It’s amazing...simply amazing. And...I am a cradle Catholie born, bred and will die a Catholic. However, the church leaves a lot to be desired. One parish says this and another parish says that. We’re supposed to be ONE.
The problem has not been with the Church. The problem I’m familiar with has been with America and our priests and bishops and our “sense of compassion” and “tolerance” toward all. Some, not all, priests have been influenced unduly by this problem. “Tough Love” is difficult, and priests (bishops,pastors,etc) are human, also, and have a desire to be liked. At times, that desire leads to a failure to condemn the sin in a sinner, and to demand proper actions thereafter. I believe Egan is one of the best now. I hope this public statement does not get “swept under the rug”.
The Church is one, but really, you should know that those who are not of the Diocese of New York must properly be prevailed upon by their bishops, not by Cardinal Egan. Speak of them, and pressure them instead. Perhaps the Vatican is in the process of calling the bishops on the carpet, too, with regard to this. However, if they have not been warned by their bishops in the past, we may not hear anything specific and public about other politicians from those bishops.
It is one Church ... in fact, there are 22 Churches that make up the one Church.
And you, as a Roman Catholic may attend Mass at any one of those 22 Churches.
Sadly, there has been quite a bit of liturgical abuse in the Latin Church since VCII, much of which is attributable to the more 'progressive' bishops (like mine). Each bishop, however, is responsible for his own diocese and, short of committing a heretical act, there is little the pope can do to stop them.
Why Doesn't the Pope Do Something about "Bad" Bishops?
In the meantime, why not discover the beauty and rich liturgies offered up in the Eastern Catholic Churches.
To learn more about the "two lungs" of the Catholic Church, visit this link:
The Vatican II Council declared that "all should realize it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve, and foster the exceedingly rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern churches, in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition" (Unitatis Redintegrato, 15).