Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Cardinal Hoyos working for unity in our church.

At least someone in the Vatican is working for unity that we need so badly:
Monday, February 9, 2009
Zealous Shepherd Pursues Unity in Face of Worldwide Doubt, Skepticism
The respected Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, whose charm, sagacity, and tireless diplomacy once won over hardened drug lords in his native Colombia, is now on the verge of concluding the reconciliation of the SSPX---an endeavor thought to be impossible by many in the Church, including our own Bishop Murphy who expressed his doubts just last week that it could ever be accomplished.

Rorate-Caeli is reporting that Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, in an interview with a Colombian radio station, has declared that---contrary to the dour prophecies and pessimistic pounding of the SSPX by certain bishops and cardinals the world over---he and the Holy Father are "moving forward" to complete the process of reconciliation with the SSPX.

An excerpt from the Cardinal's remarks:

"I have always had truth as a rule. The Holy Father knows this. We are moving forward, ensuring that this unity of the Church be rebuilt, and that this schism be completely ended."

"[W]hat is important at this moment is that the Pope has stopped a schism. The charity that Christ wanted to exist in the Church has been remarkably reestablished, and paths of hope are opened."

Cardinal Hoyos is to be commended and congratulated for his diplomatic skill, his remarkable persistence and his solicitude for the separated traditionalist factions. Because of his work, virtually the whole traditionalist world is either now or will be soon insured a welcome place in the Church to carry out the work of salvation in full communion with the successor of Peter.

The Colombian-born cardinal has a true zeal for souls and has won for himself the gratitude and trust of traditional-minded Catholics all over the world.

Please continue to pray that his efforts to regularize the SSPX will be accomplished very soon. If so, the canonical re-integration of the order founded by Archbishop Lefebrve will be Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos' crowning legacy forever.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

In probably the strongest language yet, an American Catholic bishop is actually flirting with the "E" word when it comes to pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians.
Catholic Bishop Blasts Pro-Life Democrat Bob Casey for Abortion Funding Vote
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com )-- Catholic Bishop Joseph F. Martino of the Diocese of Scranton is taking Sen. Bob Casey to task for voting to fund groups that promote and perform abortions overseas. The Pennsylvania senator is supposedly one of two pro-life Democrats in the Senate, but his vote betrayed any pro-life principles.(Casey is actually in favor of murdering unborn children under certain circumstances, as well as a firm supporter of Obama. I'm still wondering how LifeNews.com can qualify him as pro-life.)

As LifeNews.com previously noted, Casey opposed an amendment to a Senate bill to restore the Mexico City Policy.

That's the federal provision that makes it so taxpayers are not forced to fund groups that promote or perform abortions in other countries and it is a provision that pro-abortion President Barack Obama rescinded in his first week in office.

In a letter to the senator, Bishop Martino accuses Casey of “cooperating with … evil” by casting the pro-abortion vote.

In the letter, published in Thursday’s edition of The Catholic Light, the diocesan newspaper, he urges Casey to live up to his Catholic faith by voting to “oppose abortion."
Bishop Martino said Casey vote against the Mexico City Policy “will mean the deaths of thousands of unborn children" and reminded him that “this is an offense against life and a denial of our Catholic teaching on the dignity of every human being.”

Martino said Casey should reverse his vote because his “responsibilities as a Catholic … exceed even those of your office.”

“Your failure to reverse this vote will regrettably mean that you persist formally in cooperating with the evil brought about by this hideous and unnecessary policy,” he wrote.“As I have done several times before, I offer to make myself available to you to discuss the grave concerns that I raise here.”
Now we get to see if Bishop Martino will follow up with the obvious next level, or if his words are all just bluster.

Pray for Bishop Martino's strength of will .