A Meeting of the Minds - John Paul II calls the U.S. cardinals to Rome

Newsweek via MSNBC.com ^ | 29 April 2002 | Kenneth L. Woodward (Erik Amfittheatrof in Rome)

[history_matters]

His office said he was in seclusion, spending his time in prayer. But somehow Boston

[history_matters]

p i n g and Indexing

[history_matters]

And if the gathering is wise, says Jesuit Avery Dulles, the only real theologian among the American cardinals, the assembled prelates will realize that “a crisis situation is not a good time to change policies, like clerical celibacy, that have been affirmed over long centuries.”

ping

[CWW]

"Clearly, neither John Paul II nor his Vatican counselors realized the depth of the crisis that’s gripping the American church."

This is the most often repeated lie in the mass media. Of course the Curch understands the seriousness of the problem. It didn't occur overnight and no pronouncement will cure it overnight.

[grumpster-dumpster]

"Cardinal Roger Mahony went much further. In Rome, he declared, he would urge the Vatican to open discussion of a married clergy for the church, and even of ordaining women to the priesthood. “It’s not a panacea that you have married clergy or women clergy,” Mahony said. “At this point, I’m a proponent of the discussion.”

In other words: "Let's get a strawman argument going to take the pressure off of us poor embattled U.S. Cardinals."

IMHO, Cardinal Mahoney, by these very words, has given-up his right to be a leader of the Church... I hope Pope John Paul II slaps him down hard... VERY HARD!

[history_matters]

IMHO, Cardinal Mahoney, by these very words, has given-up his right to be a leader of the Church... I hope Pope John Paul II slaps him down hard... VERY HARD!

AMEN!

[Slyfox]

The Cardinals now have the oppurtunity to make things right. Hopefully, they will take this matter seriously enough to clean house. If they come back and do nothing then they will have sealed their own fates. Let us pray that they will do some good, old-fashioned butt-kicking. Our Holy Father can not do it by himself. He needs help.

[Fury]

It seems that Mahony wants to discuss women priests, if I read the article correctly. Ugh...

[Slyfox]

The priest-pedophile problem is a HOMOSEXUAL problem. Sounds like Cardinal Mahoney needs to reclaim his manhood.

[history_matters]

We need to write the Holy Father and beg him to sack Cardinal Mahony in particular. IMO Cardinal Mahony is the biggest fiend in a red hat.

[history_matters]

This is a very good time to write to the Holy Father and ask him to please can Mahony yesterday...:

His Holiness Pope John Paul II
The Apostolic Palace
00120 Vatican City
ITALY
Europe

[grumpster-dumpster]

"The Cardinals now have the oppurtunity to make things right. Hopefully, they will take this matter seriously enough to clean house."

I agree! The Cardinals do have the opportunity to make things right (and clear-up a lot of social problems at the same time) ...But based on Cardinal Mahoneys willingness to ignore the Popes previous warnings about the subjects of celebacy and ordination of women as closed subjects; seeking to create a debate about those matters; I am not hopeful they will.

The Cardinals seem to be acting like school kids going to the principles office... "OK, we got caught... but he'll forget about it by tomorrow when we're back in our own homerooms!"

[ken5050]

kindly add me to your ping list......thanks

TW..slightly, just slightly off topic, but I'm curious as to how this whole matter will effect my Episcopal Diocese of NY..that hotbed of far left Christianity..which has been ordaining gay priests......talk about setting yourself up for a lawsuit...my words...

[Slyfox]

In the Pope's address, I think he is praying that they all wake up and begin to fix the problem meanwhile firming each other in the faith. I think this current problem may provide all the bishops with the intestinal fortitude to do their jobs precisely. They must realize the importance of their responsiblities and not allow somebody in the chancery office to make their decisions for them.

JPII is the dad and the bishops are his teenagers. Some have been doing their own thing waiting for the old man to kick the bucket, but the stuff has hit the fan. Before the dad can talk any sense into his kids, he's got to have their attention. I think they are all listening now.

[history_matters]

Will do.

(Former Episcopalians make wonderful Catholics .... hint, hint...LOL)

[Mr. Thorne]

I think your assessment is on the money, and I hope you're right about them finally listening now.

[ThomasMore]

In Rome, he declared, he would urge the Vatican to open discussion of a married clergy for the church, and even of ordaining women to the priesthood.

Mahoney shows his true liberal colors.

[ThomasMore]

"Let's get a strawman argument going to take the pressure off of us poor embattled U.S. Cardinals."

How 'bout..."Let's get a strawman argument going to take the pressure off of us HOMOSEXUALS."

[AKA Elena]

Agreed, entirely ... and I am very respectful of those who DESERVE respect, in general.

[ken5050]

Many years ago, I went to a dinner party wher Richard Cardinal Cushing was also in attendance....he was a cousin of somebody else there.....at the time there was considerable discussion then in the media about allowing priests to marry.....it had arisen because two or three married Episcopal ministers had just been ordained as Catholic priests, and as you may be aware, they are allowed to remain married.....so the Cardinal was asked what he thought about the general idea of priests marrying.....I'll never forget, he took a large sip of wine, and looked out at us with the cherubic visage of his, and answered, or a sort..."but what would I do when they want to get divorced?"