Faith of the Fathers Report

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Good for You, Catholic Church | The American Conservative

The following excerpts are from The American Conservative:

Just a short note to say what a great witness some local Catholics were to my Protestant niece on the bus trip to the March for Life. I just talked to my niece about the trip, and she was so excited by — well, she was excited about everything, but it was interesting to hear her talk about how much she enjoyed the catechetical talks on the long drive to DC. The group was almost entirely Catholic, but they were accompanied by an LSU student who gave basic talks on Catholic belief and practice, to make sure the kids knew their faith.

And they had “the coolest nun” on the bus, according to Claire: one of the Nashville Dominicans.

Peeved Parishioners Leaving SF Catholic Church Over Ban On Girls As Altar Servers « CBS San Francisco

The following excerpts are from CBS San Francisco:

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — A Bay Area church is now under fire over a controversial new policy saying only boys can be altar servers.

The new practice is making waves at the century old church Star of the Sea. Since the ’70s, they’ve used altar girls during masses.

The well-known Richmond District church also has a school serving about 230 kids. When the new priest banned girls from being altar servers, it generated outrage among parents and parishioners alike. The priest admits some parishioners even left the church.

“It’s disturbing,” said churchgoer Connie Porciuncula.

Star of the Sea School parent Tara Widmer agrees. “They’re definitely taking a step in the wrong direction,” she said.

Father Joseph Illo took over five months ago and decided to train only boys to be altar servers. He said he has no choice but to exclude girls because the future of the church is at stake.

“The specifics of serving at the altar is a priestly function,” Illo said. “And the Catholic church does not ordain women.”

But many parishioners and parents criticize the new practice saying it sends the wrong message.

“It just kind of makes me feel that I’m not good enough because I’m a girl,” said a 7th grader at the school who wishes to stay anonymous.

Some have left this church, others are threatening to leave.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Pope Rules Chaldean Priest Can Stay in San Diego

The following excerpts are from AINA.org:

SAN DIEGO -- In a landmark decision, Pope Francis has ruled that a priest who is part of the San Diego Iraqi Christian community will not have to return to Iraq.

The Pope this week overturned a decree that would have sent Father Noel Gorgis of the St. Peters Chaldean Church in El Cajon back to Iraq.

In October of last year, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church ordered 10 priests, including Gorgis, to return to Iraq or leave the church for good. The church patriarch said the group never had their moves to the U.S. approved.

Most of them had fled Iraq around the time of the Gulf War, and today ISIS militants are threatening Iraq's Christians with death if they don't convert to Islam.

...spoke with Father Noel Gorgis in October about his fears of returning home.

"To tell me go back to Iraq, it really is to make to tell me go and have suicide," Gorgis said at the time.

The Chaldean Church of San Diego appealed to Pope Francis shortly after the decree to move was issued.