I am writing this to give my opinion about bishops who are, with good reason (not witch hunt false charges), attached to the sexual abuse charges of either covering up or, equally as bad, being negligent in overseeing the purity of spiritual subordinates.
I believe every one of you who covered up or who looked the other way, or who should have investigated but did not, should offer your resignations. This is why.
Being a bishop does not, no matter how much the verbiage and process sound like it, confer higher status or spirituality. I'm saying this in comfort, not in criticism. You must not become so attached to the responsibilities, authority and prestige of being a bishop so much that you view stepping away from it as a diminishing. The highest genuine honors of serving God, and one's flock, is to be a parish priest or priest to a community, or even the contemplative life.
If any of you bishops (including ones who are not in some sort of hot water) cannot follow the imagery I am going to offer you, you have to do some prayer and soul searching.
Imagine that you are no longer serving a bishop's capacity, but you are back to being a parish priest, or one attached to a seminary in a formation capacity, or even entering contemplative service in a monastery. How much of this image makes you feel diminished? Compare this to the feeling of release and of being freed of burdens that separate you from first hand contemplation of God through celebrating the Mass, hearing confessions, prayer, etc.
It is not just humility that caused many saints, when priests, to literally flee when the role of bishop was thrust upon them. Most saints genuinely preferred being parish priests, or members of a community, or contemplatives than they did seeking that princely office. Some of them feigned madness or stupidity to avoid it ha.
If you are really in service to God and his flock, most of you should feel that if your bishop responsibilities were taken from you, that it would be a relief and that once again you are getting down to the brass tacks (American slang for back to the basics, the fundamentals). The more a person seeks being a bishop (or outside the Catholic church, giving themselves that title) the more I wonder why they are seeking it so very much. Usually the answer is that it is viewed as a promotion.
Friends, brothers, though, remember one thing. A promotion upward in human circles is usually a lateral promotion or a downward promotion away from God. Layers of artificial concerns intrude upon even the most well meaning bishop's office. If you stop thinking of a bishop's chair as being a promotion or "increased authority," you will move closer, again, to God. This is why I think this is a valuable mental imagery exercise of visualization for even well functioning bishops who are serene and capable in their calling. Once in a while remember that it's not really a promotion and, further, the most humble duties of a priest is usually that which is closest to God's heart.
I hope that you have found this helpful.
Honoring always JMJ.
Showing posts with label Catholic Bishop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholic Bishop. Show all posts
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Saddened so many bishops have died in February
I have not missed the sad numerics of how many Catholic bishops have died in the past twenty days in February:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Joseph_O%27Donnell Retired, 77.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_dos_Reis_Rodrigues Retired, 90.
Cipriano Calderón Polo, 81, Spanish Bishop of Thagora (1989–2003).
Sefafín Vásquez Elizalde, 86, Mexican Bishop of Ciudad Guzmán.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Kim_Sou-hwan 86.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Tsien_Chih-ch%27un Retired 83.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jerome_Welsh 87.
***
Yes, it is true, these were for the most part retired men blessed in their length of life.
But it is a good time to remember that few people work harder than a priest, a bishop. They rarely have "time off," say nothing of a weekend, or a holiday. For all the slagging that the Catholic Church has gotten over the few and the terrible involved in abuse and cover-up, it would be a shame to not remember that many bishops still worked tirelessly to their deathbeds, and even if retired, often celebrated Mass and constantly prayed for everyone, Christian and not, believing and unbelieving. Two of the retired bishops who passed were American.
So in twenty days seven bishops have died.
It is a good time to pray for all who have vocations, pray for more to be called to vocations, and have some thankfulness for the good priests and bishops, especially the elderly, who served with very little in return of a material nature, or of respite from the day to day responsibilities for souls. I'm not even listing here the priests and men and women religious who have died this month, but the news there is sad too, especially as a Spanish priest in Cuba was murdered, and eight nuns died (and a ninth seriously injured) in a bus crash where brakes failed, in Indonesia. Prayers for all who give so much all their lives, even when it is cut short. But today I want to especially point out those who never really had a single "day off," the elderly bishops who have served their entire lives for God and for the flock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Joseph_O%27Donnell Retired, 77.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_dos_Reis_Rodrigues Retired, 90.
Cipriano Calderón Polo, 81, Spanish Bishop of Thagora (1989–2003).
Sefafín Vásquez Elizalde, 86, Mexican Bishop of Ciudad Guzmán.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Kim_Sou-hwan 86.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Tsien_Chih-ch%27un Retired 83.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jerome_Welsh 87.
***
Yes, it is true, these were for the most part retired men blessed in their length of life.
But it is a good time to remember that few people work harder than a priest, a bishop. They rarely have "time off," say nothing of a weekend, or a holiday. For all the slagging that the Catholic Church has gotten over the few and the terrible involved in abuse and cover-up, it would be a shame to not remember that many bishops still worked tirelessly to their deathbeds, and even if retired, often celebrated Mass and constantly prayed for everyone, Christian and not, believing and unbelieving. Two of the retired bishops who passed were American.
So in twenty days seven bishops have died.
It is a good time to pray for all who have vocations, pray for more to be called to vocations, and have some thankfulness for the good priests and bishops, especially the elderly, who served with very little in return of a material nature, or of respite from the day to day responsibilities for souls. I'm not even listing here the priests and men and women religious who have died this month, but the news there is sad too, especially as a Spanish priest in Cuba was murdered, and eight nuns died (and a ninth seriously injured) in a bus crash where brakes failed, in Indonesia. Prayers for all who give so much all their lives, even when it is cut short. But today I want to especially point out those who never really had a single "day off," the elderly bishops who have served their entire lives for God and for the flock.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Listen to the Bishops to understand Christ
One of the bishops made this statement at their conference press conference:
"Any one of us here would consider it a privilege to die tomorrow--die tomorrow!--to bring about the end of abortion," Auxiliary Bishop Robert Hermann of St. Louis said during a press conference at the Bishops’ conference in Baltimore.
The usual people who attack Catholics have posted in "comments sections" their misunderstanding of this quotation.
The Bishops are not saying they would die to pass a law against abortion and "take away rights."
The Bishops are saying they would willingly die if their death would cause the urge and desire for abortions to end. They are not speaking of the law, since even when the laws existed so did abortions. The Bishops are saying they would give up their own life gladly if in return there was a miracle and no one wanted and desired abortions any more.
THAT is genuine Christ consciousness. Look no further for a genuine example. I, of course, feel the same way as the Bishops.
I feel great pride in their marvelous manifestation of faith and testimony for life, and congratulate them in this statement which expresses Christ consciousness more than anything else, except a statement of belief in God, which of course is always the primary testimony from any believer.
"Any one of us here would consider it a privilege to die tomorrow--die tomorrow!--to bring about the end of abortion," Auxiliary Bishop Robert Hermann of St. Louis said during a press conference at the Bishops’ conference in Baltimore.
The usual people who attack Catholics have posted in "comments sections" their misunderstanding of this quotation.
The Bishops are not saying they would die to pass a law against abortion and "take away rights."
The Bishops are saying they would willingly die if their death would cause the urge and desire for abortions to end. They are not speaking of the law, since even when the laws existed so did abortions. The Bishops are saying they would give up their own life gladly if in return there was a miracle and no one wanted and desired abortions any more.
THAT is genuine Christ consciousness. Look no further for a genuine example. I, of course, feel the same way as the Bishops.
I feel great pride in their marvelous manifestation of faith and testimony for life, and congratulate them in this statement which expresses Christ consciousness more than anything else, except a statement of belief in God, which of course is always the primary testimony from any believer.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Faiths not supposed to "loosen" core doctrine
There are two interesting and important meetings taking place this week. One is at the UN where a two day interfaith conference is taking place. The other is the regularly scheduled meeting of the US Catholic Bishops. Both are examples of activities where those who do not understand the workings and efforts of people who have conservative, orthodox core faiths are sniping in the media. That's fine, because it gives us another opportunity to discuss the basics of belief in God.
Let me start with an analogy (of course!) Suppose you have a family with many young children, and you worry about keeping them safe from all dangers. So when you hire people to work on the house, let's say electricians, who do you hire? (Let us assume in this analogy that money is unlimited). Do you hire someone who swears to adhere to the complete safety code of electricians, or someone who follows the parts of the code he or she thinks is "good enough?" So if you are worried and want your children to sleep safely in your home, do you select the electrician who does absolutely everything by the book, with safety and proper procedure being his or her highest priority? Or are you impressed by the electrician who waves his or her hand and announces to you, "I am wiser than all of the other electricians, and am also wiser than all of those governmental agencies who establish so-called safety codes. I will pick and choose what parts of the code to follow, and which to break or to ignore, and you will trust me."
Obviously you would select the electrician who follows the code precisely and who seems to care about your family as if your family was his or her own.
This is what those who safe keep the core doctrine of the faiths are like, whether they are Christian, Muslim or Jewish. They are not following their own codes and "loosening things up" because the safety codes are "old fashioned" established by "oppressing and repressing religious leaders." Those who safeguard and keep the core doctrine of their faiths are like the good electrician who faithfully follows the code because he or she both believes and knows that the code is wise and applies in all cases. Things that are not in the code, well sure, maybe one electrician will offer you choices that have nothing to do with safety, but help in convenience or aesthetics, such as where you place your lighting, or how you position the light switches. But on the code, the core safety code, the good electrician will not budge from that.
This is why the Catholic Bishops are reiterating, more strongly than ever, their professing of the Catholic doctrine that abortion is always morally wrong. Abortion being morally wrong is part of the Catholic Church's core "safety code" from which one cannot deviate. By that I mean that even if someone disagrees with what is in the state's electrical code, that doesn't make the rules and the words disappear. Likewise, sure, the Catholic Church has laypeople who in their heart of hearts may think, "Well, surely there are times that abortion is OK." That is fine, you can think that in your heart and still be a good Catholic. God understands the confusion. But it is not alright for you to run around, as if you are an electrician, and tell people that parts of the state's electrical code book are "wrong" or can be ignored. You would actually be doing something of malpractice, if you were an electrician, and in training an apprentice, you told him or her "Hey, don't worry about the safety code. Just follow whatever parts you feel like, and ignore or change the rest." Then there is a fire and who is responsible?
This is why, to use this analogy, that the Catholic Bishops are correct in continually reiterating and restating that the belief that abortion is morally wrong is core Catholic doctrine. They are not being "inflexible" and do not need to be "liberalized," as those who just plain do not understand religion say they should do. I mean, core doctrine exists because the Church traces that doctrine directly back to the word of God, which is not a matter of "where you put the light switch," but a matter of following the safety code. Where there is room for discernment is how the Bishops address members of their flock who, and this is important, speak out in public in order to "teach" others to ignore the safety code. This is the problem with the most recent controversy with Catholic politicians, both those who are sincere in their faith and those who are nominal, to put it charitably. When a Catholic politician claims to be "explaining" Church doctrine, they are opening their mouths to take on a role that is as if a master electrician now has the job to train apprentices. Therefore, when a Catholic politician misstates the pro life doctrine of the Catholic Church, he or she is like the master electrician who explains to the apprentice wrong information that changes and thus dangerously deviates from the safety code manual. That cannot be unchallenged because it is teaching dangerous error to those who hear his or her words. This is why certain Bishops choose to chastise Catholic politicians who openly "teach" erroneous doctrine, claiming it to be correct. It is not a matter of the Catholic Bishops being "oppressive" or "old fashioned," anymore than the master electrician who faithfully follows the safety code of his or her profession is "oppressive" or "old fashioned."
Thus the Catholic Bishops are being perfectly correct, to be united in being clear about the unchanging Catholic doctrine regarding abortion, but to use pastoral discernment individually about how each of them might or would react within their parishes to those who are publicly misstating and flouting core Catholic doctrine. When Catholic liberals or the larger liberal secular audience to these public reiteration of Catholic core doctrine criticize the Catholic Bishops, it is the critics who just don't "get it," which is why I have provided this analogy. Every faith has core doctrine that is there because it is the truth and the way to not only remain in that faith community but more importantly to achieve salvation in eternal life, and not gravely offend God. There is a nuance among those who criticize the Catholic Bishops that imply religion is some sort of "cultural" system that people are expected to "modernize" as time goes along. That is the opposite of the truth and the point of religion. Religion is a gift from God, not an invention of humans.
Repeat: "Religion is a gift from God, not an invention of humans."
Again, as I have written and explained before, God understands that the temptation to believe in the "right of abortion," aka "freedom of choice" is strong, since temptation, especially in selfish sexual matters is a continuing weakness of humans. God understands the Catholic who in his or her heart struggles to understand this part of the faith, including those who have had abortions. But that does not mean that just because he understands and has mercy that the person with this conflict of heart should open his or her mouth and entice others to weaken their faith. THAT is the boundary that is a grave sin, and this is why the Catholic Bishops are vigilant shepherds. They are not trying to deny anyone their "rights," but they are going to insist that people understand that saying it's "not in the safety code" is a lie, and that it "is in the safety code." Those who have abortions and make mistakes still have all the avenues of the Church open to them, to get "right with God" with a sincere heart. But those who have a dilemma in their heart are not doing God's work if they make public their slanted "belief" and either proclaim it as "true" doctrine of what the Church "should" believe or, just as bad, do it as solidarity to entice others to, and there is no nice way to put it, sin.
Who of you would feel better if you talked someone into an abortion? Sadly, I know there are some who are proud to talk those who waiver into having an abortion, rather than arguing for life. But I believe two things about those people. One is that I believe there are fewer of them than people think, since I do not believe the polls reflect how proud someone would be to talk a woman into having an abortion. I'm just not sure that so many would feel covered with glory if they talked a wavering woman into having an abortion, if not right away (perhaps in the panic of youth) then later, when one values life more as one matures. The second thing that I believe is that those who genuinely are proud of talking women into abortions do so out of an unspoken almost superstitious feeling that "the more the merrier," and that if lots of women "stick together and have lots of abortions" that they are somehow demonstrating that abortion is "OK" and there is no God who sorrows at abortion and who will, if he must, punish those that do not regret the taking of an innocent life. Humans have that tendency, it's human nature, where they feel "safety in numbers" as the saying goes. They somehow are tempted to feel that if lots and lots of women have abortions, that somehow that proves that they have "critical mass" (pun not intended!) They think that they are collecting many "enlightened" people to prove that it's "OK to have an abortion." "See, you had one, and 'nothing happened.'" By that "nothing" they mean like God does not exist, or that God exists but "understands," or that God disapproved but he would never send such an otherwise good person to hell. Humans have always suffered from that "safety in numbers" mentality, of tempting each other into sin, as some sort of inoculation or "insurance policy," all the while saying that "it's OK." It's not OK. Abortion is like everything else, something that will have to be answered to directly to God upon death and judgment. Just because the sky didn't fall down and cave in when a million women got abortions does not mean that God isn't there, didn't "notice," or is "OK with it because she is such a giving and loving bubbly woman anyway so what the heck, her being desperate or nice 'cancels out' having that abortion." Sadly, this is one of the character weaknesses of humans, and it has only increased, not decreased, over time as human self centeredness and enabling technology has increased.
This is why the Catholic Bishops must restate the core doctrine that abortion is never morally right. However, humans are supposed to be so mature, and so in cases of extreme suffering (as the pro aborts like to use as everyday examples, such as rape or incest), do not people do things in private that they must answer to, either way, to God? It's not like the Catholic Bishops are checking everyone's medical records each day. (Goodness, the pro abortionists don't want medical records checked even when young girls are raped and forced to have abortions, "privacy" you know.) So the Catholic Bishops have two responsibilities. One is to repeat the core doctrine so no one can say they did not know or understand. The second is to deal with public profile people in their parishes who advocate flaunting of the core doctrine and thus lead others into sin or error of thought. They also gently correct those who just babble wrong doctrine. They understand the difference between erroneous babbling and deliberate disbelief of one of the core doctrines of the faith, and they respond accordingly.
Now, using my analogy, let me turn to the UN interfaith meeting. I have been peeved to read some sniping in the liberal press about "how" can the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, promote "tolerance" when the Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia is "so intolerant." Huh? Again, there is the analogy of the good electrician who follows the safety code. It is a non sequitur to accuse a leader who is responsible for the faith of his or her people to be "intolerant" when they insist that the people "follow the safety code" of their faith! Sheesh. Exactly as I said above the whole point of believing in God and joining (or being born into) a faith is that you subscribe to their creed and their code doctrine, as given by God, does not change. It is exactly people like King Abdullah who are entitled to lead interfaith efforts, not people who have lukewarm faith and who demonstrate it with their eagerness to edit God's instruction and word.
That does not mean that, like the good electrician who will, after following faithfully the entire safety code, allow for optional decisions where safety is not a risk, that Saudi Arabia will not inevitably adjust their optional manifestations of tolerance. I have every belief that only good things will come from the many faithful of Saudi Arabia, and the Muslim world in general. It is precisely the people who are firm and joyous in their core faith (even the parts that are difficult to live up to and may be hard to understand) who have the wisdom and confidence to know, then, where they can make decisions that create new traditions and tolerances. This is another thing that lukewarm or non-believers do not understand about the conservative in faith, whether the conservative are Jewish, Muslim or Christian. They do not understand that those of the most solid and consistent faith are those best positioned not only in the eyes of God but in the respect of the world and their own faith community to make sound non-core doctrinal changes, expansions and manifestations of tolerance. These are the very people who have the credibility and the wisdom to pace their leadership of their faith community to make good discernment of traditions, not core doctrine, that can and should be modified or expanded. It is exactly the exemplary "master electrician" who can serve on an agency to add new safety code or to find alternate solutions when, for example, new electrical service technology is discovered. It is not the person who doesn't really care if he or she follows the book, pun intended. It is the person who is pious, believing, orthodox and who understands that God and his expectations are unchanging, no matter how humans "change," who can then discern genuine avenues of increased tolerance, expanded faith traditions and genuine allowable and safe "progress."
I hope that you have found all of this helpful.
Let me start with an analogy (of course!) Suppose you have a family with many young children, and you worry about keeping them safe from all dangers. So when you hire people to work on the house, let's say electricians, who do you hire? (Let us assume in this analogy that money is unlimited). Do you hire someone who swears to adhere to the complete safety code of electricians, or someone who follows the parts of the code he or she thinks is "good enough?" So if you are worried and want your children to sleep safely in your home, do you select the electrician who does absolutely everything by the book, with safety and proper procedure being his or her highest priority? Or are you impressed by the electrician who waves his or her hand and announces to you, "I am wiser than all of the other electricians, and am also wiser than all of those governmental agencies who establish so-called safety codes. I will pick and choose what parts of the code to follow, and which to break or to ignore, and you will trust me."
Obviously you would select the electrician who follows the code precisely and who seems to care about your family as if your family was his or her own.
This is what those who safe keep the core doctrine of the faiths are like, whether they are Christian, Muslim or Jewish. They are not following their own codes and "loosening things up" because the safety codes are "old fashioned" established by "oppressing and repressing religious leaders." Those who safeguard and keep the core doctrine of their faiths are like the good electrician who faithfully follows the code because he or she both believes and knows that the code is wise and applies in all cases. Things that are not in the code, well sure, maybe one electrician will offer you choices that have nothing to do with safety, but help in convenience or aesthetics, such as where you place your lighting, or how you position the light switches. But on the code, the core safety code, the good electrician will not budge from that.
This is why the Catholic Bishops are reiterating, more strongly than ever, their professing of the Catholic doctrine that abortion is always morally wrong. Abortion being morally wrong is part of the Catholic Church's core "safety code" from which one cannot deviate. By that I mean that even if someone disagrees with what is in the state's electrical code, that doesn't make the rules and the words disappear. Likewise, sure, the Catholic Church has laypeople who in their heart of hearts may think, "Well, surely there are times that abortion is OK." That is fine, you can think that in your heart and still be a good Catholic. God understands the confusion. But it is not alright for you to run around, as if you are an electrician, and tell people that parts of the state's electrical code book are "wrong" or can be ignored. You would actually be doing something of malpractice, if you were an electrician, and in training an apprentice, you told him or her "Hey, don't worry about the safety code. Just follow whatever parts you feel like, and ignore or change the rest." Then there is a fire and who is responsible?
This is why, to use this analogy, that the Catholic Bishops are correct in continually reiterating and restating that the belief that abortion is morally wrong is core Catholic doctrine. They are not being "inflexible" and do not need to be "liberalized," as those who just plain do not understand religion say they should do. I mean, core doctrine exists because the Church traces that doctrine directly back to the word of God, which is not a matter of "where you put the light switch," but a matter of following the safety code. Where there is room for discernment is how the Bishops address members of their flock who, and this is important, speak out in public in order to "teach" others to ignore the safety code. This is the problem with the most recent controversy with Catholic politicians, both those who are sincere in their faith and those who are nominal, to put it charitably. When a Catholic politician claims to be "explaining" Church doctrine, they are opening their mouths to take on a role that is as if a master electrician now has the job to train apprentices. Therefore, when a Catholic politician misstates the pro life doctrine of the Catholic Church, he or she is like the master electrician who explains to the apprentice wrong information that changes and thus dangerously deviates from the safety code manual. That cannot be unchallenged because it is teaching dangerous error to those who hear his or her words. This is why certain Bishops choose to chastise Catholic politicians who openly "teach" erroneous doctrine, claiming it to be correct. It is not a matter of the Catholic Bishops being "oppressive" or "old fashioned," anymore than the master electrician who faithfully follows the safety code of his or her profession is "oppressive" or "old fashioned."
Thus the Catholic Bishops are being perfectly correct, to be united in being clear about the unchanging Catholic doctrine regarding abortion, but to use pastoral discernment individually about how each of them might or would react within their parishes to those who are publicly misstating and flouting core Catholic doctrine. When Catholic liberals or the larger liberal secular audience to these public reiteration of Catholic core doctrine criticize the Catholic Bishops, it is the critics who just don't "get it," which is why I have provided this analogy. Every faith has core doctrine that is there because it is the truth and the way to not only remain in that faith community but more importantly to achieve salvation in eternal life, and not gravely offend God. There is a nuance among those who criticize the Catholic Bishops that imply religion is some sort of "cultural" system that people are expected to "modernize" as time goes along. That is the opposite of the truth and the point of religion. Religion is a gift from God, not an invention of humans.
Repeat: "Religion is a gift from God, not an invention of humans."
Again, as I have written and explained before, God understands that the temptation to believe in the "right of abortion," aka "freedom of choice" is strong, since temptation, especially in selfish sexual matters is a continuing weakness of humans. God understands the Catholic who in his or her heart struggles to understand this part of the faith, including those who have had abortions. But that does not mean that just because he understands and has mercy that the person with this conflict of heart should open his or her mouth and entice others to weaken their faith. THAT is the boundary that is a grave sin, and this is why the Catholic Bishops are vigilant shepherds. They are not trying to deny anyone their "rights," but they are going to insist that people understand that saying it's "not in the safety code" is a lie, and that it "is in the safety code." Those who have abortions and make mistakes still have all the avenues of the Church open to them, to get "right with God" with a sincere heart. But those who have a dilemma in their heart are not doing God's work if they make public their slanted "belief" and either proclaim it as "true" doctrine of what the Church "should" believe or, just as bad, do it as solidarity to entice others to, and there is no nice way to put it, sin.
Who of you would feel better if you talked someone into an abortion? Sadly, I know there are some who are proud to talk those who waiver into having an abortion, rather than arguing for life. But I believe two things about those people. One is that I believe there are fewer of them than people think, since I do not believe the polls reflect how proud someone would be to talk a woman into having an abortion. I'm just not sure that so many would feel covered with glory if they talked a wavering woman into having an abortion, if not right away (perhaps in the panic of youth) then later, when one values life more as one matures. The second thing that I believe is that those who genuinely are proud of talking women into abortions do so out of an unspoken almost superstitious feeling that "the more the merrier," and that if lots of women "stick together and have lots of abortions" that they are somehow demonstrating that abortion is "OK" and there is no God who sorrows at abortion and who will, if he must, punish those that do not regret the taking of an innocent life. Humans have that tendency, it's human nature, where they feel "safety in numbers" as the saying goes. They somehow are tempted to feel that if lots and lots of women have abortions, that somehow that proves that they have "critical mass" (pun not intended!) They think that they are collecting many "enlightened" people to prove that it's "OK to have an abortion." "See, you had one, and 'nothing happened.'" By that "nothing" they mean like God does not exist, or that God exists but "understands," or that God disapproved but he would never send such an otherwise good person to hell. Humans have always suffered from that "safety in numbers" mentality, of tempting each other into sin, as some sort of inoculation or "insurance policy," all the while saying that "it's OK." It's not OK. Abortion is like everything else, something that will have to be answered to directly to God upon death and judgment. Just because the sky didn't fall down and cave in when a million women got abortions does not mean that God isn't there, didn't "notice," or is "OK with it because she is such a giving and loving bubbly woman anyway so what the heck, her being desperate or nice 'cancels out' having that abortion." Sadly, this is one of the character weaknesses of humans, and it has only increased, not decreased, over time as human self centeredness and enabling technology has increased.
This is why the Catholic Bishops must restate the core doctrine that abortion is never morally right. However, humans are supposed to be so mature, and so in cases of extreme suffering (as the pro aborts like to use as everyday examples, such as rape or incest), do not people do things in private that they must answer to, either way, to God? It's not like the Catholic Bishops are checking everyone's medical records each day. (Goodness, the pro abortionists don't want medical records checked even when young girls are raped and forced to have abortions, "privacy" you know.) So the Catholic Bishops have two responsibilities. One is to repeat the core doctrine so no one can say they did not know or understand. The second is to deal with public profile people in their parishes who advocate flaunting of the core doctrine and thus lead others into sin or error of thought. They also gently correct those who just babble wrong doctrine. They understand the difference between erroneous babbling and deliberate disbelief of one of the core doctrines of the faith, and they respond accordingly.
Now, using my analogy, let me turn to the UN interfaith meeting. I have been peeved to read some sniping in the liberal press about "how" can the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, promote "tolerance" when the Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia is "so intolerant." Huh? Again, there is the analogy of the good electrician who follows the safety code. It is a non sequitur to accuse a leader who is responsible for the faith of his or her people to be "intolerant" when they insist that the people "follow the safety code" of their faith! Sheesh. Exactly as I said above the whole point of believing in God and joining (or being born into) a faith is that you subscribe to their creed and their code doctrine, as given by God, does not change. It is exactly people like King Abdullah who are entitled to lead interfaith efforts, not people who have lukewarm faith and who demonstrate it with their eagerness to edit God's instruction and word.
That does not mean that, like the good electrician who will, after following faithfully the entire safety code, allow for optional decisions where safety is not a risk, that Saudi Arabia will not inevitably adjust their optional manifestations of tolerance. I have every belief that only good things will come from the many faithful of Saudi Arabia, and the Muslim world in general. It is precisely the people who are firm and joyous in their core faith (even the parts that are difficult to live up to and may be hard to understand) who have the wisdom and confidence to know, then, where they can make decisions that create new traditions and tolerances. This is another thing that lukewarm or non-believers do not understand about the conservative in faith, whether the conservative are Jewish, Muslim or Christian. They do not understand that those of the most solid and consistent faith are those best positioned not only in the eyes of God but in the respect of the world and their own faith community to make sound non-core doctrinal changes, expansions and manifestations of tolerance. These are the very people who have the credibility and the wisdom to pace their leadership of their faith community to make good discernment of traditions, not core doctrine, that can and should be modified or expanded. It is exactly the exemplary "master electrician" who can serve on an agency to add new safety code or to find alternate solutions when, for example, new electrical service technology is discovered. It is not the person who doesn't really care if he or she follows the book, pun intended. It is the person who is pious, believing, orthodox and who understands that God and his expectations are unchanging, no matter how humans "change," who can then discern genuine avenues of increased tolerance, expanded faith traditions and genuine allowable and safe "progress."
I hope that you have found all of this helpful.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
DELIGHTED at Catholic Bishops' Responses
Something good comes out of even the bad, and even the scandalous, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops plus individual Bishops have demonstrated this in a way that gives me pride and delight. Here is the USCCB official statement in reply to the scandalous and dreadful slander by Speaker Pelosi of the pro-life anti-abortion doctrine of the Catholic Church.
http://usccb.org/
Further, I am delighted to see the growing list of Bishops (and most especially the statement by Cardinal Egan of New York http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=8803) who reinforce the statement of the USCCB, issue their own statements, are demonstrating pastoral responsibilities in guiding their flocks, and who are standing and bearing witness to the truth of the Catholic Church.
THIS is what is needed to provide the fullness of truth to the faithful and by influence of sanctity and good will, to society as a whole. I commend all of you and praise you for taking the lead. Bishops must spend less time on administrative and other secular distractions and be sure to be prompt in guiding their flocks through times of confusion and indeed, lead in their formation and strengthening of faith. Ultimately all will be strengthened and purified by your examples, you will see.
God bless, and I hope this is the beginning of more active witness, faith formation and defense of our doctrine and truth by the Bishops.
http://usccb.org/
Further, I am delighted to see the growing list of Bishops (and most especially the statement by Cardinal Egan of New York http://www.archny.org/news-events/news-press-releases/index.cfm?i=8803) who reinforce the statement of the USCCB, issue their own statements, are demonstrating pastoral responsibilities in guiding their flocks, and who are standing and bearing witness to the truth of the Catholic Church.
THIS is what is needed to provide the fullness of truth to the faithful and by influence of sanctity and good will, to society as a whole. I commend all of you and praise you for taking the lead. Bishops must spend less time on administrative and other secular distractions and be sure to be prompt in guiding their flocks through times of confusion and indeed, lead in their formation and strengthening of faith. Ultimately all will be strengthened and purified by your examples, you will see.
God bless, and I hope this is the beginning of more active witness, faith formation and defense of our doctrine and truth by the Bishops.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Bishop saved household money to build hospital
Still researching, and came across this. I mention it because one of the favorite ignorant loud mouth accusations against the Catholic Church is that her bishops live large on the hog. Actually, throughout the centuries, bishops, and even Popes, have been known to live very austerely, and with the money they save on household expenses (including the basics of food and fuel for heat and light) have done great things.
A specific example is St. John Chrysostom, who lived from 347-407 AD. In the book I am reading it states "As for himself, St. John built a great hospital with the money he had saved on household expenses in his first year as bishop."
Now, people are going to say mean and ignorant things no matter what the truth may be. But I wanted to remind faithful readers that there is a several thousand year history of severe "budgeting" and sacrifice by not only those who minister to the poor, but indeed bishops and Popes who scrimped and lived in privation in order to donate what they had to great causes for the needy. So like me you can ignore the mean mouths who predictably comment on news stories that mention the Catholic Church how fat and rich everyone is, since that's far from true, and in fact, is the opposite of one of the longest traditions of individuals scrimping on basics in order to feed the poor, build hospitals and establish charitable foundations with their "saved household money." And no, it's not because they got a large expense account; they often went without food, candles for lighting, or wood for heating.
A specific example is St. John Chrysostom, who lived from 347-407 AD. In the book I am reading it states "As for himself, St. John built a great hospital with the money he had saved on household expenses in his first year as bishop."
Now, people are going to say mean and ignorant things no matter what the truth may be. But I wanted to remind faithful readers that there is a several thousand year history of severe "budgeting" and sacrifice by not only those who minister to the poor, but indeed bishops and Popes who scrimped and lived in privation in order to donate what they had to great causes for the needy. So like me you can ignore the mean mouths who predictably comment on news stories that mention the Catholic Church how fat and rich everyone is, since that's far from true, and in fact, is the opposite of one of the longest traditions of individuals scrimping on basics in order to feed the poor, build hospitals and establish charitable foundations with their "saved household money." And no, it's not because they got a large expense account; they often went without food, candles for lighting, or wood for heating.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Aussie Catholic Bishop "dry" humor!
Reading this article, thankfully no lives lost in this storm that hit Australia. I love the Bishop's dry comment.
It's a billion-dollar disaster
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/its-a-billiondollar-disaster/2007/06/12/1181414305798.html
snip
THE worst was over and the huge job of cleaning up was under way in the Hunter Valley last night, as the economic cost of the deadly storms was projected to climb to $1 billion.
snip
Thousands of Hunter residents, from Singleton to Newcastle, were yesterday scraping mud and debris from their homes and businesses - a job that will continue for weeks.
snip
The Catholic Bishop of Maitland and Newcastle, Michael Malone, called on people to thank the Lord, but added: "We can stop praying for rain for a little while."
It's a billion-dollar disaster
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/its-a-billiondollar-disaster/2007/06/12/1181414305798.html
snip
THE worst was over and the huge job of cleaning up was under way in the Hunter Valley last night, as the economic cost of the deadly storms was projected to climb to $1 billion.
snip
Thousands of Hunter residents, from Singleton to Newcastle, were yesterday scraping mud and debris from their homes and businesses - a job that will continue for weeks.
snip
The Catholic Bishop of Maitland and Newcastle, Michael Malone, called on people to thank the Lord, but added: "We can stop praying for rain for a little while."
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