Hammer of the Heretics

(Hat tip: The Angry Twins)

Raymond Arroyo's new biography of EWTN foundress (and possible future saint) Mother Angelica has a chapter entitled "Hammer of the Heretics", which covers the infamous spat between Mother and Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles.

Included in this chapter is the following excerpt of a fax Mother Angelica sent to then-Archbishop of New York, John Cardinal O'Connor:

"I find it extremely beneath the dignity of a Prince of the Church to continue bringing this subject up before the public, both here and abroad, over a 15 second remark. Why is it that such a brief remark should have long-lasting repercussions? I now realize there is no end to His Eminence demands." At the close of the fax, she wrote, "I will not be made a pawn or tool in the hands of American liberals who have done such great harm to so many people." (pg 277)

(emphasis added)

My Comments:
Kudos to Raymond for taking on this touchy subject regarding the Mahony "spat" (how could he not?) in this book, and especially for having the guts to include that particular excerpt. While we're at it, kudos to the bishops who came to Mother's defense during that serious crisis when EWTN's future was in doubt, like Cardinal O'Connor and Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Youngstown. I'm sure there were others, as well.

And shame on those bishops who persecuted dear, saintly old Mother Angelica, like Mahony, St. Petersburg's Bishop Robert Lynch (he of Terri Schiavo infamy), Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, and Archbishop (now emeritus) Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee.