The Media Lies--American National Catholic Church Edition

They lie. All. The. Time. But these days they seem to be going out of their way to tell lies about the Catholic Church. Specifically, I suspect that soon we will hear about every single "American National Catholic Church" in the US. I suspect this for the simple reason that these churches are actually completely independent from and not in communion with Rome, and hence much more progressive than the "Roman" Catholic Church (the one true Catholic Church, albeit only one rite within the Church). I suspect they will do this in an effort to "encourage" the Catholic Church to change her teachings to conform more with the secular zeitgeist--she won't.

Here, for example, is an article from a year or so ago titled "Meet the Catholic priest who performs same-sex unions." The mention at some point in the body text that he is a part of the American Catholic Church--but not that the American National Catholic Church a relatively small and unknown communion of churches--is not in any way affiliated with the actual Catholic Church (e.g. in communion with Rome). Nor, for that matter, is it affiliated with any of the various Anglican Churches which incorporate "Catholic" into their names, including some episcopal churches; I suspect we may be hearing some reports of the more progressive among these, too.

Oh, but it gets worse:

He answers to his congregation, and he doesn't hide who he is.

"I was born and raised Roman Catholic," he said. "I went to the seminary to study for the priesthood. And I'm a gay priest."

He felt the call to the collar from the second grade.

"Friends used to call me Father Phil when I was in second grade," he said.

Father Phil said Catholic churches aren't usually welcoming to the people who sit in this sanctuary. Here they are home and so is he.

Note the deliberate bait-and-switch here. He was born and raised Roman Catholic. He felt called to the priesthood from an early age. Nowhere is it stated clearly that he left the (Roman) Catholic Church in order to become a priest of the American Catholic Church. Also, there are a few swipes at the actual Catholic Church and the fact that a) our priests and bishops are not just accountable to their congregants (though they ave a duty to teach their parishioners the Faith), and b) that "Catholic churches aren't usually welcoming to the people."

And all of this is without addressing the rather flagrant job of misleading in the embedded video. "Church teachings don't usually allow Catholic priests to perform same sex unions, but one Catholic priest in St. Louis has done several of them." The video goes on to say that all Catholic Churches in St Louis impose ashes on their parishioners' foreheads (while superimposed over an image of the American Catholic priest doing just that).

Then in the interview, they make him sound like just another Catholic priest at just another Catholic parish: "We're very Catholic in essence!... We celebrate the same seven sacraments!...Where we change in is that practical way in which we embrace our Catholic faith." He then goes on to recite a large part of the progressivist laundry list: married priests, women priests, open acceptance of gay and lesbian unions... They mention that he disagrees with Rome, but not that his Church is not in communion with Rome. They also highlight that he went to seminary as a Roman Catholic. Yeah, nothing misleading here. No lies or propaganda in this article.

For that mater, no lies are being told by the American National Catholic Church (and won't be told about various Anglican Churches which call themselves "Catholic") in their choice of name. I am reminded of what was one of the most popular Biblical passags during the Counter-Reformation, and which should become more well known as a warning against today:

"And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds" (2 Corinthians 11:12-15).

The devil is the father of all lies. The media, even this independent (schismatic, frankly heretical) "Catholic" church, are just more tools he uses to do his dirty work.


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Update: I'm sure there are some Roman Catholic clergy who would happily go along with this too. Not all of our clergy is good and faithful, and so neither are many Catholic parishioners. It's bad enough when the media harps on this incessantly; it's worse when the find small and obscure schisms like this one and then pretend that they are genuine Catholics, as if to deliberately sow disunity within the Catholic Church.

The Know-Nothings are Alive and Well

Apparently, rank anti-Catholicism is still at least a little bit acceptable in politics, in particular Leftist poltics. I've seen some small traces of it in Republican politics, especially in deep southern states. But it is worse, far worse, and far more blatant, in today's Democratic Party. The apple does not fall far from the tree, apparently.

This cartoon was reportedly run against Republican (formerly, Democratic) candidate Mark Miloscia. A man decides that he takes his faith seriously, even in the politics sphere. As a result, he switched parties from Democrat to Republican (there aren't a whole lot of Democrats who manage to even sound serious about their faith, though they often voice platitudes). The Left is infuriated, of course, but they have decided to take issue with his faith (because he's Catholic, he opposes our right to offer due sacrifice to Moloch through the murder of our children, and he opposes our rights to demand the celebration of the sins of Sodom! He must be intent on establishing a theocracy, just like all other Catholics!). Whatever issues the Republican party has, it should be obvious at this point that the Democratic Party--the same party which booed God--does not want Catholics, and should not be supported by them.

It is also obvious that there is a culture war, indeed, a kulturcampf, which persist to this day. Yes, it's mostly aimed at Catholics (though perhaps some evangelicals, Baptists, and Fundamentalists have tasted a bit of it, too), but the goal still remains to drive faith form the public square--and perhaps after that, to criminalize it outright. We already see the beginnings of that criminalization, what with fines and now jail time plus reeducation camp for people who refuse to support "gay marriage;" and fines for those who do not wish to purchase immoral "goods and services" such as contraception, sterilization, and even abortifacents for their employees.

As an aside I am still scratching my head as to what "Proposed a statewide DNA database of law-abiding citizens" has to do with being Catholic.