Published Letter to the Editor "Marjolies' talk should be a learning experience"

Another of my letters to the editor have been published...this time with more words.

On January 13, I published an article titled "Scranton bishop opposes speaker who encourages women to be politically active." After writing, I submitted letters to the editor to my local newspapers. One was published today (the newspaper selected the title):

Margolies’ talk should be a learning experience

Bishop Joseph Bambera recently has objected to a very accomplished individual – Marjorie Margolies, a former congresswoman and founder/president of Women’s Campaign International – scheduled to speak at the University of Scranton on Jan. 28 in order to empower and educate women (and others) in the field of politics.

Bambera objects because, according to a diocesan release, Margolies has been politically active with pro-choice initiatives.

It is not at all clear, though, that Ms. Margolies will be talking about anything regarding abortion, and there seems to be no evidence or reason suggesting that she will.

The Diocese of Scranton, regardless of how much it might speak about the importance of education, obviously is not interested in dissenting viewpoints and seemingly is only interested in its own perspectives being presented. Is this the sort of education and intellectual honesty that should be lauded?

In a setting of higher learning, opposing viewpoints should be welcomed so that individuals could challenge their own beliefs, keep themselves honest, be exposed to new ideas and evaluate others’ reasons for beliefs. Isn’t this what education is supposed to be about? Not so for Bishop Bambera.

If the Catholic faith and church teachings are so strong and justified, why should the bishop be concerned when someone holding an opposing viewpoint is scheduled to speak (especially when said viewpoint has nothing to do with the content of the speech)?

Shame on the Diocese of Scranton and Bishop Bambera for opposing an accomplished speaker just because she happens to be pro-choice. Catholics and non-Catholics alike should be appalled by Bambera who is following in the footsteps of former Bishop Joseph Martino.

Justin Vacula

Exeter

Published Letter to the Editor "Marjolies should be allowed to speak at Scranton U."

On January 13, I published an article titled "Scranton bishop opposes speaker who encourages women to be politically active." After writing, I submitted letters to the editor to my local newspapers. One was published today:

Editor:

Bishop Bambera has recently objected to Majorie Marjolies - a former U.S. House of Representatives member - who is scheduled to speak at the University of Scranton in order to empower and educate women (and others) in the field of politics.

Bambera objects because, according to a diocesan release, Marjolies has been politically active with pro-choice initiatives.

The Diocese of Scranton, regardless of how much it may speak about the importance of education, is seemingly only interested in their own perspectives being presented with no opposition.

In a setting of higher learning, opposing viewpoints should be welcomed - save when pseudoscience like intelligent design or other nonsense is being presented as fact in classrooms - so that persons could challenge their own beliefs, keep themselves honest, and be exposed to new ideas.

Persons should be appalled by Bambera who is following in the footsteps of former bishop Martino.

Justin Vacula

Exeter

Diocese of Scranton's "Red Mass" to be attended by local political officials

I published a new article for Examiner.com titled "Diocese of Scranton's 'Red Mass' to be attended by local political officials." Read this article and more on my Examiner.com page and please subscribe for instant updates!

Michael Voris - Banned and Exposed!

The Diocese of Scranton has BANNED (and exposed) Michael Voris from speaking at any of its facilities! According to their website,

The Diocese of Scranton has determined that Mr. Voris will not be allowed to speak in a Diocesan or parish facility. After these engagements were scheduled, the Diocese became aware of concerns about this individual’s views regarding other religious groups. In videos posted on the Internet, Mr. Voris makes comments that certainly can be interpreted as being insensitive to people of other faiths. The Catholic Church teaches us to respect all people, regardless of their faith tradition.

Although the Diocese shares Mr. Voris’ support of efforts to protect human life, his extreme positions on other faiths are not appropriate and therefore the Diocese cannot host him.

I find it funny that the Diocese would use the reason of he is "insensitive to people of other faiths" as the reason in this notification. I'll be charitable and think that the diocese wanted to "play it low" here and note only one reason to exclude Voris in order to not cause controversy or isolate Catholics.

The local blogger "The Rockin Traddy" who levied personal attacks against me in December of 2009 and photoshopped a picture of me with the caption "LOSER" because of my complaint that led to the removal of the illuminated and prominent nativity scene on government property that wasn't part of a display of thematic unity had the following to say about this announcement,

That's apparently the Bambera Doctrine. No opposition to modernism, progressivism, or the liberal agenda will be tolerated. But if you're abortion lovin' Senator Bobby Casey, you are certainly welcome in the Cathedral to take Communion right under Bambera's nose, though.

This is an absolute outrage! Michael Voris stands with the true Magisterium of the Church and to blacklist him from speaking throughout the entire Diocese is a disgrace.

It shows us just how scared these modernists are of the truth and the lengths this new Bishop will go to to maintain the status quo.

More to follow...

A local newspaper published a story regarding Voris' ban,

The Diocese of Scranton and Marywood University refused to host a conservative Catholic speaker this weekend after the organizations determined that he had expressed views at odds with the school's and church's values, they said on Thursday.

Michael Voris, who produces television and radio shows about Catholic issues, was scheduled to speak at two events Saturday arranged by a Harveys Lake couple at Marywood and Our Lady of Victory Catholic church in Harveys Lake.

After Marywood canceled the event, titled "Living Catholicism Radically," it was to be relocated to the diocese's St. Clare/St. Paul Elementary School before the diocese also refused to host Voris.

In a two-sentence statement, the Catholic university said Voris "was initially invited to speak at Marywood University as a conservative Catholic commentator" and the school "later became aware of views expressed by Mr. Voris that are inconsistent with our mission and core values."

A school spokeswoman would not elaborate on what views were at issue, but the diocese described its objections to comments made by Voris in Internet videos that "certainly can be interpreted as being insensitive to people of other faiths."

"The Catholic church teaches us to respect all people, regardless of their faith tradition," the diocese said in a statement. "Although the diocese shares Mr. Voris' support of efforts to protect human life, his extreme positions on other faiths are not appropriate and therefore the diocese cannot host him."

Voris cultivated controversy last year when he said that democracies should "limit the vote to faithful Catholics," that "the body politic continues to be ravaged by the cancer of ignorant, self-centered voters" and that the "only way to run a country is by benevolent dictatorship" by a "Catholic monarch" during one of his daily "The Vortex" video segments at RealCatholicTV.com.

Kristen Ciaccia, who planned both local events with her husband, Paul, expressed disappointment and said Voris is "a very faithful Catholic, faithful to the Magisterium and to the teachings of the church."

The Ciaccias and Voris decided not to try to find new sites for him to speak in the area.

"We want to be faithful to our bishop," she said.

The diocese and Marywood have hosted, or refused to host, controversial speakers in the past.

During the 2008 election, Pepperdine University law professor Douglas Kmiec made an argument at Marywood University that Catholic voters who oppose abortion rights could vote for now President Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights.

Last April, the diocese would not allow anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan to speak in its parishes because of her stated support for abortion rights and gay marriage.

llegere@timesshamrock.com

Some other Catholics are quite angry...and they've left a phone number to call if you have any questions. From Traddy's blog,

Response to Diocese of Scranton's Banning of Michael Voris:

As faithful Catholics who respect and value Church authority and the virtue of obedience, we are both shocked and saddened that such a short-sighted mindset has afflicted our local Church leadership. In a day when diversity is prized above all, we stand in stunned amazement that our leaders cannot read the signs of the times and would not extend a pastoral welcome of tolerance, inclusiveness and justice to Mr. Voris.

Michael Voris is an accomplished Catholic layman, a multiple Emmy Award winning journalist who is confident and comfortable in communicating the truths of our Catholic Faith. He has spoken in dozens and dozens of Church locations all around the world, where he has been warmly received by both bishops and laity alike.

Our events were open to all as we simply wanted to celebrate our Catholic Faith. Now, because of a refusal on the part of Catholic College Marywood to subscribe to the tenets of academic freedom, and a glaring amount of intolerance and prejudice on the part of diocesan leaders, we are being forced to abandon our Catholic "home" properties, not to mention the injustice done to Michael Voris’ character. We ask Bishop Bambera to enter into dialogue with us regarding this matter.

Because Michael Voris is an orthodox Catholic, faithful to the Magesterium and all the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, it would be a shame for us to re-schedule our events at a secular site. However, thanks to the publicity being generated by the actions of those who operate out of fear and rash judgments, we would look forward to an even more successful event with larger crowds than originally planned.

The re-scheduled events will be posted as soon as they are finalized. For more information and questions you may contact Paul and Kristen Ciaccia at ... learnthefaith@yahoo.com.

Bishop Bambera: An enemy of education, free speech, and diversity?

Photo: Times Leader Files

I've been waiting for Bishop Bambera's first critical flaw to be broadcasted in local media. All recent articles from the Times Leader and Citizens Voice have been almost nothing but decorum.

The University of Scranton's Inclusion Initiative hopes to provide for "a more inclusive environment and a better understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity. A safe place and a voice will be provided for these students in our community...", but the new bishop seems opposed to this because he is concerned with a speaker who is coming to the University of Scranton.

Bishop Bambera cited his obligation to ensure that authentic Catholic teaching is being provided in all Catholic institutions in the Diocese, and that viewpoints in opposition to this teaching are not being presented as acceptable alternatives.

Apparently, according to Bambera, if you have a viewpoint that is in opposition to "authentic Catholic teaching," your view should not be presented as "an acceptable alternative." Diversity, free speech, intellectual discussions, and debates are now out the window. Thanks, Bishop Bambera.

Ms. Bendoraitis [the speaker] obviously supports positions that are contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church. For this reason, Bishop Bambera has expressed concern to Father Pilarz about the University hosting this speaker.

The new bishop is already poisoning education, threatening free speech, not allowing for proper critical inquiry of important issues, and is possibly pressuring local schools of higher learning.

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In 2009, the previous local bishop asked a local university to discontinue its diversity initiative and threatened to strip the Catholic identity from the school when a gay rights speaker was invited to speak about religion and homosexuality.

A statement from the Diocese issued the day before the talks noted that “Mr. Boykin has authored three books and all three have been nominated for a Lambda Literary award. Lambda is a legal advocacy effort for homosexual causes. Mr. Boykin is an avid supporter of same sex marriage and is an activist for positions disturbingly opposed to Catholic moral teaching.

“Bishop Martino wants Catholics of the Diocese of Scranton to know of his absolute disapproval of Misericordia University’s hosting Mr. Boykin. By honoring this speaker through allowing his positions, so antithetical to Catholic Church teaching, to be broadcast on its campus, the University has rejected all four essential characteristics of a Catholic institution of higher learning. These are: its Christian inspiration, its obligation to reflect on knowledge in light of the Catholic faith, its fidelity to Catholic Church teaching and its commitment to serve the people of God.

Bishops should allow universities to present opposing views, encourage open discussion, and stop interfering with the education of students.

I also find a tremendous amount of humor in the fact that a conservative Catholic blogger, TheRockinTraddy, is also very critical of Bambera because he thinks Bambera should be like Martino...and I'm saying that Martino did a tremendous amount of damage to the Church's reputation. It's a strike from the atheists and the conservative Catholics :)

Three cheers for Bishop Bambera...you're already making yourself and the Catholic Church look bad! Recent comments on the article even reflect this:

Here we go folks -- the honeymoon is over for the hometown boy.

These arguments are old and the reason the church is losing members.

Atta boy, Bambera. Stop visiting soup kitchens and start censoring those you disagree with. That's the Catlick spirit! Next week maybe you can start begging for more donations to help offset the church's legal defense expenses.

Catholic leaders do not want people - even adults - educated; they want them indoctrinated!