I agree with Father Daniel J. Becker on the need for exorcism and deliverance prayer...let's begin within the Diocese itself!

Pope Benedict XVI, a little while back, said that: "Today we see in a truly terrifying way that the greatest persecution of the church does not come from outside enemies but is born of sin within the church." (See here).  This truth is often downplayed by some when it is not forgotten altogether.  In this week's Catholic Free Press, Father Daniel J. Becker (who to his credit acknowledges that "each one of us is a sinner, with particular faults and bad habits which darken our souls"), writes in an article entitled "Shine the light on evil": "The truth of today's Gospel passage, 'men preferred darkness to light, because their works are evil' is evident at Planned Parenthood in Worcester.  Those promoting the evil of abortion do not want to hear the truth, nor do they want anyone else to hear it...Anyone paying attention can see that our society prefers darkness to light, and also can see 'an enemy's hand in this.' (Mt 13: 30)."

Unfortunately, the same may be said of many of those who have, or are currently, serving within the Worcester Diocese.  For example, Sister Anna Marie Kane, S.S.J., who served as Vicar of Religious for the diocese, once said that, "Abortion is a delicate and complex reality.  We must continue our struggle of respecting other's choices even if we don't agree with them."    Dr. Vincent Forde, who served in the Office of Religious Education for the diocese, when asked if contraception is sinful, responded by saying, "I have plenty of words from the Church that it is sinful.  I've not word from God on that." Dr. Forde also insisted that, "The Church does not have objective certainty in anything God has not revealed, and He has not on questions of contraception or homosexuality." Father Paul O'Connell, who served as a Religious Educator, said that, "The issue is not whether someone is sexually active before marriage, but is it moral and committed?" and "..whether someone should have sex before marriage is an individual moral decision, based on their conscience."  Douglas Kimball, who served with the Office of Family Life Ministry, asserted that, "Humanae Vitae is simply advice from the Pope.  The Pope did not mean this was the last word on the subject."

Just last year, the Worcester Commission for Women invited dissident theologian Elizabeth Dreyer to speak at its "Gather Us In" conference.  Dreyer is known for her dissent from the Church's teaching on women's ordination and was one of sixteen who signed a document agitating for change in the Church's teaching.  See here and here.

The Commission for Women has also featured Joyce Rupp as a speaker.  A self proclaimed "spiritual midwife," Rupp, a Catholic religious - at least in name -  claims to have learnt a lot from Eagle Crux a native American spiritualist and feels that she resonates with mystical islamic sufism. She tells us that everything is made of stardust including ourselves and that stones have as much right to be here as we have, infact more so because they have been here longer. Her books include how to draw sacred mandela dancing circles and even have the rites for the blessing of the sexual organs! On Ireland she says that the Irish love of learning was first fostered by the wise druids and in the same article goes on to extoll New-Ageism as valuable and that some in the church are envious of it because it draws people toward spiritual growth. In her work entitled "Cosmic Dance," Rupp describes an encounter with a group of lesbians: :Different from me, thousands of them. Holding hands, kissing, arms around each other, stretching me beyond the safe world of heterosexuality. A gathering of lesbians challenging me to enter a world I never visit."

 I could go on but you get the idea.  Years of institutionalized apostasy have taken their toll on a diocese crippled by a deep spiritual sickness.  I agree with Fr. Becker when he says that, "There is evidence for [a] connection between demonic activity and the abortion industry.."  Which is why I called for deliverance prayer in Fitchburg, Massachusetts when Planned Parenthood set up shop.  My call was simply ignored. See here.

I fully agree with Father Becker that exorcism prayers will drive out the demons which are behind the demonic abortion industry.  I also support deliverance prayer and fasting (and most importantly the Sacrament of Penance - hence the title of this Blog which is dedicated to Our Lady of La Salette who brings us to reconciliation with her Son Jesus) as weapons in the spiritual battle.  But just as Jesus cleansed the Temple with a whip fashioned by cord, we must first cleanse the local Church before seeking to evangelize a broken world which prefers darkness to light.  Why?  Because until we remove the plank from our own eyes, we will not be able to see clearly enough to remove the speck from our brother's eye.  Yes, I believe somebody said that.  Hence the old axiom: Nemo potest dare quod non habet - You can't give what you do not possess.

When can we expect the Diocese or Worcester to begin?