Posted on 04/25/2002 4:43:48 PM PDT by history_matters
We always thought they were all "EXCELLENT" bishops until...You can't be so cynical. Cardinal George is an EXCELLENT Bishop to me, it doesn't get any better :-)
We need to carve that into every Church and rectory door.
The rot is too wide and deep within our priesthood, I am convinced that such a high % of them have some homo or molestation scandal in their pasts that the "one strike you're out" policy would put them into danger of defrocking, so they will NOT address the problems.
As I see it, so many priests have seen other priests in compromising situations, that no one would report a boy raper for fear of his own sins being exposed.
As I said, the rot is too wide and deep to be cured from within, it will take lay Catholics demanding a clean sweep to save our Church. If it can be done.
...this doesn't sound like a hard-core faithful Cardinal...Brady is a "hard-core faithful", Francis George is just a very good Roman Catholic Cardinal. Nothing more, nothing less.
YES!
We don't believe you.
Clean them all out, I say. Better to have one good and holy priest in an entire archdiocese helped by laymen than a network of leftist homo boy seducing so-called Catholic priests.
Better millstones around their necks etc as Luke put it.
Don't make me laugh.
It's time to take the gloves off and grasp the snake by its head and crush it. We need cardinals who can take the battle to the apostate lavender mafia so-called Catholic priests, not 'quiet behind the scenes' types and more airy promises.
Any Cardinal or Bishop who stands tall in this battle for the soul of our Church will find an ARMY of the faithful behind him, ready to clean out the lavender rectories in person if that's what it takes! Lavender baggage on the street and hit the road! You're finished, get out, we will not see our Church destroyed!
Cardinals and Bishops, lead and we will follow! Continue to waffle, and we will all eventually go elsewhere or go mad, and the Church will be finished.
(T.M., 12 years of Catholic education 63-75, two kids in Catholic school today.)
I would really like my opinion of the Cardinal to be corrected by factsOne of the big "facts" is that Chicago had v. weak religious leadership before Cardinal George. One of the Church "leaders" was awarded in 1996 the Presidential Medal of Freedom. You know who was the Cardinal and the President back then? Also 1996 was marked by the invention of the, so called "Partial Birth Abortion." The same Church "leader" called Ann Landers to his deathbed, requested a "gay mens choir" to sing at his funeral, and enlisted pall bearers from the local Masonic lodge.
God bless you dear Cardinal.
Clean them all out, I say. Better to have one good and holy priest in an entire archdiocese helped by laymen than a network of leftist homo boy seducing so-called Catholic priests.I second that.
That link was particularly disturbing though; I was not aware of the controversy surrounding Bernardin, to be honest -- I was under the general impression (from lack of knowledge though) that he was a decent Cardinal. I was basing that on my rememberance of the last of his time spent battling a painful death, juxtaposed against the emergence and popularity of what's-his-name up in Oregon (Dr. Death - his name escapes me, atm).
With that in mind, let me reiterate that I'm not disputing that Cardinal George inherited a mess. And its' commendable if, as you say, he's diligently pursuing a lengthy and protracted clean-up (however slow it might appear, to outside observers). But you have yet to provide me with any facts to back up your claim about what he's doing that is so great. Do you have any insight into the General Absolution issue that would offer a different point of view? I'm assuming, of course, that you are of similar mind to me in the fact that the General Absolution dispute puts in danger the souls of the diocese -- but now I'm realizing that perhaps you dont' see it that way, which would explain why I'm worked up about it (and need to get a grip, as you put it so delicately) and you don't seem to be bothered by it.
So, to summarize: Give me some facts about what George is doing that is so 'great' and worthy of admiration (besides stepping in to make sure there are some kneelers in a seminary and that priests are wearing grey at funerals). And also, please tell me if you agree that the General Absolution situation put souls in danger.
I like your priorities and your suggestion that after we assure that children and teens are protected,we use the Catechism to get our nuns,priests,bishops and cardinals back to the Catholic Faith.
Before this clear and present danger when I became a "a zealot for the celibate",so to speak,I actually did copy the pertinent paragraph(s) from the catechism and just wrote a simple "I am having a hard time reconciling what you said in yesterdays class,sermon etc. with the attached".I found it to be very effective.It takes the personal opinion out of the debate and places the perpetrator on the defensive which is not their usual positon and they find it very uncomfortable.What is even more interesting is that every once in a while a "transgressor" has responded with a "thanks,I did not even realize that".
I believe that "all things work for good for those who love God",and that for many this crisis will result in a great leap in the knowledge and understanding of our faith leading to a greater,more active commitment to Jesus Christ.
I think we can do something similar with the text of the Holy Father's statements at the beginning of their meeting in much the same way.
You forgot Deacons.
The reason I forgot to mention Deacons is that in all the parishes I've attended in all my life (I'm 42) none of them ever had a Deacon - so I've never been exposed to one.
Just heard here that Cardinal Law is out of here in June... it is on the radio.
God calls all sorts of people to his service and He makes use of the civility of one and the rough manner of another.
I think our model in seeking cleansing of the Church should be St. Catherine of Siena IMO because she was a lay woman, a 3rd order Dominican, and did not flinch when God called on her to speak the truth to Pope, cardinals, clergy, politicians, laity. She also never lost sight of the dignity that attends the office of Pope, bishop, priest, deacon, religious. She raised high the standard and called to individuals in those offices to live up to the high calling of Christ Crucified and Risen.
God has raised him up as Cardinal for this hour -- I pray Cardinal George will go boldly forward in the apostolic grace and power to rid the Church of the devil's minions. I pray the Cardinal will be part of the great pruning of the Church so that an incredible flowering of true faith may follow.
Gods Charity is freely given to all. One who has Gods charity loves all men, period. It may be that a man needs to be spoken harshly to, but it is always done to improve the man, for his benefit, or for the protection of others, not to spew cheap insults and raise the rhetorical level. This reads more like a Judicial Watch fundraising letter than a letter seeking to improve the Church."...is not the mark of a man with Christ's charity in him."Charity should be bestowed only where it is due. Jesus Himself, on occasion, used far stronger words than Brady does. "Generation of vipers" comes to mind.
patent +AMDG
Can you tell me some things that he has actually done that are meritorious, in your opinion, for holding firm to the faith?Ill give you one example. He was invited to speak before one of the umbrella groups for gay Catholics. He got up and promptly started lecturing them about the Catholic view of homosexuality, right down the line. You may not like that he hasnt shut enough of these groups down, but he clearly holds firm to the faith, and is not afraid to speak it.
patent +AMDG
patent
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