Matt C. Abbott
Diocese bans Alinsky critic from speaking on church property
By Matt C. Abbott
For many years, Catholic researcher Stephanie Block has been exposing the link between the American Catholic church bureaucracy – which has effectively become another arm of the Democratic Party – and the supporters of radical leftist Saul Alinsky (who influenced President Obama) and his "machine."
Now, at least one Catholic diocese is forbidding her from speaking on church property.
Ms. Block was recently scheduled to speak at St. John the Baptist Church in Costa Mesa, California. However, just a few days before her scheduled talk, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange informed the parish that she was not permitted to speak on church property.
The organizer was able to secure a local college auditorium on short notice, so Ms. Block's talk went on as planned.
Ms. Block's writings on community "Alinskyian" organizing are informative and well-researched.
A brief sample of her writing:
The heterodox Father Pfleger remains a priest in good standing, yet Ms. Block, an orthodox lay Catholic, isn't allowed to speak on church property in a Catholic diocese.
Said one concerned Catholic who lives in the area: "It just strikes me as odd that the diocese would prohibit a speech for Catholics to help save their church from diabolical influences."
As for Ms. Block, she's taking it all in stride.
"I'm sure the people putting together this speaking event were sorely inconvenienced," she said, "but from my perspective, the new venue was terrific and the program went on as planned – well attended and well received. The chancery's actions just made the event more interesting."
The diocese has not responded to my email inquiry on the matter.
© Matt C. Abbott
October 30, 2015
For many years, Catholic researcher Stephanie Block has been exposing the link between the American Catholic church bureaucracy – which has effectively become another arm of the Democratic Party – and the supporters of radical leftist Saul Alinsky (who influenced President Obama) and his "machine."
Now, at least one Catholic diocese is forbidding her from speaking on church property.
Ms. Block was recently scheduled to speak at St. John the Baptist Church in Costa Mesa, California. However, just a few days before her scheduled talk, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange informed the parish that she was not permitted to speak on church property.
The organizer was able to secure a local college auditorium on short notice, so Ms. Block's talk went on as planned.
Ms. Block's writings on community "Alinskyian" organizing are informative and well-researched.
A brief sample of her writing:
-
Catholic Action is ordered toward Christianizing society, diffusing it with Christian culture and values. Alinskyian organizing, on the other hand, is entirely about growing political power, with Alinsky explaining that 'The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power.' [However], his book 'Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.'
Nothing changed after Alinsky died. His organizers were frank about their intentions: 'In places like San Antonio and Baltimore, we are as close to being a political party as anybody is. We go around organizing people, getting them to agree on an agenda, registering them to vote, interviewing candidates on whether they support our agenda. We're not a political party, but that's what political parties do.'
This is a tremendously consequential difference....
The heterodox Father Pfleger remains a priest in good standing, yet Ms. Block, an orthodox lay Catholic, isn't allowed to speak on church property in a Catholic diocese.
Said one concerned Catholic who lives in the area: "It just strikes me as odd that the diocese would prohibit a speech for Catholics to help save their church from diabolical influences."
As for Ms. Block, she's taking it all in stride.
"I'm sure the people putting together this speaking event were sorely inconvenienced," she said, "but from my perspective, the new venue was terrific and the program went on as planned – well attended and well received. The chancery's actions just made the event more interesting."
The diocese has not responded to my email inquiry on the matter.
© Matt C. Abbott
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