News Briefs

Detroit archdiocese criticizes ‘racist and derogatory language’ from Church Militant

June 12, 2020 CNA Daily News 11

CNA Staff, Jun 12, 2020 / 05:50 pm (CNA).- The Archdiocese of Detroit responded Thursday to a video produced by a website operating in the Detroit archdiocese, which it said used “racist and derogatory language” to describe the African-American Archbishop of Washington D.C.

The Church Militant website, which produces Catholic-themed articles and opinion videos, released a video June 11 entitled “AFRICAN QUEEN BUSTED LYING.”

The video consists of commentary from Church Militant founder Michael Voris about recent events concerning, in his words, the “accused homosexual, Marxist bishop” of Washington D.C., Wilton Gregory.

In the video, Voris characterized Gregory as a “liar” and repeated a claim Church Militant has made in other videos, articles, and on social media, that Gregory is an “active homosexual” and has promoted active homosexual clergy to a “gay cabal” in the dioceses he has led.

On June 11, the archdiocese released a statement in response.

“The Archdiocese of Detroit has been made aware that an organization located in southeast Michigan has published racist and derogatory language in reference to Archbishop of Washington D.C. Wilton D. Gregory. The organization in question is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Archdiocese of Detroit,” the statement said.

“Racist and derogatory speech wrongfully diminishes the God-given dignity of others. It is not in accord with the teachings of Christ,” Archbishop Allen Vigneron added to that statement.

“As our nation continues its important conversation on racism, it is my hope that the faithful will turn from this and all other acts or attitudes which deny the inherent dignity shared by all people.”

In remarks to CNA, an archdiocesan spokesperson issued a warning about the group.

The archdiocese “unequivocally condemns the offensive language used in reference to Archbishop Gregory and advises the faithful that Church Militant is not affiliated with, endorsed, or recommended by the Archdiocese of Detroit,” archdiocesan communications director Holly Fornier told CNA June 12.

Fornier declined to comment on whether Vigneron has any further recourse to ecclesiastical penalties against Church Militant in light of the June 11 video, and whether he was considering taking any further action beyond the archdiocesan statement.

Archbishop Gregory has faced questions in recent days about his denunciation of President Donald Trump’s June 2 visit to the John Paul II Shrine, which Gregory described as “baffling and reprehensible” given the current climate of political protest.

CNA reported June 8 that Gregory had, the week prior to the visit, declined an invitation to the president’s event at the shrine.

Voris characterized Gregory as a “liar” for speaking out on the day of Trump’s visit rather than on the day he declined the invitation.

He also claimed that “various priests who have been in his presence for more than three seconds” call Gregory “African Queen.”

Church Militant did not respond to CNA’s request for comment.

Christine Niles, senior producer at Church Militant, in a June 12 tweet repeated Voris’ claim that the nickname is used by clergy and seminarians— none of whom Church Militant has named— behind Gregory’s back.

“‘African’ is his race. ‘Queen’ is a common term used by homosexuals to refer to other homosexuals. Thus, ‘African Queen.’ It’s the name bandied about by clergy and seminarians about Abp. Gregory for years,” Niles wrote.

In another tweet, she claimed “famed sex abuse expert and former priest Richard Sipe said [Gregory] is indeed homosexual.”

Church Militant had on June 5 published a report claiming that Sipe had deemed Gregory an “active homosexual.” This appears to be a reference to a 2006 document from Sipe in which he presented “A Preliminary Review of Sexual Orientation of Some American Bishops,” and in which he noted that the list implied “no accusation of sexual activity on the part of anyone named.”

Separately, Niles on June 12 defended the moniker “African Queen” as a “movie reference” to the 1951 film “The African Queen.”

She dismissed myriad calls online from fellow Catholics to remove the video, many of whom urged Voris and the rest of the Church Militant staff to “go to confession.”

“We’re Catholics in good standing,” Niles tweeted June 12.

In the same tweet, Niles said the archdiocese “has a habit of lying, and accused it of falsifying an allegation of rape against a priest, adding that “we don’t really care what their opinion is about us. It’s irrelevant,” Niles said.

The priest in question is Father Eduard Perrone, who the archdiocese temporarily removed from ministry in July 2019 and brought under a canonical investigation for an allegation of groping a former altar boy. The priest denies the allegations.

Church Militant has frequently accused the archdiocese of fabricating a rape charge against Perrone. The Archdiocese of Detroit has not responded directly to those allegations. Several staff members of Church Militant, including Voris, have said or posted online that they attend the parish Perrone led.

The conflict is not the first clash the group has had with American bishops.

In 2011, the Archdiocese of Detroit said that Church Militant, which was founded as “RealCatholicTV,” should not use the word “Catholic” from its name. The group made a name change, while maintaining that the archdiocese did not have authority to require it, because the site was owned and headquartered elsewhere.

In 2015, then-Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput said Church Militant “sow division wherever they tread,” while the Philadelphia archdiocese said the “sole desire” of Church Militant “is to create division, confusion, and conflict within the Church. Actions of that nature run contrary to Christian tradition. Their reports are not to be taken seriously.”

 

 

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Austin to fund secret abortions for minors, despite Texas law

June 12, 2020 CNA Daily News 2

CNA Staff, Jun 12, 2020 / 05:20 pm (CNA).- The Austin City Council on Thursday voted to provide funding to an abortion organization that helps minors procure abortion without their parents’ consent.

The city council chose unanimously June 11 to provide up to $150,000 in funding to Jane’s Due Process.

Texas Values, a pro-life group, testified against the measure.

“Today, the Austin City Council engaged in political posturing to see how far they can go before violating SB 22,” said Mary Elizabeth Castle, Policy Advisor for Texas Values.

In 2019 Texas adopted SB 22, banning local governments from financially supporting abortion providers. The state law was in reaction to Austin’s decision to lease a building to Planned Parenthood for $1 a year.

Castle stated that “the City of Austin should not be spending taxpayer dollars to help end the lives of unborn children.”

The Austin city council also voted in September 2019 to provide $150,000 for transportation, childcare, or lodging for Austin residents who are seeking an abortion. Councilman Don Zimmerman has challenged the council’s decision in court.

“I am saddened by the recent news that members of the Austin City Council are working on a proposal to increase financial support for access to abortion in the community,” Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin had said Aug. 21, 2019.

“I, along with the Catholic Church, continue to affirm the intrinsic value of human life and the dignity of every person in a way that transforms culture,” he stated.

In January, the Trump administration approved a Texas women’s health program that bars funding for health care providers that perform abortions. The Department of Health and Human Services approved the Medicaid waiver for the Healthy Texas Women program, which helps provide health care and family planning services to tens of thousands of women.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed the waiver, saying, “The Lone Star State is once again in partnership with the federal government to provide meaningful family planning and health services while fostering a culture of life.”

“This collaboration is a symbol of our commitment to championing the lives of Texas women. I am grateful to President Trump and his administration for approving this waiver, and for his commitment to protecting the unborn while providing much-needed health resources to Texas women,” Abbott said Jan. 22.

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NH lawmaker says education choice is only for ‘well-educated’ parents

June 12, 2020 CNA Daily News 0

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jun 12, 2020 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- A state senator in New Hampshire has drawn criticism for saying that working-class parents should not have the same freedom to make educational choices for their children as college-educated parents. 

“This idea of parental choice, that’s great if the parent is well-educated. There are some families that’s perfect for. But to make it available to everyone? No. I think you’re asking for a huge amount of trouble,” said Sen. Jeanne Dietsch (D-Peterborough) on Tuesday, June 9. Her comments were reported by InsideSources. 

Dietsch was speaking at an education committee hearing in favor of a bill that would repeal a statewide alternative schooling program, called Learn Everywhere. 

Learn Everywhere is a program that permits students to earn course credit “through hands-on, real-world experience” including jobs and apprenticeships outside of a classroom. 

The bill SB 514, which is sponsored by Dietsch, would require the state’s board of education “to establish a process for the approval of vendors offering alternative, extended learning, and work-based programs which may be accepted for credit by a local school board.”

Dietsch explained that as her father had not graduated from high school, it was important to him that she attend college, and that he would not have been helpful in picking out coursework. 

‘When it gets into the details, would my father have known what courses I should be taking? I don’t think so,” she said. 

Dietsch explained that she did not think some parents were qualified to make decisions for their children that extended beyond their own level of attainment. 

“If the dad’s a carpenter, and you want to become a carpenter,” she said “then yes — listen to your dad.”

“In a democracy, and particularly in the United States, public education has been the means for people to move up to greater opportunities, for each generation to be able to succeed more than their parents have,” said Dietsch. 

George D’Orazio, a senior board member of Catholics United For Home Education-New Hampshire, told CNA that the educational status of a parent does not factor when making medical or financial decisions for a child, and it should not matter in educational decisions either.

“CUHE utterly rejects the concept that only certain parents should have choice in education,” said D’Orazio. 

D’Orazio said that he believed Dietsch’s party affiliation shaped her comments on Tuesday, and that New Hampshire as a whole has typically been very friendly to homeschooling and alternative schooling choices.

“The current governor, who is a Republican, has worked hard to try to increase educational choices available to parents,” he said. “The current education commissioner (in the state of New Hampshire) has worked very hard to increase parental choice in education,” he said. 

“And they’re being criticized, thoroughly criticized (…) by the leaders of the Democratic Party for this.” 

Other experts and commentators in favor of school choice and parental rights were similarly critical of the senator’s comments. 

“Parents have the right, and duty, to make decisions about their child’s education – simply because they are parents,” Mary Rice Hasson, director of the Catholic Women’s Forum, told CNA. 

“The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children– regardless of the parents’ education level. There’s no asterisk that says a college degree or PhD is required. Parents fulfill this responsibility out of love, with an eye towards the deepest needs of the child, spiritual as well as intellectual formation,” she added. 

“Opposition to educational freedom is often rooted in the paternalistic belief that disadvantaged families aren’t capable of making good choices for their own children,” Corey DeAngelis, the director of school choice at Reason Foundation, told CNA. 

“But that’s wrong–families are more likely to know what’s best for their own children than bureaucrats,” he added. 

Dietsch’s chosen example of carpenters as professionals unable to make informed choices for their children’s education also drew a backlash from local business owners. 

“With all due respect to the senator, I am a carpenter, and the idea that she, or any other government official, knows what’s best for me or any member of my family is preposterous,” Tim Hawes, owner of Perfection In Restoration in Candia, New Hampshire told NHJournal. 

“I may not have a degree, but I can guarantee that when it comes to decisions regarding my family’s interest I am far more educated and capable than any government official will ever be,” Hawes said.

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Scranton diocese: ‘No credible evidence’ against Msgr. Rossi

June 12, 2020 CNA Daily News 10

Washington D.C., Jun 12, 2020 / 12:36 pm (CNA).- The Diocese of Scranton released a statement Friday regarding Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The statement said that after an exhaustive investigation, investigators found no credible evidence to support allegations of misconduct against Rossi.

“The investigation of allegations of personal misconduct was led by outside counsel assisted by a retired  FBI agent with over thirty years of investigative experience. The investigation included interviews with numerous witnesses who have known Monsignor Rossi throughout his years in ministry,” the statement, released June 12, said.

“These witnesses included current and former Basilica employees, former CUA students, and current and former members of the clergy who were assigned to the Basilica or who worked with Monsignor Rossi.”

The statement said that “several witnesses were critical of Monsignor Rossi, including his managerial style at the Basilica, but none were aware of or could provide first-hand knowledge of sexual impropriety.”

The diocese also said that some of the witnesses “merely re-stated unsupported and unsubstantiated  rumors that  previously appeared in certain publications.” 

“The investigator attempted unsuccessfully to interview many additional witnesses and searched diligently for witnesses who could possibly support the rumors against Monsignor Rossi, but found none. The investigator also tried to locate the unnamed ‘sources’ for the critical articles, but could not.”

“The purpose of the Diocese’s investigation was to seek out credible  evidence of sexual impropriety and, if found, to determine an appropriate response,” said the statement. “At the conclusion of its comprehensive investigation, the Diocese of Scranton found no such credible evidence.”

Rossi had been variously accused of directing young men to a priest friend who was accused of harassing them by phone and text message, and, in accusations made by former apostolic nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, of sexual contact with male students at the nearby Catholic University of America.

A second statement, released Friday Archbishop Wilton Gregory, chairman of the national shrine’s board, said that an investigation into shrine finances “found no improprieties and confirmed sound fiscal management of the Basilica.”

“During the course of investigation, numerous individuals were interviewed, including those responsible for fiscal administration at the Basilica. Additionally, the accounting experts performed an in-depth review of expenditures, general ledgers, credit card statements, receipts, invoices, capital budgets, bank and investment account statements as well as certain investment account reconciliations and other financial worksheets,” the shrine said.

That investigation “found no unreasonable or inappropriate expenditures or significant issues in the financial administration of the Basilica. The investigations did assist in suggesting certain improvements in management and policy enhancements that will benefit the Basilica and will be implemented.”

Rossi was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1987, and remains incarnated in that diocese. He has lived in Washington since 1997, where he served first as the national shrine’s associate rector and director of pilgrimages, before being promoted to rector of the basilica and made a monsignor in 2005.

The investigation was opened in August 2019, after concerns were raised about Rossi to Archbishop Wilton Gregory Aug. 13, during a question-and-answer session at a Theology on Tap, held at the Public Bar Live in the Dupont area of Washington.

A participant at the August event told Gregory that Rossi has been accused of directing young men to Fr. Matthew Reidlinger, a priest friend of Rossi’s who is alleged to have sexually harassed them in phone calls and text messages. That accusation was first made in 2013.

Gregory said he was unfamiliar with that allegation and called for an independent, forensic investigation. The following day, on Aug. 14, Rossi’s home diocese of Scranton told CNA that Bishop Joseph Bambera had “commenced the process of launching a full forensic investigation” and that it would work “jointly and cooperatively” with the Archdiocese of Washington on a “comprehensive investigation.”

Beyond the allegations mentioned at the Aug. 13 Theology on Tap, additional accusations had also been leveled against Rossi.

In an interview in June, 2019, Archbishop Vigano alleged that the nunciature in Washington had received “documentation that states that Msgr. Rossi had sexually molested male students at the Catholic University of America.”

Vigano also said that both the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and former Washington archbishop Cardinal Donald Wuerl were “well aware of the situation,” and that Rossi had previously been proposed for promotion to bishop and been blocked.

In September 2019, The Catholic University of America announced that Rossi had taken a leave of absence from the university’s board of trustees, of which he was a member by virtue of his role at the basilica.

 

 

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