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.
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