Gene…… this is an amazing article. It’s time that all corruption….. financial and sexual abuse be openly called out. It’s time that all predators be made accountable for their egregious actions against the innocent. The covering up must STOP.
Our pastor announced the death of an elderly, well loved parishioner today. Then, during his annual pitch for the diocesan appeal, he revealed that the deceased parishioner had been single-handedly covering the shortfalls in the parish appeal donations for decades. The message between the lines was that, fulfilling our annual “obligation” to the diocese and obtaining future approval from the bishop for necessary improvements to accommodate our growing congregation were not unrelated. The congregation, however, is of the conservative bent and not generally receptive to the progressive-in-the-extreme diocesan appeal. The 2025 “goal” assigned to our little “conservative” parish was increased by 50% over previous years commensurate with our recent growth spurt. The vibe is one of a common political shakedown.
I never said it was voluntary for the parish coffers. But it’s always voluntary for the parishioners. Nobody puts a gun to your head to pledge to the diocesan appeal.
That's my point about the indirect cooperation in evil: you pay to keep the parish running, knowing that the bishop will be taking his cut to support his evil projects. (You the parishioner are left with the problem of deciding whether you want (voluntarily!) to indirectly participate in evil in that way.)
That’s the classic SSPX argument against the N.O. Church. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Turns out those guys are human too, with their own set of indefensible cults and skeletons. No institution run by man is without sin. I don’t recognize your authority to judge me for helping to keep a church roof over my family’s head where we can attend Mass and receive the Sacraments.
So you're saying that the diocesan appeal is voluntary? Must be nice! In my diocese it's a non-optional tax on parish income. I guess the argument is that paying up is indirect remote cooperation in evil, so permissible...
Correct! They tax and if you don't have the money they take it. They also use this to do away with problem pastors and parishes. Very little Christian charity in the area of filling the bishop's coffers.
We here in Cincy have just received Robert G. Casey as our new Archbishop. He has a charge of child sexual abuse against him in Chicago that was ruled to be " unfounded ". As you know we had Bernardin here years ago against whom a charge is also now considered to be have been dropped due to "untrustworthy memory". Do you know of any other diocese anywhere in which 2 ordinaries had such PERSONAL charges ( not covering up, rather actually sexually molesting themselves ) ? And we also had Archbishop Pilarczyk who it is my understanding was the only bishop to plead GUILTY of knowingly allowing priest misconduct with minors. I am certain you have more factual knowledge about the history of this sex abuse plague than anyone anywhere. Any thoughts, insights, or opinions about the situation we have here ?
Multiple examples of sexually active bishops, many even back to back like in Palm Beach and Springfield, IL. Most bishops do not discipline predators because they did it themselves or they are getting it on with other bishops, priests, and even seminarians. Celibacy is a joke for them. I can tell you what cardinals are taking HIV meds and who introduced them to gay sex in the seminary.
Seems to me to be a very depressing time. People just do NOT really want to get along. Zelinsky and Putin both want to fight to the death, MAGA's and Progressives want to fight to the death, so WW III and another Civil War seem inevitable. In the Church, if a new Pope is elected who reverses Francis reforms that will cause a schism, and another Pope like Francis will cause the trads to officially leave. All just too depressing. Seems like the world has to go through some terrible suffering in order to learn the lessons history has taught us time and time again.
I got a call from one of my readers in England this morning and we talked for over an hour about the state of the Church and the world. I have a perspective on Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. I’d be happy to share with you. Do you have my phone number and email? It’s available on line and I have an email address at the end of my articles. Gene
Where can I find that ? Would love to read it and know your perspective, as one well informed and experienced regarding that part of the world. At Nativity Schooll in Cincy where I taught Latin, English, Civics, and Religion for 45 years we had numerous student exchange programs with schools in Karkhiv, and I got to know many Ukrainians, almost all of them displaced now since that is in the Eastern sector heavily hit by the Russians.
Thank you for bringing this information forward. You probably should be saying deliverance prayers for your parish. A few of Bernardin's 'spiritual buddies' may be hanging about.
You have to sop giving them money and let them know you will not give them money because they are untrustworthy. Earmark for donations to the good priests to be used for a proper purpose e.g.. fixing the Church, feeding the hungry etc.
St. Thomas Aquinas believed that granting foreigners immediate rights in a country could lead to many dangers. Those that cam in with no love or respect for the nation and its people may harm them. They may have come to inflict harm.
Immigrants should be willing to assimilate into the culture and abide by the just laws of their new nation. The immigrant does not have the right to enter into a new country and wish to impose his own culture, not changing his behavior, while taking the benefits of the new country’s culture.
How often do we see people claiming to be from a different culture in the United States, declaring hat they are victims and that their culture is superior. Yet they are hear taking advantage of the American citizens, their government, and resources. While they are free to return to their own country almost none do. Instead hey scream when they are old they must return to their country or origin.
St. Augustine recognized there in the natural law and hierarchy of who owes charity to first. This follows reason and God’s law. To place the uninvited and illegal immigrant over one’s family, city, state, and country is illogical and morally wrong.
Pope Francis also singles out the United States of Americia and is silent on the genocide going on against Catholics in Nigeria. The oppression of Catholic in China. The fact that Catholic bishops are supporting abortion through the charities with which they are connected.
Why silence on the reasons so many people are flocking to the United States because of the corruption and oppression in their own countries? Perhaps a criticism directed at those leaders and their lack of charity may be better placed.
To anyone who has been following the new the last few years, does anyone rust he USCCB? It is by its own actions corrupt. To these bishops, accepting millions of taxpayer dollars, to support immigrants, invite them into you home and house them.
Are these bishops using this as an opportunity to catechize these people? Has there been a whisper about the concern for their immortal souls? Has there been any efforts to help hem assimilate into the new country?
It seems evident that the Bishops are currently trying to secure as much money as they can. Much of the funding for the USCCB comes from taxpayer dollars. This raises questions about the wisdom and morality of their actions, as it may place them under the influence of a secular government, which they insist should not intervene in internal Church matters.
Do we have a duty to follow immoral, amoral, and corrupt men? We have a duty to respect their office and those laws that tradition and the magisterium has defined. We must separate the man from the office o see how he stands on his own actions and beliefs.
The Church has become weak because our leaders are weak and worse, immoral, prideful, and greedy. It also speaks to us in the pews. One gets the leaders one deserves. Perhaps it is time to star demanding these bishops get back to their core job, saving souls. Worry more about teaching and living the faith, than making money. It is time people start demanding certain bishops resign, for the good of the people, and their own soul.
Msgr Gene is the most intrepid Catholic commentator and investigative reporter fighting the rot in the Catholic Church today.
Thanks, Jules! We make a great team!
You are right there with him. You and Gene are proof God has not abandoned us.
Gene…… this is an amazing article. It’s time that all corruption….. financial and sexual abuse be openly called out. It’s time that all predators be made accountable for their egregious actions against the innocent. The covering up must STOP.
You know personally better than most
Our pastor announced the death of an elderly, well loved parishioner today. Then, during his annual pitch for the diocesan appeal, he revealed that the deceased parishioner had been single-handedly covering the shortfalls in the parish appeal donations for decades. The message between the lines was that, fulfilling our annual “obligation” to the diocese and obtaining future approval from the bishop for necessary improvements to accommodate our growing congregation were not unrelated. The congregation, however, is of the conservative bent and not generally receptive to the progressive-in-the-extreme diocesan appeal. The 2025 “goal” assigned to our little “conservative” parish was increased by 50% over previous years commensurate with our recent growth spurt. The vibe is one of a common political shakedown.
I never said it was voluntary for the parish coffers. But it’s always voluntary for the parishioners. Nobody puts a gun to your head to pledge to the diocesan appeal.
That's my point about the indirect cooperation in evil: you pay to keep the parish running, knowing that the bishop will be taking his cut to support his evil projects. (You the parishioner are left with the problem of deciding whether you want (voluntarily!) to indirectly participate in evil in that way.)
That’s the classic SSPX argument against the N.O. Church. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Turns out those guys are human too, with their own set of indefensible cults and skeletons. No institution run by man is without sin. I don’t recognize your authority to judge me for helping to keep a church roof over my family’s head where we can attend Mass and receive the Sacraments.
So you're saying that the diocesan appeal is voluntary? Must be nice! In my diocese it's a non-optional tax on parish income. I guess the argument is that paying up is indirect remote cooperation in evil, so permissible...
Correct! They tax and if you don't have the money they take it. They also use this to do away with problem pastors and parishes. Very little Christian charity in the area of filling the bishop's coffers.
Drain the Swamp,
Lord have mercy.....
Gene, ON THE MONEY, as always.
Thanks Ger!
Fr. Gene,
We here in Cincy have just received Robert G. Casey as our new Archbishop. He has a charge of child sexual abuse against him in Chicago that was ruled to be " unfounded ". As you know we had Bernardin here years ago against whom a charge is also now considered to be have been dropped due to "untrustworthy memory". Do you know of any other diocese anywhere in which 2 ordinaries had such PERSONAL charges ( not covering up, rather actually sexually molesting themselves ) ? And we also had Archbishop Pilarczyk who it is my understanding was the only bishop to plead GUILTY of knowingly allowing priest misconduct with minors. I am certain you have more factual knowledge about the history of this sex abuse plague than anyone anywhere. Any thoughts, insights, or opinions about the situation we have here ?
GER AHRENS
Multiple examples of sexually active bishops, many even back to back like in Palm Beach and Springfield, IL. Most bishops do not discipline predators because they did it themselves or they are getting it on with other bishops, priests, and even seminarians. Celibacy is a joke for them. I can tell you what cardinals are taking HIV meds and who introduced them to gay sex in the seminary.
Seems to me to be a very depressing time. People just do NOT really want to get along. Zelinsky and Putin both want to fight to the death, MAGA's and Progressives want to fight to the death, so WW III and another Civil War seem inevitable. In the Church, if a new Pope is elected who reverses Francis reforms that will cause a schism, and another Pope like Francis will cause the trads to officially leave. All just too depressing. Seems like the world has to go through some terrible suffering in order to learn the lessons history has taught us time and time again.
Ger,
I got a call from one of my readers in England this morning and we talked for over an hour about the state of the Church and the world. I have a perspective on Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. I’d be happy to share with you. Do you have my phone number and email? It’s available on line and I have an email address at the end of my articles. Gene
Where can I find that ? Would love to read it and know your perspective, as one well informed and experienced regarding that part of the world. At Nativity Schooll in Cincy where I taught Latin, English, Civics, and Religion for 45 years we had numerous student exchange programs with schools in Karkhiv, and I got to know many Ukrainians, almost all of them displaced now since that is in the Eastern sector heavily hit by the Russians.
Thank you for bringing this information forward. You probably should be saying deliverance prayers for your parish. A few of Bernardin's 'spiritual buddies' may be hanging about.
You have to sop giving them money and let them know you will not give them money because they are untrustworthy. Earmark for donations to the good priests to be used for a proper purpose e.g.. fixing the Church, feeding the hungry etc.
You have to use the rules against them
I hope people are waking up. Generous people are giving money, expecting it to be used properly. Thank you
St. Thomas Aquinas believed that granting foreigners immediate rights in a country could lead to many dangers. Those that cam in with no love or respect for the nation and its people may harm them. They may have come to inflict harm.
Immigrants should be willing to assimilate into the culture and abide by the just laws of their new nation. The immigrant does not have the right to enter into a new country and wish to impose his own culture, not changing his behavior, while taking the benefits of the new country’s culture.
How often do we see people claiming to be from a different culture in the United States, declaring hat they are victims and that their culture is superior. Yet they are hear taking advantage of the American citizens, their government, and resources. While they are free to return to their own country almost none do. Instead hey scream when they are old they must return to their country or origin.
St. Augustine recognized there in the natural law and hierarchy of who owes charity to first. This follows reason and God’s law. To place the uninvited and illegal immigrant over one’s family, city, state, and country is illogical and morally wrong.
Pope Francis also singles out the United States of Americia and is silent on the genocide going on against Catholics in Nigeria. The oppression of Catholic in China. The fact that Catholic bishops are supporting abortion through the charities with which they are connected.
Why silence on the reasons so many people are flocking to the United States because of the corruption and oppression in their own countries? Perhaps a criticism directed at those leaders and their lack of charity may be better placed.
To anyone who has been following the new the last few years, does anyone rust he USCCB? It is by its own actions corrupt. To these bishops, accepting millions of taxpayer dollars, to support immigrants, invite them into you home and house them.
Are these bishops using this as an opportunity to catechize these people? Has there been a whisper about the concern for their immortal souls? Has there been any efforts to help hem assimilate into the new country?
It seems evident that the Bishops are currently trying to secure as much money as they can. Much of the funding for the USCCB comes from taxpayer dollars. This raises questions about the wisdom and morality of their actions, as it may place them under the influence of a secular government, which they insist should not intervene in internal Church matters.
Do we have a duty to follow immoral, amoral, and corrupt men? We have a duty to respect their office and those laws that tradition and the magisterium has defined. We must separate the man from the office o see how he stands on his own actions and beliefs.
The Church has become weak because our leaders are weak and worse, immoral, prideful, and greedy. It also speaks to us in the pews. One gets the leaders one deserves. Perhaps it is time to star demanding these bishops get back to their core job, saving souls. Worry more about teaching and living the faith, than making money. It is time people start demanding certain bishops resign, for the good of the people, and their own soul.
Found it sir. Thank you.
One correction, afaik Usha Vance is still Hindu
THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION. Fortunately, I can correct that easily!