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Previous Posts
Archbishop Chaput weighs in against "Obama Catholics"--and for...?
Denver's Archbishop Charles Chaput combines an intellectual's depth with the doughty persona of a politicker, which is what he used to be--he worked for the RFK campaign and later, even as a priest, was a campaign volunteer for Jimmy Carter. Some say he's still a political operative, though for the
posted 11:18:53am May. 20, 2008 |
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The Hagee-Donohue ticket: "Liberals' worst nightmare"
The elaborate courtship of Texas televangelist John Hagee--who is covering McCain's evangelical flank--and the Catholic League's Bill Donohue, who accused Hagee of anti-Catholicism for his "Great Whore" sermonizing and other standard anti-papist barbs, always seemed to hold about as much suspense as
posted 10:54:05am May. 19, 2008 |
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An olive branch to divorced-and-remarried Catholics?
An item in the current edition of The Tablet of London hints at a possible opening for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion--even though many do, obviously, their ban from the altar under church law remains one of the sorest pastoral points in the US church. It is also a sore point
posted 6:00:00am May. 17, 2008 |
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The key to Benedict...
It is summed up in a response recounted by Father Jim Martin, a Jesuit and author who posts (and edits) at America magazine's blog. Father Martin has a post on "Three Unreported Papal Stories" from last month's visit. The third is the payoff:
Third: Another priest friend serving as a secretary to on
posted 5:12:35pm May. 16, 2008 |
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Guerilla tactics and the "Communion Wars"...Doug Kmiec is denied communion for backing Obama
It seems that the former Reagan adviser and Catholic conservative legal scholar from Pepperdine, Doug Kmiec--heretofore a man with impeccable judicial and pro-life credentials--has been barred from communion for his support for Barack Obama. In a posting yesterday, Kmiec did not give details, but wr
posted 12:37:21pm May. 16, 2008 |
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posted April 23, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I can only support the first two VOTF solutions. Trying to democratize the Church by allowing everyone to participate in the decision making would be the same mistake made by the Reformation that has proliferated human errors and made a mockery of the promise of Jesus that His Church would be without error. The answer for that is to hold firmly to the infallible Magisterium and the deposit of faith that comes from the Apostles. Had this been followed along with the ban on homosexuals from the priesthood directed by Pope John XXIII, the scandal could have been avoided. The One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church per se has no blame for those who do not honor its discipline or doctrines whatever the level. The blame falls on Human sin, and that is where the problem needs to be addressed. VOTF should try to change humanity’s propensity for sin, if they want to correct the scandal and abuse. Leave the Catholic Church structure built by Jesus alone. Church accountability to a human committee is unconscionable.
posted April 23, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Participation of the laity in decision-making does not mean a “vote” on every item. It means that competent lay people, with expertise in — for example — the financial area, are expected to lend their talents to making decisions within dioceses and parishes about financial issues. It means that parishioners are involved in selection of parish and diocesan pastoral councils. It means that parishioners are engaged in finding solutions for dropoffs in attendance, inadequate evangelization of the young, or other problems within their parishes. The “structure” modeled by the early Church (1st and 2nd century) is not the hierarchical, clergy-centric structure we have today. Remodeling the structure to utilize the many gifts the laity bring to the Church IS following the path Jesus set for us.
posted April 23, 2008 at 4:49 pm
These people are not protected from error. The Magisterium is.
posted April 24, 2008 at 2:39 am
The Roman faithful joined together are changing the Roman Catholic Church and so make the Holy Spirit redundant.
posted April 25, 2008 at 9:03 am
Sacrilege detroys even the ashes in the fireplace.
posted May 26, 2008 at 1:50 am
I wonder if the infallible magisterium has decided which financial accountability model is best, how to reverse declining attendance, etc.
Oh my, the laity should return to pray, pay and obey. Sorry, too late. Catholics deserve to be treated as adults for a change with minds and consciences and talents they have a right and obligation to use by virtue of their baptism.
Ordination does NOT automatically confer infallibility on every utterance and action of a cleric. If so, the Holy Spirit has been AWOL for centuries.