Several readers have asked if I believe the Church could collapse.
I have thought about that question especially in light of the assurance by Christ to Saint Peter that the “gates of hell would not prevail against it”.
I guess the answer to the question is what exact one means be the Church “collapsing”.
Will the Church survive?
Yes, I believe that it must in the light of Christ’s Promise and for the sake of humanity itself.
But it will be a weakened Church for sure. And it will take decades, if not centuries, for the Body of Christ to experience restoration.
There is no doubt in my mind that the Church finds itself in a moment of grave crisis which it has never experienced before in its history.
We must remember how the Church rose from the ashes of the fallen Roman Empire and slowly and patiently built a community of Catholic identity -- such as the world had never seen -- which laid the groundwork for the birth of Western Civilization.
The Church has survived catastrophes in the past, but these were mostly brought about by powers and influences external to the community of faith.
The difference now is that the corruptive influences are coming from within the Body of Christ itself, mostly especially in the loss of confidence and relevancy of the Bishops and the Vicar of Christ, the Pope.
Catholics cannot prepare to endure the hardships that lie ahead unless they are first willing and honest enough to admit how precarious the present situation is.
And Catholics must be willing to accept the fact that the Church which survives as an institution may be very different in its external structure and expression than that which is familiar to us now.
All Christians — not just Catholics — must prepare for the decline, and even the fall, of our institutions. It’s happening now. It’s going to get worse.
Those Catholics (and other Christians) who can read the signs of the times and get ready for what’s coming will not be afraid when these terrible things start to happen.
Those who have walled themselves off from reality and pretended that somehow, things were going to be okay if they just sat still and waited out the crisis — those are the believers who are going to panic.
So, do I believe the Church as we know it is in a dynamic state of collapse?
Yes.
But I am equally confident, and pray each day, that the Church which survives this turmoil will emerge stronger and more effective in providing the world with the Truth of the Gospel and the Divine nourishment of the Sacraments.
And the Church will continue to do so, in whatever form, until the Lord comes again!
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
IS THERE ANY DOUBT THAT BUFFALO'S BISHOP MALONE IS TOAST?
In a morning news conference yesterday, the attorney for Catholic Diocese of Buffalo whistleblower Siobhan O'Connor called on Pope Francis to instruct Bishop Malone to resign.
O'Connor was joined by her attorney, Mitch Garabedian, and survivor advocates Bob Hoatson and Jim Faluszczak. In addition to O'Connor's private push for change in the diocese, the three men have publicly put pressure on Diocesan leaders for several months.
"Her voice has given voice to the voiceless. So many victims now know even in much more stronger terms that they are not alone, that they are heard," Jim Faluszczak said of O'Connor's decision to leak documents to 7 Eyewitness News Chief Investigator Charlie Specht.
O'Connor revealed her identity publicly for the first time this past weekend, appearing both on '60 Minutes' and on 7 Eyewitness News. She had been a confidential source for Charlie Specht's ongoing investigation into the sexual abuse crisis and its cover-up in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo for months leading up to these appearances.
O'Connor obtained the documents she shared while working as a personal secretary for Bishop Malone.
She chose to share the documents after seeing how the Diocese responded to a wave of allegations from sexual abuse survivors.
How the Bishop thinks this it is possible that he will have any effective and relevant ministry within the Diocese after these revelations is beyond understanding.
Bishop Malone needs to do the right and honorable act of submitting his resignation to Pope Francis begging its immediate acceptance and the promise that Malone will retire into a life of penance and prayer.
And yet another Diocese in the United States is devastated in the wake of these endless revelations of serial homosexual assaults of young males by Catholic Clergy!
If. as Pope Francis laments, the Church is being persecuted these days, it's not by those who bring evidence of criminal misdeeds and malfeasance against Bishops who are the devils, but the Bishops and homosexual predatory Clergy themselves.
What shameful and sad times for our beloved Church seemingly devoid of Bishops of decency and honesty.
How long, O Lord, how long?
O'Connor was joined by her attorney, Mitch Garabedian, and survivor advocates Bob Hoatson and Jim Faluszczak. In addition to O'Connor's private push for change in the diocese, the three men have publicly put pressure on Diocesan leaders for several months.
"Her voice has given voice to the voiceless. So many victims now know even in much more stronger terms that they are not alone, that they are heard," Jim Faluszczak said of O'Connor's decision to leak documents to 7 Eyewitness News Chief Investigator Charlie Specht.
O'Connor revealed her identity publicly for the first time this past weekend, appearing both on '60 Minutes' and on 7 Eyewitness News. She had been a confidential source for Charlie Specht's ongoing investigation into the sexual abuse crisis and its cover-up in the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo for months leading up to these appearances.
O'Connor obtained the documents she shared while working as a personal secretary for Bishop Malone.
She chose to share the documents after seeing how the Diocese responded to a wave of allegations from sexual abuse survivors.
O'Connor, who said she has provided information to the FBI, said she takes no pleasure in coming forward with details of a cover-up by the men she once respected.
Internal documents the bishop's former secretary show Malone let at least two Priests remain in ministry despite allegations of sexual misconduct.
Church documents also show there are more than 100 accused Priests and not the 42 originally stated by Bishop Malone.
In response, the Diocese released a statement that said they are planning to release information in the coming days "that will add perspective to the stories."
"For now, we simply observe that the material reported in the stories was incomplete, out of context and in some cases plainly inaccurate," it said.
Bishop Malone has stated further that he plans to remain as Bishop of the Diocese until he retires in 2021. How the Bishop thinks this it is possible that he will have any effective and relevant ministry within the Diocese after these revelations is beyond understanding.
Bishop Malone needs to do the right and honorable act of submitting his resignation to Pope Francis begging its immediate acceptance and the promise that Malone will retire into a life of penance and prayer.
And yet another Diocese in the United States is devastated in the wake of these endless revelations of serial homosexual assaults of young males by Catholic Clergy!
If. as Pope Francis laments, the Church is being persecuted these days, it's not by those who bring evidence of criminal misdeeds and malfeasance against Bishops who are the devils, but the Bishops and homosexual predatory Clergy themselves.
What shameful and sad times for our beloved Church seemingly devoid of Bishops of decency and honesty.
How long, O Lord, how long?
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
IRELAND TO TAKE UP FIFTH NATIONAL COLLECTION TO PAY FOR PAPAL VISIT
The Catholic Church in Ireland is to hold a further national collection to help defray remaining costs from the World Meeting of Families (WMoF2018) and the visit to Ireland of Pope Francis last August.
It will take place at all Catholic Churches on the weekend of Saturday, November 10th and Sunday, November 11th.
Spokesman for the Catholic bishops Martin Long said “the World Meeting of Families deficit is in the region of €4 million. To date €15.4 million has been raised by previous national collections and other donations.”
The overall cost to the Church of the WMoF2018 and the visit to Pope Francis was €19.4 million, he said.
It will be the fifth such national collection by the church to help fund these events and the third this year, following one in February and another in July. The previous two national collections in connection with them took place in May 2016 and April 2017 and brought in €5 million.
In a message to all Priests and Deacons in the Diocese of Elphin, Bishop Kevin Doran said “the recent World Meeting of Families came in significantly under budget, thanks to good financial management.”
He added however that “unfortunately, in spite of a very successful effort, there was also a shortfall in fundraising income, due in no small measure to the consistent negative coverage in the media in the final weeks of preparation.
The cost to Catholics in countries which host visits of the Holy Father are astronomical.
Perhaps, in this highly advanced age of social communication, such huge costs could be eliminated by way of digital interaction between the Holy Father and the particular audience he wishes to address.
The Church of the 21st Century will be a much poorer Church than a century ago.
It’s high time the Holy See and the Bishops take cognizance of these facts.
It will take place at all Catholic Churches on the weekend of Saturday, November 10th and Sunday, November 11th.
Spokesman for the Catholic bishops Martin Long said “the World Meeting of Families deficit is in the region of €4 million. To date €15.4 million has been raised by previous national collections and other donations.”
The overall cost to the Church of the WMoF2018 and the visit to Pope Francis was €19.4 million, he said.
It will be the fifth such national collection by the church to help fund these events and the third this year, following one in February and another in July. The previous two national collections in connection with them took place in May 2016 and April 2017 and brought in €5 million.
In a message to all Priests and Deacons in the Diocese of Elphin, Bishop Kevin Doran said “the recent World Meeting of Families came in significantly under budget, thanks to good financial management.”
He added however that “unfortunately, in spite of a very successful effort, there was also a shortfall in fundraising income, due in no small measure to the consistent negative coverage in the media in the final weeks of preparation.
The cost to Catholics in countries which host visits of the Holy Father are astronomical.
Perhaps, in this highly advanced age of social communication, such huge costs could be eliminated by way of digital interaction between the Holy Father and the particular audience he wishes to address.
The Church of the 21st Century will be a much poorer Church than a century ago.
It’s high time the Holy See and the Bishops take cognizance of these facts.
MY PREDICITION: TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY -- FINANCIAL CATASTROPHE LOOMS LARGE
The following is a quote from Internal Revenue Service 1985 EO CPE Text:
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ILLEGAL OR CONTRARY TO PUBLIC POLICY
Exempt purposes may generally be equated with the public good, and violations of law are the antithesis of the public good. Therefore, the conduct of such activities may be a bar to exemption. Factors that have to be considered in
determining the effect of illegal activities on an organization's qualification for exemption are the paragraph of IRC 501(c) under which the organization is exempt or is applying for exemption, and the nature and extent of the illegal activities engaged in by the organization.
Why do I bring this particular tax regulation to the attention of readers?
The Federal government, by way of two United States Attorneys, has indicated its intention of launching an investigation to determine whether or not the Catholic Church, through the various Dioceses, agencies and institutions it operates or oversees, has been engaged in a criminal conspiracy crossing State lines as well as International jurisdictions in the manner in which it has responded to a systematic pattern of sexual abuse of minors and youngsters by Catholic Clergy.
The Federal government sees the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as the primary agent of the Catholic Church to whose policies individual Bishops and the dioceses they administer are subject.
The US Attorney for Washington, DC, issued a letter to the USCCB directing its President to inform the Bishops of every diocese in the country to hold and make available for investigation by order of subpoena all documents, files, memos and related materials of every parish, agency and institution in the United States operating under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church.
As I predicted almost six months ago (to the ridicule of a number of readers) the Federal government would institute an investigation and prosecution of the Catholic Church under the provisions of the Racketeering Influence and Criminal Organization (RICO) Law.
That investigation has begun.
Should prosecutions result in convictions, the Internal Revenue Service would then have the regulatory authority it needs to withdraw Federal tax exempt status from every Catholic diocese, agency and institution in the country.
Individual State Departments of Revenue would most likely follow the example of the IRS and withdraw tax exemption within their particular jurisdictions.
The financial impact of such a decision would be catastrophic.
This is not an hallucination. This is a real and distinct possibility. One I predict will take place.
And the fallout from decades of homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy and the malfeasant, now to be determined criminal misconduct, of Bishops is coming home to roost.
When the Catholic faithful in the pews begin to realize the extent to which their parishes and dioceses are going to be vulnerable to government taxation, the coffers of free will offerings will suffer immediate and catastrophic losses.
Whether the Holy See or the USCCB itself is taking any of this seriously and preparing to take drastic measures to show a good faith effort to punish serial homosexual predators and remove offending Bishops from Office is anyone’s guess.
But from the public posturing Church officials have offered for the present, it seems not.
If Catholics thought the tough times resulting from the abuse scandals were behind them, they have a real surprise awaiting them.
Only the Lord Himself knows how this will end.
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE ILLEGAL OR CONTRARY TO PUBLIC POLICY
Exempt purposes may generally be equated with the public good, and violations of law are the antithesis of the public good. Therefore, the conduct of such activities may be a bar to exemption. Factors that have to be considered in
determining the effect of illegal activities on an organization's qualification for exemption are the paragraph of IRC 501(c) under which the organization is exempt or is applying for exemption, and the nature and extent of the illegal activities engaged in by the organization.
Why do I bring this particular tax regulation to the attention of readers?
The Federal government, by way of two United States Attorneys, has indicated its intention of launching an investigation to determine whether or not the Catholic Church, through the various Dioceses, agencies and institutions it operates or oversees, has been engaged in a criminal conspiracy crossing State lines as well as International jurisdictions in the manner in which it has responded to a systematic pattern of sexual abuse of minors and youngsters by Catholic Clergy.
The Federal government sees the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as the primary agent of the Catholic Church to whose policies individual Bishops and the dioceses they administer are subject.
The US Attorney for Washington, DC, issued a letter to the USCCB directing its President to inform the Bishops of every diocese in the country to hold and make available for investigation by order of subpoena all documents, files, memos and related materials of every parish, agency and institution in the United States operating under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church.
As I predicted almost six months ago (to the ridicule of a number of readers) the Federal government would institute an investigation and prosecution of the Catholic Church under the provisions of the Racketeering Influence and Criminal Organization (RICO) Law.
That investigation has begun.
Should prosecutions result in convictions, the Internal Revenue Service would then have the regulatory authority it needs to withdraw Federal tax exempt status from every Catholic diocese, agency and institution in the country.
Individual State Departments of Revenue would most likely follow the example of the IRS and withdraw tax exemption within their particular jurisdictions.
The financial impact of such a decision would be catastrophic.
This is not an hallucination. This is a real and distinct possibility. One I predict will take place.
And the fallout from decades of homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy and the malfeasant, now to be determined criminal misconduct, of Bishops is coming home to roost.
When the Catholic faithful in the pews begin to realize the extent to which their parishes and dioceses are going to be vulnerable to government taxation, the coffers of free will offerings will suffer immediate and catastrophic losses.
Whether the Holy See or the USCCB itself is taking any of this seriously and preparing to take drastic measures to show a good faith effort to punish serial homosexual predators and remove offending Bishops from Office is anyone’s guess.
But from the public posturing Church officials have offered for the present, it seems not.
If Catholics thought the tough times resulting from the abuse scandals were behind them, they have a real surprise awaiting them.
Only the Lord Himself knows how this will end.
POPE FRANCIS' THINLY VEILED ATTACKS UPON VICTIMS AND THEIR ADVOCATES DISHONORS THE PETRINE OFFICE AND THE CHURCH ITSELF
Pope Francis claimed the Catholic Church is being persecuted by accusations — apparently alluding to accusations of homosexual predatory abuse of young males by Catholic Clergy and cover up by the Bishops — again asserting that claims against the Church are “Satanic”.
Curiously, the Pope choose to reiterate these comments at the end of the gathering of the Synod of Bishops, comprised of 250 bishops from around the world, at the Vatican on Saturday.
Pope Francis again asserted Satan, “the Great Accuser,” was attacking the Church through those who make accusations against the Clergy, claiming the devil “in this moment is accusing us strongly, and this accusation becomes persecution,” in an effort to “soil the Church.”
Is it really possible that the Holy Father doesn’t realize how these oddly crude remarks just end up engendering further mistrust from Catholics whose local churches have been decimated by stories of serial predators and scores of innocent victims.
True, the fact that surveys which reveal that American Catholics trust in the Pope has fallen precipitously have no impact upon his authority to govern, the fact is that the relevance of that governance has been severely, if not critically, damaged.
So what are we to take away from these Papal comments?
That those who bring valid accusations against Catholic Clergy guilty of such vile and despicable behavior are doing the work of the devil?
That those who demand accountability from the hierarchy and the compensation for their suffering and pain are operating with Satanic motives?
Most interesting is the fact that Pope Francis only began to make such claims of a hellish persecution of the Church after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano released an 11-page letter accusing him personally and 32 other high-ranking Church officials of actively covering up allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. And he did so conveniently and cleverly within the context of the celebration of Holy Mass.
This allowed him to attack the Archbishop and still hold true to his initial reaction to reporters that he would “not say a word” concerning the accusations, urging them to look at the facts and make up their own minds.
Those remarks and the recent thinly veiled jabs at those who are calling for justice for decades of homosexual abuse of young males are repugnant to fair minded and loyal members of the Catholic faithful who are appalled at the level of indecency that appears to be rampant among the Bishops and Clergy.
What the Holy Father may not realize is that these derogatory remarks against victims and their advocates are creating an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion that his highly publicized meeting with Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences from around the world in February will be a whitewash of the real crisis facing the Church: the loss of spirituality and morality within the ranks of the hierarchy itself.
Pope Francis' cheap and unseemly attacks against victims and advocates for justice and transparency are symptomatic of the cancer of cluelessness and indifference that is eating away at his Pontificate.
If the Pope isn’t going to cooperate and personally engage in cleaning up the mess created by homosexual Clergy and the Bishops by telling the world the truth regarding the scourge of scandal that has beset the Church, it would be better that he simply be silent rather than belittle those so terribly damaged by the horrific attacks made upon them by the homosexual predators to whom they were entrusted for pastoral care.
Curiously, the Pope choose to reiterate these comments at the end of the gathering of the Synod of Bishops, comprised of 250 bishops from around the world, at the Vatican on Saturday.
Pope Francis again asserted Satan, “the Great Accuser,” was attacking the Church through those who make accusations against the Clergy, claiming the devil “in this moment is accusing us strongly, and this accusation becomes persecution,” in an effort to “soil the Church.”
Is it really possible that the Holy Father doesn’t realize how these oddly crude remarks just end up engendering further mistrust from Catholics whose local churches have been decimated by stories of serial predators and scores of innocent victims.
True, the fact that surveys which reveal that American Catholics trust in the Pope has fallen precipitously have no impact upon his authority to govern, the fact is that the relevance of that governance has been severely, if not critically, damaged.
So what are we to take away from these Papal comments?
That those who bring valid accusations against Catholic Clergy guilty of such vile and despicable behavior are doing the work of the devil?
That those who demand accountability from the hierarchy and the compensation for their suffering and pain are operating with Satanic motives?
Most interesting is the fact that Pope Francis only began to make such claims of a hellish persecution of the Church after Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano released an 11-page letter accusing him personally and 32 other high-ranking Church officials of actively covering up allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. And he did so conveniently and cleverly within the context of the celebration of Holy Mass.
This allowed him to attack the Archbishop and still hold true to his initial reaction to reporters that he would “not say a word” concerning the accusations, urging them to look at the facts and make up their own minds.
Those remarks and the recent thinly veiled jabs at those who are calling for justice for decades of homosexual abuse of young males are repugnant to fair minded and loyal members of the Catholic faithful who are appalled at the level of indecency that appears to be rampant among the Bishops and Clergy.
What the Holy Father may not realize is that these derogatory remarks against victims and their advocates are creating an atmosphere of mistrust and suspicion that his highly publicized meeting with Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences from around the world in February will be a whitewash of the real crisis facing the Church: the loss of spirituality and morality within the ranks of the hierarchy itself.
Pope Francis' cheap and unseemly attacks against victims and advocates for justice and transparency are symptomatic of the cancer of cluelessness and indifference that is eating away at his Pontificate.
If the Pope isn’t going to cooperate and personally engage in cleaning up the mess created by homosexual Clergy and the Bishops by telling the world the truth regarding the scourge of scandal that has beset the Church, it would be better that he simply be silent rather than belittle those so terribly damaged by the horrific attacks made upon them by the homosexual predators to whom they were entrusted for pastoral care.
Monday, October 29, 2018
MY DIRE PREDICTION HAS COME TRUE
For months, I have been predicting that the Federal Government would institute RICO proceedings against the Catholic Church in the wake of the almost universal complaints of homosexual predatory abuse of young males.
The Federal investigation into Catholic Clergy abuse now includes every diocese in the nation.
On Saturday, U.S. Attorney William McSwain put every Archdiocese, Diocese and Catholic institution on notice to preserve and not destroy evidence of priest abuse or a cover-up.
An attorney for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has stated that it is complying with such a request it received from the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a letter sent earlier this month, Mr. McSwain directed USCCB President, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, to notify all Catholic institutions to preserve documents in their current form and condition, "and not be destroyed, discarded, disposed of, deleted, or altered in any way."
Part of the letter was published by a Philadelphia blogger on Friday. It shows the letter from McSwain's office was sent Octopber 9th, which is the same week Pennsylvania Dioceses received Federal subpoenas. It directs Cardinal DiNardo to "immediately transmit copies of this preservation request" to all members and affiliates.
“We have transmitted the US Attorney’s letter at his request and in the spirit of cooperation with law enforcement,” Anthony R. Picarello, Jr., Associate General Secretary and General Counsel for the Bishops’ Conference, stated.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that Federal investigators had opened an investigation into child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic Clergy in Pennsylvania, using subpoenas to demand secret files and testimony from Church leaders.
The Federal investigation came about two months after a historic Grand Jury Report found that 301 "predator priests" in Pennsylvania dioceses had molested more than 1,000 children since the 1940s. The Grand Jury Report showed that the church leadership, including bishops, covered up the abuse.
News of the Federal investigation of Pennsylvania Dioceses broke the day after Pennsylvania Senators failed to vote on a measure that could have allowed survivors of child sexual abuse, including those abused by Catholic Clergy, the ability to sue their abusers. The State's statute of limitations prevents survivors of child sexual abuse from suing their abuser if they haven't taken action by the time they turn 30.
Now that my prediction is sadly being fulfilled, I will venture yet another.
Given the structure of the USCCB itself and its canonical and administrative associations with and among all the Dioceses in the United States, the Federal Government will target the Conference itself and issue indictments against the USCCB for conducting a criminal enterprise.
Prosecution will involve both criminal and civil claims against Church leaders and institutions.
If anyone thinks the Catholic Church has been financially decimated by the civil claims made against individual dioceses and Clergy, let no one doubt the impact which a Federal investigation and suit will have upon the coffers of the American Church as a whole.
We have entered a period of Church history unlike any ever before.
What direction this will take and what its outcome will be should be a matter of utmost urgency to the USCCB and the Holy See.
The American Catholic Church could indeed be crippled financially for decades yet to come. It’s moral relevance totally decimated in its wake.
Bishops who have been reluctant to be accountable for these scandals will now find themselves forced to accept responsibility for the terrible sufferings of thousands of victims whose cries for justice and healing were so long ignored and hidden.
Let us pray for our beloved Church, soon to suffer in a way we cannot even begin to imagine.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
The Federal investigation into Catholic Clergy abuse now includes every diocese in the nation.
On Saturday, U.S. Attorney William McSwain put every Archdiocese, Diocese and Catholic institution on notice to preserve and not destroy evidence of priest abuse or a cover-up.
An attorney for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has stated that it is complying with such a request it received from the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a letter sent earlier this month, Mr. McSwain directed USCCB President, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, to notify all Catholic institutions to preserve documents in their current form and condition, "and not be destroyed, discarded, disposed of, deleted, or altered in any way."
Part of the letter was published by a Philadelphia blogger on Friday. It shows the letter from McSwain's office was sent Octopber 9th, which is the same week Pennsylvania Dioceses received Federal subpoenas. It directs Cardinal DiNardo to "immediately transmit copies of this preservation request" to all members and affiliates.
“We have transmitted the US Attorney’s letter at his request and in the spirit of cooperation with law enforcement,” Anthony R. Picarello, Jr., Associate General Secretary and General Counsel for the Bishops’ Conference, stated.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that Federal investigators had opened an investigation into child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic Clergy in Pennsylvania, using subpoenas to demand secret files and testimony from Church leaders.
The Federal investigation came about two months after a historic Grand Jury Report found that 301 "predator priests" in Pennsylvania dioceses had molested more than 1,000 children since the 1940s. The Grand Jury Report showed that the church leadership, including bishops, covered up the abuse.
News of the Federal investigation of Pennsylvania Dioceses broke the day after Pennsylvania Senators failed to vote on a measure that could have allowed survivors of child sexual abuse, including those abused by Catholic Clergy, the ability to sue their abusers. The State's statute of limitations prevents survivors of child sexual abuse from suing their abuser if they haven't taken action by the time they turn 30.
Now that my prediction is sadly being fulfilled, I will venture yet another.
Given the structure of the USCCB itself and its canonical and administrative associations with and among all the Dioceses in the United States, the Federal Government will target the Conference itself and issue indictments against the USCCB for conducting a criminal enterprise.
Prosecution will involve both criminal and civil claims against Church leaders and institutions.
If anyone thinks the Catholic Church has been financially decimated by the civil claims made against individual dioceses and Clergy, let no one doubt the impact which a Federal investigation and suit will have upon the coffers of the American Church as a whole.
We have entered a period of Church history unlike any ever before.
What direction this will take and what its outcome will be should be a matter of utmost urgency to the USCCB and the Holy See.
The American Catholic Church could indeed be crippled financially for decades yet to come. It’s moral relevance totally decimated in its wake.
Bishops who have been reluctant to be accountable for these scandals will now find themselves forced to accept responsibility for the terrible sufferings of thousands of victims whose cries for justice and healing were so long ignored and hidden.
Let us pray for our beloved Church, soon to suffer in a way we cannot even begin to imagine.
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
THE AMERICAN CHURCH TODAY
Over 17,000 American Catholic parishes serve a large and diverse population.
In recent decades, the Church has faced a number of significant challenges, from a decline in membership to a shortage of Priests to continuing revelations that Catholic clergy sexually abused mostly young males. In many cases, American Bishops covered up these actions.
Against this backdrop, I wish to highlight several additional facts regarding the Church in the United States at this time.
The source of this information comes from the Pew Research Center which I find is perhaps the most balanced and non-agenda driven.
So, here is what we know about the American Church at the moment.
There are approximately 51 million Catholic adults in the U.S., accounting for about one-fifth of the total U.S. adult population. The share of Americans who are Catholic declined from 24% in 2007 to 21% in 2014.
Catholicism has experienced a greater net loss due to religious switching than has any other religious tradition in the U.S.
Overall, 13% of all U.S. adults are former Catholics – people who say they were raised in the faith, but now identify as religious “nones,” as Protestants, or with another religion. No other religious group analyzed in the Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study has experienced anything close to this ratio of losses to gains via religious switching.
Hispanics are growing as a share of adult Catholic population in the country. Moreover, Catholics are racially and ethnically diverse. Roughly 60% of Catholic adults are white, 30% are Latino, and 10% identify as black, Asian American, or with other racial and ethnic groups.
Compared with some other religious groups, Catholics are fairly evenly dispersed throughout the country: 27% live in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 26% in the West, and 21% of U.S. Catholics live in the Midwest.
A significant number (67%) of those who identify themselves as Catholics support changes in Church teachings and policies. However, support for changes is lower among Catholics who attend Mass regularly than it is among those who attend Mass less often.
Politically, Catholic registered voters are evenly split between those who identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party (47%) and those who favor the GOP (46%).
Large majorities of U.S. Catholics have admired Pope Francis throughout his tenure. But in a Pew Research Center poll conducted in September 2018 – shortly after recent reports about sex scandals in the U.S. Catholic Church – the share of Catholics saying this had fallen 23 points, to 31%.
To the extent that these figures allow us to glimpse the makeup of the Church at the present time, the figures referred to in this article are interesting and enlightening.
They do not, however, shed light upon what I think is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the Church in the 21st Century and that is the loss of membership and the practice of the Catholic Faith by so-called Millenials, the next generation of Catholics.
I would welcome a specific study of this group to determine whether or not the Church will be able to function when its torched is passed to a generation of humanity whose values and moral judgments are the fruit of decades of secularist amoral indoctrination.
If such a study were done today, what do you think would be its findings?
In recent decades, the Church has faced a number of significant challenges, from a decline in membership to a shortage of Priests to continuing revelations that Catholic clergy sexually abused mostly young males. In many cases, American Bishops covered up these actions.
Against this backdrop, I wish to highlight several additional facts regarding the Church in the United States at this time.
The source of this information comes from the Pew Research Center which I find is perhaps the most balanced and non-agenda driven.
So, here is what we know about the American Church at the moment.
There are approximately 51 million Catholic adults in the U.S., accounting for about one-fifth of the total U.S. adult population. The share of Americans who are Catholic declined from 24% in 2007 to 21% in 2014.
Catholicism has experienced a greater net loss due to religious switching than has any other religious tradition in the U.S.
Overall, 13% of all U.S. adults are former Catholics – people who say they were raised in the faith, but now identify as religious “nones,” as Protestants, or with another religion. No other religious group analyzed in the Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study has experienced anything close to this ratio of losses to gains via religious switching.
Hispanics are growing as a share of adult Catholic population in the country. Moreover, Catholics are racially and ethnically diverse. Roughly 60% of Catholic adults are white, 30% are Latino, and 10% identify as black, Asian American, or with other racial and ethnic groups.
Compared with some other religious groups, Catholics are fairly evenly dispersed throughout the country: 27% live in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 26% in the West, and 21% of U.S. Catholics live in the Midwest.
A significant number (67%) of those who identify themselves as Catholics support changes in Church teachings and policies. However, support for changes is lower among Catholics who attend Mass regularly than it is among those who attend Mass less often.
Politically, Catholic registered voters are evenly split between those who identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party (47%) and those who favor the GOP (46%).
Large majorities of U.S. Catholics have admired Pope Francis throughout his tenure. But in a Pew Research Center poll conducted in September 2018 – shortly after recent reports about sex scandals in the U.S. Catholic Church – the share of Catholics saying this had fallen 23 points, to 31%.
To the extent that these figures allow us to glimpse the makeup of the Church at the present time, the figures referred to in this article are interesting and enlightening.
They do not, however, shed light upon what I think is perhaps the greatest challenge facing the Church in the 21st Century and that is the loss of membership and the practice of the Catholic Faith by so-called Millenials, the next generation of Catholics.
I would welcome a specific study of this group to determine whether or not the Church will be able to function when its torched is passed to a generation of humanity whose values and moral judgments are the fruit of decades of secularist amoral indoctrination.
If such a study were done today, what do you think would be its findings?
Sunday, October 28, 2018
HERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE CHURCH NEEDS TO SAY TO YOUNG PEOPLE
The Bishops spent about a month writing a 55 page document which I guarantee no young person will ever bother to read.
Here’s what they should have said and in just a few sentences which younger folks might just look at and consider.
The common experience we all share is that we fail at times in our lives, sometimes very seriously.
Human maturity is achieved by way of the experiences of failures and the lessons they teach.
At every step of life’s journey, the Lord and His Church are eager to stand by us helping us to discern which choices truly give us meaning and lead us to a realization of the love Our Almighty Father has for us.
As we admit our faults and failures to ourselves and confess them to the Lord, we do so confident that He forgives us and assists us with His Grace in directing us to adopt a standard of virtue which truly satisfies our need for understanding and acceptance.
Devoid of His Presence, His Message and His Grace, life in this world is an empty void of consistent disappointment and frustration.
Even in our darkest moments, Jesus is there with us. All we have to do is embrace Him and acceptance His friendship.
In listening to His Wisdom and sharing our time with Him in moments of worship and Communion, that friendship is deepened and our lives complete.
It's up to every individual to choose what sort of life he or she wishes to live.
This is the message the Church needs to say to young people.
It’s not replete with esoteric jargon no one can understand.
And it didn’t take a month and 55 pages to say.
Here’s what they should have said and in just a few sentences which younger folks might just look at and consider.
The common experience we all share is that we fail at times in our lives, sometimes very seriously.
Human maturity is achieved by way of the experiences of failures and the lessons they teach.
At every step of life’s journey, the Lord and His Church are eager to stand by us helping us to discern which choices truly give us meaning and lead us to a realization of the love Our Almighty Father has for us.
As we admit our faults and failures to ourselves and confess them to the Lord, we do so confident that He forgives us and assists us with His Grace in directing us to adopt a standard of virtue which truly satisfies our need for understanding and acceptance.
Devoid of His Presence, His Message and His Grace, life in this world is an empty void of consistent disappointment and frustration.
Even in our darkest moments, Jesus is there with us. All we have to do is embrace Him and acceptance His friendship.
In listening to His Wisdom and sharing our time with Him in moments of worship and Communion, that friendship is deepened and our lives complete.
It's up to every individual to choose what sort of life he or she wishes to live.
This is the message the Church needs to say to young people.
It’s not replete with esoteric jargon no one can understand.
And it didn’t take a month and 55 pages to say.
A COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME
Just let me say this about the Youth Synod just ending today: “What a complete waste of time!”
The comments of the Holy Father notwithstanding that the Final Report of the Synod is the “work of the Holy Spirit”, the fact is no young person is going to be moved to read let alone attempt to digest the 55 page document the Bishops produced.
Young people are not going to invest their time or energy reading 55 pages of ecclesiastical gobly-gook.
And if the Bishops truly believe that what they have to say is going to attract young people to the Catholic Faith, I want to have what they were drinking during the meetings.
Just one example will highlight my point.
On the question of difference between men and women, the Final report references the equality of men and women before God and says that “domination and discrimination based on sex offends human dignity,” forms of which even the Church needs to free itself from.
“The relationship between man and woman is then understood in terms of a vocation to live together in reciprocity and in dialogue, in communion and in fruitfulness in all areas of human experience: couple life, work, education and more,” it states.
Keep in mind that these statements are made by Bishops who neither invited nor welcomed the input of women in the discernment and decision processes of the Synod.
But the Final Report continues.
The document also tackles the topic of the body from the angle of sexual immorality, such as promiscuity, sexual tourism, “fascination for risky behaviors,” digital pornography and the display of one’s body online.
“These phenomena, to which the new generations are exposed,” the document states, “constitute an obstacle for a serene maturation. They indicate unprecedented social dynamics, which influence personal experiences and choices, making them the territory of a sort of ideological colonization.”
What young person speaks of "serene maturation" whatever in the world those words mean?
Do the Bishops honestly believe that any young person (let alone mature adult) is capable of translating such jargon into a practical understanding of what the Church is saying about human sexuality?
Once again, the Bishops have exposed the fact that they have nothing to offer young people because they have no understanding of the experience of young people and the times in which they are living.
If anyone can tell me what of practical import and value this Synod will have upon today’s youth, please let me know.
I am glad I kept my expectations of this gathering very low. The Bishops affirmed those expectations as I thought they would.
The comments of the Holy Father notwithstanding that the Final Report of the Synod is the “work of the Holy Spirit”, the fact is no young person is going to be moved to read let alone attempt to digest the 55 page document the Bishops produced.
Young people are not going to invest their time or energy reading 55 pages of ecclesiastical gobly-gook.
And if the Bishops truly believe that what they have to say is going to attract young people to the Catholic Faith, I want to have what they were drinking during the meetings.
Just one example will highlight my point.
On the question of difference between men and women, the Final report references the equality of men and women before God and says that “domination and discrimination based on sex offends human dignity,” forms of which even the Church needs to free itself from.
“The relationship between man and woman is then understood in terms of a vocation to live together in reciprocity and in dialogue, in communion and in fruitfulness in all areas of human experience: couple life, work, education and more,” it states.
Keep in mind that these statements are made by Bishops who neither invited nor welcomed the input of women in the discernment and decision processes of the Synod.
But the Final Report continues.
The document also tackles the topic of the body from the angle of sexual immorality, such as promiscuity, sexual tourism, “fascination for risky behaviors,” digital pornography and the display of one’s body online.
“These phenomena, to which the new generations are exposed,” the document states, “constitute an obstacle for a serene maturation. They indicate unprecedented social dynamics, which influence personal experiences and choices, making them the territory of a sort of ideological colonization.”
What young person speaks of "serene maturation" whatever in the world those words mean?
Do the Bishops honestly believe that any young person (let alone mature adult) is capable of translating such jargon into a practical understanding of what the Church is saying about human sexuality?
Once again, the Bishops have exposed the fact that they have nothing to offer young people because they have no understanding of the experience of young people and the times in which they are living.
If anyone can tell me what of practical import and value this Synod will have upon today’s youth, please let me know.
I am glad I kept my expectations of this gathering very low. The Bishops affirmed those expectations as I thought they would.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
SOME PERSONAL THOUGHTS AS THE SYNODAL FATHERS VOTE ON THE FINAL REPORT TODAY
So, here are just a few thoughts about the Synod on Youth whose final report will be voted upon today by Bishops and the few male Religious Order Superiors in attendance.
I have been following the various reports regarding the Synod even while away on vacation recently.
Here are my observations.
In certain places around the world, the Church is suffering terrible persecution. Being Catholic is dangerous. In other places, famine and drought are killing thousands each day. For many young people, there is no means of personal support because there are no jobs available that would provide wages to live a decent lifestyle.
But the Synod appears to have been concerned with none of this.
Rather, the Synodal Fathers have been content to determine how the Church can be more accommodating to the surrounding culture than converting it.
There is a spiritual famine across the globe, especially in the West, where faith itself has become desiccated by indulgence and the idolatry of narcissism and arrogance.
But the Father of Synod of 2018 seem little able or interested in proclaiming Jesus as the answer to the question that is every human life and experience.
Why?
Because they understand that the bold proclamation of Christ cannot be done by vacillating or corrupt leadership. The scandal of clerical sexual abuse, and the further scandal of episcopal malfeasance in confronting that abuse, has hung over Synod-2018.
If the reporting is correct, the Synod’s final report will likely only give slightly less than a reluctant recognition of these scandals. But more than recognition is required.
The restoration of trust and confidence in the hierarchy and the Petrine Office itself is required. That cannot be achieved until there is a revival of the virtues of integrity, chastity, honor, truth and honesty among the Church’s Ordained ministers.
Young Catholics, indeed all Catholics, need Bishops who are devoted to being teachers and Pastors first and administrators second.
Yet, some Bishops, Auditors, and Synod Managers seem determined to insert all sorts of non-ecclesial code words into the Synod’s discussion of the present crisis of leadership facing the Church.
But that misguided attempt in fact makes matters worse for evangelism in the already-challenging circumstances of the West, where adopting cultural code-words constitutes a tacit act of surrender to the political correctness of this age.
In the end, it appears that Synod 2018 will be a bust, doing little to stem the tide of massive defections from the Body of Christ by young people.
And why?
Because the Synodal Fathers and Pope Francis lacked the courage to look at themselves first and their failure to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ Himself and His call to love honestly, to love boldly in the call to personal repentance and conversion.
I think my assessment is correct. How I wish I was very, very wrong.
I have been following the various reports regarding the Synod even while away on vacation recently.
Here are my observations.
In certain places around the world, the Church is suffering terrible persecution. Being Catholic is dangerous. In other places, famine and drought are killing thousands each day. For many young people, there is no means of personal support because there are no jobs available that would provide wages to live a decent lifestyle.
But the Synod appears to have been concerned with none of this.
Rather, the Synodal Fathers have been content to determine how the Church can be more accommodating to the surrounding culture than converting it.
There is a spiritual famine across the globe, especially in the West, where faith itself has become desiccated by indulgence and the idolatry of narcissism and arrogance.
But the Father of Synod of 2018 seem little able or interested in proclaiming Jesus as the answer to the question that is every human life and experience.
Why?
Because they understand that the bold proclamation of Christ cannot be done by vacillating or corrupt leadership. The scandal of clerical sexual abuse, and the further scandal of episcopal malfeasance in confronting that abuse, has hung over Synod-2018.
If the reporting is correct, the Synod’s final report will likely only give slightly less than a reluctant recognition of these scandals. But more than recognition is required.
The restoration of trust and confidence in the hierarchy and the Petrine Office itself is required. That cannot be achieved until there is a revival of the virtues of integrity, chastity, honor, truth and honesty among the Church’s Ordained ministers.
Young Catholics, indeed all Catholics, need Bishops who are devoted to being teachers and Pastors first and administrators second.
Yet, some Bishops, Auditors, and Synod Managers seem determined to insert all sorts of non-ecclesial code words into the Synod’s discussion of the present crisis of leadership facing the Church.
But that misguided attempt in fact makes matters worse for evangelism in the already-challenging circumstances of the West, where adopting cultural code-words constitutes a tacit act of surrender to the political correctness of this age.
In the end, it appears that Synod 2018 will be a bust, doing little to stem the tide of massive defections from the Body of Christ by young people.
And why?
Because the Synodal Fathers and Pope Francis lacked the courage to look at themselves first and their failure to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ Himself and His call to love honestly, to love boldly in the call to personal repentance and conversion.
I think my assessment is correct. How I wish I was very, very wrong.
Friday, October 26, 2018
SYNODAL TIDBITS
As Synod 2018 nears its conclusion this Sunday, some reports of interventions are being made public, even if reluctantly so.
A bid by Belgium Bishops to allow young married men to be Ordained fell flat at the Synod on Youth.
The suggestion of easing the rules on celibacy was raised by the Auxiliary Bishop of Brussels, Jean Kockerols. It appeared to have fallen on deaf ears — at least officially.
"There were no reactions" to that, or any of the "daring proposals" that made newspaper headlines during the synod, French bishop Emmanuel Gobillard stated.
The 330 Bishops, male Religious Superiors and lay people taking part in the talks, which end Sunday, had gathered to address the thorny issue of how to make the Roman Catholic Church appeal to youngsters.
"I am disappointed by the lack of reaction. One Bishop compared it to stalactites that take a long time to grow," Bishop Kockerols said.
"Numerous Bishops sought me out during coffee breaks, saying 'you are right, we should be heading in that direction,' but I notice the subject was never looked into in the working groups.”
The number of Priests and Religious dropped sharply in 2016 in Europe — and in the Americas to a lesser extent. The picture is rosier in Africa and Asia.
Pope Francis has repeatedly said, there is no doctrinal prohibition on married men becoming priests, and therefore the discipline can be changed.
Celibacy was imposed in the 11th century, possibly partly to prevent descendants of Priests from inheriting Church property. But some within the Church believe it is time to join many Eastern Rite Catholic Churches in permitting married men to be Ordained.
Married Anglican priests keen to convert to Catholicism have already been welcomed over.
Some 60,000 priests have given up their vocation over the past few decades, often to marry, according to a book on the topic presented a stone's throw from the Vatican during the Synod.
There were 414,000 Roman Catholic priests around the world in 2016. Some 1,000 of them are quitting each year, according to the book by Enzo Romeo.
While there are no official statistics on the number of married ex-priests, he estimates that there are around 8,000 of them in Italy alone.
Pope Francis suggested in 2017 that the Church "reflect" on the question of ordaining "viri probati", married men of proven virtue, particularly in far-flung places where Priests are thin on the ground. The idea is likely to be on the table at a synod next year dedicated specially to the Amazon, an immense territory where clergy are scarce.
Sensing a possible shift in attitude, some 300 or so married, former Priests in Italy sent a letter to Pope Francis at the start of October offering their service once more should he need them.
For now, both Pope Francis and the Synodal Fathers have seen fit not to consider the question nor their offer seriously.
A bid by Belgium Bishops to allow young married men to be Ordained fell flat at the Synod on Youth.
The suggestion of easing the rules on celibacy was raised by the Auxiliary Bishop of Brussels, Jean Kockerols. It appeared to have fallen on deaf ears — at least officially.
"There were no reactions" to that, or any of the "daring proposals" that made newspaper headlines during the synod, French bishop Emmanuel Gobillard stated.
The 330 Bishops, male Religious Superiors and lay people taking part in the talks, which end Sunday, had gathered to address the thorny issue of how to make the Roman Catholic Church appeal to youngsters.
"I am disappointed by the lack of reaction. One Bishop compared it to stalactites that take a long time to grow," Bishop Kockerols said.
"Numerous Bishops sought me out during coffee breaks, saying 'you are right, we should be heading in that direction,' but I notice the subject was never looked into in the working groups.”
The number of Priests and Religious dropped sharply in 2016 in Europe — and in the Americas to a lesser extent. The picture is rosier in Africa and Asia.
Pope Francis has repeatedly said, there is no doctrinal prohibition on married men becoming priests, and therefore the discipline can be changed.
Celibacy was imposed in the 11th century, possibly partly to prevent descendants of Priests from inheriting Church property. But some within the Church believe it is time to join many Eastern Rite Catholic Churches in permitting married men to be Ordained.
Married Anglican priests keen to convert to Catholicism have already been welcomed over.
Some 60,000 priests have given up their vocation over the past few decades, often to marry, according to a book on the topic presented a stone's throw from the Vatican during the Synod.
There were 414,000 Roman Catholic priests around the world in 2016. Some 1,000 of them are quitting each year, according to the book by Enzo Romeo.
While there are no official statistics on the number of married ex-priests, he estimates that there are around 8,000 of them in Italy alone.
Pope Francis suggested in 2017 that the Church "reflect" on the question of ordaining "viri probati", married men of proven virtue, particularly in far-flung places where Priests are thin on the ground. The idea is likely to be on the table at a synod next year dedicated specially to the Amazon, an immense territory where clergy are scarce.
Sensing a possible shift in attitude, some 300 or so married, former Priests in Italy sent a letter to Pope Francis at the start of October offering their service once more should he need them.
For now, both Pope Francis and the Synodal Fathers have seen fit not to consider the question nor their offer seriously.
THIS DOG WON'T HUNT
Pope Francis removed Bishop Martin Holley from the Memphis Diocese and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville has been appointed Apostolic Administrator until the next Bishop is appointed.
The Vatican insisted that Bishop Holley's removal was based on his administrative decisions related to the organization of the Diocese.
In June, the Vatican sent two Archbishops to Memphis as part of what is known as an "Apostolic Visitation” or fact-finding mission.
The Archbishops supposedly looked into the Priest reassignment concerns as well as whether Bishop Holley's assignment of a Canadian Priest to the high-ranking Diocesan position of Vicar General followed proper legal procedures.
Now, tell me, while there are so many other issues which the Holy See has had to confront regarding the administrative decisions of Bishops, are we really supposed to believe that Bishop Holley, one of the very few African-American Bishops, was removed for having made decisions regarding the assignments of Pastors?
It has taken decades to address the administrative catastrophes of Bishops in their handling of the homosexual predation of young boys, seminarians and even Priests.
But, we are told that Bishop Holley was removed almost immediately after an Apostolic Visitation because so many Pastors felt aggrieved that they had been re-assigned.
And we are supposed to believe this nonsense?
And isn’t it interesting that Bishop Holley has accepted his removal without any appeal of or without any comment regarding the Holy See’s actions.
The bureaucratic lethargy of the Holy See prompted a Justice Department investigation in Pennsylvania Dioceses in the wake of a damning report by a State Grand Jury.
The acceptance of Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation from Washington, DC took years to process and only after both the Clergy and the laity of the Archdiocese rose up in arms regarding the Cardinal’s mismanagement of sexual abuse cases while he was Bishop of Pittsburgh years and years ago.
But, Bishop Holley makes unpopular personnel changes (a duty well within his discretion as a Diocesan Bishop) and the Holy See strikes like lightning.
Excuse me, but as they say down South, “this dog won’t hunt”.
Something is missing.
Of course, the truth will out in the end and the Holy See will be responsible for yet another scandal or breach of trust.
How sad indeed!
The Vatican insisted that Bishop Holley's removal was based on his administrative decisions related to the organization of the Diocese.
In June, the Vatican sent two Archbishops to Memphis as part of what is known as an "Apostolic Visitation” or fact-finding mission.
The Archbishops supposedly looked into the Priest reassignment concerns as well as whether Bishop Holley's assignment of a Canadian Priest to the high-ranking Diocesan position of Vicar General followed proper legal procedures.
Now, tell me, while there are so many other issues which the Holy See has had to confront regarding the administrative decisions of Bishops, are we really supposed to believe that Bishop Holley, one of the very few African-American Bishops, was removed for having made decisions regarding the assignments of Pastors?
It has taken decades to address the administrative catastrophes of Bishops in their handling of the homosexual predation of young boys, seminarians and even Priests.
But, we are told that Bishop Holley was removed almost immediately after an Apostolic Visitation because so many Pastors felt aggrieved that they had been re-assigned.
And we are supposed to believe this nonsense?
And isn’t it interesting that Bishop Holley has accepted his removal without any appeal of or without any comment regarding the Holy See’s actions.
The bureaucratic lethargy of the Holy See prompted a Justice Department investigation in Pennsylvania Dioceses in the wake of a damning report by a State Grand Jury.
The acceptance of Cardinal Wuerl’s resignation from Washington, DC took years to process and only after both the Clergy and the laity of the Archdiocese rose up in arms regarding the Cardinal’s mismanagement of sexual abuse cases while he was Bishop of Pittsburgh years and years ago.
But, Bishop Holley makes unpopular personnel changes (a duty well within his discretion as a Diocesan Bishop) and the Holy See strikes like lightning.
Excuse me, but as they say down South, “this dog won’t hunt”.
Something is missing.
Of course, the truth will out in the end and the Holy See will be responsible for yet another scandal or breach of trust.
How sad indeed!
Thursday, October 25, 2018
HE'S BAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK!
It is good to be back home again in Arizona and the good ole United States of America.
The trip to Europe was terrific. So much fun enjoying sights I had not visited since my seminary days while attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome, over 4 decades ago.
I confess that I have not had the opportunity to keep up with developments in our Church since I left over a week ago.
That I shall do and offer whatever observations or insights I hope will contribute to reflection, discussion, but most importantly prayer.
Will begin posting articles within the next day or so.
Blessings to all!
The trip to Europe was terrific. So much fun enjoying sights I had not visited since my seminary days while attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome, over 4 decades ago.
I confess that I have not had the opportunity to keep up with developments in our Church since I left over a week ago.
That I shall do and offer whatever observations or insights I hope will contribute to reflection, discussion, but most importantly prayer.
Will begin posting articles within the next day or so.
Blessings to all!
Monday, October 15, 2018
GONE FISHIN'
No, not really fishin'.
For the next 10 days, however, I will be away on vacation.
Lord knows, after this “Summer of Shame”, I (and you, the avid readers of this blog) need a break.
It’s been well over 25 years since I last traveled to London, mainly because the cardiologist who has supervised my care advised against it.
But it appears that retirement is agreeing with me to the extent that “Doc” has given me a thumbs up to take a trip "across the Pond".
I have so many fond memories of London, having lived in that remarkable City for 6 weeks during a Summer vacation from theology classes in Rome.
Back then, Rome, London, Paris, Madrid, the Cities of Europe were places you could walk.
Every time you turned a corner you encountered history.
I look forward to that experience again this trip.
Even went so far as to book a day’s excursion to Paris on the bullet train that travels under the English Channel. That should be a hoot!
I hear the train travels around 180 miles per hour. We are scheduled to leave London at around 9:30 AM and be in Paris in time for lunch atop the Eiffel Tower -- with champagne of course!
God has truly spoiled me all my life giving me the opportunity and privilege of seeing the wonders of His Creation in the places and cultures of so many different lands and people.
Please pray for a safe trip for me and the tour group I will be joining. I shall continue to keep you in my prayers daily as I always do.
Will be back around the 27th of October and hope to return to posting articles immediately thereafter.
In the meantime, take care and God bless you, each and every one!
For the next 10 days, however, I will be away on vacation.
Lord knows, after this “Summer of Shame”, I (and you, the avid readers of this blog) need a break.
It’s been well over 25 years since I last traveled to London, mainly because the cardiologist who has supervised my care advised against it.
But it appears that retirement is agreeing with me to the extent that “Doc” has given me a thumbs up to take a trip "across the Pond".
I have so many fond memories of London, having lived in that remarkable City for 6 weeks during a Summer vacation from theology classes in Rome.
Back then, Rome, London, Paris, Madrid, the Cities of Europe were places you could walk.
Every time you turned a corner you encountered history.
I look forward to that experience again this trip.
Even went so far as to book a day’s excursion to Paris on the bullet train that travels under the English Channel. That should be a hoot!
I hear the train travels around 180 miles per hour. We are scheduled to leave London at around 9:30 AM and be in Paris in time for lunch atop the Eiffel Tower -- with champagne of course!
God has truly spoiled me all my life giving me the opportunity and privilege of seeing the wonders of His Creation in the places and cultures of so many different lands and people.
Please pray for a safe trip for me and the tour group I will be joining. I shall continue to keep you in my prayers daily as I always do.
Will be back around the 27th of October and hope to return to posting articles immediately thereafter.
In the meantime, take care and God bless you, each and every one!
VATICAN NEWS PUBLISHES NONSENSE DISCUSSED AT SYNOD ON YOUTH
The following is an excerpt from an article posted on the Vatican News website.
Ms Silvia Teresa Retamales Morales said that it was a great privilege and responsibility for her to be at the Synod. She said that he was here to express the voices of all those young people who wanted to come to Rome and talk to the bishops.
She says that when young heard she was coming to the Synod they reached out to her, many of whom were non-Catholic. They told her that they wanted her to bring this message: they want a multi-cultural Church that is open to all, not a Church this is judgmental.
They want a Church that makes everyone feel at home, a Church that reflects the message of Jesus Christ. She also said that young people say that the Church should not discriminate against minorities – especially people of different sexual orientations and the poor.
Addressing, specifically, homosexuality, she said that young people believe that gay people have the same rights as everyone else and that they too want to live their faith in the Church. She says that she sees discrimination, people who are not open to gays. She said that the Church’s first mandate is love. Gay people must be fully recognised as brothers and sisters that need to be accompanied by us. She said that this had been discussed in the Synod assembly.
I suspect that Ms. Morales and Synod youngster want the Church to "fully recognize" gay people by affirming the homosexual lifestyle itself.
Why she and others do not just come out and say so is frustrating indeed. At least be honest about it.
I guess she and others think the rest of the Church will be bamboozled by their ambiguities.
But imagine the possibility that such ambiguous nonsense will be reflected in this Synod's Final Report which, with Papal approval, is to be considered as part of the official Magisterium of the Church!
The very fact that homosexuality can even be entertained for consideration by the Successors of the Apostles represents an abdication of the teaching office which is at the center of their Episcopal Ordination.
Such points of view should be repudiated for what they are, a rejection of Church teaching regarding the unitive and procreative nature of human sexuality which is only and fully expressed in the Sacrament of Marriage.
Either as a result of ignorance or by purposeful design, Ms, Morales (and apparently the Vatican itself which publishes her statements) continues to participate in the deception of the gay lobbyist that fidelity to the Gospel and Church teaching amounts to discrimination against homosexuals.
No, Ms. Morales, enlightening those ensnared in the evil of homosexuality is not an act of discrimination but an act of charity, enlightening their minds and fortifying their wills to withstand the ruination of their souls and those of others who engage in such perversity.
That the Holy See would see fit to publish Ms. Morales' remarks is disturbing, but -- all the more pitiable -- not surprising these days.
Perhaps what I find most disconcerting is the fact that a retired Pastor such as I seems to be among the very, very few who voice any objection to this woman's comments and their publication on the Vatican News website.
Shame on the Vatican Press Office, shame on Ms. Morales and shame on the Bishops gathered in Synod!
Where are today's Apostles?
Dear Holy Spirit, how long? How long, O Lord?
Ms Silvia Teresa Retamales Morales said that it was a great privilege and responsibility for her to be at the Synod. She said that he was here to express the voices of all those young people who wanted to come to Rome and talk to the bishops.
She says that when young heard she was coming to the Synod they reached out to her, many of whom were non-Catholic. They told her that they wanted her to bring this message: they want a multi-cultural Church that is open to all, not a Church this is judgmental.
They want a Church that makes everyone feel at home, a Church that reflects the message of Jesus Christ. She also said that young people say that the Church should not discriminate against minorities – especially people of different sexual orientations and the poor.
Addressing, specifically, homosexuality, she said that young people believe that gay people have the same rights as everyone else and that they too want to live their faith in the Church. She says that she sees discrimination, people who are not open to gays. She said that the Church’s first mandate is love. Gay people must be fully recognised as brothers and sisters that need to be accompanied by us. She said that this had been discussed in the Synod assembly.
I suspect that Ms. Morales and Synod youngster want the Church to "fully recognize" gay people by affirming the homosexual lifestyle itself.
Why she and others do not just come out and say so is frustrating indeed. At least be honest about it.
I guess she and others think the rest of the Church will be bamboozled by their ambiguities.
But imagine the possibility that such ambiguous nonsense will be reflected in this Synod's Final Report which, with Papal approval, is to be considered as part of the official Magisterium of the Church!
The very fact that homosexuality can even be entertained for consideration by the Successors of the Apostles represents an abdication of the teaching office which is at the center of their Episcopal Ordination.
Such points of view should be repudiated for what they are, a rejection of Church teaching regarding the unitive and procreative nature of human sexuality which is only and fully expressed in the Sacrament of Marriage.
Either as a result of ignorance or by purposeful design, Ms, Morales (and apparently the Vatican itself which publishes her statements) continues to participate in the deception of the gay lobbyist that fidelity to the Gospel and Church teaching amounts to discrimination against homosexuals.
No, Ms. Morales, enlightening those ensnared in the evil of homosexuality is not an act of discrimination but an act of charity, enlightening their minds and fortifying their wills to withstand the ruination of their souls and those of others who engage in such perversity.
That the Holy See would see fit to publish Ms. Morales' remarks is disturbing, but -- all the more pitiable -- not surprising these days.
Perhaps what I find most disconcerting is the fact that a retired Pastor such as I seems to be among the very, very few who voice any objection to this woman's comments and their publication on the Vatican News website.
Shame on the Vatican Press Office, shame on Ms. Morales and shame on the Bishops gathered in Synod!
Where are today's Apostles?
Dear Holy Spirit, how long? How long, O Lord?
POPE FRANCIS PRESENTS NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR GENERAL AFFAIRS TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE
On his first day as Substitute for General Affairs, 58 year-old Venezuelan Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, was presented to the Secretariat of State by Pope Francis himself, accompanied by Cardinal Parolin
Archbishop Peña Parra took up his new post as Substitute for General Affairs (First Section) of the Secretariat of State on Monday. He succeeds Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was recently named Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The Substitute leads the first Section of the Secretariat of State, which “is especially responsible,”—according to the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus— for expediting “the business concerning the daily service” of the Pope; for fostering relations with the various departments of the Roman Curia, “without prejudice to their autonomy”; and for coordinating their work.
The Section for General Affairs is also responsible for “drawing up and sending out the Apostolic Constitutions, Decrees, the Apostolic Letters, the letters and other documents” that the Pope entrusts to it; it carries out all the acts concerning the appointments that must be made or approved by the Pope in the Roman Curia and in other bodies dependent on the Holy See; it publishes the Acts and public documents of the See in the bulletin entitled “Acta Apostolicae Sedis”; it publishes and disseminates the official communications concerning both the acts of the Pope and the activity of the Holy See.
Archbishop Peña Parra was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on March 6, 1960. He was ordained a Priest on August 23, 1985 for the Diocese of Maracaibo. He has a degree in Canon Law and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 April 1993. He worked in the Pontifical Representations in Kenya, Yugoslavia, at the United Nations Office in Geneva, and in the Apostolic Nunciatures in South Africa, Honduras and Mexico.
Archbishop Peña Parra took up his new post as Substitute for General Affairs (First Section) of the Secretariat of State on Monday. He succeeds Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was recently named Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The Substitute leads the first Section of the Secretariat of State, which “is especially responsible,”—according to the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus— for expediting “the business concerning the daily service” of the Pope; for fostering relations with the various departments of the Roman Curia, “without prejudice to their autonomy”; and for coordinating their work.
The Section for General Affairs is also responsible for “drawing up and sending out the Apostolic Constitutions, Decrees, the Apostolic Letters, the letters and other documents” that the Pope entrusts to it; it carries out all the acts concerning the appointments that must be made or approved by the Pope in the Roman Curia and in other bodies dependent on the Holy See; it publishes the Acts and public documents of the See in the bulletin entitled “Acta Apostolicae Sedis”; it publishes and disseminates the official communications concerning both the acts of the Pope and the activity of the Holy See.
Archbishop Peña Parra was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, on March 6, 1960. He was ordained a Priest on August 23, 1985 for the Diocese of Maracaibo. He has a degree in Canon Law and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See on 1 April 1993. He worked in the Pontifical Representations in Kenya, Yugoslavia, at the United Nations Office in Geneva, and in the Apostolic Nunciatures in South Africa, Honduras and Mexico.
WHAT IN THE WORLD?
If you haven’t yet seen the video of what I can only describe as a “rave” which took place on the dais of the Synodal Hall at the beginning of the present almost-month long Synod on Youth, I strongly suggest that you go to Youtube, download and watch it for yourself.
Then, before doing anything else, look up the definition of “pandering”. I suggest that under that definition, the video you just watched should be attached as a primary example of what it truly means to “gratify or indulge for the purpose of acceptance and affirmation".
The scene of young people gyrating to the cacophony of banging drums, while Cardinals clap to the rhythm of the beat and Pope Francis sitting in what appears to be total confusion says just about everything anyone would want to know about what this Synod on Youth is.
As I have noted in previous articles, the Instrumentum laboris (Working Document) makes little or no reference to Scripture and the Church’s tradition, but instead favors a sociological summation of the needs and experiences of today’s “young people.”
It is clear: this Synod is aimed at indulging the 60s-era illusion that young people have prophetic insight, and insists on their desire to be “listened to” by an institutional Church that the hierarchy is telling them, implicitly and explicitly, is “out of touch”.
Specifically, who are the “young people” the Synodal Bishops are urging the entire Church to listen to?
Apparently, the “young people” of insight and wisdom are those whom the Synod organizers affirm as those who want the Church to speak of human sexuality “without meaning or consequence”. These same “young people” want the right to exercise discernment but based upon their subjective standards rather that what Pope Francis has referred to as “the rigid codes” of Scripture and Tradition, the Church’s very one Deposit of Faith.
Pope Francis’ exhortation to youth “to make a mess!” appears to be both the inspiration and methodology of this gathering.
The Church's hierarchy has become so obsessed with avoiding offense that it is prepared to offer little more than a concatenation of politically correct and acceptable clichés.
The language of the Working Document is far more incomprehensible than the latest English translation of the Mass Prayers.
I fear what the Final Report on this Synodal gathering will reflect, especially since Pope Francis was so very quick to give whatever it contains the seal of “the Church’s ordinary Magisterium”.
Whatever the Synodal Fathers or the clique of specially-appointed Committee Members publish as the teachings of this “mess” of confusion and pandering, I pray the remnant of Catholic faithful who are hanging onto their Faith by their fingernails will continue to abide by and proclaim the truths of the Gospel and wisdom of the Church rather than the specious nonsense which the Synodal Fathers are trying to “dance into being”.
Then, before doing anything else, look up the definition of “pandering”. I suggest that under that definition, the video you just watched should be attached as a primary example of what it truly means to “gratify or indulge for the purpose of acceptance and affirmation".
The scene of young people gyrating to the cacophony of banging drums, while Cardinals clap to the rhythm of the beat and Pope Francis sitting in what appears to be total confusion says just about everything anyone would want to know about what this Synod on Youth is.
As I have noted in previous articles, the Instrumentum laboris (Working Document) makes little or no reference to Scripture and the Church’s tradition, but instead favors a sociological summation of the needs and experiences of today’s “young people.”
It is clear: this Synod is aimed at indulging the 60s-era illusion that young people have prophetic insight, and insists on their desire to be “listened to” by an institutional Church that the hierarchy is telling them, implicitly and explicitly, is “out of touch”.
Specifically, who are the “young people” the Synodal Bishops are urging the entire Church to listen to?
Apparently, the “young people” of insight and wisdom are those whom the Synod organizers affirm as those who want the Church to speak of human sexuality “without meaning or consequence”. These same “young people” want the right to exercise discernment but based upon their subjective standards rather that what Pope Francis has referred to as “the rigid codes” of Scripture and Tradition, the Church’s very one Deposit of Faith.
Pope Francis’ exhortation to youth “to make a mess!” appears to be both the inspiration and methodology of this gathering.
The Church's hierarchy has become so obsessed with avoiding offense that it is prepared to offer little more than a concatenation of politically correct and acceptable clichés.
The language of the Working Document is far more incomprehensible than the latest English translation of the Mass Prayers.
I fear what the Final Report on this Synodal gathering will reflect, especially since Pope Francis was so very quick to give whatever it contains the seal of “the Church’s ordinary Magisterium”.
Whatever the Synodal Fathers or the clique of specially-appointed Committee Members publish as the teachings of this “mess” of confusion and pandering, I pray the remnant of Catholic faithful who are hanging onto their Faith by their fingernails will continue to abide by and proclaim the truths of the Gospel and wisdom of the Church rather than the specious nonsense which the Synodal Fathers are trying to “dance into being”.
Sunday, October 14, 2018
POPE FRANCIS CANONIZES SAINT OSCAR ROMERO AND POPE SAINT POPE VI ALONG WITH FIVE OTHERS THIS SUNDAY
Pope Francis today canonized both the martyred Salvadoran Archbishop Óscar Romero and Pope Paul VI, who reigned over one of the church’s most turbulent eras, following the conclusion of Vatican Council II.
In a ceremony before tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Francis declared the two men Saints along with five other lesser-known people who were born in Italy, Germany and Spain in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Both Romero, who was shot by a rightwing death squad while saying mass in 1980, and Paul, who guided the church through the conclusion of the modernising 1962-65 second Vatican council, were controversial figures both within and outside the church. Both had a lasting influence on the current pontiff, Francis, Latin America’s first pope.
In his homily, Francis called Paul “a prophet of an extroverted church” who opened it up to the world. He praised Romero for disregarding his own life “to be close to the poor and to his people”.
Saint Romero, who had often denounced repression and poverty in his homilies, was shot dead on 24 March 1980, in a hospital chapel in San Salvador. His martyrdom was one of the most shocking in the long conflict between a series of US-backed governments and leftist rebels in which thousands were killed by rightwing and military death squads.
Pope Saint Paul VI, a shy man, guided the Church through the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. He was elected Supreme Pontiff in 1963 and died in 1978.
Pope Francis often quotes Pope Saint Paul VI, showing that he is committed to the reforms of the Council, which allowed the Mass to be said in local languages instead of Latin, declared respect for other religions and launched a landmark reconciliation with the Jewish people.
Paul is the third pope made a saint by Francis since his election in 2013. The others are Pope Saint John XXIII, who died in 1963, and Pope Saint John Paul II, who died in 2005.
**************************
On a personal note, I often assisted Pope Saint Paul VI at the altar as either an Acolyte or Transitional Deacon during my seminary days in Rome. While I am sure he never remembered my name, he was familiar with my face and would smile his greeting every time I served in the Pauline Chapel or at the Pontifical Altar or Saint Peter's Basilica.
While publicly Pope Paul VI seemed stoic and serious, privately he had an impish personality, a quick wit and affable personality.
My memories of Pope Paul VI remain vivid and very fond ones to this day.
In my life, I have had the rare privilege of having had private associations with two Saints of the Church, Pope Saint John Paul II and now Pope Saint Paul VI.
I am certain their virtue far surpasses my human weaknesses and frailties, yet I hope one day to see them again in the Blessedness of Heaven which their canonizations assures us all they are enjoying in the company of Our Beloved Lord.
In a ceremony before tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Francis declared the two men Saints along with five other lesser-known people who were born in Italy, Germany and Spain in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Both Romero, who was shot by a rightwing death squad while saying mass in 1980, and Paul, who guided the church through the conclusion of the modernising 1962-65 second Vatican council, were controversial figures both within and outside the church. Both had a lasting influence on the current pontiff, Francis, Latin America’s first pope.
In his homily, Francis called Paul “a prophet of an extroverted church” who opened it up to the world. He praised Romero for disregarding his own life “to be close to the poor and to his people”.
Saint Romero, who had often denounced repression and poverty in his homilies, was shot dead on 24 March 1980, in a hospital chapel in San Salvador. His martyrdom was one of the most shocking in the long conflict between a series of US-backed governments and leftist rebels in which thousands were killed by rightwing and military death squads.
Pope Saint Paul VI, a shy man, guided the Church through the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. He was elected Supreme Pontiff in 1963 and died in 1978.
Pope Francis often quotes Pope Saint Paul VI, showing that he is committed to the reforms of the Council, which allowed the Mass to be said in local languages instead of Latin, declared respect for other religions and launched a landmark reconciliation with the Jewish people.
Paul is the third pope made a saint by Francis since his election in 2013. The others are Pope Saint John XXIII, who died in 1963, and Pope Saint John Paul II, who died in 2005.
**************************
On a personal note, I often assisted Pope Saint Paul VI at the altar as either an Acolyte or Transitional Deacon during my seminary days in Rome. While I am sure he never remembered my name, he was familiar with my face and would smile his greeting every time I served in the Pauline Chapel or at the Pontifical Altar or Saint Peter's Basilica.
While publicly Pope Paul VI seemed stoic and serious, privately he had an impish personality, a quick wit and affable personality.
My memories of Pope Paul VI remain vivid and very fond ones to this day.
In my life, I have had the rare privilege of having had private associations with two Saints of the Church, Pope Saint John Paul II and now Pope Saint Paul VI.
I am certain their virtue far surpasses my human weaknesses and frailties, yet I hope one day to see them again in the Blessedness of Heaven which their canonizations assures us all they are enjoying in the company of Our Beloved Lord.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
HOW EMBARRASSING!
Nope, not even prepping for my upcoming trip appears to have dissuaded me from additional commentary.
As the Synod on Youth continues, it becomes even more apparent that the new structure which Pope Francis has introduced within the framework of the Church’s process of discernment has nothing in common with the Synodal structure which Blessed Pope Paul VI called for following the close of Vatican Council II.
Then, the Synod of Bishops was designed to be one of the chief mechanisms by which a Pope could regularly and frequently seek the collective wisdom of the College of Bishops in fulfilling the Episcopal ministry whose responsibility it is to teach, sanctify and govern the faithful.
Now, under Pope Francis, the Synod appears to be the convening of what appears to be a “Board of Directors” rather than a solemn reflection on pertinent issues and questions which would benefit from the cooperative and collective discernment by Pastors of souls.
To wit: this year at the Synod on Youth, the Vatican starkly shifted the distinction between voting and nonvoting members from one of Ordination to one of sex.
Religious Brothers, who are considered laypeople, can officially vote in this year’s Synod.
But Women Religious, who hold the same lay status, were not only not allowed to vote but were not asked even to elect representatives at all.
About 10 percent of the Synod participants are women, all chosen by Pope Francis, but none are appointed with voting rights.
After Vatican II reintroduced the concept and structure of Synodal consultations, Bishops were the only ones allowed to vote in Synods.
At this Synod on Youth, however, some men who are not Bishops are allowed to vote, but that is an exception in relation to past practice. Whether future Synods will retain this practice or extend the voting right to women remains to be seen.”
And so, here we have another blatant example of the Holy See shooting itself in its foot.
Either the Synod will be an instrument of discernment by the Successors of the Apostles, in which case only Bishops should have a voice in the deliberations. Or the Synod will be a gathering of the Bishops and “others” who will share in the deliberations which pertain to Church teaching in matters of faith and morals.
If the latter is the case (and I pray it is not), then there is no justifiable reason within Creation to prohibit women from having a voice and a vote in such gatherings.
What is happening within upper echelons of Church governance is embarrassing.
I was once very, very enthusiastic about this Pontificate. Sadly, that is no longer the case.
It seems as though Pope Francis, whom I pray is truly a good and noble soul, is just in over his head and has surrounded himself with loyal disciples whose agendas simply are in tension with the overall vision and mission of the Church.
And the fallout is continual embarrassment, shame and frustration on the part of some and growing disinterest on the part of a growing majority of the Catholic faithful.
As the Synod on Youth continues, it becomes even more apparent that the new structure which Pope Francis has introduced within the framework of the Church’s process of discernment has nothing in common with the Synodal structure which Blessed Pope Paul VI called for following the close of Vatican Council II.
Then, the Synod of Bishops was designed to be one of the chief mechanisms by which a Pope could regularly and frequently seek the collective wisdom of the College of Bishops in fulfilling the Episcopal ministry whose responsibility it is to teach, sanctify and govern the faithful.
Now, under Pope Francis, the Synod appears to be the convening of what appears to be a “Board of Directors” rather than a solemn reflection on pertinent issues and questions which would benefit from the cooperative and collective discernment by Pastors of souls.
To wit: this year at the Synod on Youth, the Vatican starkly shifted the distinction between voting and nonvoting members from one of Ordination to one of sex.
Religious Brothers, who are considered laypeople, can officially vote in this year’s Synod.
But Women Religious, who hold the same lay status, were not only not allowed to vote but were not asked even to elect representatives at all.
About 10 percent of the Synod participants are women, all chosen by Pope Francis, but none are appointed with voting rights.
After Vatican II reintroduced the concept and structure of Synodal consultations, Bishops were the only ones allowed to vote in Synods.
At this Synod on Youth, however, some men who are not Bishops are allowed to vote, but that is an exception in relation to past practice. Whether future Synods will retain this practice or extend the voting right to women remains to be seen.”
And so, here we have another blatant example of the Holy See shooting itself in its foot.
Either the Synod will be an instrument of discernment by the Successors of the Apostles, in which case only Bishops should have a voice in the deliberations. Or the Synod will be a gathering of the Bishops and “others” who will share in the deliberations which pertain to Church teaching in matters of faith and morals.
If the latter is the case (and I pray it is not), then there is no justifiable reason within Creation to prohibit women from having a voice and a vote in such gatherings.
What is happening within upper echelons of Church governance is embarrassing.
I was once very, very enthusiastic about this Pontificate. Sadly, that is no longer the case.
It seems as though Pope Francis, whom I pray is truly a good and noble soul, is just in over his head and has surrounded himself with loyal disciples whose agendas simply are in tension with the overall vision and mission of the Church.
And the fallout is continual embarrassment, shame and frustration on the part of some and growing disinterest on the part of a growing majority of the Catholic faithful.
POPE FRANCIS JUST DOESN'T GET IT
I haven't left yet, and the after reading the following, I just had to comment.
Cognitive dissonance occurs when you are caught between trying to decide between two conflicting options. One of these options is irrational; nevertheless, you are emotionally inclined to choose it. On the other hand, the second option is more rational, but you are not inclined to choose it.
The first to have looked carefully at cognitive dissonance appears to be Aristotle, who offered the following illustration in his classic treatise on Ethics (Book 7): Suppose you see something sweet. You think about how sweet it is and want to eat it. On the other hand, you realize that it is not healthy for you. So there you are, torn in two directions.
If you suffer from weakness of the will (what the Greeks called Akrasia), you will succumb to the desire and eat the sweet. However, if you do have the willpower, you can resist the inclination, and choose the healthy option.
The latest sign of extreme cognitive dissonance within the present Pontificate came, when Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.
But, in doing so, the Holy Father lavished all sorts of kudos and praise upon Cardinal Wuerl for his “nobility” in having chosen not to defend himself by justifying his against the fact that he had been named in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report more than 200 times, with accounts that he mishandled accusations against predator Priests when he was Bishop of Pittsburgh.
If Pope Francis had wanted to send a message that Bishops should be held accountable, then praising Cardinal Wuerl and asking him to stay on until his successor had been chosen—as well as keeping him on a powerful Vatican Congregation that chooses future Bishops—was completely antithetical to that end.
In a letter from the Pope to Cardinal Wuerl made public by the Archdiocese of Washington, the Holy Father wrote, “You have sufficient elements to ‘justify’ your actions and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes,” Francis wrote Wuerl. “However, your nobility has led you not to choose that way of defense. Of this, I am proud and thank you.”
Anyone else find it disturbing that the Pope praises the Cardinal’s silence as an act of “nobility”?
Perhaps, that is how the Supreme Pontiff views his own reticence in responding to accusations that he himself participated in covering up the McCarrick scandal, that his own silence is also a “noble gesture”.
This message will no doubt infuriate many sex-abuse victims. And perhaps rightfully so.
Reasonable Catholics seriously question whether the Pope understands the scope of the sex-abuse problem and whether will he take serious and effective measures to tackle it.
Readers of this blog have commented that they are totally frustrated by the silence and equivalence of the Holy Father.
For the most part, a good many faithful parishioners are indifferent in their lack of response these intrigues. They have long since grown tired of the accusations and the silence as well as the ambivalent gestures on the part of the Pope and the Holy See.
Most folks in the pews are just too disengaged to even care.
But what they what they have done is to withdraw their moral allegiance to the Bishops and the Vatican as the voice which directs their consciences in the moral judgments they must make.
Most Catholics are pretty sanguine about it all, having decided long ago that the sexual abuse crisis is indeed a crisis but one which will never see Bishops being held accountable.
For that reason, they continue to approach the Sacraments in a public affirmation of their faith but, privately within the cathedrals of their individual consciences, they no longer welcome or admit the teachings of the Church enunciated by Bishops they longer respect or to whom they no longer offer their moral allegiance.
That is the real damage which not only the sexual abuse itself but the ambiguity of the Pope’s response to it have inflicted upon the Church.
Sadly, His Holiness and the entire Catholic hierarchy appear to be oblivious to this reality.
And nothing appears on the horizon to convince me or many readers that anything is going to change soon.
Perhaps, somewhere and sometime in a future Pontificate actually committed to reform and revival, things will be different.
We can always hope.
Cognitive dissonance occurs when you are caught between trying to decide between two conflicting options. One of these options is irrational; nevertheless, you are emotionally inclined to choose it. On the other hand, the second option is more rational, but you are not inclined to choose it.
The first to have looked carefully at cognitive dissonance appears to be Aristotle, who offered the following illustration in his classic treatise on Ethics (Book 7): Suppose you see something sweet. You think about how sweet it is and want to eat it. On the other hand, you realize that it is not healthy for you. So there you are, torn in two directions.
If you suffer from weakness of the will (what the Greeks called Akrasia), you will succumb to the desire and eat the sweet. However, if you do have the willpower, you can resist the inclination, and choose the healthy option.
The latest sign of extreme cognitive dissonance within the present Pontificate came, when Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.
But, in doing so, the Holy Father lavished all sorts of kudos and praise upon Cardinal Wuerl for his “nobility” in having chosen not to defend himself by justifying his against the fact that he had been named in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report more than 200 times, with accounts that he mishandled accusations against predator Priests when he was Bishop of Pittsburgh.
If Pope Francis had wanted to send a message that Bishops should be held accountable, then praising Cardinal Wuerl and asking him to stay on until his successor had been chosen—as well as keeping him on a powerful Vatican Congregation that chooses future Bishops—was completely antithetical to that end.
In a letter from the Pope to Cardinal Wuerl made public by the Archdiocese of Washington, the Holy Father wrote, “You have sufficient elements to ‘justify’ your actions and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes,” Francis wrote Wuerl. “However, your nobility has led you not to choose that way of defense. Of this, I am proud and thank you.”
Anyone else find it disturbing that the Pope praises the Cardinal’s silence as an act of “nobility”?
Perhaps, that is how the Supreme Pontiff views his own reticence in responding to accusations that he himself participated in covering up the McCarrick scandal, that his own silence is also a “noble gesture”.
This message will no doubt infuriate many sex-abuse victims. And perhaps rightfully so.
Reasonable Catholics seriously question whether the Pope understands the scope of the sex-abuse problem and whether will he take serious and effective measures to tackle it.
Readers of this blog have commented that they are totally frustrated by the silence and equivalence of the Holy Father.
For the most part, a good many faithful parishioners are indifferent in their lack of response these intrigues. They have long since grown tired of the accusations and the silence as well as the ambivalent gestures on the part of the Pope and the Holy See.
Most folks in the pews are just too disengaged to even care.
But what they what they have done is to withdraw their moral allegiance to the Bishops and the Vatican as the voice which directs their consciences in the moral judgments they must make.
Most Catholics are pretty sanguine about it all, having decided long ago that the sexual abuse crisis is indeed a crisis but one which will never see Bishops being held accountable.
For that reason, they continue to approach the Sacraments in a public affirmation of their faith but, privately within the cathedrals of their individual consciences, they no longer welcome or admit the teachings of the Church enunciated by Bishops they longer respect or to whom they no longer offer their moral allegiance.
That is the real damage which not only the sexual abuse itself but the ambiguity of the Pope’s response to it have inflicted upon the Church.
Sadly, His Holiness and the entire Catholic hierarchy appear to be oblivious to this reality.
And nothing appears on the horizon to convince me or many readers that anything is going to change soon.
Perhaps, somewhere and sometime in a future Pontificate actually committed to reform and revival, things will be different.
We can always hope.
Friday, October 12, 2018
CARDINAL CUPICH, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND HOMOSEXUALITY
Here's yet another example of what I call "morality by geography".
During an interview on WTTW's Chicago Tonight, host Phil Ponce raised the topic of Springfield, Illinois Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who had issued a decree on "Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Related Pastoral Issues."
Mr. Ponce asked Cardinal Cupich, “As you probably know, the Bishop of Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, decreed in June that people in same-sex marriages should not receive Communion or ecclesiastical funeral rites. What’s your reaction to that?”
Cardinal Cupich said, “Well, we have been asked about that already and we responded that that is not our policy and we, as a matter of practice, don’t comment on the policies of other Dioceses.”
In his decree, citing scripture and the Canon Law that governs the Catholic Church, Bishop Paprocki said that homosexual "marriage" marked "a reversal of millennia of legal and judicial recognition of the marital union as possible only between on man and one woman." He also said he had a "responsibility as Diocesan bishop to guide the people of God entrusted to me with charity but without compromising the truth."
On the "Reception of Holy Communion," the Bishop decreed, "given the objectively immoral nature of the relationship created by same-sex marriages, persons in such unions should not present themselves for Holy Communion, nor should they be admitted to Holy Communion”, based upon Canons 915-916) of the 1983 Code of Cannon Law.
Likewise, the Bishop noted: “Pastors aware of such situations should address these concerns privately with the persons in such circumstances, calling them to conversion and advising them not to present themselves for Holy Communion until they have been restored to communion with the Church through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Finally, Bishop Paprocki stated: “In danger of death, a person living publically in a same-sex marriage may be given Holy Communion in the form of Viaticum if he or she expresses repentance for his or her sins," in keeping with Canon 921.
Repeatedly asked if he supports the teaching of the Catholic Church that homosexual acts are "intrisically disordered" and cannot be approved under any circumstances, Cardinal Cupich has continued to decline answering the question.
If the Bishops cannot agree on the doctrine and discipline regarding homosexuality and the practice of Holy Communion, in what sense is the Catholic Faith universal?
What thinkest you?
During an interview on WTTW's Chicago Tonight, host Phil Ponce raised the topic of Springfield, Illinois Bishop Thomas Paprocki, who had issued a decree on "Same-Sex 'Marriage' and Related Pastoral Issues."
Mr. Ponce asked Cardinal Cupich, “As you probably know, the Bishop of Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas Paprocki, decreed in June that people in same-sex marriages should not receive Communion or ecclesiastical funeral rites. What’s your reaction to that?”
Cardinal Cupich said, “Well, we have been asked about that already and we responded that that is not our policy and we, as a matter of practice, don’t comment on the policies of other Dioceses.”
In his decree, citing scripture and the Canon Law that governs the Catholic Church, Bishop Paprocki said that homosexual "marriage" marked "a reversal of millennia of legal and judicial recognition of the marital union as possible only between on man and one woman." He also said he had a "responsibility as Diocesan bishop to guide the people of God entrusted to me with charity but without compromising the truth."
On the "Reception of Holy Communion," the Bishop decreed, "given the objectively immoral nature of the relationship created by same-sex marriages, persons in such unions should not present themselves for Holy Communion, nor should they be admitted to Holy Communion”, based upon Canons 915-916) of the 1983 Code of Cannon Law.
Likewise, the Bishop noted: “Pastors aware of such situations should address these concerns privately with the persons in such circumstances, calling them to conversion and advising them not to present themselves for Holy Communion until they have been restored to communion with the Church through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Finally, Bishop Paprocki stated: “In danger of death, a person living publically in a same-sex marriage may be given Holy Communion in the form of Viaticum if he or she expresses repentance for his or her sins," in keeping with Canon 921.
Repeatedly asked if he supports the teaching of the Catholic Church that homosexual acts are "intrisically disordered" and cannot be approved under any circumstances, Cardinal Cupich has continued to decline answering the question.
If the Bishops cannot agree on the doctrine and discipline regarding homosexuality and the practice of Holy Communion, in what sense is the Catholic Faith universal?
What thinkest you?
SOME TRENDS REVEALED AT SYNOD ON YOUTH
Fourteen small groups of members of the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment have engaged in discussions regarding the Instrumentum Laboris (IL), or working document, guiding the Synod on youth.
Divided by language groups, there were four English-language conversations, three French, two Spanish, one German, and one Portuguese.
Interestingly, for many of the participants, these were second languages. Thus, the reports of these discussions were difficult to read.
However, certain themes and tendencies were clear.
The English-speaking groups were concerned that the Working Document had under-emphasized faith in Christ and the Church’s teaching office, noting that the IL never once mentions the virtue of chastity.
The group headed by Cardinal Cupich explicitly questioned the Church’s emphasis on the traditional nuclear family, going so far as to suggest that the Church does not accompany young people in unusual familial circumstances.
Third, as expected, there were some rumblings about “updating” the Church’s teaching on sexuality, particularly from the French-speaking Group B, the German-speaking Group, and Cardinal Maradiaga’s Spanish-speaking Group A.
Cardinal Maradiaga’s group suggested that the young have the “right” to make “mistakes” and encouraged Pastors to “accompany” the young without reproof, saying “an empathetic Church is one that accompanies despite errors, without imposing, prohibiting, or demanding...”
Several, but not all, of the groups mentioned the Clerical sex abuse crisis and how it has hampered evangelization.
Whether or not the Synodal Fathers will get around to challenging young people to accept the burden which comes with the Gospel and the personal sacrifice required in fulfilling its call to virtue remains to be seen.
Divided by language groups, there were four English-language conversations, three French, two Spanish, one German, and one Portuguese.
Interestingly, for many of the participants, these were second languages. Thus, the reports of these discussions were difficult to read.
However, certain themes and tendencies were clear.
The English-speaking groups were concerned that the Working Document had under-emphasized faith in Christ and the Church’s teaching office, noting that the IL never once mentions the virtue of chastity.
The group headed by Cardinal Cupich explicitly questioned the Church’s emphasis on the traditional nuclear family, going so far as to suggest that the Church does not accompany young people in unusual familial circumstances.
Third, as expected, there were some rumblings about “updating” the Church’s teaching on sexuality, particularly from the French-speaking Group B, the German-speaking Group, and Cardinal Maradiaga’s Spanish-speaking Group A.
Cardinal Maradiaga’s group suggested that the young have the “right” to make “mistakes” and encouraged Pastors to “accompany” the young without reproof, saying “an empathetic Church is one that accompanies despite errors, without imposing, prohibiting, or demanding...”
Several, but not all, of the groups mentioned the Clerical sex abuse crisis and how it has hampered evangelization.
Whether or not the Synodal Fathers will get around to challenging young people to accept the burden which comes with the Gospel and the personal sacrifice required in fulfilling its call to virtue remains to be seen.
KUDOS TO ARCHBISHOP CHAPUT FOR SPEAKING UP AT THE SYNOD
In his second intervention at the Youth Synod, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia lamented that the “wealthy societies of today’s world are in fact underdeveloped in their humanity” and stuck in a “moral adolescence” they seek to impose on others.
Archbishop Chaput began his remarks with a reflection that Pope Francis had described Jesus as “eternally young” in his opening Mass homily.
Yet, after thanking the pontiff for the “beautiful” and “powerful” image of Jesus as “forever young,” Chaput stressed that the Saviour is not, however, immature.
“The Jesus who came into the world as an infant did not end his mission as a youth,” the Archbishop observed. “He matured into an adult man of courage, self-mastery, and mercy guided by justice and truth.”
Chaput then reflected that the developed world is underdeveloped morally: “The wealthy societies of today’s world that style themselves as ‘developed’ – including most notably my own – are in fact underdeveloped in their humanity. They’re frozen in a kind of moral adolescence; an adolescence which they’ve chosen for themselves and now seek to impose upon others,” he said.
He suggested that the Instrumentum Laboris, or “working document” of the Youth Synod – which acknowledges the roots of this moral adolescence – inadequately defends Church teaching.
“The instrumentum does a good job of exploring the roots of that underdevelopment and the challenges to young people that flow from it,” Chaput said. “But it needs to be much stronger and more confident in presenting God’s Word and the person of Jesus Christ as the only path to a full and joyful humanity. And it needs to do this much earlier in the text.”
In his first intervention at the Synod, Archbishop Chaput questioned the working document’s claims that young people are “the watchmen and seismographs of every age.”
“This is false flattery, and it masks a loss of adult trust in the continuing beauty and power of the beliefs we have received,” Chaput stated.
Kudos to Archbishop Chaput for speaking up and defending the ancient teachings and traditions of the Church. It appears no one else in the Synodal Hall is prepared to do likewise.
The Bishops are to be first and foremost teachers of the Faith.
Where are they?
Archbishop Chaput began his remarks with a reflection that Pope Francis had described Jesus as “eternally young” in his opening Mass homily.
Yet, after thanking the pontiff for the “beautiful” and “powerful” image of Jesus as “forever young,” Chaput stressed that the Saviour is not, however, immature.
“The Jesus who came into the world as an infant did not end his mission as a youth,” the Archbishop observed. “He matured into an adult man of courage, self-mastery, and mercy guided by justice and truth.”
Chaput then reflected that the developed world is underdeveloped morally: “The wealthy societies of today’s world that style themselves as ‘developed’ – including most notably my own – are in fact underdeveloped in their humanity. They’re frozen in a kind of moral adolescence; an adolescence which they’ve chosen for themselves and now seek to impose upon others,” he said.
He suggested that the Instrumentum Laboris, or “working document” of the Youth Synod – which acknowledges the roots of this moral adolescence – inadequately defends Church teaching.
“The instrumentum does a good job of exploring the roots of that underdevelopment and the challenges to young people that flow from it,” Chaput said. “But it needs to be much stronger and more confident in presenting God’s Word and the person of Jesus Christ as the only path to a full and joyful humanity. And it needs to do this much earlier in the text.”
In his first intervention at the Synod, Archbishop Chaput questioned the working document’s claims that young people are “the watchmen and seismographs of every age.”
“This is false flattery, and it masks a loss of adult trust in the continuing beauty and power of the beliefs we have received,” Chaput stated.
Kudos to Archbishop Chaput for speaking up and defending the ancient teachings and traditions of the Church. It appears no one else in the Synodal Hall is prepared to do likewise.
The Bishops are to be first and foremost teachers of the Faith.
Where are they?
POPE ACCEPTS CARDINAL WUERL'S RESIGNATION
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl from his post as the Archbishop of Washington, D.C.
The Pope asked His Eminence to remain as Apostolic Administrator to the Archdiocese in Washington until his successor is appointed.
The Pope asked His Eminence to remain as Apostolic Administrator to the Archdiocese in Washington until his successor is appointed.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
VATICAN NAMES MEMBERS OF SYNOD'S DRAFTING COMMITTEE WHO WILL WRITE THE FINAL REPORT
In my experience, meetings are not usually called to make decisions. Rather, meetings are called to give the appearance that decisions made in advance of the meeting were the result of a collaborative effort.
Given that the names of those who will form the Synod's Drafting Committee to compose the Final Report, it appears that my experience will hold true for this meeting as well.
In the text, titled Episcopalis Communio (“Episcopal Communion”), signed September 15 and published September 18, Pope Francis essentially maintained the current structure and function of the Synod, mostly keeping in place the same rules for how the gatherings are carried out, who gets to participate, and who gets to vote.
But, especially striking is the decision by Francis to uphold the current rules allowing the Supreme Pontiff to name whomever he wants to serve on a Drafting Committee for the Synod’s Final Report.
This was a major point of contention in the two previous Synods with many Bishops arguing that the Pope had “stacked the deck in his favor", naming Bishops who were likely to produce the outcome he desired even before the Synod commenced.
Suggestions were made by Bishops at the 2014-15 Synods that members of the Drafting Committee be decided by vote or by collegial consensus to make the body more representative of opinions within the Synod.
However, Pope Francis has refrained from making those changes, and has maintained his power to name whoever he wishes to the Drafting Committee.
Taking a look at the Drafting Committee for this Synod on Youth, it appears that the concerns of the Bishops remain.
Elected by region, the five Prelates chosen by a vote of the Bishops to draft the Final Report are: Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, a Papal delegate to the synod; Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, Prefect of the Vatican dicastery for Integral Human Development; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and a member of the Pope’s “C9” Advisory Council; Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti, Italy, also a member of the Synod’s Organizing Council; and Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne, also a Papal delegate.
In addition, Italian Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, and Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha of Brasilia, General Relator of the Synod, are ex-officio members of the Drafting Committee.
Two others who will serve as Secretaries are Father Giacomo Costa, a Papal delegate to the Synod, who is also Director of the magazine Aggiornamenti Sociali, President of the “San Fedele Cultural Foundation” and Vice President of the “Carlo Maria Martini Foundation”; and Father Rossano Sala, Professor of youth pastoral outreach at the Pontifical Salesian University and Director of the Italian magazine Note di Pastorale Giovanile.
Pope Francis also handpicked three others to the Drafting Committee: Brazilian Father Alexandre Awi Mello, Secretary for the Vatican’s dicastery for Laity, Family and Life; Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; and Father Eduardo Gonzalo Redondo, Director of vocations ministry in Cuba.
In general, the Drafting Committee is largely composed of Bishops and Prelates who are both personal friends and collaborators of Pope Francis.
The Drafting Committee plays perhaps the most important role within the Synod.
And in light of the Apostolic Constitution, Episcopalis communio, who sits on that Committee becomes even more critical not only regarding the Final Report which will pass as the teachings of the Synod but also the effect that Report will have upon the Church for decades to come.
So far, there have been no reactions from the Synodal Bishops to the naming of the Drafting Committee members.
We shall see if that remains the case over the course of the next few sessions.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide the Synodal Fathers in their discussions and deliberations.
Given that the names of those who will form the Synod's Drafting Committee to compose the Final Report, it appears that my experience will hold true for this meeting as well.
In the text, titled Episcopalis Communio (“Episcopal Communion”), signed September 15 and published September 18, Pope Francis essentially maintained the current structure and function of the Synod, mostly keeping in place the same rules for how the gatherings are carried out, who gets to participate, and who gets to vote.
But, especially striking is the decision by Francis to uphold the current rules allowing the Supreme Pontiff to name whomever he wants to serve on a Drafting Committee for the Synod’s Final Report.
This was a major point of contention in the two previous Synods with many Bishops arguing that the Pope had “stacked the deck in his favor", naming Bishops who were likely to produce the outcome he desired even before the Synod commenced.
Suggestions were made by Bishops at the 2014-15 Synods that members of the Drafting Committee be decided by vote or by collegial consensus to make the body more representative of opinions within the Synod.
However, Pope Francis has refrained from making those changes, and has maintained his power to name whoever he wishes to the Drafting Committee.
Taking a look at the Drafting Committee for this Synod on Youth, it appears that the concerns of the Bishops remain.
Elected by region, the five Prelates chosen by a vote of the Bishops to draft the Final Report are: Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, a Papal delegate to the synod; Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, Prefect of the Vatican dicastery for Integral Human Development; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and a member of the Pope’s “C9” Advisory Council; Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti, Italy, also a member of the Synod’s Organizing Council; and Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne, also a Papal delegate.
In addition, Italian Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, and Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha of Brasilia, General Relator of the Synod, are ex-officio members of the Drafting Committee.
Two others who will serve as Secretaries are Father Giacomo Costa, a Papal delegate to the Synod, who is also Director of the magazine Aggiornamenti Sociali, President of the “San Fedele Cultural Foundation” and Vice President of the “Carlo Maria Martini Foundation”; and Father Rossano Sala, Professor of youth pastoral outreach at the Pontifical Salesian University and Director of the Italian magazine Note di Pastorale Giovanile.
Pope Francis also handpicked three others to the Drafting Committee: Brazilian Father Alexandre Awi Mello, Secretary for the Vatican’s dicastery for Laity, Family and Life; Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Patriarch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; and Father Eduardo Gonzalo Redondo, Director of vocations ministry in Cuba.
In general, the Drafting Committee is largely composed of Bishops and Prelates who are both personal friends and collaborators of Pope Francis.
The Drafting Committee plays perhaps the most important role within the Synod.
And in light of the Apostolic Constitution, Episcopalis communio, who sits on that Committee becomes even more critical not only regarding the Final Report which will pass as the teachings of the Synod but also the effect that Report will have upon the Church for decades to come.
So far, there have been no reactions from the Synodal Bishops to the naming of the Drafting Committee members.
We shall see if that remains the case over the course of the next few sessions.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide the Synodal Fathers in their discussions and deliberations.