Catholic Bishop of St. George in Canton Speaks

Conservative Cronical | Rev. Michael Botean

[philosofy123]

CatholiA Good Shepherd Instructs His Flock

From the Most Reverend John Michael Botean, Bishop of the Romanian Catholic Eparchy of St. George in Canton:

Because such a moment of moral crisis has arisen for us, beloved Romanian Catholics, I must now speak to you as your bishop. Please be aware that I am not speaking to you as a theologian or as a private Christian voicing his opinion, nor by any means am I speaking to you as a political partisan. I am speaking to you solely as your bishop with the authority and responsibility I, though a sinner, have been given as a successor to the apostles on your behalf. I am speaking to you from the deepest chambers of my conscience as your bishop, appointed by Jesus Christ in his Body, the Church, to help shepherd you to sanctity and to heaven. Never before have I spoken to you in this manner, explicitly exercising the fullness of authority Jesus Christ has given his Apostles "to bind and to loose," ( cf . John 20:23), but now "the love of Christ compels" me to do so (2 Corinthians 5:14). My love for you makes it a moral imperative that I not allow you, by my silence, to fall into grave evil and its incalculable temporal and eternal consequences.

Humanly speaking, I would much prefer to keep silent. It would be far, far easier for me and my family simply to let events unfold as they will, without commentary or warning on my part. But what kind of shepherd would I be if I, seeing the approach of the wolf, ran away from the sheep ( cf . John 10:12-14)? My silence would be cowardly and, indeed, sinful. I believe that Christ, whose flock you are, expects more than silence from me on behalf of the souls committed to my protection and guidance.

Therefore I, by the grace of God and the favor of the Apostolic See Bishop of the Eparchy of St. George in Canton, must declare to you, my people, for the sake of your salvation as well as my own, that any direct participation and support of this war against the people of Iraq is objectively grave evil, a matter of mortal sin. Beyond a reasonable doubt this war is morally incompatible with the Person and Way of Jesus Christ. With moral certainty I say to you it does not meet even the minimal standards of the Catholic just war theory. Thus, any killing associated with it is unjustified and, in consequence, unequivocally murder. Direct participation in this war is the moral equivalent of direct participation in an abortion. For the Catholics of the Eparchy of St. George, I hereby authoritatively state that such direct participation is intrinsically and gravely evil and therefore absolutely forbidden.

http://www.stjosephsbyz.org/lent.htm

[The Grammarian]

Good thing I'm not a Roman(ian) Catholic.

[wideawake]

Whatever. He has no such authority to bind the consciences of Catholics in this matter.

Only the Pope can speak ex cathedra on a matter concerning morals.

Georgie is speaking above his pay grade. He needs counseling for his megalomania.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Please, let's not go there...I just went through 2 days of flaming...

[thinktwice]

I am a product of Catholic education, and I've witnessed the change in that religion.

It is despicable.

[wideawake]

This guy is claiming an authority for himself which he does not possess.

As a grammarian, you well know that in the Scriptural passage the bishop is invoking, the "whatsoever you shall bind on earth" uses "you" in the plural, according to the Greek.

Christ is addressing, from the Catholic point of view, the bishops as a body, not as individuals.

Georgie here has no Scriptural or magisterial warrant to go off half-cocked, declaring things to be sins of his own authority.

[sinkspur]

This thing's gonna be over in a couple of weeks, and these perfumed prelates are still wringing their hands.

Zip it, bish.

[NavyCaptain]

Well, it is be a motal sin, then here's to a glorious mortal sin!

[NYer]

Therefore I, by the grace of God and the favor of the Apostolic See Bishop of the Eparchy of St. George in Canton, must declare to you, my people, for the sake of your salvation as well as my own, that any direct participation and support of this war against the people of Iraq is objectively grave evil, a matter of mortal sin.

Oh this guy has gone too far!! There are many catholics fighting on the frontline. I hope they are spared this "homily".

[Steve_Seattle]

Romanian Catholic

I don't think this is a mis-print. There are Eastern Rite churches that are in union with the pope but technically aren't Roman Catholic. There is a Byzantine Rite church in union with the pope but which has their own liturgy and priesthood. Their episcopal units are called eparchies, not diocese, as in the Roman Catholic church.

[Salvation]

Shouldn't this be posoted in the Religion Forum?

[Salvation]

**Good thing I'm not a Roman(ian) Catholic.**

And you claim to be__________________??????

[Ebenezer]

Not even the Pope, in his opposition to the war, has gone this far!

I wonder if there are Romanian Catholics serving in the military and, if so, how they feel about the statements of this bishop who has practically condemned them to eternal damnation.

[wideawake]

My brother is one of those Catholics in the warzone.

This so-called bishop, who makes such a flamboyant display of his alleged humility, is arrogating to himself prerogatives which he does not possess.

I will point out that he has jurisdiction over fewer than 5,000 Catholic believers, less than 20 clergy and is breaking ranks without consulting his peers or his boss.

[philosofy123]

I like that, ZIP IT!!!!

[philosofy123]

"Georgie is speaking above his pay grade"

Good one!

[eastsider]

Ah, for the glory days of In Hoc Signo Vinces.

[asformeandformyhouse]

Hey John, ever stop to think that this war MIGHT be a providential means to increase the spread of the gospel into Iraq? Or that this MIGHT be the answer to a lot of prayers from Assyrian Christians? Or are these possibilites no longer important to you?

[Robe]

I too am a product of a Roman Catholic upbringing and education, I left the Church many ,many years ago. I now attend an Episcopal Church.
Last Sunday, during a sermon, the pastor started in on this same line.
I got up and left..half way down the aisle... he said.. “Why are you leaving ,have I offended you?”...
I turned and said "Yes you have, you have no right to use this pulpit for political purpose.... Once the sword has been unsheathed the time to pray for peace is over, it's now time pray for Victory. It's time for a rousing chorus of "Onward Christian Soldiers"
And I left....I may or not return

[hilaryrhymeswithrich]

Most Reverend John Michael Botean, DD
Bishop for the Romanian Byzantine Faithful of the United States.
Ordained May 18, 1986
Appointed July 15, 1993
Episcopal Ordination August 24, 1996

Diocesan Office: PO Box 7189, Canton Ohio 44705-0189
Telephone: (330) 493-9355
Fax: (330) 493-9963