THU, DEC 11 -- If only heretics were so energetically restrained: The Roman Catholic diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in western Pennsylvania has ordered Rev. John Nesbella, who works at the Prince of Peace parish in Northern Cambria to stop distributing the pamphlet, "Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do." 
     Father Nesbella says the seven-page document supports the church's stance against same-sex marriage by detailing claims about the negative medical consequences of gay sex acts. (AP in Washington Post, 12/11/2003)

THU, DEC 4 -- Exiting on the right foot!!: "If they were to continue to do that, I would simply have to ask them not to present themselves to receive the sacraments  because they would not be Catholics in good standing," said Bishop Raymond L. Burke about letters sent to Wisconsin lawmakers; Bishop Burke was appointed Tuesday by Pope John Paul II to serve as the archbishop of St. Louis. 

FRI, NOV 28 -- (Catholic News Service, 11/27/2003) -- The U.S. bishops have begun work on a set of guidelines for themselves on how to handle relationships with Catholics whose actions in public life are not in accord with church teaching.

Globe article on possible sanctions: Bishops scold some Catholic politicians (Boston Globe, 11/26/2003) -- In a freewheeling discussion reflecting years of concern, some bishops suggested that the church should consider punishments ranging from denying honorary degrees to elected officials, refusing to allow them to speak at Catholic institutions, or even excommunicating them.

A Deal Hudson e-mail responds to Boston Globe report of favorable portrayal of VOTF by archdiocese.

TUE, NOV 11 -- Don't get your hopes up, BUT!! Bishops consider excommunicating pro-abort pols (Boston Globe, 11/11/2003) [Great news, but we expect it to be "studied" to near death, with only sporadic, isolated enactments of whatever resolutions they come up with.]

THU, OCT 30 -- "Contrary to the headlines, the Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts upheld church teaching on marriage at last week's State House hearing in Boston, and did not announce a change in their opposition to domestic partnership legislation," the bishops wrote to lawmakers today (WCVB-Channel 5, 10/30/2003).

Sisters of Mercy at Saint Xavier University Theologically Mangle "Ex Corde Ecclesiae" To Justify Invitation to Pro-Abort IL Gov. Jim Edgar, Who Lectured Catholic Students on His "Moral Compass" As Fatithful Catholics Protest Outside in the Rain (10/30/2003)

ARE THEY JUST ABOUT WORTHLESS? The Dismal State of Most Catholic Colleges & Universities  (New Oxford Review, 10/30/2003)

THU, OCT 23 -- Loosening the belt of truth? Regarding benefits for sexually deviant couples, Worcester's Bishop Reilly told the Judiciary Committee and press today, ''If the goal is to look at individual benefits and determine who should be eligible beyond spouses, then we will join the discussion. ... There should be a way for the state to provide the benefits they have a right to, like other citizens,'' Reilly said. ''But just to put the title of marriage on it, I think that's a wrong way to go."

FRI, OCT 8 -- Halloween Ghosts and Goblins Aren't All Fun and Games: interview with author and Rome's Exorcist Fr. Gabriel Amorth (10/10/2003) -- Fr. Amorth is Rome's leading exorcist. His book, "An Exorcist Tells His Story" is not sensationalist, but written as a first hand account of what is really happening on the front lines of the spiritual war.

U.S. Bishops Coast-to-Coast Cop Out: Boston Bishop O'Malley Says "It Is Not Our Policy To Deny Communion" (10/3/2003, New Oxford Review) -- Archbishop Sean O'Malley made the following statement on July 29, 2003, from his Archdiocese's Public Release Office, "a Catholic politician who holds a public, pro-choice position should not be receiving Communion...." However, he added (incredibly!): "The Church presumes that each person is receiving in good faith. It is not our policy to deny Communion. It is up to the individual."

FRI, OCT 3 -- ALL's "Unholy Trinity" ad: American Life League's Joseph Starrs said he's hoping to convince Catholic bishops and priests that they should refuse Holy Communion to public officials who openly support legalized abortion (Canon 915). 
     Opposition to ALL from Archdiocese of Los Angeles: "The reception of Holy Communion by Catholics is a right guaranteed by the church, not a privilege..."
     Arnold: "I'm Catholic. Yes, absolutely. I grew up as a Catholic, and my mother was the one that was the spiritual leader in our house... So that's the way I grew up, and I'm a spiritual person. I pray, and I, you know, I communicate with God." 

SAT, SEPT 27 -- (LifesiteNews.com/cwnews.com, 9/26) - American Life League's "Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church" will unveil a new ad Tuesday about California's "Unholy Trinity" of gubernatorial candidates.
     "Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cruz Bustamante, and Gray Davis unapologetically tout their pro-abortion stances while claiming to be 'Catholics' in good standing. This is gravely dishonest. They shamelessly pander to the culture of death, and it is about time the leaders of the Catholic Church say enough is enough," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "Not just for the sake of the souls of these three, but also for the countless souls they mislead with their actions."
     According to Crusade director Joseph Starrs, ALL is once again asking California's Catholic bishops-- as it did this past May with the release of its California Deadly Dozen ad campaign-- to "dispel the lie that a Catholic can be 'personally pro-life' while publicly being pro-abortion."
     The ad will run September 30 in the Sacramento Bee, and it will appear in several other newspapers throughout California and the United States. 

SAT, SEPT 20 -- A short-notice picket of pro-abortion Boston City Council candidate Matt O'Malley -- disgracefully held at Knights of Columbus Council # 1308 in Roslindale (Boston, MA) -- was held last night outside of the Council hall. Thanks to the intervention of state Knights, officials at the Roslindale council will reportedly be fired; and a second fundraiser for another pro-abort candidate in October was cancelled!

MON, SEPT 15 -- to meet with USCCB President Wilton Gregory and four other bishops in Washington DC.
     Attendees were especially critical of the pro-abortion Catholics like Leon Panetta who had been appointed to the National Review Board (NRB) investigating sexual abuse reforms. Report on the meeting . . .

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