Archdiocese of Baltimore and William Lori

The Archdiocese of Baltimore is the oldest of the sort in the United States.  In 1859 the Holy See granted it the  right of precedence in the nation at liturgies, meetings, and councils.  It is the premier episcopal see of the Church in the United States of America.
That being said, an appointment to the top position in this archdiocese is no small task but one that Archbishop-elect William Lori is certainly qualified to take on.
Here's a look at the timeline of Bishop Lori's tenure as the head of the Diocese of Bridgeport taken from the Connecticut Post:

2001

Installed as the fourth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport. Diocese had just announced a $15 million settlement in sex-abuse claims against priests.

Faces two major crises: the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that affected many Fairfield County families and the continued allegations of sexual abuse within the church, many of which are decades old.

Removes suspected sex offenders and offers training on child sex abuse awareness and prevention to 90,000 adults and children. The diocese conducts more than 25,000 criminal background checks.

2002

Appointed to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops committee on sexual abuse. Helps draft the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Sets a zero-tolerance policy for abusive priests.

For the first time, diocese reports an allegation of sexual abuse by a priest to state investigators.

2003

Apologizes to sexual abuse victims, asking for forgiveness. Announces a $21 million settlement with 40 people who say they were molested by priests.

2004

Unveils major restructuring of Catholic education in the diocese and its 37 schools.

Forms Cathedral Education Cluster to secure the future of the six Catholic elementary schools serving the poor of inner-city Bridgeport.

2005

Elected Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and 1.7 million members and their families.

2006

Begins "Ask the Bishop" radio program on WICC radio. Listeners could call or email questions to Lori on most subjects.

2007

After fighting a proposed state law to require hospitals to provide "emergency contraceptive services,'' including the Plan B "morning after" pill, Lori and the state's two other Catholic bishops announce that Catholic hospitals will comply.

2008

In a Jan. 15 homily at St. Theresa Church in Trumbull, exhorts parishioners to oppose measures that would increase access to abortion services.

2009

Along with state's two other Catholic bishops, is successful in defeating a proposed bill that would change the way Roman Catholic churches are financially governed. Lori calls the proposed bill "irrational, unlawful and bigoted."

Refuses to attend a dinner at Sacred Heart University honoring Kerry Kennedy, a pro-choice Catholic and the daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Lori was chairman of the university's board of directors at the time and had been the honoree at the 2004 dinner.

Loses eight-year legal battle to keep pre-trial documents from sex-abuse cases sealed from public view.

Launches diocesan Facebook page.

2010

Publishes pastoral letter, "Let Freedom Ring." He warns the faithful that their fight for religious freedom has just begun, despite the defeat of a law that would have stripped authority from Catholic clergy.

Using billboards, TV and radio advertisements, the diocese holds second Confession Campaign to attract Catholics who haven't seen the inside of a confessional in a long time.

2011

Announces three churches in Bridgeport will have to close early the following year because of finances and a shortage of priests.

Named member of Bishop's Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Freedom. Testifies before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, where he strongly advocates correcting action on several federal regulations involving same-sex marriage, distribution of anti-pregnancy devices and reducing the ministerial exception exempting religious institutions from civil law involving hiring and firing.

2012

Joins other religious leaders in warning a House panel the Obama administration is violating basic rights to religious freedom by mandating employees of religion-affiliated institutions have access to birth control coverage.

Expands diocesan use of social media, urging men to become priests. Since becoming bishop, Lori had 35 priests ordained and has 39 seminarians presently in formation at Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford.

Named archbishop of Baltimore by Pope Benedict XVI. He will assume new duties May 16.

Sources: Connecticut Post, Associated Press, Catholic News Service and roman catholic Diocese of Bridgeport.

(Arch) Bishop William E. Lori

On Tuesday, March 20, 2012 the Holy Father Pope Benedict XIV appointed Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, CT as the new Archbishop of Baltimore.

Bishop Lori currently serves as the Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus which is headquartered in New Haven, CT.  Does this new development mean a new Chaplain for the KofC?

I, as a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, would like to applaud Bishop Lori for all the many wonderful works he has done for and with the Knights in New Haven as well as what he has done for others around the world and for their youth.

More to come on Achbishop-elect William Lori...

Patron Saint of Internet Users

Saint Isidore of Seville (c. 560-636) is the official patron saint of internet users.  He was the son of Severianus and Theodora, and brother of Saint Fulgentius of Ecija, Saint Florentina of Cartagena, and Saint Leander of Seville who raised him after his father's death.
Initially a poor student, St. Isidore gave the problem to God and became one of the most learned men of his time.  He assisted his brother, archbishop of Seville, in the conversion of the Visigoth Arians.
In 601 he succeeded his brother as archbishop of Seville and required seminaries in every diocese.  St. Isidore was also a prolific writer whose works include a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a history of Goths, a rule for religious orders, and a history of the world beginning with creation.  He also introduced the work of Aristotle to Spain.  St. Isidore of Seville was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1722, and became the leading candidate for patron of computer users and the internet in 1999.

Almighty and eternal God, 

who created us in Thy image and bade us to seek after all that is good,

true and beautiful,

especially in the divine person of Thy only-begotten Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ,

grant that we beseech Thee that,

through the intercession of Saint Isidore,

bishop and doctor,

during our journeys through the internet we will direct our hands and eyes only to that which is pleasing to Thee and treat with charity and patience all those souls whom we encounter.  

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

ACLU Situation in Vermont

I'm sure that by now all practicing Catholics who follow the news are aware of the innkeepers in Vermont who are being sued by the ACLU.  The lawsuit was filed due to Jim and Mary O'Reilly's refusal to host a lesbian wedding reception.
The O'Reillys stated,
"We have never refused rooms or dining or employment to gays or lesbians.  Many of our guests have been same sex couples.  We do not, however, feel that we can offer our personal services wholeheartedly to celebrate the marriage between same-sex couples because it goes against everything that we as Catholics believe in."
My first thoughts are, "Way to go O'Reillys!" and "Wow, that must be some hell of a reception venue!" 
My next thought is a bit more complex.  Regardless of any conclusions that may have been reached in the debate over the possibility of a homosexual gene, for the sake of this post, let's say that gays and lesbians are born with a homosexual predisposition.  Alcoholics and drug addicts are born with a chemical imbalance of sorts that predisposes them to addiction.  However, active alcoholics and drug addicts are ostracized by society.  They are not free to say, "I was born this way so accept me for who I am."
Yes, I do realize that alcoholics and addicts do pose a real physical threat to themselves and others.  But on the other hand, I also believe that the gay pride movement poses an equal threat to themselves and others except that this threat lies in the spiritual, emotional, and mental realms.  Hypothetically speaking, couldn't gays and lesbians be told that what they're doing isn't right and have some sort of rehab offered to them as an alternative?  There are many people in the world who have left the gay community and entered into heterosexual marriages.
David MacDonald is one of those people.  catholicbridge.com
I don't hate homosexuals.  I do care about the direction in which our society is heading.