Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Addressing False Implications

Addressing False Implications

Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop Of Milwaukee
Since my return from Rome last week, I have been catching up on all the things that happened while I was away for the ad limina trip and the consistory where my friend and predecessor Timothy M. Dolan was elevated to the office of Cardinal.
The first thing that confronted me was the media coverage of the archdiocese’s Chapter 11 proceeding and statements made about the number of abuse claims filed and the safety of children in the Church today.
Any instance of sexual abuse of a minor is a disgusting sin and a horrible crime.  My heartfelt apology goes out to anyone who has been harmed.  When Pope Benedict visited the United States in April 2008, he rightly referred to the sexual abuse of children by priests as “evil” and a “sin,” acknowledging that the crisis was “sometimes very badly handled by Church leaders.”
However, statements reported as facts in the media, go beyond the adversarial rhetoric we have come to expect in this proceeding. On top of that, several state legislators, without having access to factual information regarding any of the claims, compounded the issue by calling for the state attorney general to investigate, unaware that both old and new claims have been turned over to and been reviewed by district attorneys for more than a decade.
The combination of these two actions is, to me, the equivalent of shouting “fire” in a crowded movie theater and it set off a number of anxious inquiries from our people to which I feel compelled to respond.  Here are the facts about the archdiocese’s policies and protocols that have been rigorously followed since 2002.
First, of all the claims filed in the archdiocesan bankruptcy only one (1) claim alleges sexual abuse occurring since 2000. That means the vast majority of claims allege incidents of abuse that date back decades, in some cases more than 70 years. This means the Safe Environment education and protocols implemented by the archdiocese in the mid-1990s are working.  As a point of comparison, there have been more than 40 cases of sexual abuse in our state involving public school personnel since 2000 -- and those are just the cases where a person was convicted in court. 
Second, it is true that some new names of diocesan priests did surface in the claims process. In those instances, if the accused is still alive, the claim has been sent to the appropriate district attorney’s office for review. If the district attorney chooses not to pursue the case, the archdiocese follows its policies and conducts an independent investigation.  During that time, the priest is restricted from public ministry. In addition, any claim against a religious order priest is sent to the religious order with a copy of the allegation sent to the district attorney.  This has been diocesan policy for years and it was at my insistence that we worked with the claimants’ attorneys to ensure we could continue this investigative process in Chapter 11. We encourage anyone making a claim involving a lay person to also follow our lead and report the claim to the district attorney.
Third, and just as important, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has listed the names of diocesan priests with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of a minor on its website since 2004.  When Cardinal Dolan made the decision to list these names, he faced a tremendous amount of criticism since the majority of those listed were never convicted of a crime.  No other organization that I am aware of has taken such a drastic step to publicly identify perpetrators within its own organization.  Our state legislators should demand public school districts to do the same for teachers and school employees who have been charged with sexual abuse.
Fourth, claimants’ attorneys said there are 75 new priests named in claims who are not listed on the archdiocesan website.  What they neglected to say is that all of these priests are either dead or have been reported to the district attorney.
Fifth, claims filed in the Chapter 11 totaled approximately 570 claims. Attorneys representing abuse survivors have attempted to make the pool of claims as large as possible, including at least three tort attorneys who purchased television advertising to solicit clients.  In a claims process, anyone can say anything about anybody.  Now the system will evaluate those claims. 
There is no excuse for what happened within the Church. But there is also no excuse for public officials or media to hold the Church to a different standard than other institutions in society. 
As a Church, WE voluntarily hold ourselves to a higher standard. I wish each perpetrator could be punished under criminal law, but as the district attorneys tell us, that is not possible.  Instead, the Church has imposed its own rigorous standards and consequences, as proven by the 44 priest-perpetrators listed on the archdiocesan website who either are no longer priests or can no longer serve in any public ministry.  We exercise this degree of accountability regardless of the criminal statutes of limitations and it goes beyond what civil authorities can impose.
Since 2004, the archdiocese voluntarily implemented a mediation system that allowed abuse survivors to seek the resolution the criminal courts would not allow, namely, a way to receive assurance their perpetrator was held accountable and that they themselves received pastoral, spiritual, therapeutic and financial considerations.  We fought to try and continue this mediation system in the bankruptcy proceeding, but claimants’ attorneys said “no.”
Our Safe Environment initiatives have trained more than 45,000 people who work with children; conducted criminal background checks on staff and volunteers; and provided tools and training for people to recognize suspicious behavior.
These continued attacks on the Church are to be expected.  They’ve been happening in different forms for centuries.  They have been elevated during this past decade when the Church has admittedly been humbled by the clergy sexual abuse crisis.  Reporters, editorial writers and some legislators will use this opportunity to try and weaken the Church’s teaching authority, especially on social issues such as marriage, abortion, workers’ rights, health care and religious freedom.  I will not allow that to happen.
In the Chapter 11 proceeding, our goals remain the same. The archdiocese wants to reach resolution with abuse survivors and continue its essential ministries for those who rely upon the Church for assistance.
During this penitential season of Lent, we must humble ourselves in front of our Lord, asking forgiveness for our sins and demonstrating our resolve to ensure nothing like this can ever happen again.  As the leader of this Catholic community, I must also call for all involved in this proceeding to act justly and speak truthfully as we continue to reach out and attempt to bring healing through the mandate of Christ to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Note: this blog originally appeared as the Feb. 28, 2012 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these emails, please click here.

Source, click on the following:  Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Addressing False Implications

St. James Sunday Collection and Campaign Numbers for week ending February 26, 2012

One additional pledge; $1,277 additional pledged.  $675,205. from “required” $3,000,000.

 Since July 2011 there were 97 new pledges with only $89,195 additional pledges.

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua

Anthony Bevilacqua

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His Eminence
Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua

Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia

See
Philadelphia (emeritus)

Enthroned
February 11, 1988

Reign ended
July 15, 2003

Predecessor
John Krol

Successor
Justin Francis Rigali

Other posts
Bishop of Pittsburgh (1983–88)
Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn (1980–83)

Orders

Ordination
June 11, 1949

Consecration
November 24, 1980

Created Cardinal
June 28, 1991

Personal details

Born
June 17, 1923(1923-06-17)
Brooklyn, New York

Died
January 31, 2012(2012-01-31) (aged 88)
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Denomination
Roman Catholic Church

Styles of
Anthony Bevilacqua

Philadelphia (emeritus)

Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (June 17, 1923 – January 31, 2012) was an American cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1988 to 2003, having previously served as Bishop of Pittsburgh. He was created a cardinal in 1991.

 

Early life

Bevilacqua was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Luigi (1884–1961) and Maria (née Codella, 1893–1968) Bevilacqua, who were Italian immigrants.^[1] One of eleven children, he had four brothers, Michael, Angelo, Rocco, and Frank; and six sisters, Josephine (died of meningitis at age 2), Isabella, Virginia, Mary Jo, Gloria, and Madeline.^[2] Bevilacqua's father was born in Spinazzola and worked as a bricklayer, and his mother was born in Calitri.^[2] Luigi immigrated to the United States in 1910, and was soon followed by his wife and oldest son, Michael. The family lived in New Rochelle; Hartford, Connecticut; and Brooklyn before settling in Woodhaven, Queens, where Luigi operated a hair dying shop and shoe shine shop.^[2]

Bevilacqua attended Public School No. 60, St. Thomas the Apostle School,^[3] and Richmond Hill High School. He then studied at Cathedral College, where he won prizes in mathematics and science and earned a trip to Washington, D.C. for an essay on the Immaculate Conception.^[2] He graduated from Cathedral College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943, and then entered the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington.^[4]

Priesthood

Bevilacqua was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1949, at St. James Cathedral. He then served as an associate pastor at the Sacred Heart Church, St. Stephen Church (Brooklyn), and St. Mary Church (Long Island) until 1950.^[2] He taught at his alma mater of Cathedral College from 1950 to 1954, and then furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, from where he obtained a doctorate in canon law summa cum laude in 1956.^[4]

Upon his return to the United States, Bevilacqua served as an official in the diocesan tribunal and as a chaplain to the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood.^[2] He earned a Master's degree in political science from Columbia University in 1962, and was named vice-chancellor for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1965.^[4] From 1968 to 1980, Bevilacqua was a visiting professor of canon law at Immaculate Conception Seminary.^[4] During this time, he also founded the Diocesan Office for Migration and Refugees in 1971, and received a doctorate in civil law from St. John's University in 1975.^[4] He was entitled to practice law in the courts of New York and Pennsylvania, and, in a rarity for U.S. prelates possessing civil law degrees, had been allowed to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, though he never actually argued any cases before the Court.^[4]

Bevilacqua was raised to the rank of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness on January 23, 1976; he became chancellor of the Diocese that year as well.^[1] From 1977 to 1980, he taught immigration law as an adjunct professor at St. John's University School of Law.^[4]

[edit] Episcopal career (Catholic Church)

[edit] Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn

On October 7, 1980, Bevilacqua was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, and Titular Bishop of Aquae Albae in Byzacena by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on the following November 24 from Bishop Francis Mugavero, with Bishops John J. Snyder and Charles Richard Mulrooney serving as co-consecrators, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. He selected as his episcopal motto: Ecclesia Mater Nostra, meaning, "The Church, our Mother."^[5] As an auxiliary to Bishop Mugavero, Bevilacqua continued to serve as diocesan chancellor and director of the Office for Migrants and Refugees.^{[citation needed]}

In 1983, Detroit Sister of Mercy Agnes Mary Mansour, who administered Michigan's Medicaid program in her position as the director of Michigan Department of Social Services, was directed by Detroit Archbishop Edmund Szoka to declare her opposition to public financing of abortion.^[6] When Mansour refused, Bevilacqua was appointed by the Vatican to demand that she immediately resign either her religious vows or her position as Director of Social Services.^[7] Mansour chose to sign the papers Bevilacqua had provided to request dispensation from her perpetual vows, leaving her religious order.^[7]

Bishop of Pittsburgh

Bevilacqua was later named the tenth Bishop of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 1983. He succeeded Vincent Leonard, and was installed as Bishop on December 12 of that year.

Archbishop of Philadelphia

John Paul II appointed Bevilacqua Archbishop of Philadelphia on December 8, 1987. He succeeded Cardinal John Krol, and was installed on February 11, 1988. John Paul II created him Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Redentore e S. Alfonso in Via Merluana in the consistory of June 28, 1991.

During a fifteen year stewardship of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Bevilacqua is remembered for his frequent visits to churches in the diocese, his knowledge of fiscal matters, his conservatism, and his closing of schools (such as Saint James in Chester). Organizationally he divided the Archdiocese into six vicariates, each with a general vicariate, and subdivided the central administration into six secretariats. From 1995 to 2000, he hosted a live weekly radio call-in program, Live with Cardinal Bevilacqua, which aired on WZZD-AM in Philadelphia. In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA "Power 50" list of politically influential personalities.^[8]

Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bevilacqua served as chairman of the Committee on Migration from 1983 to 1984, during which time he visited the refugee camps of Southeast Asia and Africa. He also chaired the Committee for Canonical Affairs (1981–1984) and the Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

In 2003 and 2004, Bevilacqua testified 10 times before grand juries regarded accusations that he had protected and shielded priests accused of molesting children. A final grand jury report said it had no doubt that the cardinal knew about the danger posed by the accused priests and that his actions endangered thousands of children in the archdiocese.

In 2012, a document was discovered showing that Bevilacqua had ordered a monsignor to destroy a list of 35 abusive priests. [1]

Retirement and death

Upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 in June 1998, Bevilacqua submitted his letter of resignation to John Paul II, who allowed the Cardinal to continue in his post. He lost the right to participate in a papal conclave when he reached the age of 80 in June 2003. His resignation was later accepted by the Pope on July 15 of that year, and he served as Apostolic Administrator of Philadelphia until the installation of his successor, Justin Francis Rigali, on October 7, 2003.

In retirement, Cardinal Bevilacqua lived at his home on the grounds of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. In February, 2011 it was reported that Cardinal Bevilacqua was suffering from cancer and dementia.^[9]

Cardinal Bevilacqua passed away on January 31, 2012 at age 88 in his home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. ^[10]

 

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} "BEVILACQUA, Anthony Joseph". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-b.htm#Bevilacqua.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "BEVILACQUA Card. Anthony Joseph". Holy See. http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_bevilacqua_aj_en.html.
3. ^ Busetti, Linda (2007-02-10). "St. Thomas Apostole School Marks Its 90th Year". The Tablet. http://www.thetablet.org/02102007/stories10.html.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. http://www.archdiocese-phl.org/offices/biobevilacqua.htm.
5. ^ "Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua". Quotes of the Ordinaries of Philadelphia. http://www.rc.net/philadelphia/history/quotes.htm.
6. ^ "The Nun vs. the Archbishop". Time magazine. 1983-03-21. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,923370,00.html.
7. ^ ^{a b} "Obey or Leave". Time magazine. 1983-05-23. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953911,00.html.
8. ^ "Sy Snyder's Power 50". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-04-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20020421165540/www.politicspa.com/features/power50.htm.
9. ^ http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110211_Grand-jury_report_on_abuse_targets_priests__teacher__even_a_cardinal.html
10. ^ CBS Philadelphia article about death of Bevilacqua Retrieved 2012-02-01 UTC

[edit] Sources

• Glenn, Francis A. (1993). Shepherds of the Faith 1843-1993: A Brief History of the Bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh: Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. ISBN none.

[edit] External links

• Curriculum vitae in The Daily Catholic
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh History of Bishops webpage

Monsignor William Lynn Trial: Judge M. Teresa Sarmina Refuses To Dismiss Child Endangerment Charges

 

Prosecutors called the 1994 list a "smoking gun" for their side. They say it shows Lynn's deep involvement in the church child abuse conspiracy. And they argued that the safe belonged to Lynn, who left office in 2004. Lynn's lawyers argued that Molloy stashed it in the safe.

"They (the documents) show Lynn to be the most active participant in a well-orchestrated conspiracy among Archdiocese officials to cover up the sexual crimes of priests and to keep known child molesters in ministry," prosecutors wrote in a written motion.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Monsignor William Lynn Trial: Judge M. Teresa Sarmina Refuses To Dismiss Child Endangerment Charges

CNS STORY: CNS exclusive excerpt: Msgr. Ratzinger discusses his brother, the pope

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is an exclusive excerpt from the English translation of "My Brother, the Pope" by Msgr. Georg Ratzinger, which will be released March 1 by Ignatius Press.

Click on the following to read the short interview:  CNS STORY: CNS exclusive excerpt: Msgr. Ratzinger discusses his brother, the pope

Famous Members of of the pope’s family:

Georg Ratzinger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Monsignor Georg Ratzinger

Orders

Ordination
29 June 1951
by Michael von Faulhaber

Personal details

Born
15 January 1924 (1924-01-15) (age 88)
Pleiskirchen, Germany

 

Georg Ratzinger, PA (born 15 January 1924 in Pleiskirchen) is a German Catholic priest and musician, known for his work as the conductor of the Regensburger Domspatzen, the cathedral choir of Regensburg, Germany. He is the elder brother of Pope Benedict XVI. His granduncle was German politician Georg Ratzinger.

Contents

[show]

Early life and military service

Ratzinger was born in Bavaria to Joseph Ratzinger, a police officer, and Maria Ratzinger, née Peintner. He had a younger brother, Joseph, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, and a sister, Maria. Early in his life he showed musical talent, playing the church organ already at the age of 11. In 1935 he entered the minor seminary in Traunstein and had professional musical instruction there. In 1941 he encountered for the first time the choir of the Regensburger Domspatzen, which he would later direct, when they performed in Salzburg on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Mozart's death.

In summer 1942 Georg Ratzinger was drafted to the Reichsarbeitsdienst, and the same autumn to the German Wehrmacht. In 1944 he was wounded in battle in Italy. At the end of World War II, he was a POW of the U.S. Army in the vicinity of Naples, but was released, and arrived at home in July 1945.

Education and ordination

In January 1946, he and his brother Joseph (later Pope Benedict XVI) entered the seminary of the archdiocese of Munich and Freising to study for the priesthood. At the same time he pursued his musical studies.

Georg and Joseph were ordained priests in 1951 by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber. Afterwards, Georg studied Church music in Munich, while serving in different priestly functions for the diocese.

Domspatzen directorship

He completed his studies in 1957 and became chorus director in his home parish in Traunstein. In February 1964 he was made musical director, Domkapellmeister, at St. Peters Cathedral in Regensburg, thereby becoming the chorus master of the Cathedral Choir, the Regensburger Domspatzen.

As director of this world-renowned boys' and men's choir, Ratzinger oversaw the recording of numerous pieces (e.g. J. S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio, J.S. Bach: Motets, H. Schütz: Psalms of David), concert tours (among others to the U.S., Scandinavia, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, and the Vatican; and a tour of Germany every year), and the liturgical activities of the choir.

In 1976 the choir celebrated its 1,000th anniversary.

In 1977 Ratzinger conducted the Domspatzen at his brother Joseph's consecration as Archbishop of Munich and Freising. They sang in honor of Queen Elizabeth II at her state visit in 1978, and at Pope John Paul II's visit to Munich in 1980; they also gave a concert for the state guests at the NATO summit in 1982 under the auspices of then German president Karl Carstens.

In 2010 Ratzinger indicated he would be prepared to testify to aid investigations into claims of abuse at the Regensburger Domspatzen choir in Germany.^[1][2]

The Regensburg Diocese said that a former singer came forward with allegations of sexual abuse in the early 1960s, predating Ratzinger's tenure from 1964–1994.^[3] The German newsweekly Der Spiegel has reported that therapists in the region are treating several alleged victims from the choir.

Allegations of sexual and physical abuse under his directorship

A man who lived in the choir-linked boarding school until 1967 has contended that "a sophisticated system of sadistic punishments in connection with sexual lust" had been installed there. Der Spiegel quoted the man, a composer Franz Wittenbrink, as saying it would be inexplicable that the pope's brother didn't know anything about it.^[4] Ratzinger has admitted slapping pupils in the face.^[5] He commented: "At the start, I also slapped people in the face, but I always had a bad conscience". He claims to have been relieved when corporal punishment was forbidden in 1980. Ratzinger has denied any knowledge of sexual abuse.^[5] A Vatican spokesperson stated that the allegations are a campaign allegedly aimed against the pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

Later life

Msgr. Ratzinger retired from his position as director of the choir in 1994 and has been a canon in Regensburg since 25 January 2009.

In 2005, during a visit to his brother in Rome, symptoms of heart failure and arrhythmia led to a brief admission at the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic. Georg Ratzinger is almost blind.

There has been speculation that in a future consistory held by Benedict XVI, he could be made a non-voting Cardinal for his services to Catholic music and liturgy, but the ancient practice of conferring cardinalates on notable papal relatives has not been observed for some time- though it has happened and the Pope is free to do so as supreme ruler of the earthly Church (being unbound by traditional regulations against doing so in secular positions). It would not be totally unprecedented due to Monsignor Ratzinger's prestigious contributions to church music. In the last forty years or so under Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, the cardinalate has been conferred on one or two priests or deserving prelates during a consistory, generally those above the voting age of 80 and who were not archbishops in line for elevation (and sometimes secretly, in pectore), for their services to the Church.

On 29 June 2011 Msgr Ratzinger celebrated sixty years as a priest and gave an interview on the topic. During which he noted that during the ordination "My brother was the second to youngest, though there were some who were older." He also noted that "I have the stole and the cassock from that day".^[6]

Honours and awards

• In 1967 he was made Chaplain of His Holiness and in 1976 Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.
• In 1981 Georg Ratzinger was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• In 1994, he was made a Protonotary apostolic.
• In 2005 he was awarded the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art
• Msgr. Georg Ratzinger was made an honorary citizen of Castel Gandolfo in 2008.
• In 2009 he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

References

1. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
2. ^ German Clergy Scandal Reaches the Pope's Family
3. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Vorwürfe gegen Kirche: Regensburger Domspatzen durch Missbrauch traumatisiert – SPIEGEL ONLINE – Nachrichten – Panorama
5. ^ ^{a b} Dutch church orders inquiry into sex abuse allegations, BBC
6. ^ GEORG RATZINGER ALSO MARKS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Georg Ratzinger (politician)— great uncle to Monsignoir Ratzinger and Pope Benedict

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Georg Ratzinger (April 3, 1844 in Rickering at Deggendorf – December 3, 1899 in Munich) was a German Catholic priest, political economist, social reformer, author and politician. He saw the gospel and Catholic social teaching as a means of empowering the poor.

Ratzinger was a pupil at the gymnasium at Passau during the years 1855-63, studied theology at Munich, 1863–67, and was ordained priest in 1867. In 1868 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology at Munich. During the following years he devoted himself partly to pastoral, partly to journalistic work. In 1869 he was chaplain at Berchtesgaden; 1870-71 he was editor of the journal "Fränkisches Volksblatt" at Würzburg; 1872–74, chaplain at Landshut, then editor, until 1876, of the "Volksfreund", at Munich.^[1]

He was a member of the Parliament of Bavaria from 1875 to 1878 and of the German Reichstag from 1877 to 1878. During this period he belonged to the Centre Party. He combined the roles of priest and politician in a way which his grandnephew, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, rejected.

With exception of a pastorate of three years at Günzelhafen, 1885–1888, he lived for a number of years at Munich, where he devoted himself to journalism and research.

In 1893 Ratzinger was again elected to the Bavarian Landtag, where he was now a moderate adherent of the "Bayerischer Bauernbund" (Bavarian Peasant Union) party, his views of social politics having caused him in the meantime to sever his connections with the Centre Party. In 1898 he was again elected a member of the Reichstag. He remained a member of both bodies until his death.

As a literary man Ratzinger deserves much credit for his scholarly work in political economy and in historical subjects. His chief works, distinguished by erudition, richness of thought, and animated exposition, are: "Geschichte der Armenpflege" (prize essay, Freiburg, 1868, 2nd revised ed., 1884); "Die Volkswirtschaft in ihren sittlichen Grundlagen. Ethnischsociale Studien über Cultur und Civilisation (Freiburg, 1881; 2nd. completely revised ed., 1895).

The later work work maintains the ethical principles of Christianity as the only sure basis of political economy and opposes the materialistic system of what is called the "classical political economy" of Adam Smith.

"Forschungen zur bayerischen Geschichte" (Kempten, 1898); this contains a large number of studies on early Bavarian history and on the history of civilization, based on a series of unconnected treatises, which had first appeared in the "Historisch-politische Blätter". Of his smaller works the following should be mentioned: "Das Concil und die deustche Wissenschaft" (anonymously issued at Mainz, 1872) appeared first in the "Katholik", 1872, I; "Die Erhaltung des Bauernstandes" (Freiburg, 1883).

His nephew was the police officer Joseph Ratzinger, Sr., father of Pope Benedict XVI (born Joseph Ratzinger) and Georg Ratzinger, the priest and church musician.

References

1. ^ "Georg Ratzinger". Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12660a.htm.

• Georg Ratzinger (politician) in the German National Library catalogue (German)
• Georg Ratzinger alias Robert Waldhausen Jüdisches Erwerbsleben. Skizzen aus dem sozialen Leben der Gegenwart (1892)
• Georg Ratzinger alias Gottfried Wolf Das Judentum in Bayern. Skizzen aus der Vergangenheit und Vorschläge für die Zukunft (1897)

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.

"Birth Control, Bishops and Religious Authority" - ReligiousLeftLaw.com

02/16/2012

"Birth Control, Bishops and Religious Authority"

[Gary Gutting, a philosopher at Notre Dame, has this to say in the online edition of the New York Times:]

 

But, even so, haven’t the members of the Catholic Church recognized their bishops as having full and sole authority to determine the teachings of the Church? By no means.

Most Catholics — meaning, to be more precise, people who were raised Catholic or converted as adults and continue to take church teachings and practices seriously — now reserve the right to reject doctrines insisted on by their bishops and to interpret in their own way the doctrines that they do accept.

Click on the following to read all of Mr. Gutting’s remarks:: "Birth Control, Bishops and Religious Authority" - ReligiousLeftLaw.com

Mr. Gutting’s orignal article is from the New York Times:  http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/birth-control-and-the-challenge-to-divine-authority/?hp

Two women accused of stealing $1 million each from two archdioceses

In New York, archdiocesan spokesman Joseph Zwilling said Jan. 30 that Anita Collins, who had worked for the archdiocese since 2003, allegedly stole about $1 million before she was fired Dec. 6. Collins used "a sophisticated fraud to manipulate the accounts payable system in the Department of Education Finance Office," Zwilling said.
In Philadelphia, Anita Guzzardi, who was named chief financial officer of the archdiocese July 1, was terminated from employment later in July when alleged "financial accounting irregularities" were discovered. Although an investigation by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office was continuing, sources said the amount involved is nearly $1 million.
Read the entire article by click on the following:  Two women accused of stealing $1 million each from two archdioceses

Monsignor Lynn: Philly cardinal shredded abuse list - Connecticut Post

MARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press

Updated 05:56 p.m., Friday, February 24, 2012

 
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Roman Catholic church official  (Monsignor Lynn)   facing trial in a priest child abuse scandal created a list of problem priests in 1994, but Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua had it destroyed, according to a defense memo filed Friday.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Monsignor: Philly cardinal shredded abuse list - Connecticut Post

2011—Old St. James Church’s 125th Year of Devotion and Community—Part 1

In 1886 the present church was build by parishioners for $22,000. There was no mention of celebration or commemoration in 2011-- even though St. James Church celebrated its 125th birthday.
A multi-million dollar capital campaign was initiated to build a large, 1000 capacity (now 800) church done in a classic Romanesque style similar to century old churches in Italy.  That campaign appears stalled. Based upon reported campaign pledges, ground breaking in 2012 or even 2013 seems improbable .  Little is known about the final design or costs of the cathedral style church. What is known is that the venerable old church will be destroyed to provide less than 20 parking spaces.
As a tribute to that great old church built with the pennies and nickels of hardworking  Irish (German and other) families,—various history studies of the area will be utilized to inform our present parishioners and friends what St. James Church was and is.


In 1976 the Boone County Bicentennial printed this historic account of Boone County.  Page 80 & 81’s citation regarding St. James are shown below.  There are two older churches in Belvidere that are still being utilized has houses of worship:  Trinity Episcopal Church (1857) and First United Presbyterian (1858).

It is very interesting that after Vatican II, Hispanic Catholics attended Mass at a Spanish language service held for a time at Green Giant.  Also note that the Last Supper insert in the current altar is taken from the insert from the original high altar.

,

It’s Democrats who are putting focus on birth control - She the People: - The Washington Post

 

By Melinda Henneberger

 

But from the White House perspective, things sure are looking up: after some strong initial blowback over what even some liberal allies saw as an incursion on religious liberty, a compromise has soothed friends and cast any still upset about the constitutional implications as single-minded soldiers in the ongoing war against women.

And as for the all-male photo op in front of the House Oversight Committee hearing on the matter, which Democrats are calling the defining image of the election year? Nancy Pelosi couldn’t have planned it any better herself.

Click on the following for the complete story:  It’s Democrats who are putting focus on birth control - She the People: - The Washington Post

Rod Dreher » Why Bishop Finn deserves indictment

Having gone over the facts of the case as presented by the diocese’s own investigative panel, I am completely confident that this indictment was merited, and that the idea that this represents some sort of liberal-secularist attack on the Church, and especially on Bishop Finn for being a doctrinal conservative, is baseless

Click on the following to read all of Mr. Dreher’s article:  Rod Dreher » Why Bishop Finn deserves indictment
The actual report from the diocese on the case is at :  http://www.diocese-kcsj.org/_docs/8-31-11_Report_of_Independent_Investigation.pdf

St. James Sunday Collection and Campaign Numbers for week ending February 19, 2012

 

Ten additional pledges; Total pledged increased $11,060 still $676,428.60 from $3,000,000 goal.

 

PERU: Vatican threatens university's Catholic status - University World News

Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

University authorities and students have been invoking a 1980 agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Peru that establishes that the university must conform to Peruvian not canonic law.
"According to Peruvian law, it is the assembly that elects the rector," said Marcial Rubio, Rector of PCUP.
But the conflict between the university and the church is not new and goes deeper than who appoints the rector.
Rubio accuses Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, a member of the controversial Catholic group Opus Dei, of trying to take over the university. "He disagrees with us and thinks we are not Catholic," Rubio told the Peruvian press. He also accuses the cardinal of focussing on gaining power and acquiring more funds.

Click on the following for more details:  PERU: Vatican threatens university's Catholic status - University World News

The Catholic News Services’ version of the issue:

The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru must amend its statutes in conformity with Vatican norms for the good of the university and the whole church in Peru, said the Vatican's secretary of state.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone met with the university's rector, Marcial Rubio Correa, Feb. 21 to discuss "the conclusions the Holy See has reached following intense dialogue and numerous meetings over the course of many years" between the university's grand chancellor, Cardinal Juan Cipriani Thorne of Lima, his predecessors and the university, said a written statement released the same day by the Vatican.

Click on the following for more of the CNS story:   http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200699.htm

Other Philadelphia Diocese Issues—$900,000 stolen

PUTTING OUR HOUSE IN ORDER:
ON STEWARDSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD

Weekly Column by Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
February 3, 2012

When I wrote to the people of the Archdiocese on December 8 last year, I said that we’d
face a great many legal and financial issues in 2012. Last Sunday, January 29, one of
those challenges made Philadelphia Inquirer headlines. A senior member of the
archdiocesan staff stole more than $900,000 of our people’s resources before being
discovered and fired last summer. Our normal outside auditing firm -- independent and
nationally respected -- had previously found no evidence of criminal activity.
The story is not new. In fact, news media first reported this story last July. But neither
the Church nor the District Attorney’s office knew the scope of the loss until last fall.
We’ve been silent on this matter until now for obvious reasons: to allow law enforcement
to do its work. Circumstances have now changed.
People are angry about this loss, and they’re right. So am I. There’s no excuse for it.
Non-profit organizations – like foundations, Churches, museums and many hospitals –
tend to draw mission-driven people as staff. Most of their employees are honest. A few
are not. And in a work environment based on shared beliefs and service, a dishonest
person can do massive damage. Precisely because religious organizations run on the
good will of the people they serve and the dedication of their staffs, they can easily
become too trusting in their internal safeguards. But that only makes the need for tight
financial controls and accounting procedures more urgent.
It’s important to keep a few facts in mind as this story plays out over the coming weeks:
First, the theft occurred from the general operating funds of the Archdiocese. Monies
donated to the Heritage of Faith, Vision of Hope capital campaign and the annual
Catholic Charities Appeal were not impacted in any way. The theft also had no effect on
the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission or the decision to close or regionalize any
school.
Second, based on an outside forensic financial review conducted by the firms of
ParenteBeard and BallardSpahr, the theft was confined to one senior staffer. No other
archdiocesan staff persons were involved.
Third, the Archdiocese has worked with the District Attorney’s office throughout this
investigation. And we will vigorously pursue restitution from the wrong-doer.
Fourth, as bitter as this loss is, insurance will cover much of it. This is little comfort and
absolves no one, but as an immediate concern, at least some of the damage will be made
whole. Moreover, since Catholic Social Services, Catholic Health Care Services and
similar ministries are separate entities from the Archdiocese, they suffered no loss from
the theft.
Fifth and finally, when I arrived in Philadelphia in September, I began a comprehensive
legal and financial review of archdiocesan operations conducted by experienced outside
professionals. That independent review is continuing. We’ve begun to apply its
recommendations in the way we steward the resources entrusted to the Church by our
people. The recruitment of a new chief financial officer is nearing completion. The
search for a new archdiocesan controller is also underway. New procedures are in place
in the areas where the embezzlement occurred. In the coming year, new and much more
rigorous internal controls will take effect, along with tighter budget discipline and a
demand for improved skills in everyone tasked with the management of archdiocesan
resources. To their credit, Bishop Timothy Senior, our moderator of the curia, and Marc
Fisher, the new director of our internal auditing efforts, have been a great help in this
difficult process.
The task ahead is large. But protections are already in effect to help prevent this kind of
damaging criminal activity in the future. Working with our Archdiocesan Priests’
Council, our Archdiocesan Finance Council and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council now
in formation, I do promise that every aspect of our shared life as a Church will be subject
in the years ahead to the kind of clarity, greater accountability and careful stewardship
our people deserve.
###
The above is taken from:  http://archphila.org/archbishop-chaput/statements/weeklycolumn4.pdf

Philadelphia Priest Faces Trial On Child Abuse Cover-Up Charges : NPR

Between 1992 and 2004, Monsignor William Lynn was the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's point person for allegations of clerical abuse. When he heard a claim, he was supposed to investigate and, if warranted, remove or turn the priest over to police.
But as two grand juries reported in 2005 and 2011, that often didn't happen
two cases have not expired, and prosecutors say Lynn criminally endangered two young men, allegedly raped when they were 10 and 14, by looking the other way.
The law has since been revised to include those who supervise an alleged abuser. But Lynn's lawyers say the newer, stricter standard can't be applied to their client.
Catholic officials in other dioceses have been called to testify in sex abuse cases, but they've always settled before the official has to take the stand.

Click on the following to read the rest of the story:  Philadelphia Priest Faces Trial On Child Abuse Cover-Up Charges : NPR

Growth of Catholic Hospitals May Limit Access to Reproductive Care - NYTimes.com

 

Financially stronger Catholic-sponsored medical centers are increasingly joining with smaller secular hospitals, in some cases limiting access to treatments like contraception, abortion and sterilization.

In Seattle….

…in Louisville…

And in Rockford, Ill.,

Click on the following for more details:  Growth of Catholic Hospitals May Limit Access to Reproductive Care - NYTimes.com

Protests of Va. parish’s move away from altar girls reflects wider Catholic debate - The Washington Post

Could this happen in the Rockford Diocese?

tucked in with announcements about a new electronic donation system and a church dinner at Margarita’s Mexican restaurant was news that Zickel, the mother of two girls, had been dreading: ^{Corpus Christi would no longer train girls to be altar servers.}

Click on the following for more details:  Protests of Va. parish’s move away from altar girls reflects wider Catholic debate - The Washington Post

Cardinal Dolan supported the Manhattan Declaration

Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience

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The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience is a manifesto issued by Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian leaders^[1][2][3] to affirm support of "the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty".^[4] It was drafted on October 20, 2009 and released November 20, 2009, having been signed by more than 150 American religious leaders.^[5] On the issue of marriage, the declaration objects not only to same-sex marriage but also to the general erosion of the "marriage culture" with the spectre of divorce, greater acceptance of infidelity and the uncoupling of marriage from childbearing.^[6]
The Declaration's website encourages supporters to sign the declaration, and counts more than 495,000 signatories as of February 2, 2012 (2012 -02-02)^[update].^[7]

Contents

Drafting committee
The drafting committee includes evangelical leader Charles Colson, Princeton University law professor Robert P. George and Beeson Divinity School dean Timothy George.^[8]

[edit] Signatories

Notable signatories include New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Philadelphia Archbishop Justin Francis Rigali, Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl, Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, and American Cardinal John Patrick Foley of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, along with Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, Acton Institute president Rev. Robert A. Sirico, president of Asbury Theological Seminary Timothy C. Tennent, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Al Mohler,^[9] chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary Chuck Swindoll, president of Houston Baptist University Robert B. Sloan Jr., president of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Ligon Duncan,^[10] National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson, primate of the Anglican Church in North America Robert Wm. Duncan, and Orthodox Church in America primate Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), with Bishops Mark (Maymon) of Toledo and Basil (Essey) of Wichita of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.^[6][11]

Excerpt

The Declaration summarizes itself as follows:

Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.^[12]

Call to civil disobedience

The declaration vows civil disobedience if Christians feel that their rights to civil liberties of free exercise of religion and freedom of speech are being violated. It states :^[13]

We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right—and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation—to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.
Through the centuries, Christianity has taught that civil disobedience is not only permitted, but sometimes required.^[13] There is no more eloquent defense of the rights and duties of religious conscience than the one offered by Martin Luther King, Jr., in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Writing from an explicitly Christian perspective, and citing Christian writers such as Augustine and Aquinas, King taught that just laws elevate and ennoble human beings because they are rooted in the moral law whose ultimate source is God Himself.^[12]

One of the drafters, Princeton Law professor Robert George, stated, "We certainly hope it doesn't come to that. However, we see case after case of challenges to religious liberty," including laws which he claims would force health care workers to assist in abortions or pharmacists to carry abortifacient drugs or birth control.^[13] George continued, "When the limits of conscience are reached and you cannot comply, it's better to suffer a wrong than to do it."^[13]
Catholic Archbishop of Washington, Donald W. Wuerl's office was restrained about the issue of civil disobedience, indicating that the prelate was not calling on the faithful to "do anything specific".^[6][11]
Criticism
Some religious leaders and apologists have criticized and protested the Manhattan Declaration, calling its principles in general, and its opposition to gay rights in particular, contrary to the teachings of Jesus.^[14][15][16] Catholic scholar Anthony Stevens-Arroyo wrote, "While two wars are being waged, with unemployment in double digits, the financial system of the world in suspense, these religious leaders declare that abortion, stem-cell use and same sex marriage override any other Gospel value. (You won't find Jesus saying anything about abortion or stem cells in the Gospel, but the Savior said a great deal about the homeless, the sick, and the hungry.) It's cheating to speak pious platitudes about Christianity and ignore Jesus' words."^[17]
Some discussed the document as a political strategy, regarding it as the religious right's effort to re-establish its relevance in the public square,^[18][19] but others noted that younger generations of evangelicals and Catholics were less likely to oppose same-sex marriage and more likely to prioritize economic issues over social, and that the document was thus unlikely to win them over.^[20][19] Stevens-Arroyo criticized fellow Catholics who signed the declaration for aligning themselves with evangelicals in what he described as opposition to the separation of church and state.^[21]
The declaration's invocation of Martin Luther King and of the principles of civil disobedience has also been questioned.^[22][23][24] An editorial in the Los Angeles Times criticized the paranoid tone of the document, noting that the anecdotes it cited as examples of Christians' religious freedom being restricted were misleading or from outside the United States, and that strong legal and judicial protections already exist for people who do not wish to perform abortions or same-sex marriages. It also questioned if the document's advocacy of lawbreaking in the service of a religious cause might motivate anti-abortion terrorists.^[22]
Some evangelicals, such as Alistair Begg,^{[25][better source needed]} and James R. White^{[26][better source needed]} have taken exception to the declaration on the grounds of its ecumenism. R.C. Sproul did not sign the Declaration because he disagrees with the document's identification of Catholics and Orthodox as "Christians."^{[27][better source needed]}

[edit] Cancellation of app by Apple

In November 2010, after activists submitted a 7,000 signature petition arguing that the Manhattan Declaration app promoted bigotry and homophobia, Apple Computers removed the app from iPhones and iPads and then later from iTunes.^[28][29] Apple told CNN that the app had been removed because it "violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people."^[29] The app was originally rated by Apple as a +4, meaning that it contained no material deemed objectionable.^[28][29]
Organizers of the Manhattan Declaration have contacted Apple and have resubmitted a modified version of the app.^[30] The new version lacks a "quiz" which, in the old version, asked questions about political issues and assigned a score based on a set of normative answers.^[31] In addition as of December 10, 2010, more than 45,000 have signed a petition to have it reinstated.^[30] Charles Colson voiced apprehension that the company's move could have negative implications for more Christian apps: "There is nothing in the Manhattan Declaration that is not rooted in Scripture. So if that becomes the offense then all the other apps would be subject to the same charge."^{[32][30]
 
To read the actual Manhattan Declaration go to:  http://www.demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers
 
There also is a website requesting signatures from the general public (and contributions).  See below or click on:  http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/home.aspx?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HHS%20Mandate%20ALL%20(1)&utm_content}