Posted on 11/10/2005 5:35:52 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
"This affects all social conservatives, whether they're Catholic or not. Supporting and promoting the universal moral absolutes that are the same in every religion is more important than haggling about which denomination is the right one. If the leftists/liberals/ACLU/professional atheists/etcetc have their way, we'll all have to discuss theology in the Gulag, in whispers."
Does your idea "of every religion" include Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists? Does it even include Christian Scientists, Mormons, and Jehovahs Witnesses? Are 'intelligent design', doctrines against contraception, faith in Matthew 6 part of your beliefs? Where do Christian Copts, Mandeans, Armenians, Eastern Orthodox fit into your views?
It seems to me that every church throughtout time has tried to suppress dissent, in the name of keeping a hierarchy supported with money and power. Faith is for free exploration as personally seen. Don't you think?
"Canon lawyer." I have to wonder what Jesus would have thought of that phrase.
Cardinal Mahoney let this happen? Noooooooo...
the Pope needs to remove "cardinal" Mahoney for allowing this cannon lawyer to be fired. And I quote "cardinal" because I believe Mahoney is just a wolve in sheeps clothing. How could Pope John Paul II have ordained this man to a cardinal?
In this case, buddy, you've got a U.S. Catholic hierarchy which has turned it back on bloody murder, turned the lambs over to be ravaged by the wolves, and kept its own remonstrances well within the bounds of a miniscule mincing politesse. Any why? In the name of keeping said hierarchy's "assets" out of any uncomfortable predicaments with regard to liberal public opinion and the political consequences thereof.
What you don't seem to be aware of, is that there are parishes in the USA where little homeschooled Catholic children have been denied First Communion because they did not attend a parish CCD class which their parents judged inadequate for their religious formation. There are parishes where devout believers have been denied Holy Communion because they wished to kneel to receive, and the priest insisted that they must receive standing.
So much for the weak and powerless. But when a proud, powerful and wealthy man openly approves and even facilitates the killing of innocent human beings, he can call in the press for a sacrilegious photo-op Holy Communion? And the Bishop, if he says anything at all, wrings his hands and says, "Oh, it's such a delicate situation we have here, it's so, so complex...."
Our hierarchy would undoubtedly lose money, membership, and "respectability" if they forthrightly did their duty to call murder murder and heresy heresy. I can imagine nothing better for the soul of the Church than to lose money, membership, and respectability, for the sake of Christ and His Truth.
"When Church Authority decides to rule a decision, it will be very abrupt and earth shattering. Modern US military shock and awe will not be able to compare itself. I use to be upset and impatient, but I'm getting the feeling that all of this happens in the fullness of time. Furthermore, it wouldn't surprise me if Papal action corresponds with the actions of our Apostolic brothers and sisters in the East."
You have a very unique way of looking at things. Thanks for posting.
I suspect you might be proven right on this. Pope Benedict keeps his cards very close to his chest. He is also one who understands paradox. In this case, the paradox may be that a smaller church is in fact a bigger and better church.
..."Canon lawyer." I have to wonder what Jesus would have thought of that phrase."...
How about the phrase "canon lawyer gets fired"?
Anyway, he deserves our support. Jesus would be for fraternal correction and those politicians sure need it.
Jesus appointed shepherds for his flock. He also issued commandments, not suggestions ("If you love me, keep my commandments" John 14:15.) The canon lawyers are there to assist the shepherds, protect the lambs and dismay the wolves (and not the other way around), and clarify how the commandments apply in the 21st century.
I am sure that at the end of a life of honest spiritual struggle, intellectual labor and sometimes even personally costly turmoil, a good canon lawyer hopes to hear from his Master's lips, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
What did Mother Theresa say? Something to the effect of -- "It is one more drop of water in the ocean. That is all I can do." Think of how much light one small match puts out in a dark room. We are all on the Front Lines, and, tho there is darkness all around, He has won the battle.
I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that our Holy Father said exactly that. I was surprised when I read it, but realized what he meant - that a church which is smaller would be more devout and orthodox and those who are part of it would have to have strong convictions.
It would be great if Balestrieri could bring a lawsuit against his old boss, Mahoney. As dangerous and scandalous as pro-abortion "Catholic" politicians are, I think the disgraceful conduct of many bishops and cardinals in this country has caused far more damage to souls.
Kerry is a prime example of the Catholic who doesn't live his religion. He isn't the first, last or only one.
His relative morality says that it's all right for him to personally be against homosexual marriages, abortion or pornography but that, since he represents all the people of Massachusetts he must not go against what they may want.
He SHOULD run as a Catholic man, opposed to the suggestions, laws and legislation that are AGAINST the moral ethics by which he claims to live.
To do otherwise makes him nothing more than a hypocrite -- of the worst kind. It means that his ethics are meaningless, only valuable for GETTING votes, not for living by.
Well said.Thanks for the update on this case. Please keep us informed.
"I was surprised when I read it, but realized what he meant - that a church which is smaller would be more devout and orthodox and those who are part of it would have to have strong convictions."
People, on a gut level sense, are attracted to things that are real.
Being numerically large isn't necessarily a sign of strength or health. It might just mean that you've watered down your message and it's appealing to an ever lower common denominator.
Probably the top reason why I chose to be baptised as a Catholic in the first place as opposed to one of the Protestant churches was that I wanted to be a member of a church that didn't necessarily tell me what I wanted to hear. I wanted my carefully constructed assumptions to be challenged.
While many people cannot vocalize or express that same perspective in so many words, I think that's a leading factor in people choosing Catholicism.
(I also think that a sense of rigorousness is one of the leading reasons why some people find islam attractive, and why it's a mistake for us to not offer a very clear "hard path option" for those so inclined to follow it).
Thank you for your encouraging words. If each of us do whatever we can do to serve God, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, we will be happy, His will is served, and even sometimes miracles can occur. The best miracle of all is a rebellious heart, full of ignorance and lust and hatred, changed into a heart surrendered to God in love.
Amen. Keep on keeping on.
great tagline. But so so true. The prochoice people are also very antimilitary. 40 million deaths from abortion and not a whimper of compassion from people like them.
Just this moment my husband and I was talking about Pope Benedict saying just that. I wonder if the libs out there got what he was saying.
http://www.defide.com/contact.html
There are several ways to support them, including signing on as a co-plaintiff in a class-action canonical lawsuit agaisnt abortion-heresy by the rich and powerful (mostly-male ans supposedly-Catholic) politicos. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A CATHOLIC TO BE A COMPLAINANT.
Please support De Fide any way you can!
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