Is the Catholic League Survey of Catholics Worth Reading if You’re Not a Bishop?

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What's up with those 'catholics' over there?

What’s up with those ‘catholics’ over there?

Bill Donohue’s Catholic League has released an extensive survey of Catholics.

Earlier this month, the Catholic League commissioned The Polling Company, headed by Kellyanne Conway, to conduct a nationwide survey of Catholics. In addition to the usual questions asked of respondents, we asked about issues the media have little interest in pursuing. We also dug deeper, seeking to tap the ways Catholics are conflicted over various matters.

The problem with many surveys is that they seek to elicit a black and white response to contemporary subjects; this is especially problematic when contentious issues are being weighed. Our survey was designed to allow for a more nuanced, and therefore accurate, response.

It’s almost impossible to find helpful statistical data on Catholics in the press.  This is simply because they adamantly refuse to consider any criteria that would identify the true Church militant:  those who are actually faithful and obedient to the Church.

Instead they count any baptized Catholic.  In a Church two generations from a heretical putsch and a complete collapse of faith, it’s easy to find ‘catholics’ like that.  It would be good for an organization to lend a little clarity.

Alas….

The findings suggest that most Catholics are faithful sons and daughters, and this is especially true of practicing Catholics. To read my analysis of the survey data, click here. The analysis has been sent to the bishops of every diocese in the nation.

most Catholics are faithful sons and daughters, and this is especially true of practicing Catholics!

I haven’t looked at this survey but if you think, as that sentence reveals, that Catholics are faithful sons and daughters of the Church even when they’re not practicing, then you’re not adding anything to what’s already been done.  I’m sure the bishops will appreciate the effort though.

The Church must stop considering those who are neither practicing nor faithful as Catholics.  They are lost.  We lost them by chasing them.  When the sheep see the entire flock chasing after the lost sheep in unison, they follow the leader.  That’s how this happened.

Our Lord doesn’t chase.  He leads and has to be followed.

 

 

What Will The Last Word Be On Father Corapi?

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corapi

Just another corrupt priest?

At Renew America Catholic reporter Matt Abbott makes a statement about Father John Corapi, who dropped off the radar screen about four years ago after apparently leaving the priesthood.

A bit of good news to share: A reliable source has informed me that Father John Corapi, a popular priest among orthodox Catholics who departed public life after a tumultuous period a few years ago, remains in the priesthood and is re-establishing his spiritual life.

What does this mean?  Is father permitted to say Mass or hear Confessions?  Is he living in a monastery?  At some point will we hear something vindicating Fr. Corapi?  Will he return to public life one day?  I would have to guess that if he could he would.

There’s no indication he’ll be returning to public life anytime soon, if ever. However, it’s nice to know that Father Corapi can at least be a quiet prayer warrior during this extremely difficult time in the Church and world.

I won’t go into the particulars about what transpired in the past – it’s water under the bridge – and I’m sure there’s information on the Internet (some of it more reliable than other information, obviously) for those who may not be familiar with the situation. Plus, those who really didn’t pay attention to him in the first place likely don’t care one way or the other about his current status.

Father Corapi was very popular.  Many thousands were catechized and strengthened through his ministry.  He was not politically correct.  He was a conservative Catholic and a military man.  He was not reluctant to call out his superiors if he thought necessary.

The bottom line is that we all are wounded and spiritually/morally fall often (I know I do!). We just have to try our best to keep moving forward in faith in this “valley of tears.” A very difficult task, I must say. That doesn’t mean condoning moral corruption or remaining silent about it, but we all need God’s mercy.

I’ve never seen anything convincing about the accusations against Fr. Corapi but it isn’t surprising that his own leadership moved against him.  That kind of thing happens to faithful and effective Catholics at times.  Slander, false accusations, bogus proceedings and judgments.  It’s entirely possible.  I did however, see an entire Catholic media fall on him based on the internal conclusions.  I’m not satisfied that a bishop, a tribunal, and some hearsay are the last word on him.  I think few people know what actually happened.

It’s true he acted quite odd and he’s not saying anything.  What would you do if your enemies tried to crush everything you’d built and forced you to end your life confined in some facility run by heretics, homosexuals, and cutthroats?  He might have been looking at that possibility.  I’m not concluding he’s a victim.  I’m just saying that it wouldn’t be so unusual if he were.

Do you remember what they tried to do to Fr. Frank Pavone?  They said he was guilty of gross financial mismanagement, obfuscation, refusal to cooperate.  But when facts became released it just looked like he took on a bit more debt in a bad economy.  They sure had a lot of nasty accusations flying about the founder of Priests for Life though, and ahead of big elections.  He was skyping from his cell in the Texas desert.

In order for Father Corapi to be a fraud he would have to have been a fraud all along.  I can see a man sinking, but he was once faithful priest and a clear thinker.  Sin can darken a mind, but it doesn’t easily conquer someone with faith and with a conscience formed like that.

 

 

Who Does Pope Francis Love More, America or Obama?

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Not abusing Capitalism but still hard-working

Not abusing Capitalism but still hard-working

Vatican’s La Stampa has an interview with Obama’s ambassador to the Vatican, former Catholic Relief Services Director, Kenneth Hackett about Francis’ upcoming visit to the United States and Cuba.  Apparently the whole thing was hatched not so much at the invitation of the House’s Boehner, but Obama.

The President invited him to the United States?

Yes, the President invited him and more importantly, in the context of that invitation, the dynamic, the personal interaction, was more than warm; they hit it off on a number of issues including, I think, migration, poverty, exclusion, and people falling through the cracks. Those are the kind of things that I believe they were discussing behind closed doors. As soon as we were let in immediately afterwards you could feel the atmosphere in the room was very positive. So somehow Pope Francis had a very positive view of President Obama and what he is trying to do, and they clicked. And I think that led to his decision to come.  

Then the following September I carried the invitation from Speaker Boehner to speak to Congress and I probably said at the time that this is a long shot, but Francis picked it up and there it goes.

The UN was not on the cards in the very beginning because we kept hearing it’s going to be a pastoral visit, and yes he’ll go to the White House, and then he’ll go to Congress.  But all of a sudden (UN Secretary General) Ban Ki-moon came in and locked down the UN because a lot of people were saying it is the 50th anniversary of Paul VI’s visit to the UN, and Francis could speak about climate and about the sustainable development goals, and so they were creating an environment for him to speak at the UN.

“The dynamic, the personal interaction, was more than warm?”  What does that mean? If it was more than warm was it hot?  Did the pope have the least bit of Christian council or concern for the world in the face of a man like Obama?  Is President Obama Pope Francis’ favorite person in the world?  Was he in love?  Is Obama a spiritual guide to Pope Francis?

What was the President’s reaction afterwards?

As you know well, the private conversation went on for a very long time.  And coming out of the Pope’s meeting Obama was refreshed. He was happy!

Obama was refreshed after a very long conversation via interpreter?  Was there a shower in there?  Why was he so happy?  Did his meeting with Francis succeed beyond his wildest dreams?

What is your own personal memory of that meeting?

It was two friends talking about things, even though they had never met before.  As I was seeing it, this was warm and positive, and everything I have heard from the White House since he got back says the President was overjoyed with the visit.

Why is the entire monstrous liberal machine giddy about Francis?  Is he handing over the patrimony of the Church so fast they can’t contain their demonic glee?

The lengthy interview is full of spin, but the biggest helping of it is applied to Francis and Communism, I mean, ‘anti-Capitalism.’

Some of his statements in the encyclical “on our common home” and in his speech to the Popular Movements, during his visit to Bolivia, were strong critiques of the way the economy is run. Many in the US read them as a strong critique of capitalism.  What do you say to these critics?

I didn’t read them as a strong critique to all forms of capitalism. I think he’s basically saying what his predecessors said, but he is doing it with a Latin flare. He talks about the excesses of capitalism, and as I pick up the paper and I see who has been jailed in this place and that place for some banking scandal, I see there are excesses.  I cannot believe that he is saying that the capitalist system which rewards hard work, good decisions, is totally wrong. He’s certainly not saying that the socialist system is the answer! He just saying don’t abuse things, don’t abuse your capitalism.

 “A Latin flare, eh?”  He has that. 

In Francis’ mind having more than someone else is an abuse of freedom.  As he travels to Bolivia and around the world Francis is saying that situation must be fixed.  He wants a new ‘system’ where things are no longer ‘unequal.’  If the free system where you buy goods and services and spend your own money to do so doesn’t work, then we need a ‘system’ where that’s restrained, checked.  Francis wants to impose some alternative to our God-given right to our lives and property, and then call it Catholic morality.  That’s socialism, communism, Liberation Theology.  Obama loves it and Ambassador Hackett is lying.

He’s certainly has raised this concern in various quarters about the stratification of our society, that so few at the very top have accumulated so much wealth and have left out the entire next three or four levels, and not just the poorest but even those who are struggling to get by on 30,000 dollars with three kids – that’s below the poverty line in some cities.  He recognizes the issues, and I think those who are criticizing him as anti-capitalist are going too far. I may be wrong but that’s the way I read it.

I hope I’m not going too far but, do you know where capitalism isn’t ‘totally wrong’ either?  Cuba.  The state-controlled Cuban labor scheme leaves employees with 4% of every dollar they generate, but that 4% is still some hard-working capitalism.  I may be wrong but that’s the way I read it.