Free Republic

The Nativity School of Worcester can no longer call itself Catholic after flying the gay pride and Black Lives Matter flags, according to a bishop’s decree. The flags were flown directly under the American flag on the same pole. The symbols are “inconsistent with Catholic teaching,” according to Bishop Robert J. McManus of the Diocese of Worcester. Explaining his reasoning, McManus said “it is my contention that the ‘Gay Pride’ flag represents support of gay marriage and actively living a LGBTQ+ lifestyle.” When writing of the Black Lives Matter flag, he differentiated between the statement “black lives matter” — which...

Pope Francis has declared that "authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence," but the religious and civil authorities in Pakistan, the second most populous Islamic state, seem to disagree. Asia Bibi, a Catholic woman imprisoned and awaiting execution in Pakistan for "blasphemy," has just written to the Holy Father in an attempt to garner support. Jihad Watch reports (hat tip Atlas Shrugs): Asia Bibi is in prison awaiting execution on false accusations of blasphemy. Only God can free her because Christians in the West don't dare to speak out on her...

As I noted in a previous post (see here), the Diocese of Worcester has some sort of animus against men who feel called to the priesthood but who accept, promote and defend the Church's Magisterial teaching. There really is no denying this. Candidates such as Jonathan Joseph Slavinskas are entirely welcome within the diocese (see here), but I am not permitted to even apply as part of a discernment process. This is most unfortunate. Dr. Germain Grisez explains that, "Since the ordained priesthood and diaconate provide the necessary ministries of the word and sacraments to the whole Church, every member...

Tuesday, May 07, 2013Bishop Robert McManus arrested Pope John Paul II, in his book Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way, emphasizes that, "Just as a father shapes the faith of his children primarily by his example of prayer and religious fervor, so also a bishop inspires his faithful by his behavior. That is why the author of the First Letter of Peter begs that bishops be 'a living example to the flock' (1 Peter 5:3)...A bishop is called to personal holiness in a particular way so that the holiness of the Church community entrusted to his care may increase...