PJB: An Index of Catholicism's Decline

WorldNet Daily ^ | 12/10/02 | Patrick J. Buchanan

[polemikos]

clear evidence that socialism is NOT fair and does not promote honest work-related justice...

A little foundation for your thought:

"...Socialism...cannot be reconciled with the teachings
of the Catholic Church because its concept of society itself
is utterly foreign to Christian truth."
QUADRAGESIMO ANNO, 117, Encyclical of Pope Pius XI
Reconstruction of the Social Order, May 15, 1931

"...no Catholic [can] subscribe even to moderate Socialism."
MATER ET MAGISTRA, 34, Pope John XXIII
On Christianity and Social Progress, May 15, 1961

"Socialists...debase the natural union of man and woman...
the [family] bond they...deliver up to lust. Lured...by the
greed of present goods...they assail the right of property.
While they seem desirous of caring for the needs and satisfying
the desires of all men, they strive to seize and hold in common
whatever has been acquired either by title, by labor, or by
thrift."
QUOD APOSTOLICI MUNERIS, 1, Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII
On Socialism, December 28, 1878

[yendu bwam]

I believe there is something very wrong in the Catholic Church. I am a Christian and have a deep conviction to Jesus. I do not believe what is going on in the Catholic church is Christian.

Great evil has oozed into many quarters of the Church. As a Catholic, it is devastatingly hard to believe what has occurred. Yet now that we know, a fight for the holiness of our Church is at hand.

[Desdemona]

If you can, find another parish. I did, after this sort of thing happened.

What priest needs a hot-tub?

[Desdemona]

Thank you.

[Zviadist]

There is no connection between the cause and the effects. I could just as easily blame all of the statistics that were mentioned on the rise of feminism or Johnson's Great Society.

Here's a clue: the following did not happen before Vatican II. You cannot blame this on Johnson's Great Society, changing weather patterns, or the decline of country music:

Cazimer Wikiera, left, of Rome seeks permission from the Rev. Fred Daley to videotape a special holiday Mass Sunday for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities at St. Francis DeSales Church in Utica. Daley denied him permission, citing privacy concerns.

[yendu bwam]

Now that'd be a mistake...unless you want your kid learning about condoms and homosexuality.

Our older (teenage) son is in an all boys Catholic high school (with an enormously good reputation). We insisted that we be briefed about all aspects of his 'family life' course. To our pleasant surprise, the course is taught by an extremely devout guy (married, family of five children) who is strongly and vigorously orthodox (including in areas of sexual morality). We consider ourselves lucky, and do continue to monitor ALL aspects of his education. What we have seems to be quite rare. Would that such be commonplace. It's obviously not.

[bulldogs]

I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. I say something to disagree, and I am confronted with excuses. I am finding my only comfort is reading the Bible. The more I read the Bible, the more I disagree with what is going on.

[Desdemona]

You are correct to disagree. But with the bible, read the Catechism. Point out the errors. I did and when they fell on deaf ears, I started going to Mass at a parish which has been ridiculed for it's conservatism. The music leaves a lot to be desired, but the homilies are nice and tightly orthodox. It was a refreshing change.

[Stingray51]

I couldn't agree more!

[yendu bwam]

Africa has sent us one of her bright lights - the Nigerian priest in our parish is a gift from God. Africa has many Catholics and vocations - some at great cost of persecution - may we all remember our African fellow Catholics in their distress. The stories I have heard would break your heart. Sometimes it's easy to forget, but the church is not all about America.

As a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, I got to know a devout, energetic and orthodox priest (African) who spent all of his time in the villages near me seeking to introduce Christ into the lives around us. He was everything I always wanted a priest to be - believing, unwilling to compromise with the ways of this world, inspirational, and living his life 'in persona Christi.' And he was successful in his work. WE need (many, many) more like him.

[Zviadist]

A return to Trent is the only way to stem the tide of post modernism that is dooming Catholicism. V2, like our own Great Society, has failed miserably, achieving the dead opposite of its intended purpose.

Amen! Amen!!!

[aristeides]

I think the rot goes way back. The following is from an article in yesterday's Washington Post:Little Information Released on Law's Trip to Rome: Agenda May Include Talks With Vatican About Bankruptcy :

The closest historical precedent, Fogarty added, was the Vatican's effort to ease aside Boston's Cardinal William O'Connell in 1932. O'Connell was publicly implicated in protecting his nephew, who remained a priest despite a secret marriage. Yet Vatican archives show the scandal was far worse than the public knew. It involved skimming church funds through an insurance company set up by the nephew, who may have blackmailed his uncle for participating in the embezzlement and for having an affair with a male judge, Fogarty said.

Despite those charges, he noted, O'Connell retained enough influence at the Vatican that he was able to resist the naming of a successor. Instead, he was sent an auxiliary bishop, Francis Spellman, later the cardinal of New York.

[yendu bwam]

If PJB were speaking ONLY of the homo problem, your criticism would be accurate. He's not. It includes the vandalism of churches, the destruction of the Liturgy, and the utter fecklessness of clergy who REFUSE to speak of sin, esp. sexual sin.

I have lived my whole life without ever really hearing a priest address sexual sin. Unbelieveable. Our teenagers today hunger for clear guidance in sexuality. Our priests run away, so, so afraid of confronting the out-of-control sex in our society and its devastating consequences.

[Zviadist]

I believe there is something very wrong in the Catholic Church. I am a Christian and have a deep conviction to Jesus. I do not believe what is going on in the Catholic church is Christian.

Your solution is simple: find a traditional Catholic Church. You won't believe the difference!

[yendu bwam]

Pat is obviously alluding to Pope Paul VI's comment that the "smoke of Satan" had entered the Church.

It's an all out flaming blaze.

[yendu bwam]

The more I read the Bible, the more I disagree with what is going on.

Me too. And the more I realize how far the Church has strayed from holiness.

[Desdemona]

And the more I realize how far the Church has strayed from holiness.

Not the church itself, some people in it.

[yendu bwam]

Please read my Post#54.

Make your way to a better parish. You will not be able to do anything with regard to reforming your own. As all the liberal anything-goes Christian churches are in sharp decline, so will the liberal parishes be as well. It's time to vote, as Desdemona suggests, with our feet.

[ACAC]

The Southern Baptist and Assembly of God churches, which are the most conservative, are the ones that are growing the fastest.

[Zack Nguyen]

Consider John 14:6 - "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is very clear on His exclusivity. Also consider Acts 4:12.