The 'gods' aren't happy with new pope

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | April 26, 2005 | Mychal Massie

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

With parishes being shut down because of the legal costs and damages from the sex abuse cases, I can think of NO REASON why any priest should be downing a $100 or $200 bottle of wine on top of 5-star pasta. That's my prudential judgment on "social justice."

There are plenty of phonies and high-maintenance freaks among the conservative and apparently orthodox-minded Catholics who style themselves as "loyal to the Holy Father." A lot of unnecessary conspicuous consumption going on among those encouraging middle-income Catholics to have nine or ten children.

With the parishes and parish school closings, there should not be a problem with auditing priests and thinning down some of the beach vacations and cruises. There's no need for any priest to own a beach house. If the church REALLY wants to end the sex abuse/pederast problem, eliminating travel to south Florida for any clergyman who has no pastoral reason for being there would be a good place to start.

[redgolum]

They need to reinstitute requirements for intensive and long studies of Latin, Greek, philosophy and theology

You mean they don't have to do that now? Heck, at a LCMS seminary you have to learn Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and a bit of German (we are Lutheran after all). And that is just in the first year!

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

In the aftermath of Vatican II, just about ALL of the requirements and standards for seminarians were dropped.
A lot of priests don't know much Latin these days. But some know where the gay bars are.

[fortunecookie]

Oh, lol. That sums it up.

[maryz]

LOL! Great cartoon!

[maryz]

In the aftermath of Vatican II, just about ALL of the requirements and standards for seminarians were dropped.

I thought the more traditional requirements were just replaced by psychology, sociology, sex education, interpersonal relationships, etc.

I could be wrong, but I think the "requirements" were just as required!

[the invisib1e hand]

The 'gods' aren't happy with new pope

damn the gods.

[kstewskis]

As Siobhan rightly refered to on another thread, let's pray that Benedict XVI rids our Church of these covens.

[BlackElk]

I don't think we need formal rules requiring a simple lifestyle for hierarchs but I would observe the following.

The residence of the archbishop of Hartford when Archbishop John F. Whealon was appointed and arrived from Erie, Pennsylvania was a Hartford mansion more luxurious than the Governors' mansion. That was not a credit to the Church. Archbishop Whealon would not live in the mansion but sold it to the LaSalette Order and moved into a nursing home for retired nuns in West Hartford. There, he occupied a modest two rooms and personally said Mass for the nuns and served as their confessor and spiritual advisor.

He had two suits of clerical clothing to his name---one threadbare for every day use and one relatively new for special occasions. He gave us the feeling that he was in the tenches with us and that he did not feel a need to expend diocesan funds on personal luxuries. In fact, he donated much of his salary to things like pro-life groups.

He died suddenly of heart defibrillation on an operating table during routine kidney shunt maintenance surgery and has been dead for about fourteen years now. Please pray for the repose of the soul of a good, holy, humble, modest and faithful Catholic archbishop who set a wonderful example for others. Those of us who loved him miss him very much.

[ninenot]

One has qualms about conspicuous consumption by Diocesan priests. They are not required to practice 'poverty,' but I think Franciscan 'simplicity' is a good model.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Someone in charge needs to do a better job at screening out unfit candidates and training, educating, and supervising seminarians so that they mature into spiritual and moral priests who serve the faithful in accord with the true teachings of the church and don't go chasing after all sorts of luxuries (or altar boys). A debate on how to do that is in order. Benedict XVI would do well to listen to those of us who have been suffering in the trenches here in the U.S. where the "anything goes" policy has been in place for too long.

[ELS]

There are plenty of sick people in hospitals who need the sacraments brought to them during the summers. Men who prefer fun & leisure over sacramental work, need not apply to the Catholic priesthood. ... Being a Catholic priest is not "Spring Break."

Agreed. I knew a devoted priest who would visit the local nursing homes (one time when I met with him on a major holiday, that was where he was heading to after our meeting) because he knew that the local diocesan priests would not be doing anything of the sort. He was consistently visiting shut-ins to say Mass, hear confessions and/or bring them Communion. His own clothes and shoes were rather worn out. His main focus was the saving of souls, not his personal comfort.

[conservonator]

I also know someone who knows a very, very orthodox priest (nationally well known) who loves expensive dinners in fine restaurants accompanied by bottles of expensive wine.

Please tell me it's not Fr. Corapi!

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

The preoccupation with "lifestyle" issues - clubbing, dining, fashion, cruises, leisure travel, culinary obsessions, etc. - is a dead giveaway for fruitcakes.

[american colleen]

No way Jose!

[gitmo]

The pouty Katie Couric delivered a homily on the polls to the handful that still worship her show. She ranted that 78 percent of American Catholics wanted the Church to be less conservative

It's more likely the poll said the Church wants 78% of American Catholics to be more conservative.

[Slyfox]

I still remember Jane Pauley's visit to the Vatican.

The way she talked before the trip you'd a thought she was going to have herself a regular sit down with JP and ask him all those questions liberals are famous for like that 60 Minutes guy who is particularly offensive.

Jane didn't get the interview of a lifetime, however she did get a good seat at the regular Wednesday audience, right in the front row. The cameras were on her face as Our Holy Papa approached her and shook her hand. She looked especially starstruck and dumbfounded.

It was a sight to behold.

[cyborg]

LOL!!

[Northern Yankee]

I was good friends of a Catholic Chaplain while in the Air Force. He had a nice place off base, nothing real extravagant, but nice.

We teased him about it, since he was of the order that took a vow of poverty, and he explained that if he came to his place that depressed him, he would have left the priesthood a long time ago. He reasoned that since he has no spouse to share his day, having something to look forward to was a shot in the arm for him. (Yes he was a good man of faith, and devout.)

I have never really questioned those priests who are in need of perks from time to time. (Within reason of course...)

Our Parish priest takes a yearly vacation, and goes with the parish blessings.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

As long as he's not cruising bars in South Beach, Miami, or Key West, he may be alright.