A Reply
One of my readers received this reply from the Archdiocese which is perfect.
Thank you for your message of concern to Archbishop John Niensedt. Since the Archbishop is in Rome this week receiving his pallium from the Holy Father, I took it upon myself to respond to your commentary/inquiry.
In accord with a previous instruction from the Archbishop, I have contacted the associate pastor of Saint Joan of Arc (the pastor is on a leave of absence following the death of his mother) and directed him to remove the objectionable information about GLBT topics and endorsements of adoption by same sex parents. He assured us this will be done. Last week, the Archdiocese directed me to tell this same priest to cancel an announced GLBT prayer service (which had been initiated not by the priest but by a parish staff member.) This also was done.
We apologize that you were scandalized by these violations of Church teaching but assure you that our Archbishop will not permit such infractions to be repeated or to continue.
God Bless,
Dennis B. McGrath
Director of Communications
Known as 
Woohoo! Very good news! Good for the Archbishop.
The last two bulletins at Saint Stephens, Minneapolis have had advertisements for this... perhaps someone could send Archbishop a note about this, too?
http://www.ststephenscommunity.org/default.cfm/PID=1.3.1
Their links page posts to a few notorious pro-homosexual lifestyle groups (Dignity, FaithFamily Fairness Alliance, Wisdom Ways...):
http://www.ststephenscommunity.org/default.cfm?PID=1.2.2.10
Hurray!
Cojones mas grandes -- nice to see, and from a low level functionary as well!
Hey, where's the "Episcopal Spine Alert" graphic?
This is a brand new Dennis McGrath... McGrath 2.0... and I am very impressed!
This is a brand new Dennis McGrath... McGrath 2.0... and I am very impressed!
...and no qualifications, doublespeak or hedging. Clerical Spine Alert. Let's hope the locals pay attention.
Good work by your reader. So, are they going to cancel the event or just remove the objectionable information?
The event has been cancelled. The Saint Paul Pioneer Press throws a hissy fit here.
I love the new voice of McGrath. Confident, calm, and correct.
Everyone needs to write the St. Paul Pioneer Press and hiss back.
Clayton, your link does not work. I see the story here http://www.twincities.com/ci_9678162?nclick_check=1
But it seems like reasonably fair reporting as far as I can tell. Did they also do an op-ed I didn't see?
As I think about it, this is a watershed moment for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. More of my thoughts on my blog here.
Ok, link does work. (Net fart?) It's the same. Yeah, some of the people quoted throw a fit, but it seems each side got covered reasonably.
Scott, You're right. I misspoke. The Pioneer Press coverage was fair. It was simply the people quoted who were not.
I wonder what Nick Coleman will have to say in his opinion column...
Thanks be to God for a true bishop who will actually uphold the faith.
Let's hope the "Staff member" is no longer a staff member...
God be praised!
Now let's not forget to pray for those "GLBT" types. They surely have a heck of a cross to bear and need all the authentic help they can get (rather than the jejune flattery of liberals).
In accord with a previous instruction from the Archbishop, I have contacted the associate pastor of Saint Joan of Arc (the pastor is on a leave of absence following the death of his mother) and directed him to remove the objectionable information about GLBT topics and endorsements of adoption by same sex parents. He assured us this will be done.
When? It's still there. It takes like ten seconds to remove stuff from a website.
I appreciate the response of Mr. McGrath.
And await the assurances of the associate pastor, I assume to be Father James Debruycker, to be fulfilled.
Please do remember to pray for the soul of Father Cassidy's mom.
HI Kelly,
Debruycker is the pastor on leave, and Cassidy the associate now present as acting pastor.
http://stjoan.com/stafffr.htm
May the perpetual light shine upon Father Cassidy's mother and may she, and all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Well -- it is nice to hear some news of a Catholic parish that has strayed returning to the teachings of the Church on faith and morals.
By the way, I don't think you can say "net fart " on a serious web site like this!
it is nice to hear some news of a Catholic parish that has strayed returning to the teachings of the Church on faith and morals.
I hope so. Unfortunately, everything I've read indicates a stubborn parish that will likely be flaunting in the future barring a major shake-up. Rather it is nice to know that when the sheep cry, "Shepherd! I've got multiple wolves on my HUD at 3-O'clock!" the shepherd steps in.
If the archbishop ever sends an orthodox pastor there he will have my Mass intentions on a daily basis for his entire term! I say: send in about six young, faithful, well-educated Dominicans and watch the place thrive w/o all that eco-junk and feminazi theater.
Fr. Philip, OP
I say: send in about six young, faithful, well-educated Dominicans and watch the place thrive w/o all that eco-junk and feminazi theater.
You can even be effective at the "lower" levels. I was talking one layman in charge of the youth ministry program. When he got there, the committee had atheists and practicing homosexuals on it. He didn't throw them out, but made it crystal clear the program would be 100% orthodox Catholicism. Those people left of their own accord seeing that they no longer had a complicit venue. So take that story as encouragement to get involved int the parish in any capacity and fight!
Thanks, Clayton, for the correction. (For those of you who prayed, God knew what you meant.)
Just for the record, the junk is still on the website:
http://www.stjoan.com/glfr.htm
Why is it not possible to copy the comments on The Curt Jester blog?