Posted on 12/05/2006 2:15:45 PM PST by Coleus
On Sunday Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the necessity of Catholics to accept the whole of the faith. "Dear brothers and sisters how necessary it is today at the dawn of the third millennium for the entire Catholic community to proclaim, teach and witness to the entire truth of Catholic faith, doctrine and morals in a unanimous and harmonious manner!," he stressed.
His comments came as he spoke of the recently completed abbreviated Catechism known as the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Compendium, in addition to proclaiming the church's popular teachings on the necessity of caring for the poor and the striving for peace, teaches the truth on the grave evils of abortion and of sexual practices unbecoming humanity such as adultery and homosexuality.
Pope Benedict noted that the completion of the Compendium happened by "Divine Providence" to coincide "with the opening of the cause for beatification of our beloved Pope John Paul II."
John Paul II also stressed the need for Catholics to maintain the fullness of the Church's teachings and not pick and choose the teachings as they saw fit. Speaking to the Bishops of the United States at Queen of Angels Seminary in Los Angeles on September 16, 1987, Pope John Paul II stated: "It is sometimes reported that a large number of Catholics today do not adhere to the teaching of the Catholic Church on a number of questions, notably sexual and conjugal morality, divorce and remarriage. Some are reported as not accepting the clear position on abortion. It has to be noted that there is a tendency on the part of some Catholics to be selective in their adherence to the Church's moral teaching. It is sometimes claimed that dissent from the magisterium is totally compatible with being a 'good Catholic,' and poses no obstacle to the reception of the Sacraments. This is a grave error that challenges the teaching of the Bishops in the United States and elsewhere. "
In related news, the election of a German Pope seems to have boosted the faith in Germany. Cardinal Karl Lehmann, the Archbishop of Mainz, has reported that in his diocese during the period from May to June more people returned to the practice of the faith than in the whole of 2004.
See Pope Benedict's full address (in Italian):
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/angelus/2005/...
jhw
bump
WABC's Curtis Sliwa uses the term "A&P Catholics": Ashes on Ash Wednesday and Palms on Palm Sunday.
How about dishing out some excommunications against prominent Liberal "Catholics"?
I have another title, "C's And E's, which means, Christmas and Easter.
Excellent! I have often replied when people question the church's position on the death penalty, that at least the Church is consistent. (The people who ask me this usually assume that I would oppose the church because I am a conservative). I always point out that I will be happy when the other side defends the rights of the unborn as vigourously as they do that of murderers.
Only in the most extreme circumstances, only when others cannot be protected in any other way. Which makes sense.
It is not an absolute opposition. Some clerics are completely opposed, but the Church is not.
I wasn't very clear, was I? It seems that the Church does, however, get a lot of publicity when they oppose an execution. I am a new Catholic, so I am not quite up to snuff on everything, yet.
(I'm a new Catholic too - actually our whole family is. Things to warm a new Catholic mom's heart with pride -- daughter is a freshman at college and Emailed me "send a Catechism!" Two of her friends are a Mormon and and Presbyterian, and she's going to work to convert them! I like that kid's attitude!)
Your parish will have a Catechism that they will give you or sell you. It is a great reference when questions like this come up. Also, EWTN network has some great Q&A references. For you Prod lurkers they notate where it can be found in the Bible, the primary Catholic source :-)
There are too many liberal CINOs who use the Church only when it furthers their agenda.
If Pope Benedict XVI is serious, he'll start excommunicating those politicians who refuse to publically recant their liberal-sins.
**when the other side defends the rights of the unborn as vigourously as they do that of murderers.**
Excellent! I will remember and use that argument!
Be sure to put prayer at the top of your priority list. :-) Regular, daily, prayer. Family prayer, and quiet, one-on-one with the Lord time.
** Two of her friends are a Mormon and and Presbyterian, and she's going to work to convert them! I like that kid's attitude!)**
Smiling! That is evangelization! My hat's off to her!
She was always a little disappointed that she didn't get to "perfect" her altar serving technique . . . she was late on board of course. Although she had served at our former Episcopal parish since she was an itty bitty, they did everything differently in our new parish, and she felt like she didn't have it "right" before she graduated high school and had to sign off.
She is very pleased that one of the parishes near her college allows the college kids to continue to altar serve -- so she'll get another chance to "get it right" as she puts it. And they also allow the college kids to do the sick calls as EEMs. She doesn't like doing EEM in church, because she feels it detracts from the priest and she thinks the old biddies who predominate aren't devout or serious enough.
I'm just glad she's not falling away from the church in college like I did . . . of course, I was an Episcopalian then, and the 70s were another time of tumult and upheaval in the Episcopal church (or this is just more of the same tumult and upheaval). Boy am I glad we're Catholic! Should have swum across the Tiber long ago.
That is my priority. I just finished the Roasary with Mother Angelica. I find that an excellent way to end the day. I do quiet prayer in the morning, when there are less distractions.
I love the Church. I love the connection it gives me to Jesus and God, I love the order and discipline, and I love the Eucharist.
I am just sorry I came to it so late in life. (I am 58.)
The handwriting was on the wall in ECUSA back in the 70s, but I was reluctant to leave because I had had quite a time finagling my dear husband into the Episcopal church from the Methodists, he is the grandson of a Methodist minister, a very dear and devout man who I have no doubt is in heaven this very minute. I hesitated even after the latest unpleasantness began, until one day he announced that if ECUSA voted to approve homosexual marriage we were going to RCIA. You could have knocked me down with a feather . . . of course I had not considered in my calculations that his mom was Catholic (and Irish Catholic at that) before she married his dad.
But my hubby is like Dickens's beefsteak - he has to be humored, not drove - and he had to come to that decision on his own without any pushing from me.
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