On August 25, 2016 (just a bit longer than two years ago), I began this blogsite posting an article on the future of the Catholic Priesthood which I stated I believed would be the focus of the next Ecumenical Council.
Since then, I have posted articles on a daily basis covering a wide range of issues of interest and import regarding the Church today.
Along the way, a number of faithful readers have followed what I have had to say and, from time to time, expressed their views or asked questions. At times, I would address those viewpoints or respond to those questions in subsequent postings.
Depending upon the news cycle, there would be days when I posted a number of articles.
Managing this blogsite has required a lot of research, reading and studying, updating myself regarding Church teachings touching upon a host of topics ranging from the Sacred Liturgy to medico-moral practices and protocols.
At times, it’s been intriguing. At times, confounding. At times, frustrating.
But always, it’s been a labor of love because it allowed me to continue to share my love of the Church and the wisdom and beauty of her teaching and ministry even in my retirement from active ministry.
From the response of readers, I felt that this labor contributed at least in some small way to affecting something positive and hopeful among a few of my fellow Catholics.
Lately, however, it is clear that the Church is entrenched in a quagmire of sodomy and filth which is the daily center of attention.
The endless litany of homosexual abuse of young males by Clergy, the almost universal failure of Bishops to address the crisis and the global nature of the crisis has become the stuff of almost every article of late.
And the Holy See, specifically Pope Francis himself, has shown repeatedly a complete lack of understanding and commitment to resolve the crisis in an effective and meaningful way.
In my articles, I chronicled the Pope’s dismissal of the USCCB leadership’s request for an Apostolic Visitation last September. I wrote of the Pope’s urging that the USCCB meeting be canceled in favor of a retreat among the Bishops.
I extensively covered the allegations of Archbishop Vigano and the varied reactions of the Pope and the Bishops to them.
And each time, I ended my writings with a plea to the Holy Spirit to come to the aid of our crippled and bleeding Church.
Yesterday, the USCCB and the Catholic faithful were treated with utmost contempt as the Holy See (under the express direction of the Pope himself I believe) ordered that no action be taken regarding the accountability of Bishops in the sexual abuse scandals that have rocked the Church here and abroad.
It is now clear that this Pontificate has lost any moral authority let alone respect in this country among the Clergy and laity alike.
Rather than continuing to be besieged with the countless reactions of outrage, anger and frustration this latest affront will create, rather than continue for months and months in the endless commentary regarding the same failures and disappointments, I have decided to put this blogsite to rest and cease any future postings.
Before I do so in this final posting, allow me the following personal remarks.
First, thank you for you loyal following and for the response which affirmed and which challenged my opinions.
God bless you for your continued and continuing love of the Church and the Lord.
Second, accept my apologies for contributing in any way to the failings which we see daily in the headlines and on the websites. I am a member of the Church. If the Church has failed in its mission, I bear some of the corporate responsibility and beg your pardon and the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus.
Lastly, while it will be difficult, hold onto your faith and trust in God and continue to nourish yourselves with the Word of God and the Sacraments which the Lord has given to sustain us in our journey to Heaven.
I shall pray for all of you in a special way in my daily spiritual exercises and in the celebration of Holy Mass.
One day, please God, when we behold Him face to face and meet each other in Eternity, perhaps we will understand why the Lord allowed all this to transpire.
For the present, let us continue to walk in faith and not lose heart, even in these darkest and most troubled times.
God bless you and keep you close to Himself every moment of your lives.
I commend us all to the loving embrace of Our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Church and our tainted nature’s solitary boast.
May the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Lifegiver of our Church, come to our aid, enliven our wounded Faith, and encourage us to persevere.
It's been quite an adventure. Thank you for sharing it with me.
With heartfelt appreciation and gratitude,
Father Joe Parisi
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
WHY THERE WILL BE NO SCHISM
The word “schism” denotes the formal separation of a church into two churches or the secession of a group owing to doctrinal and other differences.
The Pontificate of Pope Francis has not been without serious controversy with some Papal decisions having sparked the unusual spectacle of high-ranking Prelates asking the Pope to clarify “doubtful” doctrinal and moral pronouncements which he has made.
Now, as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meets in Baltimore for the specific purpose of addressing the crisis of Clergy homosexual abuse as well as the almost universal strategy of Bishops to cover up the scandal and allow predators to remain in ministry, the Holy See (by way of a letter from the Congregation of Bishops) has insisted that the Bishops stand down from taking any action to institute the reforms and take action on any policies which would have been forthcoming from this gathering.
In anger and frustration, many are once again talking about the threat of schism within the Church.
History shows that the possibility of schism is always present.
But, in order to have a schism, at least one Bishop must sever his fraternal bond with the Pope. If a Priest and his parishioners would decide to split from the Church, that is not a schism. If a Priest leads a breakaway, it usually fades when the Priest dies.
But, Schismatic Bishops can ordain other Bishops and Priests, so the breakaway has a better chance of continuing. This is was occurred in the Great Schism of 1054 between Eastern and Western Christianity has lasted almost 1,000 years.
On the other hand, the most famous schism of the 20th century was led by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre against many of the reforms mandated by the Second Vatican Council, including ecumenism, religious freedom and putting the liturgy into the vernacular.
In 1988, Lefebvre (validly but illicitly) ordained four Bishops without the approval of the Pope, but he took only a relatively small number of Catholics with him into schism. After his death, his group has not grown significantly and has experienced its own splits. Pope Benedict XVI also made the group less attractive by permitting greater use of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass.
Now, this is the reason I believe there will not be a formal schism today.
The Catholic faithful are largely ignorant of, and subsequently indifferent to, Church teaching regarding matters of faith and morals.
Doctrinely, most Catholics understanding of the Faith is elementary. Their knowledge of Sacred Scripture is non-existent and their contact with the Word of God restricted to the Readings of the Mass.
Most Catholics have no familiarity with Church history and the significance to the Faith of the pronouncements of the Early Fathers of the Church and the Great Councils which forged the primordial truths upon which Catholicism is founded.
Morally, Catholics have largely decided to establish their own individual standards by which their consciences are governed in making choices which they hold are compatible with the Gospel and which do not affect their communion with the Church.
Because the Church has failed miserably in its catechetical role as Mother and Teacher, Catholics do not hold doctrinal and moral positions with the passion that a schism would require.
Simply put, most Catholics maintain affiliation with the Church for reasons other than spiritual or supernatural faith.
In my experience, especially with young Catholics, its family ties and expectations that keeps them associated with the Church, until such a time that they set out on their own and are no longer under the immediate supervision of parents or extended family members.
A schism will not happen.
But what I have repeated said will occur is this: the continual quiet exodus from the Church that we have been witnessing for an entire generation of Catholics.
There will be no inter-ecclesial wars, no torches burning before the doors of cathedrals, no formal oaths of allegiance to divergent credal formulas.
Pews will increasingly become vacant as more and more people lose confidence in the Bishops, the Papacy, and refuse to relinquish control of their moral choices to men whom they see as morally compromised themselves.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession, is all but dead as people refuse to submit their moral lives and decisions to the judgment of Clergy for whom they have lost respect. Instead, Catholics have informally adopted a “protestantized” concept of Divine Forgiveness as they admit their sins before God and asks and presume His Pardon.
Does anyone seriously believe Confession will ever be restored as a vital and vibrant expression of Catholic Faith?
The same experience is underway with regard to attendance at Mass.
Days of precept, the Holydays which once obliged the faithful to attend Mass under penalty of mortal sin, are now largely ignored with a meager few who assist in these ancient celebrations.
More and more younger couples are delaying or deciding against the Baptism of their children.
Few and fewer Catholics are seeking to celebrate Sacramental Marriage.
These are all signs of a broken Church which has lost its relevancy in the ordinary lives of people.
So will there be a schism.
No.
Instead, there will be a continual abandonment of any institutional affiliation with the Church or any community of faith.
That is the real crisis facing the Church.
And the Pope and the Bishops don’t seem to have a clue.
No one is listening to them. No one cares any longer what they say or do.
The Pontificate of Pope Francis has not been without serious controversy with some Papal decisions having sparked the unusual spectacle of high-ranking Prelates asking the Pope to clarify “doubtful” doctrinal and moral pronouncements which he has made.
Now, as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meets in Baltimore for the specific purpose of addressing the crisis of Clergy homosexual abuse as well as the almost universal strategy of Bishops to cover up the scandal and allow predators to remain in ministry, the Holy See (by way of a letter from the Congregation of Bishops) has insisted that the Bishops stand down from taking any action to institute the reforms and take action on any policies which would have been forthcoming from this gathering.
In anger and frustration, many are once again talking about the threat of schism within the Church.
History shows that the possibility of schism is always present.
But, in order to have a schism, at least one Bishop must sever his fraternal bond with the Pope. If a Priest and his parishioners would decide to split from the Church, that is not a schism. If a Priest leads a breakaway, it usually fades when the Priest dies.
But, Schismatic Bishops can ordain other Bishops and Priests, so the breakaway has a better chance of continuing. This is was occurred in the Great Schism of 1054 between Eastern and Western Christianity has lasted almost 1,000 years.
On the other hand, the most famous schism of the 20th century was led by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre against many of the reforms mandated by the Second Vatican Council, including ecumenism, religious freedom and putting the liturgy into the vernacular.
In 1988, Lefebvre (validly but illicitly) ordained four Bishops without the approval of the Pope, but he took only a relatively small number of Catholics with him into schism. After his death, his group has not grown significantly and has experienced its own splits. Pope Benedict XVI also made the group less attractive by permitting greater use of the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass.
Now, this is the reason I believe there will not be a formal schism today.
The Catholic faithful are largely ignorant of, and subsequently indifferent to, Church teaching regarding matters of faith and morals.
Doctrinely, most Catholics understanding of the Faith is elementary. Their knowledge of Sacred Scripture is non-existent and their contact with the Word of God restricted to the Readings of the Mass.
Most Catholics have no familiarity with Church history and the significance to the Faith of the pronouncements of the Early Fathers of the Church and the Great Councils which forged the primordial truths upon which Catholicism is founded.
Morally, Catholics have largely decided to establish their own individual standards by which their consciences are governed in making choices which they hold are compatible with the Gospel and which do not affect their communion with the Church.
Because the Church has failed miserably in its catechetical role as Mother and Teacher, Catholics do not hold doctrinal and moral positions with the passion that a schism would require.
Simply put, most Catholics maintain affiliation with the Church for reasons other than spiritual or supernatural faith.
In my experience, especially with young Catholics, its family ties and expectations that keeps them associated with the Church, until such a time that they set out on their own and are no longer under the immediate supervision of parents or extended family members.
A schism will not happen.
But what I have repeated said will occur is this: the continual quiet exodus from the Church that we have been witnessing for an entire generation of Catholics.
There will be no inter-ecclesial wars, no torches burning before the doors of cathedrals, no formal oaths of allegiance to divergent credal formulas.
Pews will increasingly become vacant as more and more people lose confidence in the Bishops, the Papacy, and refuse to relinquish control of their moral choices to men whom they see as morally compromised themselves.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession, is all but dead as people refuse to submit their moral lives and decisions to the judgment of Clergy for whom they have lost respect. Instead, Catholics have informally adopted a “protestantized” concept of Divine Forgiveness as they admit their sins before God and asks and presume His Pardon.
Does anyone seriously believe Confession will ever be restored as a vital and vibrant expression of Catholic Faith?
The same experience is underway with regard to attendance at Mass.
Days of precept, the Holydays which once obliged the faithful to attend Mass under penalty of mortal sin, are now largely ignored with a meager few who assist in these ancient celebrations.
More and more younger couples are delaying or deciding against the Baptism of their children.
Few and fewer Catholics are seeking to celebrate Sacramental Marriage.
These are all signs of a broken Church which has lost its relevancy in the ordinary lives of people.
So will there be a schism.
No.
Instead, there will be a continual abandonment of any institutional affiliation with the Church or any community of faith.
That is the real crisis facing the Church.
And the Pope and the Bishops don’t seem to have a clue.
No one is listening to them. No one cares any longer what they say or do.
Monday, November 12, 2018
BISHOP MALONE'S UNTENABLE POSITION
I am posting the following article not because I personally agree with its content, but just to highlight the resentment which is sparking such criticism of Buffalo, New York Bishop Robert Malone.
He has been accused by his one-time personal secretary of lying about the number of Priests accused of sexual misconduct as well as engaging in a systematic cover up by which offending Priests were shuffled around the Diocese to avoid detection and accountability.
Here an example of a recent series of reports which have been published about the Bishop by the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team and reported on the WKBW website.
In April, besieged Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York announced he would sell the palatial Bishop’s mansion on Oakland Place to help pay settlements to victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Those payouts will likely cost the diocese millions, and the Bishop has since moved to a former convent at St. Stanislaus Church on Buffalo’s East Side.
But internal documents show the Diocese is already footing the bill for costly rennovations to the Bishop’s new home on Buffalo’s East Side, leading some to question how much of a sacrifice it will really be for the shepherd of Buffalo’s Catholics -- and whether he actually plans to live among his flock.
“He’s moving from a very large home to an even larger home that’s being set up to his specific tastes,” said Siobhan O’Connor, the Bishop’s former secretary.
She called the convent at St. Stan’s a “gargantuan building.”
“It used to house 35 nuns, and there’s gonna be two men and a dog in there,” O'Connor said.
Internal budget documents show the diocese earlier this year planned to spend more than $200,000 to fix up the convent — and that was before the Bishop decided he needed hardwood floors in his living quarters.
The largest expense was a $46,000 bill for an addition to the garage and a parking spot for staff — even though a large, publicly accessible parking lot sits adjacent to the complex.
That cost is in addition to $32,000 to install air conditioning in the building and another $30,000 to landscape the yard.
Other basic items include:
$22,000 for “ramp access,” which one staffer said was to prevent elderly donors from climbing the stairs;
$31,000 for paint, plaster and electrical work;
$9,000 to install Wi-Fi; and
$2,000 for plumbing.
That doesn’t include the $20,000 for security for the new residence — and emails show the bishop’s friends were worried about him living in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood.
The Bishop is in an untenable situation. Nothing he does will prove to be above reproach.
Still, Bishop Malone has refused to submit his resignation.
But, realistically, how much longer should the Catholic faithful of Buffalo, who have indicated their dissatisfaction and disassociation with the Bishop, have to endure such embarrassing reporting?
For the good of the Church and his own Diocese, Bishop Malone should submit his resignation to judgment and discretion of Pope Francis.
The sooner, the better for all involved.
He has been accused by his one-time personal secretary of lying about the number of Priests accused of sexual misconduct as well as engaging in a systematic cover up by which offending Priests were shuffled around the Diocese to avoid detection and accountability.
Here an example of a recent series of reports which have been published about the Bishop by the 7 Eyewitness News I-Team and reported on the WKBW website.
In April, besieged Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, New York announced he would sell the palatial Bishop’s mansion on Oakland Place to help pay settlements to victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Those payouts will likely cost the diocese millions, and the Bishop has since moved to a former convent at St. Stanislaus Church on Buffalo’s East Side.
But internal documents show the Diocese is already footing the bill for costly rennovations to the Bishop’s new home on Buffalo’s East Side, leading some to question how much of a sacrifice it will really be for the shepherd of Buffalo’s Catholics -- and whether he actually plans to live among his flock.
“He’s moving from a very large home to an even larger home that’s being set up to his specific tastes,” said Siobhan O’Connor, the Bishop’s former secretary.
She called the convent at St. Stan’s a “gargantuan building.”
“It used to house 35 nuns, and there’s gonna be two men and a dog in there,” O'Connor said.
Internal budget documents show the diocese earlier this year planned to spend more than $200,000 to fix up the convent — and that was before the Bishop decided he needed hardwood floors in his living quarters.
The largest expense was a $46,000 bill for an addition to the garage and a parking spot for staff — even though a large, publicly accessible parking lot sits adjacent to the complex.
That cost is in addition to $32,000 to install air conditioning in the building and another $30,000 to landscape the yard.
Other basic items include:
$22,000 for “ramp access,” which one staffer said was to prevent elderly donors from climbing the stairs;
$31,000 for paint, plaster and electrical work;
$9,000 to install Wi-Fi; and
$2,000 for plumbing.
That doesn’t include the $20,000 for security for the new residence — and emails show the bishop’s friends were worried about him living in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood.
The Bishop is in an untenable situation. Nothing he does will prove to be above reproach.
Still, Bishop Malone has refused to submit his resignation.
But, realistically, how much longer should the Catholic faithful of Buffalo, who have indicated their dissatisfaction and disassociation with the Bishop, have to endure such embarrassing reporting?
For the good of the Church and his own Diocese, Bishop Malone should submit his resignation to judgment and discretion of Pope Francis.
The sooner, the better for all involved.
CARDINAL PAROLIN RESTRICTS TRAVEL OF BISHOP SCHNEIDER
A curious story is developing in Kazakhstan of all places.
A German newspaper, Die Tagespost, has reported that Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Maria Santissima in Astana, Kazakhstan, has been informed by the Holy See that his travels outside his diocese are not exceed the 30 days’ limit legislated in canon law.
Contrary to reports by other media outlets, the Bishop has not been censured or forbidden from traveling.
Vatican journalist Marco Tosatti reported that Bishop Schneider “received a verbal [i.e. oral] injunction from the Vatican asking him to reduce the frequency of his trips abroad” (“Il Papa Impone ‘i Domiciliari’ al Vescovo Athanasius Schneider”, Stilum Curiae, Nov. 6, 2018).
The person who communicated this restriction to him was Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, the Papal Nuncio to Kazakhstan.
The curtailment was issued by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who, as the Vatican Secretary of State, acted on Francis’ behalf.
According to Tosatti, because the Vatican restriction was delivered only by spoken word and not in writing, Bishop Schneider is unable to appeal the decision to the Congregation of Bishops or some Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
No reasons were given for the sanction, which was communicated to Bishop Schneider in April of this year.
Tosatti reported: “Every time he plans a trip abroad, he must inform the Nuncio.”
Whether this will remain a simple notification or become in effect a request for permission will have to be seen.
But it is clear that if the Nuncio — or the Holy Father himself — doesn’t like the frequency, the destination, or the purpose of the trips, Bishop Schneider may come to experience further sanctions.
What is not known is whether the Nuncio has the power to forbid Bishop Schneider from leaving the country altogether. That may indeed be what will be decided eventually, considering the fact that the Bishop is an outspoken critic of Pope Francis.
A German newspaper, Die Tagespost, has reported that Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Maria Santissima in Astana, Kazakhstan, has been informed by the Holy See that his travels outside his diocese are not exceed the 30 days’ limit legislated in canon law.
Contrary to reports by other media outlets, the Bishop has not been censured or forbidden from traveling.
Vatican journalist Marco Tosatti reported that Bishop Schneider “received a verbal [i.e. oral] injunction from the Vatican asking him to reduce the frequency of his trips abroad” (“Il Papa Impone ‘i Domiciliari’ al Vescovo Athanasius Schneider”, Stilum Curiae, Nov. 6, 2018).
The person who communicated this restriction to him was Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, the Papal Nuncio to Kazakhstan.
The curtailment was issued by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who, as the Vatican Secretary of State, acted on Francis’ behalf.
According to Tosatti, because the Vatican restriction was delivered only by spoken word and not in writing, Bishop Schneider is unable to appeal the decision to the Congregation of Bishops or some Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
No reasons were given for the sanction, which was communicated to Bishop Schneider in April of this year.
Tosatti reported: “Every time he plans a trip abroad, he must inform the Nuncio.”
Whether this will remain a simple notification or become in effect a request for permission will have to be seen.
But it is clear that if the Nuncio — or the Holy Father himself — doesn’t like the frequency, the destination, or the purpose of the trips, Bishop Schneider may come to experience further sanctions.
What is not known is whether the Nuncio has the power to forbid Bishop Schneider from leaving the country altogether. That may indeed be what will be decided eventually, considering the fact that the Bishop is an outspoken critic of Pope Francis.
HOLY SEE TO THE USCCB: DON'T DO OR SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE ABUSE SCANDALS
Here’s an immediate development with regard to the USCCB General Assembly currently underway in Baltimore.
At the urging of the Vatican, the Bishops will not vote on two proposals they were to discuss regarding their response to the clergy sex abuse crisis.
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB President, informed the Bishops as they opened their fall general assembly that the Vatican wanted the Bishops to delay any vote until after a February meeting with the Pope and Presidents of the Bishops' Conferences around the world that will focus on addressing clergy abuse.
Affected are proposed standards of Episcopal conduct and the formation of a special commission for review of complaints against bishops for violations of the standards.
Cardinal DiNardo said he was disappointed that no action would be taken during the assembly, but that he was hopeful that the delay "will improve our response to the crisis we face."
The assembly planned to move forward with discussion of both proposals from the Bishop's Administrative Committee.
The Administrative Committee consists of the Officers, Chairmen and Regional Representatives of the USCCB. The Committee, which meets in March and September, is the highest authority of the USCCB outside of the full body of bishops when they meet for their fall and spring general assemblies.
What a disaster of leadership and competence.
It is not as though the Holy See was unaware of the agenda of the General Assembly.
To wait to this moment to make such a request of the Conference and in the face of the overwhelming negative sentiment abroad throughout the Church in this country is beyond understanding.
One could not effectively undermine the confidence which the faithful should have in the Bishops if one tried.
How could anyone, including Almighty God Himself, blame any Catholic who simply throws up his or her hands and just walks away from such incredible mismanagement and lack of pastoral concern for past and possible future victims of the overwhelming homosexual abuse of young males by their Clergy?
The USCCB, if it were ever considered an effective body (which I have consistently doubted), is finished in terms of its credibility and relevance in this country.
Finally, that reality is being made glaringly apparent to many.
At the urging of the Vatican, the Bishops will not vote on two proposals they were to discuss regarding their response to the clergy sex abuse crisis.
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, USCCB President, informed the Bishops as they opened their fall general assembly that the Vatican wanted the Bishops to delay any vote until after a February meeting with the Pope and Presidents of the Bishops' Conferences around the world that will focus on addressing clergy abuse.
Affected are proposed standards of Episcopal conduct and the formation of a special commission for review of complaints against bishops for violations of the standards.
Cardinal DiNardo said he was disappointed that no action would be taken during the assembly, but that he was hopeful that the delay "will improve our response to the crisis we face."
The assembly planned to move forward with discussion of both proposals from the Bishop's Administrative Committee.
The Administrative Committee consists of the Officers, Chairmen and Regional Representatives of the USCCB. The Committee, which meets in March and September, is the highest authority of the USCCB outside of the full body of bishops when they meet for their fall and spring general assemblies.
What a disaster of leadership and competence.
It is not as though the Holy See was unaware of the agenda of the General Assembly.
To wait to this moment to make such a request of the Conference and in the face of the overwhelming negative sentiment abroad throughout the Church in this country is beyond understanding.
One could not effectively undermine the confidence which the faithful should have in the Bishops if one tried.
How could anyone, including Almighty God Himself, blame any Catholic who simply throws up his or her hands and just walks away from such incredible mismanagement and lack of pastoral concern for past and possible future victims of the overwhelming homosexual abuse of young males by their Clergy?
The USCCB, if it were ever considered an effective body (which I have consistently doubted), is finished in terms of its credibility and relevance in this country.
Finally, that reality is being made glaringly apparent to many.
A WORD OF COUNSEL TO THE USCCB MEMBERS: OWN IT!
On Aug. 16, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo made U.S. Catholics a promise.
The Cardinal, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), wrote that a summer of scandal had revealed a spiritual crisis in the Church, through which “scores of beloved children of God were abandoned to face an abuse of power alone.”
“This is a moral catastrophe,” he wrote, while acknowledging that “one root cause is the failure of episcopal leadership.”
“We firmly resolve,” he wrote, “with the help of God’s grace, never to repeat it.”
This promise will never be fulfilled unless the Bishops, not collectively, but individual Bishops who have been shown to have covered up the scandals and perpetuated the homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy admit their failures and take responsibility for their malfeasance by submitting their resignations to the Holy See.
In other words, if the Bishops truly want to begin the healing of the critical wounds they themselves have caused to the Body of Christ, they must own their moral misdeeds and accept the consequences.
To date, not a single Bishop has done so.
To date, confidence in the Bishops overall has plummeted among the faithful.
Unless their is a public admission of responsibility and a public expression of sorrow by relieving themselves of the office which they have sullied, no one will listen to (let alone believe or trust) any promise they make or policy they put in place.
I cannot stress enough the fact that everyone is aware that it was the secular press that revealed the horror stories of abuse, it was law enforcement officials who painstakingly made the effort to investigate the charges, not the Bishops.
The very people the Catholic faithful would have expected to have been forthcoming and committed to the protection of their children, the Bishops, were the ones who failed them the worst.
The faithful have shown an heroic tenacity to the Church, but they are not stupid or mindless followers. They expect their Bishops to be honest men of virtue and their expectations have been dashed to piece by the lack of supernatural faith and virtue which the Episcopal office demands and which has been so lacking among those who presently hold that office.
Unless this gathering of the USCCB results in public presentations of resignations by those Bishops who have been shown to have failed in their responsibility to protect those entrusted to their care, the fruits of this gathering will be withered and spoiled, worthy to be trodden underfoot.
The faithful expect no less than the rendering of an account. They are owed that much.
The Cardinal, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), wrote that a summer of scandal had revealed a spiritual crisis in the Church, through which “scores of beloved children of God were abandoned to face an abuse of power alone.”
“This is a moral catastrophe,” he wrote, while acknowledging that “one root cause is the failure of episcopal leadership.”
“We firmly resolve,” he wrote, “with the help of God’s grace, never to repeat it.”
This promise will never be fulfilled unless the Bishops, not collectively, but individual Bishops who have been shown to have covered up the scandals and perpetuated the homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy admit their failures and take responsibility for their malfeasance by submitting their resignations to the Holy See.
In other words, if the Bishops truly want to begin the healing of the critical wounds they themselves have caused to the Body of Christ, they must own their moral misdeeds and accept the consequences.
To date, not a single Bishop has done so.
To date, confidence in the Bishops overall has plummeted among the faithful.
Unless their is a public admission of responsibility and a public expression of sorrow by relieving themselves of the office which they have sullied, no one will listen to (let alone believe or trust) any promise they make or policy they put in place.
I cannot stress enough the fact that everyone is aware that it was the secular press that revealed the horror stories of abuse, it was law enforcement officials who painstakingly made the effort to investigate the charges, not the Bishops.
The very people the Catholic faithful would have expected to have been forthcoming and committed to the protection of their children, the Bishops, were the ones who failed them the worst.
The faithful have shown an heroic tenacity to the Church, but they are not stupid or mindless followers. They expect their Bishops to be honest men of virtue and their expectations have been dashed to piece by the lack of supernatural faith and virtue which the Episcopal office demands and which has been so lacking among those who presently hold that office.
Unless this gathering of the USCCB results in public presentations of resignations by those Bishops who have been shown to have failed in their responsibility to protect those entrusted to their care, the fruits of this gathering will be withered and spoiled, worthy to be trodden underfoot.
The faithful expect no less than the rendering of an account. They are owed that much.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
SOME THOUGHTS ON VETERANS' DAY
Veterans’ Day this year marks the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I -- “the war to end all wars”.
Each year since, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, all those who fought and all those who have offered their lives for the sake of freedom and liberty in every conflict around the globe have been remembered along with their widows and orphans who suffered their loss.
This year, in a very special way, Veterans’ Day reminds us of two fundamental truths which have been part of human history.
First, the almost universal dream of “war never again” has never be realized. Man’s fallen nature will always get the better of him and the forces of evil and darkness have found ready and willing allies to besiege this world with the death and suffering that comes from human conflict. Perhaps not until all things are reconciled in Christ at His Second Coming will evil be finally purged from Creation.
Second, there will always be patriots who step forward and offer themselves on the altar of liberty. No matter how self-absorbed a culture might be, there will always be those exceptional men and women who place others before themselves to the point of laying down their lives so that other might live in freedom.
Once again this Veterans’ Day, we remember both the villainy of those who would cause ruin and wreak havoc upon humanity even as we remember what is most noble and sacrificial in the hearts of so many who have given their lives for our sake.
At Masses this weekend, I truly hope that the bravery of so many was truly celebrated as our parishes joined in prayer for the fallen and for all those who have served our country and the cause of human liberty. Their memory inspires what is best in each of us.
God receive the souls of those who defended us in battle and grant them eternal rest. Bless all those who suffer their loss and mourn their sacrifice.
Dear Lord, bless and protect all those who wear the uniform and man the front lines and provide us the umbrella of security under which we live our lives without fear or repression.
Dispel from the earth the powers of darkness that inspire hatred within so many disturbed souls.
Turn our hearts and minds to you and help us avoid our conflicts and live as sisters and brothers this day and forever.
Each year since, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, all those who fought and all those who have offered their lives for the sake of freedom and liberty in every conflict around the globe have been remembered along with their widows and orphans who suffered their loss.
This year, in a very special way, Veterans’ Day reminds us of two fundamental truths which have been part of human history.
First, the almost universal dream of “war never again” has never be realized. Man’s fallen nature will always get the better of him and the forces of evil and darkness have found ready and willing allies to besiege this world with the death and suffering that comes from human conflict. Perhaps not until all things are reconciled in Christ at His Second Coming will evil be finally purged from Creation.
Second, there will always be patriots who step forward and offer themselves on the altar of liberty. No matter how self-absorbed a culture might be, there will always be those exceptional men and women who place others before themselves to the point of laying down their lives so that other might live in freedom.
Once again this Veterans’ Day, we remember both the villainy of those who would cause ruin and wreak havoc upon humanity even as we remember what is most noble and sacrificial in the hearts of so many who have given their lives for our sake.
At Masses this weekend, I truly hope that the bravery of so many was truly celebrated as our parishes joined in prayer for the fallen and for all those who have served our country and the cause of human liberty. Their memory inspires what is best in each of us.
God receive the souls of those who defended us in battle and grant them eternal rest. Bless all those who suffer their loss and mourn their sacrifice.
Dear Lord, bless and protect all those who wear the uniform and man the front lines and provide us the umbrella of security under which we live our lives without fear or repression.
Dispel from the earth the powers of darkness that inspire hatred within so many disturbed souls.
Turn our hearts and minds to you and help us avoid our conflicts and live as sisters and brothers this day and forever.
NO, ARCHBISHOP LORI, YOU (AND YOUR USCCB BROTHERS) STILL DON'T GET IT
In an open letter to the Baltimore Sun last Friday, Archbishop William Lori stated that at t he United States Conference of Catholic Bishops General Assembly this coming week, the Bishops will address the "severe crisis" confronting the Church with regard to the litany of sexual abuse scandals of late.
Archbishop Lori further states that the agenda, deliberations and outcomes of the meeting will be under intense scrutiny.
He couldn’t be more correct.
However, the Archbishop misses the point when it comes to the reasons for the crisis which is tearing at the very fabric of the Church -- confidence in the Bishops themselves.
Archbishop Lori wrote:
Now, for the matter of accountability. There is zero tolerance for anyone in the employment of the Archdiocese of Baltimore — lay or clergy — who is credibly accused of sexual abuse. Anyone who is credibly accused is permanently removed from ministry and employment. Each allegation is also brought before an independent review board that is responsible for reviewing the archdiocese’s handling of every allegation against any person who ministers on behalf of the church, including bishops. The board, comprised mostly of lay men and women with professional credentials in the fields of canon law, human resources, child protection and civil law, is empowered to oversee the archdiocese’s enforcement of child protection policies.
Because the role and influence of the laity must be expanded, I have also announced the creation of a new Archdiocesan Pastoral Council to foster greater lay involvement in the pastoral and administrative life of the Archdiocese.
During the Bishops’ conference this week, we will take up the creation of a national third-party reporting system that will receive confidential complaints of sexual abuse of minors by a bishop, as well as any allegation of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by bishops toward adults. Also being created is a “Code of Conduct for Bishops” that will define clear and monitored policies for restrictions imposed on bishops removed or those who have resigned due to allegations of abuse or harassment.
No, Archbishop Lori, the creation of such structures will not in and of themselves restore the confidence and trust of the faithful.
Why?
First, it is simply not credible that no Bishop (not a single one) knew of the disgraced McCarrick’s deviant behavior and did not come forward. And the fact that, even now, no Bishop has admitted knowledge and accepted the consequences of his silence, taints everything else the Bishops say and do with regard to sexual abuse suspect and untrustworthy.
No one believes any Bishop is ready or willing to place the good of the Church before his career and rightly accept the consequences of his inaction and silence by resigning from office.
Second, the Catholic faithful are keenly aware that it was the secular press that uncovered the depth of the scandal and the strategy of Bishops to cover up the truth (a strategy almost universally applied throughout the American Church). And still, no Bishop has been held accountable and suffered the just consequence of such malfeasance and deception.
No one believes that the Bishops would have done anything on their own to address the scandal of the homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy if the secular press had not broken the story.
The Bishops showed they couldn't be trusted on their own to come clean with the faithful and cleanse the Church of the filth of these horrific abuses.
Third, serious accusations have been leveled by a high-ranking Vatican official (Archbishop Vigano) against American Cardinals whose very appointments may have been influenced by the disgraced McCarrick. Those accusations reach to the Office of the Holy Father himself. Yet, the USCCB as a whole has not come forward to demand that an investigation be undertaken to either, once and for all, if the accusations are true or false.
It is most interesting that, among the Conference Bishops, thus far only 148 thus far have made official statements about these accusations. Of those, 80 Bishops support an investigation, 63 have remained neutral, and 5 have opposed any such effort.
And of the 5 Bishops who oppose an investigation, 4 of them (Cupich, Tobin, Wuerl and McElroy) are themselves implicated in the accusations.
And still, 41 American Bishops remain who have made no public statement whatsoever.
These are serious lapses of honest and reputable governance, as well as personal integrity.
And yet, these same men are prepared to call upon the faithful to trust them to do what is right in addressing the ongoing scandals plaguing the Church!
No policy or structure the USCCB attempts to put in place will restore the faithful’s respect or confidence in anything these Bishops propose or establish.
The Bishops need to come clean and stop pretending that no one knew. Those Bishops who did indeed know and did nothing need to submit their resignations immediately and be removed from office.
The Conference itself needs to demand that an independent investigation be immediately undertaken to determine whether or not Archbishop Vigano’s allegations that the disgraced McCarrick had anything to do with the appointments of Cardinals Cupich and Tobin as well as Bishop McElroy. If proven, these men need to be removed from office.
The Conference needs, likewise, to insist that the Holy Father hold himself accountable as well and speak to the issue of the accusations, assisting an independent investigation into the accusations leveled against him. If proven, the Holy Father himself needs to resign the Petrine Office.
To date, the American Bishops have been silent or resistant to any such attempts at accountability.
As long as that continues, anything the Conference says or does will be discredited and suspect as it should be.
Archbishop Lori and the Conference still appear not to understand that this is the real crisis facing the American -- and the Universal Church -- in our time.
Archbishop Lori further states that the agenda, deliberations and outcomes of the meeting will be under intense scrutiny.
He couldn’t be more correct.
However, the Archbishop misses the point when it comes to the reasons for the crisis which is tearing at the very fabric of the Church -- confidence in the Bishops themselves.
Archbishop Lori wrote:
Now, for the matter of accountability. There is zero tolerance for anyone in the employment of the Archdiocese of Baltimore — lay or clergy — who is credibly accused of sexual abuse. Anyone who is credibly accused is permanently removed from ministry and employment. Each allegation is also brought before an independent review board that is responsible for reviewing the archdiocese’s handling of every allegation against any person who ministers on behalf of the church, including bishops. The board, comprised mostly of lay men and women with professional credentials in the fields of canon law, human resources, child protection and civil law, is empowered to oversee the archdiocese’s enforcement of child protection policies.
Because the role and influence of the laity must be expanded, I have also announced the creation of a new Archdiocesan Pastoral Council to foster greater lay involvement in the pastoral and administrative life of the Archdiocese.
During the Bishops’ conference this week, we will take up the creation of a national third-party reporting system that will receive confidential complaints of sexual abuse of minors by a bishop, as well as any allegation of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by bishops toward adults. Also being created is a “Code of Conduct for Bishops” that will define clear and monitored policies for restrictions imposed on bishops removed or those who have resigned due to allegations of abuse or harassment.
No, Archbishop Lori, the creation of such structures will not in and of themselves restore the confidence and trust of the faithful.
Why?
First, it is simply not credible that no Bishop (not a single one) knew of the disgraced McCarrick’s deviant behavior and did not come forward. And the fact that, even now, no Bishop has admitted knowledge and accepted the consequences of his silence, taints everything else the Bishops say and do with regard to sexual abuse suspect and untrustworthy.
No one believes any Bishop is ready or willing to place the good of the Church before his career and rightly accept the consequences of his inaction and silence by resigning from office.
Second, the Catholic faithful are keenly aware that it was the secular press that uncovered the depth of the scandal and the strategy of Bishops to cover up the truth (a strategy almost universally applied throughout the American Church). And still, no Bishop has been held accountable and suffered the just consequence of such malfeasance and deception.
No one believes that the Bishops would have done anything on their own to address the scandal of the homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy if the secular press had not broken the story.
The Bishops showed they couldn't be trusted on their own to come clean with the faithful and cleanse the Church of the filth of these horrific abuses.
Third, serious accusations have been leveled by a high-ranking Vatican official (Archbishop Vigano) against American Cardinals whose very appointments may have been influenced by the disgraced McCarrick. Those accusations reach to the Office of the Holy Father himself. Yet, the USCCB as a whole has not come forward to demand that an investigation be undertaken to either, once and for all, if the accusations are true or false.
It is most interesting that, among the Conference Bishops, thus far only 148 thus far have made official statements about these accusations. Of those, 80 Bishops support an investigation, 63 have remained neutral, and 5 have opposed any such effort.
And of the 5 Bishops who oppose an investigation, 4 of them (Cupich, Tobin, Wuerl and McElroy) are themselves implicated in the accusations.
And still, 41 American Bishops remain who have made no public statement whatsoever.
These are serious lapses of honest and reputable governance, as well as personal integrity.
And yet, these same men are prepared to call upon the faithful to trust them to do what is right in addressing the ongoing scandals plaguing the Church!
No policy or structure the USCCB attempts to put in place will restore the faithful’s respect or confidence in anything these Bishops propose or establish.
The Bishops need to come clean and stop pretending that no one knew. Those Bishops who did indeed know and did nothing need to submit their resignations immediately and be removed from office.
The Conference itself needs to demand that an independent investigation be immediately undertaken to determine whether or not Archbishop Vigano’s allegations that the disgraced McCarrick had anything to do with the appointments of Cardinals Cupich and Tobin as well as Bishop McElroy. If proven, these men need to be removed from office.
The Conference needs, likewise, to insist that the Holy Father hold himself accountable as well and speak to the issue of the accusations, assisting an independent investigation into the accusations leveled against him. If proven, the Holy Father himself needs to resign the Petrine Office.
To date, the American Bishops have been silent or resistant to any such attempts at accountability.
As long as that continues, anything the Conference says or does will be discredited and suspect as it should be.
Archbishop Lori and the Conference still appear not to understand that this is the real crisis facing the American -- and the Universal Church -- in our time.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
IS A RESTORATION OF THE BROKEN TRUST BETWEEN THE BISHOPS AND THE FAITHFUL STILL POSSIBLE?
The relationship between a Bishop and his Diocese has been described as the relationship of a groom to his bride.
If there is any semblance of reality in the analogy, then we can easily observe that many a Bishop’s “marriage” to his Diocese is in serious trouble.
And, of course, why do so many marriages experience critical difficulties?
They do so because of some kind of broken trust.
Like most marriages, the couple wants to rebuilt the relationship. In some cases, there are those who many to stay together, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have truly healed that languishing breach.
So, too, is the experience of pain and sorrow that has accompanied the loss of confidence in the Bishops on the part of diocesan faithful.
This loss of trust will not be easy to overcome and will require that both the Bishops and the faithful are fully committed to whatever it takes to learn from what occurred to cause the breach in confidence and turn toward a realistic and believable future.
As in marriages, even when there have been incidences of fear, anger, hurt, insecurity, self-doubt and humiliation, most partners still have a bond that they may not want to end.
Both partners struggle to balance between continuing an anguished relationship and experiencing the grief of splitting up.
Betrayals come in many forms. When married couples look back in time, they realize that some might have been predictable.
Others seem to have been a total surprise, without the partners realizing that an inevitable breach was about to occur.
Even when a relationship seems healthy and unassailable, they can fall prey to a betrayal that cannot be easily predicted or explained.
Doesn’t this fit the experience of the faithful with their Bishops of late?
Most people hold the word betrayal as synonymous with infidelity. Perhaps that is because it is the most common form of broken trust in an intimate relationship, and represents the most basic elements that destroy faith between intimate partners.
Committed partners traditionally promise one another that they will remain faithful for the duration of their relationship and they use that sacred agreement as the foundation of all other trusts between them. When one breaks that promise, the fallout from that deception infiltrates the entirety of the bond which has held the relationship intact to that point.
I contend that is the very sense of betrayal many Catholic are experiencing in their relationships with their Bishops.
When couples commit to a relationship, they agree to follow the ethics, values, and behaviors that will ensure that their relationship continues to thrive. Depending on how well they know themselves and each other, they make those agreements in good faith, and trust that each will live by them.
When that ethic, when those values are betrayed, many married couples find themselves beyond hope of reconciliation.
Yet, there are a few marriages in which the partners so value one another that the concept that they will never be together again is simply unacceptable to both.
They become committed to the possibility that the betrayal will somehow become the foundation for a deeper and more devoted relationship and they are willing to do whatever is necessary to make that happen.
If a couple suffering the agony of broken trust is committed to transforming their relationship, they must both be willing to follow some clear guidelines for this kind of miraculous outcome to happen.
First, the partner who has clearly betrayed the other must be able to witness and admit his or her intentional breaking of the faith they once shared. That remorse must be absolute and the deception must not be excused.
People who have made self-serving decisions to act in a way that causes irreparable harm to their partners must be willingly accountable for what they have done. They cannot blame, make excuses, dismiss or minimize the action, nor expect their partners to heal before they are ready. They must also be willing to do whatever is necessary to put in the energy, time, and caring required to build a new relationship.
And so, the Bishops must hold themselves accountable. Nothing else will suffice.
The betrayed partners must still be willing to fight for resolution despite their legitimate pain. If love and other sacred attachments are still present, those betrayed partners must be open to examine their own participation in what has happened and work hard to get through the understandable need to express their wounds and desires to retaliate.
For their part, the faithful must be willing to allow that the Church can change and Bishops be appointed who will commit themselves to the care of those entrusted to them.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will meet this week in Baltimore.
The Bishops have indicated their commitment to address the scandal of the homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy as well as their silence and inaction regarding the abuse.
In preparation for the meeting, the Bishops have committed themselves to the hazardous journey of attempting to restore the trust which the faithful had placed in them, the trust which they betrayed so often and so seriously.
Will the Conference be able to restore that trust? Will the faithful accept the Bishops' promises of amendment?
Will, years hence, both Bishops and the faithful be able to look back at this horrific experience of betrayal as the wake-up call that preceded a new level of commitment and depth in their relationship.
These are the questions hanging over this Conference gathering.
Will the Church survive this crisis?
It is up to the Bishops and their faithful to make that decision and the moment is NOW!
If there is any semblance of reality in the analogy, then we can easily observe that many a Bishop’s “marriage” to his Diocese is in serious trouble.
And, of course, why do so many marriages experience critical difficulties?
They do so because of some kind of broken trust.
Like most marriages, the couple wants to rebuilt the relationship. In some cases, there are those who many to stay together, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have truly healed that languishing breach.
So, too, is the experience of pain and sorrow that has accompanied the loss of confidence in the Bishops on the part of diocesan faithful.
This loss of trust will not be easy to overcome and will require that both the Bishops and the faithful are fully committed to whatever it takes to learn from what occurred to cause the breach in confidence and turn toward a realistic and believable future.
As in marriages, even when there have been incidences of fear, anger, hurt, insecurity, self-doubt and humiliation, most partners still have a bond that they may not want to end.
Both partners struggle to balance between continuing an anguished relationship and experiencing the grief of splitting up.
Betrayals come in many forms. When married couples look back in time, they realize that some might have been predictable.
Others seem to have been a total surprise, without the partners realizing that an inevitable breach was about to occur.
Even when a relationship seems healthy and unassailable, they can fall prey to a betrayal that cannot be easily predicted or explained.
Doesn’t this fit the experience of the faithful with their Bishops of late?
Most people hold the word betrayal as synonymous with infidelity. Perhaps that is because it is the most common form of broken trust in an intimate relationship, and represents the most basic elements that destroy faith between intimate partners.
Committed partners traditionally promise one another that they will remain faithful for the duration of their relationship and they use that sacred agreement as the foundation of all other trusts between them. When one breaks that promise, the fallout from that deception infiltrates the entirety of the bond which has held the relationship intact to that point.
I contend that is the very sense of betrayal many Catholic are experiencing in their relationships with their Bishops.
When couples commit to a relationship, they agree to follow the ethics, values, and behaviors that will ensure that their relationship continues to thrive. Depending on how well they know themselves and each other, they make those agreements in good faith, and trust that each will live by them.
When that ethic, when those values are betrayed, many married couples find themselves beyond hope of reconciliation.
Yet, there are a few marriages in which the partners so value one another that the concept that they will never be together again is simply unacceptable to both.
They become committed to the possibility that the betrayal will somehow become the foundation for a deeper and more devoted relationship and they are willing to do whatever is necessary to make that happen.
If a couple suffering the agony of broken trust is committed to transforming their relationship, they must both be willing to follow some clear guidelines for this kind of miraculous outcome to happen.
First, the partner who has clearly betrayed the other must be able to witness and admit his or her intentional breaking of the faith they once shared. That remorse must be absolute and the deception must not be excused.
People who have made self-serving decisions to act in a way that causes irreparable harm to their partners must be willingly accountable for what they have done. They cannot blame, make excuses, dismiss or minimize the action, nor expect their partners to heal before they are ready. They must also be willing to do whatever is necessary to put in the energy, time, and caring required to build a new relationship.
And so, the Bishops must hold themselves accountable. Nothing else will suffice.
The betrayed partners must still be willing to fight for resolution despite their legitimate pain. If love and other sacred attachments are still present, those betrayed partners must be open to examine their own participation in what has happened and work hard to get through the understandable need to express their wounds and desires to retaliate.
For their part, the faithful must be willing to allow that the Church can change and Bishops be appointed who will commit themselves to the care of those entrusted to them.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will meet this week in Baltimore.
The Bishops have indicated their commitment to address the scandal of the homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy as well as their silence and inaction regarding the abuse.
In preparation for the meeting, the Bishops have committed themselves to the hazardous journey of attempting to restore the trust which the faithful had placed in them, the trust which they betrayed so often and so seriously.
Will the Conference be able to restore that trust? Will the faithful accept the Bishops' promises of amendment?
Will, years hence, both Bishops and the faithful be able to look back at this horrific experience of betrayal as the wake-up call that preceded a new level of commitment and depth in their relationship.
These are the questions hanging over this Conference gathering.
Will the Church survive this crisis?
It is up to the Bishops and their faithful to make that decision and the moment is NOW!
NEW WEBSITE TRACTS BISHOPS' SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO INVESTIGATION OF ARCHBISHOP VIGANO'S CLAIMS
Church Transparency, a website projected under the direction of a person identified as “a lay convert from Texas, has put together an extensive list of all the Dioceses in the United States, the names of their respective Bishops and how those Bishops have responded to the bombshell testimony of ArchbishopCarlo Maria Viganò, former Papal Nuncio to the United States.
Archbishop Viganò has claimed that Pope Francis lifted sanctions that Pope Benedict XVI had imposed on the disgraced McCarrick, an alleged homosexual predator.
On the website, Bishops are grouped into one of four categories, based on their response to Viganò's testimony: those who support an investigation, those opposed, those who have given a neutral response, and those who have not issued any official statement whatsoever.
Thus far, 41 Bishops are listed as having "no public statement."
Of the 148 Bishops with official statements about Viganò's testimony, 80 are supporting an investigation, 63 have remained "neutral or pastoral," and only 5 are opposed to investigating.
Of the 5 Bishops who oppose investigating Archbishop Vigano’s claims, 4 have been implicated by name in Vigano's initial testimony in August. They are Cardinal Wuerl, Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop McElroy and Cardinal Tobin.
So every Bishop named in the Vigano claims opposes an investigation.
I would think they more than anyone would want to have their names and reputations exonerated by way of a thorough investigation of Archbishop Vigano's allegations!
Curious, indeed!
Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque, Iowa also opposed an investigation into Archbishop Viganò's allegations. He is the only US Bishop opposed to an investigation who was not named in Vigano's testimony.
It will be interesting to see if these same Bishops will hold to their positions during and after the upcoming USCCB meeting in Baltimore this coming week.
Archbishop Viganò has claimed that Pope Francis lifted sanctions that Pope Benedict XVI had imposed on the disgraced McCarrick, an alleged homosexual predator.
On the website, Bishops are grouped into one of four categories, based on their response to Viganò's testimony: those who support an investigation, those opposed, those who have given a neutral response, and those who have not issued any official statement whatsoever.
Thus far, 41 Bishops are listed as having "no public statement."
Of the 148 Bishops with official statements about Viganò's testimony, 80 are supporting an investigation, 63 have remained "neutral or pastoral," and only 5 are opposed to investigating.
Of the 5 Bishops who oppose investigating Archbishop Vigano’s claims, 4 have been implicated by name in Vigano's initial testimony in August. They are Cardinal Wuerl, Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop McElroy and Cardinal Tobin.
So every Bishop named in the Vigano claims opposes an investigation.
I would think they more than anyone would want to have their names and reputations exonerated by way of a thorough investigation of Archbishop Vigano's allegations!
Curious, indeed!
Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque, Iowa also opposed an investigation into Archbishop Viganò's allegations. He is the only US Bishop opposed to an investigation who was not named in Vigano's testimony.
It will be interesting to see if these same Bishops will hold to their positions during and after the upcoming USCCB meeting in Baltimore this coming week.
Friday, November 9, 2018
PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF?
Pope Francis spoke during an audience with 340 faculty and students of the Institute for the Promotion of Young Journalists (IFP), a Catholic journalism school located in Munich, Germany. The audience took place for the Institute’s 50th anniversary.
Christian journalists are distinguished by “your positive attitude towards the person and your professional ethics,” the Pope stated. “You do not just do a job, but fulfill an assignment and a commitment.”
“We ask for parresia,” the Pope said, referencing a Greek rhetorical term which means to speak boldly and candidly, adding: “We ask for the frankness that comes from the Holy Spirit and that helps us to trust in the truth of Christ that makes us free.”
He urged Christian journalists to go beyond the “wall of sadness and resignation” to help people open their eyes and ears, and to open their hearts to others; recognizing that they have a responsibility toward others, who are daughters and sons of the same Father.
Certainly, the words of Pope Francis are welcome and challenging.
But they would have greater import if Pope Francis demanded “parresia” of himself and spoke frankly to the Catholic faithful about his knowledge and or involvement or lack of it with many of the homosexual abuse of young males by Catholic Clergy scandals that are daily inflicting bitter wounds upon the Body of Christ.
It is certainly very curious how the Pope calls upon others to give witness to virtues which he himself does not seem to be eager or capable of providing positive example himself.
I agree with His Holiness. Frankness and a bold commitment to the truth is the antidote to the secrecy and duplicity which has been the cause of so much suffering.
But that virtue must be practiced not only by journalists, but by the Vicar of Christ himself, who indeed needs to be the first to do so and provide a shining example for all.
Christian journalists are distinguished by “your positive attitude towards the person and your professional ethics,” the Pope stated. “You do not just do a job, but fulfill an assignment and a commitment.”
“We ask for parresia,” the Pope said, referencing a Greek rhetorical term which means to speak boldly and candidly, adding: “We ask for the frankness that comes from the Holy Spirit and that helps us to trust in the truth of Christ that makes us free.”
He urged Christian journalists to go beyond the “wall of sadness and resignation” to help people open their eyes and ears, and to open their hearts to others; recognizing that they have a responsibility toward others, who are daughters and sons of the same Father.
Certainly, the words of Pope Francis are welcome and challenging.
But they would have greater import if Pope Francis demanded “parresia” of himself and spoke frankly to the Catholic faithful about his knowledge and or involvement or lack of it with many of the homosexual abuse of young males by Catholic Clergy scandals that are daily inflicting bitter wounds upon the Body of Christ.
It is certainly very curious how the Pope calls upon others to give witness to virtues which he himself does not seem to be eager or capable of providing positive example himself.
I agree with His Holiness. Frankness and a bold commitment to the truth is the antidote to the secrecy and duplicity which has been the cause of so much suffering.
But that virtue must be practiced not only by journalists, but by the Vicar of Christ himself, who indeed needs to be the first to do so and provide a shining example for all.
Thursday, November 8, 2018
PENNSYLVANIA DIOCESES ANNOUNCE COMPENSATION FUNDS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY CLERGY
Pennsylvania's Roman Catholic Dioceses are starting to announce details about victim compensation funds they're setting up, nearly three months after a sweeping Grand Jury report documented decades of child sexual abuse by Priests in the state.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Dioceses of Harrisburg, Scranton and Allentown on Thursday disclosed some information. The Erie Diocese says it's setting up a fund, but isn't ready to disclose details.
In statements, the Dioceses describe sources for the money, including borrowing, property sales, investments and insurers.
A legislative effort to change State law to allow a 2-year window for people to sue in abuse cases that are otherwise too old to pursue was blocked by Republican State Senators last month.
None of the Dioceses have disclosed how much money would be put invested into the compensation funds, but the money reportedly will not be drawn from the donations that parishioners make to their churches regularly.
The announcements of the funds follows a failed, months-long effort by victims and their advocates - as well as lawmakers in the Legislature - to reform the statute of limitations to allow victims timed out of the legal system to have a day in court.
Under state law, victims must pursue criminal cases by the age of 50 and civil cases by the age of 30.
With few exceptions, almost all cases unearthed by the 18-month-long grand jury investigation fall outside the bounds of the statute of limitations.
Some victims have protested that the fund is a way to escape accountability, protecting the Catholic Church from lawsuits.
Benjamin Andreozzi, an attorney who is working with victims from each of the dioceses that were investigated by Shapiro’s office, said he had spent the day on the phone with victims, explaining to them the compensation program.
“Many clients have already decided that they want to give the claims program a try, although they are not optimistic that they will be treated fairly by the Church,” said Andreozzi, who also represents victims in the Archdiocese of New York.
He said it was doubtful the compensation program would be totally acceptable to victims.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Dioceses of Harrisburg, Scranton and Allentown on Thursday disclosed some information. The Erie Diocese says it's setting up a fund, but isn't ready to disclose details.
In statements, the Dioceses describe sources for the money, including borrowing, property sales, investments and insurers.
A legislative effort to change State law to allow a 2-year window for people to sue in abuse cases that are otherwise too old to pursue was blocked by Republican State Senators last month.
None of the Dioceses have disclosed how much money would be put invested into the compensation funds, but the money reportedly will not be drawn from the donations that parishioners make to their churches regularly.
The announcements of the funds follows a failed, months-long effort by victims and their advocates - as well as lawmakers in the Legislature - to reform the statute of limitations to allow victims timed out of the legal system to have a day in court.
Under state law, victims must pursue criminal cases by the age of 50 and civil cases by the age of 30.
With few exceptions, almost all cases unearthed by the 18-month-long grand jury investigation fall outside the bounds of the statute of limitations.
Some victims have protested that the fund is a way to escape accountability, protecting the Catholic Church from lawsuits.
Benjamin Andreozzi, an attorney who is working with victims from each of the dioceses that were investigated by Shapiro’s office, said he had spent the day on the phone with victims, explaining to them the compensation program.
“Many clients have already decided that they want to give the claims program a try, although they are not optimistic that they will be treated fairly by the Church,” said Andreozzi, who also represents victims in the Archdiocese of New York.
He said it was doubtful the compensation program would be totally acceptable to victims.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
USCCB FALL GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN BALTIMORE, NOVEMBER 12-14
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has published the Agenda for the 2018 Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, November 12-14.
The assembly will begin with an address by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the USCCB and also an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. The body of Bishops will then adjourn to an on-site chapel for a full day of spiritual discernment and prayer. This will be followed by a Mass celebrated Monday evening at the site of the assembly.
During the assembly the Bishops will discuss and vote on a series of concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis, including those approved for the agenda at the September meeting of the Administrative Committee, such as a third-party reporting mechanism, standards of conduct for bishops, and protocols for bishops resigned or removed because of abuse. The Bishops will also hear reports from the National Advisory Council and National Review Board.
The assembly will also vote on the Pastoral Letter Against Racism and will also hear a report on the 15th Ordinary Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. The bishops will also vote on the 2019 budget.
The Bishops will also vote for a Conference Treasurer-elect, new chairmen of the Committee on Catholic Education, and new chairmen-elect of the following five USCCB committees: Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, Committee on Divine Worship, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, and the Committee on Migration.
There will also be a voice vote on the cause for canonization for Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA.
The assembly will begin with an address by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the USCCB and also an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. The body of Bishops will then adjourn to an on-site chapel for a full day of spiritual discernment and prayer. This will be followed by a Mass celebrated Monday evening at the site of the assembly.
During the assembly the Bishops will discuss and vote on a series of concrete measures to respond to the abuse crisis, including those approved for the agenda at the September meeting of the Administrative Committee, such as a third-party reporting mechanism, standards of conduct for bishops, and protocols for bishops resigned or removed because of abuse. The Bishops will also hear reports from the National Advisory Council and National Review Board.
The assembly will also vote on the Pastoral Letter Against Racism and will also hear a report on the 15th Ordinary Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment. The bishops will also vote on the 2019 budget.
The Bishops will also vote for a Conference Treasurer-elect, new chairmen of the Committee on Catholic Education, and new chairmen-elect of the following five USCCB committees: Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, Committee on Divine Worship, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, and the Committee on Migration.
There will also be a voice vote on the cause for canonization for Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA.
ONE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF TUESDAYS ELECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW YORK
Of the course of the life of this blogsite, I have been tempted many times (but not succumbed, thank God) to commenting on American politics.
That’s not the focus of these reflections on the experience of the faithful of the Catholic Church of today.
But, sometimes, the two entities (the government and the Church) clash and then a comment or two becomes warranted.
Such is the recent development which witnessed the Catholic Church for the first time saying it is open to looking at some type of State legal provision that would allow sex abuse victims who under current New York State law cannot seek justice to be able to do so.
Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the New York Catholic Conference headed by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, said as much, indicating that the Conference is anxiously awaiting to see the outcome of the crucial Senate elections on Tuesday.
The New York Democratic Party has promised that, if it takes control of the State Senate, it is prepared to pass the Child Victims Act which would give those who were sexually abused as children more time to bring criminal and civil cases as adults.
"Whoever ends up controlling the State Senate, we would welcome discussions to resolve this issue in a way that is acceptable to survivors first, but also to religious and non-profit organizations who would be impacted," Poust announced.
While the Assembly Democrats passed the bill the past two years running, the Republican-controlled Senate has regularly blocked the measure.
The Catholic Church, Orthodox Jewish Groups, the Boys Scouts of America and insurance companies have opposed the Child Victims Act, mainly over a provision that would grant a one-year window to revive old cases that are time-barred under current law.
Proust stated, "There's potential for some kind of resolution on this," without going into detail.
The Church has been dealing with two major scandals in recent months — one stemming from an explosive Grand Jury Report in Pennsylvania that found child sex abuse cases going back decades that involved more than 300 priests, including some that took place in New York.
Another has taken place in Buffalo, where the Diocese has been dealing with a widespread Priest abuse scandal of its own.
Clearly, the disgust of the American electorate with the scandalous abuse of young males by homosexual Catholic Clergy may indeed be reflected in New York State by passage of such a Child Victims Act.
Within days, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will begin its annual General Assembly.
The USCCB appears woefully incapable of addressing all the issues related to the universal experience of shame and scandal which has done such serious damage to their credibility and the vitality of the Church itself.
And it appears even more certain that, in the face of the Bishops dragging their heels to initiate corrective measures to protect the Catholic faithful from such sexual abuse, politicians are becoming more and more eager to do their work for them.
That scenario couldn’t be scarier!
That’s not the focus of these reflections on the experience of the faithful of the Catholic Church of today.
But, sometimes, the two entities (the government and the Church) clash and then a comment or two becomes warranted.
Such is the recent development which witnessed the Catholic Church for the first time saying it is open to looking at some type of State legal provision that would allow sex abuse victims who under current New York State law cannot seek justice to be able to do so.
Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the New York Catholic Conference headed by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, said as much, indicating that the Conference is anxiously awaiting to see the outcome of the crucial Senate elections on Tuesday.
The New York Democratic Party has promised that, if it takes control of the State Senate, it is prepared to pass the Child Victims Act which would give those who were sexually abused as children more time to bring criminal and civil cases as adults.
"Whoever ends up controlling the State Senate, we would welcome discussions to resolve this issue in a way that is acceptable to survivors first, but also to religious and non-profit organizations who would be impacted," Poust announced.
While the Assembly Democrats passed the bill the past two years running, the Republican-controlled Senate has regularly blocked the measure.
The Catholic Church, Orthodox Jewish Groups, the Boys Scouts of America and insurance companies have opposed the Child Victims Act, mainly over a provision that would grant a one-year window to revive old cases that are time-barred under current law.
Proust stated, "There's potential for some kind of resolution on this," without going into detail.
The Church has been dealing with two major scandals in recent months — one stemming from an explosive Grand Jury Report in Pennsylvania that found child sex abuse cases going back decades that involved more than 300 priests, including some that took place in New York.
Another has taken place in Buffalo, where the Diocese has been dealing with a widespread Priest abuse scandal of its own.
Clearly, the disgust of the American electorate with the scandalous abuse of young males by homosexual Catholic Clergy may indeed be reflected in New York State by passage of such a Child Victims Act.
Within days, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will begin its annual General Assembly.
The USCCB appears woefully incapable of addressing all the issues related to the universal experience of shame and scandal which has done such serious damage to their credibility and the vitality of the Church itself.
And it appears even more certain that, in the face of the Bishops dragging their heels to initiate corrective measures to protect the Catholic faithful from such sexual abuse, politicians are becoming more and more eager to do their work for them.
That scenario couldn’t be scarier!
ARCHBISHOP OF GUAM ANNOUNCES BANKRUPTCY AND THE VATICAN ENGAGES IN THE "BELLA FIGURA"
Guam's Catholic church will file for bankruptcy — a move that will allow the archdiocese to avoid trial in dozens of lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by priests and move toward settlements.
Archbishop Michael Byrnes announced Wednesday that the Archdiocese of Guam will file for bankruptcy in the face of multiple lawsuits alleging criminal sexual assault of young males by homosexual Clergy.
The mediation efforts that began in September led the Archdiocese to declare to bankruptcy and thus avoid trails.
"This path will bring the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims," Archbishop Byrnes said. "That's the heart of what we're doing."
The Archbishop further stated that the bankruptcy will provide "finality for victim survivors that they've been heard and understood."
It could not be clearer.
The sexual assault of young males by homosexual Clergy is a worldwide phenomenon which has brought scandal and shame upon the Universal Church.
And the response of the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis, has been silence and a meager show of concern in his call to gather the Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences around the globe to a 3 day meeting at the Vatican in February.
A 3 day meeting to address what has been a cataclysmic crisis the likes of which the Church has never before experienced!
The recent (and lacklustre) Synod on Youth lasted almost a month and produced little of importance or relevance in the Church’s appeal to young people to embrace the Gospel and adhere to the Catholic Church for guidance and example.
The Bishops were unable to make any significant progress regarding the universal loss of membership among Millenials after that month long debacle of confusion and contention.
Does any right minded individual believe the February meeting of the Bishops’ Conference Presidents will accomplish anything of value in stemming the endless allegations of homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy?
The Roman (and Vatican) culture often prizes “appearance over substance”. The Italians refer to this as the “bella figura”.
One need look no further but to the Vatican meeting in February for example of what the “bella figura” looks like in practice.
Archbishop Michael Byrnes announced Wednesday that the Archdiocese of Guam will file for bankruptcy in the face of multiple lawsuits alleging criminal sexual assault of young males by homosexual Clergy.
The mediation efforts that began in September led the Archdiocese to declare to bankruptcy and thus avoid trails.
"This path will bring the greatest measure of justice to the greatest number of victims," Archbishop Byrnes said. "That's the heart of what we're doing."
The Archbishop further stated that the bankruptcy will provide "finality for victim survivors that they've been heard and understood."
It could not be clearer.
The sexual assault of young males by homosexual Clergy is a worldwide phenomenon which has brought scandal and shame upon the Universal Church.
And the response of the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis, has been silence and a meager show of concern in his call to gather the Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences around the globe to a 3 day meeting at the Vatican in February.
A 3 day meeting to address what has been a cataclysmic crisis the likes of which the Church has never before experienced!
The recent (and lacklustre) Synod on Youth lasted almost a month and produced little of importance or relevance in the Church’s appeal to young people to embrace the Gospel and adhere to the Catholic Church for guidance and example.
The Bishops were unable to make any significant progress regarding the universal loss of membership among Millenials after that month long debacle of confusion and contention.
Does any right minded individual believe the February meeting of the Bishops’ Conference Presidents will accomplish anything of value in stemming the endless allegations of homosexual predation of young males by Catholic Clergy?
The Roman (and Vatican) culture often prizes “appearance over substance”. The Italians refer to this as the “bella figura”.
One need look no further but to the Vatican meeting in February for example of what the “bella figura” looks like in practice.
CARDINAL O'MALLEY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF PAPAL FOUNDATION REPLACING A HUMILIATED CARDINAL WUERL
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston was elected Chairman of the Papal Foundation’s Board of Trustees during a meeting in Washington, D.C. October 30th, taking over from Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who served in the position for eight years.
Cardinal O’Malley has been a member of the foundation’s board for 12 years. He is also President of the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors and a member of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals.
The Philadelphia-based Papal Foundation gives grants in support of projects and proposals recommended by the Holy See.
Since 1990, the Foundation has given over $100 million in grants in service to the Catholic Church.
In a statement on his election, Cardinal O'Malley praised the work of the Foundation, through whose grants, he said, “families and individuals in underserved areas around the world have experienced profound improvements in their lives.”
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees likewise voted to approve $13 million in new scholarships and grants to go toward 127 projects worldwide.
The Papal Foundation is managed by a three-tiered Board of Trustees. American Cardinals residing in the U.S. serve as ex officio members, and Bishops and elected laity serve as Trustees. Its members are Cardinals Sean O’Malley, Blase Cupich, Daniel DiNardo, Timothy Dolan, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Justin Rigali, Joseph Tobin, and Donald Wuerl.
In March, the Papal Foundation announced it would re-evaluate its mission and approach to grant-making following controversy over a $25 million grant from the foundation to a Rome hospital.
In 2017 Pope Francis had asked CardinalWuerl for a $25 million grant through the Foundation for the Church-owned hospital, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, which specializes in researching and treating skin diseases.
The Holy See later declined half the grant after objections from some board members who questioned the integrity of the hospital and the wisdom of the foundation’s grant-making process.
Since that episode, support of the Foundation by many of its former wealthy contributors has seriously floundered.
The Foundation responded to criticism by committing to taking any necessary corrective measures and pledging to provide members with the facts of the grant and a clearer understanding of the foundation’s mission and governance.
Cardinal O’Malley has been a member of the foundation’s board for 12 years. He is also President of the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors and a member of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals.
The Philadelphia-based Papal Foundation gives grants in support of projects and proposals recommended by the Holy See.
Since 1990, the Foundation has given over $100 million in grants in service to the Catholic Church.
In a statement on his election, Cardinal O'Malley praised the work of the Foundation, through whose grants, he said, “families and individuals in underserved areas around the world have experienced profound improvements in their lives.”
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees likewise voted to approve $13 million in new scholarships and grants to go toward 127 projects worldwide.
The Papal Foundation is managed by a three-tiered Board of Trustees. American Cardinals residing in the U.S. serve as ex officio members, and Bishops and elected laity serve as Trustees. Its members are Cardinals Sean O’Malley, Blase Cupich, Daniel DiNardo, Timothy Dolan, Roger Mahony, Adam Maida, Justin Rigali, Joseph Tobin, and Donald Wuerl.
In March, the Papal Foundation announced it would re-evaluate its mission and approach to grant-making following controversy over a $25 million grant from the foundation to a Rome hospital.
In 2017 Pope Francis had asked CardinalWuerl for a $25 million grant through the Foundation for the Church-owned hospital, Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata, which specializes in researching and treating skin diseases.
The Holy See later declined half the grant after objections from some board members who questioned the integrity of the hospital and the wisdom of the foundation’s grant-making process.
Since that episode, support of the Foundation by many of its former wealthy contributors has seriously floundered.
The Foundation responded to criticism by committing to taking any necessary corrective measures and pledging to provide members with the facts of the grant and a clearer understanding of the foundation’s mission and governance.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
BISHOP MALONE MEETS WITH BUFFALO PRIESTS
In the wake of recent reports regarding Bishop Richard Malone’s involvement in the sexual abuse scandals in Buffalo, the Bishop gathered all the Priests of the Diocese for a meeting.
One of the Priests present at the meeting called the mood somber. According to others in attendance, one Priest called upon the Bishop to resign, a proposal which was met with applause from some fellow Clergy.
However, a majority of the Priests seemed to support Bishop Malone who has publicly vowed not to resign.
The Diocese of Buffalo is divided over the Bishop’s lack of candor in reporting credible accusation of homosexual abuse of young males to law enforcement officials.
It remains to be seen whether Bishop Malone will prove successful in his commitment to remain in Office in view of these divisions which have now erupted among the members of his own Clergy.
One of the Priests present at the meeting called the mood somber. According to others in attendance, one Priest called upon the Bishop to resign, a proposal which was met with applause from some fellow Clergy.
However, a majority of the Priests seemed to support Bishop Malone who has publicly vowed not to resign.
The Diocese of Buffalo is divided over the Bishop’s lack of candor in reporting credible accusation of homosexual abuse of young males to law enforcement officials.
It remains to be seen whether Bishop Malone will prove successful in his commitment to remain in Office in view of these divisions which have now erupted among the members of his own Clergy.
THE MORAL CRISIS WITHIN THE CHURCH AND PRIESTHOOD
Every Priest offers sacrifice to the Father and in that sacred moment of worship acts in the person of the Lord Jesus Himself.
And while we must remember that the Priesthood is itself sacred and holy, the individual Priest remains always a sinner in need of the very Grace of Redemption that flows from the exercise of his Priestly ministry.
It’s the fallen humanity of the individual Priest that I wish to focus upon in this article.
Every time I don the liturgical vestments and stand at the altar (in my retirement a simple makeshift affair), every time I offer the Prayers of the Mass and utter the words of the Eucharistic Prayers, I am mindful of my unworthiness, my sinfulness.
I hope and pray all my brother-Priests feel the same sense of hypocrisy as we call those entrusted to our care to the Gospel values that we ourselves fail in so many ways to observe and treasure in our daily choices and attitudes.
Yet, this awareness of unworthiness is what keeps us Priests humble in our service, inhibiting us from adopting a judgmental attitude which is eager to condemn the failings of others while asking understanding and forgiveness for our own weaknesses and sins.
And while the People of God expect that their Priests will be examples of virtue, they should never forget that the Priest remains as sinner in need of the very salvation his Priesthood offers through the ministry of the Church.
But there are degrees of sinfulness which can be tolerated within the Priesthood.
That may sound shocking, but here’s what I mean.
Every sin wounds the entire Church. My willful refusal to allow the Grace of Jesus to fully encompass and guide my life weakens the Church as one of its members remains weak.
But not every sin wounds the Church to the same degree.
Priests who use their sacred Office as Pastors to inflict suffering and pain upon those entrusted to their care sin in a way that damages the very fabric of the community of the Christian faithful.
Most of my peccadilloes harm myself primarily and the Church remotely: my anger, my frustration, the impure or uncharitable thought, these keep me from a total conversion of my mind and heart to the Lord.
But there are those sins which destroy confidence and trust in the very Priesthood and the Church itself.
Such sins can never be tolerated because of their corrosive effect upon the community of the faithful.
Such sins must be condemned for their very natures as contradictions to the Gospel itself and the Church’s mission to proclaim that Gospel clearly and without apology.
And while the Priest who engages in such horrific sinfulness must always be allowed the possibility of redemption and conversion, he must be prevented from continuing in a pattern of sinfulness of this nature which brings derision and chaos to the Body of Christ.
There is much talk today about scandal in the Church.
People should not expect that Priests are not sinners who need the Grace of Absolution which they themselves are called to administer to other sinners.
Not every Priestly failing deserves removal from Office.
But the faithful are right to expect that those Priests who injure others, especially the most vulnerable and innocent, should be removed from Office and given the opportunity of a life dedicated to prayer and penance for the remission of those sins.
What I have consistently failed to hear in all the Bishops remarks about the homosexual abuse of young males by Clergy is the depth of the sinfulness of these actions and the need for these men to repent publicly for the sake of the salvation of their souls.
Instead, I hear “corporate speak” of policies and programs.
The Church is suffering a moral crisis, not a corporate crisis of management or personnel issues.
Some Priests and Bishops have lost their supernatural faith and inflicted terrible sufferings upon those entrusted to their care. Their very souls are in jeopardy of damnation.
Why isn’t the Church reminding them, all of us, of these realities?
The Church appears to have lost a sense of sin, and in the process, a sense of the Divine Redeemer Himself.
And while we must remember that the Priesthood is itself sacred and holy, the individual Priest remains always a sinner in need of the very Grace of Redemption that flows from the exercise of his Priestly ministry.
It’s the fallen humanity of the individual Priest that I wish to focus upon in this article.
Every time I don the liturgical vestments and stand at the altar (in my retirement a simple makeshift affair), every time I offer the Prayers of the Mass and utter the words of the Eucharistic Prayers, I am mindful of my unworthiness, my sinfulness.
I hope and pray all my brother-Priests feel the same sense of hypocrisy as we call those entrusted to our care to the Gospel values that we ourselves fail in so many ways to observe and treasure in our daily choices and attitudes.
Yet, this awareness of unworthiness is what keeps us Priests humble in our service, inhibiting us from adopting a judgmental attitude which is eager to condemn the failings of others while asking understanding and forgiveness for our own weaknesses and sins.
And while the People of God expect that their Priests will be examples of virtue, they should never forget that the Priest remains as sinner in need of the very salvation his Priesthood offers through the ministry of the Church.
But there are degrees of sinfulness which can be tolerated within the Priesthood.
That may sound shocking, but here’s what I mean.
Every sin wounds the entire Church. My willful refusal to allow the Grace of Jesus to fully encompass and guide my life weakens the Church as one of its members remains weak.
But not every sin wounds the Church to the same degree.
Priests who use their sacred Office as Pastors to inflict suffering and pain upon those entrusted to their care sin in a way that damages the very fabric of the community of the Christian faithful.
Most of my peccadilloes harm myself primarily and the Church remotely: my anger, my frustration, the impure or uncharitable thought, these keep me from a total conversion of my mind and heart to the Lord.
But there are those sins which destroy confidence and trust in the very Priesthood and the Church itself.
Such sins can never be tolerated because of their corrosive effect upon the community of the faithful.
Such sins must be condemned for their very natures as contradictions to the Gospel itself and the Church’s mission to proclaim that Gospel clearly and without apology.
And while the Priest who engages in such horrific sinfulness must always be allowed the possibility of redemption and conversion, he must be prevented from continuing in a pattern of sinfulness of this nature which brings derision and chaos to the Body of Christ.
There is much talk today about scandal in the Church.
People should not expect that Priests are not sinners who need the Grace of Absolution which they themselves are called to administer to other sinners.
Not every Priestly failing deserves removal from Office.
But the faithful are right to expect that those Priests who injure others, especially the most vulnerable and innocent, should be removed from Office and given the opportunity of a life dedicated to prayer and penance for the remission of those sins.
What I have consistently failed to hear in all the Bishops remarks about the homosexual abuse of young males by Clergy is the depth of the sinfulness of these actions and the need for these men to repent publicly for the sake of the salvation of their souls.
Instead, I hear “corporate speak” of policies and programs.
The Church is suffering a moral crisis, not a corporate crisis of management or personnel issues.
Some Priests and Bishops have lost their supernatural faith and inflicted terrible sufferings upon those entrusted to their care. Their very souls are in jeopardy of damnation.
Why isn’t the Church reminding them, all of us, of these realities?
The Church appears to have lost a sense of sin, and in the process, a sense of the Divine Redeemer Himself.
MUST THE CHURCH SUFFER SUCH FOOLS?
Allow me to share one of many of the inconvenient moments that I have experienced since my retirement from active ministry.
It happened last night.
For whatever reason, I fell asleep on my sofa watching the news. The last time I remember looking at the clock on the cable box it read 8:30 PM. I awoke this morning, still on the couch at 3:15 AM, seven and a half hours of very restful sleep but now awake in the middle of the night!
In the words of Charlie Brown of Peanuts fame: AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!
So, after making some coffee, I thought I get the day started and decided to browse the Net as is my custom in the mornings.
Well, the oddity of this day just continues as I ran across the following article which Bishop Robert Lynch submitted to the Tampa Bay Times on January 6, 2015!
Since many readers will think I might be exaggerating or embellishing the Bishop’s words, I am reprinting it here fully and without any edits.
Bishop Lynch wrote:
In light of the judicial decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Florida as of Tuesday, I wish to lend an additional voice to the discussion regarding the challenges we in the Catholic Church face as we strive to preserve the traditional sacramental understanding of marriage even as the law now accommodates couples of the same sex.
The Catholic Church upholds marriage, one of our seven sacraments, as an indissoluble relationship between a man and a woman committed to mutual consolation and open to procreation. Such a view is rooted not only in the church's long-standing theological understanding of married life, but in the Church's understanding of Christian anthropology as well, which views the conjugal and complementary relationship between a man and a woman as part of God's providential design whereby human beings are able to be co-creators of life with God.
Therefore, any dialogue which reaffirms such a view of marriage and which seeks to ensure that such a view continues to be respected and enabled to serve and edify both the Church and the wider society is to be commended and supported.
However, together with Pope Francis and in light of the discussions at the recent Extraordinary Synod on the Family held in Rome, I also recognize that the reality of the family today, in all its complexities, presents the church with pastoral challenges as the church strives to accept people in the specific circumstances of their lives and support and encourage them in their search for God and their desire to be members of the church.
Therefore, I do not wish to lend our voice to notions which might suggest that same-sex couples are a threat incapable of sharing relationships marked by love and holiness and, thus, incapable of contributing to the edification of both the church and the wider society.
In the midst of changing societal definitions and understandings of marriage, there may no doubt be some confusion. However, with patience and humility, our church must continuously strive to discover what the Spirit is saying and respond to the Synod Fathers' suggestion to discern what pastoral response faithful to church teaching and marked by respect and sensitivity might be appropriate for same-sex couples, even as God's creative designs for and the church's sacramental understanding of marriage are affirmed.
Dear Bishop Lynch, the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is not by society’s definitions and understandings but by the Divine Revelation entrusted to the Church in the Deposit of Faith, Scripture and Tradition.
The “Spirit” which you are attempting to discover has already spoken throughout the course of the two Millenia of Church teaching and history. You and others like you simply refuse to listen to what the Spirit has been teaching clearly for over twenty centuries.
To even suggest that a homosexual union, civilly recognized or not, could be faithful to Church teaching is absurd. It is a betrayal of that Deposit of Faith for which you, in your Episcopal ministry, have been called to proclaim truthfully and unapologetically.
That Bishops so confused and compromised in their acceptance of clear and consistent doctrinal teachings are allowed to remain in Office is among the scandals which today are the source of so much chaos within the Body of Christ.
Bishop Lynch resigned in 2016 as Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. During his tenure, the Diocese paid a $ 100,000 settlement to the former Diocesan spokesman(!) who accused Bishop Lynch of sexual harassment and inappropriate touching. Pope Francis named Bishop Gregory Parkes as his replacement.
Where is Peter? Where is the Rock? Why wasn't it made clear that what Bishop Lynch wrote was unfaithful to Church magisterium?
Why would any Catholic who reads and witnesses the undoing of the fundamental moral teachings of the Church in such a manner ever entrust their faith to the leadership and influence of such misguided shepherds?
I am surprised this story escaped my notice for so long. But, then again, there have been so many stories about strange happenings in our Church these days. It's impossible to keep up.
The Church is in trouble, deep trouble, from the forces of ignorance and licentiousness that are coming, not from without the Gates, but from within.
I wish I hadn’t arisen so early only to have come across such drivel as this.
I wonder what other strangeness this day will bring. AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!
It happened last night.
For whatever reason, I fell asleep on my sofa watching the news. The last time I remember looking at the clock on the cable box it read 8:30 PM. I awoke this morning, still on the couch at 3:15 AM, seven and a half hours of very restful sleep but now awake in the middle of the night!
In the words of Charlie Brown of Peanuts fame: AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!
So, after making some coffee, I thought I get the day started and decided to browse the Net as is my custom in the mornings.
Well, the oddity of this day just continues as I ran across the following article which Bishop Robert Lynch submitted to the Tampa Bay Times on January 6, 2015!
Since many readers will think I might be exaggerating or embellishing the Bishop’s words, I am reprinting it here fully and without any edits.
Bishop Lynch wrote:
In light of the judicial decision that legalized same-sex marriage in Florida as of Tuesday, I wish to lend an additional voice to the discussion regarding the challenges we in the Catholic Church face as we strive to preserve the traditional sacramental understanding of marriage even as the law now accommodates couples of the same sex.
The Catholic Church upholds marriage, one of our seven sacraments, as an indissoluble relationship between a man and a woman committed to mutual consolation and open to procreation. Such a view is rooted not only in the church's long-standing theological understanding of married life, but in the Church's understanding of Christian anthropology as well, which views the conjugal and complementary relationship between a man and a woman as part of God's providential design whereby human beings are able to be co-creators of life with God.
Therefore, any dialogue which reaffirms such a view of marriage and which seeks to ensure that such a view continues to be respected and enabled to serve and edify both the Church and the wider society is to be commended and supported.
However, together with Pope Francis and in light of the discussions at the recent Extraordinary Synod on the Family held in Rome, I also recognize that the reality of the family today, in all its complexities, presents the church with pastoral challenges as the church strives to accept people in the specific circumstances of their lives and support and encourage them in their search for God and their desire to be members of the church.
Therefore, I do not wish to lend our voice to notions which might suggest that same-sex couples are a threat incapable of sharing relationships marked by love and holiness and, thus, incapable of contributing to the edification of both the church and the wider society.
In the midst of changing societal definitions and understandings of marriage, there may no doubt be some confusion. However, with patience and humility, our church must continuously strive to discover what the Spirit is saying and respond to the Synod Fathers' suggestion to discern what pastoral response faithful to church teaching and marked by respect and sensitivity might be appropriate for same-sex couples, even as God's creative designs for and the church's sacramental understanding of marriage are affirmed.
Dear Bishop Lynch, the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is not by society’s definitions and understandings but by the Divine Revelation entrusted to the Church in the Deposit of Faith, Scripture and Tradition.
The “Spirit” which you are attempting to discover has already spoken throughout the course of the two Millenia of Church teaching and history. You and others like you simply refuse to listen to what the Spirit has been teaching clearly for over twenty centuries.
To even suggest that a homosexual union, civilly recognized or not, could be faithful to Church teaching is absurd. It is a betrayal of that Deposit of Faith for which you, in your Episcopal ministry, have been called to proclaim truthfully and unapologetically.
That Bishops so confused and compromised in their acceptance of clear and consistent doctrinal teachings are allowed to remain in Office is among the scandals which today are the source of so much chaos within the Body of Christ.
Bishop Lynch resigned in 2016 as Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida. During his tenure, the Diocese paid a $ 100,000 settlement to the former Diocesan spokesman(!) who accused Bishop Lynch of sexual harassment and inappropriate touching. Pope Francis named Bishop Gregory Parkes as his replacement.
Where is Peter? Where is the Rock? Why wasn't it made clear that what Bishop Lynch wrote was unfaithful to Church magisterium?
Why would any Catholic who reads and witnesses the undoing of the fundamental moral teachings of the Church in such a manner ever entrust their faith to the leadership and influence of such misguided shepherds?
I am surprised this story escaped my notice for so long. But, then again, there have been so many stories about strange happenings in our Church these days. It's impossible to keep up.
The Church is in trouble, deep trouble, from the forces of ignorance and licentiousness that are coming, not from without the Gates, but from within.
I wish I hadn’t arisen so early only to have come across such drivel as this.
I wonder what other strangeness this day will bring. AAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!
Monday, November 5, 2018
READERS ASK: "WHAT'S LIFE LIKE FOR A RETIRED PRIEST?"
Several readers have asked what life is like for a retired Priest.
Before responding to that question, allow me to offer some information, in a general way since each Diocese has its own particular protocols regarding the manner in which the retirement of a Priest actually takes place.
When a Priest has completed his 75th year of age, he is requested to offer his resignation from Office to his Diocesan Bishop.
It is only when the Bishop accepts his withdrawal from Office that his active Priestly ministry ceases.
In situations in which a Priest may be debilitated for reasons of chronic illness or any other medical reason, the Bishop may grant retirement status before he has reached the age of 75 years.
Retirement is when a new and completely different lifestyle starts for a Priest.
Some Priests, as a result of careful financial planning or the good fortune of being cared for by affluent family members, can afford to live in their own home and organize their spiritual life to celebrate daily Mass. Some will reside in a parish whose Pastor who will invite them to celebrate Mass in daily in the parish church and provide both room and board.
Some Dioceses provide residence facilities for their retired Priests as well as provide a health-care community for the sick and infirm in their number.
The welfare of retired Priests is set forth as priority in Canon Law: “The Diocesan Bishop must make provision for the appropriate maintenance and residence of the Priest who has resigned” (Canon 538 §8).
This same Canon decrees that the principles of natural justice and equity must be taken into account, as well as the traditions and circumstances of each Diocese:
“1: Each Diocesan Bishop shall see to it that a specific and funded plan is established to provide adequate support and accommodation for all retired Priests incardinated in his Diocese. Available government pension programs, public pension plans, and other social benefit programs shall be taken into account.
“2: Each Diocesan Bishop shall also see to it that Priests incardinated in the Diocese who have become incapacitated before the regular retirement age, will receive sufficient assistance to provide for adequate support and accommodation, taking into account any social assistance programs to which they may be entitled.
“3: The administration and verification of the adequacy of these retirement and disability funds shall be entrusted to persons who are recognized as being truly competent in the field.”
Canon 222 mandates: “Christ’s faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the Church so that the Church has available to it those things which are necessary for divine worship, for works of the apostolate and of charity and for the worthy support of its ministers.”
Retired Priests deserve to enjoy the last years of their lives with the honest and congruous support of their Diocese after having administered the Sacraments to their beloved parishioners for so many years.
My experience of retirement has been truly blessed and wonderful.
I am presently living in a retirement community in the City of Mesa, Arizona (I have loved the desert all my life and would vacation in the beautiful State almost every year). There are enough social activities to keep me busy and involved. I enjoy volunteering my services in the kitchen when we have our many dinners and social functions. The folks here are so kind and welcoming.
I offer Mass in my manufactured home and enjoy the time retirement has afforded me to pursue further studies in Church history as well as contemporary developments involving or affecting the Body of Christ.
One of my greatest pleasures is posting an article -- sometimes several -- on this blogsite every day. This effort provides me with the joyful opportunity to write, but more importantly keeps me tuned to the joys and sorrows of the Church I actively served for over 44 years before retiring for medical reasons.
I keep in touch with my brother-Priests in Saint Louis by way of the internet, Facetime and regular phone calls.
Every other month, I write to Archbishop Carlson to let him know how life is going and encouraging him to look forward to and enjoy his retirement which will take place in the Spring of next year.
So, life is good.
I have always said that God has spoiled me all my life: good parents, great teachers, dear colleagues and co-workers, wonderful parishes.
I pray that my experience of retirement will be that of my brothers and all who have served the Church in their Priestly vocations.
Before responding to that question, allow me to offer some information, in a general way since each Diocese has its own particular protocols regarding the manner in which the retirement of a Priest actually takes place.
When a Priest has completed his 75th year of age, he is requested to offer his resignation from Office to his Diocesan Bishop.
It is only when the Bishop accepts his withdrawal from Office that his active Priestly ministry ceases.
In situations in which a Priest may be debilitated for reasons of chronic illness or any other medical reason, the Bishop may grant retirement status before he has reached the age of 75 years.
Retirement is when a new and completely different lifestyle starts for a Priest.
Some Priests, as a result of careful financial planning or the good fortune of being cared for by affluent family members, can afford to live in their own home and organize their spiritual life to celebrate daily Mass. Some will reside in a parish whose Pastor who will invite them to celebrate Mass in daily in the parish church and provide both room and board.
Some Dioceses provide residence facilities for their retired Priests as well as provide a health-care community for the sick and infirm in their number.
The welfare of retired Priests is set forth as priority in Canon Law: “The Diocesan Bishop must make provision for the appropriate maintenance and residence of the Priest who has resigned” (Canon 538 §8).
This same Canon decrees that the principles of natural justice and equity must be taken into account, as well as the traditions and circumstances of each Diocese:
“1: Each Diocesan Bishop shall see to it that a specific and funded plan is established to provide adequate support and accommodation for all retired Priests incardinated in his Diocese. Available government pension programs, public pension plans, and other social benefit programs shall be taken into account.
“2: Each Diocesan Bishop shall also see to it that Priests incardinated in the Diocese who have become incapacitated before the regular retirement age, will receive sufficient assistance to provide for adequate support and accommodation, taking into account any social assistance programs to which they may be entitled.
“3: The administration and verification of the adequacy of these retirement and disability funds shall be entrusted to persons who are recognized as being truly competent in the field.”
Canon 222 mandates: “Christ’s faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the Church so that the Church has available to it those things which are necessary for divine worship, for works of the apostolate and of charity and for the worthy support of its ministers.”
Retired Priests deserve to enjoy the last years of their lives with the honest and congruous support of their Diocese after having administered the Sacraments to their beloved parishioners for so many years.
My experience of retirement has been truly blessed and wonderful.
I am presently living in a retirement community in the City of Mesa, Arizona (I have loved the desert all my life and would vacation in the beautiful State almost every year). There are enough social activities to keep me busy and involved. I enjoy volunteering my services in the kitchen when we have our many dinners and social functions. The folks here are so kind and welcoming.
I offer Mass in my manufactured home and enjoy the time retirement has afforded me to pursue further studies in Church history as well as contemporary developments involving or affecting the Body of Christ.
One of my greatest pleasures is posting an article -- sometimes several -- on this blogsite every day. This effort provides me with the joyful opportunity to write, but more importantly keeps me tuned to the joys and sorrows of the Church I actively served for over 44 years before retiring for medical reasons.
I keep in touch with my brother-Priests in Saint Louis by way of the internet, Facetime and regular phone calls.
Every other month, I write to Archbishop Carlson to let him know how life is going and encouraging him to look forward to and enjoy his retirement which will take place in the Spring of next year.
So, life is good.
I have always said that God has spoiled me all my life: good parents, great teachers, dear colleagues and co-workers, wonderful parishes.
I pray that my experience of retirement will be that of my brothers and all who have served the Church in their Priestly vocations.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
A CHURCH, A WORLD IN NEED OF A JONAH
The American Church’s bleak future none of the Bishops are willing to address.
The Catholic Church will have a reduced presence and relevance in 21st Century America, mostly due to the aging profile of Priests and the lack of new Ordinations.
The Church’s human resources, stretched to the limits already, will be inadequate to respond to the needs of the faithful. Fewer and fewer parishes will enjoy the benefits of a resident Pastor. More and more parishes will be administered by Permanent Deacons or lay administrators.
The number of Masses available to the faithful will continue to shrink as limitations imposed on when Sacraments such as Marriage and Baptism can be celebrated or administered.
More and more parishes will share a Pastor who will be forced to delegate administrative matters to lay managers who salaries will put strains upon parish budgets and financial resources.
Marginalized Catholics -- the elderly, chronically infirm -- will be forgotten in the consolidation of multiple parishes into regional communities of faith.
All this will take place in the face of the reality that Catholic practice is already in a state of decline with fewer and fewer people identifying as Catholics, nor do they feel the need to actively engage with their local parish on a regular or frequent basis.
What is being done to prepare for this future or perhaps forestall its reality?
Little, if anything. And largely because the Bishops are loathe to admit what the present state of the Church is in their respective Dioceses.
So, for the time being, Bishops have been playing “musical chairs” in parish consolidations here and there, in the realignment of Priest personnel, and in the meager proactive programs they have initiated to inform the laity of what they should expect within the next decade.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) continues to pretend that the American Church will quickly rebound from the chaos, confusion and shame Catholics have had to endure on the local and national level.
Most parishes are in financial freefall. Diocese have been forced to liquidate values parcels of real estate as well as valuable investment portfolios to compensate victims of abuse and cover astronomical legal costs attendant to the abuse scandals.
What does the USCCB have to say about this?
Nothing, other than to call upon its members to increase their assessments and raise the USCCB operational budget to over $ 162.5 million annually to fund agencies and programs which have little impact upon the average Catholic who is struggling to remain in the pew and hold on to his or her Catholic identity.
As I written repeatedly, the Catholic Faith in Europe is dead. Less than 4% of Catholics on the Continent practice their faith with any regularity or frequency. Culturally and politically, the Church has no impact upon the governance of what was once identifiable as a “Christian Europe”.
The American Church is going the same way as the Church in Europe.
And, from what I read as well as what I see in the actions and agenda of the USCCB, none of the hierarchy in the country seem willing or able to stem the tide of defections and indifference which will spell the end of a Catholic presence in America.
But, the buck doesn’t stop with the USCCB.
Two great cultures -- Europe and America -- are in peril of losing their Catholic (and Christian) identities.
The Holy See appears completely oblivious, more intent in preserving structures and positions than adopting a strategy by which the Catholic faithful will be effectively shepherded and the Church called to a revival of evangelical faith.
Appointed by God, Jonah (albeit reluctantly) called the people of Nineveh to repent and cover themselves in sackcloth and ashes asking the Lord for forgive and spare them and their city.
Has the Lord broken His Promise to the Church?
Has He abandoned His People?
Is there no Jonah to call the People of God to conversion?
Or have those the Lord has called chosen, as Jonah did, evade God’s call, to sail away from the Divine prophetic mission the Lord has imposed upon their shoulders?
Our Church is wounded to its core.
The Bishops have become pitiable in their failure to care for those entrusted to them.
The Holy See and the Vicar of Christ Himself have been accused of compromising the supreme magisterial authority to accommodate the Church to those whose lives are chaotic and sinful.
The once-promising Pontificate of Pope Francis has suffered a mortal wound in the doubt and confusions resulting from the deafening silence that emanates from the Vatican itself.
If the Church ever needed purification and revival, it needs it now.
If the Church ever needed a prophet, it needs one now.
Lord, send us Your prophet to call us to repent of our infidelities and betrayals, to do penance for the shame and suffering we have caused or allowed, to convert our minds and hearts more fully to You.
Come, dear Holy Spirit, come! You are Our Desire, Our Hope and Our Peace!
The Catholic Church will have a reduced presence and relevance in 21st Century America, mostly due to the aging profile of Priests and the lack of new Ordinations.
The Church’s human resources, stretched to the limits already, will be inadequate to respond to the needs of the faithful. Fewer and fewer parishes will enjoy the benefits of a resident Pastor. More and more parishes will be administered by Permanent Deacons or lay administrators.
The number of Masses available to the faithful will continue to shrink as limitations imposed on when Sacraments such as Marriage and Baptism can be celebrated or administered.
More and more parishes will share a Pastor who will be forced to delegate administrative matters to lay managers who salaries will put strains upon parish budgets and financial resources.
Marginalized Catholics -- the elderly, chronically infirm -- will be forgotten in the consolidation of multiple parishes into regional communities of faith.
All this will take place in the face of the reality that Catholic practice is already in a state of decline with fewer and fewer people identifying as Catholics, nor do they feel the need to actively engage with their local parish on a regular or frequent basis.
What is being done to prepare for this future or perhaps forestall its reality?
Little, if anything. And largely because the Bishops are loathe to admit what the present state of the Church is in their respective Dioceses.
So, for the time being, Bishops have been playing “musical chairs” in parish consolidations here and there, in the realignment of Priest personnel, and in the meager proactive programs they have initiated to inform the laity of what they should expect within the next decade.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) continues to pretend that the American Church will quickly rebound from the chaos, confusion and shame Catholics have had to endure on the local and national level.
Most parishes are in financial freefall. Diocese have been forced to liquidate values parcels of real estate as well as valuable investment portfolios to compensate victims of abuse and cover astronomical legal costs attendant to the abuse scandals.
What does the USCCB have to say about this?
Nothing, other than to call upon its members to increase their assessments and raise the USCCB operational budget to over $ 162.5 million annually to fund agencies and programs which have little impact upon the average Catholic who is struggling to remain in the pew and hold on to his or her Catholic identity.
As I written repeatedly, the Catholic Faith in Europe is dead. Less than 4% of Catholics on the Continent practice their faith with any regularity or frequency. Culturally and politically, the Church has no impact upon the governance of what was once identifiable as a “Christian Europe”.
The American Church is going the same way as the Church in Europe.
And, from what I read as well as what I see in the actions and agenda of the USCCB, none of the hierarchy in the country seem willing or able to stem the tide of defections and indifference which will spell the end of a Catholic presence in America.
But, the buck doesn’t stop with the USCCB.
Two great cultures -- Europe and America -- are in peril of losing their Catholic (and Christian) identities.
The Holy See appears completely oblivious, more intent in preserving structures and positions than adopting a strategy by which the Catholic faithful will be effectively shepherded and the Church called to a revival of evangelical faith.
Appointed by God, Jonah (albeit reluctantly) called the people of Nineveh to repent and cover themselves in sackcloth and ashes asking the Lord for forgive and spare them and their city.
Has the Lord broken His Promise to the Church?
Has He abandoned His People?
Is there no Jonah to call the People of God to conversion?
Or have those the Lord has called chosen, as Jonah did, evade God’s call, to sail away from the Divine prophetic mission the Lord has imposed upon their shoulders?
Our Church is wounded to its core.
The Bishops have become pitiable in their failure to care for those entrusted to them.
The Holy See and the Vicar of Christ Himself have been accused of compromising the supreme magisterial authority to accommodate the Church to those whose lives are chaotic and sinful.
The once-promising Pontificate of Pope Francis has suffered a mortal wound in the doubt and confusions resulting from the deafening silence that emanates from the Vatican itself.
If the Church ever needed purification and revival, it needs it now.
If the Church ever needed a prophet, it needs one now.
Lord, send us Your prophet to call us to repent of our infidelities and betrayals, to do penance for the shame and suffering we have caused or allowed, to convert our minds and hearts more fully to You.
Come, dear Holy Spirit, come! You are Our Desire, Our Hope and Our Peace!