Western Massachusetts Catholics

editorial: The Ministerial Exception

2012-01-06T22:05:00.000-08:00

The New York Times, January 12, 2012 The Ministerial Exception In the case of Cheryl Perich, a teacher fired by a church-run school, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Constitution’s protection of religious freedom bars her from suing the church under federal workplace discrimination law. Ms. Perich had gotten sick and missed a term of teaching. When the school asked her to

Bishop Beats Up On Baby Jesus

2012-01-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

Once again Bishop McDonnell has beat up on Baby Jesus. The news was conveyed by faithful messenger boy Mark Dupont, in a particularly hateful letter to the editor of the Springfield Republican. It's more proof that the decision to name the warm n' fuzzy robo-magazine replacing the Observer "The Catholic Mirror" was a mistake. The true "Catholic Mirror" in the diocese is Mark Dupont: he clearly

Editorial: What in Heaven are these people thinking?

2011-12-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

from the Springfield Republican, Dec. 27, 2011: Instead of turning to lawyers and courtrooms, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield and parishioners of Mater Dolorosa Church in Holyoke should consult the one authority that can settle their dispute over the church’s status – the Gospel. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court,” Jesus exhorts his followers in

update: Bishop v. Mater Dolorsa

2011-12-29T17:58:00.001-08:00

Bishop v. Dolorosa Members Wed., January 4, 2012; 2 P.M. Hampden County Superior Court (Hall of Justice) 50 State Street (2nd or 3rd floor) Springfield, Mass.

Absolutely Elliot St.

2011-12-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: please note correction: the day of the prayer service is Friday, Dec. 23. There are two critical events happening this week, one sponsored by the ostensibly absolute rulers on Elliot St., and one by the community of the People of God at Mater Dolorosa, 71 Maple St., Holyoke. It's hard to decide which is more important. On Dec. 23, Friday night at 6:30 p.m., there will be a prayer

Giving Witness: Warm Hearts in a Cold Church

2011-12-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

The welcome hustle and bustle of the Xmas season is upon us (and the unthinking frenzy that often accompanies it), but we must not forget the many lawsuits that Bishop McDonnell has initiated, which continue to drag their way through secular courts like so many ghosts of Marley burdened with hard steel chains. The wise decision of Judge Ponsor to allow preservation of Our Lady of Hope

Father Jane Doe?

2011-12-11T10:10:00.001-08:00

Following the commentary about the "ministerial exception" being debated at SCOTUS. One of the arguments making the rounds is that Hosanna-Tabor cannot be decided in favor of the teacher's right to sue her church for retaliatory firing because, down the road, this would affect the right of the Catholic church to ordain only males. This is absurd. Nonetheless, it has been widely reported.

Hope?

2011-11-27T09:18:00.001-08:00

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Once again we enter the season of waiting. It may be a coincidence, but the gospel of yesterday morning was similar in tone - Christ told a story about keeping faith. He compared our duty for faith (or, "watchfulness") to the duty of household dependents left behind by a master who went on a trip. Christ pointed out that those people should

and now a word from our sponsor.......

2011-11-20T04:01:00.001-08:00

First Reading Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The

STEEPLEGATE

2011-11-07T17:51:00.000-08:00

"Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her." The Sunday mass readings for Nov. 6 were largely about wisdom. It gives an occasion to reflect on Bishop McDonnell's wisdom in trying to shut down Mater Dolorosa parish by claiming the steeple was unsafe. This may seem an issue upon which reasonable people can

Egan, Pomerleau, McDonnell and Why the "Ministerial Exception" Matters

2011-10-31T20:52:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that a significant case about church/state relations (the retaliatory dismissal of a Lutheran lay teacher) is under consideration by the Supreme Count. A verdict is not expected anytime soon. Nevertheless, the so-called "ministerial exception" at the heart of the case is important. It's never been ruled on by the high court, though lower courts, especially appeal courts, have

This Just In from Mater Dolorosa Church, Holyoke: David - 1, Goliath - 0

2011-10-29T06:54:00.000-07:00

Developments coming fast and furious at MD. I will sort this out soon. Here's a link to the counter-suit that parishioners filed against the Bishop, accusing him of bullying, financial malfeasance and civil rights violations: counterclaim Here's the judge's rejection of the Bishop's attempt to throw the parishioners out: Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder's ruling In other news, just in time for a

Bishop Sues Parishioners

2011-10-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Bishop McDonnell has sued the parishioners of Mater Dolorosa for trespass: Roman-Catholic-Bishop-of-Springfield-vs-Friends-of-Mater-Dolorosa-Church-court-complaint the response of the parishioners is here: Parishioners-Opposition-to-Request-for-Restraining-Order

“Church Autonomy” 6

2011-10-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

Before launching into part 6, we note that the news about the “ministerial exception” is flooding the internet. A ruling is expected (though not until 2012). This is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the disputed doctrine of church autonomy. What does it mean? See sidebar for an important link: the oral transcript from the Supreme Count, argued by none other than Douglas Laycock, whose

Why Catholic Bishops are Targeting Obama on Religious Freedom

2011-10-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

from an article in Time by Amy Sullivan: .....While you may not have heard much about this charge against the President, you surely will over the next year. Heading into this election season, the U.S. Catholic bishops are making defense of religious liberty their signature issue. Last week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops launched an Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty to act as a

editorial: Clock can't run out on sexual abuse crimes

2011-10-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

from The Berkshire Eagle, Sunday, October 2, 2011: The combination of statute of limitations laws and the understandable difficulties those abused by authority figures have in coming to grips with that abuse results in too many sexual predators escaping punishment for their grievous crimes. That must change in Massachusetts, and it will change this session if Beacon Hill acts upon much-needed

"Church Autonomy" 5

2011-09-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

“Towards a General Theory of the Religion Clauses: The Case of Church Labor Relations and the Right to Church Autonomy,” by Douglas Laycock. Columbia Law Review, Vol. 81, No. 7 (Nov., 1981), pp. 1373-1417. “Towards a General Theory of the Religion Clauses: The Case of Church Labor Relations and the Right to Church Autonomy,” by Douglas Laycock. Columbia Law Review, Vol. 81, No. 7 (Nov

The Clergy Lists: A Distinction Without A Difference?

2011-09-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

The Springfield Diocese has released a long-promised list of 15 credibly accused clergy: http://www.scribd.com/doc/63751160/History-and-Procedures-for-Handling-of-Misconduct-Allegations More about this release later. For now: how does this response to the sexual abuse crisis compare to other dioceses? Roman Catholic Bishops in the Commonwealth are evenly split: 2 have released lists (Boston

"Church Autonomy" 4

2011-08-21T19:41:00.000-07:00

Next post will be about Mark Chopko’s important 2005 article: “Freedom to be a Church: Confronting Challenges to the Right of Church Autonomy.” But first, we back away from the Supreme Count, the Constitution and the national issues and consider a very local issue: the controversy at Mater Dolorosa in Springfield, where the parishioners have been picketing the Bishop’s residence (see article

"Church Autonomy" 3

2011-08-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Here we look closely at the seminal article on autonomy: “Towards a General Theory of the Religion Clauses: The Case of Church Labor Relations and the Right to Church Autonomy,” by Douglas Laycock. Columbia Law Review, Vol. 81, No. 7 (Nov., 1981), pp. 1373-1417. On the first page (1373) Laycock states his claim for autonomy baldly: ". . . churches have a constitutionally protected interest in

“Church Autonomy” 2

2011-07-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

“Towards a General Theory of the Religion Clauses: The Case of Church Labor Relations and the Right to Church Autonomy,” by Douglas Laycock. Columbia Law Review, Vol. 81, No. 7 (Nov., 1981), pp. 1373-1417. “Freedom to be a Church: Confronting Challenges to the Right of Church Autonomy,” Mark E. Chopko and Michael F. Moses. Georgetown Journal Of Law & Public Policy Vol. 3 (2005), pp. 387-

“Church Autonomy” 1

2011-07-17T14:28:00.000-07:00

OK, long time away from writing here. The current flare-up with MD in Holyoke is yet another instance in which the authority of Bishop McDonnell has been challenged, and once again, it is for just cause. Victor Anop, Peter Stasz, Jeanne Boynton and other parishioners have many good points and many unanswered questions. They also have much love for the parish, and much determination. They

Document dispute over Holyoke church closing

2011-07-02T05:02:00.001-07:00

CBS 3 Springfield (WSHM)Jul 01, 2011 &amp;lt;em class="wnDate"&amp;gt;Friday, July 1, 2011 8:15 PM EST&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; &amp;lt;em class="wnDate"&amp;gt;Friday, July 1, 2011 8:33 PM EST&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt; By Natalie Tolomeo - emailHOLYOKE, MA - Two documents are creating even more turmoil between members of

How Many Sex Abuse Suits are Frauds?

2011-06-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

I got into an interesting conversation lately with another Catholic about sex abuse suits. He felt that many were fraudulent, and that he would advise Bishop McDonnell to just settle them all and be done with it, rather than part with dwindling Diocesan funds by hiring lawyers and fighting the claims. After all, under the Mass. charitable immunity law, the church is not legally obligated to

Transcript of Motion September 21, 2010, before Judge Michael A. Ponsor

2011-06-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

Our Lady of Hope, oral arguments 9/21/10

Nicastro v. Bishops, 6/6/11

2011-06-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

denial of Thomas L. Dupre's motion for summary judgment

Satan On a Schwinn

2011-06-07T03:29:00.000-07:00

You really have to wonder about the latest lawsuit from the Bishop's intrepid legal team, Egan, Flanagan, and Cohen. One would have thought that their wrong-headed outing against the historic designation of Our Lady of Hope church in Springfield, which they lost 0-12, might have taught a little humility. Apparently not. This latest one is meaner, goofier, and even less likely to succeed. Yes,

note on "church autonomy"

2011-05-16T17:13:00.000-07:00

during Marci Hamilton's important essay about church autonomy, she notes that the phrase stems from a 1981 article by Douglas Laycock (Towards a General Theory of the Religion Clauses: The Case of Church Labor Relations and the Right to Church Autonomy). the Laycock article is available on JSTOR. the permanent link is: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1122203

HOLY SMOKE. 5.

2011-05-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times; }p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText { margin: 0in 0in 6pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times; }p.MsoBodyTextFirstIndent, li.MsoBodyTextFirstIndent, div.MsoBodyTextFirstIndent { margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 10.5pt; font-size:

HOLY SMOKE. 4.

2011-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

OK so let’s review the big picture here, namely, the 8 counts decided. Bishop McDonnell was largely shot down trying to reverse the designation of OLOH as a historic building. Strangely, throughout the 180 or so pages the RCB filed in the lawsuit, neither McDonnell nor church lawyers ever got around to accepting any part of historic preservation, or acknowledging its worth. Apparently, as a

dis and data

2011-04-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

...despite the relative powerlessness of lay Catholics in pushing for change, WMC continue to support resistance to the corporate power of the Springfield Diocese, which is often used to circumvent and frustrate the dignity and rights of stouthearted parishioners in Western Mass.....the latest example is the upcoming sale of St. Francis church, a lovely little frame structure (c. 1872) placed on

NEWS RELEASE ABOUT SALE OF CHURCH

2011-04-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

News Release: from Western Massachusetts Catholics Web Site: http://www.westernmasscatholics.org/ and http://westernmassachusettscatholics.blogspot.com/ contact: Robert M. Kelly, tel. 413-281-1715 or wscom@roadrunner.com April 12, 2011 __________________ Robert M. Kelly, a parishioner at St. Mary's of Lee and a co-founder with Brody Hale of the Western Massachusetts Catholics Web Site, issued

Some Queer Statistics

2011-04-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

According to a new report from the Public Religion Research Institute, 74% of Catholics in the U. S. favor (or at least tolerate) same-sex relationships. Bishop McDonnell, are you listening? Key findings:Catholics are more supportive of legal recognitions of same-sex relationships than members of any other Christian tradition and Americans overall. Nearly three-quarters of Catholics favor

Pew Special Report: Religion and the Courts

2011-04-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Churches in Court: The Legal Status of Religious Organizations in Civil Lawsuits

HOLY SMOKE. 3.

2011-03-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

As we mentioned last time, the Bishop doesn't want the decision of Judge Ponsor to stand and has filed an appeal of the OLOH decison. The City and the Diocese entered a mediation process in federal court in Springfield on April 5. This may sound hopeful. But, it is important to know that this mediation is not what the judge referred to on the last page of his decision. There, he called for a

HOLY SMOKE. 2.

2011-03-07T16:23:00.001-08:00

I was genuinely surprised to learn that the Bishop is appealing the OLOH decision. See this story by Stephanie Barrie: Springfield Diocese Files Federal Appeal As we shall see, the Bishop's complaint was thoroughly shot down. I wonder where he'll find a foothold for appeal? Or, will it come on procedural grounds? Anyway, we'll certainly report news on this front. We said earlier that although

HOLY SMOKE!

2011-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

FINALLY, we're getting to our evaluation of the Our Lady of Hope court case. Judge Ponsor addressed 8 of the 12 counts from the original complaint of Bishop McDonnell. The other 4 counts were not relevant for various reasons. I title the coming essay "Holy Smoke" because that's just about what the arguments of the Bishop amounted to. He got creamed! Absolutely killed. So, look for this

City 12, Bishop 0

2011-01-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

On January 4 a decision about the legality of the Our Lady Of Hope Historic District was handed down by U. S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield (Most Reverend Timothy McDonnell) had contested the creation of the district on many fronts. Ponsor considered two of the Bishop's complaints "not ripe" for adjudication. The other ten were dismissed. [links

The Bishop Gets a "Shellacking" (Counts 1-4)

2011-01-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

Below is a "plain english" count-by-count summary which compresses the arguments and deletes footnotes and citations (the full 56 page decision is here). First, we consider WHAT THE BISHOP SAID about suing individuals in addition to the municipality: "In its complaint, RCB [The Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield] included allegations of particular actions by the individual defendants tending

The Bishop Gets a "Shellacking" (Counts 5-8)

2011-01-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

Counts 5, 6, and 7 WHAT THE BISHOP SAID: Count 5-Violation of the United States Constitution. Equal Protection. "Defendants, acting under color of law, have deprived and continue to deprive the RCB of its right to equal protection of the laws.. ...discriminating against the RCB in the adoption, enforcement and application of its ordinances. Defendants' actions were purposely taken with

The Bishop Gets a "Shellacking" (Counts 9-12)

2011-01-06T07:01:00.000-08:00

Count 9 WHAT THE BISHOP SAID: Count 9-Violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act of 2000. Substantial Burden on Religious Exercise "Defendants, under color of state law, have deprived and continue to deprive the RCB of its right to the free exercise of religion - as secured by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act - by imposing and implementing a

Bishop McDonnell Explains. 4.

2011-01-03T16:36:00.000-08:00

"...in the City of Springfield the RCB, at its request, has previously been specifically exempted from coverage of a historic district. That exemption has been upheld by the Supreme Judicial Court (Springfield Preservation Trust)." (paper 28, p. 2) "The Supreme Court has broadly defined expressive conduct as that which is inherently expressive because it is "overwhelmingly apparent" to a

Bishop McDonnell Explains. 3.

2011-01-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

". . . to qualify as "religious exercise" under RLUIPA, the practice need not be "compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief." (Mintz). . . placing these exterior religious symbols, all rooted in sacred scriptures, under government control through the creation of a single-parcel OLOH Historic District - containing only RCB owned buildings and enacted as a political response

Child Sex Abuse Reform 2010

2010-12-31T14:04:00.001-08:00

The Top Ten Developments of the Year by Marci Hamilton

Bishop McDonnell Explains. 2.

2010-12-27T16:50:00.000-08:00

"Pastoral planning is an integral religious responsibility of the Diocese guided by its core religious obligation to spread the gospel message of Jesus Christ and provide for the sacramental needs of its members." (paper 13.1., page 8) "By this ordinance the City purports to exercise near total governmental control over the RCB's religious symbols, an integral part of the exterior of this church

Bishop McDonnell Explains. 1.

2010-12-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, we've been showing the defenses of the City to allegations raised by Bishop McDonnell in Jan. of 2010. Essentially, the Bishop charges the City with discrimination: he feels that the ordinance placing Our Lady of Hope church into a historic district unfairly targets the Catholic church. The Bishop alleges an offense against First Amendment rights protecting the freedom of religion. The

Food For Thought

2010-12-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

"In very general terms, local governments have tended to prevail against RLUIPA challenges when they could demonstrate that the restrictions placed on a church do not target religious uses for discriminatory treatment, are necessary to achieve valid land use regulatory goals, and do not force the church to cease religious worship. Conversely, churches have tended to prevail when local government

Summary of "City Opposition", Paper 25

2010-11-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

___ It's getting hard to follow the lawsuits without a program. The many church closings in the Springfield Diocese (roughly 25% since 2006) have resulted in a glut of property, some of which is beginning to look increasingly appetizing to tax collectors in the local towns. Two of the stories about that: Taxing Times Holy Taxes! But, our preoccupation at the moment is a different type of

The Our Lady of Hope Lawsuit, introduction

2010-10-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

OK, off to the races. To keep up with this story, follow us on our blog. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield sued the City of Springfield in January over the designation of Our Lady of Hope church as a historic district. This was moved to federal court in February. Then in mid-Sept. a short article appeared in the Springfield Republican stating that the entire matter had been taken "

IOICC - Love In Action

2010-10-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

“Their prayers have been answered. Parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish in the Indian Orchard section of this city will be able to “open wide” their church doors for the foreseeable future as Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell announced Sept. 18 that the parish, which had been slated for closure last year, could remain open”. So said the diocesan news release. McDonnell said

The Gospel According To John Egan

2010-10-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Count 1- Violation of the United States Constitution. Free Exercise of Religion and Establishment Clauses: First and Fourteenth Amendments (42 U.S.C. §1983) Defendants, acting under color of state law, have deprived and continue to deprive the RCB of its right to free exercise of religion - as secured by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, made applicable to the

The PPC, Part 2

2010-09-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

We continue now with an appraisal of the Pastoral Planning Committee, the group of 12 people chosen by the Bishop to re-align the parishes of the Springfield Diocese. In the process many of the parishes were eliminated. The final report of the group was made on August 25, 2009. On March 2, 2007, George Nolan, one of the group, said that the PPC wanted “…a dialog with the laity…” Mr. Nolan may

The PPC

2010-08-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

The next group we study is the Pastoral Planning Committee (PPC). It was formed in 2006 and apparently disbanded in late 2009, having reduced the number of parishes by about 25%. The PPC was an ad-hoc group formed for one purpose — to restructure the parishes of the Diocese. In this objective it resembled the Mullin Report, which was commissioned by Msgr. Bonzagni in Oct. of 2004 and worked on by

Good News Printed in New York Times

2010-07-07T03:57:00.000-07:00

you know, sometimes the Good News is in the newspaper. follow the link for a magisterial article on the canonical aspect of the abuse crisis. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/world/europe/02pope.html

The Presbyteral Council

2010-06-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

After considering the parish council in some depth we now turn to another group that meets regularly in the diocese - the Presbyteral Council. This will be a short appraisal, for the simple reason that this group conducts secret meetings. It's supposed to represent the thinking of the priests of the diocese as distinct from the Bishop and other chancery officials. Indeed, like the parish

MARK TWAIN AND MONSIGNOR BONZAGNI

2010-05-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

---- "The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter – it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning". - Letter to George Bainton from Mark Twain, 10/15/1888 ___ Armed with this maxim let's turn to local affairs in the Diocese of Springfield (Mass.), and the closing of around 25% of our parishes over the last few years. One of the

More About Parish Councils

2010-04-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

We've been mulling over the ideals and the reality of the parish councils in the Diocese of Springfield and have found a large gap. Though councils are mandated by the Bishop, not all parishes have them, my own included. This contradiction raises a simple question — why? The last post showed that even if a parish has a council, that is no guarantee that deliberation and collaboration will

Support the Victims, not the Bishops

2010-04-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

this is an op-ed from the April 14 edition of the Stamford Advocate (CT). Support the Victims, not the Bishops Joseph F. O’Callaghan, Former Chair Daniel B. Sullivan, Co-Chair Voice of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport The bishops of the Catholic Church in Connecticut have once again raised a hue and cry against legislation pending in the Connecticut legislature that they perceive as

Hartford Archbishop Urges Parishes To Fight Legislation On Child Sex Abuse Cases

2010-04-11T07:35:00.000-07:00

this news story tells of an interesting development in nearby Connecticut. The letter that the Conn. Bishops sent to parishes reflects the same stance that our bishops take here in the Commonwealth, namely, that sex abuse reform is a really bad idea for the Catholic Church. I have posted many times about this issue and those posts are available on the sidebar to the right. a good one to start

The True Cost of the Settlements

2010-03-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

By now it is well known that the fiscal year reports for 2008 and 2009, so long overdue, have been released by the Diocese of Springfield. Details of diocesan reorganization remain secret for the moment, so it's hard to say what it all means. The summary, in my understanding: "We're pretty much broke.....but it's not our fault". The financial meltdown was reported as the weekend got underway

The Reality of the Parish Councils

2010-03-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

We've been talking about the parish council as envisioned by Bishop McDonnell: "...it is my wish that every parish of the diocese have a viable, working and dedicated Parish Pastoral Council..." These are collaborative and deliberative bodies which are supposed to play a key role in helping the laity live out their baptismal responsibilities. Now we get to the reality of what we actually have.

A Trial Balloon (with postscript)

2010-03-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

"We've had some parishes express some concern over the cost, these are difficult financial times our feeling is you have to invest in the future you can't simply sit back and think that people will come without being asked, without being encouraged," said Dupont. This is supposed to explain why Bishop McDonnell wants to begin charging parishioners $6.00 a year for a monthly magazine which

Hug A Nun

2010-03-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

a group of extremists with a narrow political agenda attempt to forestall social justice and face a moral uprising in the ranks. no, I am not talking about the Republicans, but about the USCCB, the American bishops group that locked horns with the Catholic hospitals (largely led by nuns). thankfully, the bishops lost. see this article by E. J. Dionne for more. it is too soon to understand

The Ideals of the Parish Council

2010-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

The last post was quite long, but from it we extract the kernel; according to Bishop McDonnell:"...it is my wish and mandate that every parish of the diocese have a viable, working and dedicated Parish Pastoral Council."Why are they so important? And, what makes them so special? According to McDonnell, they are "... open more than ever to encouraging the participation, support, and expertise

South Dakota: State Senate approves limits on childhood sex abuse lawsuits

2010-03-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

This news story is creepy. It sounds like they are circling the wagons. It also sounds like the behind-the-scenes advice of folks like Bishop Paparoki may be at work.

Doctrinal Basis for Parish Councils

2010-02-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

We've been working toward examining the Bishop's guidelines for parish councils, and this is the post that does it. But first.....the guidelines remind me that back when I got interested in this topic, in 2007, it was my good friend and WMC cohort Brody Hale who accompanied me on a quest to find out more about the guidelines and about how the Springfield Diocese implements them (or not). We

Dupre's Legacy

2010-02-21T01:07:00.000-08:00

These missing fiscal years matter, among other reasons, because they're part of the unfulfilled promise of Bishop McDonnell's administration. It may even be accurate to say that they are the culmination of it. After Bishop Dupre left under a cloud in Feb. of 2004, the experience was so traumatic for parishioners of the Diocese that McDonnell was positively welcomed. McDonnell was gregarious

Editorial: Change and St. Mary's

2010-02-12T12:23:00.001-08:00

Editorial: Change and St. Mary'sGazetteNETFeb. 4, 2010Changes as difficult as those begun by the Springfield Diocese inevitably take time to play out. In Northampton, traditions born of decades of parish identity are being remade as a single new Catholic parish seeks to establish itself where until weeks ago there were five.There is no question that Bishop Timothy McDonnell had

The Batting Average

2010-01-28T04:59:00.000-08:00

OK, maybe we should talk batting average. it's warm enough for spring training, you know.....in Florida. % of Catholics in W. Mass is about 33%. if this is true for Berkshire Co., then a batting average of .333 is pretty good, right? 33 Catholics out of every 100 in general pop. that would put us in Stan Musial territory (.331). but wait. figures show that only 29% of those go to mass once a week

The Mercure Verdict: Updated

2010-01-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

Regular readers know that I don't often write about sex abuse per se. Although abuse is certainly a serious problem, I feel like Bishop Accountability does a superior job of reporting it. Besides, once you begin to focus, you realize that it's a vast cesspool. There is really no end. You can only back away and come up for air once in a while. Nor do I think that the hierarchy of the Roman

The Mercure Verdict

2010-01-20T21:35:00.000-08:00

When I read the newspaper this afternoon about the sentencing of Gary Mercure, a former associate pastor at Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury who raped two boys in Massachusetts in the 1980s, I pulled out my pen and circled the remarks of the judge and the prosecutor who commented. Judge John Agostini said, “You’re not a priest. You’re no more than a common thug,” and First Assistant

The Our Lady of Hope Lawsuit

2010-01-15T05:38:00.000-08:00

a link to the civil action pdf: Roman Catholic Diocese lawsuit vs. City of Springfield re Our Lady of Hope Historic Districtthis one is an eye-opener; it's kind of like going to the dentist, you know you should but you dread it....this is a very angry lawsuit.....it's sometimes suggested that bishops have ice water in their veins; Mr. Egan (lead diocesan lawyer) appears to have vinegar in his....

Local Catholic Statistics

2010-01-02T23:35:00.000-08:00

Last time, we talked about statistics. This time.....more statistics! The most interesting, I think, are those that show how very Catholic Western Massachusetts remains, even though we all know that church attendance has slumped. Put it this way: in Berkshire County, 500 out of every 1,000 people you meet will be Catholic. That is so far ahead of every other denomination, it's not even funny.

Catholic Statistics

2009-12-27T17:59:00.000-08:00

We left off last time mentioning the Mullin Report, but on second thought, maybe that's not the thing to dwell on. Most people don't have this report at their fingertips, and have not studied it, though it's not hard to access, being over at the WMC site and on the Springfield Diocese site, too. A more important way to explore why annual reports are important is to consider the role of

Why FY2008 and FY2009 Matter

2009-12-21T06:10:00.000-08:00

My letter to the editor about the missing two years of Annual Reports from the Diocese of Springfield has been published in a number of area newspapers. Here, we delve into the reasons why this lapse of accountability is important. We need look no further than the Dec. 11 issue of the Catholic Observer (diocesan newspaper) and read the comments by Mark "Mariano" Dupont. He was commenting on the

Why Rev. John Coughlin Is Wrong

2009-12-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

Last time we discussed Chicago-area Bishop Paprocki's attempts to salvage some of the rapidly fading Charitable Immunity doctrine and use the protections that remain to arrest what he considers the current unchecked liability situation vis-a-vis the Catholic church and lawsuits filed by abuse victims. Moreover, he provided a wish list in his

All I Want For Christmas......

2009-12-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

All I want for Christmas is my two missing Fiscal Years.i.e., where in the Sam Hill is the Annual Report of the Diocese of Springfield for June 30, 2007 - June 30, 2008?and, where is the Annual Report of the Diocese of Springfield for June 30, 2008 - June 30, 2009?

An Editorial and a Response

2009-12-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

Editorials » Historic district won't help church's future By The Republican Editorials December 07, 2009 Springfield’s Historical Commission erred last week when it recommended that the City Council create a historic district to save Our Lady of Hope Church.Please don’t get us wrong. Hungry Hill without Our Lady of Hope Church is inconceivable. The neighborhood and the church have walked

Appealing Prospects

2009-11-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

according to a bylined article in the Republican, the following have appealed the parish-killing program of the Springfield Diocese:Parish appealsThe following parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield have filed appeals to keep their churches open:Chicopee: Assumption of the Blessed Mary, St. George, St. PatrickEasthampton: Sacred Heart of JesusHolyoke: Mater DolorosaLudlow: St. Mary

5 Suggestions for Bishop Timothy McDonnell

2009-10-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

1. Open the books.- Church officials consistently say that no parts of the Diocese are connected to any other part – the parish closings are not connected to the abuse settlements, and neither are connected to the weekly collections, and none of that has anything to do with hospitals, cemeteries, schools, or the chancery budget. The problem is, no one believes this!Therefore, opening the books

Thought For The Day

2009-10-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

5 Recent Diocesan Statements

2009-10-11T00:47:00.001-07:00

1.Bishop Timothy McDonnell: "...we are a pilgrim people ... We're asking them to move maybe across the city, maybe across city lines, maybe to another parish." (Aug. 29, Springfield Republican) Is it rude to point out that the Bishop hasn't the faintest idea where the people of the affected parishes will go? It's notable that he says "

Thought For The Day

2009-10-10T07:49:00.001-07:00

While Jesus was speaking,a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,“Blessed is the womb that carried youand the breasts at which you nursed.”He replied, “Rather, blessed are thosewho hear the word of God and observe it.”

5 Reasons

2009-10-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

5 Reasons Why The PCP Is Wrong Church officials in the Springfield Diocese have announced that 19 parishes will close or merge in the coming months. This Parish Closing Program (PCP) is wrong. Let us count the ways. 1. The PCP does not follow church teaching. Without

When Mark Dupont Met Lumen Gentium

2009-10-04T00:36:00.000-07:00

If therefore in the Church everyone does not proceed by the same path, nevertheless all are called to sanctity and have received an equal privilege of faith through the justice of God. And if by the will of Christ some are made teachers, pastors and dispensers of mysteries on behalf of others, yet all share a true equality with regard to the dignity and to the activity common to all the faithful

Thought For The Day

2009-10-02T03:54:00.001-07:00

As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God, turn now ten times the more to seek him; For he who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.

The Elliot St. Spin Machine Updated

2009-09-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

Point/Counterpoint: This week the WMC news team examines:THE UNBELIEVABLY SELF-SERVING AND HYPOCRITICAL ARTICLE ON THE DIOCESAN WEB SITEI was betting that the bishop's Spin Machine would go into overdrive after the recent appeals of 9 parishes (out of 14) went public. Hoo, boy, was I right.By the way, there is a debate why the number of parishes affected by the changes varies from 14 (as

Why Bishop Paprocki Is Wrong

2009-09-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

(Why The Bishops Are Wrong, Part VI)Review: "As The Pendulum Swings From Charitable Immunity To Bankruptcy, Bringing It To Rest With Charitable Viability", an article adapted from an address before the National Diocesan Attorneys Association on April 27, 2008, by the Most Reverend Thomas J. Paprocki.for our excerpts:for the whole article:When confronted by the fallout from sexual abuse, officials

The Daily Dose

2009-09-23T04:10:00.000-07:00

Responsorial Psalm Tobit 13:2, 3-4a, 4befghn, 7-8 R. (1b) Blessed be God, who lives for ever.He scourges and then has mercy;he casts down to the depths of the nether world,and he brings up from the great abyss.No one can escape his hand.R. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.Praise him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles,for though he has scattered you among them,he has shown

The Daily Dose

2009-09-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Reading 1Eph 4:1-7, 11-13Brothers and sisters:I, a prisoner for the Lord,urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,with all humility and gentleness, with patience,bearing with one another through love,striving to preserve the unity of the Spiritthrough the bond of peace:one Body and one Spirit,as you were also called to the one hope of your call;one Lord, one faith,

The Daily Dose

2009-09-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

R. (2) Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.Praise, you servants of the LORD,praise the name of the LORD.Blessed be the name of the LORDboth now and forever.R. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.From the rising to the setting of the sunis the name of the LORD to be praised.High above all nations is the LORD;above the heavens is his glory.R. Blessed be the name of the Lord

The Daily Dose

2009-09-10T06:43:00.001-07:00

.....love your enemies and do good to them,and lend expecting nothing back;then your reward will be greatand you will be children of the Most High,for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

The Daily Dose

2009-09-09T07:44:00.001-07:00

R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.Every day will I bless you,and I will praise your name forever and ever.Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;his greatness is unsearchable.R. The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you.Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdomand

The Daily Dose

2009-09-08T03:31:00.001-07:00

Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

The Daily Dose

2009-09-06T09:55:00.001-07:00

Here is your God,he comes with vindication;with divine recompensehe comes to save you.

The Daily Dose

2009-09-02T21:17:00.001-07:00

“No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one.Otherwise, he will tear the newand the piece from it will not match the old cloak.Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins,and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins.And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new,

Paprocki: These Damage Awards Are Killing Us

2009-08-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

(Why The Bishops Are Wrong, Part V) excerpts from: "AS THE PENDULUM SWINGS FROM CHARITABLE IMMUNITY TO BANKRUPTCY, BRINGING IT TO REST WITH CHARITABLE VIABILITY" by MOST REVEREND THOMAS J. PAPROCKI, published in JOURNAL OF CATHOLIC LEGAL STUDIES [Vol. 48:1] ...One might ask why a not-for-profit charitable institution should be treated any differently than a for-profit entity when it comes to

Abernathy v. Sisters of St. Mary's (1969)

2009-08-15T22:40:00.000-07:00

(Why The Bishops Are Wrong, Part IV)The more I delve into charitable immunity, the more curious it becomes.In coming posts we'll visit the great states of Arkansas and Virginia to consider some of the consequences of the charitable immunity doctrine.When the 85K cap was enacted here, Governor Sargent said that charities, including the churches, were "special" and deserved separate rules. He said

The New York Catholic Conference's Aggressive Bid to Stop Reform of Child Sex Abuse Laws

2009-07-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

By MARCI A. HAMILTON Thursday, July 29, 2009 Based on an unscientific survey of everyone with whom I have spoken in recent months, I have come to the conclusion that there is an untold story that would shock the vast majority of Americans. Pieces of it have appeared in various publications, but never

Picher-Lite

2009-07-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

the following is an abridged version (footnotes and citations are omitted) of the Picher decision of the Maine Supreme Court dated July 7, 2009. This version was edited for the WesternMassachusettsCatholics blogsite. The full pdf version is here.Possibly the key paragraph is this one:[¶29] For three reasons, we do not recognize the defense of charitableimmunity in claims involving intentional