"Was the Trial of the Pope's Butler Just for Show?....But Critics Said It Seemed Slanted from the Beginning."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9591532/Was-the-trial-of-the-Popes-butler-just-for-show.html

By Nick Squires, Vatican City

6:39PM BST 06 Oct 2012

"In the end it was the butler, and only the butler, who did it – or so the Vatican would have the world believe.

Paolo Gabriele, the Pope's personal valet, was convicted of stealing secret papers from the Holy See on Saturday and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

But there was growing suspicion that he had been subjected to little more than a show trial and that the Vatican had successfully prevented the true extent of the "Vatileaks" scandal from emerging.

During the trial it was revealed that some of the documents taken by the butler were so confidential that they had been marked "to be destroyed", in German, by the Pope himself. But neither the prosecution nor defence inquired as to what they referred to and their contents remain a secret.

"This was a political trial and a political sentence – it was in the interests of the Vatican to conclude it as quickly as possible," Marco Politi, a veteran Vatican journalist and the author of a respected recent book on the papacy of Benedict XVI, told The Sunday Telegraph..."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19850385
Bridget Mary's Blog.
The butler may be the hero in this sad tale of Vatican corruption. Apparently, the Pope may pardon him too, so go figure! Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp

"Free Birth Control Cuts Abortions and Teen Pregnancy"/ U.S. Bishops Should Advocate Free Birth Control to Cut Abortions/ Nuns Right about "Obamacare" Being Effectiive in Preventing Abortions

 

http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2012/10/05/free-birth-control-cuts-abortion-teen-pregnancy/

By Daniel Akst

"A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that giving women free contraception sharply reduces abortions and teen pregnancy compared to the general population. Among participants, abortion was less than half as frequent. And the rate of teenage births was 6.3 per 1,000, far less than the national rate of 34.1 per 1,000.

Unlike the general population, most study participants chose implants or IUD devices, suggesting that when initial cost is not a barrier, women are much more likely to pick these highly reliable means of contraception. The study also suggests that the provision of “Obamacare” giving women in workplace health plans access to contraception without co-pays may be effective in reducing unwanted pregnancies."

Bridget Mary's Reflection:

The U.S. bishops should advocate free birth control to cut abortions. Otherwise, how can they be pro-life? The "Nuns on the Bus "were right about "Obamacare"preventing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Yes, guys, Sisters sometimes do know best!

Another reason we need women priests and women bishops now! 

Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org

 

 

CTA Live Stream of Vatican 2 Forward with Miriam Therese Winter and Paul Lakeland Hosted by Spirit of Life Community with Jean Marchant, RCWP and Ron Hindlelang, Co-Pastors/Great Program/Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w2YsljkPck&feature=youtu.be

"We Are Church" Press Conference in Rome on Oct. 9, 2012/"Witnesses of a Renewed Church for the Times to Come"

WHEN / QUANDO:
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at 11.00 a.m. / martedì 9 ottobre 2012 alle ore 11
WHERE / DOVE: Federazione nazionale della Stampa Italiana-FNSI
Corso Vittorio Emanuele 349 (near / vicino a Via della Conciliazione), Roma
“Witnesses of a renewed Church for the times to come”
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II Council (October 11th, 2012) , the International Movement “We are Church” and the European Network “Church on the move” present world-wide reform movements and initiatives for a renewed Catholic Church that are growing rapidly all over the world inspired by the Second Vatican Council.

"Papal Butler Says He's Innocent of Theft: Guilty of Betraying Pope"/NCR article

http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/papal-butler-says-hes-innocent-theft-guilty-betraying-pope
This is a story of corruption that goes all the way to the top levels of the Vatican.Who could imagine that it is the butler and the Vatican ambassador to Washington who are the reformers? Both are in trouble now  apparently for their attempts to blow the whistle and tell the tale!

Jennifer O'Malley Will be Ordained a Catholic Priest in Los Angeles, Califronia on Oct. 6, 2012

http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310030088&adjusted=1
Jennifer O’Malley, a graduate of St. Mary Springs Academy High School and Marian University, will be ordained as a Catholic priest on Saturday, Oct. 6.
The ceremony will be held at Westwood United Church of Christ in Los Angeles, Calif.
O’Malley will be the first woman priest to serve in the Los Angeles/Orange County area as part of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP) movement.
O’Malley earned a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University, Chicago, and had two years of sacramental preparation. She worked in pastoral ministry for seven years and also led youth service learning trips in Mexico and the United States.
“Since my childhood, I knew I had a vocation to serve as a minister. As I matured I did not know how I could do this because I wanted to remain Catholic,” O’Malley said.
She said a door opened for her when she discovered RCWP. Although the movement is not recognized by Rome, the organization prepares and ordains women in “Apostolic Succession,” and supports women who believe and demonstrate they are called to a priestly ministry rooted in justice and faith to the Gospel.
“Apostolic Succession” means that Bishops who can trace their ordination back to the original apostles of Christ have ordained people ordained in this movement. The movement within the church began in Germany with the ordination of seven women on the Danube River in 2002 by Roman Catholic Bishops and in 2003 two of the “Danube 7” were ordained bishops.
Today there are approximately 140 women in the world and more than 100 of these are located in the United States. RCWP rejects Canon law that does not allow women to be ordained priests today. Many historians and theologians can provide evidence that women were ordained deacons, priests and bishops in the early church, according to a press release....?

Submit Questions for Live Stream Broadcast of Miriam Therese Winter and Paul Lakeland on CTA's Facebook page/Link below

Have a question about Vatican II since its beginning 50 years ago? Wondering what is in store for the next 50 years of the church?
Now's your chance to ask!
Post your question for Miriam Therese Winter and Paul Lakeland on our Facebook page now.
Then join us on Thursday, October 4th, for our Vatican II live-streaming event where we'll pick questions for Miriam and Paul to answer from CTA's Facebook page. The event begins at 7:30 EDT with "Red Carpet" welcoming. There may be some confusion as to time - I've heard both 7:30 and 7:45 EDT. SO better to come on line early.
To test your method of Live Streaming - be that computer or other device - check using this site to test that all is correctly working for this viewing. When you load the link click on "Play" button the click "Pause" for about thirty seconds to allow the buffering to get ahead of what you will be hearing - otherwise you will miss some of what is being said as the device (computer) will have to wait to buffer...
USE one of these to join the live stream:

www.cta-usa.org/livestream

Call to Action - Vatican2 OR

http://cta-usa.org/Vatican2/

Miriam Therese Winter is a Medical Mission Sister and Professor at Hartford Seminary. Paul Lakeland is Professor and Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Fairfield University.
I look forward to having you join us via live-streaming on Thursday!
Celebrating Vatican II today and everyday,

"Bishops Gone Wild" by Patrick J. Wall. How the Vatican Deals with Bishops' Scandalous Actions/Crimes

 

 

http://patrickjwall.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/bishops-gone-wild/

 

"Think that Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn’s recent guilty plea is a shock to Rome? Alas, for the Holy See, this is nothing new. The real question in the case of the Kansas City Bishop is: What options does the Holy See have available?

From the Roman viewpoint, this is a delicate balancing act. On one side, the Holy See does not want to concede to the “people” demanding the removal of Finn. Why? Because it is reminiscent of 19th centuryLay Trusteeism. On the other side, the embarrassment of how Finn handled the Shawn Ratigan case (nearly ten years after the Charter and Norms were promulgated) is scandalous.

Here is a list of management techniques deployed by the Holy See in recent history to snuff out scandal created by Bishops. The management techniques fall into two categories: Geographic and Privation of Office.

Geographic Solution

As a new priest twenty years ago, I saw the results of the Vatican quietly removing Bishop Lawrence Welsh of Spokane, WA.

Larry sexually assaulted a teenage prostitute in Chicago while at a Knights of Columbus convention. Larry was the national Chaplain to the Knights. Chicago police investigated and the Spokane newspaper exposed it.

The Holy See acted quickly, neutralizing the scandal by saying that Welsh was arrested for drunk driving and applying the “Geographic Solution.” Larry was removed as the Ordinary of Spokane andrelocated to Saint Paul/Minneapolis.

Privation of Office

The privation of office is a management technique that has at least eight different tactics. The first is to transfer the bishop to the “missions” on another continent. Second is to remove and sometimes invalidate his episcopal ordination. A third common technique is to send the bishop for chemical addiction treatment (see Welsh above). Fourth is to order the bishop attend a sexual abuse treatment program. Fifth is the traditional solution of ordering the bishop to a life of prayer and penance in a monastery. Sixth is to send the bishop to become a chaplain in a remote area. Seventh is to quietly retire him to an emeritus status. Lastly, they’ll jet the guy out of town and transfer him to Rome.

Here are more than a few examples of canon 416 (privation of office) actions that Rome has performed on members of the Hierarchy of recent memory:

a. Bishop Lawrence Welsh of Spokane was removed, sent to “alcohol treatment,” and transferred to be an Auxiliary Bishop in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

b. Bishop Emerson Moore of New York was removed and sent to Hazelden. Bishop Moore died in an AIDS hospice in Stillwater, Minnesota.

c. Bishop Thomas Dupre of Springfield, Mass was removed and sent to Saint Luke Institute.

d. Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell of Jefferson City, MO was removed and sent to live a life of prayer and penance at Mepkin Abbey.

e. Archbishop Robert Sanchez of Santa Fe was removed and sent to be a chaplain at a small convent of Hispanic nuns in southwestern Minnesota with summers in Anchorage.

f. Bishop G. Patrick Ziemann of Santa Rosa, CA was removed and sent to live in a house on the grounds of a Benedictine monastery in Tucson.

g. Several Bishops immediately resigned upon allegations of moral turpitude and then they remained as bishop emeritus. Bishop Kendrick Williams of Lexington Ky. Bishop Joseph Symons of Palm Beach, FL. Bishop Timothy Harrington of Worcester, Mass. Bishop Christopher Weldon of Springfield Mass.

h. Abbot Laurence Soper O.S.B. was removed and sent to Rome. Now he has an interpol arrest warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear on child abuse allegations in the U.K.

i. Abbot John Eidenschink O.S.B. was removed and made a chaplain in a tiny town in northern minnesota.

More stories could be recounted but the evidence is substantial. The Holy See—through its many Vatican offices—has the power, authority and knowledge of what to do.

As to Bishop Finn? Let’s spin the wheel. Since he has a criminal record (unlike many of his counterparts above) we may all end up being surprised."

"The Catholic Church's Lost Revolution" by James Carroll/ "A New Flower is Blooming with the International Women Priests' Movement"/Bridget Mary Meehan

http://articles.boston.com/2012-09-30/opinion/34161353_1_roman-catholic-bishops-gregorian-chant-religious-life
"Mount Paul Novitiate was a cloistered religious retreat on a small lake in the middle of a thousand acres of forest in New Jersey’s Picatinny Mountains, about 50 miles due west of New York City. When 30 young men from across America showed up there in September 1962, we were a wary bunch of college wise guys, gingerly sticking our toes in the water of a vowed religious life, testing vocations to the priesthood. The Catholic Church we were signing up to serve, it seemed, had not changed since the Council of Trent in the 16th century. And that was fine with us. We wore loafers, chinos, crew neck sweaters. We were attuned to Chubby Checker, J.D. Salinger, Duke Ellington. Yet we were embracing a discipline forged in another era, putting on black cassocks, taking on Gregorian chant — casting off “the world, the flesh, and the devil...
Now 50 years later:
"...Membership in the church, especially in Europe and America, has hemorrhaged. The moral authority of the Catholic hierarchy has been gutted. Priests, at best, evoke pity. Nuns upholding Vatican II values are targeted by inquisitors. The magnificent Roman Catholic Church, a millennial font of reasoned faith and aesthetic genius, is on the road to becoming yet another fundamentalist cult."
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
But, now the grassroots communities are taking ownership of the church. In over 29 states, we have women priest-led communities in a more inclusive, empowered church. A new flower is blooming as women priests live prophetic obedience and as Catholics follow their consciences! It resembles the early church more than the current hierarchical church. The focus is on inclusivity, empowerment, accountability and transparency. Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org

VATICAN II: CHURCH FORWARD with Paul Lakeland and Miriam Therese Winter / Available on Live Stream

 

An Evening of History and Hope with Paul Lakeland and Miriam Therese Winter
October 4, 2012, 7:30 pm Eastern in-person, 8pm Eastern live-streamed
In Person at the Congregational Church of Weston
130 Newton St.
Weston, MA
Live Streamed at www.cta-usa.org/livestream
Contact your local chapter to see if there is a watch-party happening in your town!www.cta-usa.org/chapters

• October 4, 2012, 7:30 EDT starts in-person, 8pm EDT live–streamed (it could be 7:45- will be like "Red Carpet")
• Vatican II: Church Forward
• An Evening of History and Hope with Paul Lakeland and Sr. Miriam Therese Winter
• Live Streamed at www.cta-usa.org
• In Person at Congregational Church of Weston
• 130 Newton St.
• Weston, MA

---

 

www.cta-usa.org/livestream

Call to Action - Vatican2 OR

http://cta-usa.org/Vatican2/

Former Irish President Mary McAleese Speaks Out on Trauma Young Gay People Faced in Catholic Church in Ireland

Former Irish President Mary McAleese speaks out as a practising Catholic on young gay people being traumatized for life by the institutional Church's stance. May her words be a source of inspiration to all.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/1001/opinion/mcaleese-uses-establishment-voice-to-speak-out-on-gay-sexuality-209337.html

Roman Catholic Woman Priest Olga Lucia Alvarez, ARCWP, Celebrates Liturgy in a Home with a Community in Soacha, Colombia, South America

Olga Lucia Alvarez, arcwp, celebrates a liturgy with a community in Soacha, Colombia

Olga writes: "With the Community of Soacha, Colombia reflection on the Sunday Gospel 9:38 Mark. I read  with the child; Felipe Bohorquez who is always beside me and with me.

Together we pray for healing for each of the participants."

"Con la Comunidad de Soacha-Colombia reflexión sobre el Evangelio del Domingo Marco 9:38ssque lo leyó el niño; Felipe Bohorquez quien siempre esta a mi lado y me acompaña. Juntos hicimos oración de sanación para cada uno de los participantes."

 

For more information about the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, visit our website: www.arcwp.org

 

Ecumenical Eucharistic Celebration of Anglicans and Catholics in Bogota, Colombia/Roman Catholic Woman Priest Olga Lucia Alvarez, ARCWP Co-Presides at Liturgy

Olga Lucia Alvarez, arcwp, participates in liturgy with Anglican Priests

Ecumenical Eucharistic Celebration with the group Chapinero-East-Bogotá: Anglicans and Catholics.

Jesus prayed that all may be one. Now, we see  the vision of Jesus becoming a reality in our time. Let us rejoice that women priests are joining women and men from with other Christian communities to celebrate our spiritual oneness in Christ at the Sacred Banquet Table where all are welcome and all are one.  Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org

 

Vienna, Austria Cuts 75 % of Parishes/ Needed Women Priests in Austria and Elsewhere!

 There would be no shortage of priests in the Roman Catholic Church if the church would embrace the gifts of prophetic women, like Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger from Austria and the approximately 150 women priests in the international movement who are leading the way to a more just and egalitarian church. (Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org)

"The 660 parishes in the Archdiocese of Vienna are to be drastically reduced over the next 10 years to just 150. The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, made the announcement to a startled audience of journalists at the annual media reception at the archbishops' palace on 20 September. The main factors behind the restructuring are the declining number of churchgoing Catholics and the shortage of priests. Parishes in the archdiocese will in future be much larger, with three to five priests in charge, one of whom will be responsible to the archbishop. Each of these large parishes will be run jointly by priests and lay Catholics.
Cardinal Schönborn described the move as "probably the greatest structural reorganisation of the Vienna archdiocese for 200 years". "

"Trial of Pope's Butler: Journalists Admitted But Secret Evidence Not "/ Why? Where is Accountability?

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2012/0930/Trial-of-Pope-s-butler-Journalists-admitted-but-secret-evidence-not/(page)/2

"...The papers, memos, and letters lifted the lid on allegations of corruption in the awarding of public works contracts, obstructing the reform of the Vatican bank, and a mud-slinging campaign involving false accusations of homosexual affairs.
Several of the documents cast a bad light on Tarcisio Bertone, who as secretary of state is the Pope’s right-hand man and effectively the Vatican prime minister. Documents appear to show that Cardinal Bertone did his utmost to block efforts to clean up alleged corruption and cronyism within the city state..."

"Following Gospel Tradition of Female Disciples, Six Women To Be Ordained in Atlanta, GA. on Oct. 20, 2012/God's Spirit Is Given To All Including Female Priests!

Mark 9:38-43 God's Spirit is given to all including women in the Roman Catholic Church who are called to ordination as a service to the people of God.  Who says there is a shortage of priests?Nothing is impossible with God. We give thanks that our Roman Catholic Women Priest Movement continues to grow!  Women are answering the call. www.arcwp.org

Following Gospel Tradition of Female Disciples,
Six Women to Be Ordained in Atlanta, Georgia on October 20, 2012, 1:00 P.M.

Contact: Janice Sevre-Duszynska, 859-684-4247, rhythmsofthedance@gmail.com
Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, 703-505-0004, sofiabmm@aol.com
See: http://www.arcwp.org/
http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/

Celebration of Priestly Ordination for
Diane Dougherty of Newnan, GA, 770-683-8101, 678-857-7146, add57@numail.org

Celebration of Ordination to the Diaconate for
Barbara Anne Duff of Macon, GA, 478-718-0613, barbara.duff@cox.net
Debra Meyers of Batavia, OH, 513-735-2876, drmeyers@aol.com
Joleane Presley of Manassas, VA, 410-900-3998, joprsly@gmail.com
Rosemarie Smead of Bedford, KY, 502-663-1237, shanti.rosemarie@gmail.com
Irene Scaramazza of Columbus, OH, 614-357-0626, irenes@columbus.rr.com

“She will be able to be my disciple,” Jesus says in the recently announced discovery of a Coptic fourth century papyrus. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/us/historian-says-piece-of-papyrus-refers-to-jesus-wife.html?_r=0
Today, women priests continue to follow the tradition of women disciples living and preaching the Gospel taught to them by Jesus.
The presiding bishop will be Bridget Mary Meehan of Falls Church, Virginia and Sarasota, Florida. A warm welcome has been given by Pastor Paul Graetz and The First Metropolitan Community Church, an Inclusive Christian Community. The ceremony will take place there at 1 p.m., 1379 Tullie Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30329. All are welcome.
Media are invited to a pre-ordination press conference on Friday, October 19, at 1:00 p.m. at the church with the ordinands and Bridget Mary Meehan. Call Janice (859-684-4247) to schedule an interview.
The candidates are theologically prepared and have many years of experience in ministry. Diane Dougherty, an educator and native of Ohio, served Catholic communities as a Sister of Humility of Mary for 23 years. As a lay ecclesial minister she served in Catholic schools and parishes as a master educator and catechist and in the Religious Education and Faith Formation office for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. "I consider my journey toward priesthood as the next phase in my vocation to serve within the Catholic tradition,” said Dougherty. “By becoming a woman priest my original call to serve Christ through the church is fulfilled and I hope my ordination will open the door to the many women Christ is calling to serve."
A former Maryknoll sister and educator, Barbara Anne Duff has retired after a nursing career in VA hospitals. A wife, grandmother and author, Debra Meyers, teaches history and women's studies at Northern Kentucky University. Joleane Presley, a wife and senior hospital chaplain, provides pastoral care to patients recovering from physical disabilities. A former Catholic sister for 21 years, Irene Scaramazza has worked as an educator, community mental health counselor, hospice chaplain and spiritual director who leads home liturgies. Dr. Rosemarie Smead, a former Discalced Carmelite nun is a retired professor and family therapist who has written six books and videos on training therapists to work with youth.
The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests rejoices in a “holy shakeup” that millions of Catholics worldwide welcome. The good news now is that male priests, bishops, a cardinal as well as theologians have expressed their support of female priests. They are following in the footsteps of Maryknoll Roy Bourgeois whose prophetic call for a dialogue on women priests is being heard in more and more places today in our Church.
“Nothing can stop the movement of the spirit toward human rights, justice and equality in our world and in our Church,” said Bridget Mary Meehan. “The full equality of women is the voice of God in our time.”
The Women Priests movement in the Roman Catholic Church advocates a new model of priestly ministry united with the people with whom we minister. We stand in prophetic obedience to Jesus who calls women and men to be disciples and equals. The movement began with the ordination of seven women on the Danube in 2002. Today there are over 140 in the movement worldwide. ARCWP is in the United States and Latin America. Our specific charism within the broader global Roman Catholic Women Priests initiative is to live Gospel equality and justice for women in the Church and in society now. We work in solidarity with the poor and marginalized for transformative justice in partnership with all believers. Our vision is to act as a community of equals in decision-making both as an organization and within all our faith communities. We advocate the renewal of the vision of Jesus in the Gospel in our Church and world.