Bishop Malone on Gov. Andrew Cuomo Directive Against 'Extremists'

Latest on Cuomo's comments at the New York Post HERE.

And Fr. Barron spoke out on the matter:

Misguided Politician of the Week: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Okay, so he isn't really the Misguided Politician of the Week. He really deserves at least a month. In 2007, I warned New Yorkers and the world about legislation in the works under the moniker of 'Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act.' Gov. Cuomo, a CINO who is infamous for forcing the passage of legislation in the night (see HERE and HERE), embraced the bill from the beginning of his term and now seeks to make it law.

Did you know that New York City is the Abortion Capitol of the United States? Yet Planned Parenthood advocates think women need MORE access to abortion (See HERE and HERE). How can you get more when you already have the most?  They seek late term abortions. None of this 'killing tissue' stuff - let's go right to the far boundary of the murdering business and kill infants. Despite the horrific Gosnell case, and the news of another abortion 'house of horrors' in Delaware, New Yorkers now need to be gravely concerned about this horrific legislation being shoved through the NYS Assembly and Senate.

What can you do? 

• Please read the bullet-points of the proposed law at NY State Catholic Conference HERE. 
• Send a letter opposing the legislation to Cuomo, your Assemblyman, and your Senator HERE. 

P.S. I will not apologize for the negativity on this page. When people sanction the murder of children, yet go on television with a plea for law-abiding and peaceful people to hand over the guns so that perhaps 'even just one child' may be saved, I am frankly dumbfounded. Murder is murder is murder. How many Catholics voted for this man? And how many remain his supporters even now?

Two peas in a pod

4/23/2013 Times Union: Cuomo: Take a position, details be damned

Misguided Politician of the Week: Governor Dannel P. Malloy

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy
Won election in 2010, up for re-election 2014

Though the phrase 'even a broken clock is right twice a day' has been proven to be true time and time again, when it comes to CINO politicians, their brokenness is overwhelming. If he were a clock, Gov. Dannel P Malloy is broken to the extent that only Jesus can repair. There are some issues which are left to individual conscience, and there are some that are non-negotiable. Governor Malloy holds views completely incompatible with Catholicism. I pray that Gov. Malloy will someday see his separation from God, and seek reconciliation with the Church he left behind.

Gov. Malloy is supportive of abortion, stem-cell research (does not differentiate between adult stem-cell and embryonic stem-cell), and same sex "marriage." 

Quotes:

Stem Cell Research: "As Governor I will expand state investment in stem cell research and other cutting edge bio-medical fields; these investments directly generate high-quality, high-skill jobs and strengthen competitiveness in this critical field." Source

On the anniversary of SCOTUS ruling on Roe v. Wade: "A woman's right to control her own reproductive health care--her own body--is not and should not be a question for politicians," said Governor Malloy. "I've always been a strong supporter of a woman's right to choose, and the anniversary of Roe v. Wade certainly marks a milestone. That said, across this country we are witnessing a tremendous erosion of a woman's access to quality healthcare. Through defunding and the egregiously burdensome regulation of fundamental healthcare services, women are being denied their rights to control their own bodies and their futures. Just as we recognize how far we've come in 40 years, we also recognize how far we have to go."

"This anniversary is a reminder that the fight for a woman's right to choose is as crucial today as it was four decades ago--despite all the gains we have made over the years, the battle is not yet over," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. "We are fortunate that Connecticut has a long tradition of being a leader on this issue, and that the Obama administration is clearly on the side of choice. But we must continue our commitment to keep and strengthen this important freedom--no matter who is in the White House." Source

*Do you have a nominee for a future 'Misguided Politician' entry? Submit your suggestion (does not need to be a politician in the United States) to catholicponderings@yahoo.com

Misguided Politician of the Week - VP Joe Biden

VP of the US, Joe Biden/AP Photo

If you are both a citizen of the United States of America and Catholic, you should know that Vice President Joe Biden, a.k.a. 'Crazy Uncle Joe,' will be representing our nation at the upcoming Installation Mass of Pope Francis. Our Vice President reports that he is Catholic, but any honest person (Catholic or not) would admit that his Catholic identity is recognizable only when it is convenient.

Mr. Biden reportedly said that he looks forward to working with the new Pontiff on important issues in the future. It's too bad there is no indication the VP's future will be any different than his past. He'll be doing the 'Pelosi Shuffle' on Tuesday, St. Joseph's Day.

Just as other CINOs who went to Rome before, he'll jam an index finger into each ear and shout, "Yada, yada, yada I can't hear you Holy Father!" as the pope attempts to educate him. Pope Francis (Cardinal Bergoglio) on Catholic politicians:

“we should commit ourselves to ‘eucharistic coherence’, that is, we should be conscious that people cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated.  This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors, and health professionals"--Source

Latest quote: When talking about an upcoming meeting with cardinals, “I’d better show up or I’ll lose my soul.”

Breaking: Conclave Rumored to Have Already Chosen Lesbian for Pope

Catchy headline, right? Since the Holy Father's announcement of resignation, there has been an explosion of scandalous suggestions, finger-pointing, and pontificating by people across all forms of media. I don't know about you, but events which have taken place over this past year has certainly been trying my patience. Think Obama winning re-election, Boy Scouts of America's waning support of traditional values, the economy, the creeping in of socialist ideals, the government's shredding of our Constitutional rights, Obama, oh - I already mentioned him. I sincerely believe with all my being that the Holy Spirit guides the Church, and having done so for 2000 years, He is more than capable of seeing us all through another papal election. If the Church survived Pope Alexander VI, I think that given the current methods of selecting a pontiff, we'll all be just fine. Some fellow Catholics quickly spun into panic mode and behaved as if as a child, they suddenly found out their father left the family. I read online where a priest  commented that a pope must never "come down off the cross." He was alluding to the fact that Pope John Paul II suffered for a very long time and remained in the Chair of Peter until he entered into eternal rest. I tried to ignore comments such as these, reminding myself that this was quite a surprise to all and that we all deal with shock differently.

I remember when I was a kid in the 1970s and woke up one morning to hear on the news that the pope had died. We watched on television as the conclave met, and celebrated the sight of white smoke spewing out of the chimney. Then just weeks later, I woke up to hear that the pope died.

"I know he died. Duh."

"No, the new one died."

"WHAT?!"

We all survived - well, except for the pontiffs who didn't. Please don't misunderstand, I don't underestimate the great love for Pope Benedict XVI that millions around the world have. I also have a realistic understanding of the aging process and know the limits of most people who are well into their eighties. He is doing what he believes to be best for our Church and has done some very remarkable things in the time he has served us as shepherd. I believe him when he says he reached the decision prayerfully. Give the man a break. And what a good man, fully human, he is.

What I find frustrating is the fact that so many feel called to weigh in on what the Church should and shouldn't do. It is bad enough when non-Catholics call for a more 'progressive' pontiff, or one who will allow priests to marry, females to become priests, gay men to be ordained, etc. - but then when fellow Catholics begin to opine similarly, it drives me batty! Add to this the uncertainty of individuals in the US who are currently without a Bishop and the people who seize upon the situation to undermine the Church, I completely shed all charitable thoughts and want to scream! What would I yell?

• If you aren't Catholic, mind your own business! 
• If you are Catholic and think women should be ordained and/or: you believe the Church teachings on the gay lifestyle, abortion, artificial birth control, clown Masses, use of Latin in the Liturgy, the Eucharist, etc. are wrong - please leave. Stop your whining, take your self-righteous and condescending opinions and go. There are hundreds of options within 100 mile radius of just about anywhere in the lower 48 states. Buh bye. See ya! 
• If you're Catholic and find yourself dipping into the realm of despair from time to time, adopt a cardinal. Pray. Trust. All shall be well. 

You Know You're a CINO When...

Everyone knows at least one, and most of us are related to some. People who identify themselves as being Catholic, but everything they do and say contradicts the identity. In the past, they've been know as 'Cafeteria Catholics' - picking and choosing which parts of the faith they want to follow, discarding what they find to be undesirable for one reason or another. I prefer to use the term CINO, or Catholic In Name Only. There are many lists on the internet that make us all laugh because we identify with them. One list I've come across many times in varying forms is a 'You Know You're Catholic When...' and they include things like: You know you're Catholic when... you watch Star Wars and want to say "and also with you" when a character says, "May the force be with you." I've come up with a list just for CINOs. We've all been frustrated by CINOs, and many 'Catholic' politicians remind us daily that just because someone says they're Catholic, well - you finish the sentence. Feel free to add your own via comments and I'll post them for you. Not in any particular order:

You know you’re a CINO when…

• You think the rosary your grandmother gave you is a piece of jewelry
• You think a guardian angel is that thing pinned to your car visor
• You look forward to Easter because you know it means you’ll have days off of school or work
• You think the Holy Trinity is bell pepper, onion, and celery
• You hear the word Godfather and immediately think of the mafia
• You rarely attend Mass, but when you decide to get married, you insist upon a Catholic wedding
• You skip Mass during hunting season or take the summer off
• After your Catholic wedding, you stop attending Mass only to hop back into the pew when you have a child - just before Baptism.
• You get around to having your child baptized as a toddler because you've been just too busy
• You sign your kids up for CCD classes at First Communion time, and then don’t make them go again until it is time for Confirmation
• You loved your Catholic school education and have fond memories of the school, but send your kids to the local public school instead. You can't afford the tuition after your Disney vacations, three car payments, trip to Aruba, and the new addition on the house.
• You finally make it to Mass on a rare occasion and still don’t know when to stand, sit, or kneel even though you've been Catholic your entire life
• You think Catholics don’t go to confession anymore
• You read the church bulletin during Mass
• You only attend the Mass with the priest that gives the shortest homily and can get you out on a Sunday in about a half hour
• You think no one prays the Rosary anymore
• You think that abortion is acceptable in certain cases
• You give your children bags of potato chips and electronic games to keep them busy during Mass
• You are annoyed to find out there is going to be a Baptism at Mass and it will delay your exit
• You leave the Mass right after receiving Communion
• You know where the Church is wrong and you are right
• You see a large family in church and think that the parents are clearly insane for having so many children or cannot control themselves
• You don’t know the difference between the Nicene and Apostles’ creeds
• You hope that someday women will be allowed to be ordained
• You genuflect before entering the pew in church, but have no idea why
• You answer your cellphone during Mass and/or send text messages
• While on vacation, you take a vacation from attending Mass
• You let your children decide whether or not they want to attend Mass and/or CCD class
• You decide to no longer go to church because you were angered by something a Priest, Sister, Brother, fellow parishioner, CCD teacher, Catholic school principal/teacher said/did/forgot to do/ate/wrote, etc.
• You stopped going to Mass because you found it boring and/or the choir was uninspiring
• You think your political decisions don't have to agree with Catholic beliefs because not everyone is Catholic