Posted on 03/24/2002 6:32:42 PM PST by Longshanks
RCF has a genuine Catholic martyr as one of their founders. Clipping from the linked portion of the lead article:
“In the early 1990s, a group of priests, including [Father Charles] Fiore, assembled a dossier on ecclesiastical problems in the U.S. The information was carefully collected and documented with guidance on Church law given by the Rev. Alfred Kunz, a canon lawyer.
“Kunz also assisted in the founding of Roman Catholic Faithful. In 1998, Kunz was mysteriously murdered, and the police thus far have been unable to make any conclusive progress toward solving the murder. Fiore described Kunz as 'having no enemies - except those who hated the Church.'
“According to Fiore, the dossier was sent by courier to Rome. The courier was a Polish-speaking priest and a friend of Pope John Paul II's personal secretary, then-Monsignor, now Archbishop, Stanislaus Dsiewicz.
“Dsiewicz brought the file to the pope's attention. The pope briefly examined the documents, Fiore says, put them aside and then, referring to his previous attempts to lead and discipline the bishops regarding various issues, exclaimed, ‘I've told them, and they don't listen to me.’ John Paul II, in effect, admitted that the U.S. bishops did not properly lead the Catholic Church in America.”
Pray and pay only? No, if you have information and can write a well-reasoned letter, then let Rome know about it. They ARE read and they ARE acted upon, however slowly it may seem to us. But what do we do here in the States? That's a good question. For starters I'd say support faithful priests and bishops. Come to their aid on this forum and with your friends. Unless you are personally involved in a specific case there is not much more you can do directly. However, this is the time that the Church is carrying the cross up to Cavalry. Some would even say that the Church is in it's death agony, like Christ, soon to experience it's ressurection. We can't forsake our Pope and good, holy priests when they need us the most.
The Catholic Church codified and closed the body of Scripture. It was the Catholic Church which proclaimed that there was no new revelation. And yes, Sacred Tradition must agree with the Scripture. Sacred Scripture is brought to you through the Sacred Tradition and the Deposit of Faith.
It's fine that you have your issues with the Catholic Church, at least you're thinking about your faith, just don't make the mistake of thinking that anger and hatred and pride can change the heart of a Catholic because most people don't really know what Catholics truly believe (and that includes CINOs) and they don't bother to take the time to find out. They attack the Church and her beliefs on misconceptions and prejudice and think they sound erudite and pious and instead just sound pompous and ignorant.
There is no issue with the Roman Catholic Church that should keep you away from the Sacraments.
Go to one of the Welcome Home, Catholics; Journey Home; Cathlics Can Come Home sesions in your area and ask the questions. You just might be amazed!
There is no issue with the Roman Catholic Church that should keep you away from the Sacraments.
Go to one of the Welcome Home, Catholics; Journey Home; Cathlics Can Come Home sesions in your area and ask the questions. You just might be amazed!
I admit I have mixed feelings about the article. On one hand I agree that "the Vatican" has not done enough to curb those who would "politically and socially liberalize" the Church. Yet somehow, I still have a feeling this is an attempt to "paint" Pope John Paul II, as being a "willing stooge" to the liberal agenda. (Much like the attempts to label Pope Pius X as pro-nazi.)
As to your call to action: I am willing to defend my faith and make my opinions known... but I am not going to demand I be included in the decision making process within the administration of Canon law. In other words; I believe we as Catholics have a duty to address the problems and give practical advise based on our experience; But we do not have the right to dictate specific actions to the Church.
Praying for our Church leaders to have the strength to address these severe problems is, IMHO, the best solution.
Gladly. The quote you gave is :
"We teach and define that it is a dogma Divinely revealed that the Roman pontiff when he speaks ex cathedra, that is when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal Church, by the Divine assistance promised to him in Blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed that his Church should be endowed in defining doctrine regarding faith or morals, and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are of themselves and not from the consent of the Church irreformable."The first part you bolded says the the doctrine of Papal Infallibility is Divinely Revealed. It does not say that the Pope, when defining doctrine, is receiving new Revelation.
Catholics believe that public Divine Revelation ended with the death of the last Apostle. Therefore, the only thing that the Pope, in exercising his infallibility, has to work with is that said Revelation.
From your comments I take it you are not Catholic. Fine, but your rejection of Catholicism should be a rejection of the real McCoy, not a strawman of your own, or any other Protestant's, making.
That would be Pius XII.
I recently attended a lecture given by Ronald Rychlak, author of the brilliant defense of Pius XII, Hitler, the War and the Pope. It is truly stunning the bald faced lies which are told by the Left regarding Pius XII.
Pius XII. A man so pro-Nazi that he was hated and feared by the actual Nazi hierarchy and was lavishly praised by virtually all of his notable Jewish contemporaries for his actions against the Nazis.
Thank you for that. We need to make it happen. I am part of a group on the west coast that will coordinate. Will be in touch.
Fair enough. That is not generally a good place for laymen to be. However, there is nothing wrong with hammering the hierarchy until they do the right thing.
JP II couldn't even celebrate Mass yesterday; his knees wouldn't let him.
Arinze can't do anything; he's got his hands full with AIDS decimating his country.
No. This pederasty problem is a Western problem and can only be fixed by Western bishops. A Charles Chaput (Denver) or Cardinal George from Chicago are clean enough to do it. Egan and Law are compromised.
Nonsense. The Pope is the vicar of Christ. He is the ruler of the Church on Earth and has the authority to clean up any part of it he chooses. Since nearly all the Western Bishops are compromised, as you admit, how do you expect the Western Church to clean up its act without heavy-handed action from the Vatican?
John Paul II is all talk and no action, and that is how history will remember him.
JP II will be remembered as a saint.
Your jihad against Vatican II will have to wait.
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