Ochre Court on the grounds of Salve Regina University, Aug. 27, 2010. / Credit: John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
CNA Staff, Aug 19, 2024 / 15:50 pm (CNA).
Catholic leadership in Rhode Island has rebuked a local Catholic college, Salve Regina University, for hosting a fundraiser last week in which presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz defended abortion rights.
More than 300 attendees reportedly paid $1,000 to get in the door at the campus’ main administrative waterfront mansion, Ochre Court, on Thursday. The fundraiser brought in over $600,000, the state’s Democratic Party said, according to the Providence Journal.
Media outlets reported that journalists were not allowed to record videos of the speech, but Walz’s comments reportedly included advocacy for abortion rights.
The Minnesota governor attacked Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, accusing them of “rooting for failure,” according to the Rhode Island Current.
“Their whole thing is to instill fear in people — fear and pessimism,” he said.
Walz called Trump and Vance “weird” and disputed GOP claims that Democratic policies are extreme.
“Who’s asking to raise the price of insulin? Who’s asking to take away women’s reproductive rights?” Walz said. “Things really work best in communities when you mind your own damn business.”
Diocese ‘surprised and disappointed’
Diocese of Providence spokesman Michael Kieloch told CNA that the diocese “does not permit Catholic institutions in Rhode Island to endorse candidates for office nor even give the appearance of such endorsements.”
“The Church’s role in political matters is firstly to form the consciences of the lay faithful,” he added.
Kieloch continued: “We were surprised and disappointed by the decision of Salve Regina University to rent space to a partisan political event and fundraiser, and we’ve received a number of messages from Catholics across Rhode Island expressing the same surprise and disappointment.”
Bishop Richard Henning, archbishop-elect of Boston, is currently leading the Diocese of Providence.
Walz, a Lutheran and former Catholic, has a consistent and strong pro-abortion record in his state. In 2023, he signed a bill enshrining abortion rights throughout nine months into Minnesota state law. Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life, the state’s largest pro-life group, called the governor a “threat” to the unborn and “an abortion absolutist.”
Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate earlier this month.
University responds
In response to a request from RINewsToday, the university defended its decision to host the event.
“Ochre Court at Salve Regina University was selected by the Rhode Island Democratic Party Committee based on availability for their selected date, time, and anticipated capacity,” an unnamed spokesperson’s statement said.
“We regularly rent facilities on campus for private events. The committee paid the standard rate for the space rental, worked with our University Events and Conference Services office, and is the sole host of the event,” the statement said.
“As an academic institution, the university fully supports freedom of speech as a cornerstone of democracy. As our mission calls us to do, we support productive and meaningful dialogue across our differences as we work toward a world that is more harmonious, just, and merciful,” the statement said.
Salve Regina University is overseen by the Sisters of Mercy. CNA reached out to the congregation for comment on Monday, including asking if the university would offer the same opportunity to the Trump campaign for a fundraiser event. CNA did not immediately receive a response.
If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!
Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.
Washington D.C., Mar 15, 2021 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- The U.S. bishops’ conference is urging congressional lawmakers to oppose the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, a measure they say could threaten religious freedom and fund abortion.
The trailer of the upcoming Russell Crowe movie “The Pope’s Exorcist” indicates that the film might not do justice to the Italian exorcist Father Gabriel Amorth or the rite of exorcism as practiced in the Catholic Church, according to an exorcist organization Amorth himself helped to found.
The International Association of Exorcists on March 7 voiced concern that the film seems to fall under the category of “splatter cinema,” which it calls a “sub-genre of horror.”
The Vatican, the statement said, is filmed with a high-contrast “chiaroscuro” effect seen in film noir.
This gives the film a “‘Da Vinci Code’ effect to instill in the public the usual doubt: Who is the real enemy? The devil or ecclesiastical ‘power’?” the exorcists’ association said.
While special effects are “inevitable” in every film about demonic possession, “everything is exaggerated, with striking physical and verbal manifestations, typical of horror films,” the group said.
“This way of narrating Don Amorth’s experience as an exorcist, in addition to being contrary to historical reality, distorts and falsifies what is truly lived and experienced during the exorcism of truly possessed people,” said the association, which claims more than 800 exorcist members and more than 120 auxiliary members worldwide.
“In addition, it is offensive with regard to the state of suffering in which those who are victims of an extraordinary action of the devil find themselves,” the group’s statement added. The statement responded to the release of the movie trailer and promised a more in-depth response to the film’s April 14 theatrical release.
Father Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome, speaks to CNA on May 22, 2013. Steven Driscoll/CNA
Amorth, who died at age 91 in 2016, said he performed an estimated 100,000 exorcisms during his life. He was perhaps the world’s best-known exorcist and the author of many books, including “An Exorcist Tells His Story,” reportedly an inspiration for the upcoming movie.
Several of Amorth’s books are carried by the U.S. publisher Sophia Institute Press. The publisher’s newly released book “The Pope’s Exorcist: 101 Questions About Fr. Gabriele Amorth” is an interview in which the priest addresses many topics ranging from prayer to pop music.
Michael Lichens, editor and spokesperson at Sophia Institute Press, voiced some agreement with the exorcist group.
“The International Association of Exorcists is right to be concerned and I’m thankful for their words,” Lichens told CNA. “My hope is that audiences will remember that Father Amorth is a real person with a great legacy and perhaps a few moviegoers will look up an interview or pick up his books.”
“This was a man who included St. Padre Pio and Blessed Giacomo Alberione as mentors, as well as Servant of God Candido Amantini, who was his teacher for the ministry of exorcism,” he said. “Father Amorth fought as a partisan as a young man and grew to fight greater evil as an exorcist. His life is an inspiration and I know that his work and words will still reach many.”
Amorth was born in Modena, Italy, on May 1, 1925. In wartime Italy, he was a soldier with the underground anti-fascist partisans. He was ordained a priest in 1951. He did not become an exorcist until 1986, when Cardinal Ugo Poletti, the vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, named him the diocesan exorcist.
The priest was frequently in the news for his comments on the subject of demonic forces. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph in 2000, he said: “I speak with the devil every day. I talk to him in Latin. He answers in Italian. I have been wrestling with him, day in, day out, for 14 years.”
The movie “The Pope’s Exorcist” claims to be “inspired by the actual files of the Vatican’s chief exorcist.” The Sony Pictures movie stars the New Zealand-born actor Russell Crowe as Amorth. Crowe’s character wears a gray beard and speaks English with a noticeable accent.
“The majority of cases do not require an exorcism,” the Amorth character says in the movie’s first trailer. A cardinal explains that Crowe’s character recommends 98% of people who seek an exorcism to doctors and psychiatrists instead.
“The other 2%… I call it… evil,” Crowe adds.
The plot appears to concern Amorth’s encounter with a particular demon. Crowe’s character suggests the Church “has fought this demon before” but covered it up.
“We need to find out why,” he says.
The trailer shows short dramatic scenes of exorcism, including a confrontation between Amorth and a girl apparently suffering demonic possession.
The International Association of Exorcists said such a representation makes exorcism become “a spectacle aimed at inspiring strong and unhealthy emotions, thanks to a gloomy scenography, with sound effects such as to inspire only anxiety, restlessness, and fear in the viewer.”
“The end result is to instill the conviction that exorcism is an abnormal, monstrous, and frightening phenomenon, whose only protagonist is the devil, whose violent reactions can be faced with great difficulty,” said the exorcist group. “This is the exact opposite of what occurs in the context of exorcism celebrated in the Catholic Church in obedience to the directives imparted by it.”
CNA sought comment from Sony Pictures and “The Pope’s Exorcist” executive producer Father Edward Siebert, SJ, but did not receive a response by publication.
Amorth co-founded the International Association of Exorcists with Father René Laurentin in 1994. In 2014 the Catholic Church recognized the group as a Private Association of the Faithful.
The association trains exorcists and promotes their incorporation into local communities and normal pastoral care. It also aims to promote “correct knowledge” about exorcism ministry and collaboration with medical and psychiatric experts who have competence in spirituality.
Exorcism is considered a sacramental, not a sacrament, of the Church. It is a liturgical rite that only a priest can perform.
Hollywood made the topic a focus most famously in the 1973 movie “The Exorcist,” based on the novel by William Peter Blatty.
“Most movies about Catholicism and spiritual warfare sensationalize,” Lichens of Sophia Institute Press told CNA. “Sensationalism and terror sell tickets. As a fan of horror movies, I can understand and even appreciate that. As a Catholic who has studied Father Amorth, though, I think such sensationalism distorts the important work of exorcism.”
“On the other hand, ‘The Exorcist’ made the wider public more curious about this overlooked ministry. That is a good thing that came out, despite other reservations and concerns,” he continued. “Still, I would love it if a screenwriter and director spoke to exorcists and tried to show the often-quotidian parts of the ministry.”
An unhealthy curiosity can be a problem, Lichens said.
“When I work as a spokesperson for Amorth’s books, I am always concerned about inspiring curiosity about the demonic,” he told CNA. “As Christians, we know we have nothing to fear from the demonic but curiosity might lead some to want to seek out the supernatural or the demonic. Father Amorth has dozens of stories of people who found themselves afflicted after party game seances.”
Lichens encouraged those who are curious to read more of Amorth’s writings, some of which are excerpted on the Catholic Exchange website. Sophia Institute Press has published “Diary of an American Exorcist” by Monsignor Stephen Rosetti and “The Exorcism Files” by the American lay Catholic Adam Blai.
“First and foremost, Father Amorth was involved in a healing ministry,” Lichens said. “Like other exorcists, his work often involved doctors in physical and mental health because the goal is to bring healing and hope to the potentially afflicted.”
“Those of us who read Amorth might have been excited to read firsthand accounts of spiritual warfare, but readers quickly see a man whose heart was always full of love for those who sought his help,” he added.
The International Association of Exorcists, for its part, praised the 2016 documentary “Deliver Us,” saying this shows “what exorcism really is in the Catholic Church and “the authentic traits of a Catholic exorcist.” It shows exorcism as “a most joyful event,” in their view, because through experiencing “the presence and action of Christ the Lord and of the Communion of the Saints,” those who are “tormented by the extraordinary action of the devil gradually find liberation and peace.”
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 9, 2020 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- Presumptive president-elect Joe Biden announced his advisory board to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, with one member attracting criticism for his views on the elderly and people with disabi… […]
4 Comments
The bishop ought to simply remove the college’s permission to use the protected term “Catholic” from all their identications. If they’ve chosen to throw their lot in with the Satanists, they’ve forfeited the right to pretend to be Christian. Otherwise, the bishop’s and the diocese’s words are empty jaw-flapping. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.
Problems like this exist because the church has given up on the idea of a chain of command to ensure only legitimate activities on it’s grounds or by it’s representatives. The concept of consequences for one’s actions is DEAD. Walz is a FORMER Catholic who has decamped to become a Lutheran? (He seems to make running away a personal habit.) Well, at least he is the Lutheran’s problem and not ours for a change. And he dares attack Catholic teaching in the area of abortion on Catholic grounds?? Disgusting.
Did the school not know to whom they were renting their building?Did they know and not care? Did they do it for the MONEY??? Again, this shows a total lack of competence or responsibility for one’s actions.
The moral bankruptcy of the DEM party is presently on full display at their convention. A truck is posted there offering FREE vasectomies and (chemical) abortions. A give away favor, much like a lollipop, and shamefully treated with the same frivolity.They made their pitch for abortion decades ago on the grounds it would be “safe and rare”. Clearly that mind-set is out the window. The church needs to stop its emotional pandering to people who promote or take part in such activities, with a pathetic hope they will repent. They will not. By their actions, such persons have boldly said that not only do they strongly support such activities, they believe they have no reason for regret or repentance. Church authorities need to go back to the use of excommunication for those who promote these homicidal horrors. And let the chips fall where they may. At present the moral teachings they weakly try to spread are not respected or taken seriously. For a reason—there are no consequences for flying in the face of such church teachings.
Catholic voters need to recall the church teaching that if you aid another in their sin (by voting them into office to promote abortion, lets say) you are ALSO guilty of the same sin. Think long and hard before you vote in November.
As a Catholic who works for a Catholic institution in Minnesota, Tim Walz is my governor. I am so disappointed that folks are claiming to be pro-life but in actuality are pro-birth. So many people who claim to be pro life have no thought or care as to what happens after that child is born. Do you march and shout for that child’s safety? Right to have food? Education? A roof over their head? Medical and mental health treatment ? If you are truly pro life, then that means from conception to grave. Please stop acting self-righteous. If you are truly pro-life, then put a detailed plan in place of how you are going to care for the 1 million unwanted children who would be born into our society every year if abortion did not exist. Am I pro abortion? No, I am not. I wish it was something that did not exist. However, I am aware of the complexities of every day life and the incredible suffering people go through everyday. If you want to call yourself pro life, then stand up and volunteer your time. Push for more money to go to food, clothing, shelter, education, physical and mental health care, safety, education and child protection services. Your plan cannot be, ‘end abortion’ and then complain about your tax dollars going to help the children you profess to love. Do a self hypocrisy check and truly ask yourself if you love the children who struggle, including the kids who shoot up a school, a gang banger in a drive by shooting, the person who breaks into homes, and the homeless people begging on street corners. Do you volunteer your time reading to children in inner city schools? Participate mentoring poor children and tell them they can break the cycle of crime and violence, and you are willing to give of your time to help them do that? Do you make sure that the people in your community have enough to eat? A roof over their head? Healthy food to eat? Are you concerned that children go home from school and their parents are still at work until 6:00, 7:00 at night or work overnight shifts and have to leave their children home alone because they have no one to watch their children at night? Are you marching to improve childcare and make it affordable? Are you pushing for more money to go to child protective services to intervene with families with physical, mental or sexual abuse? Are you advocating for more money going to foster care homes to care for those children who are removed from home and have no other relative they can go to? Or do you sit behind your keyboard and claim to be pro life, but have no interest in caring for that life? Let me give you a hint, Tim Walz cares about all of those things and has pushed for and signed legislation to care and protect children, to care for families, and make the world a better place. Unless you can stand up and volunteer your time to make the world a much better place for the people already here, abortion will continue. If you are truly pro-life, then stand up and demand your tax dollars go to caring and protecting those lives. I work 60 hours a week caring for those lives and have a desperate need for people to volunteer their time to help me, I occasionally get folks who volunteer once and then I never see them again because it is just too hard to work with “those people“. I listen to people every day who claim to be pro-life Who wouldn’t think of volunteering their time, calling their senator or representative and demanding more help for these lives, but will sit behind a keyboard, shouting their views, but doing absolutely nothing to actually protect these lives. If you are not part of the solution, then you are the problem. What is your plan to make this world a better place for everyone and care for those who are already here?
The bishop ought to simply remove the college’s permission to use the protected term “Catholic” from all their identications. If they’ve chosen to throw their lot in with the Satanists, they’ve forfeited the right to pretend to be Christian. Otherwise, the bishop’s and the diocese’s words are empty jaw-flapping. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.
“Surprised and disappointed”.
Whatever became of the word “OUTRAGED”?
Problems like this exist because the church has given up on the idea of a chain of command to ensure only legitimate activities on it’s grounds or by it’s representatives. The concept of consequences for one’s actions is DEAD. Walz is a FORMER Catholic who has decamped to become a Lutheran? (He seems to make running away a personal habit.) Well, at least he is the Lutheran’s problem and not ours for a change. And he dares attack Catholic teaching in the area of abortion on Catholic grounds?? Disgusting.
Did the school not know to whom they were renting their building?Did they know and not care? Did they do it for the MONEY??? Again, this shows a total lack of competence or responsibility for one’s actions.
The moral bankruptcy of the DEM party is presently on full display at their convention. A truck is posted there offering FREE vasectomies and (chemical) abortions. A give away favor, much like a lollipop, and shamefully treated with the same frivolity.They made their pitch for abortion decades ago on the grounds it would be “safe and rare”. Clearly that mind-set is out the window. The church needs to stop its emotional pandering to people who promote or take part in such activities, with a pathetic hope they will repent. They will not. By their actions, such persons have boldly said that not only do they strongly support such activities, they believe they have no reason for regret or repentance. Church authorities need to go back to the use of excommunication for those who promote these homicidal horrors. And let the chips fall where they may. At present the moral teachings they weakly try to spread are not respected or taken seriously. For a reason—there are no consequences for flying in the face of such church teachings.
Catholic voters need to recall the church teaching that if you aid another in their sin (by voting them into office to promote abortion, lets say) you are ALSO guilty of the same sin. Think long and hard before you vote in November.
As a Catholic who works for a Catholic institution in Minnesota, Tim Walz is my governor. I am so disappointed that folks are claiming to be pro-life but in actuality are pro-birth. So many people who claim to be pro life have no thought or care as to what happens after that child is born. Do you march and shout for that child’s safety? Right to have food? Education? A roof over their head? Medical and mental health treatment ? If you are truly pro life, then that means from conception to grave. Please stop acting self-righteous. If you are truly pro-life, then put a detailed plan in place of how you are going to care for the 1 million unwanted children who would be born into our society every year if abortion did not exist. Am I pro abortion? No, I am not. I wish it was something that did not exist. However, I am aware of the complexities of every day life and the incredible suffering people go through everyday. If you want to call yourself pro life, then stand up and volunteer your time. Push for more money to go to food, clothing, shelter, education, physical and mental health care, safety, education and child protection services. Your plan cannot be, ‘end abortion’ and then complain about your tax dollars going to help the children you profess to love. Do a self hypocrisy check and truly ask yourself if you love the children who struggle, including the kids who shoot up a school, a gang banger in a drive by shooting, the person who breaks into homes, and the homeless people begging on street corners. Do you volunteer your time reading to children in inner city schools? Participate mentoring poor children and tell them they can break the cycle of crime and violence, and you are willing to give of your time to help them do that? Do you make sure that the people in your community have enough to eat? A roof over their head? Healthy food to eat? Are you concerned that children go home from school and their parents are still at work until 6:00, 7:00 at night or work overnight shifts and have to leave their children home alone because they have no one to watch their children at night? Are you marching to improve childcare and make it affordable? Are you pushing for more money to go to child protective services to intervene with families with physical, mental or sexual abuse? Are you advocating for more money going to foster care homes to care for those children who are removed from home and have no other relative they can go to? Or do you sit behind your keyboard and claim to be pro life, but have no interest in caring for that life? Let me give you a hint, Tim Walz cares about all of those things and has pushed for and signed legislation to care and protect children, to care for families, and make the world a better place. Unless you can stand up and volunteer your time to make the world a much better place for the people already here, abortion will continue. If you are truly pro-life, then stand up and demand your tax dollars go to caring and protecting those lives. I work 60 hours a week caring for those lives and have a desperate need for people to volunteer their time to help me, I occasionally get folks who volunteer once and then I never see them again because it is just too hard to work with “those people“. I listen to people every day who claim to be pro-life Who wouldn’t think of volunteering their time, calling their senator or representative and demanding more help for these lives, but will sit behind a keyboard, shouting their views, but doing absolutely nothing to actually protect these lives. If you are not part of the solution, then you are the problem. What is your plan to make this world a better place for everyone and care for those who are already here?