A call to local Catholics from one of their own

From The National Catholic Reporter's site today--a respondent to their article on the Father Shawn Ratigan/Bishop John Finn scandal, because that's what it is--it's both their scandals, not just Fr. Ratigan's:

WAKE UP FELLOW CATHOLICS!

Submitted by Henry Parker (not verified) on May. 23, 2011.

WAKE UP FELLOW CATHOLICS! DEMAND:

1) That all members of the diocesan review board resign in protest for being ignored.

2) That a local grand jury investigates the bishop/diocese's action for possible criminal conduct.

3) That lay people (male and female) be put on all diocesan boards overseeing priests: seminary, ordaination, accredition, personnel, etc.

WITHHOLD YOUR MONEY UNTIL THE CHURCH REFORMS!

Great ideas, all.  Kudos to you, Mr. Parker.

Link: Bishop admits failure in priest's child pornography case

Reasons the "Concerned Clergy Coaltion" should be marching--but aren't

Did you see the Killa City's "Top 10 things to know about homicide in Kansas City"
By Casey Lyons in Killa City, NewsWed., Dec. 2 2009 @ 12:00PM?

Herewith:

​The KCPD released it's third quarter homicide results yesterday, which includes some 98 homicides up to September 30. The total to date is 105. We dug through all 24 pages so you don't have to to find the most important things to know about staying alive in Kansas City.

1. July is the new deadliest month. The summer spike came earlier this year, with the most deaths per month (14) coming in July, rather than August.

2. Kansas City killers have got a case of the Mondays. Nearly 1 in 5 deaths takes place on the first day after the weekend. Saturday and Sunday each held 15 percent.

3. Watch out for the witching hour. Thirteen percent of deaths happen between midnight and 2 a.m. Noon to 2 p.m. accounts for 12 percent of homicides and is the second most dangerous time.

4. Violence is random. Motive is unknown more than half the time.

5. East Patrol District is the most dangerous. So far, 634 people have been beaten and 27 killed there.

6. Men fare worst. Three in four homicide victims are men. Among known suspects, there are 10 times more men than women (51 versus 5).

7. There is a lot of black-on-black crime. Over 70 percent of victims are African American. Among suspects, 79 percent are African Americans. By contrast, no victims have been Asian.

8. Senior citizens are the safest. No victims have been over 65. There have been 36 in the 17-25 age range.

9. Victims aren't so innocent. Three in four victims have prior arrests.

10. Drive-by. September is drive-by king with 32 incidents reported.

So, with No. 7, above, wouldn't you think this "Concerned Clergy" group would have been marching last July on a Monday, protesting these senseless killings on the East Side?

No, no. They had to wait until November, when Wayne Cauthen is let go of his job as City Manager, instead.

Sure, that makes sense.

Link: http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/12/killa_city_top_10_things_to_know_about_homicide_in_kansas_city.php

Will the "Concerned Clergy Coalition" be marching for Nelson E. Hopkins, Jr?

It was announced earlier today:

"Kansas City police say the victim of Tuesday night's fatal shooting is 17-year-old Nelson E. Hopkins Jr. of Kansas City, Missouri."

"KCPD detectives believe Hopkins had left the Plaza Library and caught a bus to 54th and Troost prior to the shooting. Hopkins was shot while walking home on 54th Street."

So, I ask again--will the "Concerned Clergy Coalition" be concerned about this 105th homicide, here in Kansas City?

Or is the only thing they're concerned about is Wayne Cauthen losing his high-paid job as City Manager downtown at City Hall?

Links: http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/12/killa_city_kcmo_homicide_no_105_nelson_e_hopkins_jr.php

http://www.kansascity.com/679/story/1606774.html

Unconscionable hypocrisy

Tony, over at Tony's KC Blog (you knew that) reports today that there was a memo sent out from a group calling itself the "Concerned Clergy Coalition" about the firing of Wayne Cauthen as Kansas City's City Manager.

The "Concerned Clergy Coalition"??

Interesting name.

I wonder when they're going to get off their lazy butts and give a damn about the young African-American men that are shooting--and frequently killing--other African-Americans here in town. I've been writing about it for months, as have other people in town. (See here: http://moravings.blogspot.com/2009/08/heres-way-to-start.html).

On August 7 this summer, where was the "Concerned Clergy Coalition" when this shooting occurred on the East side?

Oh, that's right. It was only a shooting and 2 near-deaths. No reason to form a "coalition" yet, right?

Freakin' hypocrites.

To be incensed about what appears to be a legitimate business dismissal when people are being shot and killed is virtually unbelievable and, as I said above, unconscionable.

Where was their march last summer when there were 40 people celebrating at a cookout on the front lawn of one of their own citizens and some chucklehead drove by and shot both a 3 year old child and the Father?

What are we to assume here? That this group is only concerned when one of their own is fired from a high-paying job but not when the average person on the street is shot and/or killed, frequently in broad daylight?

Unless and until the "Concerned Clergy Coalition" has a march--and as soon as possible--about these killings, they seem to be a group that simply can't be taken seriously or regarded with any legitimacy.

They mock themselves, at this point.

Link: http://www.tonyskansascity.com/2009/12/tkc-exclusive-kansas-city-concerned.html