Philip F. Lawler: Kudos to Archbishop Gregory; He 'Gets It'

Hats off to Archbishop Wilton Gregory for making a simple, sincere, manful apology when he realized that he had caused scandal by spending over $2 million on a new residence. 

The archbishop could have attacked his critics, saying that the complaints about his building plans were motivated by anti-Catholic bigotry. He could have tried to rationalize the plans, claiming that every expense was necessary for the work of the archdiocese. He could have argued that the expenses were covered by private donations and would not affect the archdiocesan budget. Or he could have stood on his authority, saying that he has the legal authority to spend funds as he sees fit. Sad to say, American bishops have used each one of these dodges to justify their spending in other cases. 

Read more at CatholicCulture.org >>

 

War Party Oligarch

By Patrick J. Buchanan

Is the Republican Party’s Middle East policy up for bid?

For four days ending Sunday, a quartet of presidential hopefuls trooped to Las Vegas to attend the annual gathering of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Impresario: Sheldon Adelson, the Vegas-Macau casino mogul whose fortune is estimated at $39 billion — 8th richest man on the planet — and who dumped $92 million into the election of 2012.

Adelson kept Newt Gingrich alive with a $15 million infusion of ad money, gutting Romney, and then sank $30 million into Mitt’s campaign.

This time Sheldon wants to buy himself a winner.

Downturn in Maple Syrup Market Saps New England Economy with Deadly Consequences

The once profitable crop leaves region devastated

Maple-syrup maker Ryan Tilley braves a forest aflame with exploded maple to tap his trees. A downturn in the maple syrup market is having harmful side effects for untapped trees throughout New England and deadly consequences for families living in close proximity to the once profitable but now neglected  and dangerous trees.

The New England Governors' Association has called on President Obama to declare a state of emergency in New England, while asking for FEMA's assistance in transporting thousands of low-wage, undocumented workers to the region to help with a growing backlog of untapped and potentially deadly maple trees.  The President is today expected to declare a state of emergency in the six northeastern states as soon as he returns from a morning round of golf at the Royal Hawaiian Country Club in Kailua.

Listen to the full and tragic story at National Public Radio >>

Yet Another Scandal Confronts America's Bishop of Bling; Myers Operates a For-Profit Business Without Paying Any Taxes

Darkness and Light: Newark Archbishops John J. Myers and Bernard Hebda

The Star-Ledger, which should receive a Papal medal for all the filth and corruption they have revealed in the Newark Archdiocese and on the part of its scandal-prone Archbishop, John J. Myers, reports that the Archdiocese has been operating a for-profit headstone and mausoleum business for 8 years without ever paying any state taxes.  

Myers' foray into the tax-free, for profit business world has threatened family owned businesses that have operated for decades.

Apparently, Myers does the for-profit thing far more skillfully than the non-profit.  He has closed 82 of the Archdiocese's schools and scores of parishes due to lack of funding, while building himself a country manor house replete with hot tubs, indoor and outdoor pools, elevators and multiple fireplaces.  When his spokesman (Myers doesn't speak with the media or the little people) is asked about the massive shutdown of schools and parishes, one is told that it is necessitated by "changing demographics."  What that frequently repeated euphemism means is that hundreds of thousands of souls, who were baptized in the faith and raised in Catholic homes and schools, no longer practice their faith because they are repulsed by one of the state's most notorious crime bosses, John J. Myers.

Having lived in the Newark Archdiocese for 10 years, your editor can attest to the truth "that where sin abounded, grace did more abound."  The Archdiocese has many, very holy, Christ-like priests who labor tirelessly in evangelizing and building the Kingdom of God.  There are also many groups and saintly individuals who persevere in their faith despite the corruption and often persecution by the one who should be their teacher, shepherd and sanctifier.  

If our Holy Father means what he says, it is time the Church in Newark had a leader worthy of her people and her founder.  Co-adjutor Archbishop Bernard Hebda is in place and ready to begin the rebuilding.

Maranatha Singers - "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God"

"Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you." 

Diocletian Visits the Vatican: Obama's Meeting with Pope Francis

It is perhaps unfair to liken Obama to one of the earliest and most terrible of Christian persecutors.  Diocletian, after all, implemented tax reforms which resulted in higher, but fairer taxes, and left his empire more stable and economically viable.  

The one-time "messiah," who was going to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet is now exposed as a failure, a liar and an extreme left-wing ideologue, abandoned even by members of his own party (at least those seeking reelection); a puffed-up object of humor and derision by America's friends and enemies.  And so, he masks his contempt for the Christian world-view and more than a billion of the world's Catholics by a cordial but meaningless visit with real authority, an authority that has seen obeisant little despots like Obama come and go across two millenia.  

The failed President hopes to bask in the new Pope's popularity and perhaps obtain tacit approval for his agenda, but no one is fooled by his purposes and he looks even smaller, more hollow and deceitful in contrast.  

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

 

British Defense Secretary: Why Britain and America Must Remain Partners of Choice in Defense

Both the United Kingdom and the United States face military budget constraints. Forces on both sides of the Atlantic must adapt to meet the global threats to peace and security. British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will address how Britain and America are collaborating on strategy and mutual capabilities as well as how the United Kingdom is positioning its Armed Forces for 21st Century security priorities. He will also reflect on British defense reforms that have already been enacted and how these policies are complementary to those of the U.S. -- a strong and like-minded partner. As the United States re-balances to focus on the Asia-Pacific region, Secretary Hammond will examine the need for Europe to realize its responsibilities in its own backyard -- including the crisis in the Ukraine -- and how these and future events do, and will, require deeper and closer collaboration between close allies.