Posted on 10/13/2015 5:57:45 PM PDT by markomalley
Even as Pope Francis and Catholic leaders from around the world debate ways to make the Catholic Church more inclusive, Newark Archbishop John Myers has given his priests strict guidelines on refusing Communion to Catholics who, for example, support gay marriage or join an organization that rejects Church teaching.
In the two-page memo, Myers also orders parishes and Catholic institutions not to host people or organizations that disagree with the Church.
He says Catholics, “especially ministers and others who represent the Church, should not participate in or be present at religious events or events intended to endorse or support those who reject or ignore Church teaching and Canon Law.”
The new rules could raise eyebrows, given that Francis is currently leading a high-level Vatican summit, called a synod, where he and some 270 bishops are debating whether to let divorced and remarried Catholics receive Communion, and how to be more welcoming to cohabiting and gay couples whose lives don’t conform to Catholic teaching.
The guidelines could also up the ante for the coming election season, when Catholic candidates who support abortion rights or gay rights are sometimes challenged by conservatives over whether they should receive Communion.
Myers issued these guidelines even though he is scheduled to retire next July when he turns 75, turning over the reins to Archbishop Bernard Hebda.
In 2013, Francis named Hebda a “coadjutor archbishop” — meaning he would automatically take over when Myers left office — after a series of controversies that angered many priests and parishioners in the 1.4 million-member archdiocese.
In one instance, Myers was criticized for allowing a priest — who was under court order to stay away from children — to work with youths, and in another he was criticized for using Church funds to pay for pricey renovations to a retirement home.
A spokesman for Myers said in an e-mail on Tuesday that the archbishop saw this as an opportune moment to set out the guidelines for priests in the northern New Jersey archdiocese.
“With so much being generated in the media with regard to issues like same-sex unions and such, this memo about ensuring that Catholic teaching is adhered to in all situations — especially with regard to the use of diocesan properties and facilities — seemed appropriate,” James Goodness, a spokesman for Myers, said.
The memo is titled “Principles to Aid in Preserving and Protecting the Catholic Faith in the Midst of an Increasingly Secular Culture.” It is dated Sept. 22 and was sent to priests this week, according to a source who provided a copy to Religion News Service.
In the memo, Myers writes: “The Church will continue to cherish and welcome her members and invite them to participate in her life to the degree that their personal situation permits them honestly to do so.
“Catholics,” he continues, “must be in a marriage recognized as valid by the Church to receive Holy Communion or the other sacraments. Non-Catholics and any Catholic who publicly rejects Church teaching or discipline, either by public statements or by joining or supporting organizations which do so, are not to receive the Sacraments.”
Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon... Every moment we live, every breath we draw increases our debt of grace to Him...
So when Christ says, "I never knew you" He's not sending anyone to Hell.
Gotcha.
“Gotcha.”
Nah; Like I said, in the West, The Church says, “Do this or you will go to Hell”. In the East, The Church says, “Do this and you will become like God.”
That single difference tells us almost everything we need to know about the two sides of the Great Schism.
Ecclesiasticus 15:14 God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel.
15:15 He added his commandments and precepts.
15:16 If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.
15:17 He hath set water and fire before thee : stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt.
15:18 Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him :
15:19 For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing.
15:20 The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.
15:21 He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no man license to sin :
15:22 For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable children.But of course, that's just the Word of God and Church Doctrine is based squarely on it.
Surely what yet another self-appointed, all-knowing, Saint on the WWW has to say must override plain Scripture, right ?
The Byzantine Emperorers (That's the Roman Empire, bogus name or not, which continued for centuries after Rome fell) appointed Eastern Patriarchs so maybe someone in Istanbul (which is built on seven hills) can appoint you schismatic folks a new Patriarch to fix everything.
We're quite happy with the one we have. I understand the last three popes are/were too. Is there something the EP needs to do to keep the overwrought common Latin herd happy, or perhaps less continually outraged?
Alas, for the sounding brass and tinkling cymbals crowd, attacking Catholics is the way they assure one another they're "just one of the guys" and no threat to whatever society doles out as virtue or truth at the moment.
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