Catholic Truth Satirical, serious, Keeping the Faith. Telling the Truth. straight- talking www.catholictruthscotland.com Pro-Abortion Nicola Sturgeon Invited To Give Lecture On Catholic Education

Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland

As the proud pro-abortion, pro-LGBT rights leader of a country with, as I keep reminding everyone, the values of a progressive, liberal democracy, I’m stunned delighted to be asked to mark the Centenary of the Catholic Education Scotland Act 1918 and the partnership between the Catholic Church and the State in Scotland in the provision of education to our young people in Catholic schools.

And this partnership is working very successfully, with Catholic schools in Scotland now providing safe spaces for LGBT pupils. Of course, we’ve a way to go. I believe Catholic schools in England are now allowing gender neutral uniforms, with one pupil making “their” First Communion in a white trouser suit because that child now wishes to identify as a boy. I’ve not heard of any similar cases in Scotland but maybe Scottish Catholic schools will, er, follow suit, to so speak, soon, not to fall behind in the progressive, liberal stakes.

See p.12, column 2 for the rest of that part of Ms Sturgeon’s talk, leaked to Catholic Truth… Contents include… Page The Dignity of the Priesthood… Excellence & Importance of the Office of Preaching 3 Writings of St John Eudes

The Dictator Pope 4 Robert Royal

Youth Synod To Dispense With Sin 5 Saint John Eudes: 1601-1680 Christopher Ferrara

Vatican Approval for “Gay Unions” - A Prediction For 2018 6 Michael Matt

From Satanism To Sanctity: The Story of Bartolo Longo 7 Raymond O’Leary

Letters 8

Dissenters Cause Doubts - On Absolution… 9 Staff Reporter

Education - Thinking Through Catholic Truth 10

News Round-Up 11 Canonized 1925… Feast Day 19 August Feature Letter on Catholic schools 14 “Disappointed” Parent

Editorial 16 Qualities Of A Holy Priest St John Eudes The most evident mark of God’s anger and the unceasingly: “Return, O ye revolting children… is appointed to rule by the maxims and laws of most terrible castigation He can inflict upon and I will give you pastors according to my own the gospel as many kings and queens as there the world are manifested when He permits His heart.” (Jer.3:14-15) Thus, irregularities in the are Christians committed to his care. His duty people to fall into the hands of clergy who are lives of priests constitute a scourge visited upon is to make them worthy to possess in eternity priests more in name than in deed, priests who the people in consequence of sin. the very kingdom of the Sovereign Monarch of practice the cruelty of ravening wolves rather the world. On the other hand, the greatest effect of God’s than the charity and affection of devoted mercy, the most precious grace He bestows The priest is an evangelist and an apostle whose shepherds. Instead of nourishing those upon mankind, is to send worthy priests, men chief work is to preach publicly and privately, committed to their care, they rend and devour after His own heart, seeking only His glory and by word and example, the Gospel of Jesus them brutally. Instead of leading their people the salvation of souls. The greatest blessing that Christ; to continue and perpetuate the functions to God, they drag Christian souls into hell in God bestows upon a church, the most signal that the apostles were commissioned to perform their train. Instead of being the salt of the earth, manifestation of divine grace, is to have a and to practise the virtues that they practised… and the light of the world, they are its saintly shepherd, be he bishop or priest. This is He is the light of those who sit in darkness and innocuous poison and its murky darkness. indeed the grace of graces and the most priceless in the shadow of death. He is the destroyer of St. Gregory the Great says that priests and of all gifts for it includes within itself every error, schisms and heresies, the converter of pastors will stand condemned before God as other blessing and grace. What is a priest after sinners, the sanctifier of the just, the strength the murderers of any souls lost through neglect God’s heart? He is an inestimable treasure of the weak, the consolation of the afflicted, the or silence.1 Elsewhere, St Gregory asserts that containing an immensity of good things. treasure of the poor. He is the confusion of hell, the glory of heaven, the terror of demons, the nothing more angers God than to see those Above all else, the priest is the father, the joy of angels, the ruin of Satan’s kingdom, the whom He set aside for the correction of others, advocate, the protector and defender of the poor, establishment of Christ’s empire, the ornament given bad example by a wicked and depraved widows, orphans and strangers. He is the refuge of the Church, the crown of the Supreme life.2 Instead of preventing offences against of the afflicted, of the desolate and the Shepherd. His Majesty, such priests become themselves discouraged. He is happy to visit and console the first to persecute Him, they lose their zeal the sorrowful, to bring them what assistance he In a word, the priest embodies a world of grace for the salvation of souls and think only of can, taking upon himself their burdens and and benediction for the entire Church, but following their inclinations. Their affections defending them against their oppressors. especially for that portion which God has called him to govern and guide. go no farther than earthly things, they eagerly He is a captain in the mighty army of God, bask in the empty praises of men, using their always ready to battle for the glory of God and Taken from Saint John Eudes: The Priest, His sacred ministry to serve their ambitions, they the defence of Holy Mother Church. He is ever abandon the things of God to devote Dignity And Obligations, Loreto Publications, prepared to lay siege to the world, the flesh and www.LoretoPubs.org themselves to the things of the world, and in the devil. For him the conquest of kingdoms their saintly calling of holiness, they spend means only the salvation of souls for each soul For more on St John’s teaching on the their time in profane and worldly pursuits. priesthood, all taken from the above book, see is a kingdom more precious than all the empires page 3 and page 13. When God permits such things, it is a very of the world. positive proof that He is thoroughly angry with Footnotes: The priest is a prince of the realm of God, one 1 His people, and is visiting His most dreadful of the kings of Christ’s empire, the Church. He Homil. 12 super Ezech. anger upon them. That is why He cries 2 Homil. 27 in Evang.

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 2 The Dignity Of The Priesthood St John Eudes The priesthood is under attack as never before, in our times. It is important, therefore, to remind ourselves of the centrality of the Catholic priesthood in God’s plan of salvation.

"You are a chosen generation, a kingly nobility for, as Christians and certainly though they had received Him personally. priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased much more as priests, you may be called "He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and people; that you may declare his virtues, in the words of St. Paul "the offspring of he that receiveth me, receiveth him that who hath called you out of darkness into God" (Acts 17, 29). You are children of God, sent me" (Matt. 10, 40). On the other hand, his marvellous light" (1 Pet. 2, 9). You are a His first-born sons. You are of the royal on judgment Day God will condemn and chosen generation, for the Saint of saints blood of Jesus, a part of His genealogy; punish those who refused to give ear to the has elected you to the holy office of the you are His brethren and members in a exponents of His doctrine, in a manner priesthood. degree much higher than any other more terrible than that experienced by the To you particularly He addresses these Christians. inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha: "It words: "But according to him that hath shall be more tolerable for the land of called you, who is holy, be you also in all Priests are elevated to Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of manner of conversation holy; because it is judgment" (Ibid. 15). written: 'You shall be holy, for I am holy"' (1 the highest dignity of Preaching is giving God's children the Pet. 1, 15-16). Heaven, second bread of life to nourish them in this vale of tears and to perfect in them the divine life You are clothed and adorned with a kingly only to the they received at baptism. "Lord, to whom priesthood. You are priests and kings as Blessed Virgin Mary shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal Jesus Christ Himself is the Supreme Priest life" (John 6, 69). and King. You are a purchased people in a very special significance. It is true that Our Preachers of the Gospel of Christ are Blessed Redeemer purchased all mankind You are clothed with the royal priesthood, incarnate angels of the Lord, messengers at the price of His Blood and that Almighty and your priesthood is one with His. Since of heaven, seraphim of the Church, heralds God gave Him to all nations. Nevertheless there is but one priesthood, unum est of the Blessed Trinity. Consequently, the Jesus acquired you in a particular manner sacerdotium, centred in Christ and priest always begins his discourse with the and so His Heavenly Father manifests a extended to all other priests, so there is but words: In the name of the Father and of the unique love for you. After the Blessed Virgin one priest, Jesus Christ. All other priests Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Mary you represent our Divine Saviour's are one with Him, united to Him according to His own prayer: "The glory which thou Priests are the veritable mouthpieces of the most glorious conquest. You are the most Eternal Father…They are active precious of all gifts that the Eternal Father has given me, I have given to them: that they may be one as we also are one: I in cooperators with God in the salvation of has bestowed upon His Only Son. You are souls. the first and most excellent fruit of His work, them, and thou in me; that they may be the worthiest price of His blood, His made perfect in one…”(John 17:22-23) Preaching is truly making God speak, who, principal portion. You embody His most having of old spoken by His prophets, and noble heritage from which are derived fruits in the New Law through His Divine Son, for the glory of God more acceptable than Excellence and now wishes to speak to His children from all His other possessions. through the living members of that same Son. The Son of God chose you, not only that Importance of The end and purpose of this heavenly you yourselves might serve and love Him, office is to form Christ in the hearts of the but also that you might make Him loved and the Office of faithful that He may reign there; to dispel served by others. He selected you that you the darkness of hell and illumine the light might announce to the world the virtues, of heaven in men's souls; to destroy sin and that is, the perfections and excellence, the Preaching open the floodgates of grace; to destroy mysteries and marvels of Him who "hath the tyranny of Satan on earth and re- called you out of darkness," from the establish the Kingdom of God. darkness of sin and hell, "into His THE PREACHER should keep constantly marvellous light." before him the realization of the Preaching aims to reconcile men with their importance and sublimity of his noble Maker, transforming them into His Jesus Christ, speaking of Himself, says, "I work…He should never forget that his children… In a word, it means perfecting here below that great work Christ came to am the light of the world" (John 8, 12). He office is higher than that of the Prophets of says also of priests, "You are the light of the Old Law, for the teachers of the Old came to effect, for He says to all preachers, "As the Father hath sent me, I also send the world" (Matt. 5, 14), and "to you it is given Testament taught only the letter and not to know the mystery of the kingdom of God" the spirit, while the exponent of the Gospel you" (John 20, 21). (Mark 4, 11) and to make it known to other of Christ breathes the very spirit of God if So noble and great is this holy duty that it men. To you has been opened the treasury his hearers will open their minds and their should be carried out with the greatest of wisdom and grace that you may be hearts. exactitude, inspired by the holiest of dispensers of these gifts. The work of preaching is a labour shared dispositions and intentions. Preachers with the great saints of the New Law, should unite themselves to the prophets, You are persons elevated by the infinite namely the apostles and disciples of Our the apostles and all the saints in heaven in goodness of God to the highest dignity of Lord Jesus Christ. order to learn to imitate them and practise heaven and earth,second only to the divine The preacher should bear in mind that the their virtues. motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. office of preaching is so lofty in character and so pleasing to God that Our Blessed To read St John Eudes’ advice on You are the noblest personages in God's Lord promised that He would reward and “Delivery of The Sermon & Faults To Be house. You are clothed with genuine love those who received His ministers, as Avoided In Preaching”, see p.13.

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 3 The Dictator Pope “This is an all too brief account of a remarkable new book on the pope, which is making waves in Rome and around the world…” Robert Royal American spellings prevail Taken From The Catholic Thing, 6/12/17 - www.thecatholicthing.org Kindle edition of the book available to purchase on Amazon, £7.12

The title above is the name of a book that and oversight. A series of Vatican Bank Marx was expressing the truth when he appeared Monday [4/12/17] in English (af- presidents, officials, accountants, etc. – said, at the end of the synods, that it was ter earlier publication in Italian) by a writer probably getting too close to the truth – just the beginning. who has assumed a grand Renaissance have been fired without good explana- pseudonym: Marcantonio Colonna (an ad- tions. (Something similar played out in the The least satisfactory part of this book for miral at Lepanto). He evidently could not Knights of Malta controversy.) Pell had to me is the account of how the “St. Gallen publish under his real name, for fear of return to Australia to deal with sexual Group” - one of its own members called it reprisals. But the case he lays out is large- abuse charges from forty years ago that, a “mafia” - which met to plan opposition to ly convincing: that Pope Francis has care- suspiciously, resurfaced after being earlier [Pope John Paul II] and Joseph Ratzinger, fully cultivated an image in public as the examined and dismissed. identified Jorge Bergoglio as a future pa- apostle of mercy, kindness, and open- pal candidate. He had no global visibility ness; in private, he’s authoritarian, given And where was the pope during all of this? until he gave the concluding address at to profanity-laced outbursts of anger, and He didn’t seem very interested. If he had the 2001 Synod on the role of bishops. manipulative in pursuing his agenda. been, he’d be at least as dogged in deal- NYC’s Cardinal Edward Egan was sup- ing with financial reform as he is, say, This is hardly news, least of all in Rome. posed to do that but stayed home because about global warming. Austen Ivereigh, a This volume, however, is far more probing 9/11 had just happened. The address im- British writer and papal fan, entitled his and detailed than anything that has previ- pressed the synod fathers for its fairness biography The Great Reformer, in part ously appeared. It sometimes stretches to both sides. Colonna reveals, however, because of Jorge Bergoglio’s alleged role evidence, but the sheer amount of evi- that it was entirely the work of a Synod in curbing abuses in Buenos Aires. Colon- dence it provides is stunning. About 90 secretary/speechwriter,Msgr. Daniel Emil- na doubts the truth of that account, and percent of it is simply incontrovertible, and io Estivill. We need to know more about not only because of Francis’s lack of ac- cannot help but clarify who Francis is and how things went, from then to now. tion in Rome. He thinks the Argentinian what he’s about. stories should be re-examined. Colonna also weakens his credibility The parts of this story I know best – the Then there’s the gay mafia. People forget somewhat by repeating rumors that Vati- Synods on the family that I reported on that the occasion for Francis’ famous re- can Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin daily from Rome for The Catholic Thing mark “Who am I to judge?” was not a convinced Francis to use money from Pe- [TCT] – are absolutely reliable. We know, general comment about homosexuality. It ter’s Pence to support Hillary Clinton’s for example, that Pope Francis was quite was in response to a question about Msgr. presidential campaign. No footnotes ap- willing to openly manipulate the Synods by Battista Ricca, who was involved in sever- pear to support this claim, nor does Colon- personally appointing supporters of the al notorious homosexual scandals, some na offer a plausible account of how and Kasper Proposal and that he even inter- right across the river from Buenos Aires in why Rome would think Mrs. Clinton – Hi- vened personally at key points, changing Uruguay. Nonetheless, right after the 2013 lary Clinton? – worth such a risky bet and procedures and instructing the bishops papal election, he became the pope’s potential scandal. about where their deliberations should “eyes and ears” at the Vatican Bank and start – and end. director of the Casa Santa Marta, where Despite a few lapses, the most disturbing Francis resides. element remains: the abundant evidence When Francis cares about something – as – confirmed by many particular instances Colonna shows – he makes it happen, And then there’s the troubling, casual res- now over years of this papacy – that the whatever the opposition (at the Synods, it urrection of figures like Cardinal Gottfried pope has little use for established proce- was considerable). There’s a clear pattern Daneels, once thoroughly discredited for dures, precedents, even legal structures of behavior, whatever uncertainties re- his support for contraception, divorce, gay within the Church. These are not mere main. On the divorced and remarried, the marriage, even euthanasia and abortion – trivial rules, Pharisaic legalism, resistance environment, immigrants, “Islamophobia,” and outrageous mishandling of priestly to the Holy Spirit, etc. They are the means the poor, the pope is relentless. But he abuse. But he stood with Francis on the by which the Church seeks to be clear, was not elected to revolutionize marital balcony of St. Peter’s right after the con- fair, and orderly – and to address unjust doctrine or “discipline.” Nor was he chosen clave and read the prayer for the new actions or abuses by those in power. to be a player in international politics. He pope at his inauguration. He was also one was elected to be a “reformer” who would of the ringers Francis personally invited to When the head of the Church himself does mainly clean up Vatican finances and deal bolster his case at the Synods. not much feel bound by the tradition or with the gay lobby, two things that played impartial laws he has inherited, what then? a role in Benedict’s resignation. Then there’s the appointment of another That the question even has to be asked is radical, Archbishop Paglia, to head the disturbing. Any answer will have to reckon On the financial front, there was a strong “reformed” John Paul II Institute on Mar- with the eye-opening material in this com- start: The council of cardinals, Cardinal riage and the Family. In a remarkably pelling book Pell’s effort to inject Anglo-Saxon trans- naked authoritarian move, the pope sub- parency, a new special secretariat on the stituted himself for Cardinal Sarah for the economy, hiring PriceWaterhouseCoop- institute’s opening academic address in Robert Royal is editor-in-chief of The ers to do an external audit. The momen- 2016, and spoke of “a far too abstract and Catholic Thing, and president of the Faith tum stalled as the old guard slowly almost artificial theological ideal of mar- & Reason Institute in Washington, D.C. regained control over Vatican finances – riage.” You have to believe that Cardinal

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 4 Youth Synod To Dispense With Sin… Originally published on Fatima.org website, 12/1/18, entitled: As Phony Synod III Approaches, Cardinal Parolin Gives Hints of the Next Disaster Christopher A. Ferrara American spellings prevail A video interview with Cardinal Pietro What seems to be coming, then, is an Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, application of AL to the “weakness” of provides a window onto the next looming youth so as to institutionalize the toleration What Message disaster for the Church: the “Synod on of their “irregular unions,” meaning Young People, the Faith and Vocational cohabitation without marriage. To quote AL Discernment.” As the Church reels from the (n. 78), which dares to invoke the name of SHOULD the effects of the ecclesial H-Bomb that is Our Lord as a warrant for the moral Amoris Laetitia (AL), Parolin reveals that subversion to be introduced in Chapter 8: Youth Synod the next Phony Synod, which will be “The light of Christ enlightens every person manipulated from start to finish like the last (cf. Jn 1:9; Gaudium et Spes, 22). Seeing two, will probably culminate in a document things with the eyes of Christ inspires the Convey To already written as the predetermined “fruit Church’s pastoral care for the faithful who of the Synodal process.” are living together or are only married Contemporary Parolin advises — or rather warns — that civilly, or are divorced and remarried…. the next Synod will involve “a search for a When a couple in an irregular union attains new relationship of the Church to young a noteworthy stability through a public Young People? people” according to which the Church will bond – and is characterized by deep “enter into a dialogue with youth” involving affection, responsibility towards the “the reality and the understanding of youth.” children and the ability to overcome trials The great saint of youth, Saint This will be “a step of evolution” in keeping – this can be seen as an opportunity, with AL, which has given rise to “a new where possible, to lead them to celebrate John Bosco, suggests the only - paradigm of responsibility excluding any the sacrament of Matrimony.” and best - theme for any meeting paternalism”, “a change of attitude”, “a new of Catholic youth in the context spirit, a new approach.” So, according to the “new paradigm,” the concept of living in sin has been abolished of the current amoral climate… There is great danger lurking in this word in favor of cohabitation and adultery as salad. What exactly is this “new relationship merely stages leading — possibly but not with young people” for which the Synod will necessarily — to the Sacrament of Enjoy yourself as much “search”? What is meant by “a new Matrimony. That people embroiled in such as you like – if only you paradigm of responsibility” without sinful unions are in peril of damnation has keep from sin. “paternalism”? What “change of attitude” is been completely eclipsed by the “new “ expected? And what is the “new spirit, a paradigm.” Saint John Bosco new approach” that will supposedly Thus will Phony Synod III predictably emerge? attempt to validate relationships between “the young” that constitute, objectively, That is for them to know and for us to find habitual mortal sin. Indeed, practically out. The only mystery is what they are speaking, the application of AL tends to the already preparing to spring on us. The abolition of the very concept of mortal sin process will undoubtedly mirror that of in favor of the insane idea that sinful Phony Synods I and II on the Family, behaviors are merely points on a following which AL introduced the very continuum of the good that are more or thing the Synod Fathers had insistently less good, never simply immoral as such. rejected: the admission of public adulterers to Holy Communion. That is, Phony Synods We must, then, prepare for the worst as I and II really had nothing to do with the Phony Synod III approaches — with predetermined outcome of AL. So it will confidence, however, that God will draw a very likely be with Phony Synod III. greater good from “this disastrous papacy.” By His permissive will, God has An alarming clue is provided in Parolin’s allowed this disaster to happen, perhaps Saint John Bosco (Don Bosco), was because it will involve a great winnowing remark that the “dialogue with youth” at an Italian Catholic priest, educator Phony Synod III will involve their of the Church by which her enemies will be and writer of the 19th century. While “weaknesses and fears.” Here I would exposed and her defenders revealed in working in Turin, where the population point to the incredible title of Chapter 8 of anticipation of a great historical climax in suffered many of the effects of AL: “Accompanying, Discerning and the long-delayed Consecration of Russia industrialization and urbanization, he Integrating Weakness.”That is, “integrating” — probably in the midst of the most dedicated his life to the betterment the “weakness” of the “divorced and dramatic developments for the Church and and education of street children, remarried” by admitting them to Holy the world juvenile delinquents, and other disadvantaged youth. He developed Communion while they continue to engage teaching methods based on love in adulterous relations — an enormity Pope rather than punishment, a method that Francis has had the audacity to label became known as the Salesian “authentic Magisterium” even as numerous Christopher A. Ferrara is President and Preventive System. John Morrison, bishops quietly refuse to implement it and Chief Counsel of the American Catholic The Educational Philosophy of Don seven prelates, including one cardinal, Lawyers Association. He is a regular Bosco, p.51 publicly condemn it as “a discipline alien to commentator and writer on Catholic issues in the U.S.A. Available to order from Amazon. the entire Tradition of the Catholic and Apostolic faith.”

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 5 Vatican Approval for “Gay Unions” A Prediction For 2018 Michael Matt American spellings prevail

Happy New Year! First, the good news: the wants—no more rules, just a “love and world didn’t end in 2017. We’re still here, mercy” overload from the God of Surprises. and unless something cataclysmic happens The very men responsible for in the next few hours, we're evidently to be disenfranchising millions of young people spared our much-deserved Divine in the first place, are now going to consult chastisement… at least this year. those same young people on how to The bad news? We Catholics still have the similarly disenfranchise the rest of the leadership we deserve. The newly Catholic world. christened ‘dictator pope’ may have started And the 2018 Synod will be all about sex, at the bottom but over the course of 2017 Mr Michael Matt Editor of the Remnant Newspaper which is why the Vatican needs the input he seems to have found a way to go down. of the most over-sexed generation in In fact, his papal expedition to theological During his unsettling address in St. Mary history - the folks intentionally brought to a La La Land has its sights set on October Major back on April 8, 2017, Pope Francis level of ignorance of moral theology and 2018 - the much dreaded Synod of Young set the stage for these and whatever other the Precepts of the Church so alarming that People. massive youth-driven changes he decides they no longer know what they are or what So, to the prediction: I predict that before to impose in 2018: it means to be Catholic. this New Year comes to an end, Pope This evening marks a double beginning. It A recent RTV [Remnant TV] short video Francis and his band of merry men will - is the beginning of the journey towards the features Archbishop Alexander Sample either directly or indirectly - find a way to Synod, which has a very long name – rightly decrying the fact that Catholic young give at least tacit approval of so-called “gay “Young People, the Faith and Vocational people today are so lost they don’t even unions”. Discernment”, but we can just call it the Synod of Young People. That way it is know who they are anymore: At a press conference at the Vatican which easier to understand! It is also a second In his comments on this year-long Vatican I covered in person during the last Synod, beginning, the beginning of our journey to consultation with the world’s intentionally Cardinal Peter Turkson promised that the Panama. The Archbishop of Panama is dumbed-down Catholic youth, Voice of the question of "gay unions" would be taken up with us, and I greet him warmly. Family’s Matthew McCusker observes: at the next Synod. They're playing it down at the moment, but I stick to my prediction We have listened to the Gospel, prayed, The (preparatory) document seems to be that "gay unions" will be the bombshell of sung and brought flowers to the Madonna, setting the stage for a synodal process the 2018 Synod. our Mother. We also brought the World which will put ‘young people’ forward as Youth Day cross, which has come from the arbiters of what the Church should do I make this prediction not to be provocative Kraków and will be handed over tomorrow and teach… but rather because I truly believe this is to the young people from Panama. From coming. As I see it, we Catholics have got Kraków to Panama, with the Synod in We foresee the Synod Secretariat only a few months in which to make up our between. A Synod from which no young presenting requests from ‘young people’ minds: Are we going to go along with the person should feel excluded! for changes in Catholic doctrine and calculated destruction of the human practice, which will then be presented as element of Christ’s Church, or are we going Some people say: “Let’s hold the Synod evidence that the Church needs to change to stand and resist? for young Catholics, for those belonging to her fundamental beliefs. The ‘young Catholic groups; that way it will be better”. people’ in question can, of course, be Admittedly, this is a tough call for those No! The Synod is meant to be the Synod pre-selected and manipulated to serve who’ve spent their lives laboring under the for and of all young people. Young people pre-determined ends”… false impression that, to the man, modern are its protagonists. “But even young Popes are saints in waiting, whose every people who consider themselves Faithful Catholics must prepare whim is inspired by God and thus beyond agnostics?” Yes! “Even young people themselves for the inevitable escalation of reproach - an attitude which bears no whose faith is lukewarm?” Yes! “Even this new assault on the Church, in which resemblance to the Church’s actual young people who no longer go to her own ill-catechized and malformed theology of the papacy, of course, but there Church?” Yes! “Even young people who youth will be used against her. Those who you have it. This is what many neo- – I don’t know if there are any here, maybe control the mechanisms of power in the Catholics believe, and I fear they are going one or two – consider themselves Vatican have given ample of proof of the to have that belief shaken to its core when atheists?” Yes! This is the Synod of young extent to which they will go to spread their October’s World Synod of Bishops on people and we want to listen to one own perverted and distorted ‘gospel,’ in the Young People finds a way to more or less another. Every young person has place of the true gospel revealed once and endorse the legitimacy of “gay unions.” something to say to others. He or she has for all by Our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is little doubt in my mind that this is something to say to adults, something to Using this same modus operandi, the going to happen. It’s going to be done in say to priests, sisters, bishops and even Vatican will find a way to legitimize gay the name of mercy, of course, on a case- the Pope. All of us need to listen to you! unions in the 2018 Synod, just as the by-case basis and it will be subject to Never mind that Catholic youth today have synods on the family found a way to do the individual conscience and pastoral nothing to say since they are being taught same where public adulterers are sensitivity. Ultimately, it will be "justified" nothing Catholic and thus know nothing concerned. In fact, this merciful outreach at the Synod on the basis of data being Catholic, the Pope is still going to consult to folks in "irregular" relationships will likely collected even now from Vatican surveys them—the most under educated (and be presented as a Vatican defense of of the world’s young people. It takes a ill-catechized) Catholics in history. He’s Christian marriage as between one man village, and this will be "for the children". then going to do whatever they want, and one woman. "Yes, let's not call gay because what they want is what he Continued on p.7

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 6 Prediction… “Gay Unions” … Continued from p.6 unions 'marriage', as that would be inappropriate. Let us call them what they are: 'gay unions'." And, voila, the deed is From Satanism To Sanctity done. The Vatican just indirectly recognized gay The Story of Bartolo Longo unions as legitimate, and the slippery slope will quickly morph into a black diamond run. Raymond O’Leary Never going to happen? Dear God, I hope not, but after all we’ve seen from Francis’s From time to time I like to read over the Litany Catholic surroundings. For many years, parents Vatican thus far, only a fool would never of Dominican Saints and Blesseds. The didn’t have to worry about these things as they say never. And even if one wishes to be Dominican Order has an impressive number sent their children to Catholic schools, colleges foolish and go the Jimmy Akin route, please of tertiaries (lay members) who have been and universities. However, parents don’t have ask yourself this: What are you going to do canonised or beatified. Some are very well that luxury in these terrible times of crisis in the if you’re wrong? Will you go along with it? known, like Saints Catherine of Siena and Church. Catholic schools are just as worldly as Next Christmas, will you be adding your Martin de Porres, whilst others are less well their secular counterparts, Catholic teachers are voice of approval to the Vatican’s de facto known. Whilst reading this litany around a just as critical of the Church as their colleagues blessing of sodomitical relationships? year ago I decided to spend some time finding in non-denominational schools; in fact, they are out more about Blessed Bartolo Longo. often more critical. This is the reason why And if this prediction comes true, and the many Catholic parents are having recourse to Born in Italy to a devout Vatican manages to ramrod acceptance of home education. Catholic schools can no longer Catholic family in 1841, “gay unions” through, not one of us will be be trusted to form young souls correctly. able to conscientiously object (on religious Bartolo Longo is best grounds) when the secularist hate hunters known for abandoning Secondly, we can see that Bartolo Longo was come after us, our small universities, our the Faith whilst at seduced by the world. This resulted in him home-schools, our local pastors for university - he qualified embracing the occult. Although organised teaching the traditional Catholic moral as a lawyer. A large Satanism still very much exists, the devil can theology. Forget about cake makers! We'll majority of his lecturers be found under many guises. Many people all be facing charges. spoke out against belief today see no harm in reading horoscopes or in God and openly consulting a fortune teller. We are surrounded If Catholics don’t stand up and ‘resist Peter criticised those who believed. Bartolo Longo by satanic influences, be it through to his face’, 2018 may well go down in was also seduced by worldly pleasures, which consumerism, indecent TV shows and films, infamy as the year when the pope became finally led to him embracing the occult. In graphic sex education or pornography. It’s vital instrumental in forcing faithful Catholics to fact, he became so involved in Satanism that that children, and adults, receive proper accept and approve one of the four sins he was “ordained” to the “priesthood” of a instruction in the Faith, are nurtured in solid that cries to heaven for vengeance. satanic cult. Catholic homes and have regular recourses to (According to the traditional teaching of the the Sacraments, with strong, authentic Catholic After hitting rock bottom following a Church, including the new Catechism of leadership from the clergy in order to keep the downward spiral of anxiety and depression, he the Catholic Church, those sins have been Faith and remain in the state of grace. categorized as four distinct heinous acts: considered taking his own life. However, he wilful murder, the sin of Sodom, oppression was reminded of the promise of Our Lady, that For me the most profound aspect from the story of the poor, and defrauding laborers of their those who propagated devotion to the Rosary of Blessed Bartolo Longo is the fact that despite wages.) would never be lost. Bartolo became a utterly rejecting God, God never gave up on Dominican tertiary and devoted the rest of his him. God came to earth through His Mother On the other hand, if the neo-Catholics life to spreading devotion to the Rosary. and He brought Blessed Bartolo Longo back to finally wake up and join the Traditional However, he attended one last satanic séance, the fold through His Mother, specifically Catholic counterrevolution, who knows— holding up his rosary declaring, “I renounce through Her Rosary. Is it any wonder that history may cite 2018 as the turning spiritualism because it is nothing but a maze Bartolo Longo spent the rest of his life point…the beginning of the end of the of error and falsehood.” propagating devotion to the Rosary, so much Modernist Crisis in the Catholic Church. If so, in fact, that Pope John Paul II called him Bartolo Longo built a small church in the town not, then buckle up! “the Apostle of the Rosary”. No matter how of Pompei and promised the people an image hopeless our circumstances may seem, the Let’s pray for just such a massive Catholic of the Blessed Virgin Mary to venerate. On a Rosary is the answer. Sister Lucia of Fatima awakening between now and next October. trip to Naples, he was given an image of Our said of the Rosary: “There is no problem, no In many ways, it is beginning to happen Lady presenting the Rosary to Saints Dominic matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or already, here and there. But will it continue and Catherine of Siena. Bartolo disliked the above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each and, in any case, will it be too little too late? image, which was in poor condition, but one of us, of our families, of the families of the Stay tuned. accepted it to avoid offending his benefactor world, or of the religious communities, or even and had it restored. This image was displayed of the life of peoples and nations, that cannot in the church in Pompei and quickly became Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us. ” known for its miracles. That church today is be solved by the Rosary. the glorious basilica of the Our Lady of the May we heed the warnings from the life of Most Holy Rosary. Bartolo Longo died in Blessed Bartolo Longo and avoid anything that 1926 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II will endanger our souls or the souls of those in in 1980. our families. However, may we take great confidence in his example. Let us increase our What can we learn from the extraordinary Michael Matt: A New Year Prediction: devotion to, and propagation of, the Rosary, story of Blessed Bartolo Longo? The first Vatican Will Greenlight ‘Gay Unions’ in trusting in the great promise that there is no 2018, The Remnant online, 31/12/17 thing that strikes me is that although he was problem, be it temporal or spiritual, that cannot raised in a devout family he lost the Faith. The Remnant is an American publication be solved when we have recourse to the Rosary. - visit www.remnantnewspaper.com How did this happen? We can see from his biography that bad teachers at a modern Blessed Bartolo Longo, pray for us! university had a huge influence on him. We should never underestimate the damage that wicked teachers can inflict on young souls. Raymond O’Leary is a Glaswegian, This is why it is so important for children and who is a Guest Columnist and young people to be formed in authentic researcher for Catholic Truth

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 7 Your Letters For those living in and around London – the Brompton Oratory are extending the Fatima First Five Saturday devotions into I found your latest Catholic Truth most A special thank you to all who sent lovely 2018. interesting and pertinent to current events. Christmas cards and generous financial Confessions start in the church at 10 am. The letter of the “Sacked Priest” I thought gifts, with an extra special word of thanks Traditional Latin Mass at 11 am – usually was an excellent text. It was humble, fair, to the gentleman south of the border, in at the Lady Altar. Rosary immediately after balanced and relevant to the current action Manchester, who sent a cheque for £66 Mass, and then plenty of time for the 15 and behaviour of Pope Francis. To be because that is the age of his wife on her minute meditation after the Rosary – all in sacked was shocking and wrong! It made latest birthday. We, more sincerely than reparation for the offences committed me instantly think of the fate of Cardinal against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Mueller! usual, perhaps, wish her many happy returns! God bless you all, each one, for The church is dedicated to the Immaculate The reprint of Archbishop Lefebvre’s [talk] your Christmas generosity. Heart of Mary so it is a fitting location for on the Mass devised by Martin Luther was this important devotion. Please come along excellent and ideally timed as the latest Miss McMoneypenny and support this initiative if you are local, Pope Francis’ actions unfold. One can see or not too far away. I’ll excuse Editor on that the introduction a year or so back of [Re. report on parish priest’s support for this occasion! Just this once! Happy New giving out the “Blood of Christ” (despite promotion of LGBT issues in schools, St Year to you all at CT. K.R. London. what Trent said) was to come closer to Bride’s Cambuslang in Issue No. 103…] Lutheran practice. Who allowed this to happen? Who wanted it? All very sad - the When I think how St Brides, Cambuslang, May God bless you, Catholic Truth [team] monster “ecumenism” is alive, for sure. and its parishioners used to be - fervent in and the apostolate that is yours. George Mills, Glasgow the Faith and full of vigour in numerous A Priest, Ireland ways in support of it - it makes me so Ed: Communion under both kinds has been the nostalgic and dejected for what's been lost. practice in Scotland for many years now - not just since last year. As for “who allowed this to Must we believe that these guys like Father happen”… If the pews had emptied in response Morton remain priests no matter what they N O T I C E S to liturgical abuses such as Communion under believe or what they get up to - should we, both kinds, it wouldn’t be happening now. The for example, take our sins to them for Sincere gratitude to everyone who so-called faithful, by their meek participation in forgiveness when they believe than these donated to our funds following the the new Mass and all that comes with it, have December edition. We are, as ever, been complicit in allowing liturgical abuses to are all already forgiven in Christ? * deeply impressed and touched by your “happen”. No informed Catholic should still be The one we have here is similarly well- generosity. attending the new Mass; there are traditional disposed to Luther and I'm attaching a Masses on offer across the UK (including snippet from a recent parish bulletin (notice To save postage, we no longer write Glasgow! Hint!) So there’s really no excuse, now. his quotation marks around the word letters of acknowledgement for your Grateful thanks, as ever, for your wonderful “Reformation”). individual donations although if you and outstanding paper. include an email address, Editor will And they're so hypocritical in different thank you personally. Email addresses My [grandson] attends a “Catholic” school ways. Our man, for example, is pleased to where the pupils are taught that LGBT is are included with all PayPal donations accept baskets full of envelopes containing online. natural and perfectly acceptable. His money for Masses for the Holy Souls even mother has been allowed to exclude him when Purgatory, itself, must contradict his And, as always, a special word from these “lessons” - the only parent to beliefs. The Catholic Church can, and of gratitude to our Standing do so, everyone else being brainwashed does, live happily with mysteries and Order donors because these [into accepting this immorality]. Name miracles - but it cannot support clear regular donations very Withheld contradictions. much help us with our planning. As always, finding Catholic Truth These contradictions must, of course, informative, especially apropos Pope abound in this espousal of Lutheranism. Thank you. Francis and his Bishops. Sadly, I am only Many thanks, Catholic Truth, for all your Miss McMoneypenny able to attend the occasional Traditional good work. Holy Mass. However, it is always Francis Reilly, Kent, England precious when it happens. For whosoever shall give you to drink a cup of water in My name, May God bless [Catholic Truth] for all *Ed: See page 9 Dissenters Cause Doubts - because you belong to Christ: your precious work. On Absolution…for the answer to Francis amen I say to you, he shall not Reilly’s question in paragraph 3 above, Geraldine FitzGerald, Surrey, England lose his reward. regarding absolution in the Sacrament of (Mark 9:40) Penance. Re your report Scottish Bishops “Deeply Disturbed” by Priest’s Support For LGBT “Rights”/ TIE Campaign [Issue # 103], I was Keep up the good work. I am sure that the very encouraged to learn that the Bishops “Chesterbelloc” is looking down on you with of Scotland disapproved of Fr Morton’s [St envy, to say nothing of Newman and Bride’s, Cambuslang] support for the LGBT St Pius X. Jim Allen, Torquay, England The Editor lobbyists, although very disappointed that Catholic Truth, his own bishop [Motherwell] did not publicly 10 Newton Place correct him, even ignoring letters sent to Glasgow, G3 7PR him by concerned lay people. Thanks to Catholic Truth for keeping us informed. Email: Claire Harvey, Glasgow [email protected]

The UK & Irish Bishops plus the Pope and Prefects of every Vatican Congregation no longer receive this publication. The 100th edition was the last copy sent to them. No Pope, Bishop, or Vatican Prefect has ever contacted us to correct anything, despite our standing invitation to do so over a period of years now, in accordance with their duty under Canon Law # 823. Readers may, therefore, be confident that our publication contains nothing that is contrary to Catholic Faith or Morals.

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 8 Dissenters Cause Doubts When Irish

- On Absolution… Staff Reporter Eyes Are

Letters, page 8: Francis Reilly, Kent, and the more he looks at himself in his own NOT responding to our report on Fr Morton, sinfulness, the more he is staggered by the St Bride’s Cambuslang in the December disproportion between his own incapacity edition asked the following question… and what the people who confess their sins need. He must then see with the eyes of Smiling Question… faith that he is only an instrument, though a necessary one, in the hands and through the lips of the Master. Must we believe that these guys, like Father Morton, remain priests no matter Finally, to become the channel of Christ's Leprechaun what they believe or what they get up to mercy to others through this great sacrament, the priest must honestly strive - should we, for example, take our sins The World Meeting of Families,to be held to become more and more like the sinless to them for forgiveness when they in Dublin, will take place from August 21, Christ himself – like the Christ whose office believe than these are all already – August 26, 2018. forgiven in Christ? he exercises when he pardons sins. Why? First of all, to repeat an article of faith, The publicity material online does not the absolution of the priest is valid no promote the traditional family. Thus, it Answer… matter what his moral condition. is heartening to read the letter below, published in the Irish Catholic, dated 2nd Yes; the character of the priesthood is But having said that, we also know that November 2017, from a concerned indelible; once a priest, always a priest. God uses as the instrument of His grace teacher: Irrespective, then, of the priest’s own those most effectively who are most closely personal worthiness, we may confess to united with Him. After all, the priest's role Dear Editor, I was very much looking them, and as long as we hear the key in the confessional is not only to absolve. forward to the release of the official words “I absolve thee” we can be satisfied He has, as we are told by the infallible catechesis programme for the World of the validity of the Sacrament. However, Church, three roles. One to absolve, Meeting of Families 2018. As a teacher, it is important not to take any spiritual another to instruct and a third to heal. His I’m always on the lookout for resources advice from modernists, nor, in the current power of absolution is absolute; that I can use in the classroom. I must permissive climate, to seek advice from provided the penitent does his or her say I was disappointed with the them on moral matters. Below, extracts part and the priest seriously intends to programme. from an excellent commentary on absolve the sins by the power of the While there is a lot of good material in it, absolution from Fr John Hardon SJ: keys committed to the Church, they are there is also a lot of ambiguity on the removed. What the Church Expects of Her Priests issue of “alternative” family types and [regarding Sacrament of Penance] But when it comes to instructing, the what the Church teaches regarding The Church, as we know, expects much of Church keeps telling her priests: “Be holy same-sex relationships. yourselves.” Because the holier you are, her priests, but only because the Christ I would be hesitant to use anything in the the more effective will be just a word, even who ordained them expects the same. classroom that is not clear or that would a brief sentence. Ah! But that sentence is Pertinent to the sacrament of Penance, the create a misconception about what the a sacramental sentence. And the Christ Church has said a great deal, speaking Church teaches. I believe clarity is very who speaks through His priests will teach now through centuries of wisdom through important in teaching people about the the penitent and will heal the weak and [her] general councils, through [her] papal Faith. As such, I’m sorry to say I will not feeble soul as only Jesus can. And He can declarations, through the teaching of her be making use of this programme. I feel because He is God but the instrument must saints and through the practice of the great that the authors of the programme have be totally resigned and conformed to the priests of Catholic history. What do we find missed a valuable opportunity to deliver divine will. in this library of instruction about the priests authentic Church teaching on these and the sacrament of Reconciliation? We Needless to say, we should, may I suggest issues in a clear manner. find… if a priest is to preach the dignity and daily, say even a short prayer of thanks to Yours etc., importance of the sacrament of Penance God, asking Him to bless the priests that Name Withheld, Co. Kildare. to the faithful, he must himself use this over the years have exercised in our regard sacrament. this blessed sacrament of Reconciliation. The Scottish Catholic Observer, 5/1/18, Everyone, no exceptions, must go to And that we also pray and ask the dear nevertheless carries a report from the Confession. In a word, if a priest's Savior who came as He told us not to call Diocese of Aberdeen where Bishop exhortation to the faithful is to be taken the just, but sinners to repentance – that Hugh Gilbert “has encouraged Scots to seriously, and people are shrewd, if he tells His priests might rise to the dignity to which celebrate and support the family, by them they should go to Confession, he had they have been called, use this sacrament attending the World Meeting of Families better go himself. in season and out of season, at no matter in Dublin this year” and notes that a what cost to themselves. Because it is, I national pilgrimage from Scotland is In the Society of Jesus, her priests are may almost say, especially in this being organised... Participation is NOT expected to go to Confession at least once sacrament of peace, that the Prince of recommended by Catholic Truth! a week. Pope Pius XI went to Confession Peace continues to inspire peace in the every day. All I know, speaking for one hearts of a troubled, worried and anxious priest, is that I can't go too often. world Note: One anonymous Irish reader Second if a priest is to appreciate the posted material to us way back last greatness of this sacrament, he must April 2017 which did not arrive until prayerfully reflect on what it means. He is The above extracts taken from John A. Hardon mid-December. No letter or identity no mere counsellor; he is surely not a SJ: The Priest and the Sacrament of Penance. To details included, so we are unable to therapist. He is a representative of Christ read entire article, visit www.therealpresence.org publish.

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 9 Thinking Through Catholic Truth “I have come to Scotland to unteach heresy and to save souls”

On Avoiding the Influence of Bad Pastors St John Ogilvie SJ Extracts from Crucial Truths To Save Your Soul by Fr Gruner Feast: 10 March Available to read online at www.crucialtruths.com/read.html - referenced sources in original.

There is no doubt that the truths of the faith Pontiffs, Pius IV and Pius IX, ordered the Ratzinger: “The Second Vatican Council… have been obscured in vast areas of the insertion in the profession of faith of the defined no dogma at all, and deliberately Church, leading to what even John Paul II following declaration: ‘I most firmly admit chose to remain on a modest level, as a called a “silent apostasy.” In the Church and embrace the apostolic and merely pastoral council…” We must, then, today, Truth itself is in crisis. ecclesiastical traditions and other reject the claim that Vatican II “changed” observances and constitutions of the any teaching of the Church whatsoever, for The Truth of our religion is found in the Church.’” In the same encyclical Saint Pius this is impossible. The Church cannot Church’s infallible dogmatic definitions by X exclaimed: “Far, far from our priests be contradict Herself, because God does not Popes and Councils, and also what the the love of novelty!” contradict Himself. And if there were a Church has taught for all time in her contradiction between Vatican II, which did Notice that St Pius X affirms the universal and ordinary Magisterium, even not teach infallibly, and the constant requirement of holding fast to all the without a formal, infallible definition (for teaching of Councils and Popes before traditions of the Church is itself part of example, the teaching on the evil of Vatican II, which is infallible, then Vatican the infallible Truth that cannot be contraception.) II would simply be wrong. changed or abandoned by any priest or The Church does not teach novelties of bishop or even a Pope. [Emphasis added] 2) we can find the true doctrine of the doctrine, for She has no power to invent Church in Her great Catechisms Notice also the reference to the Second new teachings. She has only the power to approved by sainted Popes, including the Council of Nicaea. That Council infallibly preserve and defend the Revelation given Catechism of the Council of Trent defined the following proposition, and to Her by Christ and the Apostles and (approved by Pope Saint Pius V) and the condemned for all time those who would handed down over the centuries in the Holy Catechism of Pope Saint Pius X which reject it: “If anyone rejects any written or Bible and in the Sacred Tradition of the contains all the essentials of our Catholic unwritten tradition of the Church, let him be Church. That is why the First Vatican faith. Council, when defining the infallibility of the anathema.” 3) we can find the true doctrine in the Pope in matters of Catholic dogma, warned Any means any. that “the Holy Spirit was not promised to traditional forms of Catholic worship, the Successors of Peter that by His Nothing the Church has handed down can prayer and devotion: the traditional Latin revelation they might disclose new be rejected, despised, belittled or done Mass, with its traditional Roman Missal, the doctrine, but that by His help they might away with by anyone in the Church, no traditional Breviary, the traditional Rosary, guard the revelation transmitted through matter how high his office. So, we must and in all the traditional prayers and the apostles and the deposit of faith, and hold fast to Tradition and reject novelty. devotions of the Church — including, of might faithfully set it forth.” But how do we know what is traditional and course, those devotions prescribed by Our Lady of Fatima: the Five First Saturdays Another way of putting this is that our faith what is novel? Some people say that Catholics cannot judge this for themselves, and Communions of Reparation and the is not based on what a priest, a bishop or daily recitation of the Rosary. These forms even a Pope might say today, but only on that this would be “private judgment” like that of Protestants, and that we should just of worship, prayer and devotion both what the Church has always taught and contain and reinforce authentic Catholic believed. Our faith is not announced in listen to whatever Church authorities tell us. That claim itself is false doctrine. doctrine. Remember the fundamental bulletins from the Vatican bureaucracy, but principle: lex orandi, lex credendi. Loosely rather is contained for all time in what is Remember what Saint Paul told the Galatians: “But though we, or an angel from translated, this means that the way we called “the deposit of the Faith.” It is that worship determines what we believe. That deposit — the Church’s treasure of Heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him is why belief is vanishing throughout the revealed truth — that is under ferocious Catholic world today: traditional forms of attack today. And yet the promises of Christ be anathema.” In other words, we must not listen even to the Apostles or angels from worship have been abandoned. We must are an absolute guarantee that the treasure cling to these as tightly as we cling to true of the Faith can never be stolen from us, Heaven if they preach something other than the true Gospel. doctrine itself. Yes, these are terrible times changed into some counterfeit, or of disorientation in the Church. But, thanks destroyed. What this means is that we must We know the true Gospel from the infallible be to God, our Church is not based on the reject novelties of doctrine or dogma, no definitions by the Popes and the great merits or faithfulness of particular men, but matter who presents them and hold fast to Councils and from what the Church has on the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which what the Church has always taught, which always taught. The faithful can know [the has been preserved and handed down can never change. Faith] themselves by reading what the intact according to the promises of Christ. But we must also hold fast to the Church’s Church has taught always and everywhere. Until the wayward prelates of the Church traditional practices, which support the We do not belong to some kind of cult return to the right path, you must “stand truths of the Faith — above all the whose teaching depends on the latest fast; and hold the traditions which you have traditional liturgy of the Church. As Pope pronouncement of the cult leaders: learned.” For we have clearly entered into Saint Pius X declared in his great encyclical 1) we can find the true doctrine of the the time of Saint Paul’s prophecy, “when Pascendi: “But for Catholics nothing will Church in the teachings of Popes and they will not endure sound doctrine; but, remove the authority of the Second Council Councils before the Second Vatican according to their own desires, they will of Nicaea, where it condemns those ‘who Council. heap to themselves teachers, having dare, after the impious fashion of heretics, Why not Vatican II itself? [Because] itching ears: And will indeed turn away their to deride the ecclesiastical traditions, to Vatican II was the first and only Council that hearing from the truth, but will be turned invent novelties of some kind… or specifically declined to teach infallibly, and unto fables.” endeavour by malice or craft to overthrow thus it did not teach infallibly (except where any one of the legitimate traditions of the it repeated what the Church had always Our Lady of Fatima, intercede for us! Catholic Church’…. Wherefore the Roman taught before.)Recall the words of Cardinal

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 10 News Round-Up What The Papers Say The Scottish Catholic Observer,15/12/17 report, headed: “Pope’s Our Father Scottish Bishops suggestion considered by Scottish bishops. Catholic Truth Holy Father’s discussion on altering key Cautiously Welcome line is cautiously welcomed by bishops Bloggers Discuss Keenan and Taylor.. “ Pope’s New New Prayers Under the headline, “Lead Us Not Into Our Father Stupidity”, the Fatima Center Staff write: Resonating through the corridors of time, Maurice Taylor former Bishop of Galloway Westminster Fly writes… from the first century until our own, are the Diocese, who was chair of the Episcopal words, “lead us not into temptation.” (ne Board of the International Commission on I’ve noticed a tendency to nos inducas in tentationem — in the Latin English in the Liturgy (ICEL) from 1997- ‘update’ the Hail Mary in some Vulgate) 2002, said translating from the original quarters as well. “Hail Mary, At last, however, in this year of Our Lord Greek was complex. full of grace, the Lord is with 2017, we have a Pope who is prepared to “On the whole, I agree with Pope Francis YOU. Blessed ARE YOU among women, lead us out of the traditional Lord’s Prayer since the normal and obvious meaning that and blessed is the fruit of YOUR womb and into a new and improved version that people take from the phrase is a misleading Jesus, etc. They might be minor changes will save us from the misunderstanding we interpretation that has to be explained or but they grate whenever I’ve heard them have presumably laboured under through explained away,” Bishop Taylor said. – and sadly, I’ve even heard them at the millenia. Fatima. What’s wrong with ‘Thy’ and ‘art “However, since change from the familiar Thou’? Just what is this misunderstanding that is always reluctantly done, it might be wise requires correction? It is, according to Pope to check whether any other changes in the The changing of the Lord’s Prayer will only Francis, the idea that God tempts us to sin. wording of familiar prayers are advisable serve to cause more division, as some will “A father doesn’t do that,” the Pope said in and make the changes together and not go along with it and others won’t. a recent television interview. “He helps you increase the occasions for the inevitable get up right away. What induces into complaints of ‘why?’ and ‘must we?’” Crofterlady replies… temptation is Satan.” “I hope that, before any decision on the Did we not know this already? Does it When I was last in matter is taken by the bishops, they may require the Pope’s critique of an ancient Lourdes (2011) I heard the first be interested in the opinions of those translation to enlighten us in the matter? exact same version of the who are users of the prayer, namely the All authorities agree that the traditional Hail Mary during the people, clerical and lay.” translation from the New Testament Rosary procession. I Greek is accurate, and it has never posed The Pope’s remarks do not change the spoke to the person involved about this a problem — until now. translations of liturgical texts. Such a and he apologized and said he would not change would begin with a resolution by use that form again. Hopefully…… But does it really pose a problem at all? the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. [Scottish Catholic Observer, 15/12/17 - see We have all prayed the Our Father column 3 for more on this.] Alex F adds… countless times and repeated the words “lead us not into temptation” with the clear That is one of those things knowledge that we are asking Our Lord Bishop of Galloway: that really get on my nerves. to save us from falling into sin. We have When someone replaces prayed these words with the understanding Welcome refugees and “Thou” with “You” they change the whole that we are asking for the grace to help us sound of the prayer, which was translated resist the lies of satan, and the attractions asylum seekers into into late medieval English from Latin. It’s of the world and the flesh that are laid not just the second person pronouns that before us and that tempt us to forget we your homes… would have to be modernised, but the have an immortal soul and an eternal Bishop William Nolan of Galloway has whole structure of the prayer is thrown off. destiny. encouraged Scottish Catholics to welcome Why not change “Hail” to “Hello”? Have any of us actually thought that God refugees and asylum seekers into their wants us to sin? That Our Lord is trying to Of course, in late medieval English, “Thou” homes, saying our common home should induce us to transgress His laws and harm was the familiar form while “You” was both be ‘a place of welcome for those in need.’ our souls so that He may damn us? How the plural and the formal form, similar to absurd! Yet, Francis is admittedly worried The bishop president of Justice and Peace how it works in modern French. Calling that such may be the case. How ought we Scotland spoke out about the treatment of one’s own father “you” instead of “thou” to respond to the Pope’s desire to change refugees and asylum seekers in a letter would have sounded like you didn’t like him the words of the Our Father? published on January 7 for Justice and very much. So really, when people try to Peace Sunday. familiarise God and Our Lady by changing Editor: allow me to answer that by cutting “There are many in our country who would “Thou” to “You” they actually do the to the chase. Ignore it. Continue to pray the like to welcome refugees,” he said. “I know opposite. Our Father as it has been handed down to of people who, at no cost to the state, us for two thousand years. would happily house and support refugees And don’t - to tweak the Fatima Center while their asylum application was being headline - allow Pope Francis, or anyone heard. “This is something the Scottish else, to lead us into the stupidity of Government should seriously consider.” Footnote continued from column 1… changing this prayer, which as Protestant evangelicals have pointed out, “…is the Ed: the Bishop doesn’t say whether he is taking Testament prophecy. Jesus, Mary and Joseph Lord’s prayer. It is not, and has never been, refugees into his home. Interesting. Of more stayed in Egypt until Herod’s death, probably the Pope’s prayer…” [R. Albert Mohler Jr, concern, however, is the fact that he goes on to around 4 BC, so not a long time. It is, to say the President of the Southern Baptist Theological repeat the falsehood that the Holy Family were least, misleading to portray the Holy Family as Seminary, quoted in the New York Times.] End refugees when they fled from King Herod into refugees in the way the term is popularly of discussion. [All emphases added]. Egypt - on divine instruction, to fulfil anOld understood today

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 11 Faith & Pro-Abortion N O T I C E . . Morality Nicola Sturgeon Marriage Seminar & Social To Give Matters It has been suggested to us that Your Problems Answered Prestigious since it is increasingly difficult for Aunt Evangeline young Catholics to make successful marriages, it might be good to James in Dumfries writes… Cardinal organise some kind of forum - I keep being asked the same questions especially in the wake of the scandal about past wrongs in the Church. The of Amoris Laetitia - where the most difficult one is the case of Galileo Winning qualities required to create a which my friends keep saying is proof that successful marriage and family life the Church does teach errors. I would Lecture On might be discussed, including appreciate some tips on how to answer suggestions on how to judge a that one! Catholic prospective husband/wife - what to Aunt Evangeline replies… look for, both good and not so good The case of Galileo (or the Galileo affair as character points. it tends to be called) is not evidence that Education the Church has taught error, although it Continued from p.1 Input might come from… has been used, unjustly, to undermine the Church by her enemies, and portray her as Abortion is still a * already married couples anti-science. This is simply not bit of a hot potato in true. The opposite is true! the Church, I know. * survivors of broken marriages In fact, most of the early Still, Now that the scientific progress in truly wonderfully * priest(s) astronomy was rooted in progressive and the Church. Galileo liberal Pope * those attending/open discussion attempted to prove the Francis has given a theories of Nicholas pontifical honour We are considering Sunday Copernicus, who was a Catholic priest to the internationally acclaimed afternoon-into-evening, 8th July, who had died 20 years before Galileo was Dutch abortion activist, Liliane 2018, (Feast of St Elizabeth of born. Ploumen, it’s only a matter of time before we can get those pro- Portugal, Queen & Widow), as a Copernicus had argued for an earth that abortion, pro-contraception possible date for this seminar to be orbited the sun, rather than a fixed earth at posters into every Catholic held in Glasgow, but we will not the centre of the cosmos which was the classroom. progress the idea unless and until we view of the scientist/philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) and which was also the view And, of course, we’ll have our spies receive feedback from readers who of the scientific community of the day. It Named Persons in place by that are interested in attending, or keen was accepted by the Church, as long as it time, supervising parents and for the young people in their families was presented as a theory because it dealing with those reactionaries to attend - with reasonable hope of seemed to contradict both common sense who don’t like living in a success in persuading them to do so! and Scripture. Note, too, that the leading progressive, liberal Church. So, Protestant reformers of the day also found thank you for inviting me to give the theory problematic for the same rea- this prestigious lecture. I knew sons. The “liberals” conveniently omit this we were making progress but I’d fact from debates on the Galileo affair. no idea you were already so stupid enlightened as to invite someone Galileo suffered more from the ridicule of fellow scientists than he ever did from the who is not a Catholic and who is, in Church, and he remained a Catholic, de- fact, completely committed to spite the fact that a council of theological progressive, secular, liberal advisers to the pope ruled, in February values to speak on the subject of 1616 that the theory was bad science Catholic education. Oh, and I because it was quite likely contrary to faith mustn’t forget to congratulate the to teach, as fact, that the sun was at the Catholic sector on your excellent centre of the universe, that the earth is not exam results. The pupils DO learn at the centre of the world, and that it arithmetic, reading and writing moves. Importantly, however, note that and that is absolutely Galileo’s name or his works were never praiseworthy. Well done! mentioned in the edict, nor was the word Thank you, all especially Bishop The proposal to hold a Marriage “heresy” ever employed. Keenan for his support for my Seminar & Social is dedicated to the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary & Joseph Galileo was condemned only by the find- invitation to address you all here ing of one canonical office, not by any today. pronouncement of the Church, and the To register your interest in the finding against him was clearly not infalli- proposed Marriage Seminar, please ble, or binding, nor had it anything to do either email us at with doctrine. Galileo’s fellow scientists [email protected] or See p. 15 and p.16 for more on this topic. were his fiercest critics - not the Church. telephone Norah on 07840328746

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 12 Delivery Of The Sermon & Faults To Be Avoided In Preaching St John Eudes

themselves not to give the appearance of misunderstanding among the faithful. being wooden or stilted. On the other hand, 4. Do not exaggerate. Stick to the plain the opposite extreme of affectation must unvarnished truth. be avoided. All gestures should be simple Delivery Of The Sermon… and natural as those used in ordinary 5. Do not use humour. Christ never sought conversation. to amuse his audience. The most beautiful thoughts and the most 6. Do not forget to bow the head when the carefully written discourse if poorly Do not use the same gestures throughout name of Jesus is mentioned. delivered may represent a waste of time, the sermon. Do not beat on the pulpit or whereas a very ordinary sermon if play with a book that may happen to be 7. Do not recite or talk in a sing-song delivered with fluency, sincerity and warmth there. Do not drop your head so low that manner, but naturally, warmly and may produce the most efficacious results. the words are lost on your breast. Do not forcefully… These qualities contribute in no small roll your eyes continually or raise them to 8. Do not discourage the faithful, but rather, measure to the preacher's success. heaven, but look at the congregation in general and at no individual in particular. after pointing out the horror of sin, lift them Pronunciation and correct use of language Do not wave your arms or cross them on up to new heights of hope by showing how constitute a most important part of the office your bosom. Do not preach with your arms they may practise and acquire virtue by of preaching. No priest can afford to be folded or with one hand holding the other. serious and continued efforts, [that] God negligent in these matters. In a word, do nothing that is unbecoming will give them graces of conversion and perseverance, and that it is far easier to be One of the most efficacious means at the to so holy and divine a function as the saved than to be lost. disposal of the preacher is to play on the preaching of the word of God. listeners' hearts, affections and emotions St. Francis de Sales says: 9. Do not imitate those false preachers who by the use of the human voice. He should are steeped in worldliness, who inject into spare no trouble to learn to modulate and "Let gestures be free, noble, generous, preaching the spirit of the flesh, who preach inflect his voice properly, suiting it to the strong, holy, grave and measured. They themselves and not Christ Crucified. Never subject, now speaking softly, now should be free from restraint; noble as stoop to imitate those who preach not forcefully, as occasion demands, with opposed to those of an uncultured person Christian virtues but the vanities of earth, affection when speaking of virtue and with or a novice; generous as one who would making the road to heaven sound easy and animation when preaching on sin. Never let speak to one's children; strong in the sense attractive by permitting laxity while the sermon become sing-song nor that they are convincing; holy, not seeking minimizing the dangers of hell. Do not monotonous, sounding like a school-boy self- glorification; grave, not given to imitate those who never use Scripture but reciting a lesson by rote. Let the words flow worldliness; measured and not used to depend upon profane authors, who refer to naturally and simply, without affectation or cause ridicule or amusement." secular sciences rather than to the truth of studied attempts at oratory. Faults To Be Avoided In the Gospel and utter honeyed words which contain no food for thought nor grace of The preacher should be careful not to Preaching… conversion. speak too slowly for fear of boring the faithful, but, on the other hand, he must not In addition to several faults already 10. Finally, do not follow those whose speak too fast as if he were trying to rush mentioned, the following should be sermons merely arouse expressions of through the sermon. Otherwise, the whole carefully avoided: opinion concerning the preacher himself, discourse will have failed in its purpose. such as, "What a learned man! What an 1. Guard against affected eloquence which eloquent speaker!" Whosoever would work On going into the pulpit, he should pitch his can tend only to corrupt the Word of God. for the salvation of souls should never fall voice according to the size of the church, Do not seek to parade a knowledge of into these faults of misguided preachers, speaking neither too loudly nor too softly worldly subjects, but be concerned only who endanger their own and the faithful's but so as to be heard by all. with the spiritual. Do not transform the salvation. In order to speak with fluency and feeling, pulpit into a theatrical rostrum. 11. If the great St. Paul avers that he feared the speaker must carefully learn the 2. Avoid long-drawn-out preambles to he himself might become a castaway after sermon, especially the beginning of each excuse one's incapacity or unworthiness. he had preached to others, which of us successive topic; otherwise he will stumble Do not expound the difficulty of the subject should not tremble? Should we not beg or grope for words and will not hold the to be treated, but get to the point at once. [God] to destroy pride within us, that our attention of his hearers. Do not make excuses and say that one has souls may know true humility? Though inflections of the voice must be not had time to prepare. These things are Conclusion… made as the sermon progresses, the childish and destroy whatever impression speaker should never drop it so low as not the priest might make. Have no other aim in preaching than to to be heard nor reach such a pitch as to 3. In discussing grave and important enlighten men’s minds, touch their hearts end in a scream. matters, use only expressions and phrases and make them better Christians. Remember that, if God demands an When using such terms as 0 my God, which have been carefully thought out. Be account of every idle word that man shall 0 Mother of God and longer aspirations, let sure, too, that they would bear the scrutiny speak, how strictly will He judge the warmth by the preacher's tone bespeak of the most rigid theologians. If by chance [preachers]. There are many priests in hell the fire of love in his heart. you let slip a remark which might be misinterpreted, correct or explain it at because on earth they have profaned the Inexperienced preachers should give great once, lest it engender doubt or word of God while preaching. attention to the matter of gestures and train

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 13 I was very disappointed that children are Ed: why? Why the need for confidentiality? Feature not being taught that we must be in the Unless we’re here dealing with a “nudge, State of Grace to receive Holy Commun- nudge, wink, wink” to co-habitees, divorced ion. My own child has recently made their & “remarried” and other fornicators and Letter… First Holy Communion at a Society of St. adulterers…Those living in homosexual Pius X chapel and the difference between partnerships? Looks like the Scottish what he had to know and what is covered hierarchy has moved from turning a blind in this workbook is huge. It seems to me eye, that is, implicit acceptance of such Concerned that children (and their parents) are not scandalous unions, to actively encouraging being taught the Faith properly. I’d be them by the back door, rubber stamping very concerned about this if my child at- them. This takes the crisis in Catholic Parent tended a primary school in the Archdio- schools forward a step, from employing the cese. un-catechised to pretend to pass on the Disappointed in Name Withheld Faith, to employing the immoral to pretend to pass on Catholic morality. Laugh? I RE Teaching in thought I’d never start Scottish Catholic Catholic Teacher Schools Approval As a parent, I am always very interested in More from St Matthew’s…. Religious Education in Catholic schools. System One of my own children has just made The entire bulletin is a mish-mash of the their First Holy Communion, so I was par- usual modernism rife in Scottish parishes ticularly interested when I recently got the these days. There’s ecumenism, there’s opportunity, through a friend, to look at the Corrupt “justice and peace”, blah blah - oh and workbook children in the Archdiocese of Team C were on duty to clean the church Following expressions of concern by Glasgow work through with their parents. that week. priests and some teachers about the fact The workbook makes it clear that parents that there is no disciplining or sacking of There’s also a notice that the Parish are the first educators of their children teachers, including those in senior posts, Priest, Canon Robert Hill, for the second and emphasises the importance of the who are living in a way that is counter to year running, has been invited to give the home, school and parish partnership. It the Church’s moral teaching (e.g. reflections for the 8 days Holy Land has several sections specifically for par- cohabiting), the following notice, published retreat for clergy for Scotland, England ents, presumably to increase parents’ un- in the parish bulletin dated 7/1/18, St and Wales. He will therefore be absent derstanding of the Sacraments. Matthew’s, Bishopbriggs, by Parish Priest, th However, I have to confess I was con- Canon Robert Hill, drew the attention of from the parish from Sunday 7 January cerned at what I saw. The workbook the editor of Catholic Truth - all emphases until Tuesday 16th January. Nice work if quite rightly starts with the Sacrament of in the original. you can get it. And it seems, as long as Baptism, but this is covered in a superfi- you’re a modernist, you can get it… cial way, saying only that Baptism is N O T I C E … Gives “the blind leading the blind” a whole when the child is “welcomed into the new meaning Church”. Children are encouraged to dis- Approval To Teach In A Catholic cuss their Baptism with their parents, but School: The law requires that everyone in purely human terms - when and where who teaches in a Scottish Catholic Bishop Keenan: it was, who was there, what they wore School must have been approved by the etc. local Bishop (or his delegate). This applies to all, whether Catholic or not. Nicola Sturgeon To Children are encouraged to think of a time Catholics should ordinarily have when they celebrate with their family. references provided by a priest who Deliver The 2018 Quite often this involves a meal. It uses regularly sees them at Mass; preferably this image of a celebration meal and says the priest in the parish in which they Cardinal Willing that the Church family gathers together to reside, but if they attend Mass celebrate a special meal when we go to elsewhere, the reference should come Lecture on Saturday, Mass. from a priest who would know them from The recurring theme throughout the work- Mass attendance. 3 March, to mark the book is that the child is on a journey. If you think you may require Approval When we need to go on a journey we need to teach a Catholic school, then centenary of the food, so Holy Communion is the special please make sure you are known to the food for the journey. It does cover the Last priest you will approach for your Catholic Education Supper and states that Holy Communion reference. If you have any is Jesus’ body and blood. However, questions/concerns regarding Scotland Act, 1918… there’s no mention that we receive the approval and whether you will be Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord eligible to teach in a Catholic School, at Holy Communion. please make an appointment to chat Read more to Fr Hill sooner rather than later. This will be an entirely confidential on p.15 Continued in column 2… conversation! Continued in column 3…

Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics 14 Bishop Keenan Later, the Bishop wrote: Just to be precise and Supports technical it is not the Catholic Church in Scotland that has invited the First Minister, but the University of Glas- Sturgeon gow which now, per the merger Do Liturgical agreement,1 has the prerogatives over Invitation To the Cardinal Winning Lecture. I mean this as a precision, not as a cop out, as Prayers Really you may see when I go on to express my Speak on own view. Matter? Before I do so can I firstly say I quite Catholic understand the real pro-life anxiety J. Martin around it, given Nicola Sturgeon’s agree- ment to facilitate Scottish abortions for Are liturgical prayers real and effective, or Schools… northern Irish women, following on from are they just play acting? Do they make a the decision of the UK Conservative gov- difference? Does it matter if they are said Bishop John Keenan, Diocese of Paisley ernment to set up a proxy abortion serv- or if they are omitted? It seems that the posted the following on his diocesan ice for Irish women. I challenged this at logic of the Faith and trust in Our Lord Facebook page: the time, as you know, considering it to be demands that we must think that the omission of prayers would have an effect News: The First Minister, Nicola both immoral in itself and an awful and and that this would be harmful, that it Sturgeon, will give the 2018 Cardinal unwarranted political meddling of the would deprive ourselves and the Church Winning Lecture on Saturday 3 March to Scottish and UK governments in the legit- of supernatural light, strength and mark the Centenary of the Catholic imate autonomy of a devolved region of protection that we would have otherwise Education Scotland Act 1918 (and the the UK. received. “Who asks receives,” taught our partnership between the Catholic Church However, I support this invitation and Saviour. Therefore, the person who does and the State in Scotland in the provision think it quite appropriate, in the year that not ask, does not receive, or receives less. of education to our young people), the marks the centenary of the Education University of Glasgow has Scotland Act and the long, fruitful partner- Rigorously, if one morning in, say, 1964 announced. ship between the Church and the State in or so, 300,000 priests prayed “Send forth A huge milestone in this the provision of Catholic education for our thy light and thy truth”, and the next year's celebrations! citizens, that the First Minister of State be morning they did not, would this not have invited to make this address in some a harmful effect in the life of the Church? tribute to the enormous contribution Cath- Or again, if on that same morning, millions Most commentators were unimpressed - olics have made to Scottish society over and millions of believers prayed together below a sample of the opinions ex- the century, and continue to make even with their priests, “St Michael the pressed on Facebook [names withheld]: today. As such, it is an invitation to the Archangel, defend us in the [day of] First Minister in office more than to Nicola battle…” and the next morning, they did Oh right the same First Minster who Sturgeon as a politician. not, how could this not harm the Church? is to offer free abortions to women Are we to think that vague, wishy-washy, from Northern Ireland . Mmmh with Perhaps it can also be the occasion of often naturalistic “Prayers of the Faithful” all due respect, Bishop John I don't honest dialogue as to how much just can make up for this? see“ this as a "milestone"... Cardinal freedom our Catholic schools are pres- Winning introduced an initiative back in ently afforded by the State simply to be Doesn’t the period in question correspond the day to help women struggling with the Catholic and to propose and promote our to a “decidedly unfavourable” period in the notion of abortion.. particular Christian vision of the human life of the Church, to quote Cardinal I did a lot of work then counselling and person, without undue political pressure Joseph Ratzinger? Do we not live in a time indeed at that time adopted our daughters to conform to an aggressively secular when “the smoke of Satan has entered the [whose] birth mother was enabled by his anthropology currently in vogue, that of- Church” (Pope Paul VI), a time of rampant scheme. This woman speaking flies in the ten threatens to undermine our own Gos- “diabolical disorientation” (Sister Lucy of face of that. pel truths. Fatima), a time when western “culture gives the impression of ‘silent apostasy’ This is a scandal. I am apolitical Just one plea: that frank and honest de- on the part of people who have all that so my objection is nothing to do bate always be, from our side, carried out they need and who live as if God does not with her party. in civility, good faith and charity so that, exist” as Pope John Paul II observed? even in the way we make our points, our First“ of all, her support for abortion is Catholic approach to the human person might find itself better understood, re- reason enough to ensure she is the very The above extract is taken from an article spected and appreciated by civic society last person that should be giving the entitled Traditionalists, Prayer and today and in the century to come lecture. Pelagianism by J. Martin, published in Secondly, her relentless drive to redefine The Remnant, August 15, 2013, Volume Marriage and support the homosexual Note: 46, Number 13. and transgender agenda is nothing short 1 St Andrew’s College in Bearsden, the Catholic of an abomination. teacher-training college, merged with the Thirdly, her party seek to attack the University of Glasgow in the late 1990s to form primacy of the family through the hated the faculty of education; starting in 2009, the university went through a restructuring process, Named Person legislation. which resulted in the faculty of education Cardinal Winning would be appalled. I’m becoming the school of education. The fact that very disappointed in this decision. this handing over of responsibility for Catholic schools has resulted in an invitation of this type, Completely scandalous! speaks for itself. The hierarchy remains culpable. 15 Catholic Truth… Keeping the Faith, Telling the Truth - a bi-monthly newsletter for informed Catholics Papal Honour For Internationally Acclaimed Abortion Activist… Dutch abortion activist: Pope Francis honouring me is a ‘confirmation’ of my abortion work - Lifesitenews Report Extracts below taken from Lifesite report online, 15/1/18 www.lifesitenews.com

Liliane Ploumen, a Dutch politician and Francis is remarkably well-informed about international abortion activist, was received the nuts and bolts of actually running the into the Order of St. Gregory by the Vatican Church. We’re talking about a pontiff who in 2017 — a pontifical honour given for knew within hours that someone had called “meritorious service to the Church.” Multiple over asking about his schedule, and who diplomatic sources around the Vatican acted immediately on that information. have now confirmed that the award was After offering two additional examples of given to Ploumen last year when she took the pope’s personal involvement in the part in an official state visit of King Willem- minutia of the Vatican, [source] writes: Alexander and Queen Máxima of the What nobody disputes is the fact of the Netherlands to the Vatican in June of 2017. situation, which is that Francis just Ploumen, who formerly served as the flat-out knows what’s going on. Minister of Foreign Trade and Development [emphasis added] Cooperation for the Dutch government, Under the watchful gaze of a pope with that started a progressive global initiative in level of awareness, it’s difficult to be 2017 called “She Decides.” Self-described dismissive of Ploumen’s award as a simple as “a global movement”, SheDecides is oversight, which lends some Vatican designed to: support the fundamental rights watchers to wonder if perhaps her bold of girls and women to decide freely and for claims about the award being confirmation themselves about their sexual lives, of her work might have some truth to them. including whether, when, with whom and Similarly, the lack of a clarifying statement how many children they have. This includes from the Vatican, days after the award was having access to modern contraception, to made public, casts suspicion on theories sexual and relationship literacy and safe that it was a simple error They’re calling me a “Dictator abortion. Pope”! Martin Can you believe it! Hunt down thatLuther author and if he’s a Among them, will not be Ronnie Convery, priest, de-frock him, if he’s a lay From the editor... the official Communications Director for the person excommunicate him, just Archdiocese of Glasgow, who posted his do whatever it takes to prove I’m support for the Sturgeon invitation on no dictator. and don’t waste any Dear Reader … Facebook arguing that the Church needs time about it. Get to work! Now! to “engage” with the world. One savvy I mean, you do want to keep your The error of separation of Church and layman, Peter, replied: “The Church has job, don’t you? I want results! State has led to the grotesque situation always engaged with the world - in order Now! “Dictator”? How dare they! whereby a non-Catholic politician, wholly to teach and sanctify, not capitulate under opposed to God’s law on sexual morality, the guise of “finding common ground”. I ( and with several bad laws under her belt wonder if Ronnie would consider this - to prove it, will be lecturing bishops, priests [since] Vatican II has the world become justice, it is absolutely ridiculous that the and teachers on the role of Catholic more godly, or has the Church become State should pay no attention to these laws schools in modern Scottish society.1 more worldly? or render them abortive by contrary enactments.” 5 Nicola Sturgeon, by definition, opposes the A resounding silence from The Convery basic principle of Catholic education which ensued, undoubtedly because, manifestly, By giving a platform to a woman inherently is that pupils should be formed with a the Church, in her churchmen, has become opposed to true Catholic education, huge Catholic world view in order to go out into more worldly, whilst the world has moved scandal is caused, exposing the audience the secular world and imbue it with the from ungodly to depravity, with the help of to the aggressive poison of uncorrected teachings of Christ. By definition, she “progressive, liberal” politicians like Nicola “progressive, liberal” ideas. If the bishops cannot approve the teaching of Christian Sturgeon, who is fully engaged with the wish to “engage” with the First Minister, let values on marriage and family life, let alone world, and then some. them invite her for coffee and a Tunnock’s thrill at the idea of students learning to be Caramel Wafer 6 - then set about educating missionaries, based on the truth held since Will anyone attending the Sturgeon Lecture her! St John Bosco, pray for us the earliest days of Christianity “outside the challenge, however politely, the evil laws 2 on abortion and same-sex “marriage”, the Catholic Church there is no salvation.” push for ever more LGBT “education” etc Footnotes: However, all is not lost. It was heartening in schools, over which she is so proudly 1 For Catholic teaching on the error of separation of presiding? Or, a tad more likely, will the Church and State see Popes Gregory XVI, Pius IX, X, XI, to read the challenging comments from the XII, Leo XIII, and visit papal encyclicals online participants simply simper over sandwiches majority of the Paisley laity on Bishop 2 Catechism of the Catholic Church #846 ff Keenan’s Facebook page, as they and soda, as they lament the “refugee 3 See examples given on p.15 and visit Facebook at expressed their shock at his support for the crisis” and promise that pupils in Catholic https://www.facebook.com/BishopJohnKeenanPaisley/ Sturgeon invitation.3 Hopefully, soon schools will continue to fund-raise for this 4 Write to the address on p.8 or email enough, some, at least, of these more great cause? Rhetorical question. [email protected] to order your copy, free of charge. thoughtful laity will send for our list of the Pope Leo XIII describes as “absurd”, “…the 5 Pope Leo XIII: 1888 - Libertas Praestantissimum, On the Traditional Latin Masses being offered in fatal theory of the need of separation Nature of Human Liberty, # 18. Scotland,4 and so continue their journey between Church and State …For, since 6 Her favourite biscuit, according to Mumsnet, 21/6/16 back to the Faith of their Fathers, in toto. God is the source of all goodness and 16