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Stories for the Justices
March 12, 2013 | 10 comments
The Nation's Pulse
A Pope Away From a Perfect Church?
Once again, hope springs eternal among liberal Catholics. They’re bound to be disappointed.
Just hours after Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise announcement that he would abdicate the papacy, New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted that “at some point the church will accept contraception and female and non-celibate priests. Could it be in the next papacy?” For years, both those within and outside of the Catholic Church have believed that they are just one pope away from a perfect Church. Similar sentiments were expressed after the death of John Paul II in 2005 and they are already being touted again in discussions over Benedict’s successor.
In a 2005 essay, “Liberal Catholicism Reexamined,” journalist Peter Steinfels wrote that “one definition of liberal Catholicism is simply papal teaching a hundred years too soon.” Such a definition is promulgated by dissidents within the Church that advocate for women’s ordination, reproductive rights, and same-sex marriage.
Yet, more than a decade ago, Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George gave a homily that startled many by pronouncing liberal Catholicism “an exhausted project…parasitical on a substance that no longer exists.” Declaring that Catholics are at a “turning point” in the life of the Church in this Country, the Cardinal concluded that liberal Catholicism had shown itself “unable to pass on the faith in its integrity and inadequate to foster the joyful self-surrender called for in Christian marriage, in consecrated life, in ordained priesthood.” Cardinal George concluded that liberal Catholicism “no longer gives life.”
The Catholic Church, like all institutions, is constantly being reshaped. But for faithful Catholics, this must be guided by the ultimate authority—the Pope, and then the bishops and cardinals, who are responsible for Church teaching on matters of faith and morals. In his almost eight year pontificate, Pope Benedict has appointed 90 cardinals and named many more bishops. These cardinals and bishops, while reflective of the changing demographics within the Church, were not just selected based on their geographical origins, but also because of their courage in defending the traditional teachings of the Church in areas where they are most needed.
Here in America this certainly has proven true. Consider, for instance, his 2009 appointment of charismatic leader Cardinal Timothy Dolan as Archbishop of New York—the face of the American Church who understands the power of using the press and news media to the Church’s benefit. Or the careful appointment of Archbishop Charles Chaput, known for his capable administrative skills and firm defense of Catholic identity, to Philadelphia—an archdiocese devastated by sexual abuses scandals and in desperate financial straits. And most recently, the appointment of Archbishop Cordileone to San Francisco, a bishop best known for his defense of traditional marriage now appointed to city that is least likely to be receptive to his message.
Rather than bowing to dissident theologians and liberal lay groups such as Voice of the Faithful and the George Soros funded Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good who are desperate to alter Church teaching, Pope Benedict will leave a legacy of a Church hierarchy that is more united than ever in its commitment to the truths of Catholicism. This commitment is reciprocated by what Catholic commentator George Weigel has labeled as “evangelical Catholicism,”—a faith that is united in its call to lived out holiness, as is evidenced by the current twenty year high in ordination rates to the priesthood, a continued growing Catholic population, and a laity committed to this call. Like his predecessor John Paul II, Pope Benedict will be remembered for his contribution to this renewal—one that will continue long after his papacy comes to a close.
Christopher White and Anne Hendershott are co-authors of Beyond the Catholic Culture Wars, forthcoming from Encounter Books in Fall 2013.
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Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 7:10AM
The Bishops here in America need to start actively demonstrating their loyalty to the HOLY TRINITY.
When Cuomo, Pelosi, Biden, and any other CINO comes out against the Catholic Doctrine, the Bishops must loudly proclaim that they are wrong and Cuomo, Pelosi, Biden, etc. must face the consequences because of their choices.
And please, let's not delve into the lazy & easy way retort, which by the way has been distorted by the saul alinksy group, "they must separate their religion from their politics". Just another lie perpetuated by the left so well.
Here's my note to the Leftist Media:
"True Catholics are NOT bowing to your lesser god.
No, it means NOTHING to us, that you think we should do this, that or whatever.
You never enter our thoughts when we discern what is right and wrong, and trust me when I say this, we dont expect to see you at the Gates of Heaven opening the door to let us in.
So, although you keep spewing your communist manfesto, we will keep rejecting it; there have been great martys before us, as there are now, but its not nor never has been about you and your evil agenda -
The HOLY SPIRIT will pick our new Pope and we pray the Cardinals do HIS will and not yours!
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 7:25AM
The Bishops speak out for life every chance they can. The idea of excomunication is to be a pastoral help to the offending party. It is a warning sign. The troble with that is that it has been proved to harden the heart of these miscreants rather then soften them.The idea is to keep these people at least in the Church with their sins rather then expelling them to further estrangement. We can always hope they will repent.
David T| 2.15.13 @ 9:59AM
Amen
Quartermaster| 2.15.13 @ 12:31PM
The purpose of disfellowhipping a miscreant is two fold, 1) to dicipline the offender in attempt to get them to recognice that they are in unrepentent sin and are in danger of hell fire if they do not repent. And 2) to keep the body free of sin as much as possible by excluding the unrepentent so they have no influence and minimize their ability to drag others down with them.
The Bishops, by refusing to excommunicate, are themselves in unrepentant sin and are in danger of hell fire themselves. Their spiritual position is pretty clear given their support of liberalism over the years, then having teh audacity to whine when their ox is gored.
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 2:01PM
Baloney: Every women who contracts an abortion or any one who helps her in any way is automatically excommunicated. The Church does not go around putting these peoples names in the bullitin every Sunday. These people have to repent or answer to God. Public excommunication hasn't usually been an effective pastoral tool. Better to keep in touch with these sinners in hope of eventual repentence and renewal.
Don L| 2.16.13 @ 10:01AM
True, but as in determining a just war (the potential number of casualties) shouldn't they consider the cost to the Church of the many souls that are lost because of their seeming to ignore the problem--not to mention things like Ted Kennedy's special funeral, sending millions to ACORN to help elect the poster child for abortion and infanticide, that Notre Dame scandal, and helping get Obortioncare into law while ignoring the very Catholic Principle of Subsidiarity rthat demands Caesar comes last-not first?
Von Mises Jr| 2.15.13 @ 9:33AM
Great comments Joellen. I suspect that Pope Benedict stepped aside since there is much too much work required for a man of 85 in taking on the problems especially in America.
The liberals in the MSPM (Main Stream Propaganda Machine) are guilty of wishful thinking. The Catholic Church is fighting ObamaCare in the Courts and I suspect that before it is all said and done, this will be a long and protracted battle.
Out MSPM are woefully ill educated. They do not believe in God so they have no interest in the Hundred Years War (1517 - 1648) and the finale with the Thirty Years War (1618 -1648) that was the bloodiest War until WWI three hundred years later.
At about the same time as WWI, Mexicans were hanging Catholic Priest and Christians from telephone poles along the train tracks. When the hangings were protested, the authorities told them not to hang Christians in places so visible.
Von Mises Jr| 2.15.13 @ 9:33AM
It is not simply birth control that is a problem for Christians. Whether directly or indirectly, we will also be paying for abortions and euthanasia. Many of the Hospitals are religious institutions and you can be sure that if the socialist have their way, Catholic Hospitals will be forced to conduct abortions and will be de facto involved with administering "Death Panels" verdicts. If not, they will be denied reimbursements. It is not possible to keep seniors or extremely ill people alive if the "Death Panels" deem that they must die.
The plan is to "progressively" drive the Catholic Hospitals out of business to be consumed by the statist through attrition. If the Church is smart, they will pull the plug and leave the chaos for the statist to deal with as people who were promised "they could keep their doctor" cannot even find an Emergency Room in time to save their lives.
Don L| 2.16.13 @ 10:10AM
Don't confuse the Church with the USCCB who declared war and then sat almost silent in this battle for religious freedom. Going the "legal route'" only provides the Godless Supreme Court with the oportunity to bypass the moral battle and declare the Church legally wrong--as they did in Roe Wade. Why submit God's religion and the Church's fate4 in America to the whims of diabolical secular God-loathing lawyers, when the Declaration of Independence publically recognizes that no entity superceds or has authority over Nature's God who alone gives us all our rights.
The right answer to Obama's edict is to say no--we won't comply and take the consequences, saving millions of Catholics the pain of either condeming themselves to eternity by capitulating or giving up their careers in healthcare-education etc. Are we really saying that the very rare chance we can save Sebelius's soul is worth all that?
PJ| 2.16.13 @ 9:41AM
"The HOLY SPIRIT will pick our new Pope and we pray the Cardinals do HIS will and not yours!"
During his short tenure, Pope Benedict certainly helped the situation by packing the College of Cardinals in with like-minded men.
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 7:18AM
Liberal Catholics have embraced the culture of death like liberal Protestants. Either we can be speakers of the Truth of the Good News or we can be slaves of the world's vices. God left it all up to us. So far the Church has been the bastion of Truth in an increasingly secular world. I expect it to continue on it's journey for the rest of our time here before the final judgement. Praise Be Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. God bless His, vicar on earth, the Pope.
Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 8:28AM
Jack, AMEN to your responses - be at peace and lets remember this lent - its all about serving our LORD first and foremost and bringing HIS peace to all.
CJW| 2.15.13 @ 8:18AM
Joellen,
Great comments as usual. Have a nice day. One sugestion: Pope should be Italian!! I think it is in the original by-laws, written in Italian.
Jack,
You make sense when you do not comment on Israel. You need to review and rethink your views about Israel. You know you are wrong. You can make it your project during Lent.
Al Adab| 2.15.13 @ 8:36AM
W:
Our new friend Joellen has proven herself a thoughtful devoted woman. Her comments are on point here. Certainly those of The Left are certain to be disappointed with any new Pope. The Word (in both senses) simply does not fit their paradigm. All believers, whether Roman, evangelical, protestant or orthodox can recognize Truth when it is presented. That the American "church" is adrift in a sea of political correctness is sad to see, yet His truth endures forever. Time to dedicate ourselves to that.
CJW| 2.15.13 @ 9:30AM
Al Adab
I agree that Joellen is a very thoughful devoted woman, and I always read and like her comments, as I also enjoy your comments.
The lefties see everything as politcs that they can bend to their will, and want to impose their views on the Catholic Church. They know the RCC is the largest, most well known, with a clear identifiable "leader" and so they have their sights on the RCC. If they break the RCC the others will all fall in line, if most have not already fallen in line.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:11PM
Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.
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C. Vernon Crisler | 2.15.13 @ 9:39AM
CJW, Jackboot in WI is never going to change his views on Israel. At some point in time he came to believe that God was an anti-Semite, and that if Jackboot constantly using the word "endless" (as in "endless wars") this would be an acceptable substitute for a holy life.
gene| 2.15.13 @ 11:40AM
Unusual. Jesus the Incarnation of God upon this earth was born in the House Of David among God's Chosen People, The Jews. The land of Israel was given to the Jews by God Himself. Never to be sold or given away. Yes God said He would scatter the Jewish people for turning against Him and He would punish them. He also stated that His Covanant would NEVER be broken and that they would return. How can ANYONE speak of Jesus as Lord and Savior and then talk against Israel. Every nation that has EVER gone against Israel throughout the centuries has been brought to ruination. God will not be mocked.
markenoff| 2.15.13 @ 2:44PM
Look what happened to the Roman Empire after they Titus destroyed the Temple and Hadrian built a temple to Jupiter on the Holy of Holies. The next Pope should be Jewish.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:12PM
Good luck with that.
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 11:28PM
Markenoff: You have to be the dumbest cluck around. The Western Roman Empire lasted for another 400 years after the Temple was destroyed. The Eastern Roman Empire almost 1400 years after the Temple was burned down. The First Pope Peter was a a Jew. I think their were a couple others who were born Jewish but became Christians.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 1:57AM
'"there" were a couple of others."
Enjoy your pancreatic cancer, Jack.
markenoff| 2.18.13 @ 11:09AM
Can you not sense irony? EVERY empire has fallen so whether or not they went against Isreal is irrelevant.
markenoff| 2.15.13 @ 2:45PM
The downfall of the Spansh Empire came after the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Post hoc, ergo procter hoc.
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 11:23PM
Columbus sailed just after the Jews who didn't convert were expelled in 1492. There was no Spanish Empire until that happened. It seems to me that the Spanish Empire lasted 400 years and spread Catholicism all over the world, including China and Japan. So I don't think you know what you are talking about.
markenoff| 2.15.13 @ 2:46PM
And, of course, the 1000 year Reich didn't last very long because of the 6,000,000 Jews they killed.
Quartermaster| 2.15.13 @ 12:36PM
Jack is living in your head rent free. I would think, by now, you would have tired of your idiocy in the matter.
I find your "God is an anti-semite" smear to be amusing. Serious theologians agree that much of the Old Testament is anti-semitic by today's lights. You would do well to know what you are talking about before you let your fingers run on the keyboard without thinking through what you are going to say. Much of what you say is just tired smears that make you look moronic.
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 2:09PM
My views on Israel are correct for a Christian. I believe in the universal brotherhood of all men. We are all God's children, Jews, Arabs, Christians and everyone else. Letting Israel wallow in it's racism and hate without speaking out the Truth is totally wrong for Christians. It is also wrong not to reach out in brotherhood to Muslims, Jews and everyone else. We should work for Peace and the Truth as Christians, not hatred and endless unjust, war.
gene| 2.15.13 @ 2:35PM
It is a fulfillment of prophecy that the Jews would return to Israel in disbelief. And in this state of disbelief, you are entirely correct about reaching out to them and those of other religions. It may be important in our time that there are now tens of thousands of Messianic Jews in Israel and hundreds of thousands throughout the world, and the numbers are growing everyday. My comment was actually directed at the "God is an anti-semite" remarks.
markenoff| 2.15.13 @ 2:48PM
Let me know when Hezbollah stops launching rockets at Isreali cities. Then we can talk about "reach(ing) out in brotherhood." Until then I will keep my powder dry.
Jack in Wi| 2.15.13 @ 11:13PM
Hezballah hasn't lauched any missles at Israel in years. Hezballah and Hamas were both given a start in the beginng by the Mossad as a counter balance to the secular Palestinian parties. Israel bombs, kills, and assassinates all over the Middle East like a rogue bull. It has to stop sometime. Shalom.
markenoff| 2.18.13 @ 11:13AM
List of Palestinian Rocket Attacks on Isreal 2012 from the rabidly right wing wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....rael,_2012
"As of November 2012, over 2,256 rockets had been launched at Israel from Gaza since January 2012"
Who controls Gaza?
"Since June 2007 Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip,...."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
markenoff| 2.15.13 @ 2:41PM
You confuse Italian (a modern, mutating language) with Latin (a "dead", non changing language and the language of the Church). One reason Latin remains the language of the Church is that it is dead so the meanings of its words do not change in response to colloquial or popular useage. Witness the metamorphosis of the word "liberal" over the last 200 years.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:14PM
Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.
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Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 8:26AM
CJW, thank you but may I ask you read my comment in Jeffrey Lords post.
I dont care about race, nationally, sex or age.
I just want the MOST qualified person to take these positions (although in the Pope's case - it must be a man - and since I must get to work, I am sure there be a lot of negative comments to that point - but that's ok, I believe what I believe and know what I know).
That said love you brother - is there a contest today?
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:14PM
Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.
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We're open All Weekend.
Silver Bullet| 2.15.13 @ 10:20AM
I think that Pope Benedict's greatest legacy is his careful selection of Bishops and Cardinals, something that I, for one, have paid close attention to during his nearly eight-year reign.
Surely, the conceited predictions of self-serving critics of tradition and continuity of moral doctrine serve nothing so much as the vanity of these so-called "prophets," who are in fact engaged in wishful thinking as a sort of projected rationalization of their own private failings. Such hubris, such confidence in the ultimate supposed vindication of their misbegotten rejection of Tradition reveals nothing whatsoever of the supposed benighted nature of Church doctrine, and quite a bit about their own lack of humility. Pride, indeed, went before the Fall of Adam and Eve; and will, again, as always, ensnare these "liberal" critics who know-it-all so much better than the rest of us "fools."
No, the Church's unique and holy status, protected by the Holy Spirit himself (John 14:26; and John 16:13), once again will protect the Body of Christ on Earth, which is the Church, and give us just the Shepherd we need at this point in time.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:15PM
At the risk of being called a Nut?
Go look at The Lost Book of Nostradamus.
It's all in there.
Don L| 2.16.13 @ 10:40AM
God has sen fit to gift us with two marvelous popes who have accepted the responsibility of protecting the faith as handed down by the Apostles and if He wills to send his Church in desperate need of another, so He will.
I'm not so certain about His assisting that portion of the flock that is erroniously called the American Church though. We have greatly turned our backs to Him, I'm afraid. It is a sad reality (are you listening USCCB) that the most irreligious states (Gallup Poll this week) encompass the very heart of Catholicism. Those Catholics also voted twice for the most "culture of death" anti-religious freedom president in our history.
Akaky| 2.15.13 @ 11:24AM
The Left will never get its perfect Catholic Church, simply because their standard tactic of marching through the institution until they get their hands on the levers of power won't work in the case of the Church. Viewed as an institution, the Church, and especially its cardinals and bishops, are a self-perpetuating entity that will not allow someone who does not fully share their commitment to the institution and its belief system to reach a position of authority. Even if an individual bishop should go lefty, His Excellency will learn very quickly that he can't tell his flock one thing while the Pope tells them something else. If I remember right, John Paul II removed the Archbishop of Seattle a few years ago for doing exactly that. Given that change from the inside is well-nigh impossible, the Left hopes to intimidate the Church from without and it is incumbent on the bishops to resist that intimidation with every weapon at their disposal. Catholics may render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's, but when Caesar believes that he is due what is rightfully God's, then he must be resisted or tyranny will be the result. The history of the late and unlamented twentieth century proves this repeatedly, although getting the Left to acknowledge that would be a miracle of major proportions.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:16PM
Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.
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Rockabilly| 2.15.13 @ 11:34AM
I have advice for liberal Catholics, LEAVE THE CHURCH! Join Wicca, they just love female ministers, aka witches.
markenoff| 2.15.13 @ 2:50PM
Totally agree. If you want women priests, homosexual ordinations, the acceptance of abortion and contraception and the devaluing of the marriage relationship there are over 20,000 Protestant denominations to choose from. I'm sure you can find one to your liking.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:17PM
Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.
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We're open All Weekend.
Don L| 2.16.13 @ 10:45AM
Actually there can be no liberal Catholics. "You are either with Me or against Me."sort of says it all.
Petronius| 2.15.13 @ 11:42AM
I'm dating myself here being preVatican II, but I think His Holiness is bailing because He sees the Prophesies of Fatima coming true. "Russia will spread her heirs throughout the world," and has. They now control the Church from the Sacred College down to the parish councils. The convents are occupied by feministas, the monasteries with fags, and the star of Georgetown University is an admitted adulterer trying to set a record as the foremost fornicator in this country much less what was once a Catholic institution. Small wonder the Holy Father has said, "basta." Enough.
Civilized men once sought forgiveness of their sins. Today the shameless are elected, and claim sanction to commit as many as will. 45 years ago the public was shocked by the film, A Clockwork Orange. Today it would be considered lightweight and inconsequential. Welcome to the anthill.
TLP| 2.15.13 @ 5:17PM
Contest at Tuesday's AmSpec Story on The State of the Union.
Clothing Optional.
We're open All Weekend.
Citizen Jerry| 2.15.13 @ 11:53AM
Cardinal George sure nailed it. Liberal Catholicism no longer gives life. It never did. Liberal Catholics, along with the knuckleheads in the zeitgeist media, don’t realize the Pope is merely the caretaker of “the faith once given.” The rubrics of the faith were written millennia ago and their author has declared He changes not. And unto the end of the age, the faith will remain the faith, no matter how frenzied the secularists get in trying to reshape the faith into a heretic’s delight.
Quartermaster| 2.15.13 @ 12:37PM
Those of you that praise Dolan might want to look at him a bit more carefully. He's not the blessing, or as carefully selected, as you seem to think.
nathan| 2.15.13 @ 12:48PM
Interesting. For all of you, starting with Joellen, this was largely politics, liberal versus conservatives. As I scroll back up, I don't see a word, not a single mention of the sex abuse scandals that continue to rock the church to its very foundations. HBO did story of the deaf school in Milwaukee, 100 deaf kids at least, now scarred for life, and the catholic leadership there, thinking only of the institution, not the victims, never picked up the phone and dialed 911. Now finally forced to confront the horrors of what that monster did, they declare bankruptcy to shield assets from the victims. Christian indeed.
While aware that kids lie, all too aware of what Reno did in FL, still, when you become aware of possible abuse, regardless of who is involved, you HAVE to call 911.
You the laity, you Joellen, you pay the freight here. Have you demanded reforms in this area, made it clear that you won't tolerate this any more? Demanded that when adults are in contact with kids that procedures are in place to minimize the chance of abuse? Demanded that gay priests be screened out in seminary? Those kids in WI given what happened DESERVE big settlements if nothing more to send a message. How many more Bruce Ritters do you all want, can accept?
Joellen| 2.15.13 @ 3:22PM
Nathan, if you've read other posts that I've written you would know that I have called out the homosexual priest (notice I do not capitalize) on their evil and vile acts.
In fact, Nathan, I have called up my Bishops, confronted Priests in my Parish, and will continue to fight for my church, in whatever way it is being attacked.
EVIL IS EVIL and I will not defend it in anyway.
If those men commited evil acts against ANYONE, then I agree, they need to be defrocked. They are NOT men of GOD; they are pawns of satan.
I'll say this again Nathan, the Church has been infiltrated. Please read the communist manfesto, which explains very clearly how they would destroy the USA - they knew the first thing to do was to get rid of the one institution that would stand up to evil - the Catholic Church.
However, I believe the battle aint over - and I certainly know WHO wins - but I do weep at the evil that has been perpetuated upon the most innocent - and I do understand your anger and your questioning.
nathan| 2.15.13 @ 6:49PM
Madam: For reasons I won't go into child abuse is something that's important to me. Let me put it this way, I'm an indirect victim. I applaud what you're doing, don't let up. I mentioned Ritter because I was a long time contributor to Covenant House and actually visited the New York site while he was still in charge. (I did not get to meet him.
I don't have children but I am responsible for several kids, one whom I'm very close to. I've made it very clear to that one you must report any problems, bullying, anything that constitutes a threat to your security/safety to the adults that you are with because I will not compromise on that child's safety in any way or any of the children in my life. So trust me I walk it the way I talk it.
The minister of the evangelical church I go to makes it oh so clear, you have kids, they are your first priority. They come first. You are going to give up a lot to raise them right. Trust me, my wife and I give up a lot for the kids we care about.
David T| 2.15.13 @ 4:00PM
Nathan--The HBO film you mention is "Mea Maxima Culpa", which purports to tell the true story of the 1970's child abuse scandal at the St. John's School for the Deaf in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Most people seeing this film will come away thinking once again that the Catholic Church is nothing but an evil institution that harbors all manner of sexual deviants and child abusers. The facts of the case, however, are twisted, slanted, or outright ignored. Before anyone sees this "documentary", I would recommend visiting TheMediaReport.com and reading what journalist David F. Pierre has to say about it.
nathan| 2.15.13 @ 7:08PM
Sir: I'm smart enough to know that the abuse scandal is not representative of the church as a whole. But church's reaction to it was all to common wasn't it? Rod Dreher on the American Conservative did a writeup where the idea was the priests were viewed in such a way that made it difficult deal with their criminal behavior. Understand something, I think what Janet Reno did in Florida was criminal, she probably belonged in jail for what she did. I totally believe in Fifth Amendment for anyone accused of a crime including crimes like this, and I prefer to see some guilty people go free than some innocent people go to jail. All that said, in situations like St. John's School, Covenant House, and so many more, church leaders just had to call 911, they had to call the police. The failure to do so is what they're getting lit up for.
Mark30339| 2.15.13 @ 6:01PM
Nathan has a point. Those who see themselves as conservative seem to delude themselves as a group holding a monopoly on virtue and sound leadership. A large portion of "conservatives" are those who place themselves front and center at Our Lady of Authority Worship; they parrot the policy laid out by those in authority, they heap praise and fealty on the Pope and his minions, they rush to minimize and distort the horrors committed under the watch of those in authority, and they fiercely attack those who seek improvement in Church leadership.
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I am impressed with the skillful challenge Cardinal Dolan has pursued on Obamacare regulations -- yet I am shocked at how much tedium and minutia is offerred up at meetings of the USCCB. I am intrigued at Benedict's postures toward improved relations with Eastern Orthodox, but his lording over us with "consubstantial with the Father" and other quibbles with the English Mass is demeaning.
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It puzzles me that special overseers need to be appointed to compel reforms for our nuns when no such overseers were necessary for Legionnairies for Christ, Opus Dei, or dioceses riddled with scandal or bankruptcy. It also puzzles me that males in authority refuse to acknowledge their own scriptures and at least give females a seat at the table among those ordained as deacons. I hardly think that the abuse scandal would have been covered up so well and so long if we had a contingent of deacons who were also mothers. [post continues in first reply]
Mark30339| 2.15.13 @ 6:02PM
[continued from above]
And the unyielding policy of refusing communion to those who are remarried seems harsh and callously detrimental to the children raised by such persons. Let us find another sanction, and let us find a way to deploy the sacrament of reconciliation to restore these people to some level of communion with the Church.
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And finally, when does the leadership aggressively reverse our Church postures of comforting the comfortable and neglecting the afflicted? A small minority quietly perseveres in mission work, while the priorities remain expanded luxuries at our churches and maintaining Catholic schools that only the rich can afford.
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So now I suppose the conservatives will advocate that people like me need to be silenced and relegated to some kind of re-education program to get our minds and our Faith right before facing the crushing judgment of the conservative church's grand and glorious God.
Don L| 2.16.13 @ 9:55AM
What the liberals never got over was the fact that Vatican II never changed one single little dogma, (the faith as handed down Apostles) as they ran giddly off with their Uzis to Nicaraugua with their Marxist revolutionary liberation theology. Now we see the same nonsense honed for the black community under folks like our president's favorite preacher Jeramiah Wright. Satan, never gives up--he just changes the actors carrying his water...er...fire?
Don L| 2.16.13 @ 10:57AM
"And the unyielding policy of refusing communion to those who are remarried seems harsh and callously detrimental to the children raised by such persons. Let us find another sanction, and let us find a way to deploy the sacrament of reconciliation to restore these people to some level of communion with the Church."
"Harsh to the children?"
So you would prefer to offend God by sanctioning unrepentant adultery, or have holy priests commit sacrilige by offering His sacred body and blood to people who have not rejected their mortal sin and repented?
Compassion in the name of evil is just that--evil.
If God must be made to comply with man's wishes then man, as did Lucifer, merely refuses to serve.
Mark30339| 2.19.13 @ 4:17PM
If Catholic Church policy is to exclude remarried couples, then the Catholic Church effectively excludes their children. We need to find another kind of sanction. As far as offending God or Jesus is concerned, I think they are pretty well adjusted and really don't need us to be offended for them. When dealing with the conduct of others, we are called to love mercy; when evaluating our own conduct, we are to act justly and walk humbly with our God.
Jimbobogie| 2.16.13 @ 1:13PM
I'm not a Roman Catholic, but when that bolt of lightening hit St. Paul's, I had to think that somebody up therre wasn't too happy.
Recusant| 2.17.13 @ 9:19AM
Perhaps, perhaps not.
Lightning can symbolize judgement and wrath (Job 1:16), yet generally it's mention in Scripture is a sign of God's presence, power, and majesty.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 2.17.13 @ 9:01PM
The left wing activists won't be happy unless a black transgendered lesbian is voted the next Pope. If the Roman Catholic Church ever changes its core doctrines that will be the end of the church. Any making women priests or allowing homosexuals to marry in the church will cause a rebellion amongst most Catholic laypeople and will splinter the Church. You'll have traditionalists creating their own Vatican and electing their own Pope. There's no way the Church could move in the direction like the mainline Protestant Churches. It would be suicide.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 1:51AM
One hopes the next Pope will realize the problem with Islam and confront it.
The Major problem with Jack is that he is in Wisconsin, is a fan of the Green Bay team, and therefore by definition is a Cheesehead Fudgepacker. Hopefully, one day he will go to visit his friends in Dearbornistan and have his very own "Lunch in Tul Karem." It couldn't happem to a nicer guy. Burn in Hell, Jack.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.13 @ 1:55AM
"It couldn't happen..." Sorry. By the way, Jack, "its" is possessive, "it's" is "it is," "missiles" is spelled this way, unless you mean "missals" of the RC Church. And, of course, "Palestine," and "Palestinians."
You are as ignorant as you are idiotic.
Philo Vaihinger | 2.18.13 @ 6:07AM
Just hours after Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise announcement that he would abdicate the papacy, New York Times op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted that “at some point the church will accept contraception and female and non-celibate priests . . . "
You have to wonder why on earth they think so.
And then there was E. J. Dionne, writing about a nun!