Terry, over at Abbey-Roads, always manages to say what I merely think about saying, or say in private at the dining room table - and I thank him. Maybe I should attempt a bit more honesty with some of my posts.
Generally, when it involves a celebrity, I remain silent. I don't think the goings-on of the likes of Mel Gibson is of any importance considering all the horrific stuff happening in our country and in my Church. However, when Christopher Hitchens announced his illness, the rush to offer prayers for him (even if he's an atheist), was overwhelming. Nothing wrong with that, as Terry says, but I sort of cringe when others are always running around offering prayers, especially when not requested.
Abbey-Roads: Wind beneath their wings...
Thoughts on praying for Christopher Hitchens and Mel Gibson and Mildred Puce.
More at Western Confucian: No Prayer Requests for Christopher Hitchens Here
Nancy Pelosi and Planned Parenthood
And while I'm here let me state that Nancy Pelosi receiving an award from Planned Parenthood for approving of full term babies being stabbed in the back of the neck and having their brains sucked out until their little heads collapse is revolting.
Where are our Bishops?? Why is this woman not publicly reprimanded? She brings scandalous behavior to new heights and that is a very grave sin. To possibly lead others to sin through your behavior is extremely serious. I'm not sure what catechism some of our bishops are using, but when I hear one of them say, "we can't make denial of communion a political issue", I totally agree. It isn't a political issue - it's a spiritual issue, and they are failing to do their duty. Shame on them!
14 comments:
Thanks Hon! ;)
Adrienne, my Dad is in his mid-eighties, and whenever the subject of religion comes up (which it does fairly often, me being acknowledged as the crazy Catholic enthusiast of the family), he invariably rails against the bishops: WHY DON'T THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE POLITICIANS??!! That is usually followed by a rant about our "liberal" Pope: he's a liberal because he hasn't gotten rid of those bishops who don't do anything about the politicians.
I understand his frustration.....but, as I tell him over and over, it isn't going to change: Get used to being frustrated!
Nothing will change until the current crop of bishops dies off and is replaced with more orthodox bishops (which is not to say that we don't already have some solid guys in the bishopric now -- we do). Even that is not a guaranteed cure -- the reform of the seminaries is not consistent throughout the US and elsewhere. But, maybe as the battle lines become clearer as the culture continues its downward trajectory, it will be harder and harder for the bishops to ignore things such as this award to Pelosi.
I'm just sad for my Mom and Dad -- they have lived long enough to see the Catholic culture they grew up in virtually destroyed in their own lifetime. Me, I've only known the Church as a dysfunctional, goofed-out thing (I was raised in the seventies, so my catechesis consisted of multiculturalism and felt banners), so it's easier for me to be of good cheer -- it can't get worse, right? Also, I see hopeful signs because I'm fairly involved -- my parents aren't, and so they haven't met, as I have, solid, young, and enthusiastic seminarians.
Terry - no, no - thank you
Austringer - Although I'm not quite as old as your Dad (I was born in 1945) - I too have witnessed the Church being turned upside down. The results have proven to be not so great.
I doubt I will witness a restoration of our Church in my lifetime and that makes very sad.
I was born in 1944, graduated from (Catholic) high school before Vatican II even began. I see some good things happening here in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with Abp. Nienstedt at the tiller. When "they" start calling him "Panzerbischof" I'll know that real restoration is underway.
Old Bob,
When Joan of Arc parish is dealt with, then I'll know that real restoration is underway.
And though Epiphany has good solid priests, the bongo drums have got to go -- when I don't have to drive to St. Agnes to avoid hearing the modern "entertainment" heaped upon us by music directors and liturgists, then I'll know that real restoration is underway.
Bob - I agree that there is an slight glimmer of good things happening
Austringer - I also agree with you.
The way I see it is we have two kinds of people here - the optimist(Bob)and the realist (Austringer.) Neither is better than the other, but rather a nice balance, sort of like a good marriage.
This is not to say Bob is not a realist because I read everything he writes and he is most clearly a very smart man and a realist. He's just more cheerful about our reality - and for that we thank him!
I will post later on why I avoid so many Catholic sites after I go to the Farmer's Market, Grocery Outlet, continue painting the house, and moving sprinklers around. How's that for a bunch of reality??
Aw, Adrienne, I am something of an optimist, believe it or not. I certainly sound like one when I talk to my Dad after one of his rants: "Dad, I've met so many great young men in the seminary!" "Dad, our pastor is orthodox and people drive from miles around just to hear him!" (Which is true, though unfortunately it has gone to the priest's head...)"Dad, I met a fantastic Jesuit priest the other day!" (He's convinced good Jesuits don't exist.) So, I see signs of hope and applaud the good things that are out there. But I am a realist in that I do think that most of the current crop of bishops are cowardly, more concerned with public opinion than with fidelity to Christ and His Church. And quite a few of them haven't quite figured out that FDR is dead and that the Democratic party has moved far, far to the left, where common ground with faithful Catholics is harder and harder to find (if it exists at all).
As our archdiocese (St Paul/Mpls) moves ahead with restructuring plans (read: closing and merging parishes), the emphasis is on the diocese as our "local church". If that's so, our local church has a serious multiple personality disorder: some of our priests and parishes no doubt see Pelosi as a model of the modern Catholic, while others do not. The same is true on the national level.
Austie - I know you're an optimist, too. I'm still mulling over the bongo drums. I've escaped such things (so far!)
Truth be told - I'm probably the biggest pessimist among this crowd. That's why I've narrowed the Catholic blogs I frequent.
"Dad, I met a fantastic Jesuit priest the other day!"
Get his DNA and breed him. The Jesuits over at Gonzaga in Spokane are certifiable. Really!
We had a bongo-drum situation in my Baptist church, also. It didn't end well.
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
II Thes. 2:3
We have the same thing going on in Baptist churches, and when you speak out, you're ostracized as not being a "team player" and not wanting to reach out (coddle and lie to) lost people. This is all happening according to the prophecies. The Bible prophecy rating is 100% and over half have already come true. I'm am very excited and hopeful for Him to return!
Christopher Hitchens will never ask for prayer because his heart is turned against God. Maybe prayer will turn him toward God. I hate to see anyone die without hope.
I hate to say this (publically)...I am a public representative of the Church and all...but Auntie A., you are "right on".
When our bishops collectively (and there are some wonderfully strong voices in the episcopacy today; as opposed to the years of the "Bernadine machine") grow some .... maybe then the "lovelies" like N. Pelosi will either be wearing sackcloth and ashes or be seen truly for what they are: "out of the Church".
It doesn't mean we don't pray for them, help them when they desire to repent, but darnnit, enough is enough and the days of the English martyrs for those who want to live and profess the true Catholic Faith don't seem so far away. Jesus, help us!
republicanmother - I'm rather fond of 2 Timothy 4:3. We certainly have a bunch of people with "itching ears" wanting to have their chakras realigned and all...
Wouldn't the greatest kindness be to tell them the truth?
Nazareth Priest - so good to see you out and about again. You were missed.
I'm rather fond of some of our newer bishops like Chaput and Salvatore Cordileone.
But the rest of the weasels need to grow old and retire - quickly! The catechesis in this country is non-exist and so when you have a Pelosi or Biden running around, the pew-potatoes think abortion and birth control are nothing more than options.
The priests are afraid to talk about anything that may be "divisive" because they know someone will complain to the bishop who will not back him up.
While still on the RCIA team it fell to me each year to teach the classes on "sex" and offenses against, etc. The last year I taught the priest decided to take the class and it was so danged watered down that the average woman would have gotten the idea that birth control was perfectly ok as long as "she followed her conscience." Never mind that it was a very poorly formed conscience or that she made no effort to understand Church teaching.
I used to do one whole class (1 1/2 hours) on nothing but a time-line showing the connection between birth control and abortion (including major court cases, etc)
Needless to say we had about three in the class who openly said they didn't care what the dang Church taught, if a women was raped she should be able to get an abortion. They openly disagreed with other important doctrine and they were welcomed into the Church anyway. One of them is on the parish council now. Crazy...
I know, I know.
The laity, as usual, are going to help renew and reform the Church (the laity kept the Church alive in merry old England while all the Bishops, except good old John Fisher, opted for a "kinder, gentler" approach...yeah; who's a saint?)
Just keep on keepin' on; God will bless our efforts, small, hidden and obscure (and maybe failures in our eyes?) as they may be. Truth always wins; even if we have to suffer mightily for it. Evil reigns today; but God is ever greater. And there are some very great lights amidst the darkness. But most of the priests before 1990(this is just a guess) have been trained to get along and downplay the "hard sayings" of our Lord and our Church. They need to get a spine and shape up!
Keep up your great work, here Auntie A.
And thanks for your concern; I appreciate it. I'm still kickin' and screamin'~!
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