Did You Catch the Courier Times Anti-Life Diatribe on 8/9/13?

In Friday's Courier Times, Pulpit puppets of religious doctrine on the attack derides writers who are "fired up with concern for fetuses":

"From time to time, I suspect when these organizations need money, they try to stir up a hornet’s nest or storm by attacking a Catholic organization, usually falsely accusing them of being anti-life, pro-contraception, either pro or soft on abortion, etc., etc., etc....It’s simply a money raising scheme with little regard for the human lives which they allege they seek to protect – well maybe it is only pre-born human life in which they are interested....I am convinced that many so called Pro-Life groups are not really pro-life but merely anti-abortion ....Many priests grow weary of continual calls to action for legislative support for abortion and contraception related issues"

While it appears in the same vein, the above blocked quote is NOT from the Courier Times but from Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida.  Ow! 

In his critique of pro-life groups, Bishop Lynch actually only cites the "Population Research Institute" by name.  Founded by the same Father Paul Marx who founded Human Life International, PRI's mission appears to flow right out of Humanae Vitae:

"Debunk the myth of overpopulation, which cheapens human life and paves the way for abusive population control programs
Expose the relentless promotion of abortion, abortifacient contraception, and chemical and surgical sterilization in misleadingly labeled 'population stabilization,' 'family planning,' and 'reproductive health' programs.
Defund these programs by exposing the coercion, deception, and racism inherent in them.
Emphasize that people are the most valuable resource on the planet, the one resource we cannot do without.
Promote pro-natal and pro-family attitudes, laws, and policies worldwide.
Encourage programs to help the poor become agents of their own development."

Just two months ago, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, Bishop William Skylstad, Bishop John Cummins, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, Bishop Peter Rosazza, Bishop Sylvester Ryan, the late Bishop Joseph Sullivan, Bishop John Leibrecht, and Bishop Kevin Dowling were part of a group claiming that "groups like the American Life League and the Reform CCHD Now coalition use McCarthy-era tactics to create a culture of fear around community organizing" ("Be Not Afraid?" Guilt by Association, Catholic McCarthyism and Growing Threats to the U.S. Bishops’ Anti-Poverty Mission, Faith in Public Life, June 2013).  Ow!

The American Life League is led by a woman who "has served three five-year terms (1996-2011) as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life."  Reform CCHD Now notes that it tries to "to follow the guidance of Pope Paul VI, who in...'Evangelii Nuntiandi' warned against the dangers of false notions of liberation entering into the Church’s charitable works."  Reform CCHD Now cautions: "Don't let YOUR money work against the Church."

As per the Catechism, "The ownership of any property makes its holder a steward of Providence, with the task of making it fruitful and communicating its benefits to others, first of all his family" (#2404).  It strikes me as quite legitimate to ask whether groups, such as the Campaign for Human Development, Sister Carol Keehan's Catholic Health Association USA, and Catholic Relief Services truly embrace authentic Catholic Social Teaching.  The Population Research Institute, the American Life League, and Reform CCHD Now strike me as bringing critical eyes to evaluating the recipients of Catholic charitable dollars. 

Yet I am left confused - Doesn't Bishop Lynch, Archbishop Fiorenza, Bishop Skylstad, Bishop Cummins, Bishop Gumbleton, Bishop Ramirez, Bishop Rosazza, Bishop Ryan, Bishop Leibrecht, and Bishop Dowling want us to take seriously our roles as "steward of Providence"? 

While the Population Research Institute, the American Life League, and Reform CCHD Now appear to be doing excellent research, they also appear to be getting hit with "detraction and calumny" from very high levels.

re: "Analysis: Pope's revolution; not all are pleased" (Bucks County Courier Times, 8/2/13)

In "reporting" on Pope Francis' press conference on the plane returning from Brazil, one could almost hear Nicole Winfield's breathlessness:

"The Francis Revolution is underway.... Francis has called on young Catholics in the trenches to take up spiritual arms to shake up a dusty, doctrinaire church that is losing faithful and relevance.... Benedict XVI, had coddled traditionalist Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass and opposed to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council.... tone and priorities can themselves constitute change, especially when considering issues that aren't being emphasized.... Francis also made headlines with his call for the church to develop a new theology of women's role" (Analysis: Pope's revolution; not all are pleased, Bucks County Courier Times, 8/2/13).

Despite Ms. Winfield's inferences, one need only look at the transcript of the press conference to see that Pope Francis made clear that he is "a child of the Church" who embraces doctrine on the sanctity of human life and human sexuality, and that lack of specific comments on any topic did not signal change:

Patricia Zorzan: "Speaking on behalf of Brazilians. The society has changed, young people have changed, and we see many young people in Brazil. You have spoken to us about abortion, matrimony between persons of the same sex. In Brazil a law has been approved which extends the right of abortion and has allowed matrimony between persons of the same sex. Why didn’t you speak about this?"
Pope Francis: "The Church has already expressed herself perfectly on this. It wasn’t necessary to go back to this, nor did I speak about fraud or lies or other things, on which the Church has a clear doctrine.
Patricia Zorzan: "But it’s an issue that interests young people …"
Pope Francis: "Yes, but it wasn’t necessary to talk about that, but about positive things that open the way to youngsters, isn’t that so? Moreover, young people know perfectly well what the position of the Church is."
Patricia Zorzan: "What is the position of Your Holiness, can you tell us?"
Pope Francis: "That of the Church. I’m a child of the Church." (www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-press-conference-on-return-flight-from-brazil-part-1.):

While the Holy Father did make "headlines with his call for the church to develop a new theology of women's role," he has also made clear that this would not include ordination:

Anna Ferreira: "....you spoke to the Brazilian Bishops about women’s participation in our Church. I’d like to understand better: how should this participation be for us, women in the Church? If you … what do you think of the ordination of women? What should our position in the Church be?"
Pope Francis: "....with reference to the ordination of women, the Church has spoken and she said : 'No.' John Paul II said it, but with a definitive formulation. That is closed, that door is closed, but I’d like to say something about this. I’ve said it, but I repeat it. Our Lady, Mary, was more important than the Apostles, than bishops, deacons and priests. In the Church, woman is more important than bishops and priests; how, it’s what we must seek to make more explicit, because theological explicitness about this is lacking. Thank you" (www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-press-conference-on-return-flight-from-brazil-part-2.).

Without a genuine understanding of what the Church proclaims about marriage and what Pope Francis has reiterated, it is almost understandable that there would be poor reporting.  Pope Francis is not deviating from what the Church proclaimed in Pius XI's Casti Connubii, Vatican II's Gaudium et Spes, Pope Paul VI's Humanae Vitae, Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  As per Pope Francis' Lumen Fidei:

"52. In Abraham’s journey towards the future city, the Letter to the Hebrews mentions the blessing which was passed on from fathers to sons (cf. Heb 11:20-21). The first setting in which faith enlightens the human city is the family. I think first and foremost of the stable union of man and woman in marriage. This union is born of their love, as a sign and presence of God’s own love, and of the acknowledgment and acceptance of the goodness of sexual differentiation, whereby spouses can become one flesh (cf. Gen 2:24) and are enabled to give birth to a new life, a manifestation of the Creator’s goodness, wisdom and loving plan. Grounded in this love, a man and a woman can promise each other mutual love in a gesture which engages their entire lives and mirrors many features of faith. Promising love for ever is possible when we perceive a plan bigger than our own ideas and undertakings, a plan which sustains us and enables us to surrender our future entirely to the one we love. Faith also helps us to grasp in all its depth and richness the begetting of children, as a sign of the love of the Creator who entrusts us with the mystery of a new person. So it was that Sarah, by faith, became a mother, for she trusted in God’s fidelity to his promise (cf. Heb 11:11)."

Given the opportunity to pose her own question to Pope Francis, Nicole Winfield's inquiry seemed akin to asking the Holy Father about his favorite ice cream:

Nicole Winfield: "Holiness, thank you again for having come 'among the lions.' Holiness, at the fourth month of your pontificate, I would like to ask you to make a small evaluation. Can you tell us what was the best thing of being Pope, an anecdote, and what was the worst thing, and what was the thing that surprised you most in this period?" (www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-press-conference-on-return-flight-from-brazil-part-2.)

Shortly after her own question, Nicole Winfield appears to have missed poignant comments about liturgy:

Alexey Bukalov: "....today the Orthodox are celebrating 1,025 years of Christianity. There are great celebrations in many capitals. Would you like to comment on this event, I would be happy if you did. Thank you."
Pope Francis: "In the Orthodox Churches they have kept that pristine liturgy, so beautiful. We have lost a bit the sense of adoration. They keep, they praise God, they adore God, they sing, time doesn’t count. God is the center, and this is a richness that I would like to say on this occasion in which you ask me this question....Consumerism, wellbeing, have done us so much harm. Instead  you keep this beauty of God at the center, the reference.  When one reads Dostoyevsky – I believe that for us all he must be an author to read and reread, because he has wisdom – one perceives what the Russian spirit is, the Eastern spirit. It’s something that will do us so much good. We are in need of this renewal, of this fresh air of the East, of this light of the East. John Paul II wrote it in his Letter. But so many times the luxus of the West makes us lose the horizon. I don’t know, it came to me to say this. Thank you" (www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-press-conference-on-return-flight-from-brazil-part-2.).

In response to those about to stone a woman caught in adultery, Jesus said "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."  After the accusers walked away, Jesus told the woman that He did not condemn her.  Jesus did NOT go on to say, "Your accusers were a bunch of fuddy duddies.  What you do with your old man or your old men is cool with me."  Jesus told the woman, "Go and sin no more" (cf., John 8).  Only with that perspective can Pope Francis' comments in his final answer be correctly understood:

"In regard to Monsignor Ricca, I’ve done what Canon Law orders to do, which is the investigatio previa. And from this investigatio there is nothing of which they accuse him, we haven’t found anything of that....if a person, lay or priest or Sister, has committed a sin and then has converted, the Lord forgives....I think so many times of Saint Peter: he committed one of the worst sins, which is to deny Christ, and with this sin he was made Pope" (www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-press-conference-on-return-flight-from-brazil-part-2.).