[Catholicguy]

I think Pope John 23rd was fairly sharp and I also think he has been badly mischaracterised by some on the right. He was the one that put a Monitum on Teilhard's writings and he also issued an Encyclical saying that to be in union with Christ, one had to be in the Catholic Church - or words to that effect.

[saradippity]

Your comments about John 23's statements that so reflect our(meaning those who love the Church led by the Holy Father and teaching Magisterium)beliefs are interesting and useful in these times. I think one of the most effective tools we have in our arsenal are the words of former Popes.

I have recently piggy-backed onto a comment made by one of our daffier catholics,who was adulating Pope John 23 for opening the windows and bringing the "spirit of VatII" to the church.I agreed that he was a wonderful pope and added,quite casually,that I thought two of the most significant pronouncements of his,were the documents concerning the unacceptability of ordaining homosexual priests,and his words on the everlasting beauty of the Tridentine Mass.This stopped the exchange with the first person but led to a good,in-depth conversation with another.

I am now looking for letters to the editor that will allow me to bring forth material like that in a response letter.I even obtained a copy of "America",I am expecting that the opportunity to emphasize how important it is to follow what the Holy Fathers' have said will present itself.