Posted on 07/19/2009 4:40:09 AM PDT by NYer
"The US bishops have given their enthusiastic support to the Waxman-Markey bill, a piece of legislation designed to address climate change, which Republican opponents have characterized as entailing "the largest tax increase in American history."
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 proposes a complicated series of schemes known as "cap and trade," ultimately imposing taxes on the carbon-dioxide emissions that are cited as a major factor in global warming. Even before the 1,200-page legislation was made available to Congress, the members of the House of Representatives received a letter from two leading representatives of the American Church, giving their strong endorsement for the bill.Bishop Howard Hubbard, who chairs the US bishops' committee on international justice and peace; and Ken Hackett, the president of Catholic Relief Services, welcomed the introduction of the Waxman-Markey bill." (CWNews)
"The Congressional Budget Office, in its analysis of the legislation, concluded that the Waxman-Markey bill would entail new costs of $770 a year for the average American family. A separate analysis by the Heritage Foundation suggested that this figure was grossly understated, and the actual costs would be closer to $3,000 per year for a typical family of four-- rising steadily up to $4,600 by the year 2035. The Heritage analysis added that the bill would increase gasoline prices by 58%, home heating oil by 56%, and electric rates by 90%. The total drag on the economy would likely result in a loss of over 1 million jobs, Heritage concluded. In spite of this enormous cost, the Foundation argued, the Waxman-Markey bill would produce only a miniscule effect on the process of climate change, producing a drop in world temperatures of "only hundredths of a degree Celsius" in the next 40 years."
I'm from the Albany diocese. According to stats its the 2nd worst in the US. There are virtually no vocations and many decent candidates are refused. The oldest and most beautiful churches are closed while newer monstrousities only blocks away are kept open. I hate writing against a bishop but he has destroyed this diocese. It would be nice if the Holy Father removed him before he can do even more damage. He has already geared up for more closings- some of which are not even necessary. Many sound religious communities are forbidden entrance into the diocese and no foreign priests are sought. Yet we are told that otherwise fiscally sound parishes must close due to the shortage of priests that is forseen in the future. Hopefully we receive a Catholic bishop who is actually a shepherd and actually guards and feds the flock. Whoever next governs this diocese will have a diaster that will take over 10 years to clean up if not longer. His support comes as no suprise.
That picture projects a good explanation of how he arrived at this position.
The USCCB has outlived its purpose and should be disbanded.
The recurring question: Evil or stupid, stupid or evil. Could be both, I suppose.
Wise observation indeed.
Yes, but the older gang would organize something just as bad. In this case, I wonder if "the devil you know" isn't the lesser of two evils, if you will.
Hubbard, OTOH, should be encouraged to retire. At his age, they're not likely to put him in another job.
the good bishop has not thought this thru, if his congregation is tax even more, he may see a drop in donation.
Let’s face it: most US bishops are socialists.
It has been said that language shapes our understanding of reality, that he who controls the language controls the future. Does it seem as if we're being subtly coaxed into a new religion, a religion that cravenly mimics surrounding culture? It is time to to stop the gravy train to the modern, liberalistic members of clergy AND the BISHOPS who have methodically and systematically deceived you, your Church AND your Faith!
This gaggle of fools are in politics up to their golf shirt collars and forgot anything they knew about saving souls, saying mass and who they owe fealty to.
God bless those churches and chapels that still cling to the Tridentine Mass and the original rubrics of the Church. These houses of worship owe nothing to the fools comprising the U. S. bishops.
“Let’s face it: most US bishops are socialists.”
Socialism is condemned by the Church. But you are probably not wrong at all. “Social justice” trumps the work of the Church for a lot of these guys, and the way they see “social justice” is so close to socialism it may as well be the same thing.
Freegards
Has Bishop Hubbard ever taken a stand on abortion?
Why worry about baby butchery when so much good can come from working towards utopia? Sometimes you just gotta work with cannabals or satanists as long as the poor could be fed, right?
I don’t know about bishop Hubbard, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the US bishops would vote overwhelmingly dem if it wasn’t for abortion. And I wouldn’t be surprised if half voted dem anyhow.
Freegards
“There are virtually no vocations and many decent candidates are refused.”
I am betting that they are refused for their own refusal to accept sodomy as good and natural.
It is an unfortunate truth that justice and peace which are true Christian callings have been bastardized by socialists who use those worthy labels to advance their agenda. It is even more unfortunate that Bishops are not immune to being pulled in by this BS. Obviously the Episcopate is no immunization against idiocy. Indeed at times I think it actually incubates it.
Nope don’t disband. Fact is lets mandate they most meet more often and for longer periods of time. Give them a lot of useless and frivolous issues to study and let them work on compiling more laughable position papers for the faithful to ignore. Maybe they will committee themselves right up until retirement.
Remind them that their Diocese will need leadership in their absence. Work to get orthodox men put in these needed positions. Have a nice spot on the bulletin board to pin the Bishop’s postcards on. “Greetings From Camp Che.” But let him stay far away where his influence will be nill.
No ... these candidates must present themselves before a committee appointed by the bishop. The candidate is subjected to a series of questions, one of which is: "Do you support the ordination of women to the priesthood?" A 'no' response automatically eliminates them from the pool. (This information has been conveyed to me by one who was rejected.)
In a sense, it is comforting to know that there are so few ordinations in this diocese. Bishop Hubbard is 4 years away from submitting his mandatory letter of retirement. His replacement, as the poster noted, will be confronted with a 'progressive' diocese where the majority of parishes are run by 'lay ecclesial ministers' (the majority of which are women) and a small 'remnant' of orthodox Catholics who have been practicing and passing on the faith, for 3 generations. Most of the priests in this diocese are aging and/or retired. Our Maronite bishop sent our pastor to DC this summer to begin his studies for a degree in Canon Law. In his 2 month absence, we are most blessed to have an 87 year old priest who says the NO Mass for us on Sunday and is now leading us through the daily Novena to St. Ann. God bless this priest and our pastor who has given him the opportunity to continue to serve and feel needed as a priest. Integral to Bishop Hubbard's plan is to place priests in cars and have them drive from one parish to another, to administer the sacraments and consecrate a sufficient number of hosts for the weekend priestless liturgies.
With 4 years to go, Bishop Hubbard is not finished. He plans on closing other parishes but has now adopted a policy of 'advising' them in advance to group themselves and advise him of which parishes "they" have chosen to close. As a practicing Roman Catholic, this is a very painful process to experience. Today I met an old Italian woman who does not drive. Her parish was recently closed and she is now looking for a new community, "within walking distance" from her home. There are none!
“”Do you support the ordination of women to the priesthood?” A ‘no’ response automatically eliminates them from the pool.”
Okay, so sodomy is not the only requirement.
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