Cardinal James Stafford
Posted on 06/02/2009 10:34:58 AM PDT by NYer
.- The Vatican announced this morning that the Pope has accepted the resignation of 77-year-old Cardinal James Francis Stafford, the former Archbishop of Denver, from his post as the Penitentiary Major. He will be replaced by Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, the current apostolic nuncio to France.
As head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Stafford has dealt with matters related to sin, mercy and forgiveness. The Penitentiary is one of the three tribunals within the Holy See, and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the granting of indulgences, while the second is dedicated to resolving sins reserved to the Pope and matters of conscience forwarded to the Holy See.
The Cardinal in charge of the Penitentiary also assists the Pope during Jubilee years and prays certain prayers with the Pope while he is dying.
Recent indulgences granted by the Penitentiary include one for participants at World Youth Day in Sydney, one for the Year of St. Paul and one for the Year of Priests.
Cardinal Stafford has also been outspoken about his view of the election of President Barack Obama.
In a speech he gave at Catholic University of America, he described Obama as "aggressive, disruptive and apocalyptic" and went on to speak about a decline in respect for human life and the need for Catholics to return to the values of marriage and human dignity.
He said this in 2008. The Cardinal might just be prophet.
Can I buy an "a"?
As head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, Cardinal Stafford has dealt with matters related to sin, mercy and forgiveness. The Penitentiary is one of the three tribunals within the Holy See, and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, is divided into two sections. The first section deals with the granting of indulgences, while the second is dedicated to resolving sins reserved to the Pope and matters of conscience forwarded to the Holy See.
Related thread:
Christ Alone: Why indulgences are still a bad idea
This should have been designated as a caucus thread. It is already being disrupted.
It is amazing that someone speaking the plain and simple truth seems remarkable.
Commenting on the results of the recent presidential election, Cardinal Stafford said on Election Day “America suffered a cultural earthquake.” The cardinal argued that President-elect Obama had campaigned on an “extremist anti-life platform” and predicted that the near future would be a time of trial.
“If 1968 was the year of America’s ‘suicide attempt,’ 2008 is the year of America’s exhaustion,” he said, contrasting the year of Humane Vitae’s promulgation with this election year.
“For the next few years, Gethsemane will not be marginal. We will know that garden,” Cardinal Stafford told his audience. Catholics who weep the “hot, angry tears of betrayal” should try to identify with Jesus, who during his agony in the garden was “sick because of love.”
The cardinal attributed America’s decline to the Supreme Court’s decisions such as the 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which imposed permissive abortion laws nationwide.
“Its scrupulous meanness has had catastrophic effects upon the unity and integrity of the American republic,” Cardinal Stafford commented, according to The Tower.
His theological remarks centered upon man’s relationship with God and man’s place in society.
“Man is a sacred element of secular life,” he said, arguing that therefore “man should not be held to a supreme power of state, and a person’s life cannot ultimately be controlled by government.”
Can't stand a little opposing thought?
Need to hide behind a wall of safety?
Brave and true, that.
This is not a theology thread; it’s about the retirement of a cardinal. Not the place for people to wander in and deface.
Free Republic: anti-Catholicism’s privileged “proper” place in cyberspace.
Need I name the usual suspects?
HINT: Look at the number and frequency of their posts. I suppose this is at least keeping them away from websites that carry felony charges with them.
Can't stand a little opposing thought?
Need to hide behind a wall of safety?
Brave and true, that.
Do you disrupt conversations at parties as well?
Maybe after getting punched out a few times, you only do it on the Internet. That's the wall of safety you hide behind.
You're pretty tough yourself there, spunky.
“Can’t stand a little opposing thought?”
Just tired of having to wade through the same old same old.
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