Posted on 03/23/2002 5:34:00 AM PST by father_elijah
SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER?
We Catholic Americans are at a crossroads. Our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World is exposing all those who wound his sacred Body by abusing children and youth. Our Lord is also exposing rot and disease within the structures and leadership of the Church from within provinces of religious orders, Catholic universities, and diocesan chanceries.
It is time to clean house. Not only do the pederasts, sex abusers, and homosexuals need to be removed from leadership and the ranks of the ordained, but also the Church needs to excommunicate all Catholic politicians in the United States of America whose votes continue the holocaust of abortion.
PREPARATION
In order to serve Christ and his poor Church in this time of crisis, each of us are called to avail ourselves of the sacraments that we may trample the devil under our feet. Let each of us 1) make a good confession; 2) receive the Eucharist on the Feast of Divine Mercy and receive Christ’s promises to St. Faustina of mercy and pardon; 3) engage in works of mercy; and, 4) encourage others to do the same.
We lead by prayer, and we are made strong by Christ’s self-offering of his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We have a great weapon for fighting evil in the rosary. We do not turn to prayer as a last resort, but we turn to prayer as the beginning, center, and end of all that we strive to do for Our Lord Jesus Christ. We engage in prayer for the Church knowing that when we pray we are not alone in prayer or in action. Our Lord, Our Lady, St. Joseph, and the whole communion of saints join with us in interceding for the Church.
We who long for the cleansing of the Church from these grave evils have the means of prayer through which we can grow in holiness even as we pray for the Church to be cleansed of evil and made holy as Christ is holy. Let us avail ourseves of these gifts of prayer:
The Daily Mass or a daily Act of Spiritual Communion
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
Benediction and Adoration
The Holy Rosary
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy
The Litanies
The Liturgy of the Hours
Other Chaplets and Devotions
Let every action we undertake be covered in prayer and overshadowed by the Holy Spirit so that only God’s will is desired and achieved through our efforts.
ACTION
For love of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to action against evil. Let each faithful Catholic offer themselves at Mass or at home to be the beginning point of the Church’s cleansing and renewal. Ask the Lord’s blessing that we may each speak the truth in love and walk in the Holy Spirit.
There are a variety of actions that one can undertake to be part of the solution. The following are suggestions that have been made on various internet discussion lists.
*Show up at your parish and pray at 3pm every day
*Show up at your diocesan Chancery and pray
*Show up at the nearest Chancery on the Monday after Easter
at 12 noon and pray the Rosary for the Cleansing of the Priesthood
*Write, telephone, and e-mail your bishops and priests and express your horror over the sexual scandals and tell them you expect full disclosure and immediate action.
*Write to the Holy Father -- write in Polish if you can -- and beg him to intervene and clean up the Church in the United States. Be sure to copy your bishop and pastor.
The following are some actions you may consider asking of the Holy Father(and recommending to your bishop):
1. Ask the Holy Father to lead the Church in a worldwide Day of Penance for the sexual sins of the Church’s leadership;
2. Ask the Holy Father to declare that homosexuals may not receive Holy Orders;
3. Ask the Holy Father to remove Cardinals, bishops, priests, and deacons who have covered up cases of sexual abuse.
4. Ask the Holy Father to give the Church in the USA new Cardinals especially elevating Archbishop Chaput of Denver
5. Ask the Holy Father to shut down religious orders or provinces of religious orders (like the California province of the Society of Jesus) that are a scandal in themselves.
6. Ask the Holy Father to give Cardinal Law, Cardinal Egan, and Cardinal Mahony new jobs at the Vatican.
7. Ask the Holy Father to suspend the US National Conference of Catholic Bishops and to appoint either a triumvirate to clean house or an Inquisitor General to root out evil and liberate the Church in the USA from error and crime.
8. Ask the Holy Father to restore the prayer “St. Michael the Archangel” to the close of every Mass.
9. Ask the Holy Father to extend the faculty to every priest in the Church to celebrate Mass according to the 1962 Missal.
10. Ask the Holy Father to excommunicate Catholic politicians who support the holocaust of abortion.
11. Ask the Holy Father to give the Cardinal’s red hat to Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Bruskewitz, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.
12. Ask the Holy Father to disassociate the Church from those once Catholic universitiies and colleges that no longer affirm the magisterium of the Church or loyalty to the Pope.
13. Ask the Holy Father to make Fr. Benedict Groeschel the next Archbishop of New York.
Some will find these ideas too presumptuous, but it is clear that the Holy Father and the leadership of the Church in the USA need to hear from the rank and file faithful.
Finally, be sure to pray for the Pope, and write to the Holy Father a letter of encouragement. Assure him of your prayers for his intentions and for him personally. Also, write letters of encouragement to any deacon, priest, or bishop whom you know to be defenders of the faith and devoted to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our good and faithful priests need to know that they are loved and cherished.
Jesus, King of the nations, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Good Saint Joseph, pray for us.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.
patent
The abuse rate is as high for non-celibate ministers as it is for the celibate. Emotion driven arguments are rarely factual though.
7th graders would be at the borderline as to whether these are the acts of a pedophile or simply the case of an adult homosexual (priest in this case) taking advantage of a juvenile. The distinction is important because the politically correct media do not wish to associate homosexuality with these crimes, they wish for the public to think that Catholicism is the source for the evil.
Of course, they are wrong, dishonestly wrong.
Regards.
No, you just weren't listening.
Thanks, I had not heard of that one.
Well said.
Yes we are, thanks to the Holy Spirit!
I was born in 1950. Baptized RC and raised RC. Grammar and HS educated by the Dominicans. Very devout (rosary-prayin, Novenas, indulgences, etc.). Sounded very much like the Catholics here. Nobody, I mean NOBODY, could get away with tellin me that the Catholic Church was wrong and that I was deceived. Them was fightin words!
I got married in the RC church to an Irish RC. By the time I was 33 I was a so-called "success" in the world. Had money, houses, family, great booze, great food, great sex. And, lots of questions and emptiness. I went to Mass and did all that was required. I knew all about God. I just didn't know Him ... like personally. I knew I wasn't a saint, but hey, who was? Right?
Then a godly man told me about Jesus. He told me that Jesus' church was alive and that all those miracles that He and His early believers did "way back then" were still happening today. And, he told me that God did not want me smokin, drinkin, lustin ... in short, sinnin anymore. He told me to read the bible for myself and not take his word for it.
So, hungry as I was for answers to my questions, I got me a bible and began to earnestly read it. I really meant business with God. I told Him that if it were really true, that if I could really know Jesus like His disciples knew Him, then I wanted it more than anything ... ANYTHING. I told Him I was truly sorry of all I had done to hurt Him. I asked Jesus into my heart and life to be not only my Saviour, but my LORD also and, to make me into the man that HE wanted me to be. I surrendered my life totally to Him.
Well, I had no intention of ever leaving the RC church. Like I said, I was brought up to believe that it was the one true church and that all those protestant churches only had part of the truth but not all of the truth. Yes, I readily recognized that the RC church had gotten off the true bible way at times throughout it's history but, I figured that it was my job to help try and change it back to it's purity like it was at the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell on everybody in the upper room.
I was wrong. The Holy Ghost spoke to me many times back then ... "Come out from among them and be ye separate" , "Why seek ye the living among the dead", "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" and lastly, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
The truth of God's Word, the holy bible, convicted me. There were simply too many beliefs, dogmas and doctrines I had been taught growing up as a RC that conflicted with His holy Word. I had to choose. I knew that God cannot lie. I also believed that the bible was His Word, inspired by the Holy Ghost. And therefore, if there was a conflict between His Word and RC doctrines/teachings ... well, I would choose to be faithful to HIS WORD.
Needless to say, this was a watershed event in my life. Since that time 19 years ago, the Lord has drawn me to a closer walk with Him. I asked Him to sanctify me wholly and holy unto Him. He delivered me from the demon of fear of leaving the RC church ( you see, from the time I was old enough to remember, I was told/instructed in no uncertain terms that, if you ever left the RC church you would be "excommunicated". And, if you died in a state of "excommunication" you were bound for hell with no exception - I'm saying this for a reason). When I was delivered from this demon of fear, a very real, loud, guttural and involuntary ROAR came out of me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing but, it was all too real nonetheless.
After having my vessel sanctified clean, I was now ready for the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. I sought this indwelling with all my heart. Sure enough, God was faithful to fill me with His Holy Ghost. Just why am I saying all of this? Because that IS the whole point of the gospel. It is simple enough so that a child can understand it. GOD will have a HOLY people. He sent His son Jesus to tell us not only what is required, but also to demonstrate how, by the power of the Holy Ghost, we are to live. HOLY, BLAMELESS, OBEDIENT. That means without sinning anymore.
I realize that this raises a few eyebrows. But, it is the truth anyhow. Now, what will you do with this gospel? Jesus told us what signs to look for as to the day of His return. Can anyone honestly say that those signs are not exhibited in our generation more so than at any other time in recorded history?
To my Catholic FReepers, I don't hate you. I simply give my testimony as to what I have witnessed. I love the Lord with all my heart and I will serve Him as HE desires/requires. He has set me free and sent me forth to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
I know this was long. Sorry, but I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a big difference between Religion and Reality. If you say that Jesus is your LORD, then it is incumbent upon YOU to yield to His Holy Word and to OBEY. No sinner will enter heaven, only saints. And, we are required to become saints NOW, in this life. Therefore, deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus. It will be worth it all.
IMHO, this is NOT a good sign. To compare the rate with "general population" does NOT reflect well on the clergy.
While not a Catholic, I know that we agree on salvation issues, and relate to you as brothers and sisters in Christ. For that reason I applaud all your efforts to rid yourself of this evil that is occuring within your church organization. I can't tell you how to clean this mess up, but I can tell you to be relentless in your pursuit of holiness. Moreover, someone in authority has to apologize to the world that we have given cause by our silence, to demean the name of Christ and His followers by allowing homosexuals and pedophiliacs access to the innocents. This unspeakable horror occurs in both the Catholic and Protestant faiths; so Catholic bashers, get over your bad self!!
My one suggestion would be to look to Christ only in this hour of trial, for He is the author and finisher of your faith. You can let go of the traditions and your concept of "the Church," for none of these ever died for you. It is He, and He alone that died for you, and He promised to protect His church. Take heart, dear friends, God's still in control!!
Is there anything we can learn from this?
When they came for the Catholics?
When they came for the Baptists?
When they came for the fundamentalists?
When they came for the agnostics?
Just something for all of us to think about -- is this picture larger than we currently see it?
If some "ghost" told you to leave "the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of Truth," (1Tim 3:15), built by Jesus upon Peter, guaranteed to be lead by the Holy Spirit to all Truth by Jesus, given the authority to lose and to bind by Jesus...
well, then "ghost that spoke to you was not a Holy one...
Too bad you lost the ability to discern spirits when you left the Church established by Christ and alone given the Holy Spirit to guide it to all Truth.
Its not too late though. Come Home to Rome. The True gospel has been preached to you here by many faithful followers of Christ.
Be not like those who answered "This saying is hard, who can bear it?" and walked with Him (and His Church) no more.
How do you get around not receiving the Eucharist?
I don't want to get mixed up with charismatics, laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, because I think they are deceived . . . but I've never been able to prove it.
I've read the bible and old church documents are we are supposed to believe that we should receive Christ's body and blood . . . literally.
Where else can you get it but in either the catholic or eastern church?
Or is it excusable to go without when things get too bad?
Lots of catholics seem to have left so they could use birth control, remarry, and be free of other prohibitions.
Without any specifics, did any of the above apply to you?
I've come to believe that prayers must be very specific and explicit.
The Fatima prayer of reparation is seems good but it only addresses sacrileges and other applications to the first commandment . . . the latest scandals may be considered sacrileges . . .
And is it theologically sound to worry about others' sins instead of just concentrating on one's own?
There is a difference between Religion and Reality friend. The proof of the reality of salvation is a changed life. The drunkard drinks no more. The thief steals no more. The homo, fornicator and adulterer do it no more. The old man dies (and the desires to want to do those things die too). In short, sinful living is replaced by holy living. Not of our own selves is this possible. Only by the power of a Holy God.
Does all your fervent faith in the RC church keep you from sinning? If not, try putting your unswerving faith in the author of the book instead of the publishing company :)
Well, doubting in and of itself is hardly a crime.
John 20:24-29 --
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
However, when doubt is used as a weapon against God, that is something else entirely. I mean, not only is the Book of Job one of the oldest written records of mankind in general -- so we can't tell God we never got around to reading it -- but the Gospels provides numerous examples of people not using doubt as a tool...
When Judas betrayed Christ, Peter and John and the others didn't say, "Judas, your hypocrisy make me doubt my faith..."
When Peter denied Christ, John and the others didn't say, "Pete, your cowardice makes me doubt my faith..."
When Thomas doubted the Risen Lord, Peter and John and the others didn't say, "Tom, your cynicism makes me doubt my faith..." Christ Himself didn't hold Thomas's doubting against him (but He did get in that dig about him needing to see for himself...).
Doubt may be explain LBDSM body of work. But that would be depressing because I'm sure she'd see that doubt-as-a-crutch isn't cool
I'm inclined to think there is a much simpler focus to LBDSM's work. In a book called "The Devils of Loudun," by Aldous Huxley -- a book about some rowdy French girls [!], Huxley makes the point that in every woman, there is not only the spirit of the Eternal Female, but in every woman there is also something of the spirit of the Eternal Cheerleader. Right now, in the world at large, both of these Eternal Spirits (the Female and the Cheerleader) are hard pressed finding, so to speak, obscure objects of desire. And nobody gets nastier than a Cheerleader pissed off...
Mark W.
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