Posted on 01/01/2014 1:02:38 PM PST by NYer
Michael Coren didn't have to be Catholic. Actually, he's had several opportunities to walk away from the enterprise altogether. Born to a Jewish cab driver in Essex, England, in January 1959, he became a Roman Catholic in his 20s while still living in the U.K.
After moving to Canada in the late '80s, he abandoned the Catholic Church for evangelical Christianity. A journalist and author known for his bruising honesty, sharp wit, and often provocative style, Coren continued to have a strained relationship with Rome, even though he was married to a cradle Catholic and was raising his children in the faith. In 2004, Coren recommitted himself to the Church and has become one of its most vigorous and plainspoken advocates. He's the author of fifteen books in total, including biographies of G. K. Chesterton, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. In Canada, Coren is the host of the talk show "The Arena" on the SUN News Network and writes a syndicated column for ten daily newspapers.
Coren's previous books on Christianity are the modestly titled Heresy: Ten Lies They Spread About Christianity and Why Catholics Are Right.
Now he's written The Future of Catholicism, published in November. A remarkably compact volume for the breadth of its title, it begins with the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio in March 2013 and looks at the ways the Church may change, the ways it cannot change, the role of the pope's leadership, and the survival of Western Christendom in the face of secularization, indifference, and the rising influence of Islam.
Coren took time to answer some questions from Breitbart News on his views and prognostications.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
"That it reassures people, particularly people who are more conservative. What I find regrettable is that there are more-conservative people in the Church who think this pope is not for them, that they're being let down, and "if only Benedict was still there."
They really musn't do that. Actually, they have to question their own faith, because this is fundamental -- Jesus gave us the Church; He gave us the papacy; He gave us the Magisterium. If we believe that, then we have to listen to the direct successor to the man He gave the keys of the kingdom to, St. Peter, and that is Pope Francis.
Great article ... well worth the read!
Thanks.
He gave us the papacy; He gave us the Magisterium. I don't believe this. He gave us His sacrifice on Calvary
If we believe that I don't, then we have to listen to the direct successor to the man He gave the keys of the kingdom to, St. Peter, and that is Pope Francis. No we don't. Peter still has the keys. That would be dereliction of duty to give those away.
“That would be dereliction of duty to give those away.”
No, dereliction would have been to leave the Church with no leader on earth. God didn’t do that. Neither did the Church after Peter’s death.
I will post a solution in the next post.
What about Catholic parents who send their kids to college, only to have them lose their faith?
"You have to work out, with fear and trembling, your own path to knowing God's love. So, I get a little tired of people moaning that their kids are going to college and losing their faith... Well, what did they think would happen? Do they think they would go to a public university, full of non-Catholics or failed Catholics, and expect them to be reassured? No, this is not what happens. It's a nasty world out there.
From Serra USA
obvious increase the number of students participating in Campus Ministry should greatly benefit the Church in many ways.
SerraUSA wants to help High School graduates locate the "Catholic presence" when they arrive on campus - especially at schools that have an active Catholic Campus Ministry program.
The Purpose
To help High School graduates locate the "Catholic presence" when they arrive on campus - especially at schools that have an active Catholic Campus Ministry program.
The Rationale
A recent study completed by CARA for the U. S. Bishops concerning Catholic Campus Ministry (November, 2005) confirmed a strong opinion that those who were active in Campus Ministry: attended Mass more often than those who did not participate in Campus Ministry; donated more to their Parishes; became leaders in the Parishes; and were more likely to consider a vocation to the Priesthood or Religious Life. The obvious conclusion: increasing the number of students participating in Campus Ministry should greatly benefit the Church in many ways.
The Method
Serra Clubs in the United States are being asked to solicit student information from Catholic High Schools and Parish Youth Ministers. This information will allow to preparation of small packets of information about the school’s campus ministry programs and facilities (location - time of Services - who's in charge – programs –fellowship, etc.).
By furnishing the Campus Minister names and addresses of Catholic students coming to their school, the Campus Minister has an opportunity to send a personal invitation to the student to visit their facility when they arrive on campus. Should there be no official “Catholic presence” on campus, the student will receive information about a nearby Parish.
Further Information
For further information on the COLLEGE CONNECTION for Catholics program contact Judy Cozzens, Program Coordinator SerraUSA Vocations Committee.
2012 Plan for College Connection for Catholics in Catholic Parishes
2012 Implementation for College Connection for Catholics in Catholic Parishes
2012 College Connection for Catholics Flyer for Catholic High Schools
2012 Plan for College Connection for Catholics in Catholic High Schools
2012 Implementation for College Connection for Catholics in Catholic High Schools
2012 College Connection for Catholics Flyer for Catholic High Schools
Why College Connection for Catholics is so Important!
Sample Packet for your Catholic Student
College Connection for Catholics, Administrator
NET Ministries, USA
Email: collegec@netusa.org
Phone: (651) 450-6833
We don't need a leader on earth. We have one in Heaven. If you read the New Testament, you will notice the lack of a centralized governance. The Holy Spirit is to guide us not some a Pope.
“We don’t need a leader on earth.”
God thought otherwise.
“We have one in Heaven.”
And He gave us one on earth.
“If you read the New Testament, you will notice the lack of a centralized governance.”
Actually no. I have read the New Testament - probably much more often than you have and in greater detail most likely. Governance was in the hands of the Apostles and their successors - the bishops. That’s never changed.
“The Holy Spirit is to guide us not some a Pope.”
The Holy Spirit does guide us - through the Church and the Pope.
WTH don’t these posts get a discussion in a caucus. The same ol’, same ol’ show up to chew and spit and then the mods eat Catholics who respond in the same tone, has been my experience.
Is this just for baiting the fish, or wut?
There are all these blogs and websites. We have publishers like Ignatius Press. Thirty-odd years ago, we had some pretty bad bishops, and we had priests who were virtually preaching heresy. Most of that is gone now.[...]
Converts are frequently the most zealous. I think it's particularly energized Catholicism, because those coming from the Evangelical tradition have tried to apply Bible knowledge to the Church through the Catholic faith. It works wonderfully well, because, of course, the Church is the confirmation and continuity of Scripture. Today people convert -- the Muslim world is different -- but people in the West convert because they believe.
[...]
We can't play silly games. If we do that, we become what is known as Protestant. That's fine; if that's what you want to be, you must be that. But we believe in papal authority. He will not lead us astray; God gave us that guarantee. He's not leading us astray. Because he might not be exactly the pope you wanted him to be, how dare you be so proud and arrogant to believe that he must be shaped in your image?
Right on.
I have watched some Coren segments. He’s a good guy. He’d make a hell of a better bishop than some of the current ones. And he pulls no punches when it comes to leftist guttersnipes.
Your opinion and your opinion only.
AMEN.
Who do you think wrote the epistles that comprise most of the NT???? Paul, Peter, John, James, and maybe 1 or 2 other Apostles. Sounds like a "centralized governance" to me.
-— . Peter still has the keys. That would be dereliction of duty to give those away. -—
The keys are mentioned in Isaiah 22:22. The prime minister, or vice-regent, to the king of the House of David wore an over-sized key around his neck, representing his office. Officers have successors.
In Revelation 3:7, we see that Jesus is the King of the eternal House of David. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus gives the keys to Peter, making him the vice-regent of the eternal House of David.
-— If you read the New Testament, you will notice the lack of a centralized governance. -—
“If he will not listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector.” —Jesus
I couldn’t agree more.
At least I have one. Are we judged as individuals or by congregation? Will the excuse "I didn't know that was wrong, my priest told me . . . " cut it? You have Gods Word and Jesus' example.
The article mentions faiths other than Catholic. According to FR regs, Caucus labels can only be assigned to a topic specific thread.
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