Posted on 12/16/2005 6:39:40 PM PST by Petrosius
Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church incorrigible sinners, and to look upon such as refuse to hear the church as heathens. He promises to his disciples the power of binding and loosing: and that he will be in the midst of their assemblies. No forgiveness for them that will not forgive.
1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, 3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
6 But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. 8 And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
6 "Shall scandalize"... That is, shall put a stumblingblock in their way, and cause them to fall into sin.
7 "It must needs be"... Viz., considering the wickedness and corruption of the world.
8 "Scandalize thee"... That is, cause thee to offend.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? 13 And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
16 And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. 17 And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. 18 Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
20 "There am I in the midst of them"... This is understood of such assemblies only as are gathered in the name and authority of Christ; and in unity of the church of Christ. St. Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae.
*And now you know...the REST of the story
I thought St. Louis was a great place to be Catholic. Very orthodox.
Oh my!
find it...interesting...that he never once refers to Scripture but instead enumerates organizational 'laws'.>>
That's because he is by definition not a heretic but a Successor to the Apostles with the authority given unto him and all his apostolic predecessors and successors by Jesus Christ personally while he was on earth to make such binding decrees upon all men.
Next question?
Prayers for this priest and the parishioners.
Even orthodox areas can have heterodox people...
Having attempted to address the situation through fraternal correction and other means of pastoral solicitude, including the pastoral visit of the Most Reverend Ryszard Karpinski, auxiliary bishop of Lublin in Poland and the delegate of the Polish Conference of Bishops for Polish faithful living outside their homeland ...
The Archbishop left no stone unturned, even arranging for this pastoral visit. This parish has acted out of willful defiance. Through sheer pride and arrogance, they have forfeited all and gained nothing.
How painful for any bishop to declare a parish in schism and issue a writ of excommunication against a beloved priest and community. How much more so during Advent as we prepare for the joyous birth of our Lord.
These folks are not thinking with a clear mind. It's a building! It could burn down tomorrow and then where will they be? What will they do when this priest dies? I suppose they have the option of aligning themselves with the Polish National Church but that just seals the schism.
There is more to hit the fan soon...this FR post from Poland
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=1533034%2C17 alleges dismissal from two seminaries in Poland for homosexual activities...no proof but a very reliable personal source here in Springfield acknowledges that these allegations were known here...same post gives a link to the GLBT website of "supporters". I know all the involved individuals in the Springfield Diocese very well including Fr. Mark. He is a very good man, misguided and in need of prayer... This is causing folks here to take up the banner of one side or the other..most do not know the facts about St. Stan..I for one applaud Archbishop Burke for his stance.
Ravens70
I've seen this before. A local parish temporarily lost its assigned priest. The Parish Council took over the Church. When a new priest was later permanently assigned, a huge conflict ensued over whose parish it was. Those "in charge", left.
We - the sin of pride at work.
Leibrecht wrote, "Father Marek Bozek has gone from ordination to excommunication in three short years. This descent has taken place because he has not remained a man of his word. On ordination day, he promised publicly before all assembled that he would give his life to the people of southern Missouri in full cooperation with his bishop. That has not happened. Instead, division and schism in the Church has taken place."
Bishop Leibrecht, this man should have never been ordained. I would like to know why he was.
This guy has a history of closing parishes - he's a crusader who reminds me of Arne Carlson's desire to close small public schools (regardless of their financial situation). He also apparently accepted the presence of a transgendered "nun" in his old diocese.
There are always two sides. After reading the archbishop's letter, I thought the parishoners were wrong and deserved what they got -- but now I see that the archbishop is being dishonest in his letter. It's not about submission to him or the diocese -- it's about closing a parish...plain and simple.
He only needs one Scripture reference: "who hears you, hears Me". But the part about a dog returning to its vomit from 2 Peter might also work.
Amen to that.
Are you a Puritan? Does material wealth prove God's approval for what you do?
These persons appealed to Rome and lost the appeal. They have decided to split off from the Church. The English split off and now they are ordaining openly homosexual men as bishops, blessing homosexual actions as morally equal to the marriage act. Methodists have a homosexual bishop.
It's just what happens when a group drifts off from apostolic teaching authority.
Not without provocation, and expressed more as a suggestion than an imperative.
Rudeness clings, and is responded-to in-kind.
Good. Bye.
Merry Christmas
I have very good memories of times I visited & attended Catholic churches. But this kind of story makes the purpose of Protestantism clear.
What I see as the key question is: Do average people require the service of intercessory humans (i.e., a specific organized church, its saints, prophets, etc.) to get closer to God? My answer: no.
Having said the above, it's always good to around people who want to be close to God. And many/most churches are trying to serve that purpose.
I wonder what you reaction would have been if the Corinthians had written back to Paul and said, "don't tell us what to do. We can get along very well without you" ?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.