LITTLE NOTES

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Contents © 2004
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

LITTLE NOTES
February 2004

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Spieler pointed out that the church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents that day. "This is our parish, not a diocesan thing," he added. "We're not wanting this to be a big thing, but it is open to Catholics who want to come."

Jaime Romo, San Diego coordinator of a national group, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, applauded the idea, saying that "many victims have not been able to return to the church of their childhood because of the trauma they suffered."

This kind of outreach "is a beginning," Romo said. "For me, it is healing in just the idea that others have initiated this," Romo said.


WAS BISHOP MAHER AHEAD OF HIS TIME? Almost 15 years after San Diego Bishop Leo T. Maher's denial of Holy Communion to then Assemblywoman Lucy Killea for her pro-abortion stance, another bishop has followed suit. Archbishop Raymond Burke of La Crosse, Wisconsin, formally notified Catholic lawmakers in his diocese that they will no longer be able to receive Communion if they continue to support abortion and euthanasia. The notice was published in La Crosse's diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Times, along with a 10 page pastoral letter to all Catholics in his diocese on their political responsibility to protect human life.

Archbishop Burke was appointed as the new Archbishop of St. Louis December 2nd and took office on January 26th, but the notice carries full canonical authority as it was signed November 23rd last year. The notice follows private letters sent by Burke to three Catholic politicians, inviting them to discuss their voting records in private with him and warning them of the spiritual dangers of not supporting human life. Burke later said publicly that "The notification became a necessity in order that the faithful in the diocese not be scandalized, thinking that it is acceptable for a devout Catholic to also be pro-abortion."

His remarks sounded remarkably similar to the statement Bishop Maher made in December of 1989, "To be Catholic and pro-choice is an oxymoron."


PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA has just released its 2002-2003 Annual Report. The report shows that Planned Parenthood continues on its agenda of killing more babies -- 227,385 in 2002, and making huge profits -- $36.6 million last year. At a time when the total number of abortions is decreasing in the United States, Planned Parenthood did 6.7% more abortions last year and increased its profits by a disgraceful 300%.

"Planned Parenthood did 115 abortions for every adoption referral to an outside agency and 14 abortions for each prenatal care client," said Ed Szymkowiak of the American Life League.


UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO'S NEW PRESIDENT, Dr. Mary E. Lyons was inaugurated during a ceremony at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Sunday afternoon, November 16. Approximately 350 people attended the 90-minute ceremony which was followed by a lavish reception in the I. B. Eagen Plaza.

As Lyons' installation got underway, the lay group Catholic Crusaders, accompanied by an Eastern rite priest, prayed the Rosary at the main entrance on Linda Vista Road holding signs that said, "USD = University of Sodomy and Dissent" and "Gay Activists on Campus; Shame on USD." Another sign asked Lyons to return the University to its Catholic roots.

During the post-installation reception in I.B. Eagen Plaza, News Notes reporter Allyson Smith congratulated Dr. Lyons on her new post, and then asked, "What will you do to correct the perception that this is an authentically Roman Catholic university when it does such things as have gay groups on campus?

Lyons responded, "The Church is very clear about the fact that there are men and women who are gay and who are lesbian."

Smith: "The Church teaches that it's an intrinsic disorder."

Lyons: "Yes, but even if you consider that, we don't turn away and we embrace with love and charity all those who might have any kind of ... even if you think that it's a disorder.... Somebody who walks through our gates that has some difficulty, we would give them support. We have support for all our students, and I think the thing is to help our students understand that they're part of God's family, and we would help them live as good Christian men and women. That's the important thing."

Smith: "I understand that, and I hope that you'll do that according to Church teaching...."

Lyons: "Absolutely..."

Smith: "... and put an end to the Pride clubs that are on campus. I'd rather support people in their dignity by turning them away from [homosexuality] than by promoting it."

Lyons: "That's the point of this, that we have a good dialogue, a good debate, and that we let these students and faculty and staff explore how they can live authentic Catholic lives, if they're Catholic, but at the same time, not feel that they're put on the margins and to feel like they're shunned. Jesus taught us, He went to lepers and all the people of his day. Mary Magdalene the prostitute was a friend to Jesus, and that's what we want, to make sure we embrace all of our brothers and sisters."


CATHOLIC SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERVISOR, Ron Roberts, was among those who gave "greetings" to new USD president Mary E. Lyons during her installation ceremony at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Sunday, November 16. He shared the stage with other luminaries, including Bishop Robert Brom. Given Roberts' counter-church public stand on some moral issues, it seems fitting he would speak at the dissent-ridden university.

A few instances: he was one of four county supervisors who voted in April 2002 to adopt an ordinance banning free speech rights in residential neighborhoods within 300 feet of targeted houses, effectively silencing pro-life pickets of abortionists' homes. Later that year, Roberts attended Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties' annual Margaret Sanger Party. In 2000, Roberts opposed Proposition 22 limiting the definition of marriage to one man and one woman even though the measure was supported by the California Catholic Bishops and passed overwhelmingly by the state's voters. According to PlanetOut.com, a homosexual online news service, Roberts said, "This initiative is on the ballot simply to divide our community. We already have laws in the books to do essentially what this initiative is supposed to do.... Let's end these very divisive wedge issues as part of the way we do business in California."


JOHN GIERY OF CATHOLIC CRUSADERS, the group which picketed Dr. Mary Lyons inauguration as president of the University of San Diego, sent her an open letter four days later. Below is a shortened version.

"Dear Doctor Lyons, November 16th marked the third protest by the Catholic Crusaders at the University of San Diego since July of this year. In the event you have missed these protests, I am writing to inform you why they were started and will continue on a regular basis. We are members of the Catholic community here in San Diego who oppose the presence of anti-Catholic groups on the USD campus, while the USD Administration and Board of Trustees continue to promote USD as a 'Catholic' University.

"Our message is directed to parents and those who support USD to alert them to what is being promoted on campus. It is obvious that as the new university president, you had nothing to do with the fostering of anti-Catholic groups on campus. However, the continued presence of such groups on campus would seem to indicate administration approval of their message.

"The USD website indicates undergraduate students can expect to spend $37,000 per year for the privilege of attending USD. As a Catholic parent, I ask you Dr. Lyons, do you think I want my children exposed to a "Catholic" University that allows a day of silence to be promoted for the homosexual movement, a 'coming out week' so innocent young minds can be exposed to the homosexual lifestyle, gay and lesbian awareness month, homosexual theology professors, and others in a teaching capacity who promote the homosexual movement? I assure you, I do not. And I assure you every Catholic and non-Catholic parent I have talked to in the past year does not. In fact they are horrified such things can occur on a Catholic campus.

"Dr. Lyons, I do hope you can sense how important our message is and how serious we are in our effort to promote it. Helping to save souls is the greatest act of love and charity any Catholic can perform, while leading a person into error or sin is the greatest evil. Wouldn't you agree? I ask of you Dr. Lyons, promote the Catholic faith at USD and help these young students to learn it and become holy Catholics, so that you too will grow in holiness, as all of us must."


MEMBERS OF THE SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS gathered outside the Diocesan Chancery Office on December 22, of last year carrying signs bearing the names of priests they accused of abuse. "The idea," says Jaime Romo, who heads the network's San Diego chapter, "was to call attention to the fact that a December 31, 2003 deadline was approaching to file cases against these men."

Cases were filed against seven men named that day. Their names can be found on the Survivors Network website, sandiegosnap.org.

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