Saturday, November 29, 2008

Even the Roman guards allowed Mary to be at her Sons Side

We are a group of parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa Park, New York, who are troubled that Our Lady of Fatima’s statue has been permanently removed from its customary place of honor in the sanctuary of our church.

Brought to our parish by parishioners returning from a Fatima pilgrimage, this beautiful statue has graced our altar for the past 25 years. Every Christmas and Easter it is lovingly surrounded by flowers and has been carried in joyful procession around our church at the First Saturday Mass every month for many years.

The official reasons for removing Our Lady’s statue are that the statue was making access to the altar difficult and that there should not be duplicate images of Mary in the church.

In an apparent response to the many complaints received about the statue's abrupt removal, it was taken from storage this week and is now in a recessed area on the right side of the church. Besides the fact that statues of Mary are traditionally placed on the left side of the church, this new location is a cause of great concern to many parishioners because it is so close to an exit door, making theft or breakage a real possibility.


In the July 27, 2008 bulletin, there is also an essay on the use (and abuse) of religious symbols. Sometimes, we are told, religious symbols like statues and rosaries are used "with too much reverence," causing people to ignore Jesus, and distracting us from the proper devotion owed to God.

As you can see from the picture above, the late Pope John Paul II had a large image of Mary above the main altar in his own chapel at Castel Gandolfo; there is obviously no canonical restriction upon the placement of Marian images in the sanctuary of a church. Many churches and basilicas have images of Mary and the saints in high places of honor above or adjacent to the altar, so there is no reason why Our Lady’s statue cannot remain in the sanctuary.

While we clearly understand that this is not a matter of faith or morals, we are very disturbed that the long-standing customs and devotions of our parish are being treated with apparent disregard and lack of sensitivity.

In addition, it is disheartening that faithful parishioners devoted to Our Lady are being warned not to give Mary undue honor (latria), the honor due to God alone. Catholics have always had a higher and deeper devotion (hyperdulia) to Mary than to other saints, but that does not mean that we offer her the worship and adoration we give to God. It is very troubling that we are considered intellectually and emotionally incapable of making such basic distinctions in our devotion to the Mother of God.

Please keep our wonderful parish in your daily prayers, particularly for the intentions that our beloved statue of Our Lady of Fatima is returned to her original place of honor in our church and that our parish will always remain loyal to the moral and doctrinal teachings of the Popes. A priest who loves Our Lady composed the prayer on the right especially for our parish, and we would like to ask you, if you share our concerns, to join us in praying it every day for these intentions.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Strange other countries are awaking to Latin mass, and Msgr Lisante is trying to destroy it

Thursday, November 27, 2008
NLM Interview with Julian Chadwick, Chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales
by Shawn Tribe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This past summer, I had the pleasure to visit England again, with the specific purpose of renewing liturgical contacts there and developing new one's. One such enterprise was an evening with Mr. Julian Chadwick, the Chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. One of the fruits coming from that meeting was an interview that has been in the works now for some while and which I am pleased to finally be able to present.

NLM: As Chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, can you give us a sense of your own background with regard to the movement to promote the usus antiquior?

Julian Chadwick: I was bought up in southern England by Anglican parents, but through my late mother I also have strong roots in Welsh non-conformity. In spite of this, I was always attracted by the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Church of England. Many churches I used to frequent used the English translation of the Roman Missal and the ceremonies that went with the missal, and I remember a sense of loss when many such churches converted to a more contemporary form of worship. I had not realized that deconstructive liturgy was undermining the faith of my friends and I started to become interested in the complexities of the liturgical reform at the same time as I started to move towards the Church. In fact I visited the Institute of Christ the King at Gricigliano just before my conversion!

It is, of course, simplistic to blame all the problems of the modern church on the liturgical crisis, but I have no doubt that the new liturgy has done much to undermine the church in Western Europe.

It was a great honour for me when David Lloyd and Michael Davies approached me to ask if I would be willing to become Chairman of the Latin Mass Society. I hesitated through a sense of my own unworthiness, and I wondered whether I would be equal to the job, given my professional responsibilities as a solicitor, but it was a privilege to undertake the role in which I have now served for over 4 years.

NLM: The Latin Mass Society has had a very active role within England and Wales in promoting the usus antiquior of the Roman rite. For the benefit of those newer to their interest in the usus antiquior, or for those who operate in North America or other parts of the world, can you give a quick summary of the history and activities of the Latin Mass Society?

Julian Chadwick: The LMS was set up at a time when there was great liturgical turmoil in the Church. In the early days of post-conciliar reform, the stress was less on changing the form of the liturgy than in having parts of the liturgy in the vernacular. It could be said that the Society was originally founded as much as anything else to encourage the correct application of the Council’s Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium – in which the Council Fathers declared that Latin was to be preserved as the normative language of the Roman rite.

There was also deep concern at the beginning of the history of the Society that the great musical traditions of the western church would disappear in the rush towards vernacular worship.

But as the form of the Mass was changed, the Society moved increasingly towards the position of promoting the celebration of what we now call the usus antiquior. Members of the Society who were more concerned with preserving the new form of the Mass in Latin formed their own association. One of the principal objects of the LMS (which is registered as a charity under English law) is “to promote the regular and frequent celebration of Holy Mass…in the Latin language and in the form no later than that published in AD1962”. The Society has been clear that it supports liturgical rites “celebrated by priests with faculties from a Bishop or superior in communion with the Holy See”. In our constitution we make it very clear that we are always to be in obedience to the Holy See.

We were always very fortunate in England because in the early 1970’s the late Cardinal Heenan obtained the so-called Heenan Indult from Pope Paul VI at a very early stage. The history of this is well documented, but it is worth recording that many non-Catholics as well as Catholics realized at the time the importance of the preservation of the usus antiquior to European civilization.

The Latin Mass Society has about four thousand members including over 250 priests. We have consistently lobbied individual bishops for regular celebrations of the Mass and sacraments, and for Bishops to honour the wishes of the late Holy Father John Paul II in this respect, as well as that of the present Holy Father.

NLM: What impact has Summorum Pontificum had on the Latin Mass Society?

Julian Chadwick: This is a whole new world! We were able to celebrate the coming into force of this motu proprio with a most splendid solemn Mass in the London Oratory. September 14th 2007 was a great day for the Church, and in a way it was an important day in the history of the LMS, for it marked a decisive shift in the way we can serve the Church.

Up until then most celebrations of the older form of the Mass in the dioceses were organized by the LMS with (the, at times, hard-won!) permission of the local bishop. But of course this is no longer the case. It is not a question of us lobbying a Bishop for “permission” any more. The Holy Father has given priests the direct responsibility of deciding when the older rites are to be celebrated, and he has given all the faithful the right to their celebration.

Now, in some cases we are only barely aware where and when priests are offering the usus antiquior on a regular basis. This, of course, is a return to a more normal situation in the Church. We are a lay society and it is extraordinary indeed for laity to be ‘in charge’ of liturgical celebrations.

We have lived through some very extraordinary years, and our forebears in the LMS – many of them already dead – did a splendid job and suffered much in difficult times; but today it is clear that we must move away from the old culture, where Masses were held in inconvenient locations and at odd hours, to a situation where the usus antiquior is part of the regular pattern of parish Masses. The LMS is at the service of the clergy in realizing this return to normality. It is a big change for us, and some of us haven’t quite realized it yet, but in the long run I’m confident that the spirit of generosity, sacrifice and love for the Church and indeed for the Holy Father that is so tangible every time I meet our members, will help us move on and to find new ways of serving the Church in this exciting post-Summorum Pontificum world.

NLM: This past June you hosted Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos in London. Would you care to comment on his visit and on its impact?

Julian Chadwick: We were honoured that Cardinal Castrillon accepted the invitation of the Society to visit London for what was an all-too-brief visit. His Eminence arrived on Friday evening, and then, together with the LMS Committee and invited guests, attended the dinner that I hosted at The Travellers Club. The following morning, after a press conference, he was able to address the AGM of the LMS and then, after being welcomed privately by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, to celebrate Pontifical Mass in Westminster Cathedral. To see the Cathedral so full was a remarkable testimony to the popularity of the ancient liturgy, especially amongst the young. What was even more remarkable was the strength of emotion of many of so many of the faithful on that occasion. I think his visit was a clear statement that Summorum Pontificum is for the whole Church, not just for some peculiar old-fashioned Catholics. Also, I think there is a clear message here from the Holy Father, that his reform of the liturgy cannot be ignored.

NLM: One of the most significant and prominent activities that the Latin Mass Society has undertaken lately has been the training conference for Priests and clerics generally interested in learning to celebrate the usus antiquior which has occurred the past two years at Merton College, Oxford. This is an event which has gained international interest and attention and has surely become the gold standard for training conferences, putting forward the very best foot of the usus antiquior, both in terms of the quality of the training and the liturgies themselves. What can you tell us about this initiative? How did it begin?

Julian Chadwick: It is clear that now there need to be more priests who are properly trained in the celebration in the usus antiquior. Sometimes in the past we have been aware of one or two priests who have been “put up” or asked to offer the older Mass but who have either been poorly trained or do not particularly feel at home with celebrating it.

Paul Waddington, who is one of our committee members, had the providential idea of a training conference for priests. The first one, in August 2007, was arranged quite quickly and took place at Merton College, Oxford. We had no idea how many priests would be interested and in the end nearly 40 came. This was a short conference, but in the course of a few days training was provided towards the celebration of the low Mass. We were deeply heartened by the generosity shown by the Archbishop of Birmingham in his encouragement for the conference to go ahead - he attended the first day and offered clear words of support. Bishop Slattery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Bishop Rifan of Campos were our honoured guests also. Bishop Slattery celebrated Pontifical Mass and Bishop Rifan celebrated Pontifical Vespers.

This last July a much longer conference was arranged – a week in length – again with the generous support of the Archbishop of Birmingham. We were graced with the presence of Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP of Nottingham, and Bishop David McGough, one of the Birmingham auxiliaries, was due to attend but most unfortunately he could not do so because of a family bereavement. Pontifical Mass was offered in his place by the Abbot of Lagrasse (with the appropriate permissions) in what was undoubtedly one of the most splendid Pontifical ceremonies ever to take place in this country.

This year’s conference encompassed far more than low Mass. An expanded team of priest-instructors offered tuition in the celebration of the sacraments, the breviary, solemn and sung Mass, as well as in the basics of low Mass. Tuition was also available for those new to Latin. All the participants were offered the opportunity to celebrate a low Mass (or to go through a ‘dry’ Mass) with the assistance of an experienced priest. This wider scope attracted our maximum possible number of registrations, 60, including priests from the USA, South Africa, Australia, and beyond.

The amount of work the whole conference involved was enormous. But the LMS has been hugely blessed with the dedicated and professional input of Father Andrew Wadsworth, Catholic Chaplain of Harrow School, our Director of Tuition, and of Dr Alcuin Reid, the world-famous liturgist and scholar, our Director of Liturgy. Through months of effort they assembled a teaching staff and a liturgical team respectively which delivered, as you so kindly remarked, a “gold standard” for conferences.

Apart from the practical tuition, three more academic lectures were arranged by Dr Laurence Hemming, a leading voice in the academic study of the liturgy. Under his expertise the priests were led to consider aspects of liturgical theology, the pastoral use of the usus antiquior in a parish, and of the implications of Summorum Pontificum.

The generosity of Dr Simon Jones, the chaplain of Merton College, has been wonderful. He kindly gave permission for each conference to have the full use of its medieval chapel and all its resources, something which we have not always found offered to us in Catholic institutions!

No reflections on Merton would be complete without recording the generosity of the faithful. In both cases the conference was entirely paid for by an appeal to members and benefactors.

As in the famous comment about the effects of the French Revolution, it is too early to tell what effects these conferences have had, and continue to have, on all those participating in them, as well as on the wider Church; and we have to guard against simplistic attempts to analyze their benefits. But after both conferences I received numerous letters of support and gratitude from the priest-delegates and I know that, as a result, many of these are now saying the usus antiquior regularly. To receive one such letter makes the time and effort worthwhile.

NLM: As was noted, this event has occurred each summer the past two years. Can we look forward to another such event this summer, and what details can you give readers, particularly priests, who may be interested in attending?

Julian Chadwick: Building on the tremendous success of the past two years, our committee has decided to continue and even expand its opportunities for training in the older rites. The third summer conference will take place at Merton College, Oxford, from August 24th – 28th 2009, with the same experienced organizing team. And Paul Waddington is working hard to organize a conference for training priests in the North of England earlier in 2009. More information on these can be had as it becomes available from our website or by emailing our office.

NLM: What does the future hold for the Latin Mass Society?

Julian Chadwick: Life after Summorum Pontificum is very different and I know that some of our members do not find this altogether easy. We are now part of the mainstream of the church and it is crucial that, without surrendering any of our principles, we integrate into the life of the parishes where we worship, and not either be regarded or regard ourselves as a kind of sect within the Church. It seems to me that the role of the Society will change: although we will and must continue to promote the usus antiquior to all, the days of the laity fulfilling an organizing role that is properly that of the clergy must soon, we hope, be regarded as over. So we shall find our role being more one of providing support to priests and bishops, through training and through supplying practical and financial help at a local level.

So the work of our Society is by no means finished. We have much to offer, as the past two years have shown, as indeed has the traditional movement. But we must be careful not to isolate ourselves or to seek or demand the impossible. We also have to realize that many Catholics don’t understand our position – they know nothing other than the newer rites. In being of further service to priests, as they apply Summorum Pontificum in the coming years, we can surely help to bring about a situation where the Mass our founders thought was lost is once again known by and available to all Catholics up and down the land.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

I have not given up, and will keep trying to bring down James Lisante.

HE WILL NEVER WIN, AS OUR RESOLVE IS STRONGER THAN EVER, AS I WEAKEN, OUR LORD IN ME GROWS STRONGER. IN THE DARKEST DAYS, BRIGHTER GLOWS THE LIGHT FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
WHERE WE ARE WEAK LORD, MAKE US STRONGER
WHERE THERE IS NO HOPE, FILL US WITH SUCCESS
WHERE ALL THE GATES ARE CLOSED, SMASH AND OPEN THEM
WHERE THERE IS NO SOUL, REBUILD AND FILL US WITH THY SPIRIT


Families Prepare to Leave OLL
Like the Magnificent Seven, the OLL rebels remain defiant to the end, condemning the corrupt reign of Msgr. Jim Lisante.

It is with a keen sense of poignancy that I write this post. From the kind of emails I've been receiving lately, I know some will greet this news with triumph and derision, but every honest Catholic, no matter what his theological/moral perspective, cannot in his heart rejoice about division and separation in the Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church.

A few of the families who have worked the hardest and prayed the hardest to protect the legacy of doctrine and devotion maintained for so many years at Our Lady of Lourdes will be resigning from the parish after the last Children's Mass tomorrow.

These are families whose lives have been closely linked with this parish for close to two decades. Babies and baptisms, First Communions, and Confirmations, the passing of a few loved ones---all the moments of joy and sadness shared with the blessing of their priests in this church have created deep roots which are painful to extricate. A parish, however humble or imperfect, becomes, over the years, one's native spiritual home, a place where heart and spirit have been nourished and will always hold a treasured niche in collective family memories.

The reason for this resignation, painful as it is, is simple. If you'll forgive me for being blunt, they are leaving because they can no longer stand the underhanded, sinister environment which has infected this once proud parish. They are distressed by the complete lack of response to their concerns, and the total inaccessibility of their pastor. They cannot take the fact that after having a pastor who was present in the parish all the time to pray, offer sacrifice for sin, hear confessions, console the troubled, and annoint the sick, they now have a remote, uncaring, often duplicitous, theological lightweight, who is not only never around the parish, but also has absolutely zero interest in saying Mass, hearing confessions, or having much of anything to do with his flock.

These good people know in their hearts that the real problem with Jim Lisante is not the fact that he is a gay sympathizer or has little interest in being around the parish---they know that these are the symptoms of a priest who was formed at the worst possible moment in Immaculate Conception Seminary's history and thus has no real idea of why he is a priest at all.

They realize that to Msgr. Lisante, being a priest means being a slick media star, as well as being respected and admired by the zeitgeist for his predictable condemnations of evils like racism, bigoty, and homophobia, the only sins liberals will ever recognize.

These families know that, barring a deep conversion experience, Msgr. Lisante will never be a priest who will preach the hard truths of purity, chastity, sacrifice, prayer, love of Our Lady, honor of the Blessed Sacrament and fidelity to the Magisterium.

So, while their exodus may be cheered by the Lisante Team who have made no secret of their dislike and who will no doubt cheerfully "slam the door on their backs as they go," I can't help but wonder if, in their hearts, the Lisante Team is really comfortable with the fact that families like these are leaving. Like them or not, they have been faithful, regular supporters and volunteers at the parish, and, as their children get older, were poised to become even more committed parish members, able and willing to give even more time (and money, do you hear that, Msgr. Jim?) to their beloved church.

The Lisante Team may believe there are many Catholic families lined up waiting to replace these hardliners, eager to join the new and improved OLL, but so far, the parking lot seems emptier than ever at the Sunday Masses, and the few families that trickle in are merely interested in squeezing their Mass obligation in between soccer games.

One of the fathers delivered this parting shot in an email to me:
Jim Lisante is a "hireling," in the biblical sense of the term. In his person he serves as the perfect symbol of the gutting of the Church's dogmatic, moral, scriptural and ascetic theology which took place at Immaculate Conception in the late '60's and '70's, only to be replaced by a combination of the Protestant Reinhold Niebuhr and the New York Times, and, if they were in a particularly intellectual frame of mind, the latest trendy offerings from the liberal theologians featured in Time magazine.

He is, in short, an imposter, a liberal, self-centered socialite who has no business being the pastor of a parish, let alone a Catholic priest. The cold, sterile and efficient soccer moms will love him precisely because they know he will never challenge them spiritually or morally to give up their contraceptive lifestyle which eats away at both their families and the Church like a cancer.

The men who are addicted to pornography, sports, and their own pursuits will feel quite comfortable with him because he will encourage them to participate in fundraisers for the poor and campaigns against racism, but will never offer them the one thing they all need---the truths of the Catholic faith and the grace of God offered to a humble penitent in sacramental absolution.

In fighting him, we have not fought the Church, but the enemies of the Church.We will never accept him or anything to do with him. The truth is not in him because he is a disingenuous, unfeeling hack. Personally, I think he should be the chairman of the NY Republican party and not a Roman Catholic priest. His pastoral plan will be as successful as every other dissenting liberal priest has been. Good luck and so long, Monsignor Jim!



So let these good families, this "last wave" of old-fashioned, orthodox Catholics, go not so gently and quietly "into that good night," to quote Dylan Thomas. You won't be seeing their like again soon.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light . . .
Do not go gentle into that good night.

UP NEXT: The questions about this corrupt regime which Msgr. Lisante and Bishop Murphy refuse to answer. COME LORD JESUS, SAVE THE SOUL OF " OUR LADY OF LOURDES MASSAPEQUA PARK PARISH"

Friday, November 21, 2008

Thursday, November 20, 2008
Obama Victory Celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Massapequa Park
President-elect Barack Obama got an enthusiastic thumbs-up from Fr. Ed in last Sunday's sermon, a preview of things to come in the fresh, new, politically-correct climate at OLL.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of Our Lady of Lourdes parish used to be oft-repeated reminders from the pulpit at election time of the serious obligation to vote for candidates with the best record on moral issues.

OLL parishioners were typically instructed weeks in advance of every election that if even if a candidate promises voters to give a little extra money back in their social security checks, but also promises to vote to kill babies, then voting for that candidate makes the voter responsible for the evil that elected official approves once in office.

Now OLL parishioners no longer have to dread long tedious lectures on their moral responsibility in the voting booth. In fact, all you OLL Catholics who voted for our ardently pro-abortion, pro-gay-marriage, pro-Planned Parenthood, pro-FOCA President-elect should feel right at home in Msgr. Lisante's politically hip new parish. Believe it or not, you won't see any stern faces or finger-wagging about the 61% of Catholics who helped push Barack Obama to victory two weeks ago at OLL.

Obama supporters will be gratified to learn that last Sunday, Fr. Ed Seagriff, Msgr. Lisante's assistant pastor, openly rejoiced over the prospect of an Obama presidency, declaring it a triumph over long-standing racial prejudice, regardless of the dire consequences Obama's victory signifies for pro-life and pro-family efforts.

An indignant and heartbroken reader has sent me this riveting account of Fr. Seagriff's landmark pro-Obama sermon last Sunday:

"He began with a story about how his father was a lifelong bigot. After establishing clearly to the parishioners that his father was, as he put it: “the Archie Bunker of the family”, he told us a story about this family that moved into the house next door to them.

"Their name was Malone and both Fr. Seagriff’s parents were elated that “good Irish Catholics” were moving into the neighborhood. Following the tradition of the day, they brought Holy Water, a loaf of bread, salt, etc. over to the new neighbors to welcome them. When the man of the housed opened the front door, Seagriff’s father said: “We’d like speak to the man of the house”, his father was mortified to learn that the man who opened the door WAS the man of the house; a black man.

"They handed over their welcoming gifts politely and headed back home where a huge fight ensued between Fr. Seagriff’s mother and father....why?....because Mr. Seagriff was horrified that the new neighbors, the Malones, were black!

"Mrs. Seagriff put her foot down and threatened to divorce Mr. Seagriff if he did not mend his ways there and then. He continued that he subsequently attended Mass with his father one Sunday and he was shocked to see his father go down on his knees and kiss the hand of a visiting Nigerian (clearly black) priest.

"Fr. Seagriff relates that when he and his father got into their car to head home, he asked his father (in a very confounded tone) “Why did you DO that??”. His father’s reply was: “Because my son, that was not a black man, that was Jesus.”

"From THIS story he led into his opinion that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because of bigotry and racism, much like the ignorant hatred that his father exhibited.

"It became clear by the end of his sermon that he regarded his father as a bigot, while his mother was the pillar of Catholicism, but, in spite of his bigotry, his father could “see” Jesus in a black man.

"He went on to further establish that it was 'because of this great man, Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation that TODAY....Barack Obama was able to break through the ‘glass ceiling’ of racism and become President-Elect Obama. What a glorious time in history this is.'

"THIS led into another equally dramatic story about how he has some other relic/historical document?? I don’t remember what it was...but after the election, he took this historical document and wrapped it in the American Flag and brought it to the second graders at the school.

"He told them how Abraham Lincoln fought for equal rights for black people and how he was killed for this and how his death and sacrifice paved the way for this extraordinary historical event of Barack Obama becoming president. He said that when he unwrapped the picture/document...the children stood in awe of it and began to touch it and clap and cry and scream and he made it sound like they were all “slain in the spirit” or something equally dramatic. The whole story was dripping with drama!

"As if this wasn’t bad enough....he went on to compare Obama to Kennedy and how his father, 'A lifelong Republican, and his mother... a lifelong Democrat fought like cats and dogs when Kennedy won the election.... His mother was elated that an Irish Catholic Democrat had won; his father was furious that a Democrat had won and vowed to never accept Kennedy.'

"He then swung back to how wonderful it is that Barack Obama has accomplished this awesome task of becoming the first black President and how lucky we all are to be witnessing this momentous event in history.

"He wrapped it all up by recounting again the story of his father with the Nigerian priest and how his father uttered the words: 'That was no black man, that was Jesus.'

"My father, mother, husband and three kids all just sat there stunned. My mother – who is always quiet and reverent in church was so angry and appalled that she actually shouted the Apostle’s Creed... I had to shush her more than once!

"We all felt like storming out of the church...even our misguided Monsignor did not have the audacity to support Obama and now this irresponsible priest takes a church full of parishioners and basically tells them 'it’s ok if he’s pro-abortion...he’s black and we should be happy about that over all.'"

The reader relates how her whole family walked out of church, completely astounded that Fr. Ed had compared Obama to Jesus, despite Obama's rabidly anti-life positions, which the young Illinois senator has not hesitated to elaborate upon on numerous occasions in his campaign.

It hardly needs to be emphasized here that the color of Obama's skin does not matter a particle to pro-life Catholics like this reader and her family, and they would be equally approving of the first black president if he had only been pro-life. I assure you if Alan Keyes, a pro-life black Republican Presidential candidate had won the election, there would be enough cork-popping and celebration among white Catholics to satisfy anyone that bigotry and racism is almost completely dead in the Catholic Church in America.

So, be prepared for many more sermons along the same lines in Msgr. Jim Lisante's ever-tolerant and welcoming parish, sermons where fine distinctions and careful definitions are no longer necessary, where blurred lines, fuzzy theology and moral vacuousness predominate. Fr. Ed and the new pastor are apparently only too happy to erase from OLL's collective memory all these antiquated notions and grim-sounding words:

sin, (oh, brother!) responsibility, chastity, (what's that?) sacrifice, confession, heaven, judgement, purgatory, hell, (puh-leez!) modesty, expiation, magisterium, (magi-who?) obedience, virtue, immorality, dogma, pornography, (yawn) abortion, (well, Msgr. Jim might mention that once in a while) homosexuality, (gasp!) contraception, (shudder!) catechism, and commandment (you mean you still believe in that? What a dinosaur!).

Better take one last look. You won't be seeing or hearing any of these any time soon in the new and improved OLL

I guess Fr Seagriff must follow Times magazine!

I had to send this to you because the irony is just too much! Apparently Fr. Seagriff is fashioning his sermons from what he reads in Time Magazine. Here is what I found in my inbox this morning from Ann Coulter:



November 19, 2008

Genius, Thy Name Is Obama
By Ann Coulter

With Time magazine comparing Obama to Jesus, I guess we should be relieved that, this week, liberals are only comparing him to Abraham Lincoln.

The one thing every liberal on TV seems to know about Lincoln is that he put rivals in his cabinet, as subtly indicated in the title to historian and plagiarist Doris Kearns Goodwin's book: "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln." Like Lincoln, Goodwin is always open to contributions from her rivals, although Lincoln was better at crediting their words.

And hasn't Obama talked to former rival Hillary about becoming his secretary of state? Hasn't he had a sit-down with Sen. John McCain? Did I imagine this, or is he even now brokering peace talks between Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck?

Ergo: Obama is a genius.

Indeed, historians have just named Obama the best president-elect ever.
(end quote)
And this president-elect HAS NOT ACCHIEVED ONE SINGLE THING IN HIS POLITICAL CAREER, No wonder he is taking people from the Clinton era into almost every cabinet post he is putting together, how come he hasn't asked Senator McCain to take a position also?
He had better be on the look-out for anyone named Booth.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

History teaches us....

A Tale of Two Pastors
The stunning marble Last Supper frontispiece which is now obscured from view by three chairs in front of the altar at OLL---one example of how the priorities of Msgr. Lisante are radically different from those of another new pastor in an adjoining parish.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way---"

So begins Dickens' classic "Tale of Two Cities," a beautiful passage comparing the extreme social conditions of 17th c. England and France. A similarly wide gap exists between two pastors of adjacent parishes in the DRVC. Their different styles and spiritual priorities reveal a strange mix of ideologies existing side by side in this diocese.

A new pastor in a parish near Our Lady of Lourdes---we'll call him Pastor #2---has spent his first year quietly guiding his parish in a dramatic restoration and renewal of his historic church. It is quite instructive to compare his initial projects with those of Msgr. Lisante, Pastor #1, at OLL.

OUR LADY'S IMAGE
The first thing Pastor #2 did was to refurbish a prominent image of Our Lady. He hired a professional artist to restore the image and brighten the colors and had it replaced in its original position of honor in the front of the church. New lighting was also installed to illuminate the steeple cross.

At OLL, however, the opening act under Pastor #1's (Msgr. Lisante's) management was the removal of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the altar. The much-loved statue was placed in a cleaning closet until numerous protests and complaints forced the pastor to move it back into the church in a less prominent position. In addition, unlike Pastor #2 who highlighted the steeple cross on his church, Pastor #1 took the crucifixes off the church and chapel altars.

SANCTUARY RENOVATIONS
Next, Pastor #2 dedicated his energies to moving the tabernacle to the center of the sanctuary, according to the specific wishes of Bishop Murphy. A new tabernacle altar and main altar were ordered from Carrara, Italy, and a design selected with great care. A description of the altars from his parish bulletin: "The altars are white Carrera marble, the arch inserts are red Verona marble, the arches are gold mosaic and the images are colorful Eucharistic Mosaics of the Pelican feeding her young and the Chalice and Host with grapes and wheat clusters. Both altars are beautifully hand crafted in Italy."

Pastor #2 declared in the bulletin his great satisfaction with the progress on the new altars: "To be at this point in bringing the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist to the center of our lives is a spiritually exciting and uplifting moment in my life."

In contrast, Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante), upon his arrival, immediately authorized the placement of three block-shaped chairs in front of the main altar, obstructing the beautiful marble bas-relief of the Last Supper. Apparently, his main objective was to bring the priest and not Jesus into the center of attention, a move that has met with intense disapproval from many parishioners.

CONFESSION HOURS
Pastor #2 has established a full schedule of confessions, making the sacrament of penance readily available for the people of the parish. Again, as I've mentioned several times, this is in keeping with Bishop Murphy's special requests of all pastors in the diocese:

Pastor #2's Confession Schedule:
Saturday Afternoon: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. & following the 7:30 p.m. Mass
Sunday: 1/2 hour before Mass beginning before 9:30 a.m. Mass
Weekday Mornings: following the 8:00 a.m. Mass
First Saturday: following the 8:00 a.m. Mass

Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante), as I've pointed out before, is drastically cutting confession hours at OLL. Saturday evening confessions have been eliminated. Weekday confessions after the 8am Mass have also been cut, along with monthly confessions for the school. When the new schedule takes effect, there will only be one hour of confessions/week at OLL.

WEEKLY LETTER FROM THE PASTOR
Both pastors have a lengthy weekly message in the parish bulletin. Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante) fills his with random anecdotes, parish news and a few quasi-religious reflections. Pastor #2 uses his column instead to instruct the faithful on important points of Catholic doctrine. Past columns have focused on Baptism, prayer, Scripture reading, and the Sunday Mass obligation, to name a few.

I found this column of Pastor #2 most striking. Noticing that some in the parish felt marginalized by past events, like a good shepherd, he tackles the issue head-on in an attempt to heal the ill feelings and disunity:


"However, it is sad that people spend years harboring ill feelings and holding old grudges. As long as we remain human beings, we will have to deal with and move on from the obstacles that these actions cause. Thank God, we do move forward and will continue to do so.

I hope we will all continue to pray for a healing of all the ill feelings of the past. With our renewed focus on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, I believe that healing will come. I believe that Our Lady . . . will be a vehicle of that healing for us as a parish."

Tragically, Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante) has not yet publicly reached out to the people of OLL in an attempt to heal the growing division between him and a number of his people who are unhappy with the rapid and baffling changes he has made to their parish life.

As his Installation Mass approaches, before his new agenda is announced, perhaps Pastor #1 might take a few pointers from Pastor #2: his attention and care of Our Lady's image, his enthusiastic efforts to make Christ the center of the parish, his interest in beautifying and restoring the sanctuary, his concern that confessions be widely available, his effort to give a solid instruction in the fundamentals of the Faith to the parishioners, and finally, his concern that rifts and ill feelings in the parish be healed and unity restored.

That such stark contrasts between pastoral styles and practice are allowed to exist in adjoining parishes intrigues me. Which parish is the preferred model in this diocese? Is it "anything goes," or is it something else which makes each pastor feel free to pursue totally different agendas?

That's a tale for another day.

All Lovers of children should sign this

Dear Friend, The U.N. Pro-Life Petition has grown to 200,000 names! Let's go even higher!! Let's get 300,000 names! Once more please ask everyone you know to go tohttp://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.95/default.asp and sign the petition! And ask them to ask all their friends, too! Yours sincerely, Austin RusePresidentC-FAM

Msgr Lisante says "HOW CAN THIS BE, EVERYONE LOVES ME, DON'T THEY?"

A Tale of Two Pastors
The stunning marble Last Supper frontispiece which is now obscured from view by three chairs in front of the altar at OLL---one example of how the priorities of Msgr. Lisante are radically different from those of another new pastor in an adjoining parish."It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way---"So begins Dickens' classic "Tale of Two Cities," a beautiful passage comparing the extreme social conditions of 17th c. England and France. A similarly wide gap exists between two pastors of adjacent parishes in the DRVC. Their different styles and spiritual priorities reveal a strange mix of ideologies existing side by side in this diocese.A new pastor in a parish near Our Lady of Lourdes---we'll call him Pastor #2---has spent his first year quietly guiding his parish in a dramatic restoration and renewal of his historic church. It is quite instructive to compare his initial projects with those of Msgr. Lisante, Pastor #1, at OLL.OUR LADY'S IMAGEThe first thing Pastor #2 did was to refurbish a prominent image of Our Lady. He hired a professional artist to restore the image and brighten the colors and had it replaced in its original position of honor in the front of the church. New lighting was also installed to illuminate the steeple cross.At OLL, however, the opening act under Pastor #1's (Msgr. Lisante's) management was the removal of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the altar. The much-loved statue was placed in a cleaning closet until numerous protests and complaints forced the pastor to move it back into the church in a less prominent position. In addition, unlike Pastor #2 who highlighted the steeple cross on his church, Pastor #1 took the crucifixes off the church and chapel altars.SANCTUARY RENOVATIONSNext, Pastor #2 dedicated his energies to moving the tabernacle to the center of the sanctuary, according to the specific wishes of Bishop Murphy. A new tabernacle altar and main altar were ordered from Carrara, Italy, and a design selected with great care. A description of the altars from his parish bulletin: "The altars are white Carrera marble, the arch inserts are red Verona marble, the arches are gold mosaic and the images are colorful Eucharistic Mosaics of the Pelican feeding her young and the Chalice and Host with grapes and wheat clusters. Both altars are beautifully hand crafted in Italy."Pastor #2 declared in the bulletin his great satisfaction with the progress on the new altars: "To be at this point in bringing the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist to the center of our lives is a spiritually exciting and uplifting moment in my life."In contrast, Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante), upon his arrival, immediately authorized the placement of three block-shaped chairs in front of the main altar, obstructing the beautiful marble bas-relief of the Last Supper. Apparently, his main objective was to bring the priest and not Jesus into the center of attention, a move that has met with intense disapproval from many parishioners.CONFESSION HOURSPastor #2 has established a full schedule of confessions, making the sacrament of penance readily available for the people of the parish. Again, as I've mentioned several times, this is in keeping with Bishop Murphy's special requests of all pastors in the diocese:Pastor #2's Confession Schedule:Saturday Afternoon: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. & following the 7:30 p.m. MassSunday: 1/2 hour before Mass beginning before 9:30 a.m. MassWeekday Mornings: following the 8:00 a.m. MassFirst Saturday: following the 8:00 a.m. MassPastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante), as I've pointed out before, is drastically cutting confession hours at OLL. Saturday evening confessions have been eliminated. Weekday confessions after the 8am Mass have also been cut, along with monthly confessions for the school. When the new schedule takes effect, there will only be one hour of confessions/week at OLL.WEEKLY LETTER FROM THE PASTORBoth pastors have a lengthy weekly message in the parish bulletin. Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante) fills his with random anecdotes, parish news and a few quasi-religious reflections. Pastor #2 uses his column instead to instruct the faithful on important points of Catholic doctrine. Past columns have focused on Baptism, prayer, Scripture reading, and the Sunday Mass obligation, to name a few.I found this column of Pastor #2 most striking. Noticing that some in the parish felt marginalized by past events, like a good shepherd, he tackles the issue head-on in an attempt to heal the ill feelings and disunity:
"However, it is sad that people spend years harboring ill feelings and holding old grudges. As long as we remain human beings, we will have to deal with and move on from the obstacles that these actions cause. Thank God, we do move forward and will continue to do so.I hope we will all continue to pray for a healing of all the ill feelings of the past. With our renewed focus on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, I believe that healing will come. I believe that Our Lady . . . will be a vehicle of that healing for us as a parish." Tragically, Pastor #1 (Msgr. Lisante) has not yet publicly reached out to the people of OLL in an attempt to heal the growing division between him and a number of his people who are unhappy with the rapid and baffling changes he has made to their parish life.As his Installation Mass approaches, before his new agenda is announced, perhaps Pastor #1 might take a few pointers from Pastor #2: his attention and care of Our Lady's image, his enthusiastic efforts to make Christ the center of the parish, his interest in beautifying and restoring the sanctuary, his concern that confessions be widely available, his effort to give a solid instruction in the fundamentals of the Faith to the parishioners, and finally, his concern that rifts and ill feelings in the parish be healed and unity restored.That such stark contrasts between pastoral styles and practice are allowed to exist in adjoining parishes intrigues me. Which parish is the preferred model in this diocese? Is it "anything goes," or is it something else which makes each pastor feel free to pursue totally different agendas?That's a tale for another day.

Lisante attacking Fr Mason the past pastor, because he is affraid to face the parishioners

Rectory Slander?
I've been contacted by an OLL parishioner with important verification regarding the ongoing charges against Fr. Mason by rectory personnel. Please read his judicious statement below for an excellent recap of the situation:There appears to be a remarkably repulsive new development in the battle for the soul of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Massapequa Park. Apparently, Msgr. Lisante’s rectory has put the word out that Fr. Mason, the former pastor, is behind the entire campaign against Msgr. Lisante. In addition they say that Fr. Mason is directly responsible for all the articles in Newsday and The Wanderer detailing Msgr. Lisante’s mismanagement and scandalous behavior. This is being said with the guarantee of absolute certainty.Unfortunately for the slanderer(s), we know with true absolute certainty, that this charge is completely false and has no merit whatsoever. We know it is false because we personally know the individual(s) who are actually responsible for the publication of the articles and we can categorically deny it is Fr. Mason. In fact, the opposite is true. Fr. Mason has been appalled that these articles have been published and has discouraged any activity which would bring any disrepute on Msgr. Lisante. Fr. Mason, as those who know him would expect, has been nothing but a Christian gentleman throughout this entire ordeal. Admonishing those who would hurt or bring scandal to the church, he has not spoken a single word of calumny against Msgr. Lisante or anyone else.The lies and slander now being spread about Fr. Mason, and the previous threats by Msgr. Lisante to remove Fr. Mason if the parishioners do not fall in line behind Lisante’s agenda, indicate it is only a matter of time before Fr. Mason is forced out through manufactured excuses. Please pray for Fr. Mason, the dedicated, holy, orthodox, former pastor of this once great parish. But pray even more for those who persecute him, after all they will need our prayers even more than he does.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Another of OLL priests becoming too Liberal

Fr. Seagriff:I am not typically one of those parishioners that writes angry letters tothe clergy when they say or do something I disagree with, however, this isan exception. I was at your 9:30 mass this morning (with my three children)and they all walked away asking me the following: ³Why did Fr. Seagriffsay Obama is like Jesus?². Now, two of them are 17 year old Honor studentsand our daughter is an equally intelligent 10 year old. My 72 year oldmother also leaned over to me during mass to ask the same question...she wasappalled! You seem to be playing right into the hands of the white guilt riddenliberal elites; Obama¹s race (of which is only half-African/American) hasabsolutely nothing to do with his ineptitude to be President. Hisliberal/Socialist agenda, his inexperience, his disdain for the military,his politics....these have EVERYTHING to do with why is not qualified tolead this country. And from a Catholic standpoint: ABORTION ,­ he iswholeheartedly PRO-ABORTION. To compare him to John F. Kennedy (who was NOTPro-Abortion) is so absurd that I cannot believe a man of your intelligencewould posture such nonsense. We are too smart to give this poor excuse ofa President a free pass BECAUSE of the color of his skin; he is one of themost liberal senators we have and his positions are wholly UN-Catholic andfor THIS reason alone, I did not vote for him.Just last week at Fr. Mason¹s mass, he referred to Obama as anantichrist...NOT AT ALL because of the color of his skin, but preciselybecause of his ANTI-LIFE politics. To say that politics have nothing to dowith accepting this man as President is ludicrous. The American Bishopsrecognize that politically he can do quite a bit of damage to the unborn.Further, your use of a story about your bigoted father kissing a Nigerianpriest¹s hand was pandering to the wrong audience. Perhaps that Nigerianpriest was Jesus, Barack Obama is not and should never have been compared toHim. Next, you used Abraham Lincoln¹s assassination reference incorrectly.Lincoln was not at all about freeing the slaves; and that is NOT why he wasassassinated. Election to Congress in 1854 and the Mexican War brought theissue of the expansion of slave territory to the nation's attention.Lincoln formed a clearer position on slavery as a result. He was originallyopposed to black equality and had no intention of disturbing slavery inslave states. However, when Lincoln ran for Senate in 1858 against StephenA. Douglas, Lincoln and Douglas engaged in several popular and now famousdebates about slavery. Lincoln was not an abolitionist, though he regardedslavery as an evil. He opposed its expansion and said that he had no purposedirectly or indirectly to interfere with the institution of slavery in thestates where it existed. Furthermore, he said that he had no lawful rightto do so and, therefore, had no intention of doing that. He believed alsothat whites were superior (a position I DO NOT agree with). Lincoln saidthat he was not and had never been in favor of bringing about the social andpolitical equality of the white and black races. Lincoln stated furtherthat he was not nor ever had been in favor of making voters or jurors ofblacks, nor letting them hold office or intermarry with white people. AsSoutherners became convinced that the election of Lincoln would besufficient cause for secession, his views on slavery shifted! He now firmlybelieved that if the nation remained divided on the issue of slavery, thenation would not last; borrowing from a statement made by Jesus, "A housedivided against itself cannot stand. I believe that this government cannotendure permanently half slave and half free." Enter John Wilkes Booth, whoin 1864 began developing plans to kidnap Lincoln, take him to Richmond (theConfederate capital), and hold him in return for Confederate prisoners ofwar. By 1865, Booth had organized a group of co-conspirators. The groupplanned to capture Lincoln who was scheduled to attend a play at a hospitallocated on the outskirts of Washington. As is widely known now, thepresident changed plans and remained in the capital, inadvertently ruiningBooth¹s plot against him. While it is absolutely right and true to sayBooth was a racist and Southern sympathizer, it is not right or true to saythat he set out to kill Lincoln because of his position on slavery alone;his original plan was to kidnap him and use him as ransom for hisConfederate brethren's release. When Lincoln spoke from the White Houseto a crowd gathered outside (April 1865), Booth was present as Lincolnsuggested in his speech that voting rights be granted to certain blacks.Infuriated, Booth's plans now turned in the direction of assassination. Iagree with you on only one point, that the assassination of Barack Obamawould be the worst thing to ever happen to this country; the reason beingthat we would surely find ourselves in a different type of civil war... aracial war.I would have voted for Alan Keyes (the African American Conservative) in aNew York minute because I agree with his politics and his policies...notbecause he is black; which is why so many people voted for Obama. Half ofthem don¹t care or know where he stands on stem cell research, abortion orany of the issues that Catholics should be considering when walking into avoting booth; if they did....this man would not be our next President.It is so sad that even the clergy are losing sight of what¹s real and what¹sright; politics should not be used amongst clergy as WMDs against eachother. I will continue to pray for you and all of the priests at Our Ladyof Lourdes as I believe you are all losing sight of the very vows you tookwhen you were ordained; there is a liberal virus running rampant in ourparish and your sermon today just proved that.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Our Lord said "Those who are not against us are with us"Where are you Msgr Lisante???

Rumors are flying throughout the DRVC as to who the mysterious Father X is after he authored a letter rebuking Msgr. Lisante for treating the former OLL pastor "with contempt."Reports have been coming in from all over about the letter campaign launched last week by a group of concerned parishioners at OLL. Almost 300 letters were sent out to all the priests of the Rockville Centre Diocese with an appeal for prayers from the parishioners and a letter from Father X, focusing on the financial/ethical aspects of the Blockley affair.Father X also zeroed in on the contemptous treatment given Fr. Mason by Msgr. Lisante, asking if this was because Fr. Mason unequivocally supports the Church's teaching on homosexuality, while Msgr. Lisante has a history of ambiguous statements and actions which call into question his own stand on this facet of the Church's moral doctrine. Click here for Fr. X's letter.I have also heard other very troubling reports. It appears that Fr. Mason is now being accused of being Father X himself.Since I introduced Father X on this blog first, and since I know him personally, I want to go on record to state clearly and emphatically that Fr. Mason is not Father X, and furthermore, these two priests are not connected in any way. They live in different corners of the diocese, in fact, and, to my knowledge, do not share more than a passing aquaintance with each other.Further, Fr. Mason did not order, organize, direct, write, or participate in this letter campaign in any way. As I've reiterated numerous times, he has disassociated himself completely from any resistance, protests, complaints, etc., about the new pastor of OLL.One of the parishioners actively involved in the letter campaign, confided to me in an email this afternoon that,
"Fr. Mason is far too much of a company man to take part in anything like this. I can't tell you whether this is because he actually still believes in these people, fears them, or a combination of both. He wouldn't dare come anywhere near this kind of guerilla tactic. He despises this type of thing, and has counseled patient resignation and trust in God from the beginning, bearing our cross one day at a time.
I, on the other hand, don't feel any such compunction. If anyone were to come in to my home and treat my parents with the kind of malicious backstabbing that Msgr. Lisante has treated Fr. Mason with, I'm not going to think twice about letting the whole world know what's really going on.What Lisante can't seem to understand is that he has hurt us all very deeply by the insensitive and callous way he has stepped on every symbol sacred to us. Trying to hurt Fr. Mason in such a way while blatantly lying to the people is something that is egregious and heartbreaking. There is no way we could not appeal to the priests in the diocese for their prayers and counsel. There isn't much more that we can do as they hold all the cards.
We should get points for being creative. After all, in a diocese where polite letters and phone calls to pastors and bishops don't get answered if you're asking the wrong questions, what other options do we have?
But for some to try and pin this on Fr. Mason is just despicable. If Lisante were a real man, he'd ask for the people responsible to step forward and meet with them face to face."
I want to emphasize that I know who Father X is, and Father X has, in fact, given me permission to release his name. However, knowing the fate of other priests who have stepped forward to denounce corruption in their dioceses, like Fr. James Haley in Arlington, VA, I am very reluctant to do so.If Father X's name were to be publicly revealed, he'd be at severe risk, and might even be physically harmed, as has happened elsewhere to those who have violated the clerical equivalent of the "Blue Wall." He'd be denounced as a homophobe, an extremist, and would be at risk of never being allowed to work in a parish again.If Fr. Mason is being attacked for something he didn't do, and didn't have the slightest connection with, just think what would happen to Father X who actually wrote the letter himself and is currently working in a parish.If you doubt that this kind of vicious recrimination and persecution can happen in the Catholic Church, then I suggest you read this account of what has transpired for several years in the case of a priest, Fr. James Haley, who was critical of another priest's behavior.Apparently, Father X has struck a nerve, but as long as the situation remains in this diocese where a neutral bystander like Fr. Mason is being questioned and threatened for the actions of others, Father X's name will remain in confidence, for his own protection.

When laymen act more like a Msgr then it is time for the Msgr to LEAVE

2008

M & M Twins Fulfilling Bishop Murphy's Wish
Bishop Murphy has made no secret of his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and his support for increased confession hours in every parish. Msgr. Lisante, strangely enough, seems to be doing all he can to resist his bishop's recommendations in this regard, while a pair of generous, committed laymen are doing all they can to comply.One thing I forgot to mention in yesterday's post is the fact that the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and confessions are available during the Fatima Holy Hour each month which a pair of well-known twin brothers organize and lead.In his recent Pastoral Letter on Penance and Reconciliation, Bishop William requests that pastors provide just such an arrangement in their churches. Read this passage from his letter which describes exactly what the M&M Twins do every month at the Holy Hour:
"Perhaps it would be helpful to have the second weekly hour of confessions linked to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Prayer for vocations to priestly and consecrated life in the presence of the Lord redouble the commitment we have to living as a community of communion reconciled to God and to one another. Another way to situate the sacrament of penance is to place it in connection with Mary, the Mother of God or with certain saints whose love and devotion to the sacrament was so manifest in their lives."It's amazing that two laymen have integrated all the basic elements mentioned by the Bishop: confessions, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer for vocations, Mary, and the saints into their monthly Holy Hours.Unfortunately, the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes is placing obstacles in their way by charging them an exorbitant $350 fee for the use of the church. If he were sensitive to his bishop's wishes, wouldn't he instead be eager to help facilitate the Fatima Holy Hours which so perfectly correspond with the Bishop's specific recommendations in his letter?Alas, far from complying with his bishop's request, Msgr. Lisante is actually cutting the hours of confession to one hour every week, in direct contradiction to the Bishop Murphy's request in the same letter that there be at least two hours of confession available every week:
"By this letter I am asking every pastor, without exception, to establish at least one additional hour at a different time during the week when there will be a priest in the confessional to hear confessions."The fervor these two laymen have for Catholic practice and devotion is exemplary. In a diocese where some of the clergy are intent on reducing and minimizing all expression of the Catholic faith, two earnest young fathers have taken time from their busy lives to provide a special time of prayer and devotion and opportunities for confession and adoration for others.If a priest isn't going to do himself what his own bishop wishes, then he should not be hindering laymen from doing the same. Let's hope Msgr. Lisante reconsiders this excessive fee and decides to welcome and encourage the twins in their praiseworthy ministry instead.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Father X and his help in our cause

Appeal to the DRVC Clergy
Msgr. Lisante can get along famously with celebrities and NY's beautiful people, but is his heart really with his own parishioners?
Last week I mentioned that some of the OLL parishioners were going to make a wide appeal to an unknown constituency. I am now at liberty to tell you that almost 300 small packets containing a letter from Fr. X along with a letter explaining the situation at Our Lady of Lourdes have been sent to all the priests of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. For a look at the letters that were sent, check back here and here.
It is their earnest hope that many of the priests in the diocese will respond with prayers for a just and speedy resolution to the ongoing crisis at Our Lady of Lourdes. They are also making a humble request for advice or suggestions as they endeavor to deal with the consequences of the many questionable pastoral decisions made by the new pastor in the past four months.
As has been reiterated here on this blog many times, a wise and compassionate pastor would have found a way to step carefully around the potential landmines in this unique parish, well-known for its solid conservative base and its preference for traditional Catholic beliefs and practices, managed for three decades by the same pastor.
Instead, the flamboyant new pastor rapidly pushed forward a completely foreign agenda, with no attempt to bond with his new parish or to seek understanding and good will from all sides involved.
If I had to pinpoint the biggest mistake that was made so far I'd have to say it was Msgr. Lisante's shockingly careless, indifferent attitude when it was discovered he'd been harboring a suspended priest in the diocese for eight years. His attempt to foist a completely unvetted, unauthorized priest, AWOL from his own diocese, upon his new parish, to be in contact with children and young people in stark violation of the rules and regulations mandated by the USCCB and outlined by the so-called Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was what stunned and outraged many in the parish, the watershed moment which tragically cemented the resolve of many in the parish against their new pastor.
Msgr. Lisante has yet to apologize for his egregious and irresponsible part in this affair. He has refused to answer the many calls, emails and letters he has received concerning Fr. Blockley's presence in the parish and continues to ignore all those who attempt to communicate with him about his further decisions: the appointment of Peter Rapanaro, the cutting of Masses and confessions, and the threats and intimidations made to Fr. Mason.
This has nothing to do with political or theological preferences. This is, quite simply, pastoral management at its very worst, and it has baffled, hurt and offended many, many people in the parish. This is the heart of the crisis---a pastor who, for some reason or another, has shown very little interest or regard for the feelings and concerns of his people. This is the issue that must be addressed someday soon:
Is Msgr. Lisante's heart really in this new assignment? Is he really committed to making this parish function like a family? Is he willing to roll up his sleeves and begin working towards a new understanding and involvement with his parishioners?
That's what remains to be seen, and hopefully, perhaps some in the diocese will step forward, albeit anonymously, with prayers and good counsel for those involved. Our grateful thanks to those of you kind enough to do so. JamesDaultry@yahoo.com.

With the Lord at our side, Who can stand against us?
Thank you all for your help, prayers, and assistance, this is not just one persons resistance, but the whole parish of Our Lady Of Lourdes Massapequa Park.
All telephone calls to Sean Dolan are now being intercepted by his secretary, and after giving him our telephone number, we never get any call back, I have been waiting over three weeks, plus have called two times, once to Bishop Murphy.
Like we say in Brooklyn, A FISH STINKS FROM THE HEAD DOWN!

Reply from 20 year parishioner of OLL MP

I am a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa, I have been a parishioner for over 20 years. In fact, my husband and I were married at OLL in October of 1987. We considered ourselves very fortunate to have Fr. Mason as our Pastor during this time. The placement of Monsignor Lisante as our new Pastor has been a grave disappointment to the parish faithful. We are now in a struggle between “conservataive values” and “Lisante values”. How absurd for faithful Catholics to be at odds with the very person our faith and parish have been entrusted to. It is as though the entire world is upside down; why should parishioners have to dictate Catholic Doctrine to our Pastor; a Monsignor no less? Should it not be the other way around? Should Monsignor Lisante not be the man preaching the word of God according the Catholic Catechism? Instead, we have a gay friendly Pastor who assists a suspended priest in his endeavor to elude his Bishop, permits this priest to say mass (while in full knowlege of his suspended faculties), is rarely present on the parish grounds, is not available to parishioners, is in the process of launching a television program for PBS, has removed crucifixes, cut the mass schedule and has now even reduced our confession schedule. What is going on at the Diocese of Rockville Center that would not only allow this priest to become a Monsignor, but to hand the last great orthodox church on Long Island to him? I feel as though I’m in a bad dream that will not end.The first shock was in Monsignor Lisante’s introduction of Fr. Matthew Blockley. Fr. Blockley was first known to us only as “Fr. Matthew from England”. Matthew Blockley did not come to us from England, he has actually been “missing” from his home diocese in Manila for the past 8 years and his faculties are suspended; Monsignor failed to mention this in his introduction. Furthermore, Monsignor Lisante permitted him to run roughshod through our parish. Fr. Blockley made it very clear that “when I come to a parish I make the changes I want and those changes are permanent”. At one point, it would not have been unreasonable to assume Fr. Blockley was the new Pastor; particularly since the Monsignor has rarely been seen on the parish grounds and this Fr. Blockely immediately asserted his “authority” to all. Monsignor Lisante has yet to explain his affiliation with Fr. Blockely or why he knowingly assisted him in eluding not only Bishop Camacho (Blockley’s Bishop) but Bishop Murphy as well. For all we know, he may still be enabling Fr. Blocklely as he has yet to return to his Bishop or his home Diocese. As if the Fr. Blockley debacle were not enough to prove a significant incompetence to lead this parish, he brought us Peter Rapanaro. Mr. Rapanaro is to “co-direct” our Music Ministry. The problem? Mr. Rapanaro has several ties to the homosexual community. On Mr. Rapanaro’s website (which he has since taken off the internet), you could find supporting evidence, the most obvious being his direction of a play titled: “My Big Gay Italian Wedding”. The premise of this play is to obtain a “church wedding” for two homosexual men, a wedding that is to be performed by a Catholic priest (in cassock). The details are too crude to go into, however, the play clearly blasphemes the Church on several levels and makes a complete mockery of the priesthood. How can employment of these men comply with the Diocese’s Child Safety and Protection Act? Furthermore, Monsignor Lisante refers to parishioners that oppose decisions such as these as “over zealous folks”, rather than addressing us or our legitimate concerns. I have written to the Monsignor and telephoned the Rectory several times, all to no avail. I think you would agree, there is surely nothing “over-zealous” about adhering to Catholic Doctrine. We have Altar Boys and a school on site, hiding a suspended priest (parishioners have no idea WHY he was suspended) and employing a man who openly promotes the gay lifestyle is certainly a poor example of “protecting” our parish children. The Diocese of Bridgeport ( Connecticut) and the USCCB websites both have Fr. Blockley’s MIA status listed, his Bishop is still waiting for him to return. Monsignor Lisante’s reply to all of this has been both insulting and condescending; his attitude is like that of a dictator. He is so out of touch with the pulse of this parish that I, personally, cannot understand why he would “choose” to stay on except for the fact (as I mentioned previously) that he is rarely even there. Monsignor Lisante is the polar opposite of what the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes humbly requested in March of 2008 when well over 400 of us met with the Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop Murphy’s representatives to implore them to find an appropriate replacement for Fr. Mason. Is asking for a doctrinally sound Pastor out of line? Monsignor Lisante does not follow Catholic Doctrine, does not respect the traditions of his own parishioners and further insults us by refusing to respond to our concerns. I have personally written to the Monsignor twice, and have yet to receive any reply or acknowledgement. When one calls the rectory or stops in, they are met with staff members and excuses as to why the Monsignor is not available. While he may be a very good businessman/public figure, his has proven his inefficacy to lead this parish, in just these few months since assuming the role of Pastor. This Monsignor is a proponent of contraception, homosexuality, married clergy and any number of misguided causes; and he does so while championing the Pro-Life movement. He is a paradigm of contradiction.The selection of Monsignor Lisante as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes is an affront to the faithful parishioners of this church. We are not “over-zealous folks” we are rational Catholics who know our Catechism. Is it not the responsibility of the Pastor to LEAD his flock? This Monsignor loses the respect of his flock with every passing week. This is the man who is supposed to lead us in our faith, instead he chastises us as being zealots. I can assure you he is only leading the faithful away from this church, away from our home and away from God’s home.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

He said- I said- Who said? They said?

Why is Msgr. Lisante claiming that Bishops Murphy (center) and Dunne (far left) want certain parishioners to leave Our Lady of Lourdes?I have just learned from a parishioner, a man of unimpeachable character and orthodoxy, that Msgr. Lisante has stated that the Children's Mass is being cancelled at the behest of Bishops Murphy and Dunne.Msgr. Lisante said the reason these two bishops want this Mass cancelled is because they believe the "subversives" at this Mass are the cause of the letters and phone calls to the chancery protesting the Blockley and Rapanaro affairs.Lisante went on to claim that the Bishops believe if the Mass is cancelled, all the unwelcome "subversives" will leave the parish.If what Msgr. Lisante is blaming on these two Bishops is true, this information is very troubling for two reasons:1) it reveals that while Bishop Murphy declares publicly that he wants every parish to be a safe zone for children, in private he is willing to exact the most ruthless payback on a small group of parishioners for bringing Fr. Blockley's unauthorized presence in the diocese to his attention.2) it also reveals that while Bishop Murphy publicly proclaims his defense of traditional marriage, he is apparently willing to tolerate the presence of prominent gay-marriage advocate Peter Rapanaro as a vocalist in the diocese and is determined to punish those protesting Rapanaro's employment at OLL.If, on the other hand, Lisante is using these bishops as cover for his own retribution on these families and parishioners, then he is a surprisingly harsh and vindictive man, with very little regard for truth and decency.Either way, this incredible news is a huge red flag that something is seriously amiss at Our Lady of Lourdes and in the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Even the children Msgr Lisante?

Several distraught parishioners called me yesterday with the news that the Children's Mass which the retired pastor, Fr. Mason, has offered for over thirty years in the OLL chapel every Sunday morning will be cancelled when Advent begins, while Fr. Heinlein's Youth Mass which has also been celebrated for many years in the school chapel, will stay on the schedule---the latest in a series of controversial and confusing changes made in the last few months by Msgr. Lisante.One of the parishioners, a father who says he has been bringing his children to the Children's Mass for the past sixteen years, told me that at the end of yesterday's Mass, Fr. Mason made a short announcement that the Mass was to be cancelled.After the Mass he said the bewildered families gathered outside the chapel, many in tears, asking why the popular Mass was to be ended. One mother said she was "devastated," telling how she had just discovered this Mass two years ago and rarely missed a Sunday to attend with her family.Another couple was visibly upset, explaining how they had continued attending the Mass after their children were grown because of the joyful family atmosphere at the weekly liturgy.One mother recalled how she has seen her children and other children grow up over the years attending this Mass. She told me, "They haven't just learned the faith, they've come to know a priest who is very knowledgeable, and has a great love and devotion for the Catholic faith, and that's what they'll remember. They've learned that the priesthood is about giving of yourself and communicating the truth with love."What makes this Mass so dear to the families and others who attend? One of the fathers described the format which is not your typical Children's Mass. No balloons and Barney puppets here! After the children do the readings, a chalkboard is set up and Fr. Mason, a la Bishop Sheen, explains the Gospel, with anecdotes, examples, his famous line drawings and a definition or two from the Catechism, in a manner accessible to young children and adults.Mass usually takes well over an hour, which is one of the reasons it's held in the chapel so the regular schedule of Sunday Masses won't be disturbed, but parents marvel that the children never complain. One mother told me that her young children and others' children and even the teenagers eagerly look forward to the Children's Mass every week and stay remarkably focused and attentive throughout the sermon. Babies and toddlers are welcome and can often be found contentedly playing in the back of the chapel or in the school hallway for a few minutes if the wiggles get to be too much.Several seniors can be found in the pews as well, contributing to the diverse and friendly family environment. Along with the substantial sermons the communal gathering afterwards is another highpoint of the weekly Mass. The adults mingle and catch up on the week's events while the children play together in the hall or on the school playground. Over the years, a strong bond of community has grown among the "Children's Mass" families and parishioners, which, I've witnessed myself, is open and welcoming to all newcomers.Just why this well-loved and long-established family Mass cannot be continued is inexplicable. One of the fathers inquired of Msgr. Lisante a few weeks ago if the Children's Mass would be allowed to continue, and Msgr. Lisante assured him it would stay in the schedule.Ironically, the Youth Mass on Saturdays with Fr. Heinlein which, like the Children's Mass, has been held for many years in the school chapel on Saturday afternoons is to be continued. Here's Lisante's effusive blessing on that Mass in the Sept. 21 bulletin:
On Saturday, we'll have the 5 p.m. in Church as we presently do. We also have a 5 p.m. Mass celebrated in the Chapel. Now, at one time this was considered a Mass for Youth. But, in reality, it's not that anymore. It is a wonderful group of parishioners who enjoy celebrating Mass with Father Tony Heinlein.I talked this over with Father Tony. And, for the immediate future, he'd like to continue celebrating this Mass. As I like and respect this good priest, I'm in agreement. The only change? It will become a 5:15 p.m. Mass instead of a 5 p.m.
Can't the Children's Mass community be similarly described as "a wonderful group of parishioners who enjoy celebrating Mass with Father Mason?" Why the double standard here?Perhaps Msgr. Lisante doesn't think this particular group of people is so wonderful. Perhaps one or two of those people complained about a homosexual activist being the song leader. Perhaps one or two of those people wrote a letter or made a phone call to the rectory and the chancery.Could he be taking the Children's Mass away as retribution? Some parishioners are wondering this very thing, considering Lisante's recent assurances that the Children's Mass would remain on the schedule. I have been informed that a priest in the OLL rectory has threatened repeatedly that Fr. Mason will be punished if parishioners continue to complain about Lisante's decisions.Retribution was threatened to occur in September by this priest, but it seems to have arrived now as payback for the Blockley/Rapanaro fiascos.If this is it, it's despicable that the highly respected, venerable former pastor will not be allowed to keep saying the Mass he delights in offering every Sunday morning, one of his few pleasures in retirement, in retaliation for a letter and a phone call allegedly made by a few people who may or may not even attend his Mass, a very remote connection indeed, but one for which he is apparently to be severely punished."Diamond Jim" Lisante has already shown he has no regard for the safety of the children and young people in his care---as demonstrated by his actions regarding Fr. Matthew Blockley, a suspended priest who helped manage OLL until he was discovered and expelled by the bishop, and his employment of Peter Rapanaro, known and feted in homosexual circles for the blasphemous play he directed in 2003.
Taking Fr. Mason away from the faithful people and children at the Children's Mass shows Lisante's complete contempt for their sensibilities and emotional attachments as well, and a total disregard for the impact this will have on a good, faithful, elderly priest.How sad that Jim Lisante, vaunted for his charm and easygoing ways, has shown himself to be an uncaring and ruthless administrator willing to hurt an innocent priest and the poeple who love him to protect his own reckless and irresponsible management of the parish bequeathed to him.Shame on you, Diamond Jim!

More Priests, Less service?


Lisante Cuts Confession Hours at OLL
Msgr. Lisante and Marissa Berenson at the Christopher Awards. Apparently, Jim Lisante has more important things to do on Saturday nights than hear confessions.Despite the fact that there was no statement from Bp. Murphy in this week's bulletin, there was another announcement which caused a lot of raised eyebrows among the parishioners I know there.OLL has always been one of the few parishes in the diocese to have Saturday night confessions in addition to confessions on Saturday afternoon between 4-5 pm. In addition, confession has always been available after the 8am weekday Mass and on Saturday mornings.In this week's bulletin, it was announced that starting in Advent, confession hours at the parish will be restricted to the 4-5pm slot on Saturday afternoons.Saturday night confessions have always been popular with the OLL parishioners, and more than a hundred people receive confession every Saturday in the afternoon and evening time slots combined.How all those people will now be accommodated in one hour is difficult to imagine.It's also difficult to understand why confession hours are being reduced when there are now six priests serving the parish: Msgr. Lisante, Fr. Heinlein, Fr. Seagriff, Fr. Paul, Fr. Cletus and Fr. Mason.Reducing the hours of confession is in direct contradiction to Bishop Murphy's request last year in his pastoral letter on Penance and Reconciliation in which he strongly advocates the frequent reception of confession: "It is my deepest desire that all of us avail ourselves frequently of this sacrament and that it might have a renewal of esteem and of practice within our beloved Diocese."The bishop then made this specific request:"Second, I thank the priests for the practice of having confessions available once a week usually for an hour before the first Vigil Mass on Saturday afternoon. By this letter I am asking every pastor, without exception, TO ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL HOUR at a different time during the week when there will be a priest in the confessional to hear confessions."Msgr. Lisante, by drastically cutting confession hours in half, instead of keeping them at the two to three hours the Bishop requested, is clearly not following the wishes of his bishop in this regard. He's not even following his own advice. At the 3rd Annual Mercy Conference this February, Lisante extolled the sacrament of Confession as "one of the most beautiful ways to ask for His mercy," and as a "treasure in the Church."Here's what he had to say: "I believe [the sacrament of Penance] is one of those treasures in the Church that we just take for granted, " he said, "or in the case of most Catholics, we simply ignore."He then used a crude analogy (more characteristic of the Lavender Mafia than a Catholic priest) to explain the benefits of the sacrament:"Some of us need to have a spiritual enema," he said, to great laughs. "Where is the joy? Where's the delight? I'm forgiven. I'm delighted to be forgiven. If I can not walk out into this world with a smile and a joy in my heart, then I'm not getting it."I'm not getting it either. If Msgr. Lisante really believes confession will bring more smiles and joy to the world, why is he making it so inaccessible for his people? Perhaps it's putting a crimp in his Saturday night schedule, though it has been noted by several parishioners that Msgr. Lisante has not heard confessions at the parish since his arrival four months ago. (For that matter, he doesn't seem to offer many Masses, either.)Just what does the flamboyant and dashing Jim Lisante do with all his time? Perhaps that will have to be explored in future posts.
Posted by JustTheFacts at 12:18 PM

Yes? NO? MAYBE?

Still No Statement from Bishop Murphy
Like Alice's journey through Wonderland, things at OLL are getting "curiouser and curiouser."
Earlier in the week an OLL parishioner was told by a secretary in the rectory that a statement from Bishop Murphy on the Rapanaro situation was in the process of being transcribed and would soon be announced.In a phone conversation with the rectory a few days later, as reported in an earlier post, one of the secretaries denied that an investigation of Rapanaro had taken place, insisting that the word "investigation" was a "poor choice of words." The diocese, she claimed, had only undertaken a "review" of the well-known singer and concluded that he could remain employed at OLL, and she confirmed then that Rapanaro was still employed at OLL.Given these two reports, many in the parish assumed a public statement from Bishop Murphy was forthcoming which would provide for a quick rehabilitation of Peter Rapanaro and re-establish him as music minister.This Sunday's bulletin, however, does not contain any statement from Bishop Murphy as was expected. Even stranger, Msgr. Lisante's weekly letter to the parish is missing from its customary place on the third page. On closer examination, the third page looks curiously empty compared to the other pages in the bulletin. The font is suspiciously large with an inordinate amount of blank space between announcements. In addition, the bulletin was not available online until late this morning---it's usually up Thursday or Friday.Hmmmm . . . Now this is just pure speculation, but it appears to this observer at least that Msgr. L. did have a statement on Rapanaro prepared for publication in the bulletin, and it was pulled at the last minute. Did Bishop Murphy change his mind? Did Lisante change his mind? Were there some last-minute revelations about Rapanaro? Did Rapanaro get disgusted and quit? Was the secretary misinformed????We just don't know. I do suspect, though, that a lot of people will be peeking in to church tomorrow to see if Peter Rapanaro, the Rockville Centre golden boy, is leading the congregation in song. Will a third week go by without his melodious tenor voice at the Sunday morning Mass? It will be fascinating to see.

et tu Bishop?

Whitewashing Gay Marriage at OLL: Will Bishop Murphy Comply?
Peter Rapanaro proudly displaying a poster of "My Big Gay Italian Wedding," the blasphemous play he directed in 2003. For more details on his play, click here.With the new disclosure from the OLL rectory that the controversial Peter Rapanaro will remain on the payroll as the parish music minister, it's obvious that Jim Lisante is determined to make Our Lady of Lourdes a gay-friendly parish.On record since 1985 as saying that the Church's teaching on homosexuality forces people to lead double lives, Lisante (a former Dignity chaplain), is apparently trying to make the radical gay agenda acceptable to the people of Our Lady of Lourdes.The only question remaining is whether Bishop Murphy will provide cover for this scandal being allowed to continue at Our Lady of Lourdes.It is inexplicable that a bishop who has attacked gay marriage for two weeks in a row in his own diocesan newspaper would let one of his pastors impose an open supporter of sodomite marriage on a parish in his diocese.In a surprising turn of events, Bishop Murphy in his column today boldly attacks the phenomenon of gay marriage: "The drum beat to make private sexual relations between two persons of the same sex into “marriage” has powerful forces for change behind it. Yet it is, as I have written before, pure “non sense" . . . In our promiscuous society, we would be in a sorry state if every time two persons “had sex” they would be recognized as married!"Murphy goes on to define the "love" between homosexuals as "a love that expresses itself in unnatural acts, acts that go against the teleology of the body, acts that not only contradict our bodily structure but which the whole Judaeo-Christian ethic has always labeled as sinful, whether one reads Leviticus or one reads St. Paul."Let's hope that Bishop Murphy has enough integrity to block Lisante's plan to bring a supporter of gay marriage into the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. If the Bishop does go along with this travesty of Catholic morality, he will look weak, inconsistent and hypocritical--as if he is not capable of saying no to the popular and well-known monsignor, despite his own recent public statements against gay marriage.This will lead many to ask how a priest like Lisante could force the bishop of a major diocese to play along with his schemes and manipulations. Many are already baffled that Lisante was allowed to get away with a brash defense of his own actions in the Blockley affair in his letter to the parish in the Aug. 24 OLL bulletin. where Lisante made bold insinuations about Bishop Tomas Camacho, a sitting bishop of another diocese, and carelessly brushed aside Bishop Murphy's expulsion of Fr. Blockley.Watch how Lisante cleverly spun Bishop Murphy's expulsion of Blockley in his letter: "[Blockley] has been asked to leave because he does not have the necessary paperwork from his Bishop to permit his work in our diocese."With a sweep of his pen, Lisante reduces Bishop Murphy's expulsion of Blockley, a severe disciplinary and punitive measure reserved for open theological dissidents or priests who have committed criminal acts, as merely a matter of missing paperwork!In the same way Lisante is now boldy glossing over the Rapanaro controversy, except this time we're not talking about violating ecclesiastical discipline. Rather, what Lisante is trying to legitimize is sodomy, one of the most disordered violations of God's plan for man, something so offensive to Him that Sodom and Gomorrah were completely incinerated.What remains to be seen is how Lisante's version of this seedy affair compares to the official diocesan response which we are still awaiting. Will they converge, or will Lisante be allowed to spin his own version of reality yet again and continue his efforts to normalize the gay lifestyle into Catholic culture?We shall see, but if the Bishop decides to rubber-stamp this lie, don't expect me to be silent about it.

Peter Rapanaro of "MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING" director

Dolan Fumbles His Lines
According to the OLL rectory, Sean Dolan, the DRVC spokesman, bungled the Rapanaro story.
A good friend just called to tell me that an answer to the Rapanaro situation has finally surfaced. Calling the rectory this afternoon, he was informed by the secretary that Rapanaro is indeed still employed at OLL. When asked the results of the diocesan investigation of the controversial music minister, the secretary objected to the word "investigation," insisting it was "a poor choice of words."She reported that the Rockville Centre Diocese conducted a "review" of Peter Rapanaro this past week and concluded that he may remain employed at OLL. When asked, she confirmed that all employees must undergo such reviews.Apparently, according to what the OLL secretary has reported, Sean Dolan, the diocesan spokesman, mistakenly used the term "investigation" in his official statement to The Wanderer reporter two weeks ago. When Dolan told the same friend of mine last week that there were "serious accusations" against Peter Rapanaro that were being "investigated," he was apparently using incorrect terminology in that phone conversation also.If the secretary is correct, Peter Rapanaro was merely going through the obligatory background screening required of all diocesan employees---(the only major problem being that his background check was administered three weeks after he was hired!)There's something that doesn't add up here. Is it really credible that the unflappable Sean Dolan, Bishop Murphy's spokesman, a man known for his careful and exact use of words, could make such a clumsy blunder and incorrectly report that Rapanaro was being "investigated" because of "serious accusations" against him when instead the diocese was just conducting a routine employee "review?"Either Sean Dolan was misinformed or he was deliberately misleading the public the last two weeks, or this is the same devious kind of "spin" Msgr. Lisante gave his parish about the Blockley affair after his long-time assistant was expelled by Bishop Murphy.
So . . . the shell-game between the OLL rectory and the DRVC chancery continues. It will be interesting to see if another new twist is forthcoming tomorrow. Be sure to stay tuned in!