2002 Little Notes
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Contents © 2002
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

JANUARY 2002 LITTLE NOTES

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Father Nabil Mouannes, St. Ephrem's pastor says that constructing the shrine has been a priority of the parish since its founding 12 years ago. "The more we live in our society, the more we understand the message of life. It's not something new in the Christian Faith. In the Didache, there is the battle of death and life. That's why our pope has made the culture of life and the culture of death such strong themes in his teaching." For more information, contact St. Ephrem's Church, 750 Medford St., El Cajon, CA 92020, phone 619-697-3040.


A NOVEMBER 18 OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY parish bulletin warned of three local churches that were seemingly Catholic, but were not Roman Catholic: Good Samaritan in National City, Mission Santa Maria del Mar in Christ Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach, and Mission San Pablo at Clairemont Lutheran in Clairemont.

When I called the Good Samaritan church and asked what kind of a church it was, the male voice asked if I wanted a wedding or a baptism? I asked again what kind of a church and he finally said they were a Catholic church of the Eastern rite. When asked which Eastern rite, he asked me again if I wanted a wedding or a baptism? I had to ask again which rite and he replied Syrian. I commented that he sounded very American and he replied that there are "many of us in the States." When asked what his background was and where he went to school, he hung up on me.

When I called the Clairemont Lutheran church to inquire how the rumor started that this Spanish ministry was a Catholic church, the lady who answered the phone told me that when the Hispanic folks come to church, they are Catholic. "Gradually," she said, "they become indoctrinated, and they become Lutherans, because we're so close to Catholics." Candace, at Christ Lutheran in Pacific Beach explained the situation in much the same way and noted that this started about five years ago.

According to Father Auther at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Barrio Logan, he's had twenty to thirty people tell him that when they were in these two churches, San Pablo and Maria del Mar, they would ask, is this a Catholic church? Fr. Auther said "they would get an explanation of the Nicene Creed, [with the words] one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. They would be told that we are Catholic because we accept the word catolica." Fr. Auther has had hundreds of kids come through Our Lady of Guadalupe with invalid sacraments. The day we spoke, he was saying a marriage Mass for a couple who were scheduled to be married at one of these other churches and they came to him, wanting a "real" Catholic wedding, even though everything was arranged at the other church.

Father Auther has spoken with both the Lutheran pastors, the English and the Spanish-speaking pastors, and both agree it is not good for Catholic kids to think that they are receiving Catholic sacraments from a Lutheran church. The Spanish pastor seemed to think it was a problem of communication.

On December 6 Father Auther wrote a letter to the parents of Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioners, advising them that Good Samaritan, Mission Santa Maria del Mar, and Mission San Pablo are not Catholic churches. The diocese has been advised of the problem. In the meantime, according to Fr. Auther, one of the mothers from Our Lady of Guadalupe was handing out flyers which explained the confusion at one of the Mission churches and was told to get off the property. Our Lady of Guadalupe is hearing daily from people who want to reschedule their wedding from one of these non-Catholic churches.


EXCERPTS OF LETTER from Allyson Smith to Alice Hayes, president of USD:

"I would like to tell you about my experience attending the "gay parenting" panel at the University Center on Wednesday night, November 14.

"As you probably know, on Wednesday afternoon I called your office and spoke with Maureen. I told her I would be attending the panel and suggested your office send someone to do the same. I also sent you extensive documentation from recent issues of San Diego News Notes detailing the ongoing problem with homosexual promotion on USD's campus.

"When I arrived at Room 107 of the University Center that evening, I noticed that the school did in fact send someone in to oversee the panel: an armed security guard. I did not see any priests or other professors. Approximately 10 students attended the panel which was led by two homosexual women. One, Becky Berkeley, is a documentary maker who has produced a film about women of color and gay parenting; during the session, USD Pride president Melissa Espinal said she has purchased the film. The other woman, Ida Macias, is a mother of one son who admitted to the group that she has been in a homosexual relationship for 14 years. In introducing the two women, Espinal said nothing about Church teaching that expressly prohibits homosexual activity.

"Macias said that she and her partner had gotten together when her son was eight years old and that he is now a 22-year-old undergraduate at UC Davis. She talked about the problems and "anxiety" her son had experienced while he was growing up introducing his two "moms" and how other children challenged him about his home life. She also said that she had been raised Catholic, that her partner is Jewish, and that she raised her son Catholic. "At that point, when she talked about her Catholic upbringing, I asked her how she could reconcile her "lifestyle" with the Church's clear teaching against homosexual activity. Macias and other students in the room replied that one of the great things about the Catholic Church's teaching is that it changes over time. I corrected this statement, telling the group that the Church does not change her teaching and never has, and that illicit sexual relationships, be they homosexual or heterosexual, are strictly forbidden. The only context in which sex is permitted is that of monogamous, heterosexual marriage.

"Macias then said that no matter what we do, she likes to think that we can never be separated from the love of God. Again, this was an erroneous statement that I corrected by telling her that we can indeed be separated from the love of God by mortal sin.

"Another boy in the group said 'I was born gay.' I told him he was not born gay; he only thinks he was. (As you are undoubtedly aware, homosexuality as a biologically inherited trait has never been scientifically proven.) I also quoted scripture from the book of Genesis saying 'Male and female He created them and told them to be fruitful and multiply.'

"The students did not enjoy hearing these truths. Espinal interrupted me saying words to the effect that this was not a session where we want to start an argument, and other student, Travis Vowles, who was last year's Pride president, jumped in and told me the session was 'confidential' and that I could not take any notes about it. He also interrogated me as to what business I had being there. As a faithful practicing Catholic of the San Diego diocese who puts my money in the parish collection plate each Sunday -- and in doing so helps finance the university -- I have every right to be there and to know what's going on.

"I did not say any of these things in anger to the group. I simply and firmly told them the truth -- something I got the impression they have not heard very often, if ever, at USD.

"The security guard then asked me to step outside the room, which I willingly did. Like Vowles, she tried to tell me that the session was confidential. I then explained to her that it could not be that confidential, for Espinal had advertised it to the community at large on the San Diego Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered mailing list in addition to the university Pride mailing list. After that, I was allowed back into the session as long as I did not take notes, with which request I cooperated. After the session, Vowles 'apologized' for having to kick me out but then reiterated that the session was 'confidential.' Dr. Hayes, I have one question: If these students welcome 'diversity' and are so 'proud' of what they are doing, why are they so concerned about hiding their activities and squelching any dissenting opinion or the truth simply because they don't enjoy hearing it? As you know, because I informed you, Vowles changed the mailing list on Wednesday to 'increase confidentiality.'

"When I left, it happened that I walked out behind Berkeley and Macias. I rebuked them for coming into a school and screwing up kids' heads, and I told Macias that although she tried to blame her son's childhood anxiety on 'other people's homophobia,' the truth is that her unnatural and sinful relationship is the cause of his trauma. I also told her she needs to go to Confession and repent of her sinful 'lifestyle.'

"Dr. Hayes, I should not have had to be the person to tell the students and the two homosexual women the truth. Indeed, I should never have had to go to USD in the first place to attend a 'gay parenting panel' in which students were fed nothing but lies in direct contradiction to Magisterial teaching. Least of all should an armed security guard have been sent to the session to monitor the proceedings; rather, someone from your staff should have been there to see firsthand how Catholic teaching is disregarded at USD."


FROM THE NOVEMBER 15 REPLY of Alice Hayes to Smith: "Dear Allyson: I have received your recent messages and your expression of concern about the University of San Diego's gay and lesbian students. The University of San Diego does not promote homosexual activity, and has made a specific point of recognition of Catholic teaching in its non-discrimination policy statement. We recognize the presence of gay and lesbian members in our community, and respect the dignity of every individual. Student organizations are not given formal approval or recognition by the university and their activities are not sponsored by the university. These organizations are allowed to exist on campus, as required by law, as long as the organization agrees that it will respect Catholic teaching.

"We do not require that all members of the university community profess and practice the Catholic faith. The university supports the Catholic teachings and guidelines established for the Diocese of San Diego by the Office for Social Ministries. The diocesan mission statement provides this guidance: 'The Catholic community of San Diego is mindful of the painful misunderstandings of the past and the resulting fears and alienation. Filled with the love of God, and in a spirit of reconciliation, the Church now extends a special welcome to our brothers and sisters who are homosexual. We recognize that homosexual people often experience ridicule, prejudice, and discrimination, and are consciously aware of their special needs for pastoral ministry. With this in mind, we seek to fully embrace them with the love of Christ as brothers and sisters in the risen Lord....'"


FROM THE REPUBLICANS FOR CHOICE website on December 3:

"Thanks To Duke Cunningham. A couple of years ago, RFCers, Jinx Ecke, Darlee Crockett and Anne Patton took Duke Cunningham on a tour of our Escondido clinic. That tour changed Cunningham's attitude toward Planned Parenthood. Although he remains staunchly opposed to abortion, Cunningham supports family planning and other health care services our clinics provide to low income men and women.

"Despite vociferous criticism from the religious right wing of the GOP, he has twice defended Planned Parenthood. The latest instance relates to a very divisive amendment to an appropriations bill. The Vitter amendment called for banning Title X funds to any family planning organization that either counseled or performed abortions (with their own money). After Vitter introduced his amendment in the Appropriations Committee, Cunningham told the Committee that he used to think Planned Parenthood was akin to 'Al Qaeda' but after visiting a clinic had changed his mind. He went on to describe the many excellent services we provide other than abortion. The short of the story is that Cunningham said the amendment was a bad idea, and Vitter withdrew it. Thank you, Duke! (Vitter says he will try again next year).

"This is a wonderful example of what can happen when we establish and cultivate relationships with GOP legislators even if they are not pro choice."


ON NOVEMBER 14 THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION approved a resolution to condemn state superintendent of public instruction Delaine Eastin for remarks she had made comparing board member Susen Fay to a terrorist because of her religious faith and patriotism. The resolution to condemn Eastin was introduced by Fay's fellow board member, Jim Kelly, after he received a letter from Eastin where she refused, in writing, to apologize to Fay.

The dispute began in October when Eastin came to San Diego to kick off Susan Hartley's campaign to oust Fay from the fifth district seat in March. In an October 9 story titled "Board of Education race gains challenger," Eastin is quoted as saying: "I know what happens when extremist elements wrap themselves in the flag, yes, and in the Bible, and try to tell us that God's on their side. So did those people that flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon."


HOPING TO "RESTORE COURTESY TO SOCIETY," Dr. John Barger, publisher of Sophia Institute Press, has formed a new Apostolate of Kindness. The apostolate will bring, says Barger, "a renewed awareness of the value of each human soul," and thus be "a small fulfillment of Pope John Paul's call for the re-evangelization of the Western world."

The Apostolate of Kindness distributes cards printed with the "Kindness Pledge" giving six principles of action for apostles of kindness. The Kindness Pledge, said Barger, reads as follows: "I resolve to speak kindly of someone at least once a day, to think kindly about someone at least once a day and to act kindly toward someone at least once a day. Also, I resolve to avoid speaking unkindly of anyone, to avoid speaking unkindly to anyone and to avoid acting unkindly toward anyone." For free copies of the card, call Sophia Institute Press at 800-888-9344 or write P.O. Box 5284, Manchester, New Hampshire 03108.

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