Posted on 04/13/2007 6:54:57 AM PDT by Frank Sheed
Two years into his reign, Pope Benedict XVI is finally poised to make a major mark on American Catholicism with a string of key bishop appointments and important decisions about the future of U.S. seminaries and bishops' involvement in politics.
Benedict's election on April 19, 2005, shook liberals and comforted conservatives who expected a doctrinal hard-liner. So far, they have found an easier hand - and someone who has not made the United States much of a priority.
When Benedict has gained attention, it has mostly been on the world stage, focusing on the re-Christianization of Europe, Islam and mending relations with Orthodox Christians. He also has stressed universal themes of faith and reason.
``The last two years have been much quieter years as far as the papacy is concerned because you have a very different personality'' than John Paul II, said Monsignor Robert Wister, chairman of the church history department at Seton Hall University's School of Theology.
``Many Americans were surprised - some happily, some disappointed - that he did not turn into the pit bull of dogma. He is taking a very pastoral approach, and I think people resonate very positively with that.''
Yet America's turn may be coming. At the top of the list is a looming generational shift among the nation's bishops, whose decisions at the local level greatly affect Catholics in the pews and can carry national weight. For instance, church leaders recently closed parishes in Boston and New York, while the St. Louis archbishop has clashed with a heavily Polish parish over control of its assets.
Key appointments are expected in New York, Baltimore and Detroit, where cardinals have reached retirement age - 75. And retirements or appointments are likely in at least seven other archdioceses...
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Got my pot all to myself... Still only have my one 48oz mug of it though...
Where’s Muster? Did I pass it on the way to Wal-mart?
Maybe I should have had a cup of corffee this moming. My brems seem to have gone walkies.
Actually, since I’m moving back North to the Frozen Tundra... a Camelback filled with hot java could serve two purposes. ;-)
Actually, since I’m moving back North to the Frozen Tundra... a Camelback filled with hot java could serve two purposes. ;-)
Our magically crap-tastic network is having connection issues again...
LIfe is like that sometimes.
Yah...where I come from, folks in our town are always told that if they go to the next town over and drink the water, they’ll end up pregnant.
So don’t drink the water unless you’ve first conditioned it with either scotch or coffee. Not necessarily in that order.
Kewl! The Coffee Pot Bunny must have paid you a visit!
If you’ve already gone to Wally World, you’ve passed Muster!
Actually, I haven’t been there yet, today. I was waiting for my treadmill repairman, but he called and said we needed a something-or-other part that’s on order, and I should call him when the part arrives.
Next I’m expecting a guy from church who needs some papers signed regarding Scouts.
I need to go to the post office and get my mail, but I keep putting it off. Maybe I’ll go tomorrow. If I really felt up to going, I would have been out of here a while ago and back by now.
So I’ll just wait one more day...*sigh*
(And this is from the gal who got up earlier on the weekends to get all her housework done so she didn’t have to mess with it after work...)
My neighbor in Tucson, who sometimes doubled as a chef, put a couple of Scouts through some cooking classes for their Merit Badges. One made it, one didn’t. The one who didn’t figured the guy would pass him just because he took the classes. NOT!!
Did you get the pictures I sent you yet?
Probably...I haven’t felt well enough to go to the post office in a week. I have to go tomorrow at the latest, as I’m expecting a couple of other things as well.
I’ll probably leave around 7:00 in the morning (it’s only a mile away!) as I’ll be up early to wash a couple of loads. I don’t feel too bad today, but I don’t want to push it. One more day of “being lazy” can make all the difference in the world in how I function on the days I need to be a lert! *snort*
Same thing happened here this morning. Dead server in the office. Actually not dead, just sleeping. Needed a swift kick.
Our mail comes to the house. When I had a post office box, we’d sometimes go several days without picking up.
I need to wrap my Dad’s birthday present and get it in the mail today ... speaking of not wanting to go to the Post Office!
I’ve had a PO box since I moved back here last June. I can get mail here, but the boxes are not very secure, so I’ll keep my PO box.
I don’t see the sense in going every day, even though it’s only a mile away. Gas prices here are stupid, and I have to budget my gas, like I do everything else. I put $X in the tank a month, and when it’s gone, I either stay home, walk or ride the bus.
At least here, things are close enough that I CAN walk! Even Wally World is only a mile away!
My daughter just called, almost frantic, asking me what the he!! was going on. *Ehhh?*
Come to find out, there’s a stand-off about a mile from here. Some whack job is playing “Macho” with the cops. My daughter knew I lived on one of the streets mentioned, and thought it was in my back yard.
(Wish you were here....)
I heard all the sirens earlier, but figured it was a hairy accident on the freeway, which is not too far from here. About a mile south and one west. It’s not on any of the local stations, yet, but I’ll check the noon news...
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