Posted on 05/28/2013 3:10:14 PM PDT by NYer
**I originally wrote this a week ago for another publication.
This past Pentecost Sunday, I sat in my pew and listened to the reading. I heard how the Apostles, our first Bishops, after receiving the Holy Spirit preached to the multitudes gathered in Jerusalem. I heard how each person, no matter their language, could clearly understand everything said. I thought to myself, what a great miracle. Some of our Bishops speak the same language as I do, but I don't understand what they are saying at all.
Last week, during a radio interview, Cardinal Dolan was asked several questions about Governor Cuomo's proposed legislation that would actively promote and further legally entrench abortion in New York State. Cardinal Dolan rightly criticized the legislation. When the interviewer asked if Governor Cuomo could still consider himself a Catholic in good standing while also promoting abortion legislation, Cardinal Dolan responded, “That’s something that I talk turkey with him about.”
A short time after the interview, Cardinal Dolan sent out his spokesman Joseph Zwilling to say the Cardinal did not mean to suggest that Cuomo would not be a Catholic in good standing if he went forward with the bill.
In response Governor Cuomo, now publicly declared a Catholic in good standing, said of abortion, Cardinal Dolan, and Church teaching "We agree to disagree, respectfully, and that is where we are.”
Yes, that is where we are.
I find it very difficult to understand Cardinal Dolan. How can Governor Cuomo, a man who has moved beyond vague support for a pro-choice position to the active promotion and legal entrenchment of abortion, a divorced man who very publicly lives with his girlfriend, and a man who obstinately and publicly disputes Church teaching with his 'agree to disagree' statements still be considered a Catholic in good standing? And why would a Cardinal of the Church go out of his way to make this clear?
In my mind, this moves way beyond any reasonable 'pastoral' approach toward the Governor and can only lead to confusion among the faithful and to further imperil the Governor's soul. To publicly declare such a man to be a Catholic in good standing, which the Cardinal's spokesman has clearly done by rejecting the opposite assertion, is the very definition of scandal.
The Gospel reading on Pentecost speaks of Jesus appearing to the Apostles in the upper room where he breathed on them saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
After hearing the words of Cardinal Dolan last week, an ordinary Catholic could surely wonder, if a man can actively promote abortion and a married man can publicly live with his girlfriend and be publicly declared a Catholic in good standing by the leading Bishop in the U.S., exactly what has not been loosed on earth?
Most disheartening, ping!
Disheartening?
Outrageous.
this is defined as "situational ethics."
Obama got well over 50% of the "Catholic Vote."
I’m not scandalized, disappointed, or disheartened. Cardinal Dolan’s actions or statements do not affect my faith in any way.
after seeing and hearing Cuomo on tv, the idea of him having a girlfriend does not compute.
Amen! And I’m a baptist...
This is exactly why I didn’t buy media reports a couple months ago that the cardinal was papabile. I don’t want to trash any of the bishops, but I am concerned that we have some with a liberal bent in prominent dioceses, and yes, it scandalizes. Doesn’t discourage me personally but disappoints me immensely. It remains to be seen if Francis addresses this kind of thing.
Perhaps not; but it will have an enormous impact on the faith of many weak Catholics––weakened, I might add, by the actions of the modernist bishops like Dolan over the past 50 years.
Without question, our first obligation is to save our own souls; but as children of God, we have an individual duty to do everything in our power to lead other souls to salvation. Ignoring the actions of a progressive bishop like Dolan while he leads so many other souls astray, simply to please the media and his sycophant liberal followers, is not very much unlike those Brits who stood by and watched those Muslim bastards butcher that poor soldier in London, IMHO.
The most charitable thing I can say about the cardinal is that there are bishops who are worse than him.
OK, I know it wasn’t very Christian of me, but that made me LOL...something I needed desperately with all the ridiculousness in our Church these days.
....After hearing the words of Cardinal Dolan last week, an ordinary Catholic could surely wonder, if a man can actively promote abortion and a married man can publicly live with his girlfriend and be publicly declared a Catholic in good standing by the leading Bishop in the U.S., exactly what has not been loosed on earth?
[In 2010:] [Cardinal Timothy Dolan]...does not outright deny the sacrament to dissenting Catholic lawmakers, but he is seen as an outspoken defender of church orthodoxy in a style favored by many theological conservatives.
-- from the thread US bishops elect NYC archbishop as head in upset (Catholic bloggers blamed)[In 2011:] Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard says it is "unfair and imprudent" to conclude that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his girlfriend, Sandra Lee, shouldn't receive Communion simply because they're living together.
-- from the thread Bishop: None of your business (Hubbard rejects Catholic expert's criticism of Gov. Cuomo)[In 2008:] Sadly, Archbishop Chaput has indicated that it is the responsibility of the communicant to stay away from the Communion Rail....
-- from the thread Will Denver Catholic Archbishop finally enforce Canon 915?[In 2009:] "...there's a question about whether this canon'' – the relevant church law – "was ever intended to be used'' to bring politicians to heel. [Archbishop Donald Wuerl] thinks not. "I stand with the great majority of American bishops and bishops around the world in saying this canon was never intended to be used this way.''
-- from the thread [Archbishop] Wuerl: Why I Won't Deny Pelosi Communion[In 2013:] Vice President Joseph R. Biden and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi both received communion during the Mass to celebrate the installation of Pope Francis in spite of their pro-choice position on abortion. The vice president’s office confirmed Tuesday night that both he and Mrs. Pelosi took communion during the Mass at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
-- from the thread Despite abortion views, Biden, Pelosi receive communion in Vatican Mass
I'm not ignoring his actions. I've read this thread. I've prayed for him to act differently.
The problem isn't Cuomo...The problem is the Cardinal...Why is it conservatives continue to accept this guy as being the head Catholic in the U.S.??? Why isn't he denounced like he shoud be??? Why does your pope(s) allow this guy to lead when he appears to be in opposition to your religion???
Thanks for posting this...
All faithful Catholics need to consider how a Bishop or Cardinal stand for Church teachings and act accordingly in anyway you feel appropriate.
I have gone from not giving money to actually challenging a priest after Mass because of what he said. He was NOT happy and we voted with our feet and found another church.
Nothing is perfect but, within reason, the Church should know how you feel.
“....Cuomo could still consider himself a Catholic in good standing while also promoting abortion legislation, Cardinal Dolan responded....”
.
Could those committing abortion also consider themselves Catholics in good standing?
The only thing that gets the attention of the RC Church is $$. Remember, it is the oldest and probably the largest, oldest most profitable multinational corporation on the planet.
Same old same old.
You are right, money does talk but I have also called my diocese about two black female elected officials in our area who are considered Catholics in good standing even though the Catholic Virginian rates them with a horrible record of supporting Catholic tenets. One of them was a lector...she isn’t anymore.
If you call and put some pressure on the diocesan administration, sometimes it works.
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