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The National Survey of Priests Suggests a Deep Crisis in Catholic Theology
Catholic World Report ^ | 12/28/22 | Msgr. Thomas G. Guarino

Posted on 12/29/2022 6:25:29 PM PST by marshmallow

Given their abrupt suspension of accused priests, the bishops have eroded the theological density of the sacrament of Holy Orders. By so doing, they have undermined the very deposit of faith they seek to protect and transmit.

A few weeks ago, the Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America released the results of a massive survey of Catholic priests in the United States. Priests interviewed numbered 3,500 from 191 American dioceses.

Predictably—at least for those who have been paying attention—the results constitute a biting indictment of the American episcopacy. The most prominent finding of the survey is that a majority of priests do not trust their own bishops—and, shockingly, only 24% of priests trust the US episcopacy in general. In other words, the bond between priests and their putative “fathers” and “brothers” is badly corroded. Even worse, bishops are largely unaware of the decay, with over 90% claiming they are very helpful to priests dealing with personal struggles. In fact, only 36% of diocesan priests think that bishops care about their difficulties, with one man summing it up, “We’ve been saying for a decade now that bishops see their priests as liabilities.”

Why this stinging critique of the US episcopacy? As the study points out, there is tremendous anxiety among priests because of the way the Dallas Charter has been implemented. While priests acknowledge that the abuse crisis needed to be addressed—and addressed vigorously—most believe that the implementation of the Charter has been disastrous. Many priests have been removed from ministry upon accusation—with no concrete evidence against them and without even a brief investigation. And when dealing with their priests, bishops are now as deeply “lawyered up” as any corporate CEO.

Accused priests, on the other hand, no matter how many decades of untarnished service they have rendered to.......

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicworldreport.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Theology
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 12/29/2022 6:25:29 PM PST by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Vatican II has helped this situation progress.


2 posted on 12/29/2022 6:34:08 PM PST by chopperk
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To: marshmallow

That’s the problem...
It should follow Biblical Theology and not catholic...


3 posted on 12/29/2022 6:41:02 PM PST by Pez149 (Time to stop saying a theory is fact....)
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To: marshmallow; Al Hitan; Fedora; irishjuggler; Jaded; kalee; markomalley; miele man; Mrs. Don-o; ...

Ping


4 posted on 12/29/2022 7:00:58 PM PST by ebb tide
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To: marshmallow

No problem with Catholic theology. Huge problems with modernist theology- the synthesis of all heresies..


5 posted on 12/29/2022 7:56:00 PM PST by rmichaelj (Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum.)
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To: Pez149

“ It should follow Biblical Theology and not catholic...”

Absolutely correct!

The Roman Catholic Cult is nothing more than an evil church led by Satan’s favorite puppet (the Pope) who parades around pretending he is equal with God and convincing gullible non-discerning seekers of God that only his ordained priest can ask God for forgiveness of your sins, that idol worship is fine, that Mary should be idolized, worshipped and prayed to, and that anything the Roman Catholic Cult says should be taken as the truth no matter if it goes against the Bible. Anyone who is following that evil cult is following it straight to the lake of fire.


6 posted on 12/29/2022 8:17:39 PM PST by TonyM (Score Event)
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To: TonyM

That’s an ignorant and hateful rant. I hope you get over your bitterness.


7 posted on 12/29/2022 9:00:42 PM PST by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: TonyM
(the Pope) who parades around pretending he is equal with God

I am unaware of any Pope who claimed to be equal to God.

and that anything the Roman Catholic Cult says should be taken as the truth no matter if it goes against the Bible.

I am unaware of the Catholic Church ever going "against" the Bible.

True, some of the RCC's interpretations of the Bible differs from that of other denominations. But that's another matter.

I take it you have your own interpretations of the Bible. But that's all it is. Please don't confuse your interpretations with the Bible itself.

8 posted on 12/29/2022 9:05:11 PM PST by Angelino97
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To: TonyM

If you read stuff about the Catholic Church written by people who hate Catholicism and twist the teachings of the Church, you will be filled with a hateful ignorant view of the Church.

The least you can do is to get accurate information about the teachings of the Church from actual Catholics. You will probably still disagree, but at least you will be disagreeing with what the Church actually teaches instead of malicious lies. As you are a Christian, I am sure you would want to be honest in your criticisms.


9 posted on 12/29/2022 9:32:59 PM PST by Chicory
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To: TonyM

Read, study, learn. Educate yourself and that hatred due to ignorance will be gone from you. Pax et bonum.


10 posted on 12/29/2022 9:39:13 PM PST by baldisbeautiful (Liberalism is a mental disease. )
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To: TonyM

...So you’re saying Mormons were the correct answer?


11 posted on 12/29/2022 9:42:48 PM PST by Svartalfiar
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To: TonyM

“ The Roman Catholic Cult is nothing more than an evil church”
—————
There’s plenty of rainbow churches out there that would welcome and feed your bitterness…


12 posted on 12/29/2022 10:52:29 PM PST by IncPen ("Inside of every progressive is a Totalitarian screaming to get out" ~ David Horowitz)
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To: TonyM

This sounds more like a Jack Chick tract than an actual argument.

So which Protestant denomination is the true church that we should follow then? Is it:

Mormons
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Black Israelites
Baptist
Southern Baptist
Church of Christ
Church of God
Anglican
Episcopal
Presbyterian
Methodist
Lutheran
Disciplines of Christ
Mennonite
Amish
Quakers
One of the thousands of non-denominational denominations.

Or the only church that can trace it’s origins right back to Christ and before Luther’s rebellion in 1517?


13 posted on 12/30/2022 8:24:35 AM PST by Texas_Guy
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To: Pez149

We have y’all the Bible. Why do you think there is a canon of scripture?


14 posted on 12/30/2022 8:25:21 AM PST by Texas_Guy
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To: TonyM

All I heard was “blah blah blah….hateful rant….blah blah blah.” Certainly not what I’d expect to hear from a professed Christian during Christmas Week.


15 posted on 12/30/2022 9:39:46 AM PST by Prince of Space (Let’s Go, Brandon! )
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To: marshmallow

The only solution is prayer and fasting by the laity.
Nothing else will succeed.
And too many of the laity are caught in the trap wherein politics is their creed.


16 posted on 12/31/2022 12:18:32 PM PST by Montana_Sam (Truth lives.)
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To: marshmallow

Srednik also calls everyone to prayer.

He does recommend Biblical faith and not priests dominating laity and enforcing traditional add-on doctrines not built on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. See the gospel of John for details.


17 posted on 12/31/2022 12:24:21 PM PST by Srednik (Polyglot. Overeducated. Redeemed by Christ. Anticommunist from the womb.)
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