Virginia Parish Severs Ties with Knights of Columbus over Plans to Honor Gov. Terry McAuliffe

Father Dan Beeman

Kudos to Father Dan Beeman, Pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Norfolk, Virginia, for his courageous and principled stand against a local Knights of Columbus Council that has obviously lost its way and purpose.

From Lifesite News

A Virginia Knights of Columbus council is pressing forward with plans to honor pro-abortion, pro-homosexual “marriage” Gov. Terry McAuliffe by having him as grand marshal of its St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In response, the parish priest has strongly reproached the council and cut ties.

Norfolk Knights of Columbus Council 3548, which has organized the Norfolk Saint Patrick’s Day Parade since 1967, had secured McAuliffe as grand marshal, apparently keeping the choice from the pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, where the council is based. When Father Dan Beeman took it up with the state council on the advice of his bishop, he was told by the state council that another grand marshal would be chosen, a decision that was reversed ten days later.

“Governor McAuliffe stands contrary to the Catholic Church in not one but many of the most essential teachings of the Church in the political arena,” the Norfolk pastor wrote in a March 5 letter to parishioners, distributed at Sunday Mass on March 8. “He himself promised to be a ‘brick wall’ against restrictions on abortion, has taken away commonsense protections for women in abortion facilities and lowered safety standards, and consistently takes money from pro-abortion lobbying groups.”

Read more. 

The full text of Father Beeman's letter

Update:   Since this post was published, we have been pleased to learn that the Virginia bishops' conference have fully backed Father Beeman in dissociating his parish with Knights of Columbus Council 3548.  In addition, the State K of C Council has responded to the controversy as follows:

Knights of Columbus respond to Norfolk controversy

Senator Tom Cotton: Why We Wrote the Letter to Iran

 Iranian leaders need to know that the Senate must approve any deal President Obama negotiates.

 

Senator Tom Cotton  (Photo: Danny Johnston, AP)

The critical role of Congress in the adoption of international agreements was clearly laid out by our Founding Fathers in our Constitution. And it's a principle upon which Democrats and Republicans have largely agreed.

In fact, then-Sen. Joe Biden once reflected on this very topic, writing that "the president and the Senate are partners in the process by which the United States enters into, and adheres to, international obligations."

It's not often I agree with former senator and now Vice President Biden, but his words here are clear. The Senate must approve any deal President Obama negotiates with Iran by a two-thirds majority vote.

Anything less will not be considered a binding agreement when President Obama's term expires in two years. This is true of any agreement, but in particular with the nuclear deal President Obama intends to strike with Iran.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the Obama administration has so far completely bypassed Congress in its negotiations with Iran.

The administration cares little about what will win congressional approval — only complete nuclear disarmament — and more about just reaching some sort of deal.

Regrettably, it appears the deal President Obama is negotiating with Iran will not be a good one. In fact, if reports are correct, it will be a bad one that will ultimately allow Iran to continue its nuclear program and ultimately develop a nuclear weapon.

That is why this week, I, along with 46 of my fellow senators, wrote Iranian leaders to inform them of the role Congress plays in approving their agreement. Our goal is simple: to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

I do not take my obligations as a senator lightly. Nor do those who are signatories to the letter. If the president won't share our role in the process with his negotiating partner, we won't hesitate to do it ourselves.

Our constituents elected us to the Senate, in part, to protect them from bad agreements like this and to help ensure their safety and security. And that is what we intend to do.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the lead signatory to the open letter to Iran's leaders.

New Catholic University to Open in London

Benedictus, which will open in central London next year, is backed by philosophers Roger Scruton and Anthony O’Hear

Benedictus will be the fourth Catholic university in England (CNS)

A new Catholic university backed by philosophers Roger Scruton and Anthony O’Hear is to open in London.

Benedictus aims to open in central London next year, offering honours degrees and charging £12,000 a year. Students will spend the first term on a grand tour of Italy and will learn the canon of Western thought during their time at the university.

It will be the fourth Catholic university in England, alongside St Mary’s Twickenham, Leeds Trinity and Newman University in Birmingham.

Read more at The Catholic Herald (UK) >>

Governor Scott Walker Signs Right-to-Work Bill

Another milestone for America's most accomplished Governor.

 

Commonwealth Day Message 2015 from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

From The Telegraph

The Queen has hailed the continued role of the Commonwealth in today's world, saying what the member states share is more important now than at any point in its history.

In her Commonwealth Day address, she said the 53 nations are "guardians of a precious flame" with an obligation to keep it burning brightly for decades to come. 

In a broadcast with the theme of A Young Commonwealth, Her Majesty warned that "when common goals fall apart, so does the exchange of ideas. And if people no longer trust or understand each other, the talking will soon stop too".

The Queen recorded the message in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace (Reuters)

"Not only are there tremendous rewards for this cooperation, but through dialogue we protect ourselves against the dangers that can so easily arise from a failure to talk or to see the other person's point of view," she added. 

"Indeed, it seems to me that now, in the second decade of the 21st century, what we share through being members of the Commonwealth is more important and worthy of protection than perhaps at any other time in the Commonwealth's existence. 

"We are guardians of a precious flame, and it is our duty not only to keep it burning brightly but to keep it replenished for the decades ahead." 

Melanie Phillips: The Bitter Tears of Nancy Pelosi

The Democratic Party leader in America’s House of Representatives stormed from the floor of the House before Netanyahu had finished saying his goodbyes following his speech to Congress. 

From The Jerusalem Post

By Melanie Phillips

Why did Nancy Pelosi choke up? The Democratic Party leader in America’s House of Representatives stormed from the floor of the House before Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had finished saying his goodbyes following his speech to Congress.

Pelosi was “near tears,” she said, over what she had heard.

What had so upset her? She was, she said, “saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States” and “by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.”

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