Get Up, and Get Moving....

Castrated or Non-Existent?

2007-01-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Last October, the test was the heterodoxy on the gay marriage issue. On the one hand, the pro-gay marriage Fr. Massingale got near unlimited space to blather on in "our" Catholic Herald...but in the other hand he was was suddenly canceled when he was scheduled to offer his tripe at St. John Vianney Parish in Brookfield (recently given new, if only temporary, leadership).

Now His Excellency, the chief teacher and guardian of orthodoxy in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has another chance to prove what he's got.

Thanks to Fr. Bob Wilde's, wild, wild west side university, we will soon get to see if Archbishop Dolan has the courage to do what other bishops have done, and prevent the atrocity of a supposedly "Catholic" University putting on THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES.

To help provide vertabrae for His Excellency's backbone, every faithful Catholic should do two things: Write a letter to Fr. Bob Wilde-side, with a copy to His Excellency; and a separate letter to His Excellency with a copy to Fr. Wilde. Paper copies are better than e-mail.

Here are the addresses:

The Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
P. O. Box 070912
Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912

Fr. Robert Wilde, S.J.
Office of the President
P. O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881

I offer all of this with no real hope that anything will really be done by the feminist powers that be at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Please do write.

Mike

News from the west.

2007-01-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

Sources at the parish tell me that Fr. Paul Hartmann has been appointed "administrator" of St. John Vianney Parish in Brookfield. The pastor, Fr. Leonard Van Vlaenderen, (yes, Archbishop Weakland's right hand man) is said to be taking a leave for "health" reasons.

Fr. Hartmann is said to be originally from St. John's parish. He seems to be the got-to troubleshooter for Archbishop Dolan.

Time will tell how this develops regarding both Fr. Van Vlaenderen and Fr. Hartmann.

Freudian? I think not.

2006-12-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

OK, so I know what he probably meant to say, but somebody should teach our priests how to speak more succinctly...

From today's MJS article about the difficulty of selling closed churches:

"We would not sell the property to anyone who would be using it for a purpose contrary to the nature, purpose or morality of a church - an abortion clinic, maybe, a gentlemen's club," he said.

Does that mean that a "gentlemen's club" might be an option? Is the airport lounge looking to expand?

The better questions might be about what snide comments we all want to read into this: freudian slip, over compensation, deep dark secret...

Stop the Hypocritic Express!

2006-12-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

Belated Merry Christmas to all!

Two postings from a recent thread (which I intentionally brought to a close) which demand reacting to:

Anonymous said...

I have been a faithful reader of this blog. I have also provided information which I probably should not have. If my identity was discovered, I could be in big trouble and possibly without a job. Given the fact that this site has allowed "nasty" people like dad29 to spread harmful rumors, I will provide no information in the future. I would not be able to live with the slimey feeling.

Monday, December 25, 2006 11:09:00 AM

First off, even I was not so addicted to the words of wisdom that appear herein that I was able to get here on Christmas Day.

Second, if you could get fired, I can only guess that your own boss might think you are "nasty". But, you made postings because you thought it was, in the end, the right thing to do. Maybe you wanted something to be different. Other posters to this blog might think that the public perceptions that are created by this "cohabitation" are worth raising questions about. If you have some unwritten right to violate the trust of your boss, that seems to be of a different order than a member of the Catholic faithful asking questions about accountability. Please, don't try to make your risk seem like the high road.

Anonymous said...

You people are sick sick sick. Amazing how your speculation leaps (no, sprints!) to laying blame on lefties and barely muting your hatred of gays. No wonder people look on us as a bunch of modern day Klansmen.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006 10:56:00 AM

Whoa. The second stop on the Express train.

Lefties? Where at all are they mentioned at all?

Hatred of gays? Two things here: 1) You may not like it, but the behavior is still a moral problem in the Church and, I would add, that the political aspects of what seems to be Mr. Montoya's agenda are open to criticism for many reasons; 2) Homosexual or otherwise, a priest cohabitating with a man or a woman begs some questions from those members of the Catholic faithful who are scandalized by it.

Now don't give me that tired "but there may be a good explanation" tripe. When there is one good explanation among a dozen bad ones, the role of the questioner is either to allow the clarification of the reason to benefit all (especially, in this case the dignity of the priesthood and all priests), or to indicate the need for a correction in behaviors.

Folks, perceptions are real (just turn on your TV), and for public people like our priests, there is an even greater responsibility to attend to those perceptions and how they are created or reinforced.

For the last forty years one of the great criticisms of the Church has been a lack of accountability among priests and bishops. It may be a somewhat course dialogue that occurs on blogs like this, but it is certainly one of the few mechanisms to either express frustration that there is no real accountability here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee or it could be the mechanism that might just bring about some of that accountability.

These priests can't have both ways...all the rights they want, but none of the responsibilities that many of us bear as well.

Mike

Cheap Grace II, the truth comes out?

2006-12-21T05:05:00.000-08:00

So, did anyone attend the "Communal Reconciliation Service" at St. Mary's, Hales Corners? Did you get the general absolution that all have been blogging about?

If yes....what will His Excellency do? Don't hold your breath.
If no....was it never actually planned? Were the illicit plans changed thanks to blogs like this bringing it up?

Lastly, who preached the warm fuzzies homily?

Mike

Cheap Grace?

2006-12-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

It has been reported here by an anonymous poster to the last thread that St. Mary's Parish, Hales Corners, will be offering general absolution for anyone who happens into the church on Wednesday, December 20th. Other than the parish bulletin making an odd distinction between "Communal Reconciliation" and "Individual Reconciliation", I have not found conclusive proof that this will occur. But, since Fr. Chuck will likely be out shopping for new ties, and Mary Matestic will be the presider at the service, I can find it believable. If someone knows for sure, please let me know.

Remember when His Excellency Timothy M. Dolan implied that he was taking a stance on this? He even gave the implication that general absolution was the first step down the slope to denying our own sinfulness. But, we should be getting used to the fact that sometimes people say a whole lot more than they are actually willing to act on.

Could this be happening with His Excellency's advance knowledge and, gasp!, approval? There is no question that it is the Archbishop's responsibility alone to determine if general absolution can be used. Well, while I think there is a lot more orthodoxy in what the Archbishop says than in what he has ever done, I will give him the benefit of the doubt. His priests (and priestesses) just flat out ignore him and the Church in so many ways.

The problem for all of us simple, hopeful Catholics, is that we are left with no good option to trust him. Here are the choices that I see: either the Archbishop:

a) has no intention of having his warm fuzzy words be matched with any actions;
b) says one thing, but (at least tacitly) approves of something else; or,
c) when confronted with dissenting activities, he does nothing to discipline the wayward priests or diocesan center bureaucrats.

For a little more perspective, from what I have been told, the tie-wearing Fr. Charles was already a problem with his questionable practices at his last parish, St. Sebastian's. But, under the present Archbishop, his negative impact is neither corrected nor isolated. Instead, it is moved from a medium sized parish, to a larger stage.

Reluctantly, I even have to offer props to at least one Cousins Center underling. Even the impossible to navigate, user-unfriendly, website indicates that, if reports are true, Fr. Cheap-Ties will be violating something.

For more useful information that anyone can print off and mail to St. Mary's Parish, or to the Archbishop himself, check out what the Vatican says. (Fr. Cheap-Ties...the Vatican, that's that big Church in Rome.)

I would love to hear if other places are using general absolution.

Gotta finish some Christmas cards.

Mike

From the comments section...

2006-12-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

Not much on my mind lately other than preparing for Christmas. But the Archdiocese does keep things interesting.

Posted in another thread:

Dad29 said...
Just for fun--which Archdiocesan priest, assigned to a prosperous West Suburban parish, just moved in with Jeff Montoya?
Saturday, December 16, 2006 9:40:00 AM

So, just who is Jeff Montoya?

Actually, I don't know the priest to whom Dad29 refers. Anyone want to share more hints?

Happy shopping.

Mike

I know I am late.

2006-12-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

Saw a little note in the National Catholic Register. It refers to the following pronouncement from Marquette University:

Department Annouces New Major in Theology
Web Posted: 10/05/2006

Marquette’s Department of Theology announces a new “Major in Catholic Theology.” The new major is designed to provide students with the level of preparation more and more required of theology teachers in Catholic high schools across the nation. Although it will officially begin with its listing in the 2007 UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN, students can already take courses in the program beginning the fall of 2006.

First, the spelling error is in the orignal! Wow, that Jesuit education just keeps on proving itself.

Second,
A NEW "Major in Catholic Theology"?
NEW?
What theology have you been teaching thus far?

I guess this serves as a tacit admission that what Fr. Bobby Wilde's and Fr. Bryan Massingale's theology department have been teaching up to now HAS NOT BEEN CATHOLIC.

Sadly, I fear that one step forward represented by this momentary honesty, will be undermined by the fact that MU's view of things Catholic, went the way of the Warriors a long time ago....this will be no different.

Mike

P.S. A few weeks until my first anniversary as a blogger. 9,694 unique visits thus far. Let's shoot for 10,000 by the 29th! Invite your friends.

By the company they keep.

2006-11-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

One of the most intriguing conundrums to an astute observer of the Archdiocese of Milquetoast bureaucracy has to be the just under the surface machinations of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Supporting Fund.

Now, this seeming legacy that stems from keeping crazy old men on life support long enough to declare their will null, is in the news again.

Like most of the good Weaklandistas, this Weakland era holdover has found the great left-wing bogie man of the new millenium: Halliburton!

With Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan holding one, out of the grand total of three votes (that's consultative for you), this namesake of the local Church is now lead plaintiff in the vast left-wing paranoia about a vast right-wing conspiracy.

Their first lawyers are admitted tools of the Democratic (read as baby-killers) party.
Even other law firms are critical of them. Ain't that the sharks turning on one another.
And look at their winning record: Al Gore in Florida, and Napster.

It all seems just a little too sleazy, from the life support in the 90's to the liberal shilling in this millenia. Why is a Catholic archbishop associated with all of this?

Oh yea, millions of dollars! With that as the context, when "jump" is called I guess the only response to Erica John is an archepiscopal "How high"?

Mike

Some good advice.

2006-11-26T18:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry, holiday week. That means it was pretty slow among the oddball crowd of archdiocesan bureaucracy.

Thanks to Diogenes, I saw great...let me say that again, GREAT...advice for every Catholic bishop, local or otherwise. hehehehe.

Restating an article in the Wall Street Journal:

Last month several dozen top Catholic theologians crowded into a Vatican chapel for 7:30 a.m. mass with Benedict.

The pontiff gave pointed marching orders:"Speaking just to find applause or to tell people what they want to hear ... is like prostitution," he told the theologians, according to a transcript. "Don't look for applause, but look to obey the truth."

Emphasis mine!

Hmmmm? Who could this be directed at??????

Mike

P.S. There are still rumblings on the auxiliary bishop front. (I thought you priests weren't supposed to comment about the backround checks?) I must be careful, would not want my free speaking source to clam up too soon. Just remember fathers, parish councils have mouths too. Is there a surprise on offing? Someone not previously handicapped?

Clarification, or "Would You Believe It..part 2"

2006-11-21T12:56:00.000-08:00

Just so nobody thinks I getting soft, maybe the cynical sentence below should read:

"That picture is a better ad for vocations than anything the archdiocese puts forth on it's website."

Would you believe it....

2006-11-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

Five seminarians...
Five white albs (cassocks would be nicer)...
Two (maybe three) bowed in prayer...
One striking his breast in a mea culpa...
And this in the Journal-Sentinal...

It's getting cold out, but I did not think it was that cold.

A better ad for vocations than anything the archdiocese puts forth on it's website. Check out a Video Message from Father Lobacz. Can't you just feel the inspiration to solid young Catholic men? A smile wouldn't hurt would it?

Thanks to the guys who take their vocation seriously.

Mike

Interesting tidbits.

2006-11-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

For those interested, a sober article on the problems with how bishops are chosen, entitled "Choosing Our Shepherds", by Charles Wilson of the St. Joseph's Foundation. I must say that I find this group to be interesting. A good resource for traditional Catholics who feel brushed aside by bishps, but themselves rather populist in their approach to things. I have to think about this one for a while.

As an observation...the Archbishop's New York State of Mind seems to have faded as quickly as it flared up (at least for now). I wonder what the cocktail party chats were in the USCCB meetings?

If it is true that a priest, or priests, are being researched as a possible auxiliary, and that the prospects of immediate cardinalatial needs in NYC and Chicago have passed (and Detroit just got a new auxiliary for Cardinal Maida to break-in) I guess His Excellency might be staying for awhile. But then again, was last week's trip to Baltimore just a dry-run?

Unrelated, but interesting...who is Penitens? Very interesting mix of favorite music and favorite movies.

Tidbits from Sitemeter, the program used to track visits to this website:

WOW, the first, and thus far only, visitor to this little site by someone in Singapore during the same time that President Bush was visiting there. Coincidence? LOL. Even I know better.

Pretty regular visits from someone in Anchorage, AK. Hmmmm...who could that be? Is he looking to take over another Catholic newspaper?

If you want visitors from predominantly Muslim countries, be sure the the words "gay" and "homosexual" are there to be found by search engines. I wonder if those burkhas are covering a too much for too long...what is a randy man supposed to do?

Enough for now...off to mass.

Mike

Death and Taxes.

2006-11-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

Ironic that on All Soul's Day, November 2, 2006, His Excellency, Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan, included this little tidbit about taxes in a message to his priests. (Thanks to my favorite anonymous contact among the Milwaukee presbyterate...)

3. For the last 18 months, members of my administrative team have been studying the possibility of raising the archdiocesan parish assessment. There is compelling data as to why we should raise the assessment, including the facts that there has not been a change to our formula for close to 30 years, that our assessment is among the lowest in the nation, and because, let’s face it, the cost of doing business continues to rise steadily each year. Part of the process was to have included consultations with important stakeholders this fall.

However, the work of the team analyzing the assessment was stalled as we prepared for the California lawsuits. Once those cases were resolved, we realized that thoughtful, adequate preparation could not be completed in time for the consultations. So, we’ve decided to postpone our consultations on the parish assessment until next fall. That does not mean that we won’t continue work on the issue. Your input, along with that of your key collaborators, such as your business manager, trustees, finance chair, among others, will be helpful to us as we continue to study the issue. I would appreciate it if you would share this information with these folks, but for now, know that the earliest we would do anything with the parish assessment would be for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

So, the Archbishop is going to raise the "assessment" on his parishes. Make no mistake, this is a TAX. It is a tax that pays for bad liturgy, questionable guidance on religious education, and supports all of the self-proclaimed auxiliary bishops at the soon to be defunct Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center.

Let's unpack this little bomb for a moment....

"...members of my administrative team have been studying the possibility of raising the archdiocesan parish assessment."

Why not tell us who your "administrative team" is? I am guessing that few, if any, have ever worked in a parish, or worked in a real-world setting. (At least not recently.) By real-world, I mean a job where income is directly based on product. Offer something of value to a clientele, and income follows. But, for an "administrative team" it is far easier to be "administrative" when you are not really answerable to anyone.

"...there has not been a change to our formula for close to 30 years."

By "formula" I am assuming that this refers to some sort of manner of determining a percentage, vrs a flat fee rate. Your Excelleny, if your recently smitten finance staff has not exlained this, but it means that your income grows, or does not grow, at the exact same rate as everyone else. Sadly, the implication of your message is that you (or your "administrative team") feels that the central bureaucracy deserves a greater portion than do your parishes. My, aren't we happy with ourselves!

"...our assessment is among the lowest in the nation..."

And the percentage of sex abusers is higher than national average; the size of our priest union is larger than average; the amount of heresy in our parishes is above average. Like good democratic politicians, this assertion presumes that a low rate of taxation is inherently bad.

"...the cost of doing business continues to rise steadily each year."

As do the costs for parishes, and the families who make up those parishes. Even given that, Your Excellency's "administrative team" presumes to have a greater claim on those limited funds than does the parish or the family. "Formula" presumes percentage...therefore your income increases at the same rate as everyone else. A greater increase requires greater justification than presented here.

"...the work of the team analyzing the assessment was stalled as we prepared for the California lawsuits..."

Again, I question who precisely is this "team"? But, as regards to California lawsuits...those pedophile priests are such a bitch. Does your "administrative team" include anyone who facilitated past cover-ups? Or helped hide your predecessors Nantucket trysts? Oh yeah, they deserve pay raises!

"...the earliest we would do anything with the parish assessment would be for the 2008-2009 fiscal year."

So, the presumption is that increased taxation is going to happen. Then why consult?

All in all, I am of the mind that if the Archbishop wants to raise the tax, he should just do it. Stop playing games with fake consultation if the decision is already made.

But, I have great big questions about how anyone at the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center could justify demanding more money (taken from the resources of our schools and parishes) that would go to a rather useless bureaucracy.

What do all of you say? Does the Cousins Center Coven deserve more money? LOL!

Mike

P.S. Two VERY interesting tidbits from the diocesan offices....

Are possible auxiliary bishops actually being vetted by the Papal Nuncio?

Are those civil, but not sacramental, wedding bells we hear near the archdiocesan offices?

Poor Richard's Almanac

2006-11-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Souls of the Just are in the Hand of God...

These words are familiar to anyone who has gone to a Catholic funeral, and now the theme of Bishop Sklba's latest contribution to syncretism in their Catholic Herald.

Umm, your Excellency...one question...

You well describe our celebration a few days ago of All Souls Day as having "a greater focus on those not yet admitted to the full embrace of God because of the traces of sin and selfishness which still mark their lives."

Unable to view anything in the world as uniquely Catholic, you go on to critique Catholic theology through the eyes of non-Catholics. I will concede to the possibility that "We Catholics and Lutherans agreed in the fact that most Christians still require some cleansing of selfishness before being fully and finally embraced by God."

So far, so good. But then there is a rather odd introduction of a:

"discovery" -- that means it was hidden, not central, and of no sufficient import to have previously been noticed,

of a "conjecture" -- which is defined as either an opinion or theory with no evidence, or a mere guess or speculation,

that "may" -- sort of, but not really, if we really want it to, and squeeze alot into it,

take something for which there is "want of a better term" -- especially if you don't really like the meaning of the actual term, with its actual definition, with it actual theology, and its actual implications for living a moral life,

and hopefully (for some) will semantically (that is the aim of dialogue isn't it?) define the original meaning away.

Whew! Those mental gymnastics must hurt if you are not limber enough.

So now the question:

While passingly referring to a consideration of paragraphs 1030-1032 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which calls the teaching about "purgatory" (for want of a more squishy term) a "doctrine of faith", and where you failed to mention references in paragraphs 1472, 1475, and 1498, ...

...are you really trying to say either of two things: that there is something "lacking in the sufferings of Christ (it seems to me that Jesus did that whole passion experience pretty completely) and/or that there is really no purgatory to begin with?

While you might find these wanderings to be "fanscinating", some of us might find them worrisome. You might find them "practical", but it seems that practical is just a byword for reductionism, avoidance, or even giving up Catholic theology so that we can all be Lutherans.

Your Excellency, please, next time, just nail your column to the door of Weakland's Cathedral.

Mike

Who is saying "Oh S**t"?

2006-11-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

On gay marriage...Fr. Bryan Massingale, and all the Alliance gay rights (gay lifestyle) suppprters...."Oh s**t.!"

On the governor and the AG; Charlie Sykes.
On the House of Representatives; no one really, we expected it.

Overall, Me? ...oh, s**t!

Hope, More Hope, and then, the Hopeless.

2006-11-04T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Gay-Marriage Amendment (and don't let anyone tell that it is about anything but gay marriage) debate continues on and the Catholic Church, and it's priests are right at the center of it all. I have two links that you should share with as many people as possible.

First, the Hope. Archbishop Dolan's "Herald of Hope" column from this past week.

Unlike many of the pastors in the pulpits this weekend, the bishops were unequivocal: Simply put, we bishops of Wisconsin have encouraged you to vote YES on the marriage amendment and NO on the death penalty referendum.

And now, More Hope. A friend share with me a link to the homily being given this weekend by what seems to be a promising young priest. Fr. Nathan Reesman has entitled simply "Election Homily".

Like the words of the Archbishop, I suggest that you share the words of Fr. Reedman far and wide. But more fundamentally, I urge you all to be fighters in the culture war in which we find ourselves. St. John the Baptist died to defend the marriage bond.

Now the Hopeless: the Alliance priests are going to be at it full force this weekend. Regular reader "MF" wrote an e-mail to a number of priests in the Alliance. For your edification, should you want those e-amil addresses to send messages to the renegade priests, the leadership of the Alliance is:

Dave Cooper, Chair, dcooper@stmatthias-milw.org
Bill Burkert, Co-chair, frbill@stromans.com
Dick Aiken, Secretary-Treasurer raiken@saintsebs.org
Steve Avella lisieux@att.net
Mike Barrett barrettm@archmil.org
Ken Mich michk@archmil.org
Philip Reifenberg reifenberg@archmil.org
Dick Schlenker richschlenker@netzeor.net

I would love to read ony responses that you might get.

To MF, Fr. Dave Cooper wrote back more about the war in Iraq than about the impact of gay lifestyles, and speaks of Fr. Massingale's ramblings as a "masterpiece of theology." Fr. Ken Mich seems to set up a juxtaposition between the Catechism and his own beliefs.

Let me know what responses you get.

Mike

A Tale of Two Sees.

2006-11-01T17:42:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have caused my biggest argument to date. On one side, the Church's point of view which, if I do say so myself, is generally cogent and coherent. On the other side: vitriol, multiple straw men, and disingenuous avoidance of underlying questions.

The argument itself pulls back the veil on so many issues. Like episcopal leadership styles.

Thanks to Terrance we learn...

Milwaukee -- Madison
Cities separated by 80 miles.
Bishops separated by a multitude of vertebrae.

How one diocesan bishop keeps the issues clear, and his priests on message.

And in Milwaukee.....hmmm, things are eerily, and scarily quiet when it comes to the Archbishop correcting his wayward priests.

Mike

Cynical at best.

2006-10-29T15:53:00.000-08:00

Just saw the Michael J Fox ad. Something struck me...

"Wisconsin holds a special place in my heart, because it is the place where stem cell research was born."

Since they so dutifully avoid the more accurate, politically-loaded, troublesome word "embryonic", the assertion that of a fondness for where anything "was born" is cynical at best, evil at worst.

When it comes to the parties involved, I am inclined to believe either.

Mike

A mass of mess, a mess of a "mass"

2006-10-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

So, next week Call to Action is going to have a druid, womenpriest, naturist bongo drums service that it wants to call a "mass". No surprise there. And I guess we should be proud that a local gal-made-good will be the preacher. Again, no surprise there...we all saw that coming.

The better question is not how big Madame Vandenburg's cajones are, we know that already, it is how courageous and forthright the leader of the Archdiocese of Milquetoast will be?

Since Madame Chancelloress may well be at the Mother Earth Mass, I offer the follow notes to His Excellency from the Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law:

Can. 908 Catholic priests are forbidden to concelebrate the Eucharist with priests or ministers of Churches or ecclesial communities which are not in full communion with the catholic Church.

Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 1365 One who is guilty of prohibited participation in religious rites is to be punished with a just penalty.

Can. 1369 A person is to be punished with a just penalty, who, at a public event or assembly, or in a published writing, or by otherwise using the means of social communication, utters blasphemy, or gravely harms public morals, or rails at or excites hatred of or contempt for religion or the Church.

Just penalty? The leadership in this archdiocese seems to have about as much understanding of, or use for, the phrase "just penalty" as it does for "good liturgy". Zippo, nada, nunca, nothin'!

I won't be able to be there (my therapist recommends against going to these types of events ,as well as driving nails into my own eyeballs), but if any of you decide to sneak in, please take your camera phones and get pictures of our priests and parish lay ministers who participate. I would love to share them! I trust that Frs. Cooper and Mich might be there.

Mike

Is It An October Surprise? Or Not?

2006-10-27T18:06:00.000-07:00

A Democratic Senate Candidate writes child porn?

That's not it....

A Hollywood Star underestimates American intelligence?

Nothing new in that....

A priest from Milwaukee sides with the Gay lobby against his own archbishop?

Getting warmer....

That same Archbishop will do absolutely nothing, let me write that again, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about it!

But really, is that a surprise at all anymore?

Fr. Bryan "just say no" Massinmale reports of Archbishop Dolan that "In fact, he just spoke to me this afternoon (Thursday) and was talking about me speaking at some other engagements here in the archdiocese." How could that be? Either one of the two is lying, or one of them says one thing to good Catholics or when in front of other bishops, while saying something completely different to a culprit priest. You be the judge.

Educational reference for Fr. Massinmale:

Do you recall the Catechism of the Catholic Church? (Some Catholics have read it.) Paragraph #2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

Next, let's move on to the intellectual brilliance of the renowned Fr. Dave "Women's Ordination" Cooper. With his normal incisive use of logic he writes:

I thought it important to share his [Fr. Massinmale's] opinion with all of you. Our Catholic Bishops share the opposite opinion and you will find clear statements of that in the inserts on "Political Responsibility" that are being inserted each week. Parishioners had asked if "we priests" were going to say anything about the controversy arising out of the November Referendum.

So, the bishops make "clear statements" but you still choose moral equivocation.
Controversy itself is caused by you.
People ask your opinion, and you are unable to form your own response.

All Fr. Cooper proves about himself is that either he has a motive that itself can't be expressed in clear statements, or he can be led astray by any foolish groupthink that comes along.

Speaking of foolish groupthink, that inevitably brings us to the Milwaukee Priest Alliance. They spout off about Massinmale's article this way: "We share his well-founded fear that the amendment may be construed to deny rights and services, including health care, not only to those in civil unions but many other citizens of Wisconsin as well, irrespective of their marital status."

First, where are the proofs for a "well-founded fear"? No such foundational proofs exist in his original column. So essentially the groupthinkers take a thin premise and call it "well-founded." That's brilliant, isn't it?

Second, it seems that if you want to speak to some issue, or issues, that are pressing "irrespective of their marital status" then a referendum about marriage itself is really not your concern is it? In fact, you even go so far as to say that "our pastoral experience tells us that the prospect of gay unions is not a chief cause of marital instability and family dissolution. Marriage and family are more at risk from more immediate challenges "problems that can and should be addressed by candidates."

So, if "gay unions" remain a cause, if only secondary, what really is your objection to at least this step. Isn't marriage so important that a step that eliminates even secondary causes is worth taking?

All in all, Frs. Massinmale, Cooper and the Groupthink Alliance all use false logic to argue against the referendum. So why make the argument at all? To protect concomitant rights like access to medical care, hospital visitation or inheritances? Sorry, Fr. Bryan, these can be, and are protected by other statutes.

So there must be some other motive behind all this false logic and false argumentation. So, is it an October surprise to many of us faithful Catholics that Frs. Massinmale, Cooper, and members of the Groupthink Alliance have some motivation about the issue of "gay marriage"? It seems to be a logical questions to ask. As the great poet once wrote....Thou Doth Protest Too Much!

So, is it not logical to assume that the letter about optional celibacy needs a second layer of rule/law changes to have direct impact on at least some portion of the priests of Milwaukee.

As I said at the top; you be the judge. That's plenty for today.

Mike

The Descent of Dissent? We can only hope!

2006-10-24T19:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, two postings in one day!

Dad29 reports that the pro-Gay (marriage) diatribe of Fr. Bryan Massingale scheduled for tonight at St. John Vianney Congregational Reductionist Church in Brookfield was abruptly cancelled.

Here are some possible explanations:

1. The check for the speaking fee was not ready. No check, no dissent.
2. Someone on south Lake Drive grew a spine and took some action. (What orthodox priest at the Cousins Center calls St. John Vianney his home parish?)
3. Fr. Massingale got a better offer from St. Matthias, St. Sebastian, Our Lady of Lourdes, etc. etc., etc.
4. Someone had a date tonight.

You be the judge.

Mike

A possible vision of the future.

2006-10-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

As mentioned previously, the archepiscobile (possible Archbishops for those that support women deacons) Thomas Paprocki is a good man from the flat land to the south. Last week he was in Milwaukee to preside at the White Mass for doctors and nurses at the Basilica of St. Josaphat (I wonder why they avoid the Cathedral? LOL!)

Part of his homily is well worth sharing not just with doctors, but consider what it might mean if directed at priests. (Simply put, Bishop Paprocki will not be invited to the next Alliance meeting.)

An excerpt from Bishop Paprocki's homily (insert "priesthood" for medicine):

Medicine is an honorable profession. It seeks to cure, heal and restore human beings to health. It is honorable because its ultimate goal is to provide good health for each and every single person. The goal is for you to work yourself out of a job, yet we all know that will never happen, at least not in our lifetimes.

The pressures of the developing medical field can leave us over-worked, beleaguered, and exasperated. However, we need to return to the vision that brought you to study the healing sciences. We need to recover our dream. As we gather together in this great Basilica of St. Josaphat, our dreams need to be nourished by a clear focus of our time and trust.

You sacrifice yourselves for patients. There are occasions when you are robbed of sleep; the times of hastily changed plans to respond to someone in need; the emergency calls that make your hearts pound as you assess the situation. You sacrifice as Christ sacrificed. You pour out yourselves for the sake of your patients; Christ poured himself out for the sake of the kingdom of God.

The dream that brought you to the study of medicine, the increasingly difficult situations you find yourselves in, centering yourselves on Christ and the life he offers, and keeping this all in balance requires what our Gospel calls wisdom.

And then in a refreshing episcopal approach to leadership, bluntness!

[My pharmacist father] didn't have to worry about the Governor of the State of Illinois trying to violate his rights of conscience and force him to fill prescriptions for the so-called "morning after pill," "emergency contraception," and other abortifacients.

Don't you wish.....

Mike

P.S. Who knew that anything in Milwaukee Magazine would cause such a theological debate?

How quickly they catch up.

2006-10-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

First, WISN Channel 12 offers its Sunday night hit piece. (Congratulations Maureen on being the voice of the opposition!)

Then, Milwaukee magazine has an odd collection of quotes, details, and nice pictures and tried to make it out to be an article about a crisis. The only crisis that article brings to light is in the area of good, investigative journalism. (Note the number of possible auxiliaries who were interviewed.)

Finally, the local rag finally catches up to what you and I have known for months. (And what the heck makes Fr. Joseph Baran and expert on episcopal appointments? Who is Fr. Joseph Baran?)

Oh well, all Tom Heinen needed to do was ask....

In te last thread, Andrew asked about possible replacements for Archbishop Dolan. While I believe that there is more that works against Dolan going to NYC than going for it, speculation is fun. Think of it as starting our Christmas list early.

So, not really predictions, just wishful thinking or some obvious names:

Thomas Paprocki, Chicago
Robert Morlino, Madison
David Zubick, Green Bay
Earl Boyea, Detroit
Blase Cupich, Rapid City

Just some food for wishful thoughts.

Mike

Baltimore? Who cares when the Big Apple is calling....

2006-10-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

More on the speculation about the future of our own Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan. (Please recognize that every story means less attention is paid to the real issues that confront us locally. Not that we would notice the difference from the attention being paid up to this point.)

WCBS-TV in NYC (Has a video story..."Well liked by his priests"? Has that priest heard about Frs. Cooper, Mich and the rest of the Alliance?)

The New York Post (NYC's non-elitist, other newspaper. No snobbery, that means that no priest in Milwaukee reads it.)

Since I know that members of the Cousins Center staff, as ineffective as they are otherwise, occasionally read my humble little musings, please pass this observation on: Your Excellency, remember that the obvious choice is rarely, if ever, the winning choice or even the best choice! We all learned that at our first homecoming dance (I know, you and your friends were in seminaries and never learned those real life lessons).

Your Excellency, saw you on Channel 12 last night. Seems that Milwaukee Magazine is throwing the first brushback pitch of your tenure. Can you handle it? Is the Dolan honeymoon over? Will the rest of media follow suit? (Sorry, no more Mike Gousha giving you 30 minute lovefests over at channel 4. Better get madame spokeswomen working on peddling more puff pieces. Will you go to St. Louis if the Cardinals make the series? That might get a mention.)

Sir, if you loose the Milwaukee media suck-ups in just 4 years, do you really think that you can handle the New York media for the remaining 18-23 years or your careerism? Style fades, it will take substance to last.

Time will tell.

Mike

Those irritating coincidences.

2006-10-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

Remember back in the salad days of our enamorment with Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan? Oh, it seems like we were so young and headstrong, but we were really just naive and foolish. You would think it was decades ago, but it seems like just a year or two.

Now, recall those warm feelings we all had when it was believed that the unspoken subtext of His Excellency's first attempt at a "Blue Ribbon Commission" to reform the seminary was actually to establish some orthodoxy there. What shall we call the Pakenham Commission...oh yeah. the Do-Nothing Commission. In all too typical fashion, the Archbishop went along just to get along. Like teenagers a week after the Homecoming Dance, we were crushed.

Then, a few months later, the reigning man at the Archdiocese of Milquetoast started to tease us again. A "second commission" had to be called together to redo the failed efforts of the Pakenham pollywogs. Should we have gotten our hopes up? Like fools, we did.

Yea, St. Francis Seminary was gutted of it most problematic aspects, the academic efforts, but our seminarians were sent to an equally problematic Sacred Heart School of Theology.

Tucked into the details of this faux effort at episcopal oversight and reform, was the fact that the empty college portion of St. Francis Seminary, formerly located on the trendy east side of Milwaukee (near all the good bars, coffee houses, and parks), would be closed and whatever students could be found, would attend St. Joseph College Seminary at Loyola University of Chicago. While it should have been anticipated that even the Jesuits could cancel out the effort of Cardinal Francis George, such anticipation is seemingly not within the grasp of an archbishop looking to relocate to the Chicago area (or any other more significant major metropolitan see than Milwaukee).

Well, just to slap the face of those of us who had those once childlike hopes for proper reform...the school that His Excellency chose to form his college level seminarians is proving its worth, and the Archdiocese's passive acceptance shows the lack of conviction that was present from the start.

Here is the headline to be aware of: Abortion Provided to Speak at Loyola. I wonder if the Very Reverend Michael Witczak will require the Milwaukee seminarians to attend. Certainly they need to be indoctrinated in the issues presented in the Women's Studies department. Note that most of the representations of students and what is "well-rounded" at the pre-fixed St. Francis Seminary, were women.

Conclusion: Since there are clearly better choices to have been made, Archbishop Dolan must have had his own agenda in sending college seminarians to Chicago.

Mike

Out in front by three lengths, but is he a dark horse?

2006-10-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

Yesterday, an anonymous poster offered this in a comment to a previous thread:

I work at the Central Offices and can tell you, based on what I know... I also heard that the Archbishop "was hurt and disappointed" when a request for an auxiliary was denied. But, the evidence points to CF being the front runner, and I have that on five solid sources.

Very interesting! For the unaccustomed, "Central Offices" refers to the soon to be defunct Archbishop (Cover for pedophile Widera) Cousins Catholic Center. "CF" as frontrunner for auxiliary bishop refers to Fr. Curt Frederick, the present Vicar for Clergy of the archdiocese.

For the employee, please do share more...any reason being rumored about for why an initial request was denied? Wrong person (too young, too old, too LIBERAL)? Wrong time (will there be a different Archbishop in this town on the horizon)?

Can you share names or info about your solid sources?

Always looking for more.

Mike

What is the Spanish word for "tidbits"?

2006-10-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

Did a Google search for more insights about Fr. Norberto Sandoval.

When he was ordained, the Catholic Herald had a profile on him. Some things that jump out at me, but I do not know what they really mean...

His collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia "now covers the walls, shelves and even the bed (with a Coca Cola bedspread) in his seminary room." Almost as good as the oddball a few years ago who had a collection of teddy bears...these are men we can look up to aren't they?

"When not working, Sandoval was a regular on the local nightclub scene, dancing and socializing with friends." What clubs does he go to now?

"His biggest challenge, he described, was learning English." Does he expect this of his non-English speaking parishioners?

"He also has a special concern for people suffering from HIV and AIDS." OK, I ask again, what clubs he is frequenting these days?

"He knows that Coca-Cola will always be part of his life — he tried unsuccessfully to give it up for Lent." Oh, there's a confidence builder for a priest...can't stick to a commitment of sacrifice.

Just some food for thought for today.

Mike

Sunday, but who said no mail.

2006-10-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

Four issues related to getting e-mail from readers of my humble little blog:

1) Don't be afraid to offer comments via the "Comments" link at the bottom of each posting. Let everyone see what you have to say.

2) As regards last week's e-mail from "Marcus" predicting announcements of a new parish merger on the north side of Milwaukee and, more interestingly, that a new auxiliary bishop would be announced. Sorry, it seems both were off base, at least for now. As I noted, I have heard rumblings about the first and now fears about the second.

3) If you are a priest of this diocese and you want to send me a nasty e-mail about how unfair I am towards the Priests Alliance, and that I should not be making public statements on my blog, two pieces of advice: A) If you want to say you are a priest, and then not sign your message, I suggest not using a e-mail account that can easily be Googled...ask yourself, where have you used it in connection with your own name? B) I will stop writing blog messages about the Alliance if they stop writings letters. Deal?

4) Below is a message from a good person who wishes to remain anonymous. I will offer comment later this week, but thought I would open it up for initial observations from anyone....What should a good parish try to do when a priest (in this case an associate pastor) takes things down the path of destruction.

Bye all.

Mike

Dear Mike,

I wonder if you could please help the parishioners of the combined parishes of St. John Kanty, St. Helen's and St. Alexander on the southside. Fr. Norberto Sandoval, a newly ordained priest, is trying to turn our parishes into political action committees in support of illegal immigrants. He is sponsoring a talk called, "Justice for Immigrants-An Educational Forum" in conjunction with the Office of Catholic Social Action and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

These old parishes, founded by legal immigrants, are now being inundated with Fr. Sandoval's liberation theology. While most parishioners support immigrants, they understand that Pope John Paul II also said that the accepting country's laws must be followed. The older parishioners don't want to say anything.

These parishes recently suspended religious education because a DRE resigned. There have been many staff resignations. Additionally, he has created a rift between Latino and Anglo parishioners by conducting a Spanish-only mass. Instead of spending time with the religious education students or older parishioners, he is focusing his energies in the political arena. He took part in the illegal immigrant marches last spring. He did not meet students in the religious education program and avoids talking to anglo parishioners. He has alienated older Polish Catholics by covering up their icons with Hispanic ones.

We don't know what kind of training he received and who is encouraging him. The parishioners have tried to write letters to the Archdiocese to no avail. Maybe if you bring this up there will be some action. Thank you so much. Please keep my identity anonymous.

Concerned citizens of the tri-parishes of St. Alexander's, St. Helen's and St. John Kanty

Ideas anyone?

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.

2006-10-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

This was in today's inbox from "MF" (and you really do need to learn how to post comments):

Dear Mike,

Interesting blog . . . I would like to see Dolan promoted out of here. Would rather see him get Baltimore (less prestigious than New York or Chicago), besides I want BURKE in Chicago!

I hope and pray that if Dolan is leaving he doesn't saddle us with another bad auxiliary. Frederick would be a DISASTER. I cannot; however, share your enthusiasm for Hartmann. Are you related to him? We were parishioners at Christ King when he was first ordained. While he was reverent in his motions on the Altar, I am always suspicious of a priest who goes incognito to a bar.

with faith and prayers, MF

Plenty that could be said. I want to focus on the last part. No, not a relative. What kind of a bar have you seen him going into? Presuming it is your everyday, ordinary tavern, I really can't fault a priest for going into a bar. Incognito? Some would complain if priests went into bars in habit; some do complain if they go incognito. So long as it is a respectable establishment, and the priest doesn't go in nightly...why not? I'd prefer incognito in a bar to watch a game with friends compared to a whole lot of the other options.

So, today's topic: Priests going into bars? Pro or Con....discuss.

Mike

Predictions

2006-10-02T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hi all.

The mailbox today includes this message from "Marcus":

Two items that will get announced later this week that relate to your September 28th comments:

Kurt Fredricks (@ 70 to 1) is the new bishop while retaining his positin as vicar for priests.

Four north side parishes will be merged and one new parish will be formed.

Marcus

The four parish thing on the north[west] side his been in the works for a while.

As for "Kurt Fredricks", aka Fr. Curt Frederick: plausible, but what is the evidence for his being the man, and now being the time?

As for some commentary.....

Fr. Frederick represents the peak of the question...is he a Weakland man, or a Dolan man? (granted, the lattter really hasn't meant much lately.)

Is he a priest union instigator, or has he been attending just to be the eyes and ears of his boss?

During the pedophile (and otherwise dangerous) priest monitoring fiasco of a year ago, was he the cause of the problem by either omission or intentionally setting up His Excellency, or was he just too afraid to really fall on his sword for his boss?

On the face of it, Fr. Frederick seems to be a neutral pick at best. A theological chameleon at worst.

Now, one question, one prediction, and one suggestion of my own....

Question: If there is a new auxiliary named, will some of the deserving runners-up be named Monsignors? Herda, Hying, Hartmann, Pakenham?

Prediction: Some day soon there will be a (new and unique) challenge to His Excellency. If what I hear is correct, the hint could be: What happens when key senior staff members enter into a marriage not recognized by the Church?

Suggestion: To any emplyees at Mitchell International Airport: keep an eye out...compare His Excellency's published schedule in "our" Catholic Herald, with any unannounced trips to Baltimore. What could that mean? Be sure to let me know ASAP!

Mike

Where have all the good men gone?

2006-09-28T05:48:00.000-07:00

Since I posted my observations about the appointment of Fr. Ross Shecterle as rector of the American College at Louvain, a couple of you have sent me e-mails asking the same basic question from various perspectives...With all of the oddballs that remain in our parishes, why would His Excellency release presumably good priests and leave us with the dregs?

Let's give this issue some perspective. According to the archdiocese there were five priest who retired this past summer (I trust that they still will be helping out somewhere locally) , this loss would be offset by the five ordinations. Actually evening out like this is a new phenomena, so it is basically a good thing. But them what happens, three priests are released to serve outside of the Archdiocese. Add to those three Fr. Shecterle, and the Archbishop could have (if he really wanted to) had four more priests to serve his flock than he had just weeks before. That would be four places that wouldn't need to share a priest; four large parishes could reclaim an associate pastor; four people serving our "shortage" of priests here.

So why would the Archbishop let them go? I alluded to some of the possible reasons in comments about Fr. Shecterle. Here are four possible reasons laid out:

1) There is a bona fide need in some other place or setting.
2) The priest is a real leaker and it is best that they go away.
3) The priest is a climber looking to become a bishop and needs to have his resume lengthened. (This requires the Archbishop to be cooperative and agreeable to the climbing mentality.)
4) The Archbishop really does not care about what happens to the faithful here in Milwaukee and uses his priests as pawns to endear himself to others in his way to bigger an better things.

Shall we try a basic analysis of four priests now in question?

Fr. Ross Shecterle: Do you remember the list that some anonymous priest, or priest put together "handicapping" possible future auxiliary bishops? This is what was said of Fr. Shecterle:

Ross Schecterle – 150-1, had the episcopacy in mind from the beginning. Must play his Roman cards correctly. Is impatient for higher things. Needs to cultivate patrons.

So, he could be a climber. Is there a bona fide need in Belgium? Well, there are only eleven seminarians!!! What do you think? Is he a leaker? Well, he is a "counselor," who does not like wearing black, clergy clothing. So, the other sounding like he could be stuck in the 1970's, the jury is out on this one. Does this help Archbishop Dolan? The American College itself seems to be pretty small, beyond being another excuse to travel to Europe, the key element might be that the college has its own committee of bishops for oversight. I trust that all of them are thankful to His Excellency for his willingness to share a priest. Maybe they will repay the favor someday! So for Shecterle, let's call it a half point for climber, and a half point for the Archbishop endearing himself to other bishops.

Now let's go on to the others recently released. According to the Archdiocese there were three priests hitting the road this past summer.

The first, Fr. Thomas Brundage is heading to Alaska. Isn't that the modern day version of someone fleeing to the French Foreign Legion to hide from something? Fr. Brundage was also on the handicapper's list:

Tom Brundage – 90-1, Only hope now is Alaska. Lost tribunal struggle with Hartman. Will have to settle for his growing real estate kingdom. Didn’t make it at the Catholic Herald.

I would definitely guess that there is a need up in the great white north. Locally, he was Judicial Vicar and seems to have been pushed out of that; headed the local Catholic gossip rag, and seems to have faultered; now in Alaska he is once again a judicial vicar and is a pastor of a parish. It seems that on his departure to Alaska, Archbishop Dolan gave Fr. Brundage the ringing and resounding affirmation of saying that he is "competent." Hmmmmm?

So, the rationale here, definitely a need; but since he seems to want to keep going to high profile positions, even though he trips up in them, can it be that he is a climber in his own mind, and a leaker in the Archbishop's? You can assign the points.

Next we have Father Eugene Kinney. First off, there is clearly a greater need in Las Vegas. For perspective, according to Catholic Hierarchy.Org, Milwaukee has one priest per 983 Catholics and Las Vegas has one priest for every 6,482 Catholics. As for his priestly qualities, I know nothing about Fr. Kinney, I think it can be said that: he is not a member of the priests union; he serves in a parish in Las Vegas, not some specialized ministry; he would take his kids to World Youth Day; and he wants the sanctuaries of churches to be quiet, prayerful places. All in all, he seems to be a good priest, and a fairly substantial loss to the Archdiocese. Some thought should be given to the degrees of seperation issue....Fr. Kinney's new bishop is from Philadelphia, Philly is where Archbishop Dolan's former Archbishop is....hmm, a little bit of #4?

Last of the movers is a Fr. Thomas Olszyk. Going to the Military Archdiocese as their judicial vicar. (What's the deal with sending away canon lawyers...what, or who, scares them away from Milwaukee? The Archbishop not like them? The Chancelloress wants less competition? Fr. Hartmann being isolated?) At age 61, likely not a climber. There is the fact that the Archbishop of the Military is Edward O'Brien, Archbishop Dolan's predecessor at the North American College in Rome and, more importantly, the Vatican designated head of the recent seminary visits. Seems to be a guy to keep on you list of possible character references. All in all, Fr. Olszyk looks to be a good man, serving a bonafide need.

So, the tally of why we are sending priests away: One likely leaker (who wants to be a climber); one possible climber (who wears sandals and could like the enneagram); and two serving genuine needs. But, all four have ways of reflecting well on Archbishop Dolan's generosity and creates an image that he is having overwhelming vocational success. (Some succcess, but net losses continue.)

Oh well. these four are "released" to serve elsewhere (sounds like the end of a prison term), and we are left in the prison of mediocrity the Archbishop allows to continue.

Mike

They're Hittin' the road.

2006-09-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

Since yesterday's column about the appointment of Fr. Ross Shecterle, a priest from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as rector of the American College of Louvain (a seminary with a colorful history to say the least), I have gotten e-mails asking why his Excellency is sending away any priest when we really need them here in Milwaukee.

First, the context: Look at last spring's priest assignments list. Most significant might be the fact that while there were five men ordained to the priesthood in May, this was offset by the fact that five men retired at the same time. In truth that is good news...no net loss on that count for this year. But then we have to account for the fact that His Excellency "released" (sounds like the end of a prison term) to service elsewhere. So, the net change was a loss. The disturbing thing is that this is a completely voluntary loss, that we have to simply accept. Worse, if Fr. Shecterle had come back after having been released, it seems that there would have been the potential for a net gain! But, we wouldn't want that would we?

So, why would the Archbishop do this?

As with Fr. Shecterle, I proposed three otions (and it could be a different answer for each):

1. The priest is "a climber" who needs resume points, and the Archbishop agrees.
2. The priest is a leaker and should be sent away, or kept away.
2. The Archbishop doesn't care about Milwaukee, or only wants to keep other bishops happy about his being such a nice guy so that they will recommend him for bigger things and new colored hats.

I admit that my options have flaws. Why would anyone go to work at Louvain? Other than the fact that it has a board of bishops overseeing. Not just one bishop like a local seminary.

From the spring assignments list, Fr. Thomas Brundage has gone off to Anchorage, AK. Is this the American version of fleeing off to the French Foreign Legion to hide from troubles? Released to work in a parish in Alaska and to be the Judicial Vicar of Anchorage, Fr. Brundage left having received a resounding and ringing vote of approval when His Excellency called him "competent". Remember how some anonymous priest evaluated Fr. Brundage on the auxiliary bishop handicapping list:

Tom Brundage Â 90-1, Only hope now is Alaska. Lost tribunal struggle with Hartman. Will have to settle for his growing real estate kingdom. DidnÂt make it at the Catholic Herald.

So, another priest, or priests, seem to indicate that Fr. Brundage wanted a succession of high profile positions here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and stumbled (failed?) each time. As to why he is released...could the priest be thinking option #1 while the Archbishop is thinking option #2?

Next on the released (from prison) list is Fr. Eugene Kinney. OK, I know nothing about him. He wants less socializing in the sanctuary of church...that is good. Took a group to World Youth Day...another good. Is not a member of the Priests Union...wow, a three-fer.

So, Fr. Kinney seems to be a good priest, and seems to have taken a simple parish position in Las Vegas. Doesn't seem to be a climber...no indication of being a leaker...what then is the Archbishop's rationale? Hmmmm?

Lastly, we have Fr. Thomas Olszyk. He has gone off to become Judicial Vicar or the Military Archdiocese. Seems logical, was a long-time Air Force Chaplain himself. At 60 years old is he too old to be climbing much more? He is released to work for Archbishop O'Brien, Dolan's predecessor at the North American College, and the one chosen by Rome to oversee the recent seminary visits. Seems to be a good man to have on your list of character references, eh Your Excellency. Keep him happy.

(Two canonists gone...what does that mean? Does His Excellency not like canon law? Is Madame Chancelloress or Fr. Hartmann pressing to be the big shot?)

There you have it, not the same reasoning for each and every departure, but lot's of reasons to ask more questions. Basically, it comes down to the simplest question: Don't we deserve the good priests? Please send away the Call to Action, Voice of the Faithful, Priest Union members!

Mike

Life in the Big (or not so big) City!

2006-09-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Fr. Ross Shecterle, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, on his appointment as Rector of the American College of Louvain (that's in Belgium). I guess te best way to describe the American College at Louvain is that it is the older, yet neglected cousin of Timothy M. Dolan's own Pontifical North American College. I guess it would be like comparing UWM to UW-Madison, or the Coast Guard Academy to Annapolis.

I am sure that Fr. Shecrerle's mother is very proud of him. He is now rector of what I can only guess is the smallest, most over-funded Seminary in the world. According to their website, the American College at Louvain has a grand total of 14 seminarians, only 11 of whom are even studying for diocese in the USA and one of those is a religious order priest. It is also interesting to recall that the American College does not have the greatest of reputations when it come to...shall we say, encouraging the Brokeback Rectory mentality. Given Fr. Shecterle's inclination to be the epitome of ecclesiastical decorum, there is little wonder that he might be the fitting choice to take one the reigns (and the whip) or a historic "pink palace" seminary. We have noted his casual attitudes before. It can also be recalled that Fr. Shecterle's name was on the infamous, priest-slamming handicapper's list of future auxilairy bishop candidates. At that time I pointed out, and still stand by, a big fear of any priest who is a psychologist primarily, and a priest secondarily.

Now, a question that all us lowly little faithful church-going Catholics of Milwaukee can ask is why, if he is a good priest, let him go and supervise an overwhelming 11 seminarians. If he is a good priest, why can't he preach regularly to a parish here in Milwaukee? That would be 11 vrs what, a 1000 or 2000 at a large parish?

So, what's the reason for Father Ross to be sent to Belgium?

Is he climber who wants to add a notch to his resume? If so, why would his excellency tolerate that? Could is be a pat calling the kettle black scenario?

Is he, in reality, not a very good priest? Maybe the Archbishop wants to keep him out of Milwaukee. At 150 to 1 odds on the handicappers list, I don't know whether this makes him a threat to good Catholics or to the bad priests.

Last option....does the Archbishop just not really care about us for good or ill, no matter what? (Where is that schedule of flights to New York, or Detroit, or Baltimore.....)

All in all, the question has to be asked...with all the problems here in Milwaukee, why let any, even midling priest go?

Mike

These ain't no Joan of Arcs!

2006-09-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

Remember when we first learned the stories of the great women saints. From the Blessed Virgin Mother right on down through Catherine, Joan of Arc, and Mother Theresa...a thread that lifted them to great spiritual influence is the fact that they cast off the social expectations (I'll even say relegations...I can be so much like Phil Donahue) to be a voice of strength that called the supposedly "strong" men to a better-lived faith. No sacrificing of the feminine (take that Dan Brown), but it was through that unique perspective of a woman that they saw the strengths of the Church and of a well-lived faith. It from their unique womanly perspective that they proclaimed the Church all the louder.

Now for the irony of ironies....in our supposedly more developed, more informed, less chauvinistic era, the upcoming Archdiocesan Convocation for Women seems to have given up on the examples of Mary, Catherine, Joan, and Theresa.

I especially like the part (read closely) where there will be a break-out session, oh sorry, a "Networking" session, on "traveling dinner groups". Now that's WomenChurch at it's best. I can only guess that they will be meeting in the room between the "knitting club", and the "barefoot and pregnant cooking class." I love it when groups like these want it both ways.

Maybe I am being too harsh. Maybe the theology of the traveling dinner group is a logical result of the deeply devoted and solidly Catholic catechesis that will anchor such an "Archdiocesan" event. (Note, that this means it is as if it were the Archbishop's own event...Your Excellency, I hope you like the traveling dinner groups!) But, to be fair, I should look at the whole schedule of the Convocation. I bet I'll be overwhelmed by all of the solid Catholic teaching that will inspire future Catherines, Joans, and Theresas.

The keynote address is to be offered by the Rev. Dr. Trinette McCray. Hmmm? Something about that name strikes me as something other than Roman Catholic. The Cardinal Stritch University website confirms that she is Executive Director of the Office of Vocation Development. Hmmm? Something about that concept strikes me as something other than Roman Catholic! CSU indicates that it is "in the Franciscan Tradition." That must be a pretty broadly defined tradition. St. Francis was told "rebuild my Church." The Rev. Dr. Madame McCray represents a whole new floor plan.

OK, fine. The Coven, oops, the Convocation will have an ecumenical element before getting into the meat of a Roman Catholic catechesis. Let's move on to the next item on the schedule.

What the heck are "Cafe Conversations"? "Please pass the sugar." "Do you see what that woman in the corner is wearing...and after Labor day no less." "Are they using a new blend for the mocha lattes?"

No matter what they are....how exectly do they differ from the later "networking" sessions? It seems logical that they should more correctly take place in cafes somewhere. Shouldn't an Archdiocesan event offer something that your average cafe can't? Oh, let's be a little nutty...how about a qualified teacher of something essentially Catholic? I realize that this is an attempt by these 1970's leftover ladies (no burming of undergarments please) to steal the naming cadence of the kids "Theology on Tap." But even at the bars, they bring in supposedly qualified speakers.

I am sorry, to go from a non-Catholic keynote, right into "mutual sharing around a compelling question" smacks of the Baptist leading the Congregationalist to who knows where. At least the Archbishop's now hollow seminary or Marquette University would have a dissenting theologian on hand to make things try to look Catholic. This "Archdiocesan" event doesn't even want to fake or feign any Catholicism.

So today's question: Your Excellency, you wrote pretty well a few weeks ago about the upcoming Call to Action pity-party....how different is this event that you are sponsoring? Oh yea, you might get invitations to traveling dinner parties.

Mike

And your point is...?

2006-09-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

Kudos to His Excellency for the theory put forth in his most recent Herald of Hope column.

The sad question is whether this has any real world impact at all? At your seminary? Among your staff? In your Cathedral? In your parishes?

The fear that I have is that, once again, it is a case of all talk and no action.

One can only wonder....

Mike

Mr. Smith goes to .... anywhere else.

2006-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

MF sent an e-mail again. Parenthetical comment: MF, feel free to post your comments directly to the blog! Actually, MF (an alias to protect her anonymity) sent two e-mails, one after the other to me. The second was more self-indulgent than the first:

Great job on "Minaret," I sent the article far and wide--hopefully it will end up on some important Vatican desk in the Congregation for Divine Worship & the Sacraments . . .I have distributed your blog comments also.

Not to toot my own horn...but, please feel free to forward my observations far and wide! Readers, please let me know, for selfish reasons, when you forward my simple diatribes to others.

Now, we should take a moment to consider "MF's" first e-mail:

Dear Mike,

I was speaking with a friend and they were telling me that they had heard that Brother Bob Smith was no longer working in the education office of the Milwaukee Archdiocese. Do you know anything about this? Did the Weaklandista put him out or did he leave of his own volition. Would love to know your thoughts.

With faith and prayers,

MF

The Brother Bob issue is interesting. I have commented previously that Brother Bob Smith is the first, if not only, bold statement or assertive action be His Excellency. (Example 1, Example 2)

MF, I have heard rumbling surrounding the same issue. According to the Archdiocese of Milktoast website, Brother Bob is no longer part of the Archbishop's "Executive committee". That leaves the Archbishop's self-appointed, self-chosen, self-defined (do you get the picture that there are no excuses or rationalizations for the make up of this group) closest advisory group the includes two, possibly, three ex-nuns, and a former Jesuit University edu-crat.

Now, it must be noted that Archdiocesan website (honestly, a not-so-user-friendly place if there ever was one....how much are our contributions are paying for this example of web-based doublespeak..by this I mean that Madame spokeswoman could, if asked, say things are "available on the website", but they are so hidden and so hard to find that, morally speaking, I wonder if she speaks a lie when she tries to assert this notion of false availability), indicates that Brother Bob is still considered the main "contact" for "Educational and Formational Services." This could be an over sight but the problem is that if you call the listed phone number, 414-769-3300 (prank calls appreciated...), the rather uncooperative woman who answers tells you the Brother Bob "no longer works here." Either the telephone operator, or the website is wrong (can we say "lying"?).

Now, there is little that I could say about Bro. Bob's nascent termination, but concession has to be made to the fact that even though Bro. Bob was appointed by His Excellency (the at least titular head of the Milktoast Archdiocese), said same Brother Bob Smith seemingly never resigned from extensive responsibilities at Messmer Schools. For now, the ongoing/former/present President of Messmer Schools (there are now two of them), is listed merely as serving an "administrative" role.

So, did the Weaklandistas lead a coup to oust Bro. Bob? Well, honestly, I don't know. But, it can honestly be said that they (the reductionist Weaklandistas) are still employed by his Excellency, and Bro. Bob is not. So what can you conjecture from that?

The motto at Messmer is "Doctrina, Fides, Gubernatio"...(Doctrine, Faith, Governance/leadership) I wonder which of these most disturbs the staff of the soon to be sold Archbishop Cousins "sort-of-Catholic Center ? Which, if not all, of each of these three things has the Archbishop chosen are worthy to be sacrificed for the sake of the warm fuzzies he would like to perpetuate? He seems willing to sell out on each!

Please do post your comments.

Mike

Just wait a minaret!

2006-09-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Catching up today on reading other blogs. Bettnet reminded of the story that was in last week's Journal Sentinel about the Muslim prayer that was belted out last Monday at "our" Cathedral in commemoration of 20 Muslims listening to a prayer leader in some mosque somewhere, and who catechised those poor souls on the passages in their sacred scriptures that gave instructions on how flying passenger-filled jet airplanes into buildings constitutes their version of the new evangelization. I know, I know...not all Muslims are terrorists. But pretty much all terrorists of late are Muslims. Go figure.

I agree with Bettnet's questioning of the basic notion of "Concert Masses". I would also concede that the powers that be at the St. John, in-the-round dinner theater, do not have the benefit of hindsight that we have after this weeks primal (see, I did not say Islamo-Facist) reactions to Pope Benedict's cogent reference to to the most significant deficit in Islamic theological discussion (read the whole thing folks before you say anything, or don't say anything at all!). Sadly, Fr. Carl Last never has any foresight either. I am told that Fr. Carl fancies himself a liturgist, but I wonder in what religion?

I also have to concede that Karl Jenkins, a new age, self-proclaimed mystic, intended the concert to have the Muslim prayers. But, watching the news this week got me thinking about what might have been the really bold thing to do. I got the idea when I was watching coverage of Churches being burned, nuns being murdered, and effigies being torched (someone point me to the Koran passage that says when you can't respond to a bona fide theological challenge, go on a bloodlust rampage). It got me thinking about Jenkins need for the concert's "Call to Prayer" to be in Arabic. Why not try and show the diversity, and enhance the unity of the Catholic Church itself?

Maybe Fr. Carl, or the musicians, or (here's a crazy idea) the Archbishop, could have said something about bringing in one of our Eastern Catholic brethren whose liturgy is in Arabic (Maronite, Chaldean, etc.). But, Cathedral spirituality presumes that only Americans oppress Muslims, they could never concede that Muslims persecute Christians.

So here we go again...how does the Archbishop's own parish church allow this to happen?

We gone over this a few times already, it has to be one of the following:

1) Fr. Carl and his staff misrepresented things to their boss (and the boss, the Archbishop, will do nothing about it);
2) Fr. Carl and his staff are more concerned with the elitism of a concert, than they are with the sacredness of a mass. In other words, they a reductionist idiots about our central sacrament;
3) Fr. Carl and his staff did their jobs, kept His Excellency informed, and yet he still chose to let this happen because he agrees with it.

Before I close, to those who will argue that we cannot be hard on the idea of "concert masses" because Mozart, Beethoven and others all wrote masses. But remember, unlike Jenkins, they started with the beauty and integrity of the mass as the Church holds it and brought it to new heights. Jenkins, on the other hand, objects to a perceived insufficiency in the mass, and seeks to change into his own new age image.

The Archbishop did not do the radio mass from the Cathedral this morning. I am sure he had a good reason, but maybe if he hung around a little more, oddities like this would not happen in his own Cathedral. Either that, or dump Fr. Last!

Mike

The Wild, Wilde, West side...

2006-09-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Today's (Sunday, September 10th) Journal-Sentinal, page 14a, bottom right corner.

Who is Milwaukee's largest "Catholic" university deciding to honor first this year?

Look, no surprise from Fr. Wilde's reductionist funland on West Wisconsin Avenue. This year's first honoree is a pro-babykilling, pro-sodomy, death taxing, congressman. (So much for his days at a Baptist Seminary.)

Congratulations Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, for being this years first example of Marquette University's complete and hypocritical sell-out.

Please send observations, words of condolence, or best wishes as they leave the Church:

robert.wild@marquette.edu

Copy, or send a seperate message to:

archbishopdolan@archmil.org

Just another day for the Catholic Church in Milwaukee.

Mike

Unloading some buckshot.

2006-09-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

Just a few random thoughts, issues, and ideas:

It has been almost one week since my shot across the bow (am I too firearm oriented today?) of the powers that be at Trinity Academy in Pewaukee. More than one e-mail came in either accusing me of things, or warning (one from learned experience) that one does not criticize these people and get away unscathed. So far, so good...no horse heads in my bed...yet!

Also, a reminder of a tool that should be every bloggers friend: Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. Just enter names of important, or not so important, people and see what comes up. Oh, just for the heck of it, try it with names of say...a teachers from Trinity Academy. "Hmmm, I will have to think about the teaching skills used in "domestic abuse" or the resume value of "harrassment restraining order".

Message to John Hemmer, letter writer to the editor published in today's Journal-Sentinal. Point in your favor for "Dolan may as well be a politician." Strike against you for "the truly Christian thing to do would be to open the doors to all victims of priest sexual abuse and pay whatever is necessary to satisfy every substantiated claim from however long ago." Study up on the reason for a statute of limitations. It protects you as much as it should protect priests.

Message to Archbishop Dolan regarding "our Catholic Herald": Kudos on dropping McBrien, criticisms on dropping Weigel. I remember when Weigel came and gave a Pallium Lecture about Pope John Paul. You introduced him as something to the effect of a close friend and great churchman. So, the strength of your conviction is to treat McBrien and Weigel in the same way? Are they no different in your worldview or churchview? I guess not. If that is how you treat your friends, some might say it would be easier to be your enemy...maybe then I could get a job at the Cousins Center.

That's all for today. Let me know what you think.

Mike

Is it "protestor", "protester" or "protestant"?

2006-09-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dad29 for commenting on my last post by including a very timely article about the age of confirmation that was carried by Zenit on August 29th. In that article it basically says that the Vatican made it clear years ago that if parents approach the diocesan bishop as an appeal of the decision of the parish to delay confirmation for their child, they are in the right, and the parish is in the wrong.

OK, pretty simple so far... We can confirm younger than junior year in high school, and so long as the parents can guarantee (I suspect objectively) the quality of the preparation, then the kid should be confirmed. The people have a right to the sacraments!

Now, going back to my previous post. I still do not have a firm personal opinion about what the age of confirmation should be. But, the existence of an instruction from the Vatican on this matter dating back to 1999, begs the question as to why this instruction (and its clear option for parents) is totally, let me repeat that TOTALLY, ignored by His Excellency.

Once again, either 1) the Archbishop wants to ignore this option in Church law; 2) his staff intentionally kept this aspect of Church law hidden from His Excellency; or 3) his staff is incompetent and did not really research this matter. Remember, I asserted that both sides would rather use anecdote and opinion than fact. I guess that this could go for the Archbishop's staff as well.

Barring some actual facts from the madame spokeswoman of the Archdiocese...you decide!

Now this instruction begs another question. Recall my little reference in the previous post to "a small more-Catholic-than-the-rest-of-us private school in Waukesha County" who were possibly circumventing the local bishop to get their students confirmed younger than the local norm. In the comments, I did include a link that would make known what school I was referring to.

After that posting, and in light of the Vatican instruction carried by Zenit, I got a rather terse and mean-spirited little missive from a parent of a kid or kids at that school. Here is what the mom, in part, wrote:

You are being terribly unfair to the devout Roman Catholics who are willing to make the personal sacrifices to send their kids to Trinity Academy. The sacrifice is sometimes personal when ignorant people like you fail to realize that they are doing exactly what Holy Mother Church intends for our children.

OK, so now I am ignorant. The woman would refer to the same Zenit article and Vatican instruction as justification for her "we-are-always-right-and-you-are-always-wrong" attitude. But actually, I would contend that their protest against the local bishop is now even worse. If the school and it's families had respected the bishop, and even gotten an answer they did not like, it seems clear that an appeal to Rome would have sided with them. Isn't that exactly what the 1999 instruction did some other kid?

So, why not go to the Archbishop? Yes, I realize that requires a great deal of patience since he defers so much authority to an entrenched bureaucracy, but it seems that a good Catholic at least tries to respect its bishops. Instead, Trinity Academy does not trust the local bishop (understandably, and with reason), but they do not even trust the bishop to do the right thing when told to by the Vatican. So, as I read things, they trust no one but their own opinion about the Catholic faith, and those who agree with them blindly.

Sorry folks, there is no such thing as selective obedience, which is a cafeteria Catholicism that should be condemned on both sides of the spectrum.

Lastly, to the snippy woman who sent me the e-mail. If I am unfair or ignorant, it is probably moreso about what the Archbishop did in this matter, and not what the school intended by its secret confirmation excursions to Rome.

Oh how I enjoy getting everyone upset!

Mike

Something from the e-mail bag...

2006-08-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Since I did not check with her, I will call her simply "MF", she sent me a kind and supportive e-mail (it was entitled "WOW! I just found your blog!). I hope that she continues as a reader and even offers some insights of her own.

In her message she asks me to comment on something:

"Do you have any thoughts on the "Age of Confirmation" issue? I know a group was pushing to lower the age and stop tying it to kids not being allowed to get confirmed unless they make an adult commitment to the Catholic Church. I don't know about you but I didn't read in the Catechism of the Catholic Faith that this is the purpose of Confirmation. "

OK, I am confident that there are those out there who think I am some right-wing nut...and that nut itself is pretty loose. So this may come as a surprise...I have really not decided on an opinion. As you know, in a staggeringly surprising move, the decision of Archbishop Timidity was to do nothing.

Now, not to let any of you down, and as you can imagine, I do have an opinion about how this issue was debated and decided by our esteemed bishops. They went on the path of least resistance and sought no real scholarly or well reasoned point of views.

Maybe it is just my personality, but I want more than just anecdotes and conjectures. Both sides of this argument offered overly simplistic and superficial reasons. On one side, our kids supposedly need to make an "adult" decision for the faith so that it takes root. On the other side, our kids need the divine effects of the sacrament to face the challenges of an immoral world. The problem is that both points of view have a degree of believability but each is foolish in the long run. And remember; only fools make foolish arguments (even fools for Christ). Sorry folks, but if you want to live by the anecdote, you will die by it. Plenty of late confirmed kids have left the practice of the faith, and plenty of kids of conservative Catholics, confirmed younger have given into drugs, sex, and other immorality in their high school years.

The real point is that no matter when a kid gets confirmed, they need good and solid teaching about the faith. Not the fluff that most parishes offer nowadays.

My bigger concern is why the Archbishop accepted this level of reasoning as the basis of his decision? Will the foolishness never end?

Terrance, at the Provincial E-mails, indicates that the practice of high school confirmation began in 1979. If my calendar math is correct, that would mean that Catholics over the age of 45 in this area were generally confirmed at the lower age, and those under 45 were confirmed later. Why did neither side of this argument seek to do a real, unbiased survey of practice of the faith of two age groups: randomly survey five hundred 30-40 year olds, confirmed at the older age, about their present practice, and five hundred 45-55 year olds, confirmed at the lower age about their practice when they were in their 30's (so that the comparisons are justified by age, family issues, and household finances, etc.). That would be useful information!

But here in Milwaukee, for decision makers useful information is an intrusion on the Don't Worry, Be Happy motto. To those making the case on either side, useful information is feared because everyone still suspects that the facts will go against them.

Closing with a related matter, and this might put some of you over the edge, message to a small more-Catholic-than-the-rest-of-us private school in Waukesha County: If the rumors are correct and you want to protest the local policy on age of confirmation and take your kids to Rome to be confirmed younger, doesn't that "protest" action make you "protestant"? (Even though I may be hyper-critical of His Excellency, but to avoid being hypocritical, as a Roman Catholic, he is still my bishop! What about you?)

Thanks for the e-mail MF. I hope that even with this posting you will continue to read.

Mike

On the road again, and again, and again.

2006-08-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

Previously we talked about Archbishop Timidity Dolan's not so swift actions at the "ordination" of a local woman.

Now we get to play where in the world....

In July the official calendar said Vacation.
This week, touring Ireland.
Next week, on retreat with other bishops.

Those office hours we all have to keep are such a bear aren't they?

Mike

Whistling while Rome is burning?

2006-07-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

First off, apologies for the hiatus. Never enough time and, honestly, nothing really got me stirred up enough lately to blog about it.

Second, thanks to Terrence and the Provincial E-Mails for stirring me up today.

Woman gets ordained...again!!!! Everyone who has been deeply enthralled with Archbishop Timothy M. (probably stands for mushy) Dolan, well, now we all can see where that is going.

To start, let's review some details about this very telling story:

Vandenberg herself says: "I am active in St. Mary's Parish." That would be St. Mary's in Waukesha, WI. You may not know that place, but it from here that the Archbishop elevated Deaconess Vandenberg's last pastor to the position of Associate Vicar for Clergy. Good job there...yea, Fr. Brian Mason really exemplifies solid priestly leadership. But, then again, at least he is inspiring vocations among some. It is also the place where soon-to-be Reverend Mother Vandenberg's present pastor, Fr. James Volkert was, I am told, recently appointed a Dean for his area. Oh, there is a good expample for the other parish priests. I hope that Fr. Volkert won't celebrate his new appointment or Ms. Sullivan's first mass at the parish with some of his previous gusto! OK, it seems that no one at the parish level has ever been inclined to say something to the soon to be ersatz priestess. Better yet, they get promoted by His Excellency!

Vandenberg, when referring to a recent meeting with the Archbishop: "I'm not excommunicated. I'm a full member of the Roman Catholic Church at this time." Really? How in the world can that be? Allow me, after only twenty minutes research on the internet, with all do respect, refer His Excellency to a few citations from his Church's Code of Canon Law -- (the fact that I must be the one to do this leads me to ask where are the Archbishop's staff on this? Does Madame Chancelloress support the priestess movement? Has Fr. Hartmann, the Judicial Vicar, been castrated, or given up, or given in to these things?)

Can. 1364 §1. Without prejudice to the prescript of can. 194, §1, n. 2, an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication; in addition, a cleric can be punished with the penalties mentioned in can. 1336, §1, nn. 1, 2, and 3.
§2. If contumacy of long duration or the gravity of scandal demands it, other penalties can be added, including dismissal from the clerical state.

Is it just me, or is Ms. Vandenberg already a schismatic? Since she supposedly got ordained a deaconess last year, isn't that already "contumacy of long duration"? So how can His Excellency say anything in a personal meeting that would leave the Reverend Mother-to-be with the sense that she is still a "full member of the Roman Catholic Church"? I wonder if, out of his undying desire to be liked by absolutely everyone, the Archbishop and Madame Deaconess had a good ecumenical (she is a schismatic) hug at the end of their meeting?

Can. 1369 A person who in a public show or speech, in published writing, or in other uses of the instruments of social communication utters blasphemy, gravely injures good morals, expresses insults, or excites hatred or contempt against religion or the Church is to be punished with a just penalty.

Hmmm? I concede that there may not be anyone left at the diocesan star chamber of Archbishop's staff and advisors who is insulted by this, but come on...isn't this an act of contempt against the Church?

Can. 1371 The following are to be punished with a just penalty:
1/ in addition to the case mentioned in can. 1364, §1, a person who teaches a doctrine condemned by the Roman Pontiff or an ecumenical council or who obstinately rejects the doctrine mentioned in can. 750, §2 or in can. 752 and who does not retract after having been admonished by the Apostolic See or an ordinary;
2/ a person who otherwise does not obey a legitimate precept or prohibition of the Apostolic See, an ordinary, or a superior and who persists in disobedience after a warning.

Hasn't women's ordination been specifically stated to be covered here? As for the warning, presumably it was Madame Spokeswomen Kathleen Hohl who indicated to the Journal-Sentinal that "Vandenberg has had a 'time of discernment'". Is that a warning or not? I have this image of something like that scene in Kramer vrs. Kramer where Dustin Hoffman keeps telling Ricky Schroeder not to do all the things that lead up to, and ultimately include, taking the ice cream. That was as fruitless (spineless?) as the Archbishop is in this case.

Can. 1373 A person who publicly incites among subjects animosities or hatred against the Apostolic See or an ordinary because of some act of power or ecclesiastical ministry or provokes subjects to disobey them is to be punished by an interdict or other just penalties.

If Ms. Vandenberg thinks she has been a deaconess for the past year, call me crazy, but I find it hard to believe that she did not try to do something "deaconal". Who is supposed to have investigated that? And if she performed say, a baptism or a marriage, is that not provoking whom she led to believe that these were valid sacraments to disobedience?

Can. 1374 A person who joins an association which plots against the Church is to be punished with a just penalty; however, a person who promotes or directs an association of this kind is to be punished with an interdict.

Is it not the case the Madame Vandenberg's lobbying group, "Roman Catholic Women Priests", is both organized and "associated"; oh yeah, that makes them an association? Are they not specifically, vocally, and obviously opposed/against a clear the doctrine of the Church? Are they not set and intent upon planning for/plotting against the Church? Given all of this, why is it the case that the Archbishop, the Reverend Judicial Vicar, and the Madame Chancelloress all fail to act?

Can. 1378 .... §2. The following incur a latae sententiae penalty of interdict or, if a cleric, a latae sententiae penalty of suspension:
1/ a person who attempts the liturgical action of the Eucharistic sacrifice though not promoted to the sacerdotal order;
2/ apart from the case mentioned in §1, a person who, though unable to give sacramental absolution validly, attempts to impart it or who hears sacramental confession.
§3. In the cases mentioned in §2, other penalties, not excluding excommunication, can be added according to the gravity of the delict.

Ummmm...duh? Attention Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center staff: isn't this Priestess Vandenberg's plan? Thank you Madame Spokeswoman Hohl for giving the deaconess/priestess a "time of discernment". Yeah...that will make the difference!

Can. 1379 In addition to the cases mentioned in can. 1378, a person who simulates the administration of a sacrament is to be punished with a just penalty.

OK, let's be straight on this: as a deaconess she may have (probably) tried to perform baptisms and weddings, and the Archdiocese seemingly did nothing. As a priestess is seems fair to presume that Eucharist and confession are presumed to take place in the near future(can we say Call to Action conference), and nothing is planned other than to wait and "forward" the case to the Vatican. Is not also logical to presume that anointings (of course with pretty vestments and nice perfumes oils) will occur? And yet, no real action seems to be in the offing! Thank you for protecting the Church's integrity Your Excellency!

Can. 1384 In addition to the cases mentioned in cann. 1378-1383, a person who illegitimately performs a priestly function or another sacred ministry can be punished with a just penalty.

Seems obvious to me? What about you? Oh yeah, His Excellency reads these canon laws and instead of doing what is entailed, he "forwarded" the case to the Vatican. So this means one of maybe three things: 1) either the logical conclusion of these laws was intentionally hidden from the Archbishop by his staff because of their ulterior motives; 2) the logical conclusion of these laws was intentionally ingored by the Archbishop; or 3) the Archbishop is so afraid of bad press that he can't take a bold, and necessary, and legally required, step without specific hand-holding direction froms Rome (can you say "impotent"?).

Some of you might be asking what exactly is wrong with having the Vatican handle this matter. But consider one more Canon (Madame Spokeswoman Hohl probably never studied canon law, nor was given incomplete or inaccurate information by Madame Chancelloress Cusack):

Can. 1341 An ordinary is to take care to initiate a judicial or administrative process to impose or declare penalties only after he has ascertained that fraternal correction or rebuke or other means of pastoral solicitude cannot sufficiently repair the scandal, restore justice, reform the offender.

For those of you who might be unaware, "an ordinary" means the diocesan bishop. This canon means that a local bishop is supposed to enforce these laws, not pass the buck to the Vatican. I can only ask the Archbishop, either what are you afraid of, or who is talking you out of enforcing your own law?

Well enough for tonight. Simply put...no spine means no action!

Mike

Is the fallout still falling?

2006-07-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Archbishop Dolan's recent e-mail to all the priests of the archdiocese and the subsequent J-S article has caused something of a stir.

The original e-mail from His Excellency has already been posted by Terrance.

Dad29 has had a number of interesting comments posted about this.

I tend to agree with the growing, as yet unanswered, chorus of people who want a blunt discussion of the connection between gay priests and priests who prey sexually on teen boys. These are a different category than pedophiles...predatory behavior directed at pre-pubescent children. It doesn't matter whether these were crimes of passion (the gay community is renowned for seeking sex with teens), or crimes of opportunity (the young priest has more opportunities to spend time with boys).

Archbishop Dolan, when are you going to honestly address this question? What are you afraid of...losing the majority of your priests?

Mike

Clothes may not make the man...but they make a difference!

2006-07-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Archbishop Timothy Dolan:

In you estimation, which is a more inspirational example (Sorry, no political-dodging here, you have to choose one or the other):

A blue jean, short sleeve, Birkenstock-wearing priest of all things convenient (who happens to have been appointed by you to work at the previously esteemed North American College), or....

A habit-wearing, basketball playing nun who works with orphan boys?

I can believe that Fr. Shecterle is a fine man, he was even a near the top finisher in the auxiliary bishop handicapper's race. But please...he is afraid to wear a collar even on Sunday morning to go say mass?

It's your choice Archbishop, make it now, or regret it later. (I realize that when you leave for New York, none of tis will matter to anyone except all the faithful you will leave behind.)

Mike

Something for the Whiners!

2006-07-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

An interesting little article in yesterday's Washington Post begs questions about just how "overworked" our priests are. Someone should pose serious questions, with the support of facts, to the whiners in the Milwaukee Priest Union. These are the guys that frame laziness as "reasonable limits and expectations of priests."

According to the research collected by the Washington Post, there are a lot fewer Catholic weddings today, than there were in 1970. No surprise there. Specifically, nationwide, the number of Catholic marriage ceremonies declined from 426,000 marriages in 1970 to 212,456 in 2005. That means that last year, there were less than 50% the total of Catholic weddings than in 1970.

OK, so the first thing you will cry to me is "priest shortage." True, but how do the numbers really work?

Presumably, Milwaukee's decline in marriage ceremonies is not much different than the nationwide trend. It is also logical to assume some degree of correspondence between this number and the totals for things like baptisms, funerals, etc. If one declines, all decline.

Now here is the point: Thanks to Catholic-Heirarchy.Org, we know that in 1970, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee had 1,150 priests, no permanent deacons, no such things as pastoral associates or much lay staff in any parish. Last year, there were 744 priests, plus 152 deacons (remember, deacons can perform weddings, funerals, and baptisms). This does not include all of the new lay staff that handle prep for these sacraments. At minimum, 896 ministers represent 78% of the workers to perform 50% of the work. Hmmm, it seems that the workload is getting lighter.

Now, before someone e-mails with a complaint, I admit that the numbers above reflect all priests, both diocesan and religious orders. If you just count diocesan priests (and deacons) the comparison is 93% of the ordained ministers, for 50% of the work.

So, a question for Fathers Cooper, Mich, Last, and the other Jimmy Hoffa wannabes...What are you complaining about?

More to come.

Mike

Come one, Come all...to what?

2006-06-28T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sources forwarded to me a message that was sent out today from the Archdiocese to all of the parishes. It included this interesting little advertisement from the wreck-o-vated Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist:

3. Cathedral welcomes all
The Cathedral extends a special invitation to participate in a liturgy, spend time in prayer, or take a self-guided tour should your or your parishioners’ summer plans include a visit to downtown Milwaukee.

Doors are open at the Cathedral 7:30am to 6:00pm Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 7:30am until 1:00pm. Weekday Masses are celebrated in the day chapel at 7:45am, Monday through Saturday, and at 5:15pm, Monday through Friday.

Saturday’s Mass of Anticipation is celebrated at 5:15pm, and Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00am.

OK, fine. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese and all that stuff, but why can't St. John's draw people through its doors by virtue of what it has to offer? Oh, yea, it has nothing to offer.

The fact that the Weaklandista rector of the Cathedral, Fr. Carl Last (of Call to Action fame) wants to advertise the primary purpose of the Cathedral as a tourist attraction, not only devalues what a Cathedral Church could and should be, it drastically overestimates the tourist appeal of this wreck-o-vated edifice.

My questions for Fr. Carl free-at-Last:

What, no confessions? Ever?
When I get there, where is the perpetual adoration chapel? Or any adoration?
Are there any Catholic devotions offered? Rosary, OLPH, Divine Mercy Chaplet?

Question to Archbishop Dolan:

Tourist trap, with your version of Ms. Julie McCoy as Cruise Director?
or
A solemn, spiritual, prayerful, Catholic church?

Your Excellency, will you ever really make a choice here?

We can only hope (fruitlessly).

Mike

Continuing with the work of the handicapper.

2006-06-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Sorry for the silent week. It has been rather busy lately.

Have seen a number of posts about some of the priests listed so far, and received some in direct e-mails. If I do say so myself, there seems to be a consensus that quiet, passive, weak leaders are the desired goal of the handicapper. Strong personalities, orthodox or progressive, are feared (but especially the conservatives).

Shall we continue with some observations?

Brian Massingale (or Bryan, as his mother called him) -- MU professor, by itself, not a plus. Can any professor of "Liberation Theologies" find the favor of B-16? Has some sort of leadership role with Black Catholic Theological Symposium. I think that this group is merely a self-perpetuating source of the victim mentality. How else could you interpret the paper entitled "The Human, the Non-Human, and the Divine in Greek Literature: Where do the Slaves Belong?" (Fr. Massingale, is presently responsibly for receiving papers). Probably has his priorities pretty screwed up. In a conference on dialogue between Catholic and Politics, Massingale essentially blamed bishops for the problems. OK, it might be that some bishops are not clear enough in their teaching of politicians...but, excuse me, who uses the title "Professor"? His time passed twenty years ago.

Len Vladenderen (again, actually knowing the men he criticizes is not the handicapper's forte. Fr's real name is Leonard Van Vlaenderen) -- Evaluation is actually correct here. I hear from Brookfield that he is not really very healthy these days.

James Connell -- Other than being a pastor in Sheboygan, I don't know anything about him. Very little on the internet, so, it could be like Supreme Court nominees...the less the paper trail, the better the odds.

Ross Schecterle (should be Shecterle) -- Could be a darling of His Excellency; sent to work at the Pontifical North American College in Rome as a psychologist. Personally, I am a little bit leery of pastors who seem to be psychologists first, and priests second.

All I can do for today. Don't know much about most on the remainder of the list. So please, post your own observations about the priests listed.

Mike

The Handicaps -- Day 3

2006-06-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

A few more notes on the rather snarkish handicapping list that someone (presumably a fellow priest) assemble about possible future auxiliary bishops.

James Schuerman is member of the faculty at St. Francis Seminary. Don't know him. The handicapper may have something right here, it seems logical to acknowledge that spiritual directors are rarely chosen. According to the Code of Canon Law, it seems that a spiritual director can't act publicly on someone becoming a priest. Would that same learned information also be restricted from action when an auxiliary must act in regards a priest who screwd up? Seems to be asking too much. A member of the Community Advisory Board...does that endear him to the Alliance of Whiners? To his credit, he is not a member!

Thomas Brundage is outgoing pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul parish on the east side. Don't understand the inside baseball about Fr. Hartmann ousting him. Catholic Herald only got worse, or at least more shrill, under his short-lived leadership. Bumped from Tribunal; Bumped from Herald (had "thin journalism credentials"); Bumped to Alaska (I presume)...does not seem that the Archbishop really needs him at all.

Joe Hornacek is pastor of St. Anthony's parish in Pewaukee. Seems to be a rather backhanded reference to "hangovers"? Not sure if I am sold on the notion of "scrapbooking" as a religious endeavor. A founding member of the Alliance...even while vicar for clergy for Archbishop Dolan. Can any significant appointee of Weakland ever have a chance?

Javier Bustos (not Xavier...the handicapper must be an X-Men fan because few Milwaukee priest would think St. Francis Xavier first) is little known. Only ordained five years ago...is that enough time?

Well, enough for today.

Comments invited!

Mike

Moving through more of the handicaps.

2006-06-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Let's continue with some observations about the handicapped priests...

Timothy Kitzke is the pastor of Three Holy Women parish on the east side. Seems to be well liked by Archbishop Dolan. Was just given responsibility for another parish and a newly ordained associate. Teaches at the seminary...not a real plus there. I am not sure if a designation as "one of Milwaukee's coolest priests" by a somewhat liberal website actually works in his favor. Will he be in accord with Vatican teaching about seminary admissions?

Daniel Sanders is unknown to me. I would wonder if it is here that the writer tips his hand? How can a "dark horse" come in sixth on a list of over forty names? Could he be a Weaklandista candidate? A Sklba clone? Lord help us if that is so.

Robert Stiefvater is Dolan"s Vicar for Hispanics. Somewhat harsh critique by our handicapper. Adequate spanish? In the negative column, a member of the Alliance. A plus - former Director of Vocations. Seems to be a high possibility.

Kurt Frederick or, as his mother had him baptized, Curt Frederick, head of the clergy office for Dolan. An Alliance member. As far as giving advice goes, either he gives bad advice, or he may have a tendency to offer too little, too late. Can he be trusted? Don't know much else.

Some obvious trends of our handicapper to this point: Have no track record, get positive treatment; Work for Dolan, get harsh treatment; Squishy on Church doctrine, get hyped; Orthodox, get slammed.

So much for a Milwaukee priest's insights about what is good for the Church.

Further comments and observations welcome.

Mike

Showing the handicapper's handicaps.

2006-06-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

Just some initial reflections in the list posted on Saturday.

First, from what I hear, it would be easy to agree with Dad29 with the comments he posted.

I don't personally know know most of the priests listed, so I will have to limit my comments. (That could be difficult.) I will only comment a the first four right now:

Dave Malloy recently got appointed as General Secretary of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. If I am not mistaken it is a five year term. It would seem unlikely that the Pope would pull a good man from that position for the sake of an auxiliary bishop position. My guess is that, while a great choice for the job, his odds should be much longer.

Jeffrey Haines is a pastor in West Bend with a good reputation. A friend from that area remembers an absence when Fr. Haines left to go back to school, but for some reason it did not last long. Academics might not be Fr. Jeff's forte anymore. No advanced degree. Biggest killer here, a member of the priest alliance. Does anyone know if he signed the optional celibacy petition?

Michael Witczak is rector of the now oft re-configured St. Francis Seminary. With the latest decision to close the Seminary's academic portions coming so soon after the Vatican visitation it seems that Fr. Witczak does not have the ecclesial wherewithal. Also, a member of the priest alliance. The fact that Witczak was a parting shot by Weakland at his successor can't help either.

Paul Hartmann (the handicapper has his name spelled wrong). The first of the unfair evals. I like that he has Dolan's favor; don't know anything about "ousting" Brundage. I have to guess that he is a good church lawyer. According to the website of the Canon Law Society of America, he had a term on their leadership board, and was even nominated to run for the office of president. He runs the Pallium lectures which has brought in the best, and most orthodox, speakers this area has seen in 30 years. Not a member of the Alliance priest union, and even seems to be an oft-scorned critic of them. (It should be noted that after Fr. Hartmann complained, they did feel the need to get some document reviewed, re-reviewed, and changed.) As for being a "right wing zealot", on the one hand this is a compliment; on the other, according to people I know who have heard him preach at St. Leonard's and St. Aloysius say that he is solidly Catholic without being harsh. I guess anyone who respects B-16 and JPII would be a right wing zealot in Milwaukee. The best choice so far in my book.

That's all I can do for now.

Request, does anyone know if a list of names of the priests who signed the optional celibacy petition is anywhere on the net? Please let me know. No one on that list has any chance of becoming a bishop.

Further comments are welcome! Feel free to start your own list and send it to the Archbishop and the nuncio.

Mike

Who really is handicapped?

2006-06-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

I finally got some time to re-type the rather poor quality list of someone's rather cynical "handicapping" of priests who might be potential auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

There are a number of misspellings and gramatical mistakes that I have left as is.

I will wait to offer much commentary on this. All you need to do is read the list to see get an idea about what type of bishop the writer is looking for, and what type of potential leader he is most critical of. By reading who is treated kindly, and those treated harshly, you can judge for yourselves who might really be the best for the Catholics of Milwaukee.

I don't yet know who actually wrote the list, I am sure that they are proud of themselves. There are a couple parish names on the fax list, but I will save those for later comment. If anyone has any clues about the author, please let me know.

Each listing give the priest's name, the predicted odds, and the author's appraisal and comment. Not all of make sense, but that should not be a surprise.

Well, without any more delay...

HANDICAPPERS VIEW OF AUXILIARY BISHOP RACE – May 2006

David Malloy – 5-1, the reasonable brother, will make it, for other reasons – Vatican service, at a different place. Is a Milwaukee priest BUT never really served here.

Jeffrey Haines – 10-1, well liked by Priests, good Pastor, hard worker, good family background. Humble, no post graduate work. Excellent moderator of the Priest Council.

Michael Witczak – 20-1, Roman degree in liturgy. Rector of Seminary, historical jumping off spot for previous rectors. Lacks vibrancy, uninspiring speaker, socially shy.

Paul Hartman – 30-1, has Dolan’s favor, ousted Brundage, quite pompous, obviously working for it, not a priest favorite. Somewhat of a right wing zealot. Some arrogance.

Timothy Kitzke – 40-1, Well liked by lay people. Looks good, sings well, works the crowd. Still young and still really untested. Light theologically. Family background questionable.

Daniel Sanders – 50-1, Dark horse. Studied in Rome, schoolmate of Dolan. Cleaned up Effinger mess, restored parish confidence. Not well known by priests. Keeps a low profile.

Robert Stiefvater – 60-1, Speaks Spanish adequately, fills Dolan language deficiency. Seen as a promoter of himself. Very light theologically. Big spender of other’s money.

Kurt Frederick – 70-1, Takes himself too seriously, more of a journey man follower, always ingratiating himself, not seen as a high profile leader. Lacks scholarship touch.

James Schuerman, 80-1, A dark horse. Innsbruck background earns consideration. Seminary spiritual directors rarely are chosen. Not well known. Is quietly decent.

Tom Brundage – 90-1, Only hope now is Alaska. Lost tribunal struggle with Hartman. Will have to settle for his growing real estate kingdom. Didn’t make it at the Catholic Herald.

Joe Hornacek – 100-1, Too many hangovers from his stern regime. He had the inside in the lasts regime, and proved he didn’t have the stuff. His time and mentor are in the past.

Xavier Bustos – 110-1, Although young, he seems to have it all. A Roman trained Hispanic intellectual. Very intelligent. Time is on his side, but he can afford to wait.

Brian Massingale – 120-1, will need strong outside support, can fit a specific need but probably not in Milwaukee. Some questions linger about his Seminary teaching career.

Len Vladenderen – 130-1, He bet heavily on the wrong horse, and now must live with it. His growing bank account and Las Vegas connections will sustain him, too much on the go.

James Connell – 140-1, Rome, Canon law background plus chancery experience count but previous life experiences are against him. Is a decent guy. Recruited by Cousins.

Ross Schecterle – 150-1, had the episcopacy in mind from the beginning. Must play his Roman cards correctly. Is impatient for higher things. Needs to cultivate patrons.

Joe Juknialis – 160-1, Hasn’t dazzled many people. Is a bit too sure about his own prowess and diocesan politics. Colleagues wonder if he is a successful preacher? Can be caustic.

Brian Mason – 170-1, Still very untested. His present tenure will be determinative. How and if he treats priests with maturity and dignity will be watched.

Jerry Herda – 180-1, Is in a learning position. Priests generally like him. Should have some post graduate scholastic credentials. Must be patient to get them. A decent man.

Steve Avella – 190-1, Always wants more, regarded as an opportunist as his record demonstrates. Is talented, but ambitious. Fellow Dolan historian. Critical of priests.

Dan Pakenham – 200-1, was in the cat bird seat but blew it big time with Diocesan priests and Seminary alumni. Has significant problems and more in his parish now. No, no, no!

Dark Horse Pastor candidates – 225-1. There are many who could be considered. They generally lack scholarship credentials. Here are a few but there are many others as well.
A. Ralph Gross – Physical condition has dimmed his diminished chances.
B. Art Heinze – once Sem prof, didn’t cope well with close friend Jarumbo’s distress.
C. Tony Zimmer – eager and personable, but sings off key in different ways.
D. Ken Knippel – is seasoned. Looks good. Enjoys comfortable lifestyle too much.
E. Bill Kohler – had his season of glory, short on credentials. Just too short.
F. Vic Capriolo – Outshone Brundage in Alaska. Well liked. Great in Fondy.
G. Alan Jurkus – Pinning for years. Despite trying it’s beyond his Cudahy depth.
H. Tom DeVries – Riding high now but Dutch Reformed background eliminates him.
I. Gene Pocernich – Had big ideas once. Overestimates his own abilities grossly.
J. John Hemsing – midnight DUI is on the record. Should stay home more.
K. Carl Last – his name tells it all. And there are other things in the cupboard.
L. Ken Metz – unfortunately wouldn’t even get Kenosha votes. Ego problems.
M. Mike Newman – time is slipping away from him. A hint of scrupulosity too.
N. John Aiello – unlike the emporer he has too many clothes. People like him.
O. Ken Omernick – Had his chances. Didn’t get Roman degree. O’Laughlin mess.
P. Dave Reith – Smooth, capable, offended some in priest council. Officious.
Q. Chuck Schramm – Lost out early in his career, but is too blunt, too cautious.
R. Bill Stanfield – too much running around in his career. Stability – a question?
S. Don Thimm – capable, hard worker, previous chancery work left some wounds.
T. Laurin Wenig – had a free ride for years in his terms. Not exactly a team worker.
U. Tim O’Brien – Ultra political person. The Democrats failed him greatly.
V. Dick Aiken – likes his own brand of luxury, tends to take it super easy.
W. Len Barbian – could have done it years ago, and would have liked it. Too late.

They literally want us to keep our mouths shut!

2006-06-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

A new fan of my little effort here sent me this message:

I just found your blog. Nice. I have a question that maybe you can answer.

My husband and I recently attended 8th grade graduation at St. Bernard's. I know this parish well as I was married there.
As I approached for Communion, which I receive on my tongue, the priest would not give me communion. I continued to look at him and stick my tongue out. Of course, I know that you can receive in the hand or mouth.
Feeling stupid and the priest looked so angry, I almost walked away. But I just closed my eyes and he smashed it into my mouth. My husband had the same experience. My parents also had the same experience. We are all members of St. Claire and Fr. Tony has never made us feel unwelcome.
At first I felt humiliated, now I'm just mad. Do you think I should write the priest or the Archdiocese? I feel that I need to speak out to someone.
Thanks for listening.
B. (name withheld by request)

Hers is a challenge many faithful Catholics have faced. I have to admit, I am a communion in the hand type of guy. But where in the world do all these supposedly open-minded, diversity-promoting, ritual is everything pastors get off saying that some classic traditions in the Church are not allowed in "my" parish? Kudos to, I presume, Fr. Tony McCarthy at St. Clare parish in North Lake.

My reply to this lady, and to all in these situations:

Thank you for reading my blog.

I have heard others who encountered the same type of thing with Fr. Drenzek at St. Bernard...he is no Fabian Bruskeiwicz.

As to writing a letter, I do recommend it. But, there is a qualification.

On the positive side, three times in the last few weeks Archbishop Dolan has advised his priests about the doing things by the book.

While I do not think you will be able to get the Archbishop to discipline Fr. Drenzek, but if enough people write with your same concerns, he might at least send out a message that supports your concerns.

Write him at the Archdiocese:

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan
P.O. Box 070912
Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912

I hear that he always replies. If he does, please share his response with me.

Good Luck,

Mike

P.S. If anyone else has specific examples of some of the outrageousness going on out there, please do share.

P.P.S. I should have the Auxiliary Bishop Handicapping list re-typed tonight. It makes for interesting reading. It it interesting to note that the good Fr. McCarthy referred to above is not even considered (neither for scorn of for praise) on this Weaklandista list.

Hot off the Fax Machine!!!!

2006-06-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have just received a copy of the rumored document circulating among the priests titled "Handicappers View of Auxiliary Bishop Race - May 2006"

It was shared with me by a staffer of a parish where the pastor thought is was worth sharing with the laity. It has made numerous trips through fax machines so it will be better for me to retype it rather than scan it in. I hope to get to it over the weekend.

As a teaser, at the top of the list:

David Malloy - 5-1, the reasonable brother, will make it, for other reasons-Vatican service, at a different place, is a Milwaukee priest BUT never really served here at all.

The text is filled with misspellings and typos. I will re-type it exactly though. As you can tell, it is more a chance for some writer (presumably a priest) to slam many of his fellow priests. The few actually complimented tip the hand of the writer's desire for the type of auxiliary (a spineless do-nothing!)

More to follow....

Mike

Is that spine we see growing back there?

2006-06-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Archbishop Dolan is said to have sent out a message to his priests that included warning about the length of masses. Basically, keep it under and hour guys. Specifically (having seen a copy of the e-mail) he told his priests to get the liturgistas under control and don't let them cram and push ever symbol and ritual into every mass. THANK YOU Sir! It's about time. Now when are you going to clean house in you Office of Liturgy and Inclusive Language?

That last little dig aside, it seems that His Excellency is actually beginning to pulls in the reins (just a little, and only sort of), read on...

Yesterday, Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan sent an e-mail to all of his priests. It included these somewhat surprising paragraphs:

10. May I speak to you about a couple delicate issues? The first would be guidelines about hosting a speaker or a group in the parish or under Church auspices. Some bishops, as you know, have drawn up very detailed rules about this. I have not gone that route, and hope I do not have to. Canon Law, diocesan policy already in place, common sense, and love that all of us have for the Church, should guide us. I have trust in your prudential judgment, and in your ecclesial wisdom that you would never invite or host a speaker or a group that has publicly taken stands blatantly at odds with clear Church teaching. There are speakers or groups who certainly may not be "my cup of tea," but who still stay "within the boundaries," and I trust your judgment about invitations to them. We need dialogue, we are not afraid of respectful probing and earnest examination of Church teaching; but there has to be a limit. One speaker whom I would ask you not to have is Dr. Daniel McGuire. He should never be given an invitation or provided a platform at any parish in the archdiocese. He has recently publicly stated that both Archbishop Weakland and I have welcomed him to any parish in the archdiocese, which necessitates this corrective. His position on abortion - - and on a number of other areas - - is so radically outside Church teaching that his appearance at any parish would be a grave scandal and a cause of disunity in the Church. Dialogue about Church teaching and pressing pastoral challenges is always welcome. But the above speaker is not into dialogue but into clear and purposeful dissent from Church teaching: He gets enough attention without us giving him another platform.

11. The second sensitive area is intercommunion. Recently, two priests approached me very upset because each had lately been at funerals where the celebrant had announced, "All are welcome to receive Holy Communion." I don't blame them for being upset. Such a statement is untrue and unjust. While there are indeed situations where the reception of Holy Communion by a non-Catholic Christian under special circumstances is licit, and while I trust your prudence in following Church discipline to determine such circumstances, it is never pastorally wise or theologically sound to publicly announce that, "All are invited to receive the Eucharist." Please do not do it! The bishops' conference, as you know, has issued a very respectful and sensitive set of guidelines http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/intercom.shtml that should be adhered to, and which can easily be re-printed in missallettes and Worship Booklets at liturgies such as funerals, weddings, or other big occasions when non-Catholics are welcome.

As to speakers at parishes...yippee. A little late (Voice of the faithful at All Saints, Women's Ordination at St. Matthias, etc.) but at least it's something. But, for two steps forward there is one step back. The Archbishop shows his naivete once again by asserting that, relative to his Weaklandista pastors "I trust your judgment about invitations."

Your Excellency, if you could trust your pastors, you wouldn't need to say anything in the first place. Right?

But, at least there is finally a public statement about Dan Maguire. Now we are just waiting for Fr. Bob Wilde at Marquette to do something.

As to intercommunion, please see my June 4th posting. As for "anonymous" who is appalled that we not invite anyone and everyone to communion, raspberries to you and to the multitude of priests who de-value the Eucharist be making it out to be more like snacks at a cocktail party than the very heart of what makes us Catholic.

The best part about the intercommunion paragraph of the Archbishop's e-mail...did you notice it...hold your breath...I can't really see any equivocation in his part. Now that's a first. Good going Your Excellency! It's about time!

Mike

Dissent, R.I.P.

2006-06-07T03:37:00.000-07:00

The sad news arrived late yesterday. I am still in (gleeful) shock.

Weaklandista, Fr. Paul Stanosz seems to have gotten out of the blogging business.

His words of limited and questionable wisdom have just disappeared. No good-byes, no closure, no nothing.

I conjecture two possible reasons:

1. Who wanted to read his drivel anyway? He did not want to invigorate the Church; he wanted to be a Lutheran.

2. His level of commitment is insufficient to the task of blogging. I wonder how well he does with vows like obedience and celibacy.

Good Riddance!

Mike

Liturgists say the darnedest things.

2006-06-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

Or worse, they make others say it three or four times in a weekend.

Consider the scene:

A large suburban parish on the northern edge of the Metropolitan archdiocese of the Flatland south of us.
It's Pentecost, the celebration of the birth of the Church.
The pastor gives a rather lukewarm homily about how "the Church" cannot be defined. (That should have been a warning.)

Then, the topper, the lector gets up and proclaims the following:

"Let us pray that the table of the Lord is the welcoming place of gathering for people of every race, CREED, color, and gender." (Emphasis added.)

Excuse me, but what school of theology taught that understanding of the Church...every Creed??????

Sadly, the Archdiocese of the Windy City has some of the same problems as the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Mike

What really is the handicap?

2006-05-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on the rumored handicapping list for future auxiliary bishops in Milwaukee. I have confirmed its existence, and heard more that it is a rather acerbic, non-charitable view from some priest(s) writer(s) about brother priests. No surprise in the highly charged post-RGW era. Remember the working motto of the Ken Mich Alliance: Debase rather than debate, Dis rather than discuss.

I still have not obtained a copy of the list, but am told that at the top of the list is Fr. Dave Malloy. There solely by virtue of his position as General Secretary at the Bishops' Conference.

When pressed to elucidate, a priest who had likely seen the list was defensive about a view that the list was mean-spirited. His reply was "nice people are treated nicely." So we can presume that with that much intellectual fortitude being brought to bear, nice guys are treated with kid gloves. I would say that this can be interpreted to mean that those who will not change anything (i.e. Sklba or another Weaklandista) are to be highly recommended on this list While those who might be orthodox and uphold accountability will be scorned.

I am still trying to get my hands on the list and will pass it on once I get one. A point to learn: the Weaklandistas want the people to have a voice, so let's use ours. Given the lack of backbone shown thus far by His Excellency, as I have said before, contact the Nuncio in Washington with your recommendations of good pastors who should be named our auxiliary bishop!

Still developing....

Mike

Are we prepared for a non-Jesuit president?

2006-05-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Are we prepared for a non-Jesuit president at Marquette University? Why not, we have had at least two of them in a row in recent years.

St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, provided a very detailed description of what is took to be a Jesuit. Let's perform a little review to see how Fr. Robert Wilde, present president is doing...

Basically, St. Ignatius laid down eight rules for all Jebbies:

1) The Jesuits were to be at the disposal of the pope.

Does much need to be said here? Maguire as a professor; Martini on condoms; enculturation; liberation theology; on and on and on... FYI for MU, hiring Fr. Bryan Massingale is just liberation theology warmed over!

2) They were to go wherever he ordered them to go to save souls.

Most Jesuits seem to exempt themselves from places like abortion clinics; classes on the Catechism; and the confessional.

3) They were never to accept a bishopric etc. Unless the pope ordered it.

Oh, how Benedict XVI is gritting his teeth over his predecessor's appointment and elevation of Cardinal Martini.

4) They were to wear no special habit.

Gentlemen, it says "no special habit", not no habit at all. Didn't you guys actually invent what is now called the Roman collar? Alas, there are the habits of Fr. Thon, Fr. Schultenover, Fr. Hughson, Fr. Rossi, yada, yada, yada. That is just one department. (OK, I have to add two of the four Jesuits in campus ministry.)

5) There were to be no special mortificationÃ’s, e.g. no fasting without a medical report.

Ok, they have one in eight down pat.

6) They were excused from communal prayer and masses.

Thank the Lord for this, since so many of their masses have been of questionable validity anyways.

7) All members were to take the three traditional monastic vows. An elite would take a fourth vow of direct obedience to the pope if he sent them on a foreign mission.

OK, figure this one out...I am told that the Jesuit leadership has, on the one hand, refused to allow Fr. Fessio to take fourth vows, but allows just about any university president who hosts the Vagina Monologues to mouth the worlds of "direct obedience." Hmm, a little Jesuitic logic at work there?

8) Faith was to be spread by preaching, spiritual exercises, charity and education in Christianity.

Is there any faith left on our Jesuit campuses?

All in all some should let Archbishop Dolan know that there has already been a non-Jesuit as president of Marquette. Even if he is a member of the order.

Mike

P.S. Rumor has it that there is floating around a rather snide "handicapping" of priests for the possibility of auxiliary bishop. It seems some of our esteemed priests are tearing down their brethen pretty harshly. I am trying to get a priest to share a copy. Nothing yet, but I can only expect the worst.

More on the Pot - Kettle dilemma.

2006-05-24T18:21:00.000-07:00

In the same address that His Excellency, Rembert Weakland, gave to the priests a few weeks ago at the "pajama party" which (I think) he initiated after rationalizing away the very damages that he perpetrated on Catholics sincere devotion to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and then going through mental gymnastics to blame everyone else for a lack of trust in Church leaderships (can you say $450K payment for silence), His Excellency moved on to his critique of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

On the matter of we Catholics being "one" --

Jesus Christ is the source of unity in the Church. We are one in Christ. Every Eucharistic prayer makes that clear. There is but one Christ. Paul is upset with the Corinthians where one says he is baptized by Apollo, another says he is baptized by Paul. He finds that kind of designation divisive. (Is it wise today to say - as I heard someone say the other day on EWTN - I am a Pope-John-Paul-II Catholic?)

OK sir, you start off well but finish poorly. Those same Eucharistic prayers also call upon all of us to be in union with the Pope when celebrating the sacraments. Did you sir, serve that end when you called Pope John Paul a "ham actor"?

The desire to rest all things unified on the Eucharist would carry more weight if the Weakland theological premise was not always rooted in relativism. Consider this insight from His Benedictineness: Besides, argued Weakland, the church can reinterpret the meaning of the sacraments over the ages. When confirmation got out of the original sequence in the fourth century, he asked, "could this not have been under the guidance of the Spirit? Could this not have been an enrichment of our sacramental system and a logical evolution?"

Simple respect, devout obedience, and orthodoxy will do more for unity than rationalizations.

On the idea that Catholic's should be "catholic" --

Weakland said "For example, Pope Benedict XV, the pope during the First World War and immediately after it, said one should never add a modifier to the world "Catholic," like "orthodox Catholic" or "authentically Catholic," since the word Catholic, meaning fullness, is enough."

Sir, who wrote the forward to the "American Catholic" Hymnbook? You.
Who established an office of "Black Catholic" concerns in his archdiocese? You.
Who contributed a chapter to a book entitled "American Catholic Social Teaching"? You.
Who likes to use "American Catholic" and "Liberal Catholic" interchangeably?

Need I go on? Clearly you are happy with modifiers like "black", "liberal" and "American" but are disturbed by "orthodox" and "authentic." The struggle for relativism wins the day again.

Well, I need my Pepto and Tylenol again. Be back later.

Mike

P.S. Thank you Archbishop Weakland for still giving me material even while in exile.

Who's the pot, and who's the kettle?

2006-05-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

Even after all that was done to embarrass and shame the priests of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Brokeback Rectory crown still allows His Excellency, Rembert G. Weakland to address the priests at their annual assembly) sadly, but interestingly enough, called the "Priests Pajama Party."

Thankfully for us, the man has no shame and no shortage of arrogance and actually published his homily for my edification. Would you believe that the man has his own website? I fear that when the Nantucket memoirs get posted my parental filters will not let me visit the site, but for now things are safe (at least from the Nantucket limerick aspect).

Here are some of His Excellency's snippets:

CRISIS OF FAITH IN THE CHURCH:

If one asks about Faith in God the Father, I would have to say statistics show our people do have such Faith, even though some might be struggling with the relationship between Faith and Science.

This from one of the great rationalists of our time. The +RGW penchant for distinctions and drivel reflects his desire to be more closely associated with Thomas Jefferson than St. Benedict.

If we ask about Faith in Jesus Christ, I would say that, with some watering down that comes with such plays as "Jesus Christ Superstar" and the like, Jesus would find Faith on this earth if he came now.

Oh yea, and I am sure that Paul Marcoux's Christodrama, with yourself as benefactor and producer, was going to stem that tide.

If we ask about Faith in the Holy Spirit, I would say there is not a severe crisis, in fact, there seems to have been a rejuvenation after Vatican Council II of faith in the action of the Spirit in our midst.

But the proof is in the interpretation of how the Spirit will work in the world. If, for His Excellency, the power of the Spirit leads to ecclesial relativism, than we have misinterpreted the Spirit. But if, as in the view of the Church, the Spirit acts for the sake of universal unity, you can begin to see the differences between the Weaklandistas (Voice of the Faithful, Call to Action, Women's Ordination Conference) and the orthodox faithful (you and me!).

But, if one were to ask about Faith in the Church, I would have to say there is indeed a crisis. I wonder how many of our faithful, when they recite on Sunday the Nicene Creed, really mean that they believe in the Church. Many tell me that for our people to say sincerely that they believe in the Church is the most difficult of all the creedal statements.

Excuse me while I take some Pepto-Bismol and a handful of Tylenol.

(Insert expletive here), your Excellency...you are referring to credibility and stability. These are the things that people want to ground their lived faith in.

Let us review the Weakland track record:

Parish communities -- dismantled. You insulted the Poles when JPII was at his peak, insulted Blacks when Bp. Perry was consecrated, and used "collaboration as the means to extend the influence of the militant lay women of your diocesan offices.

Churches -- wreckovated.

Priesthood -- shamed and emasculated.

Sexual ethics -- Need I say anything?

Sir, with all due respect, just because masses of people were led astray by you, and the fruit of that leadership and your foibles is distrust of some leaders, does not mean that good Catholics do not have deep devotion to the Church. You are rationalizing.

I need to take a few deep breaths. I will be back later with some more thoughts.

Take care,

Mike

Mr. Smith goes...

2006-05-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry, your Excellency, I guess Washington is not to be your new address. I guess the Motor City is your next hope for a new hat.

We are awaiting confirmation.

2006-05-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

I have had the opportunity to be at a number of confirmations since Easter. Permit me to make some observations about both of our local prelates:

First, to Bishop Sklba:

- Please, not everything needs to be explained and re-explained, ad infinitum. Yes, you do have a very calm soothing voice...but after the third paragraph explaining the Sign of the Cross, even that can get irritating.
- OK, we all understand that the oil of chrism is the matter for the sacrament, and you note well that the Archbishop teases you about how much oil you use, but smearing that much oil, messing up everyone's hair, and wiping it all over the teens hands, just causes those same teenagers to laugh at you and at the sacrament.
- One last reminder: it's a sacrament, not a Saturday Night Live skit.

To His Excellency, Archbishop Dolan (and these apply to almost every public appearance):

- Do you every really listen to the readings, or do you just keep looking around and waving at potential donors?
- Have you ever just complimented a priest, or must you always tease them about something? You compliment parents, teachers, musicians, etc. But, your priests only get put-downs. That will really help vocations.

Closing message to His Excellency: You can quit all of your planning commissions, blue ribbon panels, and strategic task forces. Of all places, National Catholic Reporter has given you the blueprint for saving a lost diocese:

Extreme Makeover: The Diocese

I only wish you could take advice like this.

Mike

Looking For a Few Good Men

2006-05-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

Was looking through the USCCB website. Decided to review the report on newly ordained priests. "The Class of 2006: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood."

Some points to make note of, and how the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will raise to the vocations challenge.

According to the survey...

A young man starts in seminary in his early 20's -- So, changing the setting of academics to Sacred Heart School of Theology, with it's focus on old man vocations, will really help.

43% of seminarians made the dean's list in college -- Sorry Fr. Stanosz, who is really dumbing things down now?

Most attended Catholic schools -- I am so glad that we are keeping so many of them open.

Played soccer or basketball in high school, but not baseball -- I guess Fr. Papineau will not be getting to first base.

Was an altar server -- So, what Milwaukee priest is going to admit the maybe Bishop Bruskewitz is right.

Was probably in the Knights of Columbus -- Who in Milwaukee encourages that anymore?

Participated in "Come and See" weekends -- That's going to be real easy now that perspective seminarians will come to St. Francis and will get to see the Archdiocesan bureaucracy hard at work with all of those ex-nuns and ex-priests.

Was invited to consider priesthood by a priest -- Yep, a whole lot of happy faces among this crew.

At this rate, the five men to be ordained next week could well be the last. Thank you Archbishop Dolan for making the changes necessary for more vocations.

Mike

No thanks, I prefer to say galoshes.

2006-05-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

Happened upon an article in the campus newspaper of the largest, supposedly Catholic University in the area. You know the place: where Dan Maguire and Fr. Bryan Massingale pass on their skewed version of the faith with the approbation and support of all your alumni donations!

Yesterday's Marquette Tribune in which there appears an article which is problematic from the start. "Vatican Considering Condoms" is, as it turns out, somewhat inaccurate to say the least.

A couple of things in the article are very telling. Certainly young Mr. Boesson, the "reporter" has learned Jesuitic thinking rather well and it likely destined to follow Cardinal Martini right into whatever moral contradiction he plans to go.

For the insights that Mr. Boessan's journalistic pre-determined goal needed to reach, he did not go to a moral theologian (but, I would think that Fr. Massingale would be well ready to discuss the pros and cons of various condom brands), a classical theologian (wasn't Maguire happily married once?), or a medical professional. No he wanted to place the exploration of this subject purely in the realm of journalistic in-breeding. He went to a journalism professor.

Professor William Thorn states for us that "I suspect they will change their (current) policy to a more moderate one." And Dr. Thorn, what journalistic tenets, what scholarly research, what professional edification provides support for this suspicion? Hey Joe, ask your headline writer to try something more accurate: "Journalists Want Change in Policy Therefore We Write About It!"

The amazing thing, and maybe the underlying motive in Mr. Boessan's maddening method is that Dr. Thorn carries the credibility of name from his wife, Vicki Thorn who is one of the staunchest allies of pro-life and theology of the body issues. It is like all of those opinions and rumors that get reported from famous peoples brothers, cousins and gardeners. Thank you Marquette School of Journalism, if you don't like the news...just interview one another and change it!

Now (sadly giving in to a side of me that I will have to bring to confession) does Dr. Thorn think that his argument is really furthered by this paragraph:

"The Executive Committee of U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops debated the use of condoms with homosexuals," Thorn said. "They were reminded by (retired Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland) that contraception did not apply to homosexuals because their is no transfer of life." Weakland was archbishop of Milwaukee from 1977 to 2002.

Do any of us really want to take a whole lot of guidance from Archbishop Weakland on matters homosexual? From the man who gave the original permissions of the first Brokeback Rectories? Did he send that message in from Nantucket? Oh, the Christo-drama of it all.

So, the thrust of the article seems to be, even when it comes to activities that are themselves objectively disordered and immoral, the Church should be guided by someone else's political agenda to push it down the splippery slope. Next week the Tavern League will encourage the Church members to be sure and buckle up when they drink and drive...it must be the moral thing to do.

OK, so I can see why a college-aged, liberal reporter wannabe might do this. I accept, grudgingly, the environment that Fr. Wild's Marquette does to foster this. I can even concede that Dr. Thorn might have been duped by all the glamour of being interviewed and quoted in a campus newspaper. But explain to me this one:

Kathleen Hohl, communications director for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, declined to comment on the issue, saying the Archdiocese will wait until the Vatican releases a document to respond.

Excuse me, Madam Hohl, I do not see the need for equivocation. What are you and, presumably, the Archbishop waiting for? Allow me to assist you in your job: according to the Catholic News Agency the "Church will not budge 'one inch' on issue of condom use, says Cardinal Lopez Trujillo."

Journalism -- strike one; Marquette University -- strike two; the Archdiocese of Milwaukee -- strike three. Thank you all for letting us get pushed a little farther down the slippery slope.

There you have it for today. Mike

Truth be told...or not!

2006-05-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Dad29 tells me that the open-minded, pride of Milwaukee priest, Fr. Paul Stanosz with his blog "Church in Hospice" has decided to show the stripes of real Archdiocese of Milwaukee dialogue...he has shut down the comments function on his blog.

So Fr. Paul, you want to dish it out about everyone else, but can't really stand the heat of contrary opinion? Who is dumbing things down now?

Mike

When will they start playing spin the bottle?

2006-05-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the pastor indicated that all of the priests of the dicoese would be gathering for the annual "priest pajama party."

OK, I can see the need for an annual meeting or retreat by our priests. But why the heck do some of our own priests persist in the Weakland-era frivolity of such a name as pajama party. What makes it worse is the girlish giggle with which the priest used the term.

I don't know how often other pastors use this reference, nor how many intend to mean something untoward. What I do know is that when a group of men keep bemoaning the lack of respect they are supposedly shown, should they first not act with a little self-respect.

Sure, some will complain about picking on this specific point, but come on guys...if you don't like it when bloggers refer to the rampant Brokeback Rectory syndrome in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, then why persist in your own childish, giggle-ridden, approach to your own presbyterate. I guess it should come as no surprise, Michael Rose was probably right, the diocese's own seminary might have been one big pajama party.

Asking around about this "assembly" left me only with vague impressions. Is there adoration of the Blessed Sacrament? Is there respectful interaction with the Archbishop? Is there something more serious than pajama party hijinks?

I will pray for the priest like I do every day. I hope that they will do the same for one another.

Mike

Blah, blah, Blog.

2006-04-26T07:07:00.000-07:00

OK. So the title could, according to some, just as easily apply to my own (or any) blog. But, I found one worthy of scornful note.

Fr. Paul Stanosz, Pastor of a parish in Franklin, WI, has started his own diatribes entitled The Church in Hospice.

Some initial observations about his drivel:

- Well Father, you do make yourself sound smart. But, long paragraphs and run-on sentences do not prove intelligence.
- Why is it that "researchers" get to present broad statements with no facts to back them up? Reminder good Father, anecdote is not analysis.
- By your academic guise of confidentiality and anonymity, are you not contributing to the culture of secrecy that you criticize?
- If you are so unhappy about everything in your life, why stay with it? With that much emotional baggage in your life, it is surprising that you chose sociology over psychology for your self-therapy. I guess you prefer to blame everyone else for your unhappiness.
- Last, but not least, if the references to celibacy were any more numerous, there would be no room for all the references to homosexuality. Come on Father...let's really talk about transference and/or repression!

A google search for references to Father Stanosz show some interesting efforts on his part:

Admittedly simplistic summary #1: Old seminaries made men gay, 1970's and 80's (close to home?) seminaries let them be gay, and modern seminarians still make them gay, but they just don't realize it yet.

Simplistic summary #2: Prayer is avoidance of sex. What then does the good Father consider sex itself?

After asking a few questions of someone in the know, I understand the Fr. Stanosz is a frequent presenter to our seminarians under the auspices of something called "spiritual formation." Given what I see in his own words, I have trouble seeing how he has a positive sense of spirituality or formation. There is a part of me that fears that his advice would comprise calling for a new 40 Hours service...also known as a weekend at a bath house.

Well, no surprise from St. Francis Seminary or the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
In this regard, Fr. Stanosz might be correct, there should be great fear that these are dying institutions. Where he goes wrong is the insipid arrogance that he should be mindset of the solution. Hey pal, I can only guess, but I think you might be the opposite.

One last thing that should not come as a surprise...Fr. Stanosz is a member of the priests union. I wonder what he recommends for their next group activity?

Still hoping and praying...

Mike

Meet my Son, the soon-to-be para-professional in a religiously oriented non-profit corporation that offers some warm fuzzy God-moments.

2006-04-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hi all, let me take another moment or two considering just a small part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's vocations website: www.ThinkPriest.org.

Maybe out of some ill-founded hopefulness, and trust in my own example, I looked at the page of the webstie entitled: "My Son is Thinking About the Priesthood" What I offer today to Fr. Lobacz are a few questions. First about what is missing, as opposed to what is there:

PRAYER? Should not parents pray for their kids who might have a vocation, or even that they might have a vocation?

THANKSGIVING? Wasn't there a time when parents were thankful for a child who even considered a vocation? I realize that this has to be careful not to become undue pressure, but if a child worked toward being a doctor or lawyer, would they not be thankful? If you child found a good, healthy, relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend, would a parent not be thankful?

But, these are likely not seen a qualities that are to be part of our professional search for people to fill jobs. Rather than our Church lifting up a spirit of valued vocations. I realize that there is a link at the bottom of the page to "more ideas", but the first things presented show the first priorities a person holds.

One last point/question: What is this near irrational obligation to always place "life as a single layperson" on par with Holy Orders or religious life? How can the state in life that requires no action, and the absence of a choice be the same as pursuing a vocation? I am so glad that every unmarried 9 year old is fulfilling their "vocation". I hope that they will soon have their own page at the thinkPRIEST website.

Enough for today, gotta run...

Mike

I do declare...Whatsoever do you mean?

2006-04-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I do not recall if that line was really spoken by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind, but hey, it came to mind. Remember the scene from the movie when, needing to impress Rhett Butler at pretty much the same time that Atlanta is falling in flames, Scarlett makes a green dress out of the long drapes that hung in the great room at Tara. That great moment in cinematic history was only topped years later when Carol Burnett spoofed the scene by donning a green velvet dress that still had the drapery pole resting across, and feet beyond, her shoulders.

The lesson: you may tear things down to make them new somehow, but if you don't do it right it will be a bad joke.

So, have you checked out the new and improved Archdiocese of Milwaukee Vocations website? Definitely a renovation in the spirit of the Cathedral's. Nice portrait Fr. Lobacz. But, don't you feel foolish now for putting "St. Francis Seminary: Center of Ministerial Formation for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee" at the top of every page. So glad you were in the loop on that decision....

By the way, how do our vocations at four other institutions feel about not even a link? Fr. Lobacz, to make life easier for you (I understand you like to have your days starting no earlier than 9:00 a.m. and ending no later than 5:00 p.m.) here are the links to cut and paste:

The Pontifical North American College -- 2 seminarians
http://www.pnac.org/

The American College at Louvain -- 1 seminarian
http://www.acl.be/

Theological College, Washington -- 2 seminarians
http://www.theologicalcollege.org/

Ave Maria University Pre-Theologate, Florida -- 1 Seminarian
http://www.naples.avemaria.edu/pre-theologate/

It really must be that last one that causes Fr. Lobacz, formerly of Archbishop Weakland's Cathedral Staff, to have the rather constipated non-smile on his face.

Now, I understand that editorially things might slip by when launching a new website. Making that green dress takes time, and the drapery pole might get missed, but how is it that at a website entitled "Think PRIEST" the section seeking to explain celibacy refers to "He or she must be able to form mutual friendships"?

Or how about the first question listed after the "he/she" explanation, basically, how much sex will have been too much. Fr. Lobacz's answer is that "most diocese... will require two years of celibate chastity." Maybe that's a true answer...but, what does this archdiocese require? A week, two weeks? Most dioceses also require rectory living and orthodoxy...where do we stand on those?

And then there is the question about falling in love after becoming a priest. As open-minded as things are here in Call to Action-ville, this spiritual challenge is clarified for the asker with a reminder to maintain appropriate boundaries with "both men and women." Welcome to Brokeback Rectory! The next question on the page, specifically on homosexuality, and with a curious need to include bi-sexuality (hmm...I wonder why?), leads me to ask...is the self-induced, self-defined, self-deluding happiness of "self-acceptance" really the final threshold that the Vatican is expecting on this subject? You have heard of the Vatican, haven't you?

The last thing of note on that page...nice picture of a man in a cassock...Is that really St. Francis Seminary? Or even the Archdiocese of Milwaukee? NO.

Well, that is just a short review of one page, actually one section of one page, the vocations website of Archbishop Dolan's own staff. Go figure..the drapery pole is still showing.

Three months ago, before the renovation of the website, I commented on the old website. There I listed a couple good one. Check them out. You may even see words like adoration, rosary, and magisterium. You might even see pictures of that invoke manliness. Chivalry-like manliness, not Brokeback Mountain.

Just a thought or two for today. What are we to do...?

Mike

A May-December romance?...of sorts.

2006-04-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

St. Francis Seminary...Episode IV, A Lost Opportunity

That was the thems of my last column. Therein I indicated that a few observations about the pending cooperative relationship between St. Francis Seminary and Sacred Heart School of Theology would be forthcoming. Well, here are some preliminaries...

First, how exactly does Sacred Heart justify its enthusiasm about this? According to page one of their website, they specialize in being a "National Roman Catholic Seminary serving second-career vocations." Yeah, it is real true to mission to throw a couple dozen twenty-somethings into the mix of about a hundred or so fifty-somethings. Maybe it can work...but, like the new young bucks that show up in your office, there are inevitably fireworks. Stay tuned.

Second, if his Excellency is actually trying to solidify the academic formation that his seminarians get, is Sacred Heart really going to offer anything better?
- Look at the Sacred Heart Faculty page...what is the deal with the three priests in rather bad looking ties?
- How much strength of character, or solid faith, will the young men get from a professor who proudly proclaims his visits to NYC gay nightclubs? I can't wait for the Village People review as part of the next fundraiser.
- If academics is just one of four areas of focus (along with spiritual, pastoral, and human formation...whatever that last one really means) then what is accomplished by leaving 75% of the focus to the same dysfunctional people who led to the problems we already have.

Third issue, what public evaluation, or assurances do we have the Sacred Heart has overcome it's own sex scandal history? Or the fact that, at least once, it was a darling of the Call to Action crowd?

All in all, I have to be honest and say that jury will be out for awhile in this one. Sacred Heart has been such a non-entity for the last few years that I should probably give it the benefit of the doubt.

So, from here on out, if you want to see a seminarian from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee...look at the other cars as you drive the east-west portion of the I-894 bypass.

We'll watch for more...

Mike

St. Francis Seminary...Episode IV, A Lost Opportunity

2006-04-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

A way to understand the plans for St. Francis Seminary, its true meaning, and what it reflects about the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Episode IV, A Lost Opportunity

A not so long time ago, in an Episcopal See not so far away...

OK, so it is a stretch, but play along for a few moments.

Who gets to play Luke Skywalker? It would have to be one of the young, devout, energetic seminarians. I nominate Luke Strand just for the ease of the name.

Obi Wan Kenobi? Who is the wise old sage in this drama? There don't seem to be any in this Archdiocese. (The closest might be Brother Bob Smith, but he is being saved to be Yoda in future episodes.)

Princess Leah? Plenty of strong-willed, Jedi-master wannabes around to fill that role. But none will ever be able to pull off the skimpy outfit from the third movie.

Han Solo? Archbishop Dolan probably thinks this is his role: the rising star pilot, who thinks he has just enough experience to mentor young Skywalker, but too full of himself to make any real sacrifices for the cause (minimal turnaround at the end of that movie notwithstanding).

Chewbacca? Fr. Mike Witczak: big, kind of burly, likes to hang out next to Han Solo, and everything he says is generally unintelligible. As a sidekick he is better seen and not heard. No best supporting role here.

C3PO? Bishop Sklba? How many characters in this Archdiocese are merely going around offering the Biblical Greek version of "Oh, my...Rembert Weakland where are you?

R2D2? Fr. Paul Hartmann, the only one scurrying about actually getting anything done but probably gets zapped by the Death Star a few times in the process.

And last, but certainly not least, who will play Darth Vader? +RGW? Too easy. Fr. Dave Cooper? Nah, he can't concentrate long enough to lift a chalice validly, much less lift his enemies off their feet with his mind (which may not be all there in the first place). Early casting suggestions came from the bureaucracy at the soon to be a strip mall, Cousins Center, but neither JPII, nor B-16, are right for the role. The best light-saber wielding, build me a death star, come to the dark side actor we have....Fr. Carl Last. (Heard to have said, Luke...come to my gay man's Call to Action meeting. Luke Strand rightfully declined.)

I will prepare some further commentary on the lack of improvement by entrusting education of our seminarians to Sacred Heart School of Theology. Stay tuned...

Mike

Sorry for the delay....

2006-04-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Hi folks, or last least the dozen or so readers I might have.

Sorry for taking about a month off. Life just gets away from me. I know that I need to be more committed to this whole blogging thing.

Just for basic observations today, I went the vespers service at the Cathedral last Sunday night to mark the one year anniversary of the passing of John Paul the Great.

Some observations:

1. Thank you Archbishop for booting the gay marriage event from the Cathedral. Please, keep that backbone in a handy place, it does you no good stored in the bottom drawer as it has been.

2. There was a pretty good crowd for this event, in spite of the virtual news blackout about its occurrence. Remember last year when crowds of kids came from Marquette and the seminarians were there? No such presence this time. I guess Fr. Carl "Call to Action" Last would rather only advertise for gay rights.

3. Where were the priests? With the Archbishop presiding, and the Rector Last scurrying about, I saw only one other priest there (or at least only one collar). I think it was Fr. Paul Hartmann...so no surprise. (On this and the backbone theme...can we talk about a new auxiliary bishop for this diocese? Readers, write your papal nuncio with your suggestions!)

4. I know that vespers is a pretty scripted service...but Fr. Carl..not one petition for the late Holy Father? Isn't that why we were all there? Again, some men's priorities show themselves regardless of what we might try to say.

Well, there you go. Back with some gusto. I will try to keep up with things.

Mike

Brokeback Rectory

2006-03-08T17:54:00.000-08:00

Is a diocesan bishop also the pastor of a parish?

Yes, in one sense he is pastor of every parish. But, does he have one parish that is uniquely his own? Yes, he does...it is called the Cathedral. That is the bishop's own parish.

Let's visit Milwaukee...Archbishop Timothy Dolan is pastor of the wreckovated Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. What is the Archbishop's parish doing in the way of adult ed this Lent? Who would have guessed "Supporting Gay Marriage"?

On Saturday, April 8, 2006, the Archbishop's own parish will be hosting a Call to Action meeting which offers dissent from the Church's teaching on both ordination and marriage. Congratulations your Excellency, a two for one special...

But, let us give credit where credit is due. Not only is Call to Action seeking to embarrass the Archbishop in his own parish church, but now the Archbishop's parish has also invited Action Wisconsin. This latter group are the organized supporters of gay marriage in Wisconsin. The first speaker will tell us that homosexuals should be ordained priests.

Here is the scorcard: Two anti-Catholic, dissenting groups; two heterodox speakers; and one complacent archbishop. Have I missed anything?

Well, there is the ringer who, if filled with any integrity, will fall on his sword and resign from the Archbishop's parish church. Cathedral Rector, Fr. Carl Last, member of the rebel union, must be the mover and shaker here.

Two questions present themselves: What will the Archbishop do about this, relative to both the event, and about the rector, Fr. Last? Second, and this is the mantra of this blog, how in the world does any supposedly attentive, supposedly orthodox, archbishop let this happen? But, ambivalence is becoming the norm here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Message to Archbishop Dolan: Please, start paying attention, it is becoming enbarrassing to us all!

Mike

P.S. This message came in the other day. I think it is worth supporting:

Dear Fellow Blogger,

My name is Thomas Keeley and I am with the Wisconsin Conservative Digest as well as a college student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

I was just writing to see if there was any way that you could make a post regarding the Future Wisconsin Conference that will be held this Saturday (March 11) at Bluemound Gardens in Wauwatosa?

It looks like this is going to be much larger than last year and we would like to see that growth continue. As your blog content and traffic show, your blog could be a great resource in helping us get even more people to this event.

If you would be willing to mention our event and direct them to http://www.widigest.com/html/FW_06_reg_agenda.pdf

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at tkeeley@theconservativeunion.com.

Thank you again for all your posts and your dedication to keeping the public informed.

Best,
Thomas J. Keeley

Milwaukee, Rome, and New York: The Axis of Episcopal Overlooking (As opposed to oversight)

2006-03-05T03:35:00.000-08:00

Let's review:

Relative to the assignments of young, newly ordained priests this spring, a few weeks ago I evaluated the cause of Archbishop Timothy Dolan's totally passive manner regarding dissent and heterodoxy:

The answer has to be one of the following:

1) Yes, in reality His Excellency wants to support the dissent of a Cooper or the weak expectations of a Heinz.

2) No, but he doesn't really care about Milwaukee. Why rock the boat of the diocesan bureaucrats when he is simply biding his time until tha Cardinal's seat opens.

3) No, but he is in such need to be liked even by his detracters that he will sell out for a compliment.

4) No, but he has no real control over anything in his diocese.

OK so far? Enter the picture John Allen, the most recent Pallium Lecturer. Well, fortunately Allen is a journalist for whom no thought need go unpublished. In his most recent "The Word From Rome" column, Allen offers a succint evaluation of the local His Excellency.

Allen writes:

Many observers are saying that it would be no great surprise if Dolan were to end up one day in New York, where Cardinal Edward Egan will be 74 on April 2, and hence within a year of retirement age. Dolan has the sort of big, exuberant personality it takes to play on the world's largest media stage; some believe he could be another Cardinal John O'Connor in terms of both profile and impact.

Time, as always, will tell.

On the one hand, things have been so obvious, I cannot even concede to myself an "I told you so." On the other hand, Allen happenstantially hit upon a great test of His Excellecy's leadership skills: St. Francis Seminary. On this subject, Allen wrote:

"There's also a political dimension to the situation, since under Weakland St. Francis mixed seminarians, candidates for the diaconate, and aspiring lay ministers in the same academic program. (The seminary is actually called a "center for ministerial formation"). It's an approach that has never gone down well with some Catholics worried about fuzziness on priestly identity. If a restructuring plan separates the seminarians from lay students, some will therefore see it as part of a "restorationist" agenda."

With three acedemic years already under his leadership, and another year of admissions, course planning, sensitivity-training, etc., already in the offing...What exactly has His Excellency accomplished? Simple, unnuanced answer: Nothing!

Rhetorically I have to ask: If about two dozen students, six or so entrenched, not-so-post-hippie faculty, and the mere aura of a controversy, have kept the Archbishop from do anything for three years in what John Allen calls "what amounts to a mid-sized ecclesiastical market" then how in the world could he really accomplish anything in the behemoth that is the Archdiocese of New York?

Yes, Dolan is gregarious. He is a great back-slapper. But what has that really amounted to? Are even the supposedly orthodox in the Church slipping into a style over substance mode?

As was written -- time will tell.

Mike

Hearsay, Daresay, Say nothing...

2006-03-02T14:29:00.000-08:00

I was not able to be there, but I heard that the latest of Archbishop Dolan's Pallium Lecture Series, this time with "veteran reporter" John Allen. You know the guy, of National Catholic Recalcitrant fame. After a review of two of Mr. Allen's books, one about then Joseph Ratzinger, and a new one about, Pope Benedict, I can see that he has progressed well in fairness and accuracy.

Rumor has it that the highlight of last Monday's lecture was a question from a man in the audience who wanted to know how it was that the progressivist-beloved Cardinal Martini, who was rumored to have actually won the election's first ballot, could have had the election stolen by B-16. (Unfortunately for the conspiritorialists among you, all of the ballots were burned, so there can be no studies of "hanging chad.")

Well, Mr. Allen did not miss a beat. "Obviously, you haven't read my book!" It turns out that there is a whole chapter in Allen's book, "The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected and Where He Will Take the Catholic Church," devoted to debunking just this whimsical hope on the part of so many of the dissention class.

OK, so here is the best part...after a little research (really just a follow up question), it turns out that the not-so-well read-Martini supporter is actually a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. None other than, no surprises here, Fr. Joe Juknialis. Juknialis is a member of the local priests union, director of the college seminary, a professor at St. Francis Seminary, and columnist in the local Catholic rag, the Catholic Herald.

Simply put he is another holdover from the previous regime who is still on the job because the present His Excellency is unwilling to take any real action.

Is it really too much to ask that the religious dissenters of our day at least be better read than some Al Gore supporters from the West Palm Beach trailer parks? Barring that, is it such a fanciful dream that the dunderheads learn when to keep their mouths shut? It is better to remain silent, and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and thus to prove it.

So it goes, and there is no end in sight.

But, I actually am looking forward to the remaining two Pallium Lectures.

Mike

P.S. I think I know the answer, but the person to whom I was speaking about the Juknialis incident asked who the priest that organized the lectures is. It seems that the Archbishop never introduced (or thanked) him even after made the announcements. Who was it?

The Village (Idiot's) Voice

2006-02-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

Rumor has it that the Milwaukee Catholic Herald has been recieving a lot of positive comment from His Excellency lately. This comes along with news that the birdcage liner will soon be going through a makeover in hopes of increasing its very sad circulation. It is said that is will be more of a teaching tool, more pastoral.

While only a rumor, this latter point begs two questions: 1) If not teaching the doctrine of the Catholic Church within its pages...what has it been doing all these years? 2) How can the Catholic Herald, already conceding it is not doctrinal, be anymore "pastoral" than it already is?

OK, we all know what the Catholic Herald has been. Fluff and drivel. But what are we to think about what it might become after the changes come.

The Archbishop seems on board.
The last executive editor, Fr. Tom Brundage was canned.
A new man was brought in, and has been on the job, on one way or another for about a year.
So, what can we glean....

Well, on the good side:
George Weigel was added.
Word from the North Shore is that Fr. Al Jerkus of St. Monica's told his parish council that the paper was getting too conservative and traditional.

On the negative side:
Bishop Sklba has more columns than he did under the previous regime.
Fr. Joe Juknialis' pantheistic "scripture reflections" are still there.

So, we are still neutral. Or, so it seems.

Last weekend, I picked up one of the free copies for the local rag in the back of a Church to pass some time after some adoration, and before the kids finished a sporting event. It was the February 16th issue, eventually, I got to page 9. Low and behold, there, in the lower right corner...an ad for the Voice of the Faithful. The event will held at the infamously contrarian St. Matthias Parish, likely with the aggreement (read as arrangement and encouragement) of its equally infamous pastor/CEO/chief therapist/head dissenter, Fr. David Cooper.

I guess the people who sell advertising at the Catholic Herald have not gotten the Archbishop's message about publishing things contrary to Church doctrine. What next...an ad for Planned Parenthood?

But, let me give the advertising staff the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the new editor did not share the memo from the Archbishop with them. Maybe, the Archbishop's staff "forgot" to send out the memo. Maybe, most sadly, the Archbishop has never sent out a memo about Voice of the Faithful. The dissent group can use space that could be better devoted to the needs of the Church, whether in the Archdiocesan newspaper, or in one of the Archdiocese's parishes.

Things just keep on going.

Mike

Sowing seeds for a new generation of discontent.

2006-02-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

You may not have heard, but the first list of parishes that are going to get new priests is out. I can only imagine that there will be some Catholics suprised by the fact that their pastor has not announced his pending departure. I will post the list that that was forwarded to me at the bottom of this posting.

What is notable is the continuation of my theory about Archbishop Dolan. Sadly, he is not showing much initiative (read as backbone) in moving ahead with a plan for stronger and more orthodox parishes. Instead, he let's the holdovers from the previous era undermine what many of us had hoped he might seek to accomplish.

What is the telling sign this week: What pastors are going to be given the role of mentoring the five young men to be ordained this spring? Only three associate positions have been announced so far. There is one thing called a "team member" in Fon du Lac, so that might be a fourth. (So, which of the five young men is going to be skipped over for ordination? Probably because he is too orthodox.) Well, here are the three listed so far....

St. Matthias, Milwaukee -- Fr. David Cooper (Yes, already infamous, Voice of the Faithful, Alliance of Priests, Women's Ordination David Cooper...that David Cooper. This would also be a supposedly Catholic parish which, on it's web page for "About Us - Who We Are", the words Eucharist, Jesus, and Christ never appear anywhere. )

St. James, Menomonee Falls -- Fr. Arthur Heinz (Formerly the director all that is therapeutic pyschobabble at St. Francis Seminary. His present parish is sponsoring a lenten reflection series by a nun who is a self proclaimed "spiritual midwife." What can you say about a parish where the directory gives precedence to the lead custodian over the the pastor.)

Three Holy Women/Old St. Mary, Milwaukee -- Fr. Tim Kitzke (I know little about Fr. Kitzke.)

The point is, why affirm the ministry and reward the pastoral style of Cooper or Heinz? Does Archbishop Dolan really want these examples to be carried on in a new generation?

The answer has to be one of the following:

1) Yes, in reality His Excellency wants to support the dissent of a Cooper or the weak expectations of a Heinz.

2) No, but he doesn't really care about Milwaukee. Why rock the boat of the diocesan bureaucrats when he is simply biding his time until tha Cardinal's seat opens.

3) No, but he is in such need to be liked even by his detracters that he will sell out for a compliment.

4) No, but he has no real control over anything in his diocese.

None of the options is very comforting.

For those who are interested, here are the remaining places (so far) who will be getting new priests this spring:

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Kenosha
Queen of Apostles, Pewaukee
Shepherd of the Hills, Eden
St. Augustine, Milwaukee
St. Bruno, Dousman
St. Charles Borromeo, Burlington
St. Dominic, Sheboygan
St. Edward, Racine
St. James, Mukwonago
St. Joseph, Waukesha
St. Joseph, Wauwatosa
St. Kilian, Hartford
St. Margaret Mary, Milwaukee
St. Richard, Racine
Sacred Heart, Horicon
St. Aloysius, West Allis
St. Mary, Pell Lake
Holy Family, Fond du Lac

There you have it....start praying, who knows what you will get.

Mike

Sorry for the delay....

2006-02-12T18:38:00.000-08:00

Hi all. Sorry I have been quiet for a couple of weeks....well, if I have nothing worth saying, it is probably better to be quiet.

The new version of the Catholic Stewardship Appeal premiered today. Pretty much the same old, same old. But, at least it seems that the certified touch therapist of last year has not be kept on. I wonder who she touched the wrong way?

I was looking at the CSA annual poster in the back of my church. There is no version on the web. Next time you go to your parish and see the poster, ask yourself..."Is the nun in the second frame whipping me the bird?"

As for looking over this year's list of ministries supported...nothing has really changed at all. What else would we expect, bold change? LOL! I do have to ask, why are Catholic Charities and St. Francis Seminary included here, and each has their own develoment offices and fundraisers? Could it be that poor people and seminarians (as questionable as either diocesan ministry my be on occasion) make for easy fundraising. With those pictures up front, it is easy to get and divert money to the "Office for Women."

In closing, two not-so-rhetorical questions:

Which city of Waukesha pastor got arrested for drunk driving, for the second time, shortly after Christmas?
Which priest, who works for Archbishop Dolan, in the same hall as his office, has been arrested for lewd behaviors in public?

Oh well, when it rains...

Good Bye, Good Men.

2006-01-29T15:15:00.000-08:00

This was the title of a very intriguing book a few years ago. It was a string of anecdotal evidence about the methods of screening out and eliminating qualified men from our seminaries because they were too orthodox for the liberal faculties; too masculine for the not-so-.... faculties; and too devoted to Mary, the Church and Pope John Paul for the bureacratic powers that be.

Michael Rose's book did not include an extensive expose about Milwaukee, but there is a disturbing connection between a chapter about the American Seminary in Louvain, Belgium, and Milwaukee. The former rector in Belgium, Fr. David Windsor, who seems to have left under a cloud, was hired by Archbishop Dolan to work at his own St. Francis Seminary.

Ok, that being said, I use Mr. Rose's book as a way to make reference to the subtle screening and elimination tendencies that existed (or, should I say, exist?) within various archdiocesan bureacracies. My last post referred to the news that Archbishop Dolan once again hired from within the entrenched Weakland-ites when he appointed Ms. Debra Lethlean as Director of Development for the Archdiocese. Maybe I had a twinge of guilt, had I been unfair to Ms. Lethlean in my last posting? So, I decided to look more closely at the archdiocesan fundraising efforts.

I went to the website of the Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA). I started to review the list of Ministries Funded By the CSA.
As always, it is best for bureacrats to give very little information, but here are a few interesting funding areas:

Campus Ministry -- from what I hear, the Newman Center at UWM has, for years, been problematic at best.
Community Services -- what exactly does all of this mean anyway?
Human Concerns/Respect Life -- OK, it says this...but have you ever, I mean EVER, seen a diocesan employee in front of a clinic praying?
Prayer and Worshp -- Oh yeah, they have been real active in the last 25 years.
Office for Women -- ?????? What can I, or need I, say?
St. Francis Seminary -- read other posts, and Michael Rose's book.

Now to my point about the subtle elimination of solid men for the priesthood. I am all for lay participation in every level of the Church. Without us, the priests would have a hard time getting anything done (in fact, they would look kind of foolish). But, that does not justify the manner by which our priests, at least our solid ones, are being pretty much forced out of their leadership roles? Why is this carried to the point where all things priestly are called "clerical" as a negative, and thus to be eliminated?

Admittedly, this is something which Archbishop Dolan inherited from his predecessor. But what has he done to ebb the anti-priest tide. The example that caught my eye today was when I clicked on the stewardship page entitled Testimonials.

Okay, so here is my question...is there not one priest in all of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee who was willing to offer a testimonial in support of the Stewardship Appeal? Some might say that no priest testimonial might be better than a bad one. But, there are good priests out there who, however reluctantly, still support the Archdiocese.

I fear that what is really happening is that, once again, Ms. Lethlean is enforcing what has become the Church's version of political correctness. Unfortunately, without a connection between our faith and our priests, we implicitly forfeit our constant connection to the Eucharist. I guess that this need to stay connected to the Eucharist might not dawn on Archbishop Dolan's personal staff.

Oh, but fear not...while there is no priest to offer a supportive testimonial...there is one from a "Certified Healing Touch Practitioner." Thank you Archdiocese of Milwaukee for reflecting the priorities of the local Church, and the strength of our tradition!?!

Mike

Show me the money!

2006-01-25T01:49:00.000-08:00

To whatever regular readers my little blog might have...sorry for the few days away. There was work to be done elsewhere.

One of these days I must seek out the Latin translation of the phrase "missed opportunity." I believe that there will simply come a day when His Excellency, Timothy M. Dolan will concede that this has virtually become his motto during his short, and thus far uneventful tenure, here in Milwaukee. I know that this has been a mantra of mine, but sadly, it rings so true.

Foremost among missed opportunities has been the Archbishop's seemingly pathological fear of actually hiring, or promoting, from outside of Rembert Weakland's well-entrenched bureacracy. I have noted that there are three exceptions that might show his willingness to act: Hiring Bro. Bob Smith for education, getting rid of Fr. Tom Brundage from the newspaper, and promoting Fr. Paul Hartman to vicar judicial.

Here is just the latest sad example though. At the Archdiocesan website it has been announced that His Excellency has promoted a 16-year long, Weakland hiree, to be the new Director of Development. I will admit that I know nothing of Ms. Lethlean personally, but not only did the Archbishop miss an opportunity that might have shaken up the diocesan offices a little, I cannot say that there is a track record of success to be recognized here.

Remember that "development" is the new byword for what we all used to call fundraising. So, there are quantifiables that can be measured in this sort of thing. (This leaves aside for now the intangibles of how little success the development office has shown in taking advantage of the change in regimes for fundraising purposes.)

Our local diocese of some 730,000 Catholics, has an annual Catholic Stewardship Appeal that barely exceeded last years goal of $7.4M. Sounds pretty significant, doesn't it? But how does it compare?

Archdiocese of St. Louis, 555,000 Catholics -- annual appeal goal = $11.25
Archdiocese of Hartford, 695,000 Catholics -- Archbishop's Annual appeal = $8.73M
Diocese of Buffalo, 707,00 Catholics -- Annual Charities apeal = $10.9M

These are just a few. But it seems that our very slowly rising $7.4M represents one of the following:

1) People are voting with thier pocket books. Bold initiatives for the faith will produce far better results.
2) The present "development" structure has been either unable, or unwilling, to take advantage of the charisma of Archbishop Dolan. But, then again, this may be in the face of option one.
3) Given the aforementioned options...our Office of Development just isn't very good.

I think it was Jimmy Durante who had the line..."What a revoltin' development." So true.

A closing thought would be the hope that comes from unintended consequences. At the present rate (wherein development does not even keep up with inflation) someday soon there will be no diocesan employees left from which to hire from within. Of course between now and then alot of damage can be done and it is likely that those kept on will be the most harmful ones.

There you have it...today's rant. I will give something to the Church: my parish, some schools, maybe direct support of the Pallium Lectures. But, all in all, I am not confident about giving to the diocese itself any time soon.

Mike

When the moments of hope do come.

2006-01-18T03:39:00.000-08:00

There are plenty of things about the Archdiocese of Milwaukee that cause consternation, sadness, and even fear. But, every once in a while something positive comes along. One of the few steps that an otherwise non-assertive Archbishop Timothy Dolan has taken has been to host, every year, a lecture series called the Pallium Lecture Series. On the one hand, I am waiting for this program to be hijacked by the holdover, Weakland era, Church bureaucrats who will invite speakers like Andrew Greeley, Richard McBrien, and Charles Curran. But, on the other hand, until then, we, the solid Catholics of Milwaukee, need to support one of the only good things happening at the archdiocesan level.

This year's Pallium Lecture Series looks pretty good. I have to be honest, and maybe show my softer side...even John Allen, a reporter for the Voice of the Faithful mouthpiece, the National Catholic Reporter, has shown some promise in recent years. His views of our present Holy Father have been developing nicely.

The first lecture this year, by His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, will be on Tuesday, January 31st. Please encourage a big turn out in any way you can.

During the Q&A, or the reception afterward, when you are shaking the Cardinal's hand, this would be a good opportunity to put in a good word for the best priest, or best parish you know. Cardinal George is now one of the most influential men in the Church today. (We used to call his role a "kingmaker".)

Another thing to remember, the lecture series is a result of the efforts of one of the few good priests in Milwaukee, Fr. Paul Hartman.

Hope to see you all there.

Mike

See, it can be done.

2006-01-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

Was surfing a little last night. Have you heard...it is National Vocations Awareness Week. I was not aware of this, were you aware of this? What are we to do. Oh my, just what are we to do?

Actually, I did know something about Vocations Awareness week. The local Catholic Radio Station, a Relevant Radio affiliate (a group to be highly commended and supported!), talked about this. Some blogs I have seen talked about this. I have found a number of diocesan websites from other places talking about this. But, here in little old Milwaukee, at least the little corner that I live in, nothing, zip, zilch, nada.

Hopefully, for masses this weekend we will hear something, but (if mentioned at all) it will have to compete with the march we have to do for Martin Luther King Day, and the openness we are to show to others (aka heretics) for the week of Christian Unity.

While comparing the Vocational efforts of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to that of other diocese's I must concede little first hand evidence. Even if good resources are out there, I believe that many parish priests here in Milwaukee would let their lay staff screen out far too much of the quality materials. These are the quality reminders that should be available to our young men. Even with that being said, I can compare things like websites...

Here in Milwaukee, we have a website with a nice name: www.ThinkPriest.org

Go ahead, look through it, it won't bite. If fact, it probably won't do much of anything for you. Nice name, but, like the rest of the diocesan leadership of Milwaukee, mostly pablum. It's not bold, not challenging, and from what I can tell, not even aimed at young men.

Look at some other examples:

The Diocese of Manchester: www.liveinblackandwhite.com
The Diocese of Rapid City: www.Gods-call.org

Admittedly, both look to be made by the same designer, but which type of website would appeal to you? Which would appeal to a solid, masculine, devout, young man? What type of man, what type of vocation, is each site really looking to attract?

I also recommend the sight for the Diocese of Providence: www.catholicpriest.com
While not as flashy as Manchester or Rapid City, it is still vastly better than Milwaukee's website. But, what convinced me of the strength of thier vocations efforts was the new television commercial that you can download and watch. So bold, so clear, so PRIESTly! Bishop Tobin has been in Providence less than a year and is acting fast to make inroads for vocations. Sadly, bold and decisive action was not, and is not, the path that Archbishop Dolan followed regarding vocations, nor much else in Milwaukee. Oh, well.

Pray for solid vocations! Venerable John the Gardner, pray for us.

Mike

Start spreadin' the news...

2006-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

Been thinking about some of my own remarks about Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan of the meat and potatoes Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Why, after three and a half years, so much promise, and so little product?

When His Excellency arrived in Milwaukee he was quick to tell us all of his first visit to the crypt below the Cathedral where past bishops are buried. In the wonderfully quippy way that he glad hands us all, he stated something to the effect that he had, at that moment, picked out which niche would be his when the time comes. At the time we all kind of smiled like children who were being reassured by our parents after striking out in little league baseball. After all, Archbishop Dolan knew that his predecessor had numerous missteps at the start of his tenure because that Archbishop believed that his future lay in Chicago like Meyer and Stritch before him.

Sadly, I fear that Archbishop Dolan played on our weaknesses and needs. He likely has the same flaw as his predecessor in this regard. I think it can be said that His Excellency, having moved so rapidly up the ranks of the Church, has now begun to believe in his own press reports. Consider the report of a Rabbi, after the Archbishop made a trip to Poland last fall: "I see him as a future cardinal and a very important leader of the Catholic community in the United States." (I want to thank the blog of Rocco Palma for reminding me of this quote.)

Logic dictates, no Cardinals in little old Milwaukee. That means keeping everything here all smiles and pudding until the call comes from Rome to pack his bags and head east. I do not begrudge anyone their success in life...but please, can it come as a result of the number or power of bold deeds done, and not depth of pablum spread?

For those looking to start assesing the odds...Cardinals Maida (Detroit) and McCarrick (Washington) are both over 75 years of age; Keeler (Baltimore) is 74; Egan (New York) is 73; and Rigali (Philadelphia, and Dolan's patron) is 70. All bishops turn in their retirement papers at age 75, but Pope John Paul II allowed most cardinals stay in office until age 80. No indicate yet if Pope Benedict will continue this tradition.

For those interested, a great place to find information about the hierarchy, check out the website Catholic-Hierarchy.Org It is great.

One last thought, as we all nurture our hopes for good bishops, as the name of the blog says...Get Up, Get Moving: Write a letter to the new papal ambassador to the USA. Give the names of solid priests whom he should meet in his time here and consider as possible bishops. We all know that "the system" does not necessarily guarantee that the good men will come to the attention of Rome and become our bishops.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W
Washington, DC 20008-3610

Well folks, another day is another day to hope. Blessed William Carter, pray for us.

Mike

Get out the vote!

2006-01-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

Life is full of choices. There are few times when an internet survey can make a difference but maybe, just maybe, this could be one of them.

Here in Milwaukee, the local press club is sponsoring a survey seeking the "gems of Milwaukee". On the rather long list of nominated locales to be considered "gems" of our community are both the wreck-o-vated Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and the wonderfully restored St. Josephat's Basilica.

I look upon this as an opportunity to express support for dignified liturgical spaces, and to show our disdain for the "Churches-R-Us" nightclub theater design being pushed upon us.

So, in the limited time that the survey remains, please go and vote for the Basilica and relish in the image of the panting of disbelief that will occur among the Cathedral staff, and the diocesan office of liturgy, when classic design is preferred over lack of design.

Again -- www.gemsofmilwaukee.com

The survey only lasts a few more days....please vote now and forward to all of your friends.

Mike

Oh, what to wear?

2006-01-06T03:17:00.000-08:00

In his most recent "Herald of Hope" column, in the ostensibly Catholic, archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Herald, Archbishop Timothy Dolan speaks of presiding at the funeral of an elderly priest.

I was struck by how impressed His Excellency was that the priest had meticulously preserved, for more than 66 years, the vestments that he wore when he celebrated his first mass. Left unstated is whether or not the present pastor who had the responsibility for preparing the body in those vestments could even recognie a fiddlebacked chasuble. I daresay, he might of thought it an early version of a burlap banner to be hung from the altar along te hand prints of the first communicants.

While there is great value in what the Archbishop has to say in his column regarding the Blessed Mother (admittedly, the actual focus of that commentary), the anecdote raises a good question about the preservation of various liturgical elements (vestments, vessels, statuary, etc.).

Again, there is cause to be afraid that His Excellency consistantly misses the opportunity to set a proper example for things. For example, I have come to understand that when visiting parishes His Excellency generally just wears whatever vestments are there. Why? With so many putrid designs, cheap materials, and Sir, ill-fitting vesture out there, why not simply set a good example for your priests. You have a baggage-carrier...let him carry one more vestment. (As a side note, remember then never to give His Excellency nice vestments as a gift...after the first use, they likely will never see the light of day in the Cathedral or in any parish visit.)

People should look upon their archbishop and be inspired to at least two thoughts: 1) This man is attentive to the best details of liturgy, right down to the best examples of noble vestments for the Eucharist; 2) When he comes to my parish, it is unique, special, and out of the ordinary.

I have spoken before that the Archbishop is afraid to use the moral influence of his "bully" pulpit by affirming the good priests with visitations, and challenging to the lax ones with a statement "I'll come to you parish when you...." Even if he is unwilling to do that, Archbishop Dolan could at least realize that an episcopal visitation should not be a situation when the archbishop comes to a parish and is pulled down to whatever banal liturgical, reductionism the pastor has wrought on his people. No, it should a lifting up to the best standards of liturgy and prayer. (A higher mass, if you will.)

I realize that the Eucharist is the Eucharist. I can even look past ugly vestments (most of the time). But sadly, this anecdote merely reflects how His Excellency, in a naive attempt to be liked by those who are most critical of him behind his back, constantly misses out on both big and little opportunities to set a more inspring example. He might not be as well-liked, but he would be stronger leader. There in lay the crux of his difficulties.

Mike

Start Practicing Those Showtunes.

2006-01-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

If you were the boss of a company, or the leader of a group, it seems to me that two expectations would present themselves: 1) Shouldn't the boss expect his employees to adhere to, and even further, the mission, priorities, and policies of the organization; 2) Shouldn't the stockholders of the company, or the members of the group, expect the boss to actually apply the first expectation consistantly?

Both of these expectations seem to make perfect sense to you and me...but not to the leadership of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Let's play a little game of connect the dots....

1. Should a priest, any priest, be frequenting a New York City gay night club for open mike night? But, don't stop there, should that priest be going on the record in the New York Times happily proclaiming his New York vacation itinerary. Friends, meet Fr. Andre Papineau. (Granted, this may mean nothing about Fr. Papineau's own lifestyle, but certainly it reflects very questionable activities for the public person that is a priest.)

2. Should the aforementioned priest have ever received a mandate from any Church authority to teach at a Catholic seminary? Friends, have you heard of Sacred Heart School of Theology?

3. Should that same priest be asked by one of the Archbishop's regional deans to be a weekend assisting priest at a comfortable North Shore parish with a large thriving elementary school? Friends, let me introduce you to the Very Reverend Kenneth Knippel and St. Eugene's Parish, Fox Point.

So, where is the leadership, conviction, or standards? What expectations should Archbishop Dolan have about this? What expectations can we have about his leadership in this matter?

Let's add insult to injury --

The Board of Directors of Sacred Heart Seminary includes not only the Archbishop himself, but also the archdiocesan Chancellor (a holdover from the previous archdiocesan regime); a staff member from his own St. Francis Seminary; and one of his priests. The faculty of Sacred Heart includes two of his Excellency's priests and two employees of the archdiocesan bureacracy. Wouldn't you expect that this degree of influence would make any sort of difference? No expectations being met there. Seems that there are pretty low standards here.

Another point of fact; the Very Reverend pastor of St. Eugene's is a regional dean appointed by His Excellency to a postion of leadership.

Well, there you have it...when the Archbishop has a chance to act protect and even further the moral teachings of the Church....whether directly or even indirectly; to make a clear statement about the roles that Fr. Showtunes Papineau would play in the archdiocese; to surround himself with solid people in pastorates, as deans, at the archdiocesan offices....all of this goes undone. At best, an opportunity missed. At worst, real stripes are exposed.

Oh, how we fail to see any real expectations of ours even being remotely met by our leadership.

Sorry to once again be the bearer of bad news. Like the title says, we need to get up and get moving.

Mike

Taking their show on the road.

2006-01-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

The other day I was told by a friend that each year, at the start of the second academic semester, all of the seminarians at Milwaukee's own St. Francis de Sales Seminary go on retreat. Fearing that the worst of Milwaukee's modern neo-Catholicism might be wrought upon these men (fears of Buddhist sprituality, visiting ashrams or covens, and poor retreat directors are not too far out of the realm on this score), I tried to do some research.

What one finds is not necessarily a lot of disturbing information, but rather a surprising dearth of any information. Compare two very different approaches to explaining the spiritual dimension of seminary formation:

At our Archbishop's former realm of responsibility (the Pontifical North American College), an endowment fund has been established in his name to support the anual retreats for the seminarians. I will leave for another day why exactly the annual retreat needs to seek outside funding. Should it not be a central to the budget priorities as the food bills and the extensive travel expenses of the rector? That being said, the description given by the Pontifical North American College for the purpose and value of a retreat, and a solid program in spirituality, for it seminarians is quite nice. A notable manner by which to evaluate the North American College in comparison to our local St. Francis Seminary is to make note that the fact that these men are being prepared to be PRIESTS is refered to five times in one internet page.

Now, let's try to compare this to the way that our own St. Franics Seminary (School of Lay Ministry --Institute of Pastoral Ministry -- Center of Politically Correct Theology) describes its program of spiritual rigor for the seminarians.

Not only is the St. Francis Seminary internet descriptive page about spiritual formation sterile and lacking in any real information, but it seems to set up spiritual formation as somehow subordinate to the academic coursework, and what is called "Pastoral Formation" which, when I was in school is more precisely 'hands-on experiences' or internships. It would seem the all three should be at least viewed as equal elements of overall preparation to be priests.

Make particular note of two things at the St. Francis de Sales webpage: 1) there is only one reference to these young men actually preparing to be priests; and 2) there is little clarity about the fact that the spirituality we need and expect from our priests is vastly different from the spirituality we need from lay employees at our parishes.

I concede that websites are not the be-all and end-all of what either school does in this area. But priorities are reflected in this prism of communicating information. Sadly, for Archbishop Dolan, his legacy at the Pontifical North American College is that his name needs to be slapped on the fundraising materials for something that should be one the first requirements in the budget. Even more sadly, the seminary that he now controls doesn't even have the astureness to try and emulate the those limited expectations that the Archbishop set up in Rome. But then again, it would seem obvious that the seminary leadership will only do what the Archbishop places upon them as an expectation.

Given the lack of substantive action in the last three years, it seems that the best which we too might expect will be some sort of an Archbishop Dolan spirituality fundraiser. Just don't expect any real product to follow from the money asked for.

Regardless, I will pray for our seminarians while they are on retreat. I hope that you will too...I fear that they will need all the spiritual help they can get.

Mike

Truth or Consequences....

2005-12-29T18:52:00.000-08:00

Was surfing about and happened across the Voice of the Faithful website. Trust me, I am not going to make it a secret habit to go there under the cover of internet darkness each night. Always on the lookout for how things in the big wide world relate to Milwaukee's little corner, I was intrigued when I found the following May, 2003, reference to our fair Archdiocese:

Members are also discussing effective ways to support various priests in our archdiocese who have taken actions based on their convictions and suffered consequences. One of the priests, Fr. Dave Cooper, recently allowed the Women's Ordination Conference to hold a prayer service in his church. This service received publicity in local papers, and Fr. Cooper was then summoned to meet with Archbishop Timothy Dolan. As a result, Cooper issued an apology in the archdiocesan newspaper and the editor of that paper issued a formal written clarification/apology for reporting on the prayer service.

What strikes me here is the notion that Fr. Cooper thinks he suffered consequences. Or at least someone interpretted his visit to the principal's office that way. Let's see...a pastor who, on the one hand, has a position of authority as teacher and leader but also who, on the other hand, has a boss (Fr. Dave remember that promise of obedience to an archbishop and his successors?) is asked to be minimally accountable for what he teaches. Accountable to his boss no less. Oh my, suffer the little children for accountability.

Fr. Dave remains the pastor of one of the largest parishes of the diocese; has all his rights to preside at sacraments; still draws one of the world's highest salaries for a priest; and was not asked to step down from any chaplaincy (KC's) or participation in communal or ecumenical (Catholic-Jewish dialog) activities. If there are consequences in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, I don't know what they are. I daresay that most of us in the real world (teachers unions excepted) would siffer far more "consequences" for flauting the organization leadership and corporate policies so blatantly.

What is really at issue here is the absolutely selfish way that so many of our parish priests in Milwaukee have no commitment to working for a shepherd...many of them want to be their own little bishops instead. Many do not want to be accountable to anyone: theologically and ecclessially to their archbishop, communally to thier parish, or fraternally to their fellow priests.

Maybe there will come a day when there is a bona fide consequence for Fr. Cooper, or any other Milwaukee priest, to whine about. That's what they do best...whine.

Mike

Sending Out an S.O.S. ...about our Catholic High Schools

2005-12-27T18:16:00.000-08:00

Was asking around about the recent situation at (St.) Pius XI High School (reference to canonization not included in any materials from the school). You recall the recent news about a young man who was not allowed to wear long brown, woolen robes to school because he says he wanted to prepare himself to be a priest. Well, with all due respect to the local channel 4 news (owned by the the somewhat anti-Catholic Journal Communications) who wanted to try and turn the tables on the school by indicating it is somehow anti-vocations, rumor has it that the young man wants to be a priest, but was coached by TV producers to make connections between his plight and the life of Pope John Paul II. In fact, according to some staff at (St.) Pius XI High School, this upstanding young man wants to be a "Jedi priest."

This is not necessarily surprising about a potentially troubled teenager; hey who didn't want to wield a light saber once or twice. Nor is it surprising that a television news producer would spin a story to embarrass the Church. It should be noted though that neither of these facts would let the school completely off the hook here. There is still a slight little problem with the fact that, according to the news sources, there are a number of faculty who feel the young man should be able to wear his Jedi costume to school every day. Hmmmmm? What does that say about things at (St.) Pius XI H.S.?

I guess that this should come as no real surprise, this H.S. has long been the least Catholic among the high schools of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. This says alot considering what happens at the Jesuit-run Marquette, or the all-girls Divine Savior-Holy Angels. Consider this one little tidbit: the Pius faculty support a student group called S.O.S., a thinly veiled re-incarnation of the school's long running Gay Straight Alliance student group.

Once again it seems proven that the modus operendi of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, even under the naive leadership of the Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, is to have inocuous titles for sleazy realities.

Oh well, another day, another festering wound.

Mike

On the Second Day of Christmas....

2005-12-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

Not much to add today. Was rolling through stations on the car radio yesterday as I headed off to my own parish for Christmas day mass (a sadly under-represented group in comparison to the standing room only packing of the C & E, let's get it out of the way as early as possible, crowd that attended the vigil of Santa Claus mass the night before. Remember, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord. (How many can even tell us the full liturgical title of this Holy Day?

Well, back to the radio...was able to catch just a part of the weekly radio mass from the Cathedral St. John the Evangelist here in Milwaukee. After midnight mass, it was already known that the Archbishop himself would be jetting off (probably First Class) to St. Louis for a feast with family and benefactors there.

What strikes me is the succession for celebrants of this mass which is sent out to the entire diocese. The Cathedral pastor, Fr. Carl Last was the radio celebrant for Christmas. Why not the auxiliary bishop, or one of the vicars who have diocesan-wide responsibilities? Bishop Sklba, while a man with whom I have very little in common, would have been a better symbolic representation, but was concelebrating (there is a good use of resources) a mass with the publisher-priest of the Catholic Herald newspaper (no pillar of orthodoxy there). Where was the other psuedo-Vivar General, Fr. Curt Frederick? Or how about the Vicar Judicial, Fr. Paul Hartman? Both these latter are at least Dolan appointees.

Nope, instead of a representative of archdiocesan leadership, His Excellency has allowed another holdover from the previous administration to use the Archbishop's own pulpit for missions and messages contrary what the Archbishop sopposedly says he wishes to change. Go figure....

Some insights on Fr. Carl Last, the henchman for Archbishop Weakland's Cathedral renovation: Like his previous boss, humility is not among his strong suits. Rumor has it he was never very open to conversation about the details of the Cathedral renovation, rather seeing it as a monument to his then boss. Most can review the design flaws and style issues. Most telling is Last's inclusion of himself and then Archbishop Weakland in a bronze relief sculpture. (Scroll to a spot between a third and half-way down to see this interesting, self-aggrandizing view of the Church.)

Oh well....one can only continue to pray that His Excellency will some day find the wherewithal to start making changes.

Christmas joy to all.

Mike

The "last gasp" of Advent.

2005-12-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

A very quick note on this day of Chistmas Eve.

Just heard His Excellency, Timothy Michael Dolan interviewed on WTMJ radio (owned by a relatively anti-Catholic, Journal Communications). As always, the Archbishop was upbeat and affirming. There is no doubt that he offers a charismatic personal style premissed upon the notion that you can accomplish more with honey than with vineger. The problem lay in the line the does not seem to exiest between this and an almost naive denial of the problems that exist and avoiding the challenges of trying to solve them.

Today's Christmastime double message from His Excellency: Archbishop Dolan announced on the radio this morning that he would be celebrating a 5pm Christmas eve mass at St. Monica's Parish, Whitefish Bay. I am sure that this will be very special for the families of the wealthy, well off, and generous contributers to the Stewardship Appeal from St. Monica's. But why reward their less than orthodox pastor....Fr. Alan Jurkus.

As a leading instigator among the previously mentioned Milwaukee Priests Alliance, last year Fr. Al contributed a to the debate about kneeling for the consecration and other acts of reverence called for by a 2004 Vatican document, by writing that "i hope this is the last gasp of the era before vatican III" (Lack of punctuation in original. Fr. Al seems to have the same regard for the rules of grammer and writing as he has for the rubics of the sacraments.)

All I can do is rhetorically (read as "sadly, no reply will ever be given") ask His Excellency...Why reward a priest who so boldly slaps the face of JPII, so clearly has contempt for the Church, and likely speaks the same way about yourself at the complaining priests club meetings?

That's all for today. Don't know if I will post tomorrow.

I hope that as more and more people stumble across this humble little blog, those from Milwaukee will keep me updated on liturgical abuses and various clerical contemptabilities in thier own parishes or those they visit. (e-mail me at: mmccannfam@hotmail.com)

Have to go quiet down the kids and finish some wrapping. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good blog.

Mike

Twas the night before, the night before.....

2005-12-23T09:54:00.000-08:00

Time for a bunch of Milwaukee parishes to put away their blue clandles, blue vestments, and blue polyester altar cloths...their version of advent comes to a close tomorrow.

Years ago, when some parish "liturgist", somewhere, was getting ready to throw into the trash a variety of sanctus bells, thuribles, and dignified tapestries, they happened to find a blue chasuble that might have (admittedly mistakenly) made by the kind ladies of the Blue Army of Mary.

In a bow to the misues of a truth that pervade us due to modern subjectivism, one of these liturgists recalled that in a very obscure ritual tradition in medievel England (the Sarum Rite) blue was an advent color. So, hey, let's toss aside the penitential tenor of Advent and switch to something more akin to the colors of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now, to some, this may be a color symbolic of penance and/or waiting, but it is not the traditional color of penance. Nor, in fact is it the dark midnight, or navy, blue (almost black) or the Sarum blue. Isn't that ironic, we get rid of purple in lieu of a a blue that should look like the requiem vestments we also tossed a few years ago.

I would love to hear from readers about the parishes in Milwaukee where the liturgical norms were ignored in favor of light blue, sky blue, royal blue, etc.....

On the tidbit front, following on yesterday's concerns about the real lack of conviction on the part of Archbishop Dolan I was sent the following link: www.gamaliel.net/mapa/pdf/20050317MemorialLetter.pdf

So, did you know that St. Francis Seminary (HIS seminary) accepts donations from the infamous (discussed on a number of Blogs) Milwaukee Priests Alliance?

Enough for today. Always looking to hear about liturgical abuses in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Mike

First Post

2005-12-22T07:12:00.000-08:00

I wanted to start a Blog with my various thoughts and reflections about the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Info, intrigue, gossip and Gospel are all fair game.

Look forward to posting, receiving comments and insights.

Today:

The state of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee:

His Excellency, Timothy M. Dolan, started strong three years ago with great charisma and personality. Certainly, he wants to make everyone feel good. Sadly, he is faltering when it comes to substantive improvements over Rembert George Weakland.

Random thoughts...

The Archbishop's recently appointed Vicar for Clergy...a member of the rebellious, Milwaukee Priest Alliance. (Recall, they are the one's who want married priests (surprising, because they also want) gay priests, they do not want any pedophiles removed, they do not want to hold pro-abort politicians held accountable to their vapid proclamations of Catholicity. The usual agenda.

His New Associate Vicar for Clergy, an officer in the aforementioned rebel alliance.

His New Director of Parish and Worship Services...an ex-nun.

Director of Admissions at his seminary...Read Michael Rose book, "Good Bye, Good Men" for the background on this tie-wearing, worldly "priest."

The teacher of Catholic Church History at his seminary is a Lutheran Minister.

The librarian at his seminary is a female Episcopal priestess.

There is still use of General Absolution at large parishes.
There is still little or no kneeling at the Cathedral, unless he has the mass.
Dan Maguire is still on the faculty at Marquette.

There is enough for today.

Feel free to let me know any tidbits you have.

mmccannfam@hotmail.com

Christmas prayers for all!

Mike