Posted on 04/20/2002 4:14:07 PM PDT by Notwithstanding
In a strong message days before a summit of U.S. churchmen on a sex abuse scandal, Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II said Saturday that priests must live celibate lives and avoid scandalous behavior. Bishops, he said, must investigate such behavior and take action to end it.
My experience has been that SSPX and indult Mass congregations were as racially mixed, often even more so than the Novus Ordo churches. I resent the implication that racial discrimination is practiced in the SSPX.
There aren't many black Catholics to begin with; it would surprise me if there were very many black Catholic families in the SSPX.
But, racial discrimination, if there is any, is the least of the problems with the schismatic sect known as the SSPX.
The SSPX has its problems, to be sure, but they pale in comparison to what is happening in the rest of the Western Church.
Your blindness and passionless existence allows you to bow down before those who urinate on your faith.
I will hammer these guys till the faith of our fathers returns. If you don't like it too damn bad.
I know I am wasting my time, but I just have to tell you that the statements you make to your fellow Catholic brethren makes me recoil. I don't know if you are trying to gain adherants to your cause, but if you are, you are going about it entirely the wrong way. Your words are not the words of someone guided by the Holy Spirit and they are not like the words of Jesus Christ. He gives a damn about everyone.
Although your beliefs have some merit and are probably agreed with by many (including myself) here, I will not be led astay as you have been - you are outside the Catholic Church and you know it.
What makes you any different from the "Reformers" of the 16th century?
This is just beyond the pale! Can't you just explain your position without slandering and painting all priests with the same disgusing brush? BTW, if a priest is a practicing homosexual or evil pedophile, he is most certainly not in communion with Rome, and you know it.
You should read "Triumph - The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church, a 2,000 year history" by H.W. Crocker III. We have had some really dodgy Popes over the past two millennia, but we always got through those times because we know that the gates of Hell will not prevail. We didn't cut bait and run.
"Some" problems? Yeah, like the SSPX is not guaranteed the assistance of the Holy Spirit as the Church in union with Rome is.
Being in schism is not just "a" problem. It is "the" problem.
People who get married solely to have sex don't stay married very long. Read Matthew 19:27-29 and explain why the Apostles gave up everything to follow Christ.
And in such a society , all faithfulness to vows are thought foolish.
He hee, that made me chuckle.
Wonder what Mahony's "Plan B" is, insofar as his Plan A was blown to smithereens by the Pope's comments yesterday?
BTW, you may wish to read the Zenit post--even the Episcopalians understand your source material on the 'date' of celibacy to be "pseudo-history."
The truth is that there is controversy over when celibacy became a common practice; Gregory VII apparently still had a problem on his hands in the eleventh century because he had to go further than anyone had gone before in nullifying the marriages of ordained priests. This, seven hundred years after celibacy was first "Official" Church policy.
Seems the issue is less and less on the table as time goes on. Yesterday JPII's comments to the Nigerians; today's Zenit article posted by me.
Nobody ever seriously thought that John Paul II would discuss optional celibacy. But, he clearly won't silence those who wish to discuss it.
Are you kidding? What do you think he meant to do with his comments to the Nigerian Bishops?
He would like them to shut up and stop whining but he is far too polite to put it quite that directly.
As to Middle Ages married priests: has it occurred to you that various sins have been practiced, often by large populations, for long durations, despite the existence of the 10 Commandments since about, say, 5000 BC?
The fact that people ignore Commandments and/or disciplines does NOT mean that the Commandment or discipline did not exist.
Perhaps at another seminary you would have learned logic 101, as well as analogy.
Perhaps you could re-read what I wrote. Comparing optional celibacy to the 10 Commandments (which are not optional) is the height of illogic.
Declaring something settled in a matter of faith is wholly different from declaring a discipline settled. Catholics will continue to discuss optional celibacy whatever the Pope says.
JP II strongly urges the end of capital punishment. Should we shut up about that one too, even though the Church recognized the validity of the practice for 2000 years?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.