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Bishop McGrath is probably still in shock over the release of Redemptionis Sacramentum . |
Posted on 03/10/2005 1:07:05 PM PST by Canticle_of_Deborah
Abortion Laws “Protect” Bishop from Rosary Praying Catholics
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath presides over the Catholic diocese of San Jose, California, located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. This is, arguably, one of the most liberal areas in the United States. Thus, one would presuppose that a faithful Catholic bishop in this locale would be kept very busy speaking out on the great moral conflicts dividing our country and infecting the spiritual lives of Catholics. The violations of the natural law in this area such as abortion, homosexual "marriage," and the gruesome experimentation on human embryos and aborted babies, including the euphemistically mislabeled “Stem Cell research” are notorious. The local political and media establishments regularly engage in the justification of these evils. Thus, one would believe the bishop of the San Jose diocese would have ample opportunity to publicly exercise his teaching office on these matters.
Curiously, however, in the winter of 2004 when the "Catholic" Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, was "marrying" same-sex couples by the thousands, Bishop McGrath was strangely silent as he has been on all the above mentioned issues. Nevertheless, while this controversy was in full swing Bishop McGrath did find time to write an Op-Ed piece in the San Jose Mercury News, a week before the release of the Mel Gibson blockbuster, The Passion of the Christ, to offer some reflections on a movie which he admitted he had not seen. His February 19th, 2004 published comments, in a secular newspaper, were a pathetic attempt to denigrate the movie. The article was entitled, It's a Movie, not History, with a subtitle that read, Whatever the 'Passion Message,’ the Church Renounces Anti-Semitism. Obviously, one does not expect a Catholic bishop to grovel before Christophobes, especially in a secular paper whose editorial board had solemnly pronounced this wonderful movie "anti-Semitic." But, Catholics became even more enraged when Bishop McGrath took things a step further. In his opening remarks, he wrote:
"While the primary source material of the film is attributed to the four gospels, these sacred books are not historical accounts of the historical events that they narrate. They are theological reflections upon the events that form the core of Christian faith and belief." (Emphasis Added)
The Catholic Church has always, clearly and infallibly, taught that the Holy Scriptures are historical accounts and has condemned the proposition that they are mere theological reflections.
(See Pope St. Pius X's Decree "Lamentabili Sane, The Syllabus of Errors" Condemning the Errors of the Modernists, specifically #'s 3,16, 29, & 36).
How could a Bishop not know this? Furthermore, why would he feel the need to deny the historical truth of the Four Gospels to make an "ecumenical" point in a secular newspaper?
The St. Joseph's Men Society (www.StJosephsMen.com) wrote to his Excellency on February 29th, 2004 soliciting a response to their firm but respectful request that Bishop McGrath publicly retract the offending sentences. His statement had caused a great scandal and confusion, not only among faithful Catholics, but also among those non-Catholics who affirm the historical truth of the Gospels. In their letter, the SJMS pointed out that in paragraph 19 of The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum), solemnly promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on November 18th, 1965, it states:
“Holy Mother Church has firmly and with absolute constancy held, and continues to hold, that the four Gospels just named, whose historical character the Church unhesitatingly asserts, faithfully hand on what Jesus Christ, while living among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation until the day He was taken up into heaven (see Acts 1:1).”
So important is the above statement that the Church saw fit to quote it again in section #126 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
In the letter, the St. Joseph’s Men asked, "How can your published opinion in the public forum of the San Jose Mercury News possibly be reconciled with the constant and unchanging Teaching of Holy Mother Church affirming the historicity of the Gospels?"
As of the date of this writing (February 2005) there has been no response from the bishop to the SJMS.
Since no response was forthcoming, [and the Bishop's chancery officials had indicated a response would not be given], the St. Joseph's Men Society and a coalition of faithful Catholic groups organized a public Rosary Procession in a downtown San Jose park on Saturday May 1st, 2004. The purpose of the procession was to honor the Blessed Mother, in her month of May, to honor St. Joseph in the city that bears his name, and to honor the office of the local Bishop, presently held by Patrick J. McGrath. Before the procession - attended by over 500 Catholics - Catholic apologist Gerry Matatics publicly pleaded with the Bishop to retract his published error and urged everyone to pray for His Excellency in respect for his apostolic office. Still, there was no response from the Bishop.
As a gesture of goodwill during Christmastide 2004, the President of the St. Joseph's Men Society, Anthony Gonzales, sent a respectful letter to the Bishop letting him know that Catholic families were praying for His Excellency. He followed this letter up with several phone calls attempting to make an appointment with the Bishop to, respectfully and amicably, discuss this and other important issues affecting the diocese. Still, there has been no response from the Bishop.
As February 19th, 2005 approached - the one year anniversary of the Bishop's published denial of the historical truth of the Gospels - the St. Joseph's Men Society issued a flier urging Catholics and others of goodwill to join them in a holy hour of prayer for the Bishop on that day. The flier was widely distributed and during the week prior to the prayer rally, Anthony Gonzales was called by Captain Ken Ferguson of the San Jose Police Department to inform him that a member of the San Jose City Council had contacted them complaining that a local ordinance prohibiting picket signs and the distribution of literature in front of a residential home was being violated. The captain informed Mr. Gonzales that while people could pray in front of the Bishop's home they could not hold signs within 300' of the property or pass out literature. Mr. Gonzales ensured that members of the group complied with the ordinance and about 30 faithful Catholics prayed the Rosary, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, and the Stations of the Cross in front of the Bishop's residence on Saturday, February 19th, 2005, in the presence of four SJPD squad cars. The officers were very friendly and clearly marked-off where one could hold signs or pass out literature 300' away from the property. They also confirmed the history of the ordinance.
The San Jose City Council enacted the ordinance outlawing “targeted” residential picketing twelve years ago. What prompted them to do such a thing? Well, it was designed to prevent local pro-lifers from exposing abortionists to their neighbors by carrying signs in front of their homes. Thus, the Bishop of San Jose, California, threatened to use local pro-abortion “bubble laws” to "protect" him from members of his Catholic flock who are praying the Rosary for his immortal soul. Bishop McGrath was silent during the last election year on the subject of pro-abortion "Catholics" sacrilegiously receiving Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. He was conspicuously absent from the January 22, 2005 "Walk for Life West Coast," held in San Francisco, where 7000 pro-life activists along with three California bishops marched in defense of life. Now he is using laws favoring abortionists to prevent others from discovering exactly why faithful Roman Catholics are praying for him.
One faithful Catholic, who wished to remain anonymous, asked, "Does the Bishop hate free speech and the Truth?"
It is a good question to ask him, but you cannot ask it on a sign in front of his mansion nor in a letter, or on the telephone.
Patrick J. McGrath must be a very busy California Bishop, indeed!
"The Catholic Church has always, clearly and infallibly, taught that the Holy Scriptures are historical accounts and has condemned the proposition that they are mere theological reflections. "
Not true with the story of Creationism. Catholic Church has no issues with basic evolutionary theory, in contrast to the 'historical accounts' of the Bible.
But that's a different topic for a different thread, I suppose.
Ping!
San Jose Bishop McGrath battles Catholics in his refusal to recant his heresy. Pictures available at the link. Sorry I can't get them to display.
I was meaning to call Doug today. Brad Daicus is in town.
Seems from the paragraphs of Lamentabili Sane that were cited and para. 126 of the CCC the writer would have been more precise in saying 'the Gospels' rather than 'Holy Scriptures' which certainly most persons would take to mean the whole of Scripture.
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Bishop McGrath is probably still in shock over the release of Redemptionis Sacramentum . |
While I applaud the effortsd of these faithful Catholics - they might also consider establishing a regular picket at the Chancery office, and/or at the Cathedral - on Sundays, or perhaps at times when it is known that the Bishop is going to say mass.
Keep up the peaceful picketing and saying of the rosary. It will drive him nuts, if it is persistant!
Just for the record, here's one Catholic who thinks Darwin's evolution is a fairy tale for adults.
"Not true with the story of Creationism. Catholic Church has no issues with basic evolutionary theory, in contrast to the 'historical accounts' of the Bible."
That is not the case. This Pope's recent ambiguous comments on evolution have no more validity or "binding power" for Catholics, than if he had said "McDonalds burgers taste better than KFC burgers."
His teaching authority extends to matters of faith and morals, and beyond that remit his opinion has no more validity than yours or mine. He also has no power or authority to change the deposit of faith that has been delivered once by the saints.
The last authoritative teaching (rather than a speech to an eclectic gathering of adherents of the Darwinian myth) by a Pope about evolutionary theory, was by Pius XII - and he was negative.
The only authoritative teaching to come out of Rome over the last 100 years about the Genesis accounts of creation and the fall has been to say that they must be accepted as historical.
For the record I am also a Catholic who is totally opposed to the ideology of macro-evolution. The Pope can say what he wants about it - I am free to totally disagree with him and still remain a loyal Catholic.
"While the primary source material of the film is attributed to the four gospels, these sacred books are not historical accounts of the historical events that they narrate. They are theological reflections upon the events that form the core of Christian faith and belief."
Poor man - he sounds like a spiritual corpse.
The need for such rationalization probably comes from some overwhelming personal guilt. He feels the need to distance himself from Gospel truth - it is much more comfortable and less challenging if it is only "theological reflections".
I reckon its either fingers in the till, or its pederasty.
And I am another one. If you consider that Adam and Eve were created in a state far more perfect than our inherited fallen nature it seems to me that man must have devolved from that point, if anything.
Don't forget the poor souls he shepherds. They have a bishop who has lost his faith, if he ever had any.
" Don't forget the poor souls he shepherds. They have a bishop who has lost his faith, if he ever had any."
That's exactly right, what about those poor souls? Will the next infallible Pope of Rome, the Vicar of Christ on Earth, leave this guy, and so many others, where he is? The present occupant of the Chair of Peter hasn't done anything. Certainly there's no way for the laity or the clergy to rise up and rid themselves of this man and his hierarchial fellow travelers. At the rate things are going, the Roman Church will be right where ECUSA is within a generation, maybe sooner.
The bad news for Catholics in San Jose is that this bishop is only 59 years old, so they are stuck with him for another 15+ years.
Retirement age is 75. The pope can send a co-adjutor to a diocese any time he wishes, but they are almost always ignored or marginalized, and the bad bishop continues to go about his merry way.
Down here in Los Angeles, we're a little more fortunate. We have only 5 years and 354 days of suffering left until our cardinal turns 75, and is shown the door (I hope and pray).
My sympathies for all the good & devout Catholics of CA who are under such bad episcopal leadership.
But I am reminded of the saying of a famous Marxist leader, who said: "a single bullet can do more good then a million votes".
Of course the comment made in post #16 does not in anyway reflect my personal opinion - as I am not in favor of anarchy or any type of violence. Remember - they are not my words.
Rather, I am personally in favor of lawful & peaceful protest of the laity - to which they have a right.
It's worse than that (though you probably already know), his flock is expected to be in communion with him, and not being in communion with him produces ugly results.
I do understand the need for obedience and I understand that lack of such can lead to anarchy, but that only works if a strong hand can come in and intervene in such cases like this.
This bishop needs to be told in no uncertain terms, repent and retract or we'll remove you. The sheep can be as obedient as possible, but they need to be fed, and they can't be fed contaminated cibs such as these.
When I was Anglican, "bishops" like this one were termed by Christians as episcopagans. To me, this McGrath is a catholipagan. By me, no difference.
How much obedience is owed to a bishop that openly denies the faith? Please believe I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, I'm just trying to make a point.
and not being in communion with him produces ugly results.
Not being "in communion" with the eternal faith can produce far more disastrous and eternal results for those who continue to give obedience to this bishop.
I read a story somewhere that during the Arian heresy the faithful would drain the public baths after a heretical bishop had used it, lest anyone be tainted by their heresy. We have a duty and a responsibility not to give our obedience to those who would lead us astray.
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Upon the retirement of Bishop Pierre DuMaine on November 27, 1999, Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath became the second bishop of San Jose. Bishop McGrath was born June 11, 1945 in Dublin, Ireland where he attended Catholic schools of the Sisters of the Holy Faith and Marist Fathers. He entered St. John Seminary, Waterford, Ireland in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in Waterford June 7, 1970 for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. In 1977 he earned his doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. In 1979, Bishop McGrath became Officialis of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and was appointed Rector and Pastor of Saint Mary Cathedral in 1986. Ordained Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco on January 25, 1989, he then served the Archdiocese as Vicar for Clergy, Moderator of the Curia and Vicar for Parishes. On June 30, 1998 he was named by Pope John Paul II to be Coadjutor to the Bishop of the Diocese of San Jose and was formally received into the diocese at a Mass of Welcome on September 17, 1998.