THURSDAY

January 8, 1998   vol 9, no. 6    (No Section Two today)

SECTION ONE



A Tale of Two Kings

     Today is the birthday of Elvis Presley born in Tupelo, Mississippi many years ago and no longer of this earth. The sad thing in today's values is that his birth seems to get more attention than One Who was born in Bethlehem and Whose birthday we celebrated just two weeks ago - Jesus Christ. He is the KING OF KINGS and that includes ruling over the media-appointed king with the swiveling hips and curled lip, who, in his earlier career, vowed his allegiance to the Lord. But the mass media and public have made poor Elvis into a god - "the king" - and that is one of the great dangers of today's newsmakers and manipulators who chart an agenda of their own making totally alien to God's plans. People claim to have "spiritual experiences" looking for or communicating with Elvis. Let's get serious, folks. It's nothing more than senseless adoration of an idol and part of the new-age agenda. That same agenda is a threat to the Catholic Church today because the Church is the only institution that stands in the way of the New Agers and legions of satan who have, as their goal, to totally rule the masses. Therefore, the ones who elevate the "king" with a shrine in Memphis will do all they can to bring down the institution which elevates the King in the Tabernacle. The real King deserves and commands obedience as the rightful King of Kings. The Father said so when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments; Jesus said the same in His words and actions in Sacred Scripture; and the Holy Spirit reminds us daily to honor only One King - One Deity. Included in the attacks against the Church are the King's subjects - the Church Militant. As we resume our on-going megaseries on the Church Today, we illustrate how Catholic bashing has become a national pastime, reaching a zenith here in the late nineties. Click on Where is Holy Mother Church Heading as we near the Millennium?

Wake-up Call to all Catholics the twenty seventh clarion

installment fifty-three

Beware of False Prophets in the American Church - part fourteen:
"Catholic Bashing reaches its zenith with Catholics as targets for the PC Police"

      In our last installment before the abbreviated Holiday schedule, we spoke of the Catholic bashing that continues today and the fact the Roman Catholic Church is a prime target of the media, part of the masonic movement first concocted by the Rothschilds in France and infiltrated to America. In this day of "political correctness" no one can say anything derogatory about anyone...except for one group that seems to be exempted from the "protective list." That means it's open season on Catholics. The media, spin doctors, and the moguls behind the scenes who own many of the politicians and a good portion of America's commerce, are clever in their insidious, subtle attacks on Holy Mother Church. They are ready with the innocent alibis that they "meant no harm" but after the dig has been made on the front page or on the screen, it's easy to print a meaningless retraction buried in the back pages or camouflaged among credits on television. The people don't notice that, but they do take notice at the headlines - the sound-bites that portray the Church as a meddler, as an outdated institution, as a world-power that should be put in its place, as a voice that has run its course and should be ignored or ridiculed. They do a good job of convincing the public subliminally that the Church is a threat to the people, yet never identifying what the threat is, what the dangers are. Like satan, they feast on half-truths and twist them to give an impression of something that isn't. We have written much on this and mentioned in our last article about one of the lone voices in America speaking out - the Catholic League of Religious and Civil Rights headed by William Donohue who has come under attack not only by the media but by liberals within the Church as well and liberal publications that are flailing in the wind. Below we present an editorial submitted by Jim Trageser and printed in the North County Times last month which says it quite acutely. We bring it to you here as part of our continung clarion call to all Catholics to wake-up and expose the false prophets of today for what they are and for the sake of Christ and His One, True, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

      Satire? Maybe. But not much.

      In this age of political correctness, when the most damaging epithet that can by hurled is to accuse someone of intolerance, the PC police themselves still endorse some forms of bigotry. Anti-papism, for instance, is enjoying a remarkable renaissance, 37 years after American Catholics thought JFK had buried it forever.

      We now have a whole TV show dedicated to bashing Catholics. Can you imagine the outcry if gays, blacks or feminists were portrayed with the negative stereotypes proudly paraded each week in "Nothing Sacred" on ABC? And in October, on the legal drama "Michael Hayes," the antagonist was a mean old priest who wouldn’t violate his vows to keep a confession confidential.

      Even Mother Teresa, who forswore personal pleasure to do the dirty work none of the rest of us wanted to do, found herself posthumously pilloried for her Catholic faith. Safe in their comfortable, middle-class homes, the PC police sat down at their thousand-dollar computer terminals to pound out letters to the editor excoriating a woman who truly gave of herself. Why? She believed in her church’s teachings on birth control.

      Of course, the PC folks are hardly alone in their anti-Catholic bigotry. That streak is as deeply embedded in American culture (if less violently) as anti-Semitism is in European life. Much of the anti-immigrant fervor in this nation is a thinly veiled cover for anti-Catholic bigotry, as is true of the pro-choice movement.

      Interestingly, both right and left are more than willing to temporarily suspend their anti-Catholic bigotry for short-term political gain, using the church’s moral stature for their own purposes. Witness the eager embrace conservatives gave Vatican pronouncements against communism and abortion. Or the uncomfortable silence of the usually vicious critics on the left when the Church speaks out against the death penalty or in favor of immigrant rights.

      But when the Church takes a stand unpopular to either side, the spiritedness of the attacks betrays the publicly repressed sentiment: prejudice.

      The Church has no business interfering in civic life, we’re told (unless it’s on one of the above pre-approved topics). It should stop trying to impose its values on others (again, see exceptions above).

      No other group in American life has its very right to participate in public life challenged, the legitimacy of its existence questioned. No other group is told to just shut up and keep its views to itself. And that just doesn’t seem very tolerant.

To review all past installments of this on-going series, go to Archives beginning with the inaugural A CALL TO PEACE internet issue in January 1996. volume 7, no. 1.


The King has appointed His Queen - His very Own Mother - Queen of Prophets

      In today's world there is still hope in the timeless messages from God to His children through His Blessed Mother. These messages stress God's Infinite Mercy of the Father, the love of the Son, the unique gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the role Our Lady has asked all of us to play and pray in helping to bring about the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart which will usher the glorious Reign of the Sacred Heart. These messages, imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart point to the need for all mankind to return to God through prayer, fasting, sacrifice and the sacraments. Click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages One Hundred Thirteen and One Hundred and Fourteen

Message One Hundred Thirteen: October 2, 1991

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Feast of the Guardian Angels
      Beloved Hidden Flower, say to all my children: I bless you abundantly for all your faith. I am well pleased with the formation of the Divine Mercy Prayer House which my dear daughters have obtained through their faith and ardent love of my Son's Divine Mercy. Now may the Divine Mercy, which has long ago been revealed to Sister Faustina, now pour forth abundantly upon all mankind. May all my children in faith, hope and love come forth to assist these consecrated daughters in the beginning of the Order of Divine Mercy.

Message One Hundred Fourteen: October 4, 1991

Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
     Beloved Hidden Flower, tell my children to look heavenward and seek knowledge. Truth reigns there.

     Look at your world, little ones. The seams of society, government, culture, economy shatter into fragments and still you refuse to believe. The pillars of man's world crumble into dust. And where are my children? Oblivious, asleep to eternity.

     Beloved ones, listen to me, your heavenly mother. The hour is late. The serpent's tail has slithered across the earth and its spawn rules. Now its forked tongue spews poison into every mind and heart. You are saturated with it. It is base, perverted. Murder, abortion, homosexuality—every commandment is broken, the laws pertaining to God and to men.

     Seven pillars, seven towers of virtues are contained in the Ten Commandments. Without them you are submerged in seven deadly sins. I solemnly tell you they are "deadly."

     You must "will" to work for my Son and willingly give back to Him your all in every measure. All sorrows and pains as well as victories, joys and triumphs return to Him Who has saved you.

     I love you. I bless you. I give you God's peace. Pray more, my children. Never grow weary. God is Infinite. He will guide you if you ask. Why do you refuse Him?

     I love you. Pray! Pray! Pray! Thank you for responding to my Call!


NEXT WEEK: Messages One Hundred Fifteen and One Hundred Sixteen


The last few days before we seque from a royal time in the liturgy to Ordinary Time

As we leave the time of the birth of the King of Kings and the visit of the three kings, we enter the final days of the Days of Christmas leading up to Ordinary time with the liturgy of today and tomorrow. Click on LITURGY OF THE DAY

THURSDAY, January 8, 1998


FRIDAY, January 9, 1998


Medjugorje Monthly Message for December 25th

    Dear children! Also today I rejoice with you and I call you to the good. I desire that each of you reflect and carry peace in your heart and say: I want God in the first place in my life. In this way, little children, each of you will become holy. Little children, tell everyone, I want the good for you and he will respond with the good and, little children, good will come to dwell in the heart of each man. Little children, tonight I bring to you the good of my Son Who gave His life to save you. That is why, little children, rejoice and extend your hands to Jesus Who is only good. Thank you for having responded to my call! For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE

723 days and counting...

WORLDWIDE NEWS & VIEWS with a Catholic slant

HEADLINES:

VIETNAM'S BISHOPS OPPOSE "PATRIOTIC" CHURCH

      VATICAN (CWN) -- The Catholic bishops of Vietnam have expressed their disapproval for the prospect that some Catholics might participate in the government's efforts to set up a "Patriotic Catholic Union."

      The Patriotic Catholic Union, a proposal sponsored by the Vietnamese Communist Party, would resemble the Patriotic Catholic Church in China, where the government uses the association to control the work of an "approved" Catholic Church.

      According to the Vatican news agency Fides, an affiliate of the bureau Propaganda Fide, the Patriotic Catholic Union was set in motion at a congress attended by 350 delegates, including 140 priests and 20 nuns as well as various high officials of the Communist Party. Fides points out that these representatives accounted for only "a very small minority" of the country's Catholics. There are 1,800 priests and 10,000 nuns active in Vietnam today-- not counting those who are operating clandestinely, to serve the underground Church. There are an estimated 7 million Catholics in Vietnam, making that country the second most populous Catholic land in Asia (after the Philippines).

      The Vietnamese bishops have called upon the priests and nuns who were active in the efforts to set up the Patriotic Catholic Union to pull out of the group, in order to devote themselves entirely to their apostolic work. The government has not yet responded to the bishops' protests regarding the development.

      A Congress of Vietnamese Catholics, convened by the new Patriotic Union, was held from December 30 through January 1, but closed to press observers. According to Fides, the meeting was devoted to an accounting of the ways in which the Church could work "for the construction and defense of the country."

      In recent months, there have been anti-government protests by Catholic believers, particularly in the Diocese of Xuan Loc. There, demonstrations involving up to 10,000 Catholics have led to clashes with police. At the government's request Bishop Paul Marie Nguyen Minh Nhat intervened to call for an end to the confrontations, but the protests have continued.

      At the Congress of Vietnamese Catholics, the faithful were urged to be "true patriots" and "contribute to the stability and development of Vietnam." Le Kha Phieu, the secretary general of the Communist Party, made a personal appearance to ask Catholics to assume their "responsibilities to society," and the Party's daily newspaper Nhan Dan added that Catholics should have "a correct attitude" and respect "the independence, sovereignty, and laws of the state."

      The Congress did not take up the requests of the Vietnamese bishops, who have repeatedly petitioned the government for greater freedom to conduct worship, open schools, and operate hospitals and charitable agencies. Two years ago the bishops asked the government for permission to open two new seminaries, and to expand the number of young men admitted to the existing seminaries; the government has not yet responded. "The Catholic faithful are ready to make an important contribution to the development of the society and of the country, but it is the government which is placing limits on their work," one priest in Saigon observed.


MIAMI ARCHDIOCESE READIES PLANE TRIP TO CUBA

      MIAMI (CWN) - The Archdiocese of Miami, which earlier canceled plans for a cruise to Cuba last month, announced on Monday that it had chartered a plane to fly up to 180 pilgrims to see Pope John Paul's visit to the Communist nation this month.

      Archbishop John Favalora will lead the pilgrimage on January 25 which will cost $250 per person and will stay in Havana for about nine hours. The cruise ship was canceled after pressure from Cuban exiles groups in south Florida that the trip would offer a financial benefit to the Castro regime. "We're not going for any reason except as a religious pilgrimage," said Father Patrick O'Neill who is organizing the pilgrimage. "These are our sister and brother Catholics in Cuba and our spiritual leader the pope is visiting them."

      Cuban exile leaders said they did not object to the new trip. "This is not a big thing, it is a one-day affair, it is very limited and it doesn't have the symbolism that the cruise ship had," said Carlos Saladrigas, chief operating officer of The Vincam Group.


AUSTRALIAN BISHOPS DRAFT NEW CLERGY CONDUCT CODE

      ADELAIDE, Australia (CWN) - Australia's bishops' conference on Tuesday released a draft copy of a new code of clergy conduct that condemns sexual abuse, harassment, and abuse of power by priests and religious in ministry and positions of authority.

      The document, "Integrity in Ministry: A Document of Ethical Standards for Clergy and Religious in Australia," states that its goal is to promote justice and integrity in ministry and aims to protect children and adults from sexual abuse and abuse of power. Father David Cappo, executive officer of the National Committee for Professional Standards of the Catholic Church in Australia, said the code was drafted in response to recent scandals involving clergy. "It's a response to the fact that the credibility of the clergy and religious has been fairly severely tainted over the last few years by the various sex abuse issues in the Church," Father Cappo said. "(The document is) saying very openly that what has gone on in the past is totally inappropriate and is to be condemned."

      Father Cappo said that in having clear guidelines, clergy and religious could protect themselves from false allegations of abuse and make sure their actions did not convey ambiguous messages. "We know what is quite wrong and criminal but there are also gray areas and this document helps to clarify that," Father Cappo said. The standards also cover issues of financial administration, helping clergy and religious to work competently, leadership, and sanctions to be imposed in response to misconduct.


PRAYERS & DEVOTION

Consecration to the King of Kings

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     Christ, Jesus, I acknowledge You as King of the universe. All that has been made has been created for You. Make full use of Your rights over me. I renew the promises I made in Baptism, when I renounced satan and all his pomps and works. I promise to live a good Christian life. Especially, I undertake to help, to the extent of my means, to secure the triumph of the rights of God and of Your Church.
     Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer You my poor efforts so that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred Royalty and the Kingdom of Your peace may be established throughout the entire universe. Amen.

PROVERB OF THE DAY

"By Me kings reign, and lawgivers establish justice; by Me princes govern and nobles; all the rulers of the earth."

Proverbs 8: 15-16

For all other standard features, articles and columns, click on Archives

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January 8, 1998 volume 9, no. 6          DAILY CATHOLIC


January 1998