Liberal Catholicism's Just Deserts

I always knew there were some, shall we say, "socialistic" big government types among the Roman Believers... but did not realize they were so prevalent... Thanks for explaining.

OK, that is pretty good for fessing up. I was only trying to find out where you are coming from. You were brought up and educated as a Catholic and you are now an agnostic. That is quite understandable. Some people have always become doubters. Others are heading in the opposite direction on the same spiritual highway. The last 35 years of American Catholicism would not be much of an inspiration to anyone to become more fervently Catholic.

As an agnostic, you at least hold out the subjective possibility that God may objectively exist. Assume for a moment that He does not exist. In that event Pope John Paul II would be merely the chief executive and operating officer of an organization brought together in error as to religion and encompassing 1/6 of mankind. If he were only that, he would have had a magnificent track record in defense of orthodox morality, opposition to abortion, opposition to the very well-organized political force of militant homosexuality, significant involvement through support of the Solidarity Labor Union in Poland and in collaboration with Ronaldus Maximus in bringing about the demise of the Iron Curtain, effectively forging an alliance with militant Islam and Third World countries to resist the Beijing and Cairo Conference agendas for the destruction of the family.

If, as I believe, the Holy Trinity exists and the Roman Catholic Church is the true Church founded by Jesus Christ himself, then Pope John Paul II has been one of the truly extraordinary vicars of Christ on earth, comparable to a very few in history. In either event, he deserves the respect of Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

I am not a Protestant but I have very high regard for the leaders of the Southern Baptist Conference, the Missouri and Wisconsin Synods of the Lutheran Church, traditional Episcopalians, Good News Methodists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals and, of course, Eastern Orthodox. I have a special fondness for those very Orthodox and Chassidic Jews and particularly the Lubavitchers. I have many acquaintances who are agnostic or atheist. Some have an heroic virtue in the absence of belief in God and live in a morally exemplary fashion in many respects.

I apologize for baiting you to bring out the relevant details. You are clearly not what I expected you to be.

Finally, the Roman Catholic Church has a very long history and has overcome terrible periods of scandal before. The homosexual and pederast scandals in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and other parts of the English-speaking world are one more tragic episode. One way or another, we will overcome this challenge because we have Christ's guarantee just as scandals of wine, women (probably homosexuality as well) and profane song among 9th century Benedictines (right in the heart of the Age of Faith) were crushed by the Cluniac Reform. Karol Wojtyla, the man who is John Paul II is a very old man and older than is indicated by even his age. The assassination attempt robbed him of much of his extraordinary vitality twenty years ago. Tumors and Parkinson's Disease have plagued him for years. He is only flesh and blood and his race will soon enough be run. The problem of schism, heresy and the protection of homosexuals and pederasts in the priesthood here seems likely to be left to his successor. A new and younger pope is probably needed to root out the deep infections of the American Church and to cauterize its wounds and to purge the ranks of its leaders. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, Archbishop Eldon Curtiss of Omaha, Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford, Archbishop John Meyers of Newark are the models for the future leadership of the Church here.

With all due respect, and because the most precious possession to be shared with others is faith, you will be in my prayers and in the prayers of others, I am sure.

Good post. Thank you.

Bumping a good thread for the weekenders.

Church needs a schism to survive

That is exactly what Satan and the enemies of Christ and His church, within and without, want. Those outside what to divide and conquer. Those inside want to drive the true believers out so that they can control the hollow shell.

Faithful Catholics must preserver and trust that Christ will not ever let the enemies prevail against His church.

Interesting.

doesn't explain why heterosexual apllicants were not to be found

There are plenty of good applicants in all orthodox diocese and orders. Liberal seminaries expel "homophobic" students for being too rigid. I personally know former seminarians who experienced this treatment.