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

LITTLE NOTES
November 2002

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The complaint states that after the sterilization surgery, Nishiyama "began experiencing abdominal pain which intensified causing her to report to Sharp Memorial Hospital with excruciating pain." The following day, April 14, 2001, Nishiyama "underwent an emergency operation to repair a perforated bowel."

The lawsuit further alleges that as a result of Sheehan's and Planned Parenthood's negligence, Nishiyama "was hurt and injured in her health, strength, and activity, sustaining injury to her nervous system and person, with near fatal consequences...."

Among unspecified damages are being sought for sums for "medical and related expenses" and "loss of earnings and future earnings." Sheehan and PP contend that "any injury to Plaintiff is a result of the risk of the medical procedure." Trial is scheduled for February, 2003.


OCTOBER 3 NOTE from local prolife leader, Cheryl Sullenger: "You make be aware that a few years ago Planned Parenthood sued several of us (including Sylvia Sullivan, Ron Brock, Troy Newman, Ken & Jo Scott, and me) for simply picketing their Mission Valley abortion mill. Ron and I were represented by the United States Justice Foundation's Richard Ackerman in a case so full of PP lies and distortions that it is hard even now to believe.

"Just yesterday, here in San Diego Judge Kevin Enright ordered Rich and the USJF to pay $60,000 in attorney fees to Planned Parenthood attorney Jim McElroy for a tactical decision that was made on my behalf in 1999. PP had asked for the money against me, personally. That would have destroyed our family's finances. We would have been forced to sell our modest condo and give the proceeds to Planned Parenthood. Rich fought hard for me and won. Judge Enright ruled that I was not responsible to pay PP. Another attorney may have not fought so hard and my family would be facing financial ruin.

"Instead, the USJF is now suffering under this heavy financial penalty. Courageously, they have promised to fight on, but this is a heavy blow to their foundation.

"Rich has been in the national news quite a lot lately, boldly and courageously attacking Satan's strongholds. He exposed Planned Parenthood for illegal business practices after learning in our case that PP employed untrained, low-wage employees to assist in surgical procedures. As a result, one of PP's employees came forward and is now the plaintiff, represented by the USJF and Rich, suing PP for a litany of illegal practices, including the non-reporting statutory rape on minor girls as young as 12.

"It recently came to Rich's attention that Amazon.com is distributing a book that encourages the rape of minor boys by adult homosexual men. Rich decided to do something about it. He launched another public awareness campaign to pressure Amazon.com to take the book out of their inventory. When they refused, he filed criminal charges against Amazon for conspiring with the perverts to commit rape on minor boys.

"Rich has been interviewed on FOX's O'Rielly Factor a number of times. The efforts of Rich and the USJF have been the subject of several important news stories on World Net Daily. In fact, Rich has represented WND and won in a case where they were being denied media credentials by the liberal mainstream media who are obviously threatened by WND's conservative views.

"The USJF has represented me and other pro-lifers and religious conservatives for the better part of 20 years, most often without pay. If not for Gary Kreep, founder of the USJF, and Rich, pro-lifers here would have been beaten down and financially destroyed by the enemy long ago.

"I am asking you today to do what you can to encourage these men. They have sacrificed for conservative, Christian causes for over 2 decades (that I am personally aware of). Because of them, pro-lifers are free to save babies and expose evil in our community --and they are now taking the fight publicly to the nation.

"If you will also pray for them, it would be appreciated.

"Checks can be made payable to the United States Justice Foundation, 2091 E. Valley Parkway, Suite 1-D, Escondido, CA 92027. Tel: (760) 741-8086. Fax: (760) 741-9548, www.usjf.net."


THE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE reported on October 8th that the Vatican is drafting a document containing directives against ordaining homosexuals. The story reports that since it is the Church's position that homosexual orientation is objectively disordered, that such people should not be admitted to seminaries or ordained. The document, a collaboration between the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will take the form of directives or norms, to be used throughout the universal church.

Locally, at a June 17 press conference where Bishop Brom promised "a commitment to transparency and openness" in the diocese's handling of sexual abuse cases) diocesan chancellor Monsignor Steve Callahan refused to rule out the ordination of homosexuals. According to Callahan, the San Diego Diocese does not automatically exclude gays, since the concern during the screening process is "celibacy, not sexual orientation."


OCTOBER 10 NOTE FROM A LOCAL CORRESPONDENT: "A couple of weeks ago at the Saturday vigil Mass (Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy), Father Louie added these words to the prayer petitions: 'It's a mortal sin to vote for a candidate who supports abortion.' Father then put his mouth on the microphone and said louder, 'A MORTAL SIN!'"


A PLAY THAT RIDICULES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is being presented by St. John of the Cross parish in Lemon Grove as a fund-raiser. Late Nite Catechism is scheduled for two shows on October 19th at their parish hall. The production is an interactive play in which a "nun" leads the audience as a "class" that is quizzed on various aspects of the Baltimore Catechism; the nun distributes devotional trinkets as rewards for correct answers.

St. John of the Cross is not the only Catholic parish to present the play. An internet search revealed that Catholic and Lutheran parishes throughout the country have offered the production to their parishioners with the apparent blessings of their pastors and no intervention from their bishops. In November 2000, the play was presented at St. Bruno's parish in Whittier, where it apparently bombed when the audience realized just how hostile the play was to their Church. It was presented inside the church in front a prop screen that hid the tabernacle. Parishioner Rose Campobasso: "A lot of people were upset and asking real questions back. Although 300 attended, only about 100 bothered to applaud."

Among the "humorous lessons" are St. Veronica eating cat vomit before receiving the stigmata and an effeminate Jesus with a valley girl voice getting lost in the temple. Some of the "questions" posed to the audience include: "Should women become priests? No, they should just work on the altar and throw themselves off. Should priests be married? Well, if they love each other...."

At the Catholic League's New York offices, a man who asked not to be identified said that although the play is objectionable, they usually take a stand against attacks from outside the Catholic Church, and unfortunately, the play is shown in a number of Catholic parishes, making it an "internal matter" of the type they prefer to avoid. "We finally did come out against it when it began to play at Lutheran churches. We heard from quite a few members about this play being performed at local parishes. I would question whether this is appropriate to be played inside of a Catholic church. Not to minimize the objections, I think it's a matter to take up with the pastor, since he's the one allowing it. If he's not responsive, then let the bishop know."

St. John of the Cross' pastor, Father Ned Brockhaus, sounded shocked when told that the play would be inappropriate. "I haven't seen the play or read the script. We put it in the Southern Cross, and they haven't said anything. All the Catholics I've talked to liked it, and that's the reason why we're doing it, because they thought it was a very enjoyable performance. We certainly wouldn't want to put anything on that was anti-Catholic. I'd like to see something where you can show me what they've written about the play. Can you send it to me? I'd appreciate getting something that tells me the other side."


"QUEERS AND CRUCIFIXES: Student Organizing in Religious High Schools" was one of the workshops held during the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network annual conference at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, October 4-6. GLSEN calls itself as "the leading national organization fighting to end anti-gay bias in K-12 schools."

A description of the workshop from the program stated, "Through the case study of one Catholic school's transformation, attendees will explore how the powerful combination of pragmatism and passion can lead to successful organizing in religious schools."

Derek Attig, a 2002 graduate of Jesuit-run Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington, conducted the workshop. During the session, Attig revealed how he orchestrated a "Day of Silence" observance at Bellarmine in March 2000. During this day, participants pledge to stay silent the entire day "to show solidarity with people who suffer from homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism."

During the workshop, Attig distributed copies of an article he wrote in March, 2001 for the Tacoma News Tribune that described how he and his friends implemented the Bellarmine event. They placed posters around the campus, and when Bellarmine administrators discovered the posters, they objected -- but, wrote Attig, "we were able to get past that by compromising [with school officials] -- no using the word 'transgendered', no participation if teachers objected."

A week before the day of silence, Attig found one of the posters taped to his locker with the words "BURN, FAGS, BURN" scrawled across it.

This incident, he wrote, "brought those already planning to participate closer and encouraged others to disavow the act by being more tolerant themselves. The outpouring of support from my classmates amazed me. I'm a gay, Jewish-raised atheist at a Catholic high school, so I never expect this much understanding."

Attig also offered these tips for bringing homosexuality into parochial schools:

-- Be aggressive, but not too aggressive: Make the topic of homosexuality one that school officials cannot afford to ignore, but do not scare them with it.

-- Be willing to initially de-sexualize the issue.

-- Use an event like the Day of Silence "to play to the dignity and worth of the human person" in order to acclimate the school to homosexual issues.

-- Make school officials "live up to the teachings of the religion."

-- With Catholicism, "make the lesson about oppression."


IN COOPERATION WITH the Escondido-based United States Justice Foundation a California pro-family attorney is sending a report to every school superintendent in the Golden State warning of the legal risks associated with legitimizing homosexual behavior in public schools.

Scott Lively, president and senior counsel for the Sacramento-based Pro-Family Law Center, has prepared the 15-page document.

The report begins: "Since the early 1990s, homosexual activist organizations have been working for greater access to public schools with the stated purpose of making them a safer place for young people who have become involved in homosexual behavior. In California this effort was made particularly obvious by the passage of Assembly Bill 537 in the state legislature."

In an October 2 interview on Crusade Radio, Lively discussed how the report gives parents, school authorities and others a basis for tort action: "Kids in schools trust adults to give them accurate information that they can make decisions and base their lives on. If they are persuaded to accept homosexuality and act on that because of what adults told them, and then they go out and contract AIDS and other STDs, that school official may very well be held liable for that action."

He added, "The schools do have a responsibility to protect all the kids from genuinely abusive treatment by others, by their peers and teachers. That is already established in the law, and that is appropriate. But the idea that kids can only be safe if they're pro-gay is absolute lunacy. The opposite is true: The more that kids are told that homosexuality is good and normal, the more likely they are to engage in behaviors that are deadly."

The report can be requested by calling the Pro-Family Law Center at (916) 676-1057 or the United States Justice Foundation at (760) 741-8086.


IN AN OCTOBER 12 NOTE from one of News Notes' correspondents: "I was channel surfing yesterday and happened across a show on the Home & Garden Channel (HGTV) titled 'Extreme Homes.' The teaser mentioned an unusual La Jolla home belonging to a local doctor. I wondered if it was anyone I knew and, lo and behold, the 'Poppy House,' as they called it, belonged to Dr. Samuel Yen. I doubt if many recognize this man's name although his contributions to the field of endocrinology have meant a devastating loss of life.

"In 1985, Dr. Yen led a team of UCSD research scientists in the first-ever US field tests on an obscure drug called RU-486. Today, Dr. Yen enjoys his unusual home located in a La Jolla cul de sac, which features a concrete retaining wall across the front of the house 'to prevent run-away cars from crashing into the house,' according to the show's narrator. (As if that is an everyday occurrence! Maybe Dr. Yen's conscience is bothering him.) He mentioned in the TV piece that he tries to cherish the life he has. It's too bad that Dr. Yen did not cherish the lives of the pre-born that his research helped to murder."


THE DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO held its third Culture of Life Fair at the Diocesan Pastoral Center on October 8. It was attended by approximately 185 people. Among the attendees were several clergy including Father Michael Ratajczak, Father Ben Davison, Father William Springer, and Father Cavana Wallace. Bishop Cordileone said the opening prayer.

Ray Flynn, former mayor of Boston, ambassador to the Vatican, (1993-1997), author and current Catholic radio talk-show host, gave the keynote talk Questions were directed to Mr. Flynn afterwards. One attendee asked him if he thought the bishops should speak out more on pro-life issues; Flynn said he wished they would, but he discovered long ago that he couldn't wait for them. About the war with Iraq, Flynn said he agreed with President Bush and did not quite agree with the Vatican, which had the day before put forth a statement saying the U.S. should have consensus from the United Nations before proceeding.

Approximately 12 life ministries filled booths surrounding the main speaking area, among which were Courage, Rachel's Hope, California People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, and Silent Voices.

Workshops that were held after Flynn's talk included Stem Cells & Human Cloning. How? Why? Why not?; Disability Programs in the Diocese of San Diego; Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Working for Worker Justice; Life Options, Ministry with Pregnancy Care Centers; Working Together: Families Strengthening Communities.

One well-attended workshop was Homosexuality: Ministry in Times of Conflict, with approximately 26 attending, including Bishop Cordileone and three other clergy. The presenter, Ron Belgau, is the educational director for Courage Seattle and has spoken throughout the archdiocese of Seattle on sexual ethics. His presentation was based on the Four Levels of Happiness, a pro-life educational model developed by the Center for Life Principles and Gonzaga University's president, Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J. Audience participation ensued with comments and questions from Bishop Cordileone, Father Michael Ratajczak, Kent Peters, (Office of Social Ministry), and Father Cavana Wallace, who pointed out the importance of proper association and staying away from the near occasion of sin.


IT WAS A 10 A.M. SUNDAY MASS like any other at Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Point Loma, except that on that Sunday, October 6, when it was time for the homily, Father Gary Holtey, pastor, introduced a laywoman who spoke against the death penalty. Ann Baker, a member of Queen of Angels Church in Alpine, is affiliated with California People of Faith Working against the Death Penalty. According to a Saint Charles Borromeo parishioner, Father Holtey spoke about three minutes, mentioning Pope John Paul II's opposition to the death penalty. Baker, said the parishioner, gave "spoke close to 20 minutes." Another California People of Faith member, Tim Spann, told a News Notes reporter, "I've spoken to eight Catholic churches [in the San Diego diocese]. I gave the homily in Spring Valley last November; in fact I've spoken there twice now."

Baker, reported the Saint Charles parishioner, read her entire presentation and "said that Mexico, Canada and 'all of Europe' had banned the death penalty. The United States, on the other hand, along with countries like Syria, Libya, some of the African countries, China, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia still have the death penalty. She referred to Jesus as 'Jesus the Prophet.' She didn't mention anything about abortion. I don't think it registered very well at Saint Charles. I think it's funny that this woman had the audacity to go into a predominantly military parish and compare the U.S. to China, Libya, Syria and Sudan right after 9-11."

Father Holtey has been at St. Charles Borromeo approximately one year. The parishioner, who has been a regular Mass attendee there during this time, did not object to the death penalty being addressed but found it paradoxical that Father Holtey would focus more attention on the death penalty than he would on abortion.

In a November 12, 2000 interview, Spann explained that California People of Faith "formed about a year and a half ago and is divided into six regions." In an interview with the North County Times (October 15, 2000), diocesan Office for Social Ministry director Kent Peters explained that his office created the interfaith San Diego chapter of this group. Peters organized a California People of Faith meeting with pro-abortion Congressman Bob Filner at Our Lady of Peace Academy on August 5, 2000. The North County Times article also mentioned that the San Diego CPF chapter was slated to meet at Saint Brigid's Parish in Pacific Beach on October 15, 2000 with Father Gerald Coleman, president and rector of St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park. Father Coleman is known for his obfuscation of the Church's teachings on homosexuality.

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