Posted on 08/23/2005 5:06:26 PM PDT by Angelas
Catholic blogs are reporting rumors of a shake up...has anybody heard anything specific? Here's a quote from Rocco Palma:
"Monday, August 22, 2005 Whole Lotta Shakeup Goin' On.... Last night, I reported this:
The more discreet types in Roman life have been breathing sighs of relief that the first summer of the pontificate had WYD as a "buffer." If it didn't, so the argument goes, the curial reshuffle would've been the dominant item on everyone's mind and there would've been much more anxiety and spatting than there's been. Now, with a successful jaunt in Cologne under the Pope's belt, August winding down and the Curia getting ready to reopen for business, center stage at the Vatican belongs to the Pope's internal agenda -- what he wants and who will end up where.... As one operative said it, "Things could get rather kooky over here." This afternoon, Papabile enters the fray: "The first ten days of September will leave everyone's head spinning. Combine those with reports from three continents that certain prelates have already been given happy news and are preparing for new assignments in Rome, and you can see -- again -- that something BIG is afoot. The strategy at work here is to have it done early and done quickly, lest everyone get too comfortable at their desks coming back from vacation....
What's more, as the dicastery heads are all ex officio members of the Synod of Bishops, it just makes better sense for the New Curia to be appointed prior to the 2 October opening of the Synod on the Eucharist, so the incoming prefects and presidents can take their seats in the Hall and be able to mix it up the bishop-delegates coming to town from around the world. Encouraging good working relationships is what you do when you want your bureaucracy to be a collegial one, and the Pope has explicitly given his commitment to that.
When the boom gets lowered, don't say I didn't tell you. I've been talking about it for months now."
Laz, what are you up to over there?
< slap >
bttt
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Are the bloggers going to be correct here.
I just noted a thread about a new nuncio in Arab countries.
Hmmmmm.
okay.
ROTFLMAO. Very good.
Those of us inexperienced at discerning the meaning of administrative actions taken at the Vatican would be happy to have this speculation translated into plain English (or liturgical Latin :-).
| Gay men may be banned from priesthood | |
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| Ref: Ekklesia Theological News (k) Pope Benedict XVI is said to be currently scrutinising a draft recommendation which would allow the Vatican to automatically exclude gay men from training as priests. Currently, there is no bar to non-heterosexual men becoming priests provided they adhere to celibacy. However the recommendation has been written in response to a recent wave of sexual abuse scandals within the church, and implies that homosexual priests are more likely to abuse young people than heterosexual priests. The Vatican also argues that it would be unfair for gay priests to train alongside non-gay priests, because they say it puts all the men under pressure and in the way of temptation. Benedict XVI is said to be likely to approve the recommendation, although it may be hard to prove the sexuality of candidates for priesthood. He is known to be a strong supporter of the Catholic Church’s traditional stance on contraception, homosexuality, priest celibacy and the role of women. |
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has moved to end a dispute with the Vatican by writing a letter to the Pope. Israel's envoy to the Vatican said he hoped the letter - which described the Pope as "a true friend of Israel" - would lead to better relations.
The row erupted when Israel complained that Pope Benedict XVI had left Israel off a list of countries recently hit by terrorist attacks.
The Vatican then accused Israel of trying to "distort" the Pope's words.
Ambassador Oded Ben Hur said he had handed over the letter this week in an "amiable and intimate" meeting with Vatican officials.
"This disagreement is now behind us," said a spokeswoman for Israel's embassy to the Holy See.
... etc, more at SOURCE
Recent news reports have stated that Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society of St. Pius X (www.sspx.org) will soon be meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, ostensibly to talk about a possible reconciliation. The traditionalist SSPX was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who died in 1991.
Lefebvre, along with four bishops he consecrated and a co-consecrator bishop, was declared excommunicated in 1988 by Pope John Paul II for consecrating those bishops without papal permission. (See: www.cin.org/jp2ency/eccldei.html)
A reconciliation between Rome and the SSPX would be regarded by many in traditionalist circles as significant. Adherents of the SSPX assert that the 1988 excommunications were unjust and null; and they reject the doctrinal developments and liturgical reforms of Vatican II, claiming such developments and reforms are contrary to Catholic Tradition.
William Grossklas, a former SSPX adherent, is hopeful that a reconciliation can and will take place, but he isn’t optimistic about it.
“I don't think the conditions exist for a reconciliation at this time because of the personalities running the SSPX,” says Grossklas, whose website on the group is http://sspx.agenda.tripod.com/
John Grasmeier, a supporter of the SSPX who moderates the Angelqueen.org forum, says the following:
“Although the upcoming meeting may serve to set the stage for future progress, it most likely will not be the venue for full resolution of the issues at hand. Ultimately, in order for full reconciliation to take place, both parties must proceed with charity and wisdom, keeping our Lord, His Church and the flock as the primary beneficiary and motivating factor of any discussions.
“Both sides have much to gain. Our Holy Mother Church would experience an infusion of vibrant, well-formed and dedicated clergy and laymen at a time when she is in desperate need of doctoring. The Society would benefit in that they would be able to pursue their good works unencumbered by any real or perceived hindrances such as jurisdictional issues and having the full blessing from the Holy See.
“In any case, it will take much prayer and good will for an eventual reconciliation to be realized. There are many elements that will forcefully seek to usurp any unifying effort. The last thing the enemy wants is unity and good will in the Church our Lord founded.”
Whispers from DownUnder that Cardinal George Pell may well be in line for the Pontiff's former role!
I hope so.
Even with celibacy for Priests, those who are gay do persist in displaying an emotional attitude of sorts about issues that heterosexuals do not. I can't quite put my finger on it but it is noticable.
I wonder if this will also include gay females excluded from Orders - another issue the Church will eventually need to address.
My understanding is, while any breach of chastity is inacceptable for a priest, heterosexual inclination is healthy as long as it is reasonably contained mentally and is not acted upon; homosexual inclination is inherently disordered even if the man remains wholly celibate.
Lesbianism just hasn't been an issue in the same way male homosexuality was, so perhaps they intend to skip it.
It will be something that will be obvious well before a young man is close to being ordained. It is just that Seminaries in the US have refused to do anything about it, and in some instances have kicked out faithful young men who have complained about the atmosphere created by the attitudes that would allow men who reject the teachings of the Church to be ordained to the priesthood.
I agree. Besides, even if some homosexual priests get ordained, there is a big difference between cultivating homosexuality and failing to detect unsuitable priests as a matter of exception.
My guess is that there has been a percentage of gay priests throughout history. But only since the 60s they were taught that their condition is fine as long as they contain themselves. Consequently was had been isolated scandal before became gay culture in the priesthood, rife with scandal, till the recent past.
From your keyboard to God's monitor.
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