Posted on 06/05/2002 9:29:05 PM PDT by Lady In Blue
Dear Faithful Catholic,
I want to take this opportunity to encourage you not to lose heart over recent developments in the news regarding scandals in the Church,by helping tou to put the current situation into much-needed perspective.
There's no point in ignoring the fact that we are surrounded by scandal in the Church today.But there's also no point in dwelling on the obvious. Instead,I think that what we have to dwell upon is the glorious. That's why I'm writing this note and also why I'm so excited that the Catholic Resource Center is planning to give away $250,000 worth (over 10,000 copies)of my classic video presentation The Splendor of the Church.
I'm convinced that this video will show you the spiritual solution to the anger, frustration and even depression over the heartrending sex scandals that have rocked the Church!
I want you to know that our own Faith should have prepared us for today's problems.If you look at the Scriptures, the official teachings of the Church,and the writings of the Saints and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, you will see clearly what we are - and also what we're not!
We are not the Church Triumphant-heaven is!And that's what the CHurch is in Her very essence, and in Her glory.
If you really want to understand the Catholic Church, look at the heavenly communion of saints. Only then can you understand the Church Militant, that is, the Church on earth.
But if we're the Church Militant,then we are on a battlefield-and we can expect battlefield conditions!
That means there are a lot of fearful people-cowards, traitors, compromisers and the wounded-as well as a lot of heroes in the making.And like in any fierce war, there are some people who are shaking and quaking in their boots so that they can't even pull a trigger, others who are running, some who are deserting, and others who are holding the banner and charging in the face of great opposition.
One of the most tragic statistics of modern American warfare is that about 25% of casualities are due to friendly fire. It's such a terrible waste, and yet we've never really found a way to avoid it. But,in the Church we simply can't allow any casualities to be the result of "friendly fire."
Let me put it this way,I consider myself a foot soldier in the Church Militant and I don't believe in shooting at my Generals!
Today more than ever we must draw strength from the intercession of the saints and from their power.Its time we really committed ourselves tot he glorious reality that is the Splendor of the Church!
But I would say that when the battle is most fierce, that is when we should fix our eyes on the heavenly glory of the Church Triumphant. This is where we all long to be, with the Angels and teh Saints in heaven.We must always remember that they're the ones with whom we share in every Eucharistic Liturgy. As I tried to point out in my bookThe Lamb's Supperwe're surrounded by this great cloud of witnessses-we must let their cheering us on inspire us to really join their ranks.and that means heroic sanctity.
It also means we don't ignore the negative.We pray, and at the same time we show the compelling beauty of the truth of the Catholic Faith-now more than ever.
The writings of the Fathers tell us that in the early Church those who lapsed in times of persecution,temptation, and seduction were a huge problem. After all, bishops and priests were numbered among their ranks as well as ordinary lay-people. And so again we look at the weakness of the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve and recognize the need for us all to really recover the glory of the faith that we have been given-so that nobody allows scandal to obscure the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My Splendor of the Churchvideo provides much needed perspective on scandals in the Catholic Church and explains why no scandal gives us an excuse to abandon our Faith
We Catholics have the assurance of God's Word and our Secred Tradition to tell us exactly where to look to find the perfect Church, and that is the Church Triumphant-the communion of saints in heaven. And you'll be happy to know that there we find the perfect example of holiness, the inspiration of the saints, and their powerful intercession that will see us through every hard time.
Please call or writ eto request your free copy right now. You'll be glad you did.
In Christ's Peace,
Scott Hahn
PS
I want to thank the Catholic Resource Center for their leap of faith in producing this special edition ofThe Splendor of the Church.
With your help CRC will put over 10,000 faith re-building videos into the hands of the people who need it most.I urgently implore you to prayerfull consider making a generous donation to help get as many videos out there as possible.
Just call toll-free 877-526-2151
To write and/or send donations:
How about a court martial for generals who abuse their authority? Cardinal Law should not be "shot" but he should surrender his stars voluntarially or the Commander in Chief should demand them immediately!
Scott Hahn BUMP
He's right, we are the Church militant, and we are certainly in a battle.
I hope I get to meet him one of these days, since the oldest will be attending at Stuebenville next school year. (I know I say that alot LOL, but I'm thrilled she chose to go there)
Let me put it this way,I consider myself a foot soldier in the Church Militant and I don't believe in shooting at my Generals!Scott Hahn is taking the Church Militant model a tad too literally. JMO.
So, you left the "Grace" and "Arminiaianism V Calvinism" field of battle to wander over here and fire off a few shots, heh? Tell ya what, settle your own endless internecine wars before you come charging in here under another flag suggesting we do thus and such with our Generals. At least our Generals can trace their authority back to the King of Kings.
Coming from army where each is his own King, General, Warrior, Court, Judge, Jury and Firing Squad, I would think you had plenty enough on your plate without trying to counsel others
How so?
Without denying the ontological distinction between the hierarchy and the laity as it relates to the sacraments (especially the Eucharist and Confession) and the Magisterium, I emphatically deny that we have any moral duty to obey immoral orders, even should they came from the pope himself.
Needless to say the media is there to put it all on the screen to further their agenda, which I believe is the destruction of the Church. (which we all know they will never do)
I think these catholics are shooting their generals in a sense. Not all the bishops, priests or doctrines of the church are evil, but to hear some of the people I've seen on TV spout off, you'd think they were. Sometimes were our own worst enemy.
I'm not happy with this scandal but I'm not going to go on TV and make the church look bad.
I think Scot Hahn is right on the money, we need to be militant, which to me means we have to be humble and tell our bishops what is on our mind and remind them of church teaching in our own camp, not in enemy territory.
OK, off my soapbox now.
I'm also old enough to have been brought up not to do laundry in public. For better or for worse, however, those days are over, thanks to Radio, TV and Al Gore's internet. We're stuck in perpetual spin cycle.
The thorny part of this problem is that the acts committed -- the sexual abuse of minors -- is criminal behavior that goes against the commonweal, making it intrinsically public. By extension, the institutional likewise becomes a matter of public concern; moreover, the coverup is episcopal SOP that is universally practiced. So, to a large extent, our generals have already shot themselves -- in the foot.
I have nothing against Scott Hahn; in all probability, I think he, too, would agree that we shouldn't follow immoral orders. My objection is to blind obedience. IMO, someone like Cardinal Law has already had his chance. He did not lead. We will.
</rant>
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