Pope warns against sterile egoism rooted in a desire for power

Religion News Service ^ | Josephine McKenna

[Salvation]

He is talking to the universal/small ‘c’ catholic church of which we are all members?

He’s definitely an evangelizer in the way he continually reaches out to many groups and their leaders.

[vox_freedom]

Did someone mention sterile egoism?

[NormsRevenge]

sounds like a one lung Pope may have gotten short of oxygen on the operating table .. He certainly won’t be the first Pope with ‘issues’.. but he could well be the last.. 8-o

[ebb tide]

He is talking to the universal/small ‘c’ catholic church of which we are all members?

No, I don't think he is:

“This too makes me think of our mother Church and of so much sterility within our Mother Church,” the Pope told those present in the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse chapel Dec. 19.

[Arkansas Toothpick]

Isn’t he speaking of “whitewashed tombs” and those who are pretenders or who don’t have a living faith? There are wolves everywhere, those who lurk and seek to destroy from within.

[BlatherNaut]

"When the Church believes she can do everything, that she can take charge of the consciences of the people, walk along the road of the Pharisees, of the Sadducees, along the road of hypocrisy, the Church is sterile,” he said

So much of what he says sounds like nonsensical blather, and the statements one CAN decipher frequently tend to conform to a syncretic pentecostal/Catholic world view seemingly of his own particular design.

Is he saying here that the Church's role in the formation of Catholic consciences leads to hypocrisy and sterility? What could be more spiritually sterile than rejecting the teachings of Christ and of His Church regarding the necessity for repentence ("Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand") and encouraging those living in an objective state of mortal sin to receive Holy Communion?

Cardinal Muller: "Doctrine and pastoral care are the same thing. Jesus Christ as pastor and Jesus Christ as teacher with his word are not two different people…There is no solution, since church dogma isn’t just some theory created by some theologians;” but instead it is “the word of Jesus Christ, which is very clear. I cannot change church doctrine.”"

Neither can the Pope nor his fellow "serene" theologians, although their words and actions indicate that they apparently believe otherwise.

He appears to hold himself up even above the Holy Catholic Church.

Begs the question as to whether he is, in fact, a believing Catholic.

[Arthur McGowan]

Here is a more accurate picture of the typical Catholic parish:

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/12/who-am-i-to-judge

[ebb tide]

That doesn’t explain the Pope’s “newness of God” comment.

Does this “newness” include Holy Communion for adulterers?

[Salvation]

Sad story.

Our priest is not afraid to mention Confession and the need to avail one of the sacrament.

We also have an ongoing Faith Formation 101 for adults.

Along with 125+ other ministries — a lot of outreach to the world.

[ebb tide]

Along with 125+ other ministries — a lot of outreach to the world.

Your church bulletins must be small paperbacks.

How many Eucharistic Monsters do y'all have?

[Arthur McGowan]

I was briefly administrator of a parish that had had two extremely liberal priests for a total of 20 years, or more. At the beginning of Lent, I preached on the Ten Commandments. I covered all ten. I mentioned contraception, of course. I was thanked for the homily about about six people. Over the six weeks of Lent, I had a total of 2 (two) confessions, both on Good Friday.

My experience is that hardly anyone who is of an age to be using The Pill goes to Confession, and only those who aren’t using contraception do go.

The Pill is Satan’s primary sacrament in modern times. It is no accident that it is a parody of the Eucharist, and was created and promoted by lapsed Catholics: Margaret Sanger and Dr. John Rock (who was a darling of Cardinal Cushing, tame house chaplain of the Kennedys).

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sounds very similar to almost all the novus ordo parishes I've ever attended. What particularly strikes a chord is the kids not genuflecting or showing reverence -- they'd always slump in looking sullen, unaware that they're even SUPPOSED to geneflect.

Thank God I found an orthodox, traditional alternative to the novus ordo clown show. I shudder to think how blaise I was myself, and I shudder to think how many people are in a similar state now. Yet it's the attitude the hierarchy seemingly wants to cultivate.

[caww]

Yes....many concerns also for Protestant Churches who are also on board...and some Evangelical Movements are circling as well...

Often wonder if the true church will indeed go underground before He comes....it’s not looking good for believers.