As mentioned in the post below, Cardinal George criticizes American Catholics for being critical and wishes they would stop paying attention to the bishops and instead try to be simply Catholic. Or something like that.It seems Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond is following at least part of that exhortation (and I am not): The bishop (apparently through his diocesan theologian) refused a newly-organized chapter of Pax Christi to meet on church property--even though DiLorenzo's predecessor, Walter Sullivan, a past bishop-president of the organization, was to be the speaker.The Virginian-Pilot reports:

Asked Tuesday why the event was rejected, Vincent Sansone, the diocesan theologian who vets proposed speakers, said that Pax Christi is not a diocesan organization.Sansone would not say how many speaker requests he vets annually and declined to take any further questions about the process.The kickoff's keynote speakers included Bishop Walter Sullivan, the retired leader of the Richmond Diocese. Sullivan is a past bishop-president of Pax Christi International.Sullivan said he didn't know why the event didn't get diocesan approval."I think it's just a big disappointment that we couldn't be at one of our parishes," he said.Sullivan was known nationally as an anti-war spokesman when he led the diocese.The denial also puzzled Steve Baggarly, a leader at the Norfolk Catholic Worker house, a social justice center. Baggarly was one of the organizers of the new Pax Christi chapter."If the church isn't interested in peace, what are we interested in?" Baggarly asked.The event's other speaker was Marie Dennis, the global-concerns director for Maryknoll, a Catholic religious community of priests, nuns and laypeople.The kickoff event was held at Virginia Wesleyan College, a Methodist school in Virginia Beach.

Lucky for the Methodists. This seems beyond weird. Is Pax Christi really suspect?H/T: Catholic World News...and let me add you must check out their revamped website. It looks great, and I'd "sound off" over there except that only donors can leave comments.