This is the best article I read in ages about the Catholic Church - and from a Protestant newspaper, the Belfast Telegraph. Its points apply not just to the Church but to the world we live in and the propaganda we are fed to make sense of it.
What a great Pope, responsible for the far better new translation of the liturgy (the liturgy was the Church's single greatest problem) and the reintroduction of the Tridentine Rite in theory, though not, thanks to recalcitrant and disobedient bishops, in practice.
These will be remembered in years to come and if the Tridentine Mass becomes widely celebrated he will be much esteemed for this decision, though this seems at present a very unlikely prospect. What he will be most remembered for, however, will be for his abdication, an inspired decision, which will have vast consequences.
He is a saintly man but his lack of administrative gifts and his diffidence made him question whether he had a priestly vocation. He is outspoken and very honest which has caused problems. But his reign will also be remembered, like Pope John Paul II's, for the terrible, unspeakable revelations about a shockingly numerous minority of priests, though of course only a tiny minority of the whole priesthood, who interfering with boys and girls (mostly boys but girls suffered too). In fact, not only the priesthood but many secular institutions contain far more of these criminals than we would have suspected (this article by Andrew Brown, who I think is not a Christian, is very interesting on this). But, many young lives have been damaged or ruined and, rightly, higher standards are expected from priests than the laity. The harm this has done the Church is the most significant event in church history since the Second Vatican Council. Whether these things were partly a consequence of the false Council and loss of belief in sexual morality or whether they were just as common in the 1950s I really do not know, but these terrible men were the most dangerous enemies not only of innocent children but of the Body of Christ.
Liberal societies take the view that no one should be allowed to impose their morality on anyone else, but then turn around and do precisely this to people who don't go along with their norms.How refreshing but how sad to read Pope Benedict XVI's final address to the Roman clergy on Thursday. Talking about the Second Vatican Council, he says:
...there was the Council of the Fathers – the true Council – but there was also the Council of the media.
We know that this Council of the media was accessible to everyone. Therefore, this was the dominant one, the more effective one, and it created so many disasters, so many problems, so much suffering: seminaries closed, convents closed, banal liturgy … and the real Council had difficulty establishing itself and taking shape; the virtual Council was stronger than the real Council. But the real force of the Council was present and, slowly but surely, established itself more and more and became the true force which is also the true reform, the true renewal of the Church. It seems to me that, 50 years after the Council, we see that this virtual Council is broken, is lost, and there now appears the true Council with all its spiritual force.Where will we find a Pope with Pope Benedict's vision but with the strength to put things right? He may think the virtual Council is broken but I am not so sure.
What a great Pope, responsible for the far better new translation of the liturgy (the liturgy was the Church's single greatest problem) and the reintroduction of the Tridentine Rite in theory, though not, thanks to recalcitrant and disobedient bishops, in practice.
These will be remembered in years to come and if the Tridentine Mass becomes widely celebrated he will be much esteemed for this decision, though this seems at present a very unlikely prospect. What he will be most remembered for, however, will be for his abdication, an inspired decision, which will have vast consequences.
He is a saintly man but his lack of administrative gifts and his diffidence made him question whether he had a priestly vocation. He is outspoken and very honest which has caused problems. But his reign will also be remembered, like Pope John Paul II's, for the terrible, unspeakable revelations about a shockingly numerous minority of priests, though of course only a tiny minority of the whole priesthood, who interfering with boys and girls (mostly boys but girls suffered too). In fact, not only the priesthood but many secular institutions contain far more of these criminals than we would have suspected (this article by Andrew Brown, who I think is not a Christian, is very interesting on this). But, many young lives have been damaged or ruined and, rightly, higher standards are expected from priests than the laity. The harm this has done the Church is the most significant event in church history since the Second Vatican Council. Whether these things were partly a consequence of the false Council and loss of belief in sexual morality or whether they were just as common in the 1950s I really do not know, but these terrible men were the most dangerous enemies not only of innocent children but of the Body of Christ.
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| The arms of the Holy See while sede vacante |
Thanks! This
ReplyDelete"Liberal societies take the view that no one should be allowed to impose their morality on anyone else, but then turn around and do precisely this to people who don't go along with their norms." - brings it all down in one phrase. No comment!
Agression! This is yet another contradiction in the Liberal Credo. They are against bullying as we all should be and no less against their brand. The Pope to be will be continuously criticized by the secular media Thank Heaven, The coming Pope as his predecessor will be concerned with the Church and the secular influence which is leading the Body of Christ and the larger world where they should not go. If anyone would like to adopt a Cardinal in prayer go to adoptacardinal.org. Remember,time is short.
ReplyDeleteI can't add anything worthwhile but will say that it's always good to hear from an Andrew Brown and others who attempt to address the issue honestly. I guess I'll add that when the problem of homosexual clergy is subtracted the incidence of sexual abuse is quite low compared to the larger society. The crime is hideous and more so among the consecrated. It does blur lines and makes it very hard for people to honestly remember that mankind is fallen and that no man is without sin.But among the avowed it is magnified in the minds eye. Particularly this sin which cries out to heaven for vengeance,retribution.
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