Posted on 09/03/2009 6:57:00 AM PDT by TaxachusettsMan
Cardinal O’Malley issued a forceful defense of his decision to participate in the funeral of Senator Kennedy; revealed the substance of a conversation he had with President Obama: Catholic bishops are “anxious to support a plan for universal health care, but we will not support a plan that will include a provision for abortion or could open the way to abortions in the future.’’
But the most impassioned part of the cardinal’s blog post is a de facto plea for greater civility among Catholics when discussing divisive issues. He warned against “harsh judgments’’ and attributing “the worst motives’’ to people with whom Catholics have disagreements, saying “these attitudes and practices do irreparable damage to the communion of the Church.’’
O’Malley said he regretted Kennedy’s support for abortion rights. But “As archbishop of Boston, I considered it appropriate to represent the church at this liturgy out of respect for the senator, his family, those who attended the Mass and all those who were praying for the senator and his family at this difficult time. We are people of faith and we believe in a loving and forgiving God from whom we seek mercy.’’
Raymond Arroyo at EWTN wrote: “The prayer intercessions, endless eulogies, image of the cardinal reading prayers, and finally Cardinal McCarrick interring the remains sent an uncontested message: One may defy church teaching, publicly lead others astray, deprive innocent lives of their rights, and still be seen a good Catholic, even an exemplary one.’’
Also praise. Rev. James Martin, associate editor at America magazine, wrote, “Cardinal O’Malley’s decision to attend the funeral is large-hearted, compassionate, pastoral, sensitive and, above all, Christian.’’
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Arroyo has it exactly right.
Moreover, it is the responsibility of the Cardinal, at least through his Archdiocesan liturgy office, to give the final approval of the texts which MAY be written or adapted, and to remind the priest celebrant (a Jesuit and former president of BC) that he has NO authorization to editorialize endlessly and remove all masculine references to God from the official texts.
Might also help if he said Mass often enough to remember "Let us proclai the mystery of faith" and that it was JESUS and not God the Father who taught us the Our Father. GEEEESH. I thought the SJs went to school for years for this stuff?
Finally, God forbid that we judge, not others, but OTHERS' POSITIONS on controverted issues, about which, when pronounced upon by the Church, do not - contrary to DOCTOR Obama's proclamation at Notre Dame to the cheers of thousands of stupid Catholic students, clergy and faculty - "admit of doubt."
I wonder how much "civility" Barack Obama would have demonstrated during the slavery debates of the Civil War era, or how much "common ground" he would have been willing to seek during the Civil Rights' struggle? Aren't babies in the womb just as really human beings with rights as were the slaves?
Come to think of it, did the Church in this country, North and South, cover itself with glory during the slavery debates? What will future generations say about us on issues of life - and death?
Truth and sound doctrine exchanged for thirty pieces of silver...
Cardinal O'Malley, I'm sorry to have to remind you that on the day of judgment there will be only one voice heard. That voice will speak His ineffable truth and we're all going to need special help to get through it. We'll learn firsthand how our 'tolerance' and 'civility' has flown in the face of God's expressed Word to man.
“If any cause is motivated by judgment, anger or vindictiveness,’’ he added, “it will be doomed to marginalization and failure.’’
No judgement means total tolerance......we are being taught to tolerate the intolerable by our Catholic leaders. We’ve been warned about this in Revelations!
The Catholic Church looks to go the way of the dinosaur...
Militant
Perhaps O’Malley should be present at garbage cans behind abortion clinics to perform last rights for dead babies.
I thought the mass was very nice, with the exception of the petitions read by the children. That was a political ad.
Other than that, I was OK with most of it.
Politically, really, O’Malley had to be there.
So well said!
to the Cardinal... yada, yada, yada, Yawnnnnnnnnnnn
O’Malley exchanged truth for a lie by being there “politically”
I would like the Archbishop to tell us why his attendance at the funeral was not SCANDALOUS.
“Politically, really, O’Malley had to be there.”
No, he didn’t. He chose to be there.
Militant
catholic bishops really need to keep their noses out of this healthcare debate.
It is not a christian virtue to “redistribute” money from one group to give to another. Some might call that stealing.
It is also not a chrisitan virtue to ration healthcare.
For a bunch of folks who claim to care about the poor, the disabled, the unborn, and the elderly - they certainly wind up on the wrong side too often!
(yes - I’m a catholic)
Leni
I agree. Their chosen stance is completely unbiblical.
The one Catholic who played a memorable role in the pre-Civil War debates over slavery was Roger Taney, Chief Justice of the United States, in the Dred Scott decision.
I don't think the Catholic hierarchy spoke out against slavery, but it isn't a matter that I have done any research on.
People who are offended by masculine references to God should support a return to the use of Latin--the references would still be masculine but they wouldn't know what was being said so it wouldn't offend them.
Cardinals, by definition, are political - especially in an archdiocese like Boston.
He’s campaigning to remain a popular cardinal. As long as he lives, that will never end.
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