Priests told not to voice dissent (Catholic Caucus)

star tribune ^ | January 14, 2012 | Rose French

[Coleus]

Archbishop John Nienstedt is warning Catholic clergy across Minnesota that there should be no "open dissension" of the church's strong backing of a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would define marriage as a union only between a man and woman.  In other early signs of the fervent campaign the church intends to wage for the amendment, which will be on every ballot in the state this fall, Nienstedt is appointing priests and married couples to visit archdiocesan high schools to talk about marriage. He has directed parishes to form committees to work for passage of the amendment. He also has warned a priest that he may be stripped of his ministry if he continues to disagree "with the church's teaching on marriage."

In a recent letter to priests and deacons, Nienstedt laid out why he believes it's important that the marriage amendment pass: "The endgame of those who oppose the marriage amendment that we support is not just to secure certain benefits for a particular minority, but, I believe, to eliminate the need for marriage altogether."  "As I see it, we have this one chance as Minnesotans to make things right," he said. "The stakes could not be higher."

With nearly 1.1 million Catholics in Minnesota, the church and its political arm, the Minnesota Catholic Conference, are likely to play a crucial role in whether the marriage amendment wins passage in November.  At the same time, other organizations such as Minnesotans United for All Families, a coalition that includes faith-based groups, are joining forces to defeat the amendment -- making it certain that Minnesota will be thrust into the growing national debate over whether states should sanction gay marriage.

Standoff emerging

[Coleus]

It's a shame he has to inform "priests" about God's moral and natural laws. Obviously, I bet these priests were ordained before JPII became pope.

[narses]

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[MSF BU]

It is a shame no doubt that basic teachings have to be enforced so directly; this should not even be an issue. But at least they remain basic teachings. How many Minnesota Lutheran denominations will actively be working for the sodomite side of the issue? That’s the difference.

[Cicero]

The problem is probably not that all that many priests would openly dissent on this, but that all it takes is one or two of them. Then the press picks up on them, broadcasts what they say, and pretends that they are speaking for the Church. It’s been happening like that for years.

[LtKerst]

He also has warned a priest that he may be stripped of his ministry if he continues to disagree “with the church’s teaching on marriage.”

Why does the Catholic Church Hate its Congregation? to allow these Priests to cause confusion and suffering?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Coleus, related to definition of marriage.

[Fred Hayek]

A huge majority of the article comments are Nienstedt bashing. The position that Nienstedt is taking is not just Catholic, but also any Biblical Christian. Yet most of Minnesota appears hostile to this (witness the number of churches in Minnesota flying the rainbow flag abomination).
The archbishop needs to defrock any priest who does not adhere to this Biblical position - they have no business in the ministry. Shut down and bulldoze Joan of Arc in Minneapolis, that place is heretical by any standard.

I no longer live in Minnesota, however, Houston does have its mad raving lefties here as well.

[Salvation]

 

Marriage = One Man and One Woman

Til' Death Do Us Part

[RitaOK]

” It is a shame no doubt that basic teachings have to be enforced so directly.....” <<<

I have never understood how the Church entertained so many noisy many influential source sympathizers of licentiousness, some priests who even slow dance with Marxism, and boldly pronounce socialistic themes. It is embarrassing and it’s a point of outright ridicule (rather deserved) from protestants. For all their divisions protestants are stalwarts for strict adherence to the scriptures. With the exception of a few publicized black churches, protestants will fight to the death against socialism and Marxism.

I am most grateful for something in voice and now in print to be laid out, loud and clear, that at minimum challenges the scandalizers. Frankly, there needs to be some public excommunications declared to restore credibility to the term, and to put a stop to the scandal of the same and repetitive dissent.

[dsc]

“Why does the Catholic Church Hate its Congregation? to allow these Priests to cause confusion and suffering?”

The Church is rather like a supertanker. It takes a *long* time to come about 180 degrees, and you can’t use a lot of rudder.

The good news is that it is double-hulled.

[dsc]

“Frankly, there needs to be some public excommunications declared”

There have been excommunications, and they have not been secret. However, the good guys within the Church deplore public spectacle.

[MSF BU]

It probably has to do with the priest shortage a bit, and also some evil people in high places (google up the “agony in Albany” to read an example). Also, let’s face it, the church is much smaller than it appears to be. Subtract out those that really don’t believe or who simply attend as a club event and you have a much smaller church.