St Michael Society

Category Archives: Pope Benedict XVI

Harry Knox, Pope Benedict, and the Debate On Condoms in Africa

February 5, 2010

by Christopher Gross and Patrick Looby

It is rare that philosophical arguments can be resolved by simply appealing to empirical data. In many instances, participants in the dispute may agree on the facts but disagree about the implications of those facts or how much weight should be given to them. However, there are rare cases where a thorough examination of the evidence proves one side is correct and the other side clearly wrong. The “debate” between Harry Knox and Pope Benedict is one of those rare instances.

As you may know, Harry Knox, who serves on President Obama’s faith-based advisory council, said earlier this week that he stood by a statement he made last year concerning the Pope. According to Knox, the Pope is “hurting people in the name of Jesus,” because the Holy Father has suggested that promoting condom use in Africa will not end the suffering caused by the AIDS epidemic there and in fact increases the spread of HIV/AIDS. The problem with Knox’s position, despite his appeal to the ’science,’ is that the empirical evidence does not support his attack. It actually favors the Pope.

Also posted in Anti-Catholicism, catholic – 29 Comments

Obama Nominee Tried to Take Away Catholic Church Tax Exemption

February 5, 2010

Dawn Johnson, Nominated to head Justice Dept. Office of Legal Counsel

As the St. Michael Society continues with our petition drive urging the resignation of Obama’s faith based initiatives advisor Harry Knox for his attacks on Pope Benedict XVI, there is yet another Obama friend and nominee that has a record of hostility against Catholics. Dawn Johnson, nominated by the President to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department, in the 1980s tried to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Catholic Church over the church’s position in defense of the unborn.

Bill Donahue, President of The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, fired back at a recent New York Times editorial encouraging her nomination.

“BASELESS CONCERNS” OVER DAWN JOHNSEN?

February 4, 2010

Catholic League president Bill Donohue directs his comments at an editorial in today’s New York Times:

If someone were nominated to serve in a major legal position in a Republican administration who previously tried to take away the tax exempt status of Islamic mosques and institutions—for purely political reasons—everyone knows that he or she would never be given a hearing.

So why is Dawn Johnsen’s nomination to head the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel still being considered? She tried in the late 1980s to take away the tax exempt status of the Roman Catholic Church, all because she wanted to silence the Church’s voice on abortion. Yet the New York Times audaciously asserts today that the “baseless objections” and “baseless concerns” of her critics should be ignored.

Since when are objections to proven instances of bigotry considered “baseless”? Would it be “baseless” to object to someone who wants to deny Muslims the same tax exempt status afforded Catholics, Protestants, Jews and others? Would not such a person be branded a bigot who is unfit to serve in any administration, especially in a high post in the Justice Department? If the answer is obvious, then why is her nomination even alive?

Between the appointment of Harry Knox, and the nomination of Ms. Johnson, Catholics are growing increasingly concerned about a trending disdain for Catholics by the President and his Administration. This is why it is so important for Catholics to speak out and take action in every way we can to defend our faith. Please remember to sign our petition urging the resignation of Harry Knox.

Also posted in Anti-Catholicism, abortion, prolife – 12 Comments

Video: Obama Advisor Will Not Back Off Comments Attacking Pope

February 3, 2010

CNS News has a video and story up in which Harry Knox, who serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, reasserts his comments made back in March that Pope Benedict is “hurting people in the name of Jesus.”

Read and see it here.

Seems to not quite fit with the warm and fuzzy name of the Council on which Mr. Knox sits, and suggests the Obama Administration’s utter disdain for the Holy Father and Catholics.

Please circulate this to all of your Catholic family, friends and colleagues. Expose the outrage and sign our petition.

We the undersigned, call for the immediate resignation of Harry Knox, who serves on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

Recently, Mr. Knox once again expressed his prejudice against the Pope and by extension all Catholics when he reaffirmed his view that the Pope "is hurting people in the name of Jesus."

These comments expose that Mr. Knox is openly hostile towards Catholics and their religious leader and should disqualify him from public service in an organization that "will work on behalf of Americans committed to improving their communities, no matter their religious or political beliefs."

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Also posted in Anti-Catholicism – 72 Comments

Supreme Knight: Pope John Paul II’s Life, Suffering Has Meaning Today

December 23, 2009

On the heels of Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of Pope John Paul II’s life of “heroic virtue,” Catholic News Agency features a terrific interview with the Supreme Knight of the KOC, Carl Anderson.

Anderson has long studied JP II and discusses how the late Pope’s life provides tremendous meaning to us today, well after his death. The Supreme Knight also reflects on the Pope’s public suffering and the importance of salvific suffering as a part of our Catholic faith and tradition.

Read the interview here.

John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter – Salvifici Doloris – was a moving dissertation on the true meaning of suffering to form union with Christ. As we celebrate the birth of our savior this Christmas, we also remember John Paul II and all of those who may be suffering this Christmas season — that they can come to realize that their suffering has meaning. May we pray that in their suffering and struggles more come to realize the saving power of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Also posted in Catholic Life, Catholic culture, Christmas – 1 Comment

Pope Calls for Allowing Terminally Ill to Live their Suffering with Dignity

December 14, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI makes a loving and strong case today for allowing the terminally ill to live their suffering with dignity. The Pope also demonstrates the need to care for and support the terminally ill, reminding us that suffering is a part of earthly life that leads to everlasting life.

As the health care debate rages in the United States, this message is so important to understanding the end of life issues currently being debated.

Also posted in Catholic Life, Catholic culture, End of Life, Healthcare, assisted suicide, population control, prolife – 0 Comments

Pope Benedict Says Theology Gives Stability to Man

November 27, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI reflects on faith and reason at General Audience:

“How much would the world change if in families in parishes and in any community, relationships were modeled on the three divine Persons, who not only live with each other, but for and through one another.”

Also posted in Catholic Life, Catholic culture – 0 Comments

What a Great Week!

November 6, 2009

by Patrick Looby

In the same week that Pope Benedict XVI warned against the rise of relativism in modern culture, American Catholics have quite a few reasons to gain hope from several examples of the Pope’s words in action.

First, Tuesday’s Election

It cannot be denied that Tuesday was a sweeping victory for conservatism and traditional values. Maine defended marriage, VA and NJ elected what will hopefully turn out to be conservative and upstanding Governors (praying for ya, NJ!), PA elected several Pro-Life judges to their courts, and conservatives stood for principles over party and were able to get rid of some RINO baggage in NY-23 and send a message to the establishment that “Rs” will only get votes if they are also “Cs”

Second, Planned Parenthood Director Quits and Joins Pro-Life Group

By now you should all be aware of the fact that Abby Johnson, who was formerly a Director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in TX, resigned after a ‘change of heart’ and has now joined Coalition for Life!

Third, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters are FINALLY going to deal with Sr. Donna Quinn (AKA the “Abortion Nun”)

Several months ago, Sr. Donna Quinn of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters was caught volunteering as an escort for an abortion clinic. As you can imagine, this caused quite an uproar, but it seemed that her order was stalling any disciplinary action against her.

This week, it appears that stalling is over and the “Abortion Nun” is going to be dealt with appropriately. This appeared on the order’s website this week.

Several months ago, the leadership of the Sinsinawa Dominicans was informed that Sister Donna Quinn, OP, acted as a volunteer escort at a Chicago area clinic that among other procedures, performs abortions. After investigating the allegation, Congregation leaders have informed Sr. Donna that her actions are in violation of her profession as a Dominican religious. They regret that her actions have created controversy and resulted in public scandal. They are working with Sr. Donna to resolve the matter appropriately.

Congregation leaders offer the following statement on behalf of members of the Congregation. We as Sinsinawa Dominican women are called to proclaim the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching to participate in the building of a holy and just society. As Dominican religious, we fully support the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the dignity and value of every human life from conception to natural death. We believe that abortion is an act of violence that destroys the life of the unborn. We do not engage in activity that witnesses to support of abortion.

Fourth, Rep. Patrick Kennedy Gets Put in His Place By Bishop Tobin

While NY-23 was taking care of RINOs, Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin was taking care of CINOs. After requesting a meeting with Rep. Patrick Kennedy over his ridiculous tirade against Bishops who dared to voice objections to the public funding of prenatal murder, Bishop Tobin gave an interview to the Providence Journal and very clearly drew his line in the sand…

“…if someone is clearly and consistently and obstinately opposed to the church on something as serious as abortion — which again is a grave and intrinsic evil — then they really have to question their membership in the church and their participation in the life of the church.”

Weekly Scorecard:

Traditional Values – 4

Relativism – 0

Also posted in Catholic Life, Catholic Moment, Catholic Politicians, Catholic culture, activism, bishops, planned parenthood, prolife – 0 Comments

Pope Says Catholics Should Use New Media To Promote Gospel

November 2, 2009

St. Michael Society was established just this past September to build a community of Catholics in order to utilize the new media to promote and defend the faith in the public square. Just last week, Pope Benedict encouraged the use of new media to spread the Gospel.

http://bit.ly/26QEf9

Also posted in Catholic Life, Catholic culture – 0 Comments

Pope Will Visit the Shroud of Turin

October 30, 2009

From April 2, 2010 to May 23, 2010 the Shroud of Turin will once again go on public display. It is the first time the burial cloth showing the image of a crucified man has been on display since it underwent an intensive restoration processes in 2002. It is expected that hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will make the trip to catch a brief glimpse of the shroud and on May 2 Pope Benedict XVI will be one of them.

The Shroud of Turin is an amazing piece of history that for believers presents to us the image of the crucified Christ. Doubters in the Shroud’s authenticity have called for intensive scientific research to verify the claim that it is actually the image of Jesus. This has been allowed and the result after hundreds of thousands of hours of scientific testing is that there is no good explanation for how the image could appear on the Shroud by an artist or forgerer. In fact, some very peculiar findings add credibility to the belief that it actually is the burial cloth of Christ, and that the image (much like the image of our Lady of Guadalupe) appears on the cloth because of a miracle.

Like the many Eucharistic miracles, the incorruptible Saints, and the image our Our Lady, the Shroud has inspired many Christians to confront the reality of the Gospel and has strengthened the faith of those who look upon it with faith.

For more information on the shroud and the scientific research that has been done, you can visit the the Archdiocese of Turin website, or the website of the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association.

- Patrick Looby

Also posted in Catholic Life, Catholic Moment, Catholic culture – 0 Comments

Clearing Up Myths About Anglicans Joining Catholics

October 28, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement that he has approved an Apostolic Constitution, which will allow Anglicans to join the Catholic Church while mainting many of their distinctive traditions, has created controversy and encouraged political debate throughout the world.

While such a move has been in discussion since 2007, Pope Benedict’s announcement shocked and rocked many and has lead to numerous myths and misnomers. Catholic Online has a terrific article today clearing up the top five myths and setting the record straight.

http://bit.ly/1esQvV

Also posted in Catholic Life, Ecumenism – 0 Comments