The U.S. Bishops Have Become Strangers To Their Flocks

The Wanderer Press ^ | May 30, 2002 | MIRIAM DAPRA

[ex-snook]

What has happened? When was that moral authority lost? I do not know; a specific date certainly cannot be pinned down. It is, perhaps, not all that necessary to find out when your moral authority was lost, although it is important to find out how it was lost, in order to regain it. If I, a lowly layman with no credentials (other than being a cradle Catholic and having stayed in the Church despite grave misgivings at times about the actions of some of her priests), have been so bold as to quote canon law to you (in what will undoubtedly be seen as an attempt to tell you how to do your job), may I also be so bold as to suggest some ways to regain your authority (in other words, to tell you how to do your job)?

What would you suggest?

[maryz]

Let me know if The Wanderer wants to collect signatures joining in their endorsement for forwarding to the Bishops (cc to the Pope, naturally).

[sinkspur]

A few weeks ago, The Wanderer published a front-page editorial calling upon the Holy Father to appoint a papal legate to the United States to begin cleaning the Augean stables of the U.S. Church.

I have to laugh at this "papal legate" foolishness.

It is THE VATICAN showing the most resistance to a zero tolerance policy.

It is THE VATICAN which questions the need to turn each and every offender over to civil authorities.

We'd be better off if the Vatican simply allowed the bishops to implement a zero tolerance policy, forward and backward.

The idea that the pope has any inclination to start firing bishops is absurd.

[ex-snook]

"It is THE VATICAN showing the most resistance to a zero tolerance policy. "

I'm in the dark about this. Got any links? thanks,

[uncbob]

As long as the bishops have legal ownership of the school systems which the laity depend on there isn't much the laity can do. Unless they want to send their kids to the pathetic public school system

[maryz]

"It is THE VATICAN showing the most resistance to a zero tolerance policy. "

You can try Bad News from Rome for starters.

[epluribus_2]

that was based on American Bishop pressure - the Vatican wanted to fire them all.

[maryz]

The proposed letter to the Pope from the bishops would fit right in with your idea.

[maryz]

that was based on American Bishop pressure - the Vatican wanted to fire them all.

Do you have inside sources? Or are you speculating? Or assuming that the Vatican would naturally want to do what the rest of want to?

[ArrogantBustard]

there isn't much the laity can do.

Like heck there isn't.

[ex-snook]

Thanks, I checked out the link. It was sort of an 'inside baseball' report. But has the Vatican officially said anything publicly? Probably a good number of the Bishops have been appointed during the watch of current Rome leaders. But who is making the recommendations needs to be answered.

The Jesus teaching that the greatest are to serve rather than be served, should be reborn in the hierarchy.

[epluribus_2]

The news reports from the summit focused on tensions between Vatican hardliners who wanted the US to clean up or else and American bishops who pleaded for a chance to fix things themselves rather than having it imposed from Rome, avoiding further scandal. The US bishops don't get it, have'nt gotten it for a very long time. The Church is still a sacred place but not in my country, sad to say. Freaks like to say this happens all over but in Mexico, Poland, etc. Christ's church is living pretty close to home and would not permit this kind of heresy, let alone the other political kinds that we've suffered over here for my lifetime.

[Siobhan]

I think we need to do whatever we can.

ASSEMBLING UNDER A CLOUD

[Tacis]

"The U.S. Bishops Have Become Strangers To Their Flocks"

Well, of course! It comes from priests "interacting" with choir boys and altar boys as the shepherd does with his sheep.

[maryz]

Probably a good number of the Bishops have been appointed during the watch of current Rome leaders. But who is making the recommendations needs to be answered.

I think quite a few bishops most deeply involved were appointed by Paul VI (but raised to cardinals by John Paul II). As I understand it, the American bishops are proposed to the Pope by the miscreants in the National Council of Catholic Bishops -- someone on another thread gave the numbers, and there are just too many for the Pope to know personally; the recommendations are generally accepted and acted upon.

[yendu bwam]

"The U.S. Bishops Have Become Strangers To Their Flocks"

I have come to the conclusion that a great many bishops and priests in my Church are actually evil men. And a great many more are active sinners who show not the slightest inclination to repent for their sins. It is not just the smoke of Satan that has seeped into the Church, but Satan's own pride and love of sexual depravity (and the misery that inevitably accompanies it). A battle needs to be fought, and a goodly number of our Church leaders and priests are the enemy. They have turned the American Catholic Church into the Church of Sodom.

[Irene Adler]

"I have come to the conclusion that a great many bishops and priests in my Church are actually evil men. And a great many more are active sinners who show not the slightest inclination to repent for their sins."

Unfortunately, I share your belief but about my own denomination, the Episcopal Church. You have a at least a good shot at cleaning house, but we will not, I fear.

[ex-snook]

"A battle needs to be fought, "

Fortunately I do not know the priests that fit your description. But the matter is out in the open, so let the games begin. Too many Bishops, down-sizing is in order. A remnant will survive and restore. "But above all things, Truth beareth away the victory."

[sinkspur]

Freaks like to say this happens all over but in Mexico, Poland, etc. Christ's church is living pretty close to home and would not permit this kind of heresy, let alone the other political kinds that we've suffered over here for my lifetime.

Hide and watch. Of course, in Mexico, a large number of the priests live in open concubinage, but at least they're messing around with adult women.

[Domestic Church]

"As long as the bishops have legal ownership of the school systems which the laity depend on there isn't much the laity can do. Unless they want to send their kids to the pathetic public school system"

There is something they can do....Catholic Home Education and Catholic Co-operative Education...the time is Now!!!!