Posted on 09/08/2007 6:53:31 AM PDT by NYer
The Dominican Order in the Netherlands has issued a radical recommendation that lay ministers chosen by their congregations should be allowed to celebrate the Eucharist if no ordained priests are available.
In a booklet posted to all 1,300 parishes in the country, it says that the Church should drop its priest-centred model of the Mass in favour of one built around a community sharing bread and wine in prayer.
"Whether they are women or men, homo- or heterosexual, married or single, makes no difference. What is important is an infectious What's the cure for theological crabs ? attitude of faith," said the brochure, which has been approved by the Dutch order's leaders. However, the Dutch bishops' conference promptly said that the booklet appeared to be "in conflict with the faith of the Roman Catholic Church". It said it had no prior knowledge of the project and needed to study the text further before issuing a full reaction.
The 38-page booklet, Kerk en Ambt ("Church and Ministry"), reflects the thinking of the Belgian-born Dominican theologian Fr Edward Schillebeeckx. In 1986 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger warned Fr Schillebeeckx that his views on the Eucharist and lay ministry were "erroneous" but took no action against him. (Fr. Z. comments Thought so. This was the pure **** we were force fed in my U.S. seminary by the, then, vice-rector and, now, ex-priest who taught sacramental "theology". We had a constant diet of Schillebeeckxs books. I dont think it is a surpise that, from my class at that seminary and for that diocese, I am the only one from my year still in active ministry.)
...
Using the early Church as its model, the booklet said a congregation could choose its own lay minister to lead services. The minister and the congregation would speak the words of consecration together. "Speaking these words is not the exclusive right or power of the priest," the booklet said. "It is the conscious expression of faith by the whole congregation."
The ranks of Dutch Dominicans have thinned along with those of other clergy, and now number only 90 men. Since 2000 around 200 parishes in the Netherlands have been closed due to the lack of priests and the fall in church attendance
Some more indignant sheep.
I overstate the case. I have some good orthodox friends in the Netherlands (Alkmaar) and revere the memory of my old pastor, Fr. Dominic Tamburello, who now entertains his Lord in his Lord's own court.
However this crap does not surprise me. It constitutes the raving of a poisoned and terminal patient.
Not surprising.
Euthenasia, abortion, legalized prostitution, legalalized drugs (yeah, I know, very constricted, but still legal), a military which EMBRACES homosexuality (Their last war was 400 years ago.) and a government which takes care of its people, LITERALLY, from cradle to grave (Mommy culture to the nth degree).
Lay ministers, chosen by the congregation to celebrate the Mass?
WOW, that's sick even for the Dutch.
They are doomed.
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