Posted on 10/11/2014 11:01:21 AM PDT by ebb tide
We got this letter some hours ago, and asked this reader in Africa for his permission to post it. He just asked to have any information that could identify him or the diocese removed. Dear friends of rorate-caeli.blogspot.com,
I live in the diocese of [omitted] in [a small country in East Africa], a diocese that's very full of life, marriages, baptisms, confirmations, vocations are so abundant that they would seem improbable elsewhere. Since I lived for many years in Belgium and in Ireland years ago, I know what I'm talking about. Our bishop, [name omitted], though not at all old, doesn't like to be online or read things on screen, he also hates smartphones even though they're everywhere here now, so I often print things I find online to show him. Now, our diocese isn't traditional at all, it was thanks to the web and pages as yours that I found out about the Old Mass, but Mass is usually very respectful, even when it's filled with our African joy, which is always very respectful.
Anyway, the bishop asked me to bring him news from the Synod as often as possible, and since I live very near the cathedral I am trying to print things and take them to him daily. So, yesterday I printed this page and he was struck by this passage from Thursday's meeting.
"With regard to cohabitation in certain regions, it was shown that this is often due to economic and social factors and not a form of refusal of the teachings of the Church. Often, moreover, these and other types of de facto unions are lived while conserving the wish for a Christian life, and therefore require suitable pastoral care. Similarly, while emphasising the impossibility of recognising same sex marriage, the need for a respectful and non-discriminatory approach with regard to homosexuals was in any case underlined."[*]
He was in the office with the Vicar-General, and he stood up and then fell down on his chair, took his hands to his head and started to weep silently. He was obviously very shaken. He said to the Vicar-General: "Oh my God, what are they doing? The people will soon get hold of declarations like these and they'll prefer to become evangelicals or even Muslims than remain Catholic! What are they doing in Rome? Oh my God, oh my God!"
He then looked at me, calmed down, and said, "I'm sorry you saw this, sorry." It was shocking. They were both extremely nervous with what will come out, Muslims and Evangelical missionaries will make great inroads if the Church is seen as soft on morals, a situation Africans hate, and make very difficult the work of priests to stop couples from just living together, very often one man and several women, but actually getting married in church. I'm not sure they understand the impact that even small things like these have in how Africans at least here in [country] view the Church. The Vicar-General said something like, "What is this softness? Why 'impossibility of recognising' and not, this false marriage is a grave aberration and an abomination against God and against Creation? At least the Anglicans here can say decisions in Europe are not their responsibility, but how can we as Roman Catholics say that what happens in Rome has nothing to do with us?"
I thought you'd be interested. Thanks for the blog and keeping us informed here as well.
God and Mary bless you,
[Name omitted]
[Spelling mistakes corrected]
* Rorate note: The reference is to this summary, of the October 9 proceedings.
Ping
Very sad.
“The people will soon get hold of declarations like these and they’ll prefer to become evangelicals or even Muslims than remain Catholic!”
Money sentence!
It would be so, so, so tragic if people became evangelicals!!! That’s equivalent to becoming a Muslim!
I pray that we chose a moral life. As this piece reflected a life full of birth, communion, confirmation, sanctified marriage and vocation is a full and godly way to live. I do not think it is hard to be a Christian, but it is very easy to fall at the wayside and the transgressions we embark upon hurt the soul, even if they are not admitted aloud.
“God and Mary bless you,”
Can’t pass by the opportunity to point out the heresy here. In this sentence construct, she is placed on par with God who is the One from Whom ALL Blessings Flow. Mary doesn’t bless anyone.
She is another believer in Christ who needed and received a Savior, as well as the honor of being chosen to be the bearer of Messiah.
Mary didn’t need a Savior. Unlike us, She was born without original sin.
But Mary is the Mother of OUR Savior.
“Mary didn’t need a Savior. Unlike us, She was born without original sin.”
Mary desperately needed a Savior, like every other member of the fallen race. What Scripture declares is true. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” All.
Mary declared, “and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”.
“But Mary is the Mother of OUR Savior.”
Mary is the mother of Jesus in His earthly life.
It seems reasonable and right to be "respectful non-discriminatory" to homosexuals - just the same way alcoholics, drug addicts, slanderers, and gossipers should be respected.
That is not to say however, that homosexual acts are to be condoned any more than drunkenness and gossip are to be condoned.
It should be absolutely, crystal clear that we love and welcome you - sinners - but your actions are destroying you, and harming those you love. Repent - daily if necessary - and be saved...
Scripture is silent about whether or not she was baptized.
Notice that he said “...evangelicals or EVEN Muslims.”
So he DIDN’T equate the two.
Besides, if a Catholic priest thinks it’s a negative thing for Catholics to become Protestant, you’re OFFENDED???
Now THAT’S acting like a Muslim.
Heresy!
Mary was preserved from Original Sin, but this happened entirely by the merits of Christ’s death on the Cross. So she absolutely had a Savior—Jesus Christ.
Yes, I stand corrected.
“Besides, if a Catholic priest thinks it’s a negative thing for Catholics to become Protestant, you’re OFFENDED???”
I’m not offended by any person and their choice of wear to fellowship and worship.
I expect priests to be biased and unbiblical... or they wouldn’t be able to be priests.
Gee, I thought ALL sin was a grave aberration. The penalty for even the tiniest sin is eternal damnation. Steal a candy bar or engage in homosexual activities and reap the same reward. All this constant crap does is to ensure that the Church reaches fewer souls by making discrimination that Jesus did not - He wanted to reach all Men and made a point of hanging out with those wh needed His influence the most.
Once again - Satan is getting fat due to having to break out the popcorn so often as we get distracted from the real goal - it's not stopping others from sinning; it's handling our own lives and carrying the message to those who need it.
Mary is the mother of God the Son, OUR Savior. There, fixed it.
Believe and repent each and every day!
It's a (very bad) passage from Thursday's meeting. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Mary is the mother of God the Son, OUR Savior. There, fixed it.”
Actually, you broke it. Blessed Mary is many things, but she is not the progenitor of God. She is, as the orthodox rightly say, God Bearer). She was chosen to bear Messiah. She fulfilled her role with humility and dignity.
God never calls her “the mother of God.”
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