taking sides (Full coverage of ongoing Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence situation)

FROM AMERICAN PAPIST

Blasphemous "sisters" release "press release" about receiving communion, etc.

Why isn't the light of truth meant to be kept hidden under a bushel? Because the forces of darkness are always on the move....

Today, in the latest sad episode related to Abp. Niederauer giving communion to a couple of "queer sisters" at Most Holy Redeemer parish in San Francisco, the organization "sisters of the perpetual indulgence" (SPI) - a sham organization of transvestites that take systematically (and irrationally) mocking everything about Catholicism, religious orders and Christ to offensive new extremes - released a press release today entitled "Sisters Upset Communion Being Turned into Political Issue".

As just a brief taste of the SPI's modus operandi, the "abbess" leader who leads the press release with a quotation is named "Edith Myflesh" (get it? That's supposed to be a pun on Christ's words "Eat my flesh", only it's just as crude, this-worldly and blasphemous as you would care to understand). Let nothing about this "press release's" correct grammar, 501 (c) (3) status and official letterhead fool you - this is a pernicious group which celebrates lifestyles deeply at-odds with human dignity and which, moreover, has for more than twenty years mocked the figures and realities of Christianity in general, and the Catholic Church in particular.

Revealing the blatant errors present in this press release would be too easy. So, too, would uncovering the malicious intent behind it (though I might stray into that temptation from time to time below). Frankly, this organization doesn't deserve to be dismantled at an intellectual/theoretical level. Others may do so if they wish. I tend to save my bullets for fish not confined in barrels of their own making.

My purpose is merely to demonstrate that the ministry of Most Holy Redemeer parish directly, and I would also argue the recent decisions made by Abp. Niederauer proximately, have done nothing to actively and publicly disabuse this organization of its pathetic attempts to create a false reality for themselves (or in other words, to self-deceptively think that they are full members of the Catholic Church eligible to receive communion when they're motto is "go and sin some more!").

I read, therefore, through this document with one question to answer: how is this press release the result of receiving no catechises from their parish and little to no reprimand of their "lifestyle choices" from the Archbishop?

First of all, of course, this issues isn't a "political" one as claimed repeatedly by the press release. It is a theological, doctrinal and spiritual one, for starters. Sorry, we're not constrained by the narrow horizons of politics here. There's far more at stake, which is why we're concerned in the first place. Anyway:

While at Mass the Sisters joined other parishioners in respectful and sincere worship and received Communion from the Archbishop.

They were dressed like this. Has anyone ever told them how disrespectful that sort of dress is in Mass, how completely it works against "respectful and sincere worship"? Not just within Mass, but how their activities in such dress (i.e., participating in publical sex acts as part of gay pride parades, etc., etc.) similarly bar them from "respectful and sincere worship"?

Our hearts go out to the parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer and to the Archbishop who have been unfairly stigmatized by these disingenuous campaigns for doing nothing more than following the welcoming teachings of Christ and administering Communion in keeping with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.

Has anyone told them that the "teachings of the Second Vatican Council" say nothing about distributing communion to those actively and regularly committed grave acts of scandal and sin? Do they think the Second Vatican Council renounced the Catholic Church's long tradition of condemning homosexual acts as sinful? Acts that the "sisters" participate in regularly? Did mocking the Church get its own document?

We would like to take this opportunity to state again that, contrary to the spin of right-wing fanatics, that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do not "mock nuns" but live "as nuns," taking vows that affirm the traditional compassionate and justice-seeking ministries of religious women....

Has anyone told them that they aren't nuns? That their anti-vows cannot be brought into harmony with living an integral virtuous human vocation?

We are open and supportive of all forms of spirituality that teach respect for human life, diversity, freedom and community, including those of the Catholic Church.

Again, just to give you a feeling for what content the "sisters" actually mean when they appropriate words: one of the sisters who was given communion by the Archbishop has been photograhed at pro-abortion rallies holding a wire hanger. That's what they mean by "teach[ing] respect for human life."! Again, see a problem?

It is no secret that our vows sometimes call us to challenge the dogmas and hypocrisies of the Catholic hierarchy....

This is an admission that the "sisters" do not accept the dogmas of the Catholic faith. This may seem elemental (and obvious), but we recite the creed before communion for a reason - the saving truths of the faith must be given our consent before we present ourselves for communion.

Final paragraph:

In keeping with our vows to expiate stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence call on all people of good faith to oppose those who would desecrate the sanctity of a church and defile a moment of true communion for cheap political gain. In a world wracked by violence and fear, we have no time for such lies and will continue to serve our community by boldly proclaiming that joy is more powerful than shame. We extend our sincerest gratitude and affection to the parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer and hope that their new Archbishop continues to walk with them in service to the gospel of joy and justice.

Okay, enough arguments. Just an observation: this is more mockery. This is a clear example of obstinate sin, of blithely desecrating the Body and Blood of Christ and going back to business as usual. This is continuing to spread errors in thought and errors in deed unopposed. This is a lie to support a lifestyle of lies and untruth. This is claiming to be what they are not, and in so doing, cheapening and further offending those who do act in service to neighbor and love of God. This is, finally, claiming the sponsorship and endorsement of Most Holy Redeemer Parish and the Archbishop who "walk[s] with them".

And to those responsible for this state of affairs (i.e., Most Holy Redeemer parish and it's pastor, Fr. Steve Meriwether): this is what you get when you don't teach, when you don't witness to the Gospel, and when you act upon a permissive, "everything-goes" attitude about sexual deviance. The "sisters" have grown up, and have been allowed to flourish at MHR parish for so long that - suddenly - when MHR is put in the spotlight, its pastor and staff find themselves continually embarrassed and abused by the individuals it has failed to teach.

This is why the light of truth isn't meant to be kept hidden under a bushel, because the forces of darkness are always on the move....

How much longer will the light of Christ only shine dimly at Most Holy Redeemer?

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taking sides (Full coverage of ongoing Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence situation)

Aren't these guys more accurately described as the Sisters of Perpetual SELF-Indulgence?

Can we get them to form an anti-Muslim comedy act because after all, stoning gay people to death might be a hate crime...

That they feel free to mock the Catholic faith and not Islam says volumes.

FROM CURT JESTER

Overblown

A reader sent me the following story.

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) -- Reaction to San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer giving Communion to two men in mock nuns' garb during an Oct. 7 Mass has been overblown, said the pastor of the church where the Mass was celebrated. "It is most unfortunate this incident has clouded the fact the archbishop came to meet with his people and celebrate a beautiful and reverent Mass together -- and that is what really happened," said Father Stephen Meriwether, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish. "This incident has been blown way out of proportion," he told Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper. Reaction has run the gamut from some who insist the "sisters" had set out to embarrass the church and the archbishop to others who felt the unannounced visitors who videotaped the Mass were more of an intrusion than the costumed men.

Last year after the sex toy bingo at Most Holy Redeemer hit the news Fr. Meriweather was said to be placed "on leave" by the archdiocese. This bingo being held in the parish hall was also run by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. After all the hoopla died down Fr. Meriweather returned to the parish. Earlier this year the BBC broadcast what turned out to be prayer service (or in reality a homosexual pep rally) at MHR by Fr. Donal Godfrey, S.J. who said about homosexuality" It's simply another gift from God who created us as rainbow people." Every year MHR has maintained a presence at the areas gay pride events and the parish web site has shown pictures such as men kissing.

This parish NEEDS TO BE PUT UNDER THE INTERDICT. Total ban on all the sacraments until it straightens out. Period.

How does a 2 member organization make a ‘press release’? It’s not even an official organization! Were you or I to do that, the press would not take us seriously. The media is equally culpable in keeping the pot stirred.

It's not just 2 people. From Wikipedia: "The organization was started in 1979 in San Francisco, California, and has more than six hundred nuns worldwide with new members joining regularly and new houses being established."

Interdict is more than called for.

How does a 2 member organization make a ‘press release’?

NYer, this is not a two member organization. There are chapters of the SPI around the world. They are extremely popular within the gay community, not only for their fund-raising activities to support gay charities, but also for blatant and aggressive anti-Catholicism, particularly the Catholicism that sanctions the lifestyle that they wish to indulge in.

there is a problem here in that this bishop gave communion to folks he knew he shouldn’t have... there was a day that in itself would qualify as defacto self ex-communication... it’s a day that needs to be returned to...

SF Chronicle also did a puff piece on the "sisters" yesterday. Their "charitable" work largely consists of running flamboyant blasphemous entertainments as fundraisers to meet the costs of condom give-aways and "outreach to gay youth."

SF people don't understand that a holiday festival for "gay youths" age 14-24 means a sponsored venue for twentysomething gay men to pick up sexually-confused adolescents? Or I suppose they do understand...

This is the kind of thing that put even merciful Jesus in mind of millstones and deep water...

Indeed.

They are given over to themselves it seems, and probably until by some agent or another they will—*we* will—be humbled by a great chastisement.

The sin of Sodom that cried out to heaven for vengeance...that wasn’t just one poor confused guy somewhere, it was a whole city dedicated to perversion and blasphemy.

Oh Holy Father St. Francis and Blessed Junipero, spare the faithful in your town!

I'll add my voice to the others in stressing that SPI is not a small (or local) organization. They're international. I encourage all to take a look at their website (http://www.thesisters.org/) and to decide for themselves if this is any sort of "overreaction." In truth, this is a serious and long-term effort by some to undermine the immutable teachings of the Christian faith regarding human sexuality. Since the group's inception, the Catholic Church has been the main target of their lampooning and perverted distortions in costume, action and ideology. One of their members is named "Pope Dementia the Last",

for crying out loud! He was a main character in the group's public "Exorcism of Pope John Paul II" in 1999. Their website's "sistory" (get it?) brags that, in 1996 "Sisters attended, for the first time, the annual Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert and served Oh! Communion with medicinal brownies and tequila to parched and needy pagans. They also performed and passed out safer sex materials and set up a prayer shrine." The group also hosts an annual "Hunky Jesus Contest."

SistersPerpetualIndulgenceHunkyJesusCompetition

The list could go on and on and on... And Catholics aren't supposed to be offended? Here is the bio of "Sister Delta Goodhand," one of the men who received Communion on the 7th from the archbishop. You can read for yourself his views, etc. http://www.thesisters.org/bios/delta.html

"This parish NEEDS TO BE PUT UNDER THE INTERDICT. Total ban on all the sacraments until it straightens out. Period."

I agree completely. It's not like interdict has been removed from the list of canonical penalties or anything. Canon 1374 seems to apply to the situation, prescribing an interdict for promoting or directing an association that seeks to plot against the Church.

I remember reading the St. Pius X put a whole town under interdict simply for treating its bishop with insult. How much more deserving of interdict is this parish? It probably ought to be razed to the ground and the whole site exorcized.

I have a question for the Catholics on this thread. I've watched the video of these vile "nuns" receiving communion several times, and I saw a lot of bemused smiles in the congregation. Everytime I see this I keep looking for serious frowns and keep hoping I'll hear someone stand up and shout, "No! You will not do this!" Do you think it's because this took place in San Francisco that no one seemed to object?

I'm trying to picture this happening where I live, at any church, and I can't imagine, first, the priest or pastor allowing it, but second, the congregation not speaking out strongly -- even physically throwing the "nuns" out. Was anyone else disappointed at the congregation's lack of reaction?

I remember reading the St. Pius X put a whole town under interdict simply for treating its bishop with insult. How much more deserving of interdict is this parish? It probably ought to be razed to the ground and the whole site exorcized.

Seriously! How can we get the ball rolling on this interdict? LOL

Kawaii...do you remember a FR thread about a similar situation happening in Russia? A RO church was used for some kind of disgusting display like this and the Patriarch or Metropolitan or whoever had it razed to the ground as I remember.

Maybe it would be a nice gesture of ecumenism for the Holy Father to do likewise here. ;)

I'm trying to picture this happening where I live, at any church, and I can't imagine, first, the priest or pastor allowing it, but second, the congregation not speaking out strongly -- even physically throwing the "nuns" out. Was anyone else disappointed at the congregation's lack of reaction?

Yes, but it seems this parish might well be notorious for its support of such things. I've read when the Rainbow Sashers disrupted Communion at orthodox parishes, they were yelled at and escorted out.

Sadly, there are some parishes around the country where very bad priests cater to the clientele. Which is why I think the best penalty would be for whoever is in charge to shut this place down NOW. It seems to be a hotbed of vice.

This blasphemous sacrilege didn't occur at an ordinary Catholic Parish. Back in 1992, at a fairly ordinary Catholic Parish, we had Mass on Columbus Day to thank The Lord for the discovery of the Americas. Protesters came in shouting slogans ... and were promptly ejected by some of the KofC and other members of the congregation.

This Parish, howdever, is completely overrun with perverts, and has been for years. On the one hand, I'm disgusted and outraged that the congregation did nothing ... but on the other I'm not at all surprised. Most of those folks there were probably wishing they had the nerve to do what the costumed perverts were doing.

The Parish should be supressed, the building boarded up. IMO.

Those are some horrific pictures.

The more I read about this crowd the more nauseated I become.

Niederauer should have insisted that they either leave the Church or remove their garb, never mind denying them Communion. The bishop of Sodom-by-the-Sea has a huge problem in that city.

I've read when the Rainbow Sashers disrupted Communion at orthodox parishes, they were yelled at and escorted out.

That's the sort of reaction I'd expect. It looked like some older people in the congregation weren't happy -- at least they weren't smiling like some -- but still, they didn't do or say anything. But you're right, if the parish is notorious for such things, most of the decent members might have gone elsewhere. Still, you kind of hope there would be just that one voice saying no.

Which is why I think the best penalty would be for whoever is in charge to shut this place down NOW.

I agree totally. I'm stunned nothing serious has happened yet.