life-after-RC

News from Cheshire

A reader kindly informs us:

Garza received 17 first vows, 20 renewals and one perpetual vow.

How does this compare with past years? Where are these men from? Are there still more men leaving than entering? What is the mood in the house?

Cheshire and health concerns

I'm creating a separate thread and moving related comments here concerning the recent unfortunate information released by the Connecticut Department of Health. The New Haven Independent recently compiled data on school cafeterias statewide and posted the results on their site.

The lowest scores came from the cafeteria in the private seminary run by the Legionaries of Christ on Oak Avenue. The Chesprocott Health District inspection showed that sinks were unclean and the presence of dead and live flies were noted.

• Metal cans have dents and bulges
  Food not stored on shelves and properly covered
  Bagels stored in a torn garbage bag
  Deteroration of contact surfaces
  Dishwasher is 30 degrees too cold on final rinse
  Bath towel used instead of plastic curtain on outcoming side of the dishwasher
  Drawers, dollies, probe thermometer, ice machine and sinks are unclean.
  Does not have paper towels at hand sink
  Living and dead flies.
  Eggs kept out too long.
• Food stored on floor. Dry good storage not properly covered.
  Walk-in cooler food not properly stored
  Bare hand contact with food items.
  Towels thrown on dry goods.
  Hands wiped on apron
  Dust pan and broom stored with food items.
  No sanitizer used at inspection.
  General cleaning needed.
  No paper towels available at all.

Pandering to the power brokers

There is a three-way brawl underway, involving Sean Hannity (cafeteria Catholic, Fox News celebrity), Fr.  Euteneuer (director of Human Life International), and Fr. Morris, LC (Fox News analyst, seminary head). SH invited Fr. E on his show to defend Church teaching, only to sucker punch him when he did so. Fr. E never lost his cool, but calmly stated that SH was deviating from Church teaching in a public and obstinate way and would be denied Holy Communion should he present himself to Fr. E.

Fr. M enters the fray -- to defend SH, and to admonish Fr. E for a lack of charity. He writes that Fr. E has no right to judge anything about SH, and subsequently praises SH for his virtue:

Sean, I don't always agree with you and Alan, as I have told both of you in person, but I think you are both honest, and both have the humility and courage to accept truth when you stumble across it, even when it comes in bits and pieces. I think it's precisely this three-pronged attitude of honesty, humility and courage that best prepares us, with all of our imperfections, for heaven.

[Evidently, only positive judgements of the state of others' souls are allowed.]

Fr E. responds forcefully, explaining the importance of fraternal correction, of not caving in to celebrities:

As a seminary rector, I would sincerely hope that you are not teaching by word or example the young men in your charge to be politically correct sissies who are afraid to roll up their sleeves and defend the Church in private and in public. We have tons of those types in the clergy already.

But Fr M responds "heroically" once more, explaining that public opinion is on his side (which reflects some moral high ground, I suppose)

Particularly interesting were the hundreds of messages I have received yesterday from non-Catholics, including many pastors, and non-Christians. In these notes you expressed your commitment to collaborate with both of us as we strive together to build a civilization of truth and love.

First of all, collaboration with non-Catholics about the issues involved (esp. birth control) will not build a civilization of truth -- it will only serve to water down doctrine. They have all rejected the Church's teaching, Father. That's why they're non-Catholics.

I don't believe a word of this last statement. Not. One. Word. Why on God's green earth, after that vitriolic exchange about the access to Holy Communion and the priest scandal, would non-Catholics feel obliged to rush to support Fr. Morris' attack on a fellow priest. It doesn't make any sense. It's a complete non sequitur.

Public opinion on Catholic blogs (for what little that's worth) is completely in support of Fr. Euteneuer. He was sandbagged by a irreverent and boorish host. Fr. Morris piles on -- and then claims he has mailbags of support.

The interesting comment that keeps popping up involves the surprise that a Legionary would be so ... "unorthodox!" Well, it's a pattern that we've seen for years, and an article in the works will attempt to connect the dots. The Magisterium has been a regal cloak under which the Legion has hidden for decades, but it's simply a mask for very unorthodox ends. There was nothing surprising about this whole episode -- except that what is usually better hidden popped out for so many to see.

Unprofessional publication

The Legion caters to a subset of Catholics -- those they deem to be leaders in one realm or another. Part of the methodology of efficiency is to convert those who influence others so that more souls might be won for Christ. To that end, they focus on education, mass media, and industry, which is all well and good.

But, if they are to rub shoulders with academics and professionals, then they should follow the rubrics of the academy themselves. My beef is a particular book that has come to my attention, New Woman, which is written by Gloria Conde, translated from the original Spanish by Karna Swanson, and carries an introduction by Mary Ann Glendon. Published by the Legion's Circle Press, it is no doubt a product of the Movement, and most likely a work to go hand-in-hand with the New Woman apostolate, found online at http://www.newoman.org. (Now this group is also affiliated with RC, although no mention is made on the site.)

In this book, one finds abundant ideas and quotes from other works on the topic of femininity and feminism, with outrageously shabby attributions and a dearth of citations. The explanation is given at the end, above a list of books, papal pronouncements, and articles:

Note: the books mentioned below have been used to a greater or lesser degree. Given that this text is not a scientific work, only a small number of citations will be given in the text.

Scientific work or not, this is completely unacceptable. I have some of the works in question, am familiar with the authors, and know that many of the ideas in New Woman are lifted wholesale -- including imbedded quotes -- from the books listed. Any writer knows that all ideas as well as direct quotes have to be attributed and even in well-meaning theological circles, respect is due to the work of others.

Question: How can members of the Movement be taken seriously as professionals in arenas where their contributions are simply repackaging the ideas of others and adding their own logo?

Answer: They shouldn't be. And Mary Ann Glendon should have known better than to lend her name (and credibility) to this book.

Mater Ecclesiae in Rhode Island

The young women studying at Mater Ecclesiae in Rhode Island have been told that this school is accredited as a college. In fact their parents were assured that this was a fact. Unfortunately, they are not listed as such by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and when this educational organization was consulted, they insisted on two things:

• they are the governing body for accrediting schools
• Mater Ecclesia has applied but not completed its requirements

This is important for two reasons. First, the credits from an unaccredited institution may not necessarily be transferred if the student leaves and tries to finish her education elsewhere; and secondly, it is duplicitous. Why would they lie about such a thing? If someone can prove that the accreditation is valid and that legitimate degrees can be conferred, he or she needs to be forthcoming with that evidence.