Have a great weekend!
Addendum --
Check out the Pub-dogs today!
All you people opposed to opening a PADS shelter in a school or densly residential neighborhood, and daring to question the wisdom of your parish pastors? You know, all you people who've been called "unchristian?" Fr. Carl Morello has corrected that! You're not unchristian! You're "racists" and "economic bigots!"
Addendum 2 --
For our unhappy reader -- you are 100% right. Thanks, we very much appreciate your insistence.
September 26, 2008
Don't Live In The Dark!
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40 comments:
Big words from a man who gets to travel the world to see places paid for by parishoners of the Catholic Church. It's our parish too not just his , we want a voice in this matter and the whole town should vote on this issue, that is the bottom line!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is a "religious bigot"?
Answer to 12:38 = Fr Carl.
A religious bigot is someone who holds a very narrow view of life, filtered by his own religious beliefs and prejudiced against anyone not sharing his philosophies and views.
he is behaving like a frustrated spoiled brat who isn't getting his way.
Mr. Morello’s written comments are an attempt to defame the Concerned Parents before Park Ridge’s elected officials. The defamation comes in the form of falsely labelling these people as racist and economic bigots just for attempting to protect their children.
Defamation by making a written false statement is LIBEL. This act can be adjudicated in a court and may even be a criminal act in the State of Illinois.
I hope the proper authorities look into this and I hope the Park Ridge City Council does not stand for this type of behavior.
So, now my pastor is calling me a racist and a bigot. I am not sure how much more of this I can take.
I am deeply saddened by Fr. Morello's sweeping generalization that anyone opposed to the PADS shelter operating from the school gymnasium is a "racist" and "economic bigot." I believe it is a symptom of his own frustration and anger at not getting his own way without discussion.
Attention Archdiocese -
Respondeat Superior in torts cases
Fr Morello clearly is off his nut, he needs to be reigned in and transferred to another parish and this project quashed.
Diminishing collections are one thing; awards of damages are another.
Just a(n additional) thought on this issue... let's rewind the tape a few months.
What would have happened if MSW had approached the city and said something like, "We, based upon our beliefs of a common humanity and a belief in charity towards our fellow (wo)man, wish to open a shelter in Park Ridge. Could you, as the representatives of the city assist us in finding a suitable location within the city limits where we could set up a full-time shelter for, say 6 families (25-30 people)? If we are able, jointly, to find such a location, we will seek the contributions and the support of other churches within the city, as well as from the laity."
What do you think would have happened in that instance? A request, not a demand? A mutual decision on a location, not Here, whatever your thoughts!
I'm willing to bet there would already be a temporary facility in place and perhaps even efforts for a permanent one. I'd like to think, even, that other local churches would have sought to contribute.
Instead... we have petulantance, name calling and divisiness. And over what... one night a week for six months of the year... as if in the grander scheme of things, such an effort amounts to anything. Anything, that is, for the people who actually need the assistance. Those who want to make the show of it are getting everything they wanted.
Well put, Charles.
Charles:
I agree this would have been a much better approach. Having said that there is another significant difference in the senario you lay out.
Yours goes after a different target market (at least I would assume from my reading it does). You reference 6 families. A shelter that targets only families that have been displaced from their homes is very different then a homeless shelter as PRMA/PADS would have it. I am all for it - it certainly seems like a much more managable situation to me. But it does not match what it seems PRMA is shooting for.
If you take a shelter including the full gamet of homeless population, which it appears they want, then I believe your suggested approach would have made little difference. I believe there would still have been serious push back from those living in the chosen area, similiar to what happened with St. Mary's
Maybe Fr. Morello's next assignment should be in a bad neighborhood.
Let's see........we want better schools, housing, neighborhoods..
wow.....then why are we living in Pk Ridge Fr. M. ??
If you want to recreate the Englewood neighborhood where the murder rate is right up there..then move there!
Coming from a tough city neighborhood....We like it fine here.
Maybe father M.wants to leave and if so - then fine.
Take the idea with you and Fr. Gerry G. too.
They would make a great team in a tough city neighborhood! Batman and robin.....watch those green tights......
Thank you.
i can't see the photo to your addendum on this - but I will say I wrote the aldermen all of them - they are receiving phone calls and emails - people keep them coming - those that are NOT in favor or at least favor restrictions please make it known - there is confusion of needing to be on one side orthe other - there is another side,the one that favors it with restrictions - please make it known - this is in your community - if one shelter opens up it allows others to open as well at any church in the PRMA - those of you who live next to any church in any part of PR please make your feelings known through email or quick phone call and attend the meeting - this can change your town forever -
The first addendum is a link to today's Pub-dog post.
The second addendum is a YouTube video showing a bunch of racists and economic bigots in Baltimore objecting to the use of a high school gym being used as a temporary overnight homeless shelter.
PRU,
You are twisted and wickedly funny.
Anon@4:33 --
Don't forget evil too!
Where did Fr. Morello write those comments?
If you check the Pub-dog's site, it looks like Morello sent an email to City Hall and the elected officials.
Why doesn't the city council put this on the ballot for the taxpayers to decide? It involves the entire community.
I would like to begin by saying that I'm disappointed that Fr. Morello would say such a thing about the people of Park Ridge, but I do understand his frustrations and it doesn't take much to notice that Park Ridge is a very "white" community. I also feel Fr. Morello has informed himself on the homeless and understands that a diperportionate number of the homeless are minorities, so he might have naturally assumed the opposition to a homeless shelter was rooted in some measure of racism or bigotry.
From the video posted by PRU, it is clear that racism and bigotry are not the real root problem when it comes to community opposition to homeless shelters. Fear of the unknown is the problem.
I feel that if the good people of Park Ridge would set aside their fear and reach out to those in need, they would find there is more to be gained than to be feared, and that the fear is largely unfounded.
I agree with anon 3:30. This is about safely bringing a shelter to Park Ridge. I stand behind the Concerned Parents not as a parent opposed to a shelter, but in favor of establishing a shelter with restrictions.
Burger:
What restrictions would you like beyond the 500 ft clause?
Fear of the unknown??? Are you people deaf or retarded? Half a dozen cops and a couple state's attorneys told the community at large their experiences with homeless and the newspapers are loaded with nightmares about the homeless. This is fear of an absolute certainty.
Anonymous at 10:49 PM,
I'm not Burger...but I'll offer an answer to your question...
Since your question really covers two different aspects of shelter regulation, I'll answer the first in terms of the land-use aspects...
In addition to not allowing shelters to operate within 500 feet of a school...I would prefer that instead of not allowing shelters to operate within 1000 feet of each other...with the possibility of that restriction not being enforced, as the current ordinance is written to allow for questioning of that restriction...the ordinance should either eliminate any "wiggle room" on the 1000 feet. Additionally, I would like to see a restriction on the number of shelters limited to one per ward...so that not more than 7 could ever be allowed to open in Park Ridge. I also believe the phrase "cold weather" should be added to the ordinance...so that shelter operators/volunteers would not be tempted to begin operating under the auspices of becoming "cooling centers" too, which could lead to year round shelter operations...despite claims by certain shelter management businesses that they don't have enough volunteers to staff shelters year-round...
As for the licensing restrictions...I would like to see fingerprint background checks added as a requirement before any shelter users are allowed entrance. I also believe shelter users should be subject to a physical search of their belongings and persons for contraban before being allowed entrance. Finally, I believe bathing facilities...beyond just sinks...should be provided for shelter users.
The soup line will be long once
they make that favorite PK chicken soup.
Come on come all.......your money is no good down here at the Fr. M. kitchen/PADS R&R center.
I agree with Bean. In addition to the limit of one shelter per ward during cold weather months (which would protect the 5th Ward from becomming the year round homeless capital of Park Ridge), I would like to see:
The total number of licenses available limited to one or two per season.
The words "on site" added to the parking requirements. St. Mary's was going to use the Community Church parking lot-a half a block away.
A limit as to how close a shelter can be to a residential dwelling. The current ordinance does not allow shelters in the B4 District,Uptown. I assume this to protect the retail area from having a shelter location. I think people living near a possible shelter deserve some protection as to how close these shelters can be to their homes.
With regard to the SPC pastor’s recent letter to City Council, this is what I think has really happened.
This Morello fellow is really a 13th Century Abbot whom God (his boss), has caused to be transported ahead in time in order to fulfill the PADS mission (which is actually predicted in the Book of Daniel – see Nebuchadnezzar's Dream in Chapter 2).
Please note that I didn’t say reincarnation, because I believe that particular belief system doesn’t work for the church – it doesn’t allow for eternal punishment, and therefore is not useful in scaring children. However, science fiction clearly does work for the church, so I am attributing this interesting phenomenon to time travel. Also, with regard to the possibility that this man is really Abbot, note the similarity between “Morello” and “Costello.”
[I hesitate to point out that the only other explanation is Ego, which is synonymous with Pride, a deadly sin, and therefore not likely to be in the behavioral quiver of the Abbot. In fact, forget I mentioned it.]
Now then. The problem is that Abbot Morello has retained much of his thirteenth century world view – much like Austin Powers in the movie of the same name. That’s why as a concerned citizen, I am offering to provide some Twenty-first century “do’s and don’t’s” if you will, to help the good Abbot achieve his goal without breaking any laws.
So, for what it’s worth:
Abbot, the Church no longer owns towns and villages and actually hasn’t for a couple hundred years (yes the Vatican still has an army, the Papal Swiss Guard, but not at the level of the good old days. Great uniforms though). What I’m saying, then, is you won’t be able to collect rents and crops from Park Ridge citizens. If you try, it could hurt your credibility. But it’s not all bad news. These days, you simply collect money from your congregation. And they still have nothing to say about how you spend it, so there you are.
Other bad news is that you can’t burn people at the stake any more, or even torture them because they believe in the wrong God. I agree that this takes away a useful tool when it comes to trying to intimidate secular governmental bodies, such as our City Council – but don’t despair. I think you can still excommunicate them. There are some issues with whether or not you can actually excommunicate non-Catholics, but since you clearly see no limits to your power, I’m betting you’ll find a way.
No thanks necessary, Abbot...and best of luck to you in these crazy, wicked modern times.
10:50 am,
Way too funny! When is the movie coming out? It was nice to laugh at this issue for a change.
Wow, a bunch of racists. A lot of class this guy has, no clue what he’s talking about, but just throw it out there, it always seem to work… The clique, your this, or your that, all the buzz words that use to stir people up is not working as in the days of past. Sorry Fr Tuck, if working two three jobs, worrying about your children, paying all those taxes, (which I know you have no clue about), and picking a community to call home, and getting involved enough to voice an opinion and as you put it, racist. I think it’s time to find another parish, you just burned out your welcome, at least in my book.
I got one question, how many shelters could the church have built with moneys the church had to settle out of court, for that matter all settlements, in their scandals?
I bet it would have set up quit a lot of shelters… at least you could have hired someone to do a little planning on an easier location for those folks to find and not one where they’ll be wondering around PR at night trying to find the shelter.
If Chicago wants to be a sanctuary city, well they got it, but last I heard, PR is not a sanctuary city. If you don’t think that there would be any problems, ask anyone of the beat officers from LA or San Francisco or for that matter Chicago, try 14th dist or someone from area 4…
So you call those concerned people all the names you want, you might stir a few up into thinking that, but I feel for the majority there just protecting what they worked for and thinking about the safety of their children, which they should be doing.
Well here's one way of doing this, those who oppose the shelter voice your opinion and those who are favor of it do the same. Then the majority that voices these opinions will be heard and when those elected to serve the people disredards them in a decision can reap what they sow at election time...
Now if we would just do that for those self serving yahoos in Washington, don't you think we'd be better off now?
SHAME SHAME SHAME on you Fr. Morello. What you have done to this community, along with your cohorts, is appalling. I cannot WAIT for you to get out of Park Ridge. You have turned OFF so many people from the Catholic religion. Is that your GOAL?
I am disgusted by your behavior in the past months, and the grand finale of this email. What a PATHETIC example you are to the children in this community.
Father Morello and Gunderson, I know you are reading this. Your church and its rules/laws let countless priests and bishops reign horrific sexual crimes against our innocent children in gods name for years. We do not forgive and we do not forget. Now you want us again to turn our heads and ignore the monster that you are going to put directly in our children's paths.
Many (the majority) of your congregation do not agree with PADS. You are losing your flock as you do not care and do not listen to what we have to say.
We are all aware that you are trying to incite bad behavior at Monday's meeting. Shame on you!
Just remember this Father Morello & Gunderson, A holy war is never won.
"And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand" :Matthew 12:25
fr. carls letter to city counsel sure was NOT the same letter we all got in the Thursday envelope was it? Who is the real fr. carl? Wow, play the race card and hope that works. So, the alderman seem to have their minds made up? Why the heck another meeting then? Its yet ANOTHER night to take away from our families. Fr. Carls motto...win at all cost including our families. gmab
I think the Park Ridge city services would be better utilized on many other things than policing a homeless shelter. How about the "gang problem" in Park Ridge? They can start with disbanding the merry gang who call themselves the "Park Ridge Ministerial Association."
Fr. Morello--you are getting desperate. It shows. How nice of you to show up at the family CCD class at your church one recent evening. Since you haven't shown up there in three years but now suddenly want to be "involved" shows your desperation. There are KIDS there. They are watching you. You are a shameful shameful example to them.
I understand you are leaving SPC soon. Please leave quickly and quietly. Our town doesn't want you here. Go start trouble somewhere else. Don't call names. It's sub-standard and classless. But I am glad you are not calling me a bad Catholic anymore. WHEW!
anon 9:48PM:
With all due respect, it seems that the "we" you refer to has done a great job of forgiving and forgetting. Not only did many of the "we" somehow find it in your hearts to keep your kids a SPC (or other Catholic schools) after the priest situation, but now many of the "we" are complaining a different Catholic church is not excepting SPC transfers, even though the pastor at that church is an on the record supporter of PADS and Fr. Carl.
I am sure that if Fr. Carl would announce that he has changed his mind and a shelter would not be at SPC, most of you would keep your kids there - even after some of the most horrible things I have read (by some, not be all) or heard stated by members of the parish. It seems to me the "we" is good at forgiving, or maybe the "we" is just fantastic at forgetting.
Maybe our Vertus training was too effective. The Archdiocese required us to be trained to recognize dangers to our children, and now when we say, "maybe it's not a good idea to have homeless, jobless strangers invited into the grammar school" Fr Carl throws a temper tantrum. Maybe he should go to Vertus training. If he already did, he obviously wasn't paying attention.
"Anonymous said...
Why doesn't the city council put this on the ballot for the taxpayers to decide? It involves the entire community.
September 26, 2008 5:16 PM"
They won't put this on the ballot and ask for a *real* vote because then their unprovable and selfserving opinion polls would be useless to them for covering their asses when they tell concerned parents why they are deciding to screw us over.
With the abundance of empty homes, the police dept will be kept real busy checking for squatters when a shelter comes to town. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/17/some-homeless-squat-in-fo_n_87118.html
Even though a shelter will accommodate 15 – 20 individuals, all of PADS clients will have the PR shelter on their radar and one walk through town will reveal numerous alternate sleeping opportunities. The shelter or shelters will impact city services - this should be put to a vote.
after reviewing the agenda on the city website, it doesnt look like they are going to vote on this tonight. Is that correct?
we need to make a decision and MOVE ON!
anony-mouse:
Halleluyah!!!! Amen!!!! But of course they will won't vote and we will spend another month (at least) going back and forth with no minds changed and no legitimate solutions.
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