Gawker: Miami Vice

On Thursday, July 28th, Gawker, a gossip website, published an ‘investigative’ piece on the Archdiocese of Miami, its past archbishop, priests, and seminary entitled “The Catholic Church’s Secret Gay Cabal.” The very opening lines of the article get the blood boilin’, which is what it was intended to do, I suspect. However, as I read the article, it became apparent that there were several inaccuracies contained within. The article at times even contradicted itself.

The investigative report begins with this statement: “Favalora, who was the most powerful Catholic official in South Florida from 1994 until last year, stands accused of cultivating what one group of pissed-off Catholics described as a corrupt ‘homosexual superculture’.” Whenever you start off an article quoting a group of pissed-off Catholics, there is an extremely high probability that most of the information contained within the article is fabricated and biased. Nonetheless, I think we need to examine all of the assertions being made and determine their validity.

The report makes several other claims about Archbishop John Favalora. The author tends to believe that Favalora, whom I have met on several occasions throughout the last couple of years, liked to have seminarians sit on his lap during parties and that he was co-owner in a company that produced an “all natural” sex drink.

“Come sit on Papa’s lap”

Being a former seminarian who studied at Miami’s minor seminary, I can bear witness to that fact that the archbishop was only around the seminarians once every couple of months, for an hour or two at the most. To my knowledge, there was never any inappropriate behavior exhibited.

I usually don’t call for a major boycott of huge television networks, but watching Degrassi: The Boiling Point last night made me so angry that I am calling for a boycott of all MTV Networks. Let me explain.

I have been hearing a lot about the show Degrassi from quite a few young people and I thought that I would check it out to see what the show was all about. If you haven’t seen the show, it follows a group of high school students as they encounter all of life’s challenges. At first, I thought the show offered our young people a learning experience about overcoming the struggles that high school can bring. However, the show is confusing our young people and misguiding them in accepting immoral activity.

Degrassi, which is produced by MTV Networks, has shown acceptance towards teenage pre-marital sex, the use of contraception and abortion (to name a few).

In the latest show aired last evening, Jenna, a cheerleader, and her boyfriend K.C., football player, find out that they have a child on the way. When Jenna first talks to K.C., he tells her that they will get through this together. Jenna’s first thought of K.C. accepting responsibility for his actions is quickly thrown in the trash as K.C. says, “once you get the abortion it will all be over.”

Shortly after, Jenna tells her older brother about her pregnancy. Her brother takes her to the doctor where she finds out that she is 5 months along and the abortion would be considered a late-term abortion. The doctor tells Jenna that late-term abortions are risky and informs her of other options.

I was watching Nightline last night and saw Anne Rice being interviewed about why she has “quit” being Catholic. Here is the interview from ABC:

During the interview, Rice said that she cannot be part of a church that condemns homosexuals. With all due respect, the Catholic Church does not and has not ever condemned homosexuality; rather, the Catholic Church has condemned homosexual acts, declaring them intrinsically disordered. This is just another example of someone wanting the Church to conform to their personal beliefs when it should be the other way around; we should conform our beliefs to that of the teachings of the Church.

A brief break from my usual posts to wish my nephew, Micah, a very happy and blessed 1st Birthday!!!

(I am just being a proud uncle. What else can I say…I love that little guy!!!)

A short break from my usual posts to offer congratulations to Very Reverend Gregory Parkes, Chancellor of the Diocese of Orlando and Parochial Administrator of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Celebration, Florida, who was named the Vicar General for the Diocese of Orlando last week. Below is the announcement from the Diocese of Orlando website.

Bishop Thomas Wenski is pleased to announce the appointment of Very Reverend Gregory Parkes, J.C.L. as Vicar General of the Diocese of Orlando. Father Parkes assumed this role on November 1. He serves along with Monsignor Patrick Caverly who has served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Orlando since 1992. Father Parkes will continue to serve as Diocesan Chancellor of Canonical Affairs and Parochial Administrator of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Celebration.

A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general has executive power over the whole Diocese regarding administrative matters, except those matters the Bishop has reserved for himself.

Father Parkes was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 1999 by Bishop Norbert Dorsey. He attended the North American College in Rome from 1996 – 2000 where he earned a Licentiate Degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. After returning to the Diocese of Orlando, Father Parkes was assigned as Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando where he served from 2000 – 2004. In addition, he was appointed Defender of the Bond and served in the Marriage Tribunal during this same period. In December 2004, Bishop Thomas Wenski appointed him Chancellor of the diocese. Father Parkes was appointed Parochial Administrator of the newly formed Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Celebration in March 2005.

Father Parkes serves as a member of the Diocesan Finance Committee, Priest Placement Board, Presbyteral Council, Incardination Committee, College of Consultors, and is on the Board of Trustees of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. He has two brothers, Very Reverend Stephen Parkes who is Parochial Administrator of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Oviedo, and Christopher Parkes who is married and lives in Maryland.

PHOTO SOURCE: Diocese of Orlando