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| Archbishop Wilton Gregory turned a $15 million estate gift into a $2.2 million mansion for himself. But that is the least of all the problems. He was Cardinal Bernadin's protege. This well-researched story has some background on Wilton Gregory - not pleasant reading. |
Long ago, unbidden, a woman told us about her son, a Roman Catholic priest. She assumed I was ELCA and began talking about how open-minded ELCA was. Cardinal Bernadin had been in a big scandal that was being tamped down. The facts were pretty clear, but when he walked across the stage, his clergy and colleagues applauded loudly. She said, "After a conference with Cardinal Bernadin, the cardinal said to my son - 'Stay healthy.'" There are many ways to say "Have a good day," but "Stay healthy" seems especially self-indicting.
That was around 30 years ago, when Rome was so battered by abuse scandals in the US and around the world that a special commission was commissioned. "Oh oh," I thought. Wilton Gregory was put in charge. The moment he appeared on the TV, I thought, "Rigged, just like WELS." One group was completely excluded from the so-called investigation and clean-up: SNAP. And who forced the issue on clergy abuse? - SNAP!
On a larger scale, that is just like a district praesidium members "investigating" their own corrupt scandals. They gather, follow the pre-arranged script, and absolve themselves.
Pope Francis, 30 years after the "investigation," is up to his mitre in world-wide scandals, cardinals in England, Australia, and America - exposed for their predatory behavior with men and boys. As Luther said in his day, "They worshiped the cardinals as gods who were satisfied with a woman."
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| Pope Francis set Cardinal McCarrick loose again, just like the Michigan District WELS and the ELS praising and propping up Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, with help from Professor of Objective Justification Jay Webber. |
The "conservative" Lutherans would have their people believe it is a problem in ELCA, but not in WELS, Missouri, or anywhere else. And yet the "conservatives" are perfectly happy working with ELCA through Thrivent, embracing the same dogma and diversions.
As they say in the crime business, Pope Francis is a dirty cop, so do not expect anything from him. The corrupt elected a pope who would keep their game going another 30 years. George Neumayer is worth reading on this topic, because he goes to the sources for information and knows the background of the prelates. I try to keep up at the cardinal level, but there are too many reprobates to remember them all.
The bigger the scandal, the greater the need to bury it, as the Lutherans know. When I mentioned the $40 million lawsuit against ELCA (really a total of $70 million for years of child abuse by a known predator), Jack Kilcrease - UOJ expert and professor of apostasy at Jay Webber's online seminary - denied any knowledge of it. Though born in a WELS parsonage, Kilcrease went to an ELCA college and seminary. If he did not know, it never happened, we were supposed to think. I was happy to provide the link to the lawsuit.
In WELS, "nothing happened" is their favorite form of denial. In a similar case, the CP, a member of the odious Patterson gang, shouted "Nothing happened!" I asked, "Then why did the District President fly to the parish and have the church constitution changed?" The CP gulped from my knowledge of the facts. Gulping is such a satisfying response to the truth. The liar has a script but the words have to be swallowed quickly rather than shared.
If the lies and scandals are at the top, the members can be certain that the leaders are in office as the criminal lawyers for the pastors and teachers - thick as thieves, they all are (with some exceptions). Herman Otten is happy to spike the story entirely - even clergy murder - or bury the lead on page 17.
So follow the Church of Rome story and say "Thanks be to God that we are not like them papists." That is exactly what the thralls of Thrivent want the members to think.
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| Belfort -The Wolf of Wall Street - spoke... |
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| at a Thrivent convention. Note the sign on the upper left and the cross + $ = |
