Posted on 04/23/2002 6:39:35 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat
As a Protestant, I can say the whole Body of Christ grieves when a single part is laid low. I can also say this problem is not the problem of the Catholic Church alone.
The problem is much bigger than the Catholic Church in America. Christianity as a whole is under attack, not just Catholicism, and not just in this way. The hope of the enemy is to divide and conquer.
Interestingly, civilization itself, built upon Christian values, is under both external and internal attack at the same time. Both attacks were made possible by the turning away of our own peoples.
I see so few signs of repentance and reawakening that I suspect we are still on the downward portion of the path.
Personally, I am certain Mr. Novak is right in the end, but when that end comes I do not know. Nor do I know how high a price we, personally and collectively, must pay before it gets here.
Incidentally, many Catholics aren't even all that disturbed by what is happening with these sex abuse cases -- these Catholics wrote off their local bishops, priests, etc. years ago.
I agree. A visiting Priest advised that we pray for those involved in the current scandal. I was taken aback, since I was aware (unavoidable, since it was on the front page of every paper for several days), but had not followed the news closely.
I made the decision several years ago to search for a Priest who followed and taught the traditional beliefs of the Church. I looked long and hard, but managed to find such a man 30 miles from home. My family and I drive 60 miles round trip every week to attend Mass celebrated by him.
The devout Priests far outnumber the perverts. I view the scandal as something happening outside my Church -- it has nothing to do with me, because I made the conscious decision to avoid "Catholic" Churches that deemed themselves progressive. Those progressive Churches do not follow my Faith, and I do not follow them.
A life too long lived apart from intense daily prayer, meditation on the lives of the saints, the devout praying of the daily office of the Church, and a slowly and reflectively enacted sacrifice of the Mass each day, is not a life in which the probabilities of fidelity are enhanced.
On the contrary, the probabilities of chastity decline exponentially, as neglect of the life of the spirit extends its control, like a summer drought spreading its reach across sun-baked fields. Where the love of God withers, the love of this world gains a chokehold.
There is a lesson in the present time: The prayerful, orthodox, and faithful priests and religious of this generation did not bring about the scandals that now humiliate the church.
Bingo, bump, and "...this is what I have been saying all along..." An intense inner relationship with Jesus Christ precludes mortal sin, simply because there is no room for the contemplation of sinful acts. People who pray frequently and deeply know how to deal with temptation.
"...sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it (Gen.4:7 RSV)." God said this to Cain BEFORE he murdered Abel. It IS possible to master temptation, and a mortally sinful act must be deliberately CHOSEN. These men have deliberately chosen frequent mortal sin.
Amen, this man has been one of my heroes for many years.
One effort that I am most proud of was personally raising enough money from the business community to bring Mr. Novak to our local University for two addresses, one to adults and one to students.
That was back in the '80's and it was very well worth the effort and the money.
I'll bet they tell that to all the alter boys.
I never met anyone in my youth as committed to the Catholic Church as some of them are --and they're not ashamed of their faith in the least.
The sad part is the "tweenies" --those of us who grew up in the church in the '60s and '70s, post Vatican II, including those who were victimized by the errant priests.
My mother is the only one of her group who has ALL of her children attending Mass regularly today. And she brokered NO excuses for missing Mass in those days, or breaking the rules of the church.
It was a tough existence for us kids, and I didn't really understand it until my mid 30s. But today I do, and I wish I had understood it earlier.
If you can understand the Church's graces at a young age, you have a much better chance for having a peaceful, fulfilling life, in your marriage and/or vocation, whatever it might be.
God bless you and your family. Here in the Chicago area people are making similar lengthy round-trips to one of the most exciting faith communities in the nation, the Parish Church of Saint John Cantius, with its long-overdue mission: Restoring the Sacred.
Please stop by if ever you're in the 'hood.
Amen, and it must start with God's people on their faces in humility and repentance. Though I am not Catholic, and while I appreciate the pontif declaring this sin and a crime, I'll be convinced if he calls all Catholics to a day of solemn assembly and repentance. Even more so if the congregates obey that call.
You said it. Amen!
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.