Bishop Daniel Dolan, Fr. Cekada, et alii:
A most joyous Yule-tide to all who read these words.
The sermon given by Bishop Dolan on 12/21/08 was, in and of itself, excellent. It is true that we should not be involved in things that are not our business, nor judge others when it is not part of the duties of our office. However, given some past and recent events involving SGG school, staff, students, and parents, said sermon was both amusing (in a sad kind of way) and grossly hypocritical. Indeed, it was naught but a thinly-veiled mind game being played under a quasi-pietistic protective shield.
The purpose? Why, to stop those among the oft-bamboozled and far-too-easily-intimidated sheep already talking about the latest scandals, prevent others from beginning to do so, and assuage the consciences of those who sit idly by, shirking the grave duties of their high offices, while the souls of parents and children are harmed, yet again. Indeed, it is this now-habitual "dropping of the ball" that is the focus of discussion, rather than the incidents themselves. The cover up of scandals is always more scandalous than the incidents themselves - just ask the Novus Ordites.
There was talk during the sermon about the "filth in supposedly-Catholic homes", mentioned in a way that laments, rightly, that nothing is being done to correct the problem (This is a judgment of others, no?). With a strong and sad note of irony, a man listening might have asked himself: How can one expect the sheep to clean house when the shepherd lets filth run rampant in his own supposedly-Catholic school, excusing his own dereliction of duty on the absurd grounds that, "Well, we just shouldn't judge others; leave that for Jesus"? Is it that it is not filth when members of the Lotarski family are involved, but it is filth where others are concerned? If others families drained the SGG church and school coffers of at least $80K to $100K (officially, of course) each year, would their filth then achieve the status of acceptability?
Prudence involves, in your own words, a practical knowledge of when to be forceful and when to be sweet (or, in my words, when to be a lion and when to be a lamb). In the Gospel, Our Savior deals with the rank and file in a lamb-like fashion. When dealing with the vipers who, benumbed by their calcified formalism, tried to lord it over the rank and file at every turn? ALL lion. Well, various situations at SGG School have called for lion-hearted action over the years, and every single one has been swept under the rug (often under the pretense of a mildness which, in truth, is more like that of the coward - or, worse, the criminal with something to hide - than that of the prudent lamb). It is getting very, very crowded under that little (albeit tasteful, oriental) rug, my friends. Indeed, Fr. Cekada's poor arms must be getting tired at this point from all that sweeping. The temporal shakedown that is upon us guarantees that each will soon be paid his just wage for services rendered.
While I understand that some sheep advocate a more subdued approach to dealing with these matters, and some merely want to withdraw from too-close contact with the shears and shearers that have all but deprived them of their God-given protection from the elements, it is appropriate for sheepdogs to bark. This message is my bark - please do not make me display my bite. Now, for the guts of this message...
Get some BALLS, clean house, and rid the SGG faithful and benefactors of the Lotarski Home School/Crime Syndicate (?) cancer, once and for all. [While there is much, much more that could be said about these matters, I shall not deal with such at present.]
I will, however, ask two quasi-rhetorical questions before I sign off: Who is involved in, and benefits from, the way these matters are handled? Why are these matters so systematically given the "Memory Hole" treatment, and why do the sheep continually let said treatment achieve the desired effect? Indeed, many, even after suffering at the hands of those who ought to be their good shepherds, sadly continue to help support (with time, money, etc.) what I have come to see as the 'virtual Catholicism' that is 'sgg.org'. Wake up, my friends! No, the true Mass and constantly-revolving, exquisite accoutrements in the sanctuary do not alter things for the better.
Plorans ploravit in nocte et lacrymae ejus in maxillis ejus: non est qui consoletur eam ex omnibus charis ejus. Omnes amici ejus spreverunt eam, et facti sunt ei inimici.
[Weeping she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies.] From the Lamentations of Jeremias
Justus Florebit
P.s. For those whose Victorian drawing room sensibilities have been scarred by the use of the vulgar phrase in bold type referring to the acquisition of some manly virtue, please insert "Be a MAN..." Do not, in response to this message, attempt to construct a straw man, shadow-box, or change the subject to irrelevant matters (my identity, etc.). Refrain from any pseudo-authoritarian, throat-clearing (or other) techniques in an attempt to divulge information from more-easily-intimidated sheep. I will not reveal anything until I am ready to do so, should such time ever arrive. Midnight Mass is a little less than 12 hours away. Please, do not use the sermon (then or ever) to play more mind games. If you do so, I will be forced to slice up your offering, serving it back to you in a most unpalatable way, in front of a much larger 'viewing audience'. Watch your steps on this one, gentlemen. Irregular/false moves? Let's just say the proper authorities - who will certainly not shirk their duties - will be notified immediately. As an aside, does anyone know a good IRS agent who might be interested in assisting me with an audit of a non-profit organization? Oh, one last thing...Mark, you and your thug offspring would be wise to refrain from threatening anyone, especially Catholic ladies (in front of multiple witnesses, to boot) or physically assaulting any of them. Public apologies for past deeds would not hurt, either.
Merry Christmas - peace on earth to men of good will.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum. [Jerusalem, Jerusalem, be converted to the Lord thy God.]