Follow up on priest who refused to hear confession

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

On July 5^th I wrote about an incident I had with a priest who refused to hear my confession because he felt placing envelopes on the pews was more important.  

****Please read the whole story HERE.

Since that post I have gotten a lot of email asking me if the Bishop responded or did anything.  So here is an update of all that has happened since July 5^th…. 

OK… so after that, I went to confession in another town with a wonderful Capuchin priest who apologized to me on behalf of the angry priest, said the priest should not have behaved that way BUT reminded me we are all human, make mistakes and are in need of forgiveness.

I forgave “Fr.S” for refusing to hear my confession and on the suggestion of the Capuchin priest, began praying for Fr. S whenever I thought of him –especially if I was feeling bitter toward him.

Inside a week I was completely over it.  I had offered it up to Jesus and decided to simply pray for Fr. S as often as I thought of him and I thanked God for Fr. S because he answered the call to the priesthood.  As I mentioned in the original post I had written to Fr. S’s Bishop telling him about the incident and figured if the Bishop had a word with Fr. S it would all be over by now.

So a few weeks later I went to Mass at Fr. S’s parish.  I didn’t think he would remember me, but he did.  As soon as he noticed me sitting in the pew, he made his way over to me.  

Father skipped the greetings and cut right to the chase.

Fr. S:  “Are you still mad at me or have you forgiven me?”

Me: “I forgave you weeks ago Father.”

Fr. S: “Good, that is all that matters.”

And Father walked away not once apologizing to me.  I took a deep breath and offered it up to Jesus all during Mass.

A month later, once more at one of Fr. S’s Masses, Father approached me again.

“Can we talk after Mass?” he asked.

“Sure.” I said completely baffled as to why this priest would want to talk to me.  I thought everything was over and done with.

I was wrong.

After Mass I remained in my pew as the parish emptied.  Father finished shaking hands with people and asked me to wait while he removed his vestments.  Once he returned he surprised me again, by saying “Let’s go to my office.”

Now I was really baffled…why would this priest need to talk to me in his office?

We left the church and walked across the parking lot to the rectory house not saying a single word.  He led the way to his office closing all the doors once we were inside (there were 3) and stood over me in a peculiar manner- like he wanted to intimidate me.  Just staring at me- I think he was expecting me to cower.  Honestly... That is the impression I got.  

Other women will probably know what I am talking about if they've ever met a man or had a boss who thought his mere size and authority could cower a woman.  It's a thing some men do and women hate it.  

Had he closed all those doors to intimidate me?  To keep anyone from possibly hearing what was about to go down?

Unfortunately for this priest I am not a woman who cowers. 

I stared right back at him wondering if I was in some bizarre dream. I simply couldn't figure out his behavior, his asking me to his office, closing all those doors like we were in a bank vault or his staring at me like he was sizing me up!  

It was weird and I was wishing very much I had not agreed to talk with him after Mass.  I just wanted to get home and forget about this very strange priest.

Then his face changed and I could see the anger.  This man was angry.

“So, you wrote to my Bishop about me?”  He said leaning across his desk staring me down.

“Yes.”

“What happened between us was between us and should not have involved the Bishop.”  He said.

I got ticked.  I’ve got a short fuse with people (even priests) who attempt to bully me and this priest was doing just that.

“No it wasn’t.  When a priest refuses someone the Sacraments without valid reason it is something his Bishop should know about.”

"You shouldn't have brought the Bishop into this." He insisted.

"You and I and the Bishop all know you were wrong to refuse me the Sacrament of Confession when you had 45 minutes before Mass.  You have to know the Sacraments are more important than placing envelopes on pews."

"I was making up for someone else's lack..."

I interrupted him here... "Yes, I know already.  Someone else was supposed to put the envelopes on the pews and they didn't.  That has nothing to do with your priorities as a priest and you know it Father."

He knew it, but he refused to acknowledge that he did anything wrong.

"There were other witnesses there..."  He let that dangle as if the witnesses would back him up.

"Yes Father and I know one of them very well."

We exchanged more words (I won't give all the details but to be clear, this priest was MAD and he wasn't holding back) mostly him accusing me of being unfair to him by telling the Bishop what happened.  On and on and on- back and forth and back and forth until I think he realized I wouldn’t be intimidated and then (I SWEAR TO YOU) he changed tactics.  I could see it in his face- it was like flicking a light switch.

“Well…I just wanted us to clear the air and apologize.”  He smiled at me then, but it didn't reach his eyes.  His eyes were still glaring at me from across his desk.

I noticed the “us” and “apologize” was lacking any apology from him to me.  After all, he is the one who was in the wrong for refusing to hear my confession.  All I did was walk out and tell the Bishop.  I honestly don’t see anything I need to apologize for.  And I wasn't really buying his version of an apology- I think the Bishop told him to apologize to me and Fr. S was just about choking on the words.

“I thought we had already cleared the air weeks ago.”  I said and I truly believed we had.

Silence.

He just kept sitting there staring at me across his massive oak desk.

He STILL wasn’t done with me.  

We’ve now been in his office for TWENTY MINUTES going back and forth over what I thought was old news and forgiven weeks ago.  When I went to Mass that day I had no hard feelings toward this priest.  I was completely over the whole thing.  I truly had forgiven him and moved on.

  

He clearly wasn’t having it.

He changed tactics again.  This time he was trying to guilt trip me by telling me I was evil.  I kid you not.

“So you came to me for Confession and do you know what happened?”

“Yes, nothing because you refused to hear my Confession.”

“No.  Evil entered you!”  He said leaning toward me across his desk.

“What?!”  I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.  I couldn't - I honestly could NOT believe what he was saying to me.  It was crazy!  I was beginning to think HE was crazy.  I'm still not sure that he isn't crazy!

“You came for Confession, you were supposed to be humble and seeking forgiveness and the moment you did not hear what you wanted you got angry and evil entered into you!”

At this point I honestly almost laughed but he was completely serious and VERY angry.

“Father it was you who was angry that day, I was merely shocked and hurt at your refusal to hear my confession.  My anger came hours later when the shock began to wear off.”

At that he leaned back in his high back desk chair and stared at me again.

I waited, but was nearing the end of my tolerance for this priest.

His tactic changed again.

“Well, I just want you to know that I don’t hold any hard feelings toward you.”

Seriously… he believes that HE was the victim in this situation?

That was it.  I was DONE.  Biting my tongue to keep from saying anything I would regret I got up to end this verbal battle.

“Good to know, are we finished Father?”  I asked looking at him across his desk.

“I guess we are at a stalemate then.”  He said to me.

I turned my back on him and walked to the door.

“If that is how you wish to see it…” and I walked out with him right on my heels.  In complete silence we walked down the hall to the front door.  I left without so much as a goodbye between us.

So once again, I leave Fr. S feeling completely shocked and stunned by this priest.

I have never met a priest with such anger and hostility.

And apparently it isn’t just me.

I kept quiet about it for a week while I prayed about it and wondered if I should just let it go, or let the Bishop know things didn’t go so well.  I decided to seek a second opinion from a trusted Catholic friend who didn’t know the priest any better than I had until this happened.  

Unfortunately she herself had witnessed him yelling at an elderly volunteer woman who was cleaning the welcome mat at the parish office by beating it on the stairs.  He shouted out his office window at her to “STOP THAT and do it somewhere else” then slammed the window closed.

I am glad I didn’t see him talk to her like that because I would not have been able to keep silent.  

So it isn’t just me who has been on the receiving end of his anger.  At this point, I have decided to do nothing else except pray for him.  He’s got serious issues and lots of anger.  Should he and I have any future problems I will without hesitation write to the Bishop again.

But from what I know now… I imagine the Bishop will be hearing from other people about Fr. S very soon- once they get over his intimidation.

I am very interested in hearing how my readers would have handled this situation.

Please leave your comments or drop me an email.

Have you ever had anything like this happen to you?  What did you do?

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

P.S. And to those of you who would suggest I simply never go back to that parish... well I have friends there and sometimes because of all the "yoked" parishes around here, his parish Mass times are better than others.  Besides, I am not a woman to cower or run away because of one wayward priest.  Like him or not, the Sacraments are still valid because he is a Catholic priest.   I will never again go to him for Confession- I know that for sure- but Mass is a different story.

Link to original post: http://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2014/07/priest-refuses-sacrament-of-confession.html

#RIPBella trending on Twitter

By Connecticut Catholic Corner


Twitter is ERUPTING right now with what is apparently (I desperately hope its a hoax) a teen suicide.

The hashtag #RIPBella is being used to share the final words of a girl before she committed suicide.

As I already said, I DESPERATELY hope this is merely a hoax and not the horrible tragedy it appears to be.

How absolutely TRAGIC for ANY human being - especially a child- to feel like NOTHING.  This person found no value in herself because she never felt loved by others.

That is UNACCEPTABLE!

No one, absolutely NO ONE should ever feel so alone, unloved and unwanted.

It's an absolute tragedy.

The other tragedy with teen suicide is GLORIFYING IT.

@1000Girlfriends is correct.  This is NOT a happy ending.  Unfortunately too many teens (and adults) don't grasp that and have taken to glorifying the tragedy as some romantic gesture.

What a mess our society is when they don't see the value in human life.  What a sad thing to chalk off a suicide as "she is in a better place now".  She was supposed to be HERE now and she's not.

Whether or not this is a true suicide, it does truly depict the loneliness and hopelessness so many people feel.  We as a society HAVE to let people know they ARE loved and that we DO care about them.

When someone commits suicide they are leaving a VOID - a void that was supposed to filled by them for their entire NATURAL life.  That void can never be filled because no one can take the place of the person who committed suicide.

No one should feel unloved and unwanted- no one.

RIP Bella

I pray to God this is a hoax.


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

The Long Suffering Stormtrooper Crucifix?

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

I really get disturbed by the sheer ignorance of people who think nothing they do can or will offend God.

I had a non-denominational Protestant tell me once that she was forgiven all her sins and never needed to repent of any sins because Christ already died on the cross for her past, present and future sins.

It was a "done deal" once she "accepted Jesus into her heart"- and of course said the "sinner's prayer".

I was reminded of her today, when I read a story about an "artist" who created the "Long Suffering Stormtrooper" crucifix.  The "Long Suffering Stormtrooper" is from the Star Wars movies.  The fictional soldier AKA a 'stormtrooper' has replaced Jesus Christ on a crucifix- this is "art" according to Mr. Callanan (the artist) and The Picture Frame Gallery where this "art" is displayed.

Quote (my comments is PURPLE):  Mr Callanan, whose artwork has been bought by the likes of Fatboy Slim and Russell Brand, said: “It’s not making fun of any particular religion and certainly not Christianity.” [really? What other religion is known for using the image of the crucifix?]
The piece of work represents the sacrifice of the movie stormtroopers as “cannon fodder” for someone else’s cause, said Mr Callanan, who is also known as RYCA.
The avid Star Wars fan said that he isn’t offended by Mrs Jenkin’s criticism. “If it was [Star Wars film-maker] George Lucas having a go at me I would be more upset,” he said.
Gallery owner Mark Belda, who says he was raised as a Catholic, also defended the sculpture, which is priced at more than £300 and titledThe Long Suffering Stormtrooper.
“I’ve got three customers who are priests and they all like it. [God help them if that statement is true.] I totally take on board what she’s saying, but it’s not got anything to do with religion,” said Mr Belder.

It wasn't only the ignorant artist and the "Catholic" gallery owner that bothered me - it was also the poll taken asking if the "Long Suffering Stormtrooper" was blasphemous or not.  

At the time I took the poll, only 11% were offended by the "art" of a science fiction character replacing Jesus Christ on the crucifix.  More than half thought it was 'just fine'.

"Just fine"?  Really?

I can almost understand non-Christians and atheists... but anyone who claims to be Christian - and KNOWS the suffering Jesus did for love of us -and yet finds nothing offensive about this "art" is simply... pathetic.

Do they even take a moment to THINK what that suffering was like?

Do they even take a moment to LOOK upon a true crucifix and CONTEMPLATE the pain, suffering and anguish our dear Lord went through for LOVE of us?

How... how can anyone contemplate Christ on the cross and then look at this stormtrooper 'art' and NOT be offended?

I don't get it...I truly don't understand such ignorance.

On another note... had a depiction of Islam's Mohammad been placed where the stormtrooper is I am willing to bet there would be more "offended" people in the poll.  JMO


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


link: http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/news/star_wars_stormtrooper_in_crucifix_sculpture_blasphemy_row_in_gidea_park_1_3736483

Don't allow our police to be out gunned again!

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

Some people in the media, on the ground, around the nation and across the blogosphere are voicing their objections to local police departments arming their officers with military grade weapons (and some are crying over a curfew -boo hoo- see my comments at the bottom of the article).

I am not one of them.  Apparently I have a much longer memory than others.

CNN has created a scare propaganda video to make the public think our police force are “over armed” with too much fire power because of the 1033 program (you’ll see mentioned in the CNN video here) which allows the Pentagon to relocate weapons to local police forces.  This program was first created for the ‘war on drugs’, but soon after it was expanded when this nation (oh how forgetful we are) saw firsthand why our police MUST have these weapons.

I can’t possibly be the only one to remember the horrors of February 28, 1997 when two gun men robbed a bank in North Hollywood armed to the teeth with illegal military weapons, who then walked out of the bank and began to “prey spray” (shoot anything that moves) the streets of California.

The police force were out gunned- totally.  Their guns .9mm hand guns could not penetrate the military grade armor the bank robbers were wearing.  The gun men on the other hand had illegal military weapons with ammunition that pierced standard police Kevlar vests and shot threw concrete walls “like butter”.

Out gunned and out armored.

Police and civilians were shot and bleeding in the streets while the gun men walked spraying bullets in every direction completely unfazed by the police bullets that didn’t harm them.

Police officers RAN into gun shops up and down the street to BORROW weapons and ammo from gun store owners that could take down these ruthless gun men- all because the police were not armed to face such opponents.  They were out gunned- not unlike the Kurds in Iraq facing ISIS today and begging the U.S. to give them weapons.

Take a moment to remember February 28, 1997 in North Hollywood California and think about how different it might have been if the police had been better equipped with military weapons…

With police down, the S.W.A.T team was called in…they arrived 18 minutes after the second officer was down. 

Now the battle was even.

The police with the help of military weapons finally ended the bloody street battle against a mere TWO MEN who for a time had out gunned them.

Now jump to today… we’ve got more threats coming at us than back in the 1990’s- not just from ISIS promising to raise their Islamic State flag at the White House, but also from our own home grown terrorist who ARE as well armed at military soldiers.

You have to be a COMPLETE IDIOT to oppose our local police not having access to the BEST weapons available to them.

These men and women kiss their family’s goodbye each day and go off to work not knowing if they will return.  They knowingly and willingly put their lives on the line EVERY DAY to protect and serve their towns and cities.  They deserve the BEST our country can offer them, so they are NEVER AGAIN out gunned in the face of such evil.  So they can return home to their families in one piece.

I wonder how differently people would feel if it was THEIR son, daughter, husband or wife who was out gunned, shot, and bleeding to death in the streets because they didn't have a gun equivalent to guns the criminals were using...?  

Would that change your mind about the weapons local police should have at their disposal?

Since it is the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO that has kicked started this topic... how about the poor store owner when Michael Brown roughed him up while stealing from him?  

Had the store owner flashed a gun in Brown's face would things have been different?  Would Brown have continued to bully, intimidate and shove the store owner like he was nothing or would a gun have gotten an entirely different response?  It's hard to tell with bullying thugs- and YES, I am calling Brown a bullying disgusting thug. 

I am guessing the families of all the brave officers in North Hollywood on February 28, 1997 would have supported their loved ones having the proper equipment to better defend themselves and other innocents that day.

Well 'that day' will happen again.

When its YOUR ASS being shot at you see things a bit differently.

When "that day" comes- and it will come... you'll wish for all the protection in the world to keep you and your loved ones safe- lets just hope our police are still properly equipped to keep us all alive.

Keep our police well armed so they won't be out gunned by criminals, terrorists or thugs.

In Christ and standing with our police,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


***Another case of the good guys being "out gunned" by the bad guys was in 1986 when the FBI were not as well equipped as bank robbers- this time some of them died because of it. HERE.

UPDATE SUPPORTING MY VIEWS:

Darren Wilson, the Ferguson, Mo., police officer whose fatal shooting of Michael Brown touched off more than a week of demonstrations, suffered severe facial injuries  and was nearly beaten unconscious by Brown moments before firing his gun, a source close to the department's top brass told FoxNews.com.
“The Assistant (Police) Chief took him to the hospital, his face all swollen on one side,” said the insider. “He was beaten very severely.” 
According to the well-placed source, Wilson was coming off another case in the neighborhood on Aug. 9 when he ordered Michael Brown and his friend Dorain Johnson to stop walking in the middle of the road because they were obstructing traffic. However, the confrontation quickly escalated into physical violence, the source said.
“They ignored him and the officer started to get out of the car to tell them to move," the source said. "They shoved him right back in, that’s when Michael Brown leans in and starts beating Officer Wilson in the head and the face."
The source claims that there is "solid proof" that there was a struggle between Brown and Wilson for the policeman’s firearm, resulting in the gun going off – although it still remains unclear at this stage who pulled the trigger. Brown started to walk away according to the account, prompting Wilson to draw his gun and order him to freeze. Brown, the source said, raised his hands in the air, and turned around saying, "What, you're going to shoot me?"
At that point, the source told FoxNews.com, the 6-foot-4, 292-pound Brown charged Wilson, prompting the officer to fire at least six shots at him, including the fatal bullet that penetrated the top of Brown's skull, according to an independent autopsy conducted at the request of Brown's family.
Wilson suffered a fractured eye socket in the fracas, and was left dazed by the initial confrontation, the source said. He is now "traumatized, scared for his life and his family, injured and terrified" that a grand jury, which began hearing evidence on Wednesday, will "make some kind of example out of him," the source said.

Link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/20/missouri-cop-was-badly-beaten-before-shooting-michael-brown-says-source/

Links:

http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil/leso/Pages/1033ProgramFAQs.aspx#q1

http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/14/us/missouri-ferguson-police-tactics/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Hollywood_shootout

boo-hoo http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/msnbc-host-falls-apart-over-ferguson-curfew

Kurds out-gunned by ISIS: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Kurds-ISIS-Iraq-Peshmerga/2014/08/08/id/587628/

Miami FBI shootout: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/16/ferguson-shooting-police-standof

An Accident on the Altar with a Consecrated Host

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

I have a question today about an accident I witnessed during a televised Catholic Mass.

This morning I found myself up at the crack of dawn.  Unable to fall back to sleep I decided to start my day by tuning in to our local Catholic Mass on television.

Today, Father Joseph Devine of St. Rose of Lima parish in Meriden, Ct was celebrating the Mass on ORTV (Office of Radio and Television).

A recording of the Mass can be seen HERE.

Since each television Mass is sold on DVD it is not available to download or upload to this blog, so going directly to the link is the only option to view the entire 30 minute Mass.

The reason I am mentioning this is because of what happened during this morning's Mass.  The priest accidentally dropped the consecrated Host into the Cup, 

then fished the soggy Consecrated Host out of the Cup...

...placing the soggy Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ on the paten.

He then breaks off a piece, placing it in the Cup, and soon eats PART of the soggy Host leaving several soggy pieces of the Host on the paten.

He then places a small soggy piece of the Consecrated Host into the hands of a gentlemen... (so the Blood of Christ is now on the hands of this gentleman)

and then LEAVES the rest of the soggy Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ on the paten, covering it with linen and removing it from the altar. 
You can see the soggy Host in the image below being covered up.

Should he have not eaten the entire soggy Consecrated Host?

Should he have wiped the Blood from his wet fingers on the cloth?

Is there another way this is handled when something like this occurs?

I was truly expecting him to eat the entire Host quickly before it could fall apart.

I'd love to hear from a priest how such an accident is properly handled.



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Source: http://www.ortv.org/streaming/TV%20Mass%20stream.htm
Video: http://dv2.discovervideo.com/play/?vod=17340

Thank you Mother Angelica...

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

... you've changed the world with your devotion and love for Christ.  

By answering His call to you 70 years ago, and founding the Eternal World Television Network untold numbers of people have come to the Church and returned to the Church.  

I believe one day you will hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master ."


God bless you and Happy 70th Anniversary being a nun!

I thank Him for bringing you into my life.  You're a big reason I am Catholic today. 

So thank you.


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


More: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/mother-angelicas-70-year-old-promise

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

Quote from EWTN...


The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Feast: Aug. 15th

The Assumption is the oldest feast day of Our Lady, but we don't know how it first came to be celebrated.

Its origin is lost in those days when Jerusalem was restored as a sacred city, at the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (c. 285-337). By then it had been a pagan city for two centuries, ever since Emperor Hadrian (76-138) had leveled it around the year 135 and rebuilt it as <Aelia Capitolina> in honor of Jupiter.

For 200 years, every memory of Jesus was obliterated from the city, and the sites made holy by His life, death and Resurrection became pagan temples.

After the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 336, the sacred sites began to be restored and memories of the life of Our Lord began to be celebrated by the people of Jerusalem. One of the memories about his mother centered around the "Tomb of Mary," close to Mount Zion, where the early Christian community had lived.

On the hill itself was the "Place of Dormition," the spot of Mary's "falling asleep," where she had died. The "Tomb of Mary" was where she was buried.

At this time, the "Memory of Mary" was being celebrated. Later it was to become our feast of the Assumption.

For a time, the "Memory of Mary" was marked only in Palestine, but then it was extended by the emperor to all the churches of the East. In the seventh century, it began to be celebrated in Rome under the title of the "Falling Asleep" ("Dormitio") of the Mother of God.

Soon the name was changed to the "Assumption of Mary," since there was more to the feast than her dying. It also proclaimed that she had been taken up, body and soul, into heaven. [continue reading at EWTN]

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/A/assumptionoftheblessedvirginmary.asp#ixzz3AU3ANNXl



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Catholic Events in Connecticut

The Young Adult Parish Ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport is sponsoring the "Summer Splash, a meet and greet at the beach.

Bishop Frank Caggiano will offer Mass. 

Sunday, August 17, 2:30-5:30

Our Lady Star of the Sea Church

1200 Shippan Avenue

Stamford CT 

+++++++

Diocese of Norwich, Office of Prison Ministry, Gift of Grace Program

The Norwich Diocesan Office for Prison Ministry is offering a training program, called “Gift of Grace”, for adults interested in serving the spiritual needs of prisoners in correctional institutions of Eastern Connecticut. The Office for Prison Ministry trains volunteers for scripture study and sharing, sacramental preparation, prayer groups, religious education, retreat days, small Christian communities, and music for liturgies.

Training will take place Sept. 20, 2014, Sept. 27, 2014, Oct. 4, 2014, Oct. 18, 2014, Dec. 7, 2014.  Volunteers’ bi-lingual in Spanish and English are especially needed. Pre-registration is required.

For more information, please contact Sheree Antoch, Office for Prison Ministry, 199 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360; 860-848-2237 ext. 211 or prison@norwichdiocese.net.

++++

All ladies are invited to the Women’s Conference in the Diocese of Bridgeport to be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Trumbull Marriott, 180 Hawley Lane, Trumbull, CT.

Check-in will begin at 7:45am.  Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano at 8:30am with inspirational talks followed by Dr. Dianne Traflet (speaking on the topic of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD (Edith Stein), Sister Clare Matthiass, CFR, (speaking on the topic of our dignity and vocation as women) and Genevieve Kineke (speaking on the topic of the Essence of Femininity).

Adoration, reconciliation, veneration of relic of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, vendors, breakfast, and lunch are included.

To register and pay online, visit:www.officeforpastoralservices.org.

For more information or to register and pay by check, contact Gina: 203-416-1446 or womensconference@diobpt.org. 

 ++++

Contributor: Paul A. Zalonski

Catholic Connecticut

255 Foxon Hill Road

East Haven, CT 06513-1216 USA

Email Paul directly: CatholicCT@gmail.com

Follow Paul on Twitter @CatholicCT

Connect with Paul on Facebook "Catholic Connecticut CatholicCT"

****Paul is the Catholic Events Contributor for Connecticut Catholic Corner****

EWTN's new fall line-up is here!

EWTN’s New Season Rocks Your
Catholic World With 11 New Shows!

Irondale, AL – There’s something for everyone in EWTN’s new fall line-up! From Nigeria to Ireland to the U.S., you’ll enjoy interviews and talk shows with fabulous Catholics from around the world; discover Church ministries you may never have considered joining – until now; help your kids and grandkids learn the faith; learn about Scripture, the Catechism and leading lights of the Church in a new way; discern a vocation; and so much more! Here’s a taste:

• The Church Universal: Fr. Joseph Mary introduces viewers to the many apostolates in the Church that are making an impact in the world today! Sundays, 5 p.m. ET; Fridays, 10 p.m. ET.
• Three Wise Women: Singer and Irish politician Dana Scallon; Catherine Wiley, founder of the Catholic Grandparents Association; and Kathy Sinnott, a former politician who was inspired by her son, who died in 2009, to found Ireland’s only Catholic liberal arts college, as well as their guests, share a lifetime of experience and wisdom rooted in the Faith. Sundays, 5 a.m. ET; Wednesdays, 5 p.m. ET.
• At Home With Jim & Joy: Dynamic husband & wife radio team Jim & Joy Pinto bring their powerful witness to daytime TV with the launch of their weekly live talk show that focuses on marriage, family, and pro-life issues. Thursdays, 2 p.m. ET; Fridays, 5 p.m. ET; Sundays, 2 a.m. ET.
• Catholics Come Home: Tom Peterson invites you to meet people whose lives dramatically changed thanks to this ministry’s inspiring messages, which have helped lead believers and non-believers home to the Catholic Church. Sundays, 5 p.m. ET; Thursdays, 4:30 a.m. ET & 10 pm. ET.
• The World Over Interviews with Raymond Arroyo: Classic one-on-one interviews with the biggest names in the Church, entertainment, and Catholic culture. Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. ET; Saturdays, 2:30 a.m. ET.
• Vocation Boom: Interviews with priests, seminarians, vocation directors, seminary rectors and laypeople to help men discern a calling to the priesthood! Sundays, 11 a.m. ET; Thursdays; 5:30 p.m. ET.
• Word for a Wounded World: Nigerian Father Maurice Emelu draws on a wealth of African stories grounded in Scripture and Tradition to help Catholic achieve the reconciliation and healing they need on their pilgrimage to Heaven. Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. ET; Saturdays, 5:30 a.m. ET.
• Animated Stories from the Bible: Children will learn important values such as honesty, love, compassion and the power of prayer in the presentation of the most beloved stories from the Old Testament. Tuesdays, 4 p.m. ET. 
• Exile and Return: Sacred Scripture Scholars Fr. Joseph Ponessa & Laurie Manhardt bring the Old Testament books dealing with the post- Babylonian exile alive! Sundays, 1:30 a.m. ET; Fridays, 2 p.m. ET.
• Grab Your Catechism Season II: Tune in as Father Charles Connor takes you through another section of the Catechism; stay with Him and go through the whole Catechism in one year! Sundays, 4 p.m. ET; Tuesdays, 11 p.m.
• He Dared Speak the Truth: A discussion of Catholic Philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand, who stared death in the face by tackling the Nazis’ propaganda, by two people who knew him best – his wife Alice and John Henry Crosby. Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m. ET; Fridays, 11 p.m. ET.

Which will be your favorite? Tune in and find out!

 

 

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 33^rd year, is available in over 230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com, electronic and print news services, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

 

Catholic Faith degraded and mocked in Disney 'art'

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

I'm disgusted.

Another vile and disgusting liberal who thinks blasphemy is "art" and all the idiots who flock to these "art" shows to purchase the filth are just as bad as the "artist".  

Quote: August 1 – 31, 2014 Artist reception: Friday, August 1st; 8-11PM 
José Rodolfo Loaiza Ontiveros is back–with Profanity Pop, a celebration of creative freedom in our time. 
Mythology, Religion and the representation of power have manifested in all of the great works from antiquity. With Profanity Pop, Rodolfo pays tribute to specific historical works that have inspired many generations. Universal themes are once again narrated by beloved animated characters, but in the guise of the divine and with all the fragility of martyrs. Away from the paradise of happy endings, the pastel sprinkled drama takes on a vulnerability that juxtaposes subversively with situations never similarly interpreted.

That description is not at all what the "artist" is depicting. It's pure attacks and mockery of the Catholic faith - Mickey Mouse as Jesus Christ, Pope Francis marrying two gay Disney princes, and "Saint" Daisy Duck portraying the Virgin Mary taking a pregnancy test and more.

Title: The Veil of Clarabella
(Mockery of Veronica's Veil)

Title: Saint Daisy and her pregnancy test
(Mockery of the Virgin Mary)

Title: I'm not a sinner, I'm just drawn that way
(Mockery of Holy Communion/Eucharist)

Title: The credulity of Saint Donald Caravaggio
(Mockery of Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas) 

And of course, last but not least...

Title:  Who am I to Judge Him?
(Mockery of Pope Francis and his "Who am I to judge" comment)

Quote:  The Monarchy of prejudices and taboos crumble in this story. The disenfranchised reach beyond discrimination, and in this narrative no union is sinful or suppressed.The absorbing worlds of entertainment, fashion, and excesses, with the magic of kitsch, invite us to desecrate the seductive world of POP.
Contact Matt Kennedy, Gallery Director for availability and purchase info: (323) 666-7667

I wonder why Disney hasn't put a stop to this?  

Perhaps Disney gives this "artist" their stamp of approval?  

Since Disney happily allows "gay days" at their amusement parks you just never know any more how far they will go with their debauchery and filth.

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

WARNING: Graphic and sexual cartoon "art" in link.

Source: http://laluzdejesus.com/jose-rodolfo-loaiza-ontiveros-profanity-pop-the-laluzapalooza-jury-winners/#jp-carousel-5392