"To do evil that good may come of it is for bunglers in politics as well as morals." -- William_Penn.
The evil we speak of today is the evil of daring to use children as pawns in a political disagreement about public policy between adults.
In an email sent to members of Mary Seat of Wisdom parish, we read that Fr. Gerald Gunderson and Mary Seat principal Judy Schutter have determined that any family wishing to transfer their children from St. Paul of the Cross school -- to avoid having their children exposed to the potential dangers of housing a homeless shelter in their school gym -- have been denied admission in support of St. Paul Pastor Carl Morello's desire to open a PADS shelter there.
We recognize that any private school has the ability and the right to deny admission. But as the old saying goes, just because you can doesn't mean you should.
And we are really disgusted that this is being done with the full knowledge and advice of the Archdiocese; that terrific institution which spent decades covering up their failure to protect the most innocent members of their flock, children, against the wolf-like appetites of the pedophile priests in their employ.
Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, neither the Archdiocese nor the larger Roman Catholic Church has much of an admirable recent track record of looking out for the safety of our kids. Their words have not matched their actions.
As we told PRU readers in our July 15, 2008 post, the Archdiocese created the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth that includes the Chicago Archdiocese's Children Matter Network, which bills itself as "a partnership created to promote and protect the dignity of children."
43 comments:
This is what I like about the PRU..
pull no punches!
This is just a thought here..how much longer will the Ald. of the 7th ward keep quiet on this subject.
Commies in the pulpit!
wow..............
Sounds like Mary Seat of Wisdom should change their name. The pastor of MSW and SPC are fools. They're turning this into a game.
I love the PRU, the picture and caption are right on target.
How about Mary Seat of Stupidity ? Maybe their church can take up a collection for the cigarettes for the Pads residents @ SPC. We could install a vending machine in the school gym. We want to keep our homeless happy. Remind me again why they aren't having the pads shelter in their gym?
I'm reminded again of why my spouse and I decided to make Park Ridge our home town...for the raising of our family...and the advantages offered by the public school system here...
What a tremendous sadness for the families who've made the efforts and sacrifices necessary to not only pay property taxes but also parochial school tuition(s)... To be treated in this way by their respective pastors and the archdiocese is sickening...when the only thing those parents are attempting to do is avoid risks to their children...something those parents have the responsibility and right to measure and decide for their own families.
This is sickening.
Furthermore, to the people that want to insist everyone walk the walk and talk the talk, do you truly think you do?
You just like to say it to make yourselves feel like good "Catholics" and feel all warm and tingly inside. Have you used artificial insemination, abortion, divorce and had sex before marriage? Oops, maybe you're not as "Catholic" as you thought you were. Someone said that you could confess away these sins, but I guess the Concerned Parents can't confess away the concerns of having homeless from God knows where trucked into SPC,while the Chicago Police officers living nearby and residents of Glen Ellyn, Arlington Heights all warning us it's not SAFE to have this in a SCHOOL GYM. DUUUHHHHH.
I hope it's ok, but i am cutting and pasting an awesome quotation from another thread. I never saw a response to this one. Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!
""And I quote: "People should care enough about other human beings to be willing to offer the miniscule assistance that shelters provide from the elements. We are talking about one lousy night a week! For a lousy 6 months!"
EXACTLY! All you pro-PADS shelter people can't bring yourselves to actually walk the walk an provide anything beyond "miniscule assistance" for "one lousy night a week" for "a lousy 6 months!"
Why not 7 nights a week? Why not take one into your own house one night a week instead of warehousig him/her on a cot in a school gym? Why not get together with a bunch of your same-minded friends and rent a few 1-BR or studio apts. for those 6 months?
Because you're all a bunch of hypocrites holding fake halos over your own heads while demonizing those who disagree with you. Is there a special category called "part-time Christians" or "when it's convenient Christians"?"
The letter says that "we expect that the MSW school families support the parish mission".
What if a family doesn't? What kind of retaliation will they have to face from the church?
The letter also says "we hope this letter clarifies the issue".
It sure does. It is a warning to any parish family who would dare speak out. It is an attempt to silence any opposition within the parish.
I read the Brownshirt article on the Public Watchdog and thought maybe the comparison of the PADS supporters to Nazi intimidation tactics was over the top bombast.
Not any more. I think now that the Public Watchdog comparison was exactly right.
To ann nan,
I have and do and would do it again. True catholics are dedicated to helping the poor and don't take the views of a couple of catholics in the rich north shore as that of all catholics. The true hypocrisy here is found in your words. Don't accuse those who you do not know.
Define a true Catholic. I'd like to hear your definition.
Also define rich and north shore too. I can't wait.
Looks like we will need an officer
( hire back ) for these PADS evenings
so we won't have any ...events
such as like Chicago did.
A marked unit parked outside
all night may be the right provactive
move.
Remember....the Metra runs both ways!!
Thank you.
To September 1, 4:31 p.m.:
So you have taken in the homeless, and you'd do it again. Great, problem solved. Call Fr. Morello and tell him you'll be taking all 2-5 of the Park Ridge homeless. Why didn't you speak up sooner?
How could you let them sleep on some cot in gym with no shower when they could be all warm and cozy under your roof ??????
PRU... as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Kudos on the theme and choice of picture.
“Pathetic” is the word that comes to mind for me. Gunderson’s letter is a lie. And he is a liar. I know of a few people, myself included, who called MSW about a potential transfer into the parish and the school and made no mention of why, though I admit it was said that we were transferring in from SPC. When I called I got a simple response: we (MSW) are not taking transfers from SPC, we support PADS”. So I guess EVERYONE from SPC doesn’t. Very nice Mr. Gunderson.
And as an earlier contributor noted: words of comfort from Gunderson: “we expect that the MSW school families support the parish mission". What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?!? What is the unspoken “or else”?
While Karl Morello didn’t exactly embrace Gunderson’s gesture he didn’t reject it nor did he ask him to rescind it. The Archdiocese? Well, I learned from them that a parish Pastor can do pretty well whatever he wants, well almost anything he wants… if you know what I mean. What a shitpot.
How many kids have you driven out of a catholic education boys? One would be too many and I do think you have accomplished that. Thanks a fucking lot.
Whether we get a homeless shelter in Park Ridge or not we can thank these two (and the PRMA as co-conspirators) for dividing the community and their parishes over this issue. Nice.
What have we come to when we need to rely on the Park Ridge Planning & Zoning Commission and the Park Ridge City Council to protect the St. Paul school children from the ignorance and arrogance of their own pastor?
And Gunderson has two gyms, not just one. Why isn't he offering MSW for the homeless shelter if he's such a principled pastor?
Anonymous true catholic at 4:31, aren't you concerned that you'll be losing some of the flock, who else is going to pay the lawsuits for the demented priests? Now there will be a whole different perpetrator in the homeless sex offenders, but it can all be traced back to our dependable priests. Ahh, and yes there may be sex offenders as neighbors, but the difference is that they are required to be registered. People know who they are if they check. With the homeless, they can say they are whoever they want to be. Oh, and don't forget the cigarettes, they must have their cigarettes!
Can someone from MSW explain why they aren't hosting PADS, just supporting it?
The true acronym for P.A.D.S.= People Acting Disgustingly Superior
That's perfect, Sept.1 6:38p.m. P.A.D.S.= People Acting Disgustingly Superior. And they're so caught up in feeling good about themselves they can't--FOR A MOMENT-- stop and think about how it might feel to be on the other side of the argument. To be legitimately concerned about the safety of your child---and put that concern above PLEASING YOUR PASTOR. Since when did that become anti-catholic behavior?
I remember when it was great feeling to belong to MSW. Now..that seems so far off in the distance...
What a nightmare of a situation.
God is looking down.....
So, with all this very useful discussion, has it gone un-noticed that throughout the more recent debates, meetings, and city processes, PADS has been virtually invisible? That since the direction of this thing has gone out to the public, and not in the controlled environment of the church gatherings PADS has been silent. I think it strange and dis-concerning that the church has been out front fighting the fight for an organization that I'm not convinced the church knows all that much about other than what PADS themselves have told them, while they sit back and watch. One would think that if this PADS organization is really truly all it's cracked up to be, why aren't they out in the open now? Where's the support for the church? Why aren't they around to answer all the questions and concerns that surround this issue. All the answers that people have gotten as of late are regurgitated off the PADS website. I think our residents, concerned parents and our children deserve more in the way of openness and honesty that what the churches and PADS are offering up. I should think that if there is going to be any more useful discussion, questions and answers, and process decision making by the city, PADS should be present and accounted for. After all, it is their program. I think they should be front and present when the city votes to make them part of the special use process and requires them to apply for a license, don't you?!
and Fr. Morello is leaving in a month or so. He should be TRULY ASHAMED at what he has done to this community.
I am still wondering why those PADS people are so quiet.
You can not discriminate based upon race or religion, yet the parents from St.Paul who want to transfer their children to MSW are being discriminated on for disagreeing with their pastor. Something is truly wrong here!!!
anonymous @ 8:05am--I honestly think we should request that the City have no further hearings/ community meetings/votes until PADS steps up.
And I have suggested before that the City request members of local governments in communities where PADS is located, come and speak at these 'hearings' when they take place.
The reality will come forth.
Mary Seat of Wisdom proudly claims that they have 300 signatures of people who want the Pads shelter. What they don't tell you is that their are 2000 people registered to their parish. The only people who want it are the people who run the various ministries and are on the parish council.
Rumor has it that we haven't seen or heard from PADS because they are being investigated by the IRS.
From what I have heard rumored, PADS has falsified financials in their annual report. 95% + overhead. They collect about 700,000.00 in federal, state, and county funding. All the money is for their salaries and overhead. Very little goes to running the shelters since the church, volunteers and local hospitals donate everything to run the program.
The battle here in Park Ridge has brought them into the spotlight and many good accountants have checked out their financial records.
oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh
Besides the fact that PADS is no where to be found, has anyone else taken notice of the pattern of those willing to take on the pads program as a host, are those 2 churches who's pastor or priests are leaving? How come none of the churches who's leaders are planning to stick around for a while aren't taken this on? They are simply offering support. I guess I don't get the concept of fighting for this cause and expecting the entire community to get on board then pack a bag and high-tail it out of town. If it's that important, and worthy, why were the only two willing to bear this burden, the two who are leaving?
I feel for those St. Paul families wishing to transfer but were rebuffed by MSW.
As PRU said, it's MSW's right to turn kids away but that doesn't make it any easier for the families who feel like they have little choice now.
This citizen empathizes with their plight. I hope all works out for them.
P.S. I hear MSW's cafeteria has roaches. You didn't want to go there anyway!
so because the grown ups can't learn how to play nice together, the kids suffer.
is that right?
I don't think the Catholic Archdiocese in Chicago can use any more bad publicity.
These clowns running these two PR Catholic churches are just the messengers. We still have our religion and can choose to practice it wherever we want. I suggest that parishoners do what my family did years ago...find another Catholic church to worship. There are plenty, and they are welcoming.
Of course, if you WANT all the b.s., then do stay--by all means!
So did anyone notice the story in the Advocate that Immaculate Conception will never house a PADS or other shelter in their school gym?
That seems like a pretty stand-up statement to invite those dissaffected SPC parents, doesn't it?
We saw that too. Wondered if it got noticed -- and we agree, it sure does come off like an invitation.
Maybe Fr. Meyer at IC knows something Gunderson and Morello don't or don't want to acknowledge.
Where's Fr. Meyer been prior to IC and has he ever been involved with a parish that hosted a PADS or other homeless shelter?
The IRS! Awesome. Add that to a federal lawsuit and I think we have carried the day. Any reason for the IRS to look into PR municipal affairs while they are at it? If Frimark doesn't have something to hide, then I am a monkey's uncle.
PRU- I knew Photoshop could yield great fun, but you have taken it to a higher high. Perfectly, if sadly, aprapos!
"What have we come to when we need to rely on the Park Ridge Planning & Zoning Commission and the Park Ridge City Council to protect the St. Paul school children from the ignorance and arrogance of their own pastor?
And Gunderson has two gyms, not just one. Why isn't he offering MSW for the homeless shelter if he's such a principled pastor?"
Isn't MSW closer to the el and the forest preserve across from Maine South than SPC? Don't the homeless take the el because it's cheaper than Metra? Aren't there more forest preserve woods by MSW than by SPC?
Just asking.
Did you know that the bus stop for Emerson and Field schools is on the corner right across the street from the SPC gym? A show of hands please, anyone who wants their child/ren standing there waiting for the school bus at 7:00 am raise your hand?
The using of children for politics must be a holyman thing?
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/
1139961,daley090208.article
Hey PRU, does Daley read here? He copied off you!
Anon@5:37 --
Not that we know of. All the talk about open and honest government would probably burn his eyes.
Is anyone asking what the details are, that is what rules as to who may qualify for the “temporary” housing? And what if the resident(s) never leave?
I think there handing the residents of PR a line of bull that even makes a politician blush…
Wow, does this mean MS13 can have safe sactuary right here in River City! Are you so sure?
- PR website - memo to the P&Z commission for overnight shelters in the agenda section for 9/8/08, adopting
No fingerprinting, specifically stipulates that it not be required to be located outside school zone, square footage formula that would allow well in excess of 100 persons in SPC gym. Owner OR operator would have to apply for license.
We know. We've read it.
Think there's been some backroom lobbying going on? We do.
You should add to the picture the faces of the parish/church councils of all the churches...they are the one who initiated all of this...their intentions were good, but their handling of everything was bad
If Father Carl & the rest of the Churches sponsoring the PADS agenda really want to help the homeless, how about they take their case to the Illinois Legislature and Govenor Blagovich who is cutting all the funding and sending these people out on the street???? Father Carl could put all his energies into this and become the next Fr. Phleger!!!!
I am amazed at how many parents are willing to risks their kids for the sake of the homeless.
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