Top Ten Questions the TRADS and the NEOS Have for Wilton Gregory and Company at the Sept 8 Meeting

[boromeo]

This is serious. The TRADS and the NEOS on Free Republic are full of good humor and grace, so I have a challenge. I would like to attempt to compile two top ten lists of discussion points, one from a TRAD and one from a NEO perspective with questions for the 'conservative' Catholic conference coming up with the Bishops (Gregory, etc.) set up by Deal Hudson. Sorry dissenters, you have to sit this one out. It would also be nice if we could arrive at a FREEREPUBLIC chat room top five list where TRADS and NEOS can prove that yes, dog-gone-it, sometimes, we can all just get along and agree. Or maybe not. Anyway, no fair crossing lines and mucking with each other's lists. Please limit your posts to 10 ideas, and send them to the group or to me privately. You have to mark clearly if you're suggestions are TRAD or NEO. All entries marked confidential will be kept confidential. Keep your suggestions compact TRADS. NEOS, points are deducted for using the word 'spirit.' Have fun!

[livius]

I don't even know where to begin. One of the problems is that the Church has lost an entire generation (perhaps even two) to bad teaching, and right now, it's necessary to start at the beginning and build the whole thing up again.

So I'll put in my vote for sound teaching. And its got to be AGRESSIVE: that is, send out truth-filled missionaries to every parish in every diocese to really teach Catholic doctrine to children and adults, regardless of how mad it makes Fr. Bruce Limpwrist and Sr. Snowflake Wannabeapriest. Individual parishes and priests teach and prach whatever they please, and most of it bears precious little resemblance to Christian doctrine.

Also, permit the Tridentine Rite freely, as it is supposed to be permitted. After all, if "nobody" is going to go to it anyway, what are Father and Sister afraid of? Hah!

[RaginCajunTrad]

1. Ask for the resignation of Cardinal Mahoney.
2. Ask for the resignation of Matthew Clark.
3. Clean house in the seminaries and "Catholic" universities.

[Desdemona]

I've got one:

Excellencies, why does the USCCB have a totally separate fund-raising unit from the rest of the dioceses. I mean, so the USCCB can have it's own pot of $$$$ that seems to just diappear into thin air. AND please, publish a list of the donors who contribute more than $10,000. (that should be an interesting list)

[Possenti]

5) ask them to correct the nuns (like the Erie Benedictines)...

...And tell them to put their habits back on.

My Trad priest calls a nun without a habit a "spiritual nudist." LOL.

[Desdemona]

I have another one:

Why is it, that people who spend countless hours perfecting art such as music, sculpture, painting, etc., in the great tradition (unparalled anywhere) of giving voice and form to God's glory and greatness are not commissioned to employ their talents to encourage and feed the souls of God's people here on earth.

Oops, forgot who the target was.

Why is the music and art so bad and why is this allowed to continue?

[Dajjal]

what is being done about the growing gulf between traditional Catholics and so-called "neo" Catholics;

The question should really be addressed to Al Matt at The Wanderer.

[dsc]

Yeah. What you said in #6.

[Salvation]

why aren't some of the localities following the new GIRM?

And what are you doing to remedy that situation?
Unannounced visits?
Sactions? Removals?
Stern Warnings?
Educating the People of the Church on what a proper Mass Rite really is?

[Salvation]

Good stuff there!

[Salvation]

Excellent suggestions!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

Please notify me via Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Catholic Discussion Ping list.

[NYer]

Ask for the resignation of Matthew Clark.

You forgot his fellow seminarian and my bishop, Howard Hubbard. After Boston, the Diocese of Albany must have the 2nd greatest number of sexual abuse lawsuits, all under Hubbard's watch.

[sinkspur]

1) What concrete steps will you (the USCCB) take to determine why Catholic men are not entering the seminaries in sufficient numbers to replace those priests who are retiring? Determine why they're not attracted to the priesthood. The answers will lead you to the solutions.

2) What concrete steps will you (the USCCB) take to evangelize the Catholic faithful? The vast majority of Catholics are unchurched; they approach the Catholic community for the sacramental moments (baptism, first Eucharist, confirmation, matrimony), but do not participate on a weekly or even a monthly basis.

3) What concrete steps will you (the USCCB) take to revitalize the prayer life of the clergy, so that they can truly be the inspiration to their people that their people are hungering for?

4) What concrete steps will you (the USCCB) take to improve homiletics training in the seminaries, and insist on an ongoing program of continuing development of public speaking skills? This goes hand-in-hand with the vital prayer life (in #3), but a prayerful priest without the ability to connect with the congregation will not be a confident preacher.

5)Finally, can you guarantee that the accountability standards put in place to deal with clerical sexual abuse will remain? And, will you broaden those standards to encompass diocesan and parish finances, and decisions made by bishops and priests that are not matters of faith and morals?

[fortunecookie]

Yes, what you said. Great ideas!

Also:

1. Confession. At least monthly. Tell your priests to spread the word and expect it and let them know you will be checking.

2. And instruct your priests that they all must,just once in a while,refuse communion to people they haven't seen in confession in more than a year. Or at least asking them confidentially. That goes doubly for non-Catholics receiving Communion. Worry less about Ecumenism and how local protestant pastors will feel, and more about the spiritual welfare of your parishioners.

3. And why aren't you instructing your Catholic schools to spend more time on Mass and Confession and Saints and tradition, not necessarily at the expense of Dr. Seuss day and Earth day (ugghhh)and other new additions. Catholicism should not be squeezed out of Catholic schools to make room for even more stuff, stuff parents can do at home with their kids. Tell the parents that too.

4. Remember the Rosary? Why aren't you telling them to start Rosary prayers after Masses. And other devotions. Stress to the priests the importance of these devotions and how they and you can lead by example. Little by little others will join in. Instruct adults who may have forgotten.

And Parishioners can follow these rules, too, they may just need to be reminded by their Bishop and Priests.

Amen on the female Mass assistants. I have remarked on the 'all female' Mass, except the Priest, so far, on another thread.

LadyDoc, I live in Benedictine central, the Erie Diocese, and I see daily their errors and how it affects parishioners so that they lose their faith and get others to follow. 'It's easier', is their mantra. Some parishioners stop practicing any faith altogether.

[sinkspur]

And instruct your priests that they all must,just once in a while,refuse communion to people they haven't seen in confession in more than a year.

This is a laughable suggestion. with all due respect. In a 7,000 family parish, do you expect two priests to know who has, and who hasn't, gone to confession?

Even trad priests couldn't be expected to keep up with the confessional habits of their congregation.

[sinkspur]

Why is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament not mandatory in every parish across the country?

We have it on First Fridays, but requiring PERPETUAL adoration won't work, at least in our parish.

We tried it for a week, three years ago, and the insurance salesman just happened by when the Church was open and unattended for TWO HOURS.

He told the pastor, in no uncertain terms, that our premiums would increase 30% if the Church was open 24/7.

[Notwithstanding]

Ask them why concerned lay people are extremely conversant with new encyclicals the minute they are published, yet 98% of the priests have no clue as to what this pope has added to magisterial teaching (save for bitching about sexism and sex).

[Notwithstanding]

Ask them why concerned lay people are extremely conversant with new encyclicals the minute they are published, yet 98% of the priests have no clue as to what this pope has added to magisterial teaching (save for the priests bitching about the popes sexism and bad attitude about sex).

[narses]

Will you tender your resignations en masse to His Holiness for the good of the Church?

[narses]

LOL, so the issue is money. The MoneyChangers have taken over the Temple again.