Masonic Press Attacks Franciscans of the Immaculate

Edit: a reader sent this. The persecution of the Franciscans of the Immaculate continues with the usual kinds of attacks that have been going on as long as the press has been around. The kinds of penitential practices being criticized here are common to authentic religious life and the religious who suffer them are members of these religious communities of their own free will.

Why do non-catholic entities always set themselves up as judges of Catholics? What's worse is that evil and worldly hierarchy are inclined to listen to them.

[Daily Mail] In an interview with an Italian newspaper where she makes the damaging allegations, the former nun shows off a post card with her vows, signed by the head of the order. She claims the vows were written using in her own blood, on the day of her initiation in 1996, when she was 17 years old.

'Father Manelli [head of the order] was satisfied that we did this practice because it made our love for God more authentic, this eternal vow with God…made with blood,' she told Correriere Della Sera. 'All the practices related to expired food are true – expired yogurt or corned beef for example. We were told that if we ate that food with obedience nothing would have happened… but that’s not true because I had many stomach aches and abdomen pains.'

'All the practices related to expired food are true – expired yogurt or corned beef for example. We were told that if we ate that food with obedience nothing would have happened… but that’s not true because I had many stomach aches and abdomen pains.'

Daily Mail... AMDG

+Wuerl Chancery Issues Cowardly Apology in Face of Media Frenzy

Edit:  the days when the American Church could be counted upon to withstand public opinion seem far away.  Many prelates will use public opinion to their advantage, but when it really comes to defending the Sanctity of the things they're sworn to defend, they cower like hirelings before the baying of the wolves that are threatening the flock.

Here's how it's going to play itself out, more or less: the next step will be to summon Father Guanizo for a meeting where he will be expected to apologize, and he'll be expected to undergo counselling as well while the Diocese considers his suitability for future ministry.

“You brought your politics, not your God into that Church yesterday, and you will pay dearly on the day of judgment for judging me,” she wrote in a letter to Guarnizo. “I will pray for your soul, but first I will do everything in my power to see that you are removed from parish life so that you will not be permitted to harm any more families.”

Late Tuesday, Johnson received a letter of apology from the Rev. Barry Knestout, one of the archdiocese’s highest-ranking administrators, who said the lack of “kindness” she and her family received “is a cause of great concern and personal regret to me.”

“I am sorry that what should have been a celebration of your mother’s life, in light of her faith in Jesus Christ, was overshadowed by a lack of pastoral sensitivity,” Knestout wrote. “I hope that healing and reconciliation with the Church might be possible for you and any others who were affected by this experience. In the meantime, I will offer Mass for the happy repose of your mother’s soul. May God bring you and your family comfort in your grief and hope in the Resurrection.”

Johnson called the letter “comforting” and said she greatly appreciates the apology. But, she added, “I will not be satisfied” until Guarnizo is removed.

The priest’s action has also triggered an uproar among gay rights activists and enlivened some religious conservatives. It came just days after the Maryland Senateapproved legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in the state; Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is expected to sign it this week.

Link to D.C....

H/t Religion News Roundup....

41 Percent of Russians Against Abortion

Russia. [kreuz.net] 41 percent of the Russians want the inhuman law, that allows abortion in Russia, corrected. This figure is a result of a poll by the public opinion institute 'Levada'. In Russia there are one million registered abortions a year. In the past, the parliament has recommended better legal protection for unborn children.