joseph her Most Chaste Spouse, and St. Michael the Archangel, we pray to the Lord. Amen.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
St. James the Apostle Gives Obama a Place of Honor
St. James the Apostle Catholic Church celebrated Black History this past February by having various displays in lobby depicting black individuals of note who have accomplished admirable things.
But the person of the most importance in the display is our firmly pro-abortion President, Barrack Obama. There are no less than five pictures and/or book covers of Obama in the church's lobby, including a large Obama sign prominently displayed just in front of the main entrance (pictured above). Obama is indisputably pro-abortion, a stance that is in direct contradiction to the core moral teachings of our faith.
Obama has accomplished a lot, there is no question of that. His ambition, intelligence, and polished speaking abilities are certainly to be admired. But what overshadows and negates all of that is his support of the intrinsically moral evil of abortion. One cannot place him in a place of honor and pride and ignore his contribution to the culture of death, as if it were a minor side issue.If a Catholic community was going to celebrate their ethnic heritage, why not do it in a way that is in keeping with their faith? And this begs the question, why not make the most prominent people in the displays black Catholics? There are many to choose from. What about any of the black Popes in our Church's history? How about a huge sign about St. Martin de Porres? Instead, the saint is relegated to a tiny figurine on a table full of other small religious and secular figurines.
The place of honor that was given to President Obama sends mixed signals. If the Church approves of putting him on this pedestal as someone to look up to, then the message is that abortion is not a big deal and isn't so bad. This is one more example of allowing confusing messages to be given to the Catholic faithful. Our faith is already being buffeted from all sides in Las Vegas. Our churches should be sanctuaries of clarity for all Catholics, they should not contribute to the confusion.
Here are a few more pictures from the display:
Call to Prayer:
Lord, we pray for all parishioners of St. James the Apostle, so that they may see the truth in the teachings of your Holy Church and not be led astray by political interests. Assist and strengthen Fr. Henry Salditos as he manages the parish, and help him to resist pressures to glorify the individuals who so openly support the evil of abortion. Let the eyes of the faithful be opened to the truth and horror of abortion so that they may always be conscious of this tragedy when voting for political candidates. Help us to turn to your Holy Saints for guidance and inspiration. Through the intercession of St. Martin de Porres and Pope St. Militiades, we pray to the Lord. Amen.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Heads in the Sand
Here is some insight into why this blog was started, stated very eloquently by Michael Voris of Real Catholic TV. Please share this with other Catholic faithful.
This program is from RealCatholicTV.com
This program is from RealCatholicTV.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
St. James the Apostle Celebrates a Kwanzaa Mass
I recently received a letter from a reader, detailing some concerns about the celebration of Mass at St. James the Apostle that integrated a Kwanzaa ceremony within it.
Although the Magisterium does not expressly say anything regarding the celebration of Kwanzaa outside of Mass, Sacrosanctum Concilium states clearly that the Mass cannot be changed or interrupted at will by the priests or the congregation.
Sacrosanctum Concilium #22: 1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. 2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established. 3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
The practice of celebrating Kwanzaa at St. James has been around since at least 2002, as you can read in this Review Journal article from that year. It is implied in this article, though not directly stated, that Kwanzaa is inserted into the Mass ("...St. James is the only Catholic parish in the state in which African-American cultural traditions are integrated into worship...").
There are two issues that are important to highlight in the letter I received:
Dear Faith Defender,
I am writing to you regarding St. James the Apostle. The parish prides itself on its African-American identity and has a Gospel Choir. The Gospel Mass at 11 a.m. on Sundays is more reminiscent of a Southern Baptist revival with the singers seeming more into their performance and the ensuing applause than in glorifying the One who gave them their talents. The standing ovations from the congregation confirm that its more like a concert than a Mass. The focus is definitely not on Christ, the Victim sacrificed for us.
I was in attendance the weekend of January 1st at their annual celebration of Kwanzaa, a secular ritual that is interjected into the Mass. Fr. Henry Salditos presided as they interrupted the Mass right before the Liturgy of the Eucharist to light the Kwanzaa candles, which were set on a table right next to the altar and an explanation of each of the symbols was read. It was something similar to what is in the content of this link. They explained that the ear of corn on the table was representative of the stalk from which we all sprang forth. The Church teaches what the Book of Genesis says -- that we were made in the image of God. He did not make us out of corn. This heresy went uncorrected by Fr. Salditos. In their explanation of the symbols, I don't recall any mention of THE Creator. The focus is on self and the community.
I researched a bit about this ritual and it seems that it was created in the 1960’s by an American Black Power activist named Maulana Karenga who originally created it to be an alternative to Christmas. Karenga was heard to say that "Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that African-Americans should shun" (James Mtume. The quotable Karenga. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press. pp.25). Karenga wanted African-Americans to adopt secular humanism and to reject all other practices, including Christianity, as mythical.
In regards to the question of ethnicity, the people of the parish may think that the celebration of Kwanzaa is similar to the Mexicans celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe, and that if they have a special celebration, then African-Americans should too. However, the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe is very much Catholic, as Mary is the Mother of God incarnate. Perhaps they could also liken it to the Filipino community celebrating Simbang Gabi, but that feast is also firmly part of Catholicism. Kwanzaa has nothing to do even with God -- the man who created it rejected Jesus. Karenga considers Christianity a "white man's" religion and calls it "spookism".
"The intention here is not to deny or diminish the importance of the African spiritual values, but to make a clear distinction between spiritual values and spookism. Spiritual values are profound commitments to the highest principles and most proactive practices of humankind, i.e., principles and practices which are most vital and effective in the protection and promotion of human life and development. Spookism, on the other hand, is intense emotional commitment to non-human-centered principles and practices which place humans at the mercy of invisible and omnipotent forces and thus, deny the right and capacity of humans to shape reality and their future according to their own needs and desires." (Karenga, Kwanzaa: Origin, Concepts, Practice, pp 44-45)
Whether for reasons of political correctness, fear of the “race card”, or simple misunderstanding of the Truth, the sacrilege and heresy during Mass is allowed to continue. Perhaps I should have walked out immediately. May God forgive me, but all I could think of at the time was to pray -- begging His forgiveness for the desecration of His altar and offering the terrible discomfort I was feeling within me as an act of reparation. I also prayed for the people who are in error and who perpetuate this ritual because they don't know better -- that they may come to the light and reject it. I hope one day that they realize that it's all about the soul and not the color of our skin. In the end, our soul is all that matters, our soul who will stand judgment before God. Before him, we are not black, white or any color.
God bless you and keep you safe.
I don't know if the Bishop is aware that this has been taking place for this many years. But if he is, he is allowing a secular, anti-Christian "celebration" to be invalidly honored during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in a Catholic church.
Call to Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you died on the cross for the salvation of all sinners regardless of race or color. We pray that you will assist Fr. Henry Salditos and Bishop Pepe to protect the integrity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass so that it will not be invalidly altered for political purposes. Help us all to remain steadfast in defending Holy Mother Church under any adverse or difficult circumstances. We thank you for your Sacrifice on Calvary and we adore you, O Christ.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Although the Magisterium does not expressly say anything regarding the celebration of Kwanzaa outside of Mass, Sacrosanctum Concilium states clearly that the Mass cannot be changed or interrupted at will by the priests or the congregation.
Sacrosanctum Concilium #22: 1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop. 2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established. 3. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority.
The practice of celebrating Kwanzaa at St. James has been around since at least 2002, as you can read in this Review Journal article from that year. It is implied in this article, though not directly stated, that Kwanzaa is inserted into the Mass ("...St. James is the only Catholic parish in the state in which African-American cultural traditions are integrated into worship...").
There are two issues that are important to highlight in the letter I received:
- Heresy by those who proclaim the belief in Kwanzaa that humanity "springs from the corn", and
- Liturgical abuse by inserting into the Mass a ceremony that does not have ecclesiastical approval as a valid addition to the Mass.
Dear Faith Defender,
I am writing to you regarding St. James the Apostle. The parish prides itself on its African-American identity and has a Gospel Choir. The Gospel Mass at 11 a.m. on Sundays is more reminiscent of a Southern Baptist revival with the singers seeming more into their performance and the ensuing applause than in glorifying the One who gave them their talents. The standing ovations from the congregation confirm that its more like a concert than a Mass. The focus is definitely not on Christ, the Victim sacrificed for us.
I was in attendance the weekend of January 1st at their annual celebration of Kwanzaa, a secular ritual that is interjected into the Mass. Fr. Henry Salditos presided as they interrupted the Mass right before the Liturgy of the Eucharist to light the Kwanzaa candles, which were set on a table right next to the altar and an explanation of each of the symbols was read. It was something similar to what is in the content of this link. They explained that the ear of corn on the table was representative of the stalk from which we all sprang forth. The Church teaches what the Book of Genesis says -- that we were made in the image of God. He did not make us out of corn. This heresy went uncorrected by Fr. Salditos. In their explanation of the symbols, I don't recall any mention of THE Creator. The focus is on self and the community.
I researched a bit about this ritual and it seems that it was created in the 1960’s by an American Black Power activist named Maulana Karenga who originally created it to be an alternative to Christmas. Karenga was heard to say that "Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that African-Americans should shun" (James Mtume. The quotable Karenga. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press. pp.25). Karenga wanted African-Americans to adopt secular humanism and to reject all other practices, including Christianity, as mythical.
In regards to the question of ethnicity, the people of the parish may think that the celebration of Kwanzaa is similar to the Mexicans celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe, and that if they have a special celebration, then African-Americans should too. However, the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe is very much Catholic, as Mary is the Mother of God incarnate. Perhaps they could also liken it to the Filipino community celebrating Simbang Gabi, but that feast is also firmly part of Catholicism. Kwanzaa has nothing to do even with God -- the man who created it rejected Jesus. Karenga considers Christianity a "white man's" religion and calls it "spookism".
"The intention here is not to deny or diminish the importance of the African spiritual values, but to make a clear distinction between spiritual values and spookism. Spiritual values are profound commitments to the highest principles and most proactive practices of humankind, i.e., principles and practices which are most vital and effective in the protection and promotion of human life and development. Spookism, on the other hand, is intense emotional commitment to non-human-centered principles and practices which place humans at the mercy of invisible and omnipotent forces and thus, deny the right and capacity of humans to shape reality and their future according to their own needs and desires." (Karenga, Kwanzaa: Origin, Concepts, Practice, pp 44-45)
Whether for reasons of political correctness, fear of the “race card”, or simple misunderstanding of the Truth, the sacrilege and heresy during Mass is allowed to continue. Perhaps I should have walked out immediately. May God forgive me, but all I could think of at the time was to pray -- begging His forgiveness for the desecration of His altar and offering the terrible discomfort I was feeling within me as an act of reparation. I also prayed for the people who are in error and who perpetuate this ritual because they don't know better -- that they may come to the light and reject it. I hope one day that they realize that it's all about the soul and not the color of our skin. In the end, our soul is all that matters, our soul who will stand judgment before God. Before him, we are not black, white or any color.
God bless you and keep you safe.
I don't know if the Bishop is aware that this has been taking place for this many years. But if he is, he is allowing a secular, anti-Christian "celebration" to be invalidly honored during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in a Catholic church.
Call to Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, you died on the cross for the salvation of all sinners regardless of race or color. We pray that you will assist Fr. Henry Salditos and Bishop Pepe to protect the integrity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass so that it will not be invalidly altered for political purposes. Help us all to remain steadfast in defending Holy Mother Church under any adverse or difficult circumstances. We thank you for your Sacrifice on Calvary and we adore you, O Christ.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Monday, January 10, 2011
St. Andrews' "Magic" Labyrinth
St. Andrew's Catholic Community in Boulder City has a labyrinth on its grounds, the only Catholic Church in the state of Nevada to have one.
Labyrinths have a long and ancient history across the globe, from the labyrinths of Greek mythology to Buddhist mandalas used for meditation. More recently they have become popular due in large part to a woman who is called by some the "mother of the labyrinth movement". Lauren Artress, an Episcopalian minister from San Francisco, makes a lot of claims about the powers of the labyrinth. From her website's homepage there is the following quote:
Self-alignment is not alignment to Christ. As Catholics, the idea is to decrease the self so that Christ can increase (John 3:30). The labyrinth does not center us in Christ, but rather in the self.
The claim that the labyrinth has been used by Catholics since the middle ages, and the references to labyrinths in Chartres and other European Churches, are used to legitimize the practice. However, evidence that those labyrinths were used as a spiritual tool where people walked them to meditate is scant at best.
In the case of St. Andrew's, their website reveals a disturbing focus on the occult and on the inherent powers of the labyrinth. The web page contains several descriptive paragraphs entitled "The Magic of the Labyrinth". It contains no references to God or Christ.
Here is the text from the page:
This attitude of finding the powers of the labyrinth inexplicable and of unknown origins seems quite pagan. Also the reference to the floor of Chartres Cathedral seems to give validity that it is part of our Catholic tradition except there is no evidence that labyrinths were walked on, and in fact when Artress first found the labyrinth at Chartres it was covered by hundreds of chairs. Additionally, after Artress moved the chairs without permission to walk on it, Chartres officials posted a sign stating that the labyrinth "cannot be a magical place where man pulls hidden forces from the Earth. That would be (were one to do so) a perversion of the builders/creators. For in doing so, one would substitute man in place of God. " Artress even states in her book "Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool", that there are "no known records of anyone walking the labyrinth" at Catholic churches, and she admits that she knows "no Christian writers or artists who directly refer to the labyrinth as a spiritual tool". The final comment about "suggest using your left hand if you are right-handed, and vice versa" is bizarre and gives the impression that you are the center of everything, and wisdom comes from self, not from God.
If you go in person to the labyrinth you will also see a very interesting progression of plaques. They are as follows, starting from the entrance to the path.
PRAYER
GARDEN
13 BILLION YEARS
FORMATION OF OUR UNIVERSE
4. 6 BILLION YEARS
FORMATION OF AN EARTH LIKE PLANET
THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN
3. 9 BILLION YEARS
ALGAE AND BACTERIA
FIRST EVIDENCE OF LIFE
700 MILLION YEARS
EXPLOSION OF LIFE FORMS
FIRST LAND PLANTS
OXYGEN IN THE ATMOSPHERE
300 MILLION YEARS
FIRST REPTILES
LARGE COAL SWAMPS
65 MILLION YEARS
AGE OF THE DINOSAURS ENDS
FIRST MAMMALS APPEAR
3. 5 MILLION YEARS
EARLY HUMANS FIRST APPEAR
IN RELATION TO 13 BILLION
YEARS, THE CHURCH IS
5 SECONDS OLD
The conclusion we can come to is that the Earth is ancient, and that the Catholic Church is insignificant and unnecessary as compared to the Earth. It also has a resemblance to the creation account found in Genesis. It's almost like they are trying to replace it. This is the perfect set-up for a person to then walk into the labyrinth, forgetting everything about Christ and Holy Mother Church, or any monotheistic religion for that fact, and focusing on a personal relationship with Mother Earth instead.
There is a pamphlet that is available at the site of the labyrinth, which admits that the labyrinth is "not magic. " But then it goes on to state that "it is full of mystery...". The pamphlet even makes references to the labyrinth being "sacred ground". What makes it sacred? The inherent powers and "energies" of Mother Earth? One must deduce that the "sacred ground" is made as such by the "magic" of the labyrinth and by the inherent powers of the labyrinth.
The use of labyrinths in this modern way is a New Age phenomenon that raises up Eastern and alternative (sometimes pagan) philosophies of religion as equal to Catholicism as a path to salvation, much in the same way that the Stillpoint Center does.
The Diocese's own website promotes this labyrinth at St. Andrews. On the parish's page there is a link to "The Magic of the Labyrinth". However, if you click on it you will find that it is a broken link. I wanted to see what the home page to that broken link was about, and deleted the "/labyrinth.htm" from the URL to get to the home page. Surprisingly, the home page to this broken link features a photo of a scantily clad woman with the title "Working on the principle of seduction...".
Someone at the Dioceses needs to check what sites they link to from the their website. Being that it is the official site for our Diocese perhaps better care is needed in ensuring that these things do not happen. I am sure they did not purposefully intend to link to a morally questionable site. However, the first and foremost issue to consider is that the Diocese actually promotes a "magical" labyrinth.
Call to Prayer:
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Labyrinths have a long and ancient history across the globe, from the labyrinths of Greek mythology to Buddhist mandalas used for meditation. More recently they have become popular due in large part to a woman who is called by some the "mother of the labyrinth movement". Lauren Artress, an Episcopalian minister from San Francisco, makes a lot of claims about the powers of the labyrinth. From her website's homepage there is the following quote:
"Much of the future of the West depends on whether Christianity can rediscover its mystical core. In this rediscovery, Lauren Artress’s pioneering work using the labyrinth as a tool for self-alignment will be crucial. "
Self-alignment is not alignment to Christ. As Catholics, the idea is to decrease the self so that Christ can increase (John 3:30). The labyrinth does not center us in Christ, but rather in the self.
The claim that the labyrinth has been used by Catholics since the middle ages, and the references to labyrinths in Chartres and other European Churches, are used to legitimize the practice. However, evidence that those labyrinths were used as a spiritual tool where people walked them to meditate is scant at best.
In the case of St. Andrew's, their website reveals a disturbing focus on the occult and on the inherent powers of the labyrinth. The web page contains several descriptive paragraphs entitled "The Magic of the Labyrinth". It contains no references to God or Christ.
Here is the text from the page:
The Magic of the Labyrinth
The Labyrinth a path for prayer and meditation, is on the grounds for walking at any time. The labyrinth is lighted for night use until 10:30 PM each evening.
I can't begin to explain how or why the magic of the labyrinth works, but it does. This is a copy of the one on the floor of Chartres Cathedral. The church, and its masons, knew about sacred geometry and sacred architecture; and, if you had a model of the Cathedral, you could fold down the wall with the rose window, and the window would land precisely upon the labyrinth.
The labyrinth is a problem-solving device. You can print this one out, and follow the path in and out with you finger (suggest using your left hand if you are right-handed, and vice versa). , and you might like to think of the centre as your deeper, wiser self and the outside as the outside world - and your relationship to each as your finger makes its journey.
Those who walk the labyrinth can stop and think, wherever they want, and spend as much time in the middle as they like. Some of them just dump their problems outside and, when they return, the problem has gone.
The Labyrinth a path for prayer and meditation, is on the grounds for walking at any time. The labyrinth is lighted for night use until 10:30 PM each evening.
I can't begin to explain how or why the magic of the labyrinth works, but it does. This is a copy of the one on the floor of Chartres Cathedral. The church, and its masons, knew about sacred geometry and sacred architecture; and, if you had a model of the Cathedral, you could fold down the wall with the rose window, and the window would land precisely upon the labyrinth.
The labyrinth is a problem-solving device. You can print this one out, and follow the path in and out with you finger (suggest using your left hand if you are right-handed, and vice versa). , and you might like to think of the centre as your deeper, wiser self and the outside as the outside world - and your relationship to each as your finger makes its journey.
Those who walk the labyrinth can stop and think, wherever they want, and spend as much time in the middle as they like. Some of them just dump their problems outside and, when they return, the problem has gone.
This attitude of finding the powers of the labyrinth inexplicable and of unknown origins seems quite pagan. Also the reference to the floor of Chartres Cathedral seems to give validity that it is part of our Catholic tradition except there is no evidence that labyrinths were walked on, and in fact when Artress first found the labyrinth at Chartres it was covered by hundreds of chairs. Additionally, after Artress moved the chairs without permission to walk on it, Chartres officials posted a sign stating that the labyrinth "cannot be a magical place where man pulls hidden forces from the Earth. That would be (were one to do so) a perversion of the builders/creators. For in doing so, one would substitute man in place of God. " Artress even states in her book "Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Tool", that there are "no known records of anyone walking the labyrinth" at Catholic churches, and she admits that she knows "no Christian writers or artists who directly refer to the labyrinth as a spiritual tool". The final comment about "suggest using your left hand if you are right-handed, and vice versa" is bizarre and gives the impression that you are the center of everything, and wisdom comes from self, not from God.
If you go in person to the labyrinth you will also see a very interesting progression of plaques. They are as follows, starting from the entrance to the path.
PRAYER
GARDEN
13 BILLION YEARS
FORMATION OF OUR UNIVERSE
4. 6 BILLION YEARS
FORMATION OF AN EARTH LIKE PLANET
THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN
3. 9 BILLION YEARS
ALGAE AND BACTERIA
FIRST EVIDENCE OF LIFE
700 MILLION YEARS
EXPLOSION OF LIFE FORMS
FIRST LAND PLANTS
OXYGEN IN THE ATMOSPHERE
300 MILLION YEARS
FIRST REPTILES
LARGE COAL SWAMPS
65 MILLION YEARS
AGE OF THE DINOSAURS ENDS
FIRST MAMMALS APPEAR
3. 5 MILLION YEARS
EARLY HUMANS FIRST APPEAR
IN RELATION TO 13 BILLION
YEARS, THE CHURCH IS
5 SECONDS OLD
The conclusion we can come to is that the Earth is ancient, and that the Catholic Church is insignificant and unnecessary as compared to the Earth. It also has a resemblance to the creation account found in Genesis. It's almost like they are trying to replace it. This is the perfect set-up for a person to then walk into the labyrinth, forgetting everything about Christ and Holy Mother Church, or any monotheistic religion for that fact, and focusing on a personal relationship with Mother Earth instead.
There is a pamphlet that is available at the site of the labyrinth, which admits that the labyrinth is "not magic. " But then it goes on to state that "it is full of mystery...". The pamphlet even makes references to the labyrinth being "sacred ground". What makes it sacred? The inherent powers and "energies" of Mother Earth? One must deduce that the "sacred ground" is made as such by the "magic" of the labyrinth and by the inherent powers of the labyrinth.
The use of labyrinths in this modern way is a New Age phenomenon that raises up Eastern and alternative (sometimes pagan) philosophies of religion as equal to Catholicism as a path to salvation, much in the same way that the Stillpoint Center does.
The Diocese's own website promotes this labyrinth at St. Andrews. On the parish's page there is a link to "The Magic of the Labyrinth". However, if you click on it you will find that it is a broken link. I wanted to see what the home page to that broken link was about, and deleted the "/labyrinth.htm" from the URL to get to the home page. Surprisingly, the home page to this broken link features a photo of a scantily clad woman with the title "Working on the principle of seduction...".
Someone at the Dioceses needs to check what sites they link to from the their website. Being that it is the official site for our Diocese perhaps better care is needed in ensuring that these things do not happen. I am sure they did not purposefully intend to link to a morally questionable site. However, the first and foremost issue to consider is that the Diocese actually promotes a "magical" labyrinth.
Call to Prayer:
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host -
by the Divine Power of God -
cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Bishop Pepe Celebrates Mass for Pro-abortion Governor
This video from Catholic straight-talker Michael Voris exposes the recent actions of 3 American Catholic Bishops, including our own Bishop Joseph Pepe here in Las Vegas.
Although Voris' entire message is extremely important, if you are anxious to hear what he has to say about our Bishop you can skip ahead to the 2 minute, 25 second mark and then afterward watch again from the beginning to see it in its' full context.
This program is from RealCatholicTV.com
Here are links to several other sources carrying the same story:
Life News
American Life League
Catholic Culture
Las Vegas Sun
Call to Prayer:
Although Voris' entire message is extremely important, if you are anxious to hear what he has to say about our Bishop you can skip ahead to the 2 minute, 25 second mark and then afterward watch again from the beginning to see it in its' full context.
This program is from RealCatholicTV.com
Here are links to several other sources carrying the same story:
Life News
American Life League
Catholic Culture
Las Vegas Sun
Call to Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in your love for us, protect us against the wickedness of the devil, those helpless little ones to whom you have given the gift of life. Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our world today who are not thinking of motherhood. Help them to see that the child they carry is made in your image as well as theirs, and made for eternal life. Dispel their fear and selfishness and give them true womanly hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a mother alone can give.
Bless Bishop Pepe and and inspire in his heart the courage to stand against the pressures of political correctness and to be bold in proclaiming the Truth just as your Holy Saints and Martyrs have done throughout the ages - regardless of personal consequence to self.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who live and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Fr. Peter Romeo at Our Lady of Las Vegas
I just received an email that Fr. Peter Romeo passed away. He was the Pastor at Our Lady of Las Vegas. Let us keep him, as we keep all our priests and Bishop, in our prayers daily. May he come to his eternal rest in the Glory of God.When a person who dedicated their life to Christ passes away it is a true loss, but is especially hard in a Diocese with so few priests.
In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.
May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest.
May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man, may you have eternal rest.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Priests Recieve Thousands of Extra Dollars
The Diocese of Las Vegas promotes novenas for All Souls Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day (and in some parishes, Christmas and Easter), and accepts thousands of dollars for these Mass intentions. The faithful are given the opportunity to participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice and add to it a sacrifice of their own as a form of almsgiving while the fruits of the Mass benefit their intentions. The theology behind accepting financial offerings is sound. But there is a limit to the amounts that can be accepted.
According to a trusted inside source, in the Diocese of Las Vegas the money collected from these novenas do not go to the general parish finances. Instead, the funds from these novenas are divided up and given to the priests of the parish.
The parishes of the Diocese of Las Vegas are allowed to have two checking accounts:
This second checking account is not required to be reported in the parish financial reports, and this is the account used for processing the money for the novenas. The pastor then cuts a check from this account and either writes it out directly to the priests or writes this check out to payroll and the money is processed through payroll. Sometimes the money is handled as cash with no records and is not even deposited into the Mass offering checking account.
In our large Las Vegas parishes with populations often ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 families, this results in thousands of dollars being given to the priests beyond their usual salary at least three times a year (All Souls, Mother's Day, Father's Day). It is a serious matter of large sums of money precisely because of the large size of so many of the parishes in the Las Vegas Diocese.
This practice means that virtually all of our parishes are operating outside of the law of the Catholic Church in this respect. Canon law states that a priest is limited to accepting only one Mass offering per day. The amount of the Mass offering defined for the San Francisco province (which includes Nevada) is $10. Therefore, if a priest celebrates seven Masses in a week, he ordinarily receives $70. This is correct and is part of his income. For collective intentions, where various intentions are combined into a single Mass offered or into a series of nine Masses, the same basic principles apply. The priest may only keep the usual amount. So if he celebrates a novena of Masses, then he should receive $90. Not thousands of dollars.
The Congregation for the Clergy issued a decree On Collective Mass Intentions in 1991, and canon law provides the limits on accepting Mass offerings. You can read more here:
Just about every parish in the Las Vegas Diocese seems to follow the practice of collecting and redistributing undocumented novena money. Most every priest and every bookkeeper in the diocese knows about the practice. There are probably some priests who in good conscience think that this practice is legitimate and are not aware that it goes directly against Church teaching. This is where the Bishop should be stepping in and putting a stop to this incorrect and at times dishonest practice.
Because the Bishop is not willing to step in, it is up to faithful parishioners to start asking questions, such as what happens to the money that is donated for novenas? Where is it recorded in the parish records? It may be difficult for some of us to address this with their priests because faithful Catholics love, trust and revere our priests. But if this practice is being conducted at our parishes, it must be corrected. And the best thing to correct problems is to have them brought to light.
Call to Prayer:
According to a trusted inside source, in the Diocese of Las Vegas the money collected from these novenas do not go to the general parish finances. Instead, the funds from these novenas are divided up and given to the priests of the parish.
The parishes of the Diocese of Las Vegas are allowed to have two checking accounts:
- A main checking account into which all parish money is deposited (including the parish collections, fundraising, parish organization funds, etc.)
- A Mass stipend/offering account. This account is only for offerings made for the celebration of Mass. So for example, you go to the parish office and request a Mass be offered for your deceased grandmother and give $10.00. The money is deposited into this account. Then when the Mass is celebrated, the priest is paid $10 for the Mass celebrated. This is a legitimate part of the priest's support and income.
This second checking account is not required to be reported in the parish financial reports, and this is the account used for processing the money for the novenas. The pastor then cuts a check from this account and either writes it out directly to the priests or writes this check out to payroll and the money is processed through payroll. Sometimes the money is handled as cash with no records and is not even deposited into the Mass offering checking account.
In our large Las Vegas parishes with populations often ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 families, this results in thousands of dollars being given to the priests beyond their usual salary at least three times a year (All Souls, Mother's Day, Father's Day). It is a serious matter of large sums of money precisely because of the large size of so many of the parishes in the Las Vegas Diocese.
This practice means that virtually all of our parishes are operating outside of the law of the Catholic Church in this respect. Canon law states that a priest is limited to accepting only one Mass offering per day. The amount of the Mass offering defined for the San Francisco province (which includes Nevada) is $10. Therefore, if a priest celebrates seven Masses in a week, he ordinarily receives $70. This is correct and is part of his income. For collective intentions, where various intentions are combined into a single Mass offered or into a series of nine Masses, the same basic principles apply. The priest may only keep the usual amount. So if he celebrates a novena of Masses, then he should receive $90. Not thousands of dollars.
The Congregation for the Clergy issued a decree On Collective Mass Intentions in 1991, and canon law provides the limits on accepting Mass offerings. You can read more here:
Just about every parish in the Las Vegas Diocese seems to follow the practice of collecting and redistributing undocumented novena money. Most every priest and every bookkeeper in the diocese knows about the practice. There are probably some priests who in good conscience think that this practice is legitimate and are not aware that it goes directly against Church teaching. This is where the Bishop should be stepping in and putting a stop to this incorrect and at times dishonest practice.
Because the Bishop is not willing to step in, it is up to faithful parishioners to start asking questions, such as what happens to the money that is donated for novenas? Where is it recorded in the parish records? It may be difficult for some of us to address this with their priests because faithful Catholics love, trust and revere our priests. But if this practice is being conducted at our parishes, it must be corrected. And the best thing to correct problems is to have them brought to light.
Call to Prayer:
O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the Face of your Son and for love of him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop's hands. Keep them close to you, lest the enemy prevails against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation. Amen.
~Richard James Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, 1895-1970
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Details of Fr. Phil Audet's Removal
Many parishioners in the Diocese know that Fr. Phil Audet was placed on administrative leave from his position at the Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer, but few know exactly why he was removed.Rather than retell the story, please read this letter, which was anonymously faxed to all parishes in the Diocese in April 2010. This appears to be what finally forced the hand of the Bishop in placing Fr. Audet on leave.
Supporting documentation in the form of copies of the Netflix rentals can be viewed here:
After Fr. Audet was removed, Mr. Michael La Rocca was installed as Lay Administrator of the Shrine. La Rocca was the Bishop's Master of Ceremonies, founder of Imago Dei, and in an openly homosexual relationship.
The Bishop went from having someone in charge at the Shrine who we can only hope had no more than a latent interest in other men to one that was openly gay.
La Rocca was then fired from his position at the Shrine after just a few months.
Call to Prayer:
O Blessed Lady of the Tears, we entrust and consecrate the priesthood to your Immaculate Heart! During this time of trial and suffering, we pray that you renew the priesthood by making priests holy in imitation of the Heart of the Good Shepherd. We pray in reparation for the sins of the priesthood and we pray for all victims of their sins.
Grant, O Lady of the Tears, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the priests that they may be authentic witnesses of your Son Jesus Christ Our Lord. May we wipe away your tears by comforting your Immaculate Heart by praying the rosary and adoring the Heart of Jesus your Son in the Most Holy Eucharist present in every Catholic Church in the world. Give all priests and seminarians a deep love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and to you, their loving Mother. Grant that every priest and seminarian will daily spend one hour with Jesus in the Eucharist and daily pray your most holy rosary. Grant all priests and seminarians the gift of purity, the gift of chastity and the gift of the divine love of your Son. May they proclaim the truth without fear, with love and with courage.
Entreat our Heavenly Father to strengthen and carry our Holy Priest, Fr. Phil Audet, during his time of tribulation that he may know the peace of Christ.
We ask all of our prayers through the Tears which you shed at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Fr. Kenny and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church
Fr. Bill Kenny has been named Pastor of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church. This is his second pastorship. He is currently the Pastor of Christ the King Catholic Community.
This is the same Fr. Kenny that I wrote about earlier that admitted to stealing from an elderly parishioner.
Not only has Fr. Kenny been retained as Pastor of the parish where he admittedly was involved with financial impropriety, which put the Dioceses in a position for a lawsuit, but now he has been promoted and his responsibilities increased. In the meantime, the Bishop has inexplicably sent away a priest (Fr. Mark Gantley) who has been lauded by those working closely with him as an excellent parish administrator.
This is an interesting appointment made by the Bishop. It is no wonder that the faithful here in Las Vegas are questioning the soundness of decisions made by our Shepherd.
This is the same Fr. Kenny that I wrote about earlier that admitted to stealing from an elderly parishioner.
Not only has Fr. Kenny been retained as Pastor of the parish where he admittedly was involved with financial impropriety, which put the Dioceses in a position for a lawsuit, but now he has been promoted and his responsibilities increased. In the meantime, the Bishop has inexplicably sent away a priest (Fr. Mark Gantley) who has been lauded by those working closely with him as an excellent parish administrator.
This is an interesting appointment made by the Bishop. It is no wonder that the faithful here in Las Vegas are questioning the soundness of decisions made by our Shepherd.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Fr. Gantley Letter Writting Campaign
Here are some further details in the case of Fr. Mark Gantley's sudden dismissal from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
After Fr. Gantley was told that his "services were no longer needed in the Diocese" a letter writing campaign to the Bishop was launched by supporters of Fr. Gantley. This campaign generated an estimated 800-1,000 letters (or more). Supporters of Fr. Gantley had circulated this letter, encouraging parishioners to "let their voices be heard". The only response from the Bishop was the same basic form letter to anyone who had written to him, a copy of which can be read here.
Almost all of the St. Francis ministry heads signed this letter in support of Fr. Gantley. The names and signatures of ministry heads have been removed because I did not obtain permission to publish them. I deleted the 3rd page of this letter because it contained signatures only and was not part of the text of the letter.
In addition this letter was sent to all the priests in the Diocese, appealing for their help or intercession. Sadly, only two priests responded.
The letter writing campaign made it clear that a solid number of parishioners wanted Fr. Gantley to stay and that they approved very highly of his administration abilities (those same abilities which were put into question by the Bishop).
According to this timeline of events provided by the Letter Campaign organizers, Fr. Gantley was ejected from both his office at the parish and his home at the rectory on the very day of his dismissal. It was conveyed to me by individuals close to Fr. Gantley that he was thrown out without any assistance, guidance or support whatsoever by the Diocese.
I was also provided a short history of what has occurred from Fr. Mark's removal until now is as follows:
I have received a lot of comments and information since I have put up the initial Fr. Gantley post. It has even attracted Fr. Gantley himself to become a follower to this site. Fr. Gantley's profile states:
The issue of his dismissal continues to be one that inspires strong feelings in all who knew Fr. Gantley, and they continue to seek answers to the many unanswered questions surrounding this situation.
After Fr. Gantley was told that his "services were no longer needed in the Diocese" a letter writing campaign to the Bishop was launched by supporters of Fr. Gantley. This campaign generated an estimated 800-1,000 letters (or more). Supporters of Fr. Gantley had circulated this letter, encouraging parishioners to "let their voices be heard". The only response from the Bishop was the same basic form letter to anyone who had written to him, a copy of which can be read here.
Almost all of the St. Francis ministry heads signed this letter in support of Fr. Gantley. The names and signatures of ministry heads have been removed because I did not obtain permission to publish them. I deleted the 3rd page of this letter because it contained signatures only and was not part of the text of the letter.
In addition this letter was sent to all the priests in the Diocese, appealing for their help or intercession. Sadly, only two priests responded.
The letter writing campaign made it clear that a solid number of parishioners wanted Fr. Gantley to stay and that they approved very highly of his administration abilities (those same abilities which were put into question by the Bishop).
According to this timeline of events provided by the Letter Campaign organizers, Fr. Gantley was ejected from both his office at the parish and his home at the rectory on the very day of his dismissal. It was conveyed to me by individuals close to Fr. Gantley that he was thrown out without any assistance, guidance or support whatsoever by the Diocese.
I was also provided a short history of what has occurred from Fr. Mark's removal until now is as follows:
Just after Fr. Gantley left, Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe was put in as Administrator pro tem, with Fr. John Assalone as Parochial Vicar. This temporary arrangement soon gave way to an arrangement that was portrayed by the Bishop to be more permanent, with Fr. Charles Urnick as Parish Administrator for both St. Francis and his home parish in Laughlin, Nevada and Fr. John Assalone continuing as Parochial Vicar.
But just a few short months later, Fr. Urnick had resigned, citing health problems and stress from running two parishes. This is when Fr. Steven Hoffer was brought in from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and was named Parochial Vicar while Fr. John assumed his position as Parish Administrator.
But just a few short months later, Fr. Urnick had resigned, citing health problems and stress from running two parishes. This is when Fr. Steven Hoffer was brought in from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and was named Parochial Vicar while Fr. John assumed his position as Parish Administrator.
I have received a lot of comments and information since I have put up the initial Fr. Gantley post. It has even attracted Fr. Gantley himself to become a follower to this site. Fr. Gantley's profile states:
"My reputation was unfairly damaged as a result of my removal by Bishop Pepe. I joined as a follower of this blog after a message was posted about me to let people know that I am still a priest in good standing who has returned to my home Diocese of Syracuse and am currently assigned to a small rural parish. Pepe told me that the reason why I was removed from St. Francis was due to my administration of the parish -- the very thing for which many supporters praised me. Good administrators often have vocal critics."
The issue of his dismissal continues to be one that inspires strong feelings in all who knew Fr. Gantley, and they continue to seek answers to the many unanswered questions surrounding this situation.
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