[Tantumergo]

"I do know that his exhibition of Catholic faith is the stuff of Mahony's nightmares."

I think the whole premise of this article sets out on the wrong tack. Rather than asking whether Gibson is a Catholic, they ought to be asking whether Mahoney is a Catholic.

Quite apart from his doubtful Eucharistic theology, he has questioned the Pope's ruling on a male-only priesthood. According to the doctrinal note issued by the CDF which accompanied the Motu Proprio Ad Tuendam Fidem, people who subscribe to this opinion are not in full Communion with the Catholic Church:

"The second proposition of the "Professio fidei" states: 'I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals.' The object taught by this formula includes all those teachings belonging to the dogmatic or moral area, which are necessary for faithfully keeping and expounding the deposit of faith, even if they have not been proposed by the Magisterium of the Church as formally revealed. Every believer, therefore, is required to give firm and definitive assent to these truths, based on faith in the Holy Spirit's assistance to the Church's Magisterium, and on the Catholic doctrine of the infallibility of the Magisterium in these matters. Whoever denies these truths would be in a position of rejecting a truth of Catholic doctrine and would therefore NO LONGER BE IN FULL COMMUNION WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH."

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Mahony and several other US Bishops are in de facto schism.

Many dioceses allege to be in union with Rome but practice whatever they please. Then there's the SSPX who pledge loyalty, practice Catholicism and are at least honest about their disobedience to Rome in certain conditions.

At least I know the SSPX are Catholic. I'll go there before I set foot in the TajMahony.

[Snuffington]

Rather than asking whether Gibson is a Catholic, they ought to be asking whether Mahoney is a Catholic.

Supercalafragilisticexpealidotious bump.

Why is it that a Hollywood actor has the minutae of his orthodoxy placed under a microscope, while we have bishops walking a fine line between Catholicism and "I AM the Church"?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Rather than asking whether Gibson is a Catholic, they ought to be asking whether Mahoney is a Catholic.

Many of us across the pond are praying for Cardinal Mahoney's conversion to Catholicism!

[Antoninus]

I think the whole premise of this article sets out on the wrong tack. Rather than asking whether Gibson is a Catholic, they ought to be asking whether Mahoney is a Catholic.

Bishops like Mahoney, Clark, Hubbard, and others have put the faithful under their jurisdiction into a terrible quandry. Is one to obey their local ordinary when that individual is teaching things that are clearly contrary to the teachings of the Vatican and Church tradition? In the case of Cardinal Mahoney, who is seems to be in obvious schism in everything but name, are the Catholics of LA supposed to follow him without question or rebel?

Honestly, I think the old Italian version of active rebellion is preferable to the lukewarm rebellion of simply walking away from the Church or ignoring the ordinary's commands. A big, raucous crowd in front of the chancery pleading that the Pope remove the offending bishop immediately might get some peoples' attention.