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Published: October 24, 2007
“You put up with the imperfections of politicians”
To raise money, Catholic school auctions off dinner with Nancy Pelosi
Every year, St. Helena Catholic School -- situated in the Napa wine country -- has a benefit auction at the Rutherford Grove Winery called “Gala at the Grove.” Guests pay $150 a ticket to bid on distinctive wines and other products to benefit the school. This year’s gala included a unique item up for bid: “Dinner with the Speaker,” an intimate dinner with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The winning bid for the dinner was $14,000.
 “Dinner With the Speaker” includes a gourmet meal for six with Pelosi and her husband at the Howell Mountain home of Delia Viader of Viader Wines. Viader is a parent who has children attending St. Helena Catholic School.
A Pelosi spokesman said he had no information about the speaker’s involvement with the auction, but St. Helena Catholic School principal Jim Ritchie said Pelosi owned a house in the area, giving them an opening to approach her. “The pastor has or is going to be baptizing one of her grandchildren,” said Ritchie. “They sent some letters to her and got her to do this.” Ritchie said he was not at liberty to share the identity of the winning bidder.
Ritchie refused to comment when asked how a Catholic school could offer dinner with a militantly pro-abortion, pro-homosexual politician as a prize. “I can’t answer that,” he said. “You’ll have to call her office.”
Monsignor John Brenkle, pastor of St. Helena Catholic Church, part of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, is scheduled to join the winners at the Pelosi dinner. When he was asked the same question as Ritchie, Brenkle answered by invoking the Iraq war.
Brenkle: “What if we had a dinner with Cheney or Bush? Would you object to that?”
California Catholic Daily: “That depends on their stance with certain issues in the Catholic Church. You’re offering this as a prize to raise money.”
Brenkle: “What about their stance on war? They are the architects of this war, which is totally contrary to the wishes of the pope.”
California Catholic Daily: “But you can be a Catholic and support the idea of a just war. You can’t be a Catholic and support abortion in any way, shape or form.”
Brenkle: “You cannot support this war I’m afraid.”
California Catholic Daily: “So you can throw abortion out the window because you don’t like Bush and the war?”
Brenkle: “No, but you put up with the imperfections of politicians. Nobody is perfect.”
California Catholic Daily: “Have you met Nancy Pelosi?”
Brenkle: “She’s a part-time member of our parish.”
California Catholic Daily: “Have you ever discussed her positions on abortion and homosexual marriage with her?”
Brenkle: “I have not had an opportunity to do so.”
California Catholic Daily: “Do you allow her to come to Holy Communion after the Church has taught that manifest public sinners who are unrepentant are to be denied Holy Communion?”
Brenkle: “The Church has never taught that.”
California Catholic Daily: “I think the Archbishop of St. Louis would disagree -- and he’s a canon lawyer.”
Brenkle: “Yeah, well I happen to be a canon lawyer too, y’know, and I think the bishops who said that are in a very minority position.”
California Catholic Daily: “Is that how we decide truth? Even our Holy Father has said that truth is not determined by majority opinion.”
Brenkle: “You sound like somebody who, at the time of Jesus, would have said, ‘Why is he sitting and eating with these public sinners?’”
California Catholic Daily: “Hopefully to convert them. Do you plan on doing anything to try to convert Nancy Pelosi?”
Brenkle: “I’m certainly not going to convert her, but I certainly will have an opportunity to talk with her as I had an opportunity to talk with our own congressman here, Mike Thompson.”
California Catholic Daily: “Do you plan on discussing any of these issues with her?”
Brenkle: “I’m going to look for that opportunity. I’ve only met her outside of Church for about two minutes. I’m not about to refuse her Communion, because if I did that, I’d have to take a litmus test on everybody. We have people there that are totally against immigrants and all this stuff…”
California Catholic Daily: “But how many of them are people that take a public stance, seen by the entire free world, supporting the infanticide of children? There have been over 40 million children killed by abortion.”
Brenkle: “I think you have my take on this and it’s been good talking to you.”
Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 7:56 AM By RichG
This church will get its 14,000 pieces of silver-
Blood Money does no good-
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:54 AM By ELIZABETH
TO EVERYONE---
THIS IS OBSCENITY IN A MAJOR WAY!!!!!!
AND SHE WHO PROMULGATES ABORTION IS HAVING HER NEW GRANDCHILD BAPTIZED????
APPARENTLY, FATHER HAS NOT READ WHAT THE HOLY FATHER JUST SAID RECENTLY ABOUT THOSE WHO VOCALLY SPEAK UP AND VOTE FOR ISSUES LIKE ABORTION......THEY EXCOMMUNICATED THEMSELVES AND SHOULD NOT APPROACH THE COMMUNION RAIL.
I FOR ONE, AM GOING TO CALL THE BISHOP OF SANTA ROSA AND THE SCHOOL AND VOICE MY OPINION.
I URGE EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:56 AM By Valleygirl
Wow, I can't believe this website would be so arragont and ignorant. Someone paid $1400 to the church thats it. Let it go.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:43 AM By John
It all goes back to Niederauaer's lack of Catholic leadership. When will Catholics in the San Fran Archdiocese demand that Niederauer resign???
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:19 AM By Maria C
This Monsignor uses the word of God to his thinking. Anyone can twist holy scripture. But there is only one truth and we need to pray for him for God's graces to reveal these truths and may he have a change of heart. He is harming Mrs. Pelosi too because he is most likely not going to attempt to admonish her for the sake of her salvation. We can keep praying for their conversions. God is almighty and we can trust in him to convert all sinners, God is good. So long we trust in Him, have love and hope for all sinners for their conversion, faith, humility. mercy and loyalty to our Lord and His church.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:22 AM By WB
That was an excellent interview that truly exposed the mentality we're dealing with. Fr. Brenkle puts it on display for all to see. The interviewer was quite astute with the counterpoints -- very good job! The only slip up was in mentioning Abp. Burke. Sadly, he's been made a pariah and we also have Canon Lawyers who lack a foundation in truth. Perhaps a better come-back would be to mention that the Holy Father has asserted that pro-abortion politicians should be excluded from Communion and that they auto-excommunicate themselves. (May 9, 2007). In any case, we can see clearly the non-Catholic mentality that afflicts many of our priests with this interview. Thanks to CCD for this reporting. We need to keep shining the light in the darkness.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:30 AM By Maria C
one more thing, I also liked this article because not only did you expose the mistake this church is doing but you also conveyed to the readers that the Church does not support these types of leaders that support and condone what our Lord has tough against.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 11:12 AM By ELIZABETH
EVERYONE-
THE NUMBER FOR BISHOP WALSH OF THE DIOCESE OF SANTA ROSA IS: (707) 566-3325
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ALL CALL!!!!!!
THIS NONSENSE HAS TO STOP.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:29 PM By Grisha
John - We won't demand he resign because most of us like him!
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:35 PM By Grisha
Chiristopher Zendher: You a ought to know. Is there such a thing a auto-excommunication in the Roman catholic Tradition???
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:40 PM By cnmarrelli
This is exactly why it is time for the USCCB to act; it must act, as a body, formally, officially, and effectively? Too many of our Catholic clergy have become so secularized and politicized they are willing to contradict reason to justify their sins of omission. Here is a monsignor who quotes the Pope and at the same time betrays Christ! The worst scandal in the history of the Catholic Church is abortion-on-demand, and that it continues to thrive after 35 long years! Even though this is the most critical life and death issue in our nation today, a Catholic clergyman can virtually ignore his ordained duty, to vigorously oppose scandal that is deliberately practiced by high-profile Catholic (?) politicians. Until our Church leaders take effective action to end our own complicity, we share the guilt for those millions of the children we have slaughtered.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 1:46 PM By Allyson Smith
Elizabeth, thank you so much for that phone number. I just phoned Bishop Walsh's office with it, and his secretary said she had just found out about this Pelosi event, that she doesn't like it one bit either, and that she agrees Pelosi should not be allowed to set foot on any Catholic property in the diocese. She said she will relay our messages of concern about this event to Bishop Walsh tomorrow when he returns. While she couldn't guarantee that the bishop will do anything about this, she said that knowing him, he will call Monsignor Brenkle and ask him to put a stop to it. Pray that happens.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 5:13 PM By John L. Sillasen
Grisha, I suspect your question about laetae sententiae excommunication is a loaded one, and that you have a comeback for the correct reply, which is "yes". Go ahead, make my day.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 5:14 PM By Mike Kurz
The Wolves slink away when the bright light of Truth shine on them.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:13 PM By Grisha
John .. Just because I live in San Francisco, that doesn't make me Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:31 PM By Art
Elizabeth: I agree with what you have to say, but please stop using all caps.....it is very annoying.
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Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:26 PM By John L. Sillasen
Grisha, glad to see you're trying to turn the tables on my Dirty Harry routine. It shows you're full of fight, and inclined to get some truth eventually. What more could an argument ask for? But that is a pagan actor playing a pagan role, which has some truth mixed along with its secularism.
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Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:32 AM By JB
Money talks and morality walks....
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Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 8:57 AM By Georgia
Grisha: I cannot resist making a comment on your question of latae sententiae, automatic excommunication. As is generally the case I agree with John L. Sillasen. Autonatic excommunication is limited however; in cases of apostasy, heresy, schism, absolution by a priest of an accomplice in a sin against the 6th commandment, cases of abortion and profanation of yhe Eucharist, and a few more.Those who are excommunicated are not to receive the sacraments or administer the sacraments. Those who publicly support abortion stand with those who actually perform abortions. Now consider this: A priest who knowingly participates in an act ofprofanationof the Eucharist is he automatically excommucated? A bishop or priest who participates in the cover-up and/or protection of a repeated offender of acts of sodomy is he automatically excommunicated? Can they legitlmately administerthe sacraments? There is much to be meditated on here by many.
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Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 3:49 PM By Mark
In case no one noticed - Allyson relayed some good news. I think prayers are in order for Bishop Walsh!!!
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Posted Thursday, October 25, 2007 4:24 PM By WB
I was grateful to hear that news from Allyson and for Elizabeth supplying the phone number. We can hope that Bishop Walsh makes some good next steps. It's still a good idea for other people to phone the chancery office about this matter also.
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Posted Friday, October 26, 2007 7:01 AM By Don F
I guess that 30 pieces of silver is worth $14,000 today. They probably see this money as a blessing for their school, I see it as efforts of a "Modern Day Judas". I wonder if the on day of their event the 2000 aborted babies that day stood before them, I wonder what they might think?
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Posted Friday, October 26, 2007 3:04 PM By James
Quote: I’m not about to refuse her Communion, because if I did that, I’d have to take a litmus test on everybody.
Since Pelosi supports the murder of 45 million babies why don't we make the litmus test anyone who supports the murder of anything ove 40 million babies not worthy of communion? Maybe Monsignor John Brenkle can figure it out then.
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Posted Friday, October 26, 2007 4:25 PM By Elizabeth
This would b e a great example (perhaps the straw that breaks the camel's back) when the U.S. Bishopes get together in Baltimore in November!
AB Burke is going to speak about the guidelines he uses for politiciains such as Pelosi!!!!
Everyone, please pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten all the Bishops so that the Church may speak as one voice on the important subject.
This has gone on FAR TOO LONG!!!!!!!!!
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Posted Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:10 AM By Camille
Father John Brenkle is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's pastor?
That would help to explain why Brenkle is also a union supporter assisting the health Care union - SEIU - to attack his and our own church.
Fr. Brenkle is featured as a union supporter opposing a hospital in Santa Rosa owned and operated by the St. Joseph of Orange Nuns, in a slick 16 page brochure published and distributed by the SEIU and mailed to all Pastors in the state apparently.
He is participating in destruction from within.
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Posted Saturday, October 27, 2007 11:56 AM By ch
I'm sad about the moral state of the administration and the involved parents of SH Catholic school. They seem to be Catholics who aren't living their faith. If they are ignorant, are they still culpable in showing bad example to their own students/children?
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Posted Saturday, October 27, 2007 1:42 PM By Grisha
Georgia:YOU ASK: "A priest who knowingly participates in an act of profanation of the Eucharist is he automatically excommunicated?" MY THOUGHTS: If somehow a priest was involved in something like what happened in NYC awhile back where someone spat out the Eucharist and stomped on it I's tend to agree. If we're talking about AB Niederauer at MHR, I've yet to hear of a mainstream theologian or priest suggest that a desecration occurred.
YOU ASK: "A bishop or priest who participates in the cover-up and/or protection of a repeated offender of acts of sodomy is he automatically excommunicated? Can they legitimately administer the sacraments?" MY THOUGHTS: In Fr. Andrew Greely's book "Priestly Sins" he describes the hero/priest witnessing a child rape by another priest. He reports it and is persecuted by corrupt diocesan officials. I would think that if he had not acted, from what I've read in the past few days, auto excommunication might occur. Not every case is that clear. Numerous bishops and their staffs have been guilty a of horrible failures of judgement, being unable to believe that the a priest could do such a thing, or being concerned about our American tradition of "innocent until proven guilty" when it doesn't apply. My sense is that in to those situations the bishops superiors might well be justified in demotion, forced retirement or even laitization, but I would think any self excommunication has occurred.
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Posted Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:45 PM By cjo
I tried several times to reach Bishop Walsh's office, but only got voicemail. A lot of people calling ???? Or they don't want to hear from us ???;
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Posted Monday, October 29, 2007 11:17 AM By Bob Q
James, Nancy Pelosi is one of the strongest supporters of abortion rights in the United States. She opposed the ban on partial birth abortion, supports embryonic stem cell experimentation, supports same-sex marriage, and advocates adoption by same-sex individuals. She also claims to be a Catholic. This is precisely why, because of her public stance on these issues, that communion should be withheld and St. Helena Catholic School should never have allowed this auction Item to become a reality. Pope Benedict XVI, as then Cardinal Ratzinger said ist best in his 2004 letter to Cardina McCarrick: "Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.
When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" (cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Declaration "Holy Communion and Divorced, Civilly Remarried Catholics" [2002], nos. 3-4). This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy Communion passing judgment on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin.'
Do Rational catholics need any more?
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Posted Wednesday, October 31, 2007 8:47 PM By barney
I've never seen her at mass at SHCC. She'll be there for a baptism, but the family won't know when to kneel or stand. The pastor is highly political and likes to have power, knows how to get money, so there you have it.
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Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2007 9:02 AM By Jack
Are you kidding me? With all that there is to worry about in this messed up world..you all take the time to focus on this.
Let's dig into the personal lives and choices of all those who are supporting the Catholic Church financially huh? Get out of this...it is no ones business...AND unless you want to start digging into the past and the personal choices of alot of fat cat's who call themselves good catholics....butt out.
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Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:28 PM By Roy Anne
Jack my friend - you are so right! Priests would be out of business if they only ministered to the pure. And lets not forget all the many indiscretions of our beloved clergy!
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Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2007 2:42 PM By JJH
This is another example of those who know nothing about a situation jumping on a bandwagon to spew venom.
I have been a parishoner at St. Helena Catholic Church for 20 years and give thanks each Sunday that Father John continues to deliver his message of gods love and inclusion in a time where there are obviously so many angry and judgmental types.
You know nothing of what goes on at our parish, at that school, find some other cause to wrap your divisive and conservative views around. You don't get to decide what this parish or school is about, you have no knowledge only that of fear and hate. Get the facts.
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Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2007 2:03 PM By LRA
To JJH and fellow and other "like minded" Catholics:
JJH's November 14'th posting illustrates a spiritual cancer within the Catholic Church in the USA, in particular in the Santa Rosa Diocese. First, just because one may have conservative viewpoints, does not mean that one is full of fear, division and hate. Your statement illustrates that you are being judgmental against those who have conservative viewpoints. That being said, Catholicism is not about being a conservative or a liberal, but rather it's about being faithful to the teachings and truth of the Catholic Church as safeguarded by the Magistarium. To that end, we must take serious care that our actions are congruent with what the Faith teaches, so that we do not create scandal. Scandal makes the Catholic Church appear to be a false light and serves to severely undermine the legitimate moral authority that Christ established with the Catholic Church.
With respect to JJH's assertion that since we are not members of the St. Helena Catholic Church Parish, and therefore have no right to comment on the auction item in question is just plain wrong and immature. First off, one does not have to know the inner workings of the Parish or school to hold both of these institutions accountable. The California Catholic Daily reported the relevant facts for all to read and review. To wit, one of the auction items, a fundraiser, for the school, was sold for $14,000.00. This auction item is a dinner whereby Mons. Brenkle and House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, among others, would be in attendance. Pelosi is a public figure who has taken very strong positions supporting abortion and homosexuality. Abortion and homosexuality are considered very grave sin(s) by the Catholic Church. In essence, you have a "catholic" school drawing financial support from Pelosi. Pelosi's political positions are readily known and are diametrically opposed to the Church's teachings. This creates yet another scandel.
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Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:29 AM By JJH
LRA....
You are right. I stand corrected. Lets look into where catholic schools and catholic churches are drawing financial support from shall we? Let's start with your parish huh?Cause I am sure that this would be an isolated incident. Give me a break. The problem with our "church" is that the pontificators don't want to lift their own curtains. I think if Catholic Education is so imprtant to the church, then maybe they should put more money to these schools, so that they can grow...and not have to ask parents for tuition, and fundraise too. Parents do what they can to keep the lights on at alot of these small schools. So...again...get the facts...but then that would mean you would have to perhaps give with your judgement...not gonna happen I suppose.
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Posted Sunday, August 10, 2008 6:13 AM By Jeff Tan
JJH, we are not the judges. Christ is, and so the question should go along the lines of just what our Lord would have to say about this whole thing.
You speak of the message about God's love and inclusiveness, without considering that God's love also excludes all that is sin, all that is destructive, all that is based on selfishness and the pursuit/worship of false idols. Love is a two-edged sword, and it does not blindly say that anything goes as long as someone feels okay about it. Because God's love is so complete that he cannot possibly advocate that which destroys the ones that he loves.
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Posted Friday, April 03, 2009 2:00 PM By Keith Toepfer
It would seem that the citations in the article concerning Msgr. John Brenkle have omitted the citation of his religious affiliation. Based on his comment about not being able to support the war because it "is totally contrary to the wishes of the pope,” I would suspect that he should have been listed as Msgr. John Brenkle, CINO. To the best of my knowledge His Holiness was not speaking either "ex cathedra" nor on a matter of faith or morals.
Pax et bonum
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