SOmething that people also overlook is that, until this bishop is in full communion with the Church again, there is absolutely nothing the Pope can do about him. He’s part of a schismatic group over which, obviously, the Pope has no authority. Once the group reconciles, which is what the Pope is trying to achieve, then the Pope can deal with this and all other matters involving them.
The same here. The more they bash the more compassion I have.
“Listen. I’m a Baptist, but this Catholic-bashing in the press is making me ill. The Pope DID NOT “rehabilitate a bishop. The man never was and is not now a bishop in the Catholic Church. He’s a screwball who is a bishop in his own mind. The Pope merely ruled that he could receive communion. Period.”
Thank you. It’s very nice to see a baptist post that.
Even though I’m catholic I find this a little confusing, but I’ll give it my best shot.
First of all - the man was not excommunicated in the first place for being a holocaust denier, so I think the pope must consider the issues of excommunication and the bishop’s personal whackiness to be separate issues.
Second of all - the lifting of excommunication does not mean this man becomes a full fledged bishop w/in the catholic church - especially when he’s proven himself to be whacky.
Third - I’m not sure if lifting of excommunication necessarily means the guy can receive communion.
I saw a headline today that suggested the pope is requesting the man reconcile with the Church - which may include repudiation of his holocaust denial.
Fourth - All christian churches must deal with issues of reconciliation. There will always be people who need to be forgiven and attempts made to bring them back into the fold.
If the whacky bishop shows good faith effort to change his ways, I don’t know what the fuss is about.