Blogging the Pope
Beliefnet has wall-to-wall coverage of the Pope’s visit.
Montgomery County pulled a simple welcome message for the pontiff off its buses.
National Review says: “Glad to see you.”
The White House will celebrate his 81st birthday today.
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I am not Catholic. I am, however, a former resident of Damascus, MD, and as such a former patron of RideOn buses.
For RideOn to decide against a simple message is petty, childish, and foolish. Besides being the leader of millions of Catholics worldwide, he is in fact a head of state.
Any other reasons why I left Montgomery County for Jacksonville, FL?
Is this the same Montgomery County whose County Executive, Douglas Duncan, thinks “we must express compassion to those who enter our country illegally”?
So maybe Pope Benedict’s problem is that he entered the country legally.
Would these be the same riders that attack women? Or are they simply too stupid to realize that Pope Benedict is the head of a sovereign entity, the Vatican City? And that the U.S. has an ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon, to the Holy See?
I am not Catholic, but I am a christian and am not surprised at the discrimination and bias towards christians. Close examination of the emergence of Nazism in Texas concerning the abduction of innocent children from an entire church is the proof in the puddin’ that our leaders are anti-christian.
Hardly heard anything about the vermin Bill Maher on HBO and his vile comments about the Pope last friday.
Those of us in this country who believe in God are under assault from the left.
Probably.
I am very excited about this visit. I am eager to see what His Holiness has to say to both the UN and the others he’s meeting with - I heard the heads of the nation’s Catholic (or Catholic in Name Only) colleges have an audience with him sometime during this visit.
I hope he is safe during this trip, and I am disappointed at Montgomery County. I think a basic course in Constitutional law and interpretation should be REQUIRED for all Americans. Only a misunderstanding born out of gross ignorance would lead one to think welcoming the Pope in anyway violates the First Amendment.
What were they? (I shudder to think…)
Ah, Bill Maher - such intelligence! Such wit! Too bad he acts like an aged frat boy or I might take him seriously. /sarcasm.
Stay classy, Bill.
That sounds kinds sinful.
Rooster, Bill Maher is the reason we dropped HBO. I remember him on a few episodes of “Murder She Wrote”. He was a terrible actor.
englishqueen01,
What the scum Maher said in preperation for the Pope’s visit, was enough to fire Don Imus a million times over….IMHO.
If HBO doesn’t fire this guy, I would hope (Sorry Barry), that all christians would boycott HBO from this day forth!
I am so excited about the Pope’s visit! John Paul visited my son’s high school when he was here, and I wish Benedict would come to Chicago, too. I am so proud to have Benedict as the head of our Church and would love to be there to welcome him to the USA.
Bill Maher can and will get by with the uncalled for comments, because it’s against Christianity. If had been a derogatory comment about Islam/Muslims you can bet the farm they [MSM/CAIR etc.] would have hammered him into oblivion. Not to mention he’d have to watch his back from then on.
From a Southern Baptist in Oklahoma. Welcome to the United States of America, Pope Benedict. Hope you enjoy your visit.
I love this Pope. This is going to be a great week. His Mass at Yankee stadium is going to be unbelievable.
I am Catholic and have really grown to love him by reading about him on Catholic blogs like the Anchoress and Amy Wellborn. He is such a clear thinker and I love when he has left his prepared notes and talked extemporaneously especially with children.
As a Lutheran (and a heritic at that) I’ve found more and more respect for the Pope the more I read about him. May he continue to keep the candle of faith lit as we stare into a new dark age.
(Or is that too snobish of me?)
How do all of you feel about the Pope being against the war in Iraq and being against the death penalty? The “culture of life” as the Papacy called it. Non-violence: the badge of a true Christian.
One of my Facebook friends has as his status: “POPE POPE POPE POPE POPE POPE POPE POPE POPE POPE!!!!”
Kinda says it all right there.
Wish I could see him - saw John Paul The Great when he came to America and again in ‘03 when I went to Italy with a class trip.
He needs to make his trip longer and do what JP2 did - say “no thanks” to the security and walk out in the open, unafraid of those cowardly bastards that think they’ll be taking Rome sometime in the next century.
It’s worse than that, actually. There are an estimated 1.08 billion of us.
He would have been treated better here in Montgomery County, Ohio.
One thing you can count on from Liberals is bad manners followed by unbelievable rationalizations.
I deeply respect this Pope, he is a kind and brilliant leader. The way Maher and others have reacted to him is despicable…there is room for criticism, but please, do it with taste…the left has no clue how to voice concerns in a respectful manner.
God bless Pope Benedict!
Why is that? Do you cling to your religion there?
Welcome, Pope Benedict!!
As the leader of a Catholic group said in response to Maher’s comments, “Poor Bill Maher; pray for him”. He does not criticize or question rationally; he hates, pure and simple. The man needs SOME kind of help.
Newbie; glad to be here! Hi, Mrs. Malkin! Keep up the “good fight”.
Until Bernard Law is frog-marched into a Massachusetts prison for being an accomplice in who knows how many molestations, please excuse me for not being all that excited about the Pope’s visit.
That and he’s ruining traffic by my office.
And getting excited about something Bill Maher said is as pointless as me getting upset at Ann Coulter. It’s their shtick. Offend! Offend! Offend!
Rusty in typical liberal fashion it’s all about you isn’t it?
Well, the Vatican celebrated my birthday this year as it was Easter. I guess the White House might as well return the favor. I don’t guess I’ll ever understand the fuss over a religious leader in a country where we have separation of church and state. I was pretty disappointed at the flag flying at half staff after Pope John Paul’s death - he was not American. I know that politicians want the Catholic vote. . . but it’s all a big ‘meh’ to me.
Terri, it was a joke.
A few points of clarification here.
First, the Pope has never explicitly condemned nor has he issued a teaching on the war that would obligate Catholics to oppose it.
Likewise, the death penalty. Both are outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church with explicit parameters that allow for both war and the death penalty under certain circumstances.
You can read about Just War criteria here.
Teaching on the death penalty is here.
So it’s disingenuous to claim the Pope is against those things wholesale and therefore all Catholics should oppose war and the death penalty.
Indeed, if Catholics and Christians did not occassionally stand up for and defend themselves, they would have been obliterated in ages past. Jesus wanted and taugh peace, but Jesus also knew Christians would have many enemies and He even showed a temper with the tax collectors in the temple. It’s been long recognized that total pacifism is a good way to destroy your faith, too.
Recently, a Hamas cleric said Rome and the Vatican would be taken over by Islam. Under your line of thinking, the Pope should just hand over the keys to the Basillica and call it a day. And that would be the “Christian” thing to do.
See how your assertion that war is always wrong is just…wrong?
Yeah, the Catholics were the cause of the Crusades, and it was necessary. To say that Catholics are against war ain’t right. They are generally against Israel (my problem with them) and American War.
As for the death penalty. . . well, I’m completely against it under any circumstances. And it makes me uneasy how staunchly for the death penalty many Christians and good people are. The death penalty is unnecessary, and the Pope is right on that issue.
oooh and on that note, I just saw my first hummingbird of the season! Time to put out the food cause he looks hungry!
Well Rusty, to be honest it was hard to see.
EQ-the funny thing is though that these same people who talk about the war or the death penalty are the same ones who hold Catholics like Pelosi, et. al. who are pro-death to high esteem. They’re fine with abortion because it suits them. But of course you already know that.
Rusty: You should read Goodbye, Good Men by Michael S. Rose to get a good grasp on the Church’s sex abuse scandal, who was responsible for perpetrating it and defending the abusers.
Here’s a hint - it isn’t people who profess orthodoxy as the Pope does.
Texas Tiger said “Or are they simply too stupid to realize that Pope Benedict is the head of a sovereign entity, the Vatican City? And that the U.S. has an ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon
to the Holy See?”
Yes.
*blink*
*blink*
ThackerAgency: I suggest you re-read my post again.
The Catholic Church is not “against” Israel or “American war” (I don’t even fully understand what that phrase means…). Where did you get that impression?
As for the death penalty, the Church teaches that if there is certainty that the accused is the criminal, and that criminal poses a real and genuine threat to society at large even after incarceration, the death penalty may be applied. I don’t see how that makes me a “staunch” supporter of the death penalty.
Terrig - yes, I am fully aware of that. And the Church has always been against abortion and infanticide - since the begining of the Church. One saint (whose name escapes me at the moment) made it his life’s work to rescue abandoned infants and raise them.
englishqueen01 I must have misread the words of Jesus whe he said You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
—Matthew 5:38-42, NIV
Maybe I am too literal.
queen, I wasn’t calling out you or anyone in particular. I was just making a comment. I think the death penalty is always wrong. And the Vatican often speaks out against American Wars. And they USUALLY condemn Israel for defending themselves.
This is just a statement of mine as a stand alone. I’m not addressing anyone in particular, and I apologize if you thought I was posting about you or anyone else.
I’ve heard the Pope is taking a hard line on the sex abuse scandals. If that’s the case, I’m glad to hear it. That’s what the Catholic Church needs right now concerning the scandal.
And by the way, welcome to America, Pope Benedict!
I agree with you, eq01, about Cardinal Law. He is a vile criminal who should be enjoying an extended stay in one of Massachusetts fine state-run “bed and breakfast” facilities.
Although I was not a victim of a pedophile priest, thousands of the faithful were “collateral damage” in the form of parish and church closings.
My family parish and my daughter’s school were one of the many parishes closed throughout Massachusetts for no other reason than to pay the legal bills and settlements of the scandal.
As a Boston area Catholic, I also feel the Pope should’ve included Boston on his itinerary. I think his visit would’ve made a tremendous leap forward in repairing church relations with the faithful as well as helping in the healing process.
Yes, you are taking one passage and holding it up as complete and total proof that Christ advocated pure pacfisim.
There is Biblical tradition, tradition and Tradition (big T). All those things encompass the faith and the teaching. The just war and death penalty I linked above are a good place to start, based in Scripture and rooted in Tradition.
I don’t have my Bible with me, so I cannot look up references now, but I’d be glad to explain it to you in-depth later.
If the Pope were taking a hard line, “Cardinal” Law wouldn’t be a Cardinal anymore.
EQ, there is no way to explain away Law’s monstrous actions. He knew of two pedophiles and instead of reporting them to police he moved them from parish to parish. His actions directly led to child molestation.
And when he was forced to resign he was rewarded with a cushy position within the Vatican by Pope John Paul II.
I’m glad that Pope Benedict XVI is talking a tough game now, but it’s far too late for the many victims in Massachusetts and throughout the country.
And, yes, Pope Benedict has spoken out against capital punishment in almost every scenario and he has spoken out against the Iraq invasion.
“All I can do is invite you to read the Catechism, and the conclusion seems obvious to me…the concept of preventive war does not appear in The Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
Bill Maher is a comedian. To take what he says to seriously is missing the point. He is a satirist. I don’t agree with everything he says, but he has some good points if you watch the whole show and not just clips. Besides, he pokes fun at Muslims, liberals, and Democrats equally.
Welcome, Pope Benedict, to the US of A. I hope your visit is a safe one and that you are greeted by many well wishers.
I had some of my best teaching experiences in Catholic Schools. They treated me with kindness even though I’m Presbyterian.
To those who would use the Pope’s visit to castigate Catholicism and Christianity in general I would say that such an approach really does reveal the need for self-reflection in one’s life. Yes, the sexual abuse scandal was not a good episode in the Catholic Church’s history but then again, there are many Catholics in this country that turned their backs on faith and the church long before that ever happened.
I find it quite deplorable that many Americans think it great fun to bash Christians when they themselves need to look at their own hearts and actions in terms of why they hate Christians to much. To disagree with the Church is one thing but to hate it because of its existence is another thing altogether.
Who here is hating the Church? As EQ pointed out to me, to do so would be to hate the spiritual foundation of my family and my ancestors (and, like you, my teachers). I just think the Church is wrong on many subjects.
Hating the abuse scandal is something else. There were too many examples of criminal behavior. Not just the abusers, but those who enabled the abusers by either turning a blind eye or by actively covering up these crimes.
I wouldn’t be a Catholic either way based on issues of faith. But if I were, I would find it difficult to reconcile my beliefs and the actions of those who represent the Church.
I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Rusty, at least in part. I used to read about Cardinal Law’s pedophile-enabling antics in an orthodox (small “o”) Catholic newspaper called The Wanderer about 10-15 years ago. It was their opinion (and mine also) that the man’s not fit to lead his flock.
That said, I part company with Rusty in the rest of his post where he trashes Pope Benedict XVI’s stance as being “too little, too late.” The man wasn’t even Pope at the time, and so did not have the authority to strip anyone of their title.
As for the Pope speaking out against capital punishment… even Rusty had to use the phrase “almost every scenario”. The point is that capital punishment is the punishment of last resort. The state has an obligation to protect it’s citizens from unjust violence, and if it can successfully do so with lesser punishment, the point is that it should. That’s not a wholesale indictment of capital punishment. That’s common sense. It’s called proportionality, something that also applies to military action.
This is speaking as someone who paid attention during 12 years of Catholic education, and 4 years at a St. Joseph’s University here in Philly, which unfortunately, because it’s run by the Jesuits, seems CiNO.
I am not a Christian but certainly understand the importance of this visit and the Pope himself to Christians. Of course this just gives worthless piles of protoplasm like Bill Maher more material for his humorless “act” (hey Bill: show some real courage boy, and tell us some Allah jokes while your tastelessly insulting the Pope). But it is a time for Christians to bask in a visit to their Country by one of their most important spiritual leaders.
I’m talking about the growing number of Americans (even some atheists) who consider themselves unaffiliated. I’ve met many a Catholic (even in my husband’s family) who will support abortion until their dying day, even pick and choose what it is they will and won’t support. Only about 36% of Catholics attend mass at least once a month and I found that number startling.
I think you’re using the sex scandal as an excuse, Rusty. Were you personally affected? Did you know someone who was? Yes, pray for the victims. The Church handled the scandal very badly but to write it off because of this scandal is very short-sighted.
If anything, the scandal revealed a tension between those priests who want to take the church in a more liberal direction and those who want to keep it the way it was intended. When you become a priest you take a vow of celebacy and the priests who were directly involved in the scandal forsook those vows.
Are you or are you not Cathlic? If you’re not Catholic then do you really even have a dog in this fight? I find it very sad how many Catholics (especially liberals) can criticize the Church for the sex scandal but not even look into their own hearts and examine their own choices.
If you’re not a practicing Catholic, that’s your choice. You’re just one of many Catholics who have turned away from the Church and its better to go elsewhere. I’m thinking that the Pope would rather he have devout Catholics then those who can’t be bothered to attend mass, go to confession, or examine their belief systems.
self-edit: Cathlic= Catholic. My apologies if I offended any of the faithful with my spelling mistake.
On April 16th, 2008 at 10:21 am, ThackerAgency (#28)said:
I know where you’re coming from with this, and have complete empathy with your reasoning, but I must disagree with you on the death penalty.
I think it is necessary not so much as a deterrent to crime, but as a cathartic means of release, exoneration and, yes, even retribution for those families that have been devastated by the untimely loss of a loved one to murder.
Englishqueen, have you attended a Motu Proprio Mass yet? We have a large parish here in San Antonio that has the 1962 Mass now, per Pope Benedict’s directive to allow it. It’s going to make a huge difference. We’ve been to the Latin High Mass twice now and words do not begin to describe the majesty, the solemnity…it literally is Heaven on earth.
EmJem, my parents were raised Catholic but I was raised Episcopalian (which I know has plenty of its own problems).
I don’t understand this point. I’m inferring that you believe pedophilia is somehow a liberal direction? I think that demands an explanation. These weren’t priests looking to have marriages. That would be a more liberal direction. These are sick men with sick problems.
One of the few things I think the Catholic Church has right is keeping priests celibate. It’s a beautiful sacrifice and allows one to dedicate himself (or, in my perfect world, herself) to Jesus Christ and his(/her) parishioners. The idea that celibacy leads to pedophilia is somewhat laughable. It may attract pedophiles, but it’s the Church’s responsibility to root those people out.
Those beliefs are fine. They’re just wildly unCatholic.
I think it is great that the Holy Father is here for a visit. I just watched the White House ceremony live stream from foxnews.com
I notice above that the usual anti-Catholic blabbering is in full bloom again. For those who would imply the Church sanctions or approves of sexual misdeeds of the clergy, you are wrong. Have crimes been committed? Yes. Are they being dealt with? Yes. What else do you want?
And like Thacker, I too am against the death penalty. But I believe it was Islam who invaded the Holy Land by force. The Crusades were organized to push the invaders back.
On War and Capital Punishment:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0503fea2.asp
by Jimmy Akin
Some crusades (the early ones) were set up by the Pope but later ones were initiated by political leaders (Kings and the like). The main motivations for the crusades were political and economic rather than religious in any case.
And in any case, Benedict XVI is not reponsible for any of them.
I have a lot of respect for Benedict XVI, and I say that as an atheist myself.
Montgomery County was always run by nincompoops.
That link to the Beliefnet blog leads you to a pretty snarky place. I prefer the blog put out by the Ratzinger Fan Club.
I disagree.
There is nothing in the Catechism that makes preventitive war immoral. Indeed, that argument is tantamount to saying one cannot defend themselves against an attacker or potential attacker. The Church has always recognized the rights of individuals and nations to defend themselves against an unjust aggressor. Given the story I linked above, I would say radical Islam qualifies as that unjust aggressor.
That’s why I suggested you read Goodbye, Good Men. That observation by emjem24 is actually very accurate. The book discusses – in rather depressing detail – the invasion by liberal, heterodox theologians and laity into seminaries.
These individuals had one goal in mind: the complete and total dismantling of the Catholic Church’s teachings on pretty much everything from the Eucharist, to prayer, to homosexuality, to the all-male, celibate priesthood. They often taught from texts either by non-Catholics or rabid Catholic dissenters.
They not only did nothing to rein in inappropriate behavior at seminaries, they often encouraged the behavior and harassed (to the point of expulsion) those who disliked or disagreed with it.
Many good, faithful, orthodox young men were turned away from (or thrown out of) the seminaries and blackballed from institutions where they could complete their vocational training and continue on to the priesthood. Men who wore clericals, who prayed, who professed a deep reverence for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Eucharist were often mocked, down graded, or forced to leave.
At the same time, those responsible for trashing the vocations of many men turned around and said there’s a “priest shortage” and we must ordain women and allow clergy to date/marry! Yet they were directly responsible for creating 95% of the situation that discouraged (or prevented) men from becoming priests in the first place.
I completely agree with you. I equate the argument that “celibacy leads to pedophilia” to saying not drinking leads to alcoholism.
The actual term for what happened is ephibophilia. I in no way mean to undermine or lessen the severity of what happened, bit it’s important to fully understand it.
While not reflective of the gay community at large, a majority (over 80%) of the priests who engaged in the abuse were homosexual. They targeted boys who were pubescent or in their early teens – a reflection of and supporting evidence to the book I discussed above.
I see how busy my priest is, and can’t imagine having a wife and family at home to care for and attend to as well. The discipline is not only beautiful, but can be deeply fulfilling and necessary to meet the duties of the priesthood.
We can always debate why the Church cannot ordain women priests in another thread.
That is not at all surprising about the ride-on busses in montgomery county. The greeting would have stayed had it been a muslim leader, I’m sure. On my commute down I-270, the amber board that warns of traffic delays only stated “Special Event in DC, be prepared for traffic closures.” Wonder what that special event was…..?
Being a heathen Protestant I wish the Pope well during his visit to the faithful of this country. His statement yesterday about removing pedophile priests was long overdue and shows a willingness to hold criminals accountable even those in the Catholic Church.
It appears the ACLU has done its work well. It is OK for the leader of the free world to welcome the Pope in the White House, but it is unforgiveable for a bus to welcome an important visitor to this country. May these PC crapweasels earn their proper reward in the hereafter!
#55 said:
I never understood the liberal argument that man on boy pedophilia is only a Catholic Church problem and NOT a homosexual problem.
If the quickest “80%” solution to the Catholic Church’s current problem was followed (ie. banishing all homosexuals from the priesthood) the Catholic Church would suffer even more wrath and ridicule from the gay lobby (which ironically claims selective “outrage” at Catholic Priest pedophilia to begin with.)It would be the same reaction that blood banks received from gay activists when they tried to statistically address the dangerous issue of HIV tainted blood in the donation supplies.)
Because, for the most part, it isn’t. True there are groups like NAMBLA that - in any other context - basically glorify what the priests did, but they’re not mainstream.
The Church teaching on same sex attraction (SSA) would not bar someone who has SSA from the priesthood - provided he remains celibate, which is what all persons not in a marital relationship are called to do in line with the dignity of the human person.
Sadly, I do agree that the day will come when the Church is not blamed for covering up the scandal, but for working to get rid of the abusers and being “discriminatory”…
But back to the larger point at hand. Pope Benedict XVI will have a much shorter pontificate than John Paul II. I expect an almost kindergarten like simplicity in his teachings, centered around his first encyclical - Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) - and based on two fundamental truths: the right to life and the right to religious freedom are at the forefront of all human rights.
eq01
It is people like you that have lead me back to the church. I appreciate you very much.
In regards to right to life and right to religious freedom it is obvious that life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is something even an athiest can agree with!
Unfortunately, the abuse scandal has led some to claim that those with SSA should not be priests. The idea being that they’re more likely to be pedophiles.
As I’ve written before, even man-on-boy pedophilia does not necessarily make that man a homosexual. Some of these predators target both sexes. Some are even married or have relationships with women. It’s a sickness that has little to do with homosexuality.
EQ, I haven’t read the book you cite so I don’t know what is addressed and what isn’t. This thesis of the liberalization of the Catholic preisthood…how long does the author surmise this has been going on? Unfortunately, the sex abuse scandal in the Church goes back an awfully long way.
Decades, Rusty. I highly recommend checking the book out from your local library. I’d even be willing to send you a copy - I believe my husband has two (don’t ask, he’s a bit of a bibliophile).
What the book tries to do is dispel the notion the abuse was rooted in traditional, orthodox Catholic teaching (like those who argue celibacy caused the abuse - something you’ve already denounced) but rather encouraged and perpetrated by those who are hostile toward that traditional teaching and immersed in a culture that feels the same.
It’s very upsetting and sad to see the damage done by the liberalized clergy, laity, and others who really shook the faith and stability of men who truly desired to be priests.
No doubt it’s a sickness, but there is an overarching tendency for them to be homosexual (or perhaps even bi-sexual). That being said, it doesn’t mean the priests cannot be homosexual and have this sickness - I’ve already said I don’t believe it’s a problem in the general population (so to speak). Those who were priests, committed the abuse and hid it did so because they were drawn to positions that would give them the power and access to fulfill their perverted desires (the abuse, not their orientation).
Some, perhaps, but that doesn’t make it the opinion of the whole Church nor does it make that view correct.
Well-formed, orthodox rectories and rectors, as well as bishops, could easily recognize a priest (or potential priest) who cannot maintain celibacy (whether SSA or not). Sadly, many who did the abuse raised the eyebrows of someone along the way and it was ignored. That definitely has to stop.
#55 On April 16th, 2008 at 1:12 pm, englishqueen01 said:
“I see how busy my priest is, and can’t imagine having a wife and family at home to care for and attend to as well.”
EQ, for what it’s worth:
I can imagine…in fact, I know, seeing as I married one of my priest’s daughters. (Married men can become Eastern Orthodox priests.)
Yes, my father in-law was very, very busy.
He celebrated liturgies on Sundays; he conducted services on Church holy days (not just the major ones);
he ran the Church youth program single-handedly;
he ran and taught the “old country’s” foreign-language “school” single-handedly;
he attended all Church picnics, dances, and all fund-raising and other events;
he “officiated” at all weddings, funerals, and baptisms;
he would visit hospitalized parishioners, just to visit;
he would go to the homes of parishioners who had difficulty getting out and about, to give them Communion;
he would go to the hospital, or to a parishioner’s home, to administer the last rites;
he had “office hours” at the Church;
and he was always (that’s always, except for two weeks a year, when another priest would cover for him while he was on vacation with his family) available and willing to be called on at home - by telephone, or in person at his door - by any parishioner who had an emergency, or who just needed to talk to him about any particular problem.
(And I might have left some stuff out.)
He did this for 40 years, starting right after his ordination in 1955.
He was, and still is, beloved by the church community that he served, by every parishioner, without exception.
He’s semi-”retired” now, but for the last 12-13 years he has been celebrating the liturgy every other Sunday, and conducting other services (e.g., Holy Week), at a small neighboring parish.
And, he’s loving it.
He and his wife raised two wonderful daughters; and he and my mother in-law have a strong, loving, almost 53-year marriage.
Not debating you, EQ, just sharing my perspective.
I’m with you, and more power to you.
Keep on keeping on.
We all have to confront clowns like the so unfunny, so lame Bill Maher; and we must all stick together to defend our own, and our sister, Church denominations.
One other point…
The Catholic church has allowed married ministers of other christian denominations to become Catholic priests.
I’m on the fence about whether or not priests should be allowed to marry, but if it has worked with other denominations I don’t see why the Church couldn’t at least try it.
The issue of priests not being allowed to marry goes back to the days when the Church was a ruling body more than a religious entity anyways. The eldest son, who would automatically inherit the family wealth under common law, would be encouraged to enter the priesthood.
By not allowing priests to marry, the Church would then inherit the financial holdings of the priest upon his death, thus increasing their power. Wealth=Power
OK, I know I got off topic…I’ll stop now…
No doubt. I almost mentioned the Eastern Orthodox, but I wasn’t 100% certain they were the ones who had married priests.
If they can do it, more power to them. It certainly is a double vocation to be a priest and a husband/father.
No doubt the wife of a priest knows what she is sacrificing (and gaining) through her husband’s vocation.
My husband considered the priesthood in the 1990s, and is still considering a calling to the permanent deaconate (deacons can be married, obviously). As his wife, I would have to give my official blessing on this arrangement (I would in a heartbeat) and he would vow not to marry again in the event of my death (if he were ordained a deacon before I died).
Dear Pope,
Happy birthday. Now, stop worshiping Mary as the Queen of Heaven. That is a false religion.
BTW, the waffer as a sun idol that you bow down to is also false. Please stop doing that, and take Christ down from the cross. He has risen.
Thank you.
Oy, vey.
I can’t even begin to tell you what’s wrong with that.
No, you know what? I can and I will because that’s so loaded with ignorance about the Catholic faith it isn’t even funny.
First – we do not “worship” Mary (or any of the saints). We revere her as the mother of Christ, a woman who was asked by God to be a faithful servant and said “Yes” with all her heart. She is a saint, and we consider her (and all saints) part of our larger, universal Catholic family.
Think of statues and icons and stained glass windows as a very elaborate family photo album. And remember that literacy is a relatively new thing in most cultures in the world - not too long ago, most people couldn’t read and the stories of religion were told through things like statues and stained glass windows.
As the mother of our Lord – the woman who carried, bore, and raised Him – she deserves respect.
It is not a “false religion”, we ask the saints – who we believe to be in Heaven – to pray for us to God, just as I would ask you or any of my family or friends to pray for me. That is neither blasphemous nor idolatry.
Second, the “sun wafer” you refer to is a monstrance. In the Eucharist, Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross – something that cannot and MUST NOT be denied in Christian tradition – is repeated in perpetuity. To deny the Crucifixion is to deny the Resurrection and the entire basis of Christian tradition, the heart and soul of what we believe.
The bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ and we are reminded of His (and God’s) ultimate love for us sinful humans – a love so deep Christ died for us. Catholics treat the Eucharist with the utmost respect because it is Christ Himself. A monstrance is a way to protect and “house” Christ’s body in the Eucharist.
I am not Catholic, and I have some differences with the Church; however, I respect the Pope and welcome him to this country as the head of state. He would be a person I would thoroughly enjoy a conversation with, to listen more than speak. To those people who think Casa Montgomery is right in pulling those signs, understand that he is a head of state. Don’t give me that “separation of church and state” stuff. That’s a bit overboard, I think. Also, let’s not get started on the Crusades. We could discuss that for hours, especially with people who know just “bits and pieces” of what they think happened. Don’t forget the Islamic “crusades” that were far more successful than the Christian ones, to be stopped in Spain/France. Or, the Ottoman empire. The only thing I would do with Bill Maher is tap him on the head saying, “Is there a brain in there..in there…in there?”
I do not doubt your faith englishqueen01, but your Pope has made Mary co-regent with Christ. There is nothing in the Bible to support that. Look up Queen of Heaven.
The housing makes the monstrance a sun burst. Please take a close look at it.Bowing down to a sun burst is the age old sun worship.
It does not become the body of Christ. It is only symbolic of the body of Christ, and wine does not become his blood.
You are welcome to think so, as it is your right.
I believe Mary was a Saint too. Perhaps, the greatest. But she is dead, and she can not come to earth anymore than the rest of the dead. She can not hear your prayers, only Christ, and G-d the Father can.
I mean nothing towards you.
Ordination of women, marriage, the eucharist, homosexuality, pedophilia, capitol punishment. These are a list of non-issues unless one follows man.
Our Creator gave His direction on each one and said end of discussion.
Then man, one of His creatures, appointed himself to be something and said our Creator is wrong. It should be, the man said, this way on that issue and that way on this issue. But then I (or someone else in my position) might change the ruling at some point in the future depending on the feelings within us.
I think it is better to continue to follow the Creator and not the creature. And not have to worry about trying to follow the wind.
Well, the Vatican’s condemnation (by two Popes) of the “unjust” Iraq War has been raised, and so has the issue of the death penalty.
The 800 lb. gorilla in the room is why no observation is being made in this “strong borders-oriented” blog of advocacy on behalf of illegal immigration being an expressed purpose of the Pope’s visit to the US and of his private official discussions with our political leaders.
your Pope has made Mary co-regent with Christ. There is nothing in the Bible to support that. Look up Queen of Heaven.
No pope has ever declared Mary “co-regent”. Trust me on that. OTOH, I can look up Psalm 45 (The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold). I can also cite “full of grace”, “blessed are you among women”, “henceforth all generations will call me blessed”, “A sword shall pierce your heart”, “and she treasured these things in her heart”, “Do whatever he tells you”, “Son, behold your mother”, and her presence with the disciples at Pentecost. I could also go on about the Biblically based titles we use in calling her blessed, such as “Ark of the Covenant” (the Ark of the OT contained the Tablets and a container of manna; the Ark of the NT contained the Word made Flesh and Bread of Life). I should also add that Luther and Calvin found the doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity to be sufficiently Biblical enough to believe in it themselves.
The housing makes the monstrance a sun burst. Please take a close look at it.Bowing down to a sun burst is the age old sun worship.
I have taken a close look at it. The “sunburst” makes the Host more prominent, just as a gilded frame highlights a painting. If we Catholics worship any Sun, it is Jesus Christ the Sun of Righteousness.
It does not become the body of Christ. It is only symbolic of the body of Christ, and wine does not become his blood.
Here’s strangeness for you: a passage which Catholics and Orthodox (and Lutherans and some Anglicans as well) take literally: John 6:26-71. Jesus never said it was metaphor, and it began the process of doubt in a certain Judas Iscariot. Also Christ’s own words at the Last Supper, (”This is my Body”, “This is my Blood”), and St. Paul’s discourse in 1 Corinthians 11. I can also cite several Old Testament prefigurements, such as the sacrifice of Melchizedek, the Paschal Lamb, the Bread of Presence, manna, and in the Psalms, “he feeds you with the finest of wheat”, and “I will take the cup of salvation”.
Finally, early Christian witness from the second and third centuries: Ignatius of Antioch, taught by the Apostles themselves, who wrote of the Real Presence ; and Justin Martyr, whose description of Christian worship is remarkably identical to the Catholic Mass and Orthodox Divine Liturgy.
You are welcome to think so, as it is your right.
It is, as it has been the right for many for 2000 years, as opposed to 500 or (in the case of Darby and Dispensationalism) 160 years.
I believe Mary was a Saint too. Perhaps, the greatest. But she is dead, and she can not come to earth anymore than the rest of the dead. She can not hear your prayers, only Christ, and G-d the Father can.
See Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4, and, if you dare, one book left out by most Protestants, but not by Catholics and Orthodox (and not by the original scholars of the King James Version): 2 Maccabees 15:11-17.
I mean nothing towards you.
Nor I to you. But your post did need a reply.
englishqueen01, Christ said to the apostles, as recorded by John, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If your prayers can only reach God through Christ, why do you ask the saints for intercession?
Also, I would disagree with you concerning the Sacraments. As a Lutheran, I don’t believe the bread and wine become Christ’s body and blood; it is both bread and wine & Christ’s body and blood.
The Pope, nor the Church, would advocate illegal immigration.
Please site references, and then please explain how that assertion fits in with the Church’s teaching on the issue of immigration. To wit (emphasis mine):
If the burden of immigration becomes too much, then there isn’t an obligation to have open borders (there isn’t one to begin with anyway).
The issue of immigration is all well and good, but it’s disingenuous to claim the Pope would side with illegal immigrants who break the law, and he would not advocate or encourage the separatist attitudes many illegal immigrants and their advocates have toward America.
That passage deals not with prayer, but with faith. Those who deny Christ cannot come to the Father.
As I said above, asking the saints for intercession is no different than saying to my neighbor, “Hey, pray for me because I’m having a rough time.”
One last comment - Vince, you are very welcome. You do not know what a compliment that really is.
It’s all well and good to say that, but why would the pope care whether or not Catholic aliens were illegal in America or not? He is NOT an American. He speaks on behalf of Catholics. Why would you imagine he would side with the USA instead of the Catholic illegal aliens?
The point is that OF COURSE the Catholics will SAY that he doesn’t mean illegal aliens. But it doesn’t matter one wit to the pope whether immigrants are legal or not. He doesn’t pay taxes, he doesn’t have to worry about them overrunning public facilities. He doesn’t have to deal with them. But he does want them to have more money to give to the Catholic Church.
I would expect the pope to say that ‘no person is illegal’ - even if their contribution to society is like that of a thief. (OUT OF COMPASSION) Give them your homes, your schools, your public services, and make sure we can build large cathedrals for them to come and give the Catholic Church more money.
I think I could be pope.
At what point where you hear them say ‘we didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us’ do you hear ‘GRATITUDE?’ At what point when they say we want to be able to take classes in Spanish do you hear respect for the heritage of the country they go toward?
The point is that aliens can just say that they are poor and downtrodden. The only caveat necessary for their acceptance in a new country is that they are ‘in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin.’
So basically if they come from a country that doesn’t have anything, they are justified in going to a country that has more. Would it be OK if I rob a bank in search of the means and livelihood that I can’t find in my own house or profession? How would this be different? It seems to me like ‘Thou shalt not steal’ has some interesting nuances in the Catholic Church’s stance on immigration.
Re-read my post, Thacker. You only understood about 60% of what was written there.
My assertion is not that the Pope would “side with” the USA versus Catholic illegal immigrants, but that he would recognize our right - as a sovereign nation - to uphold our laws, which are just. He would also chastise those who break our laws because the portion of the Catechism I referenced clearly requires them to adapt to, respect, and obey the laws of this nation. They break the laws by crossing the border illegally, therefore they are not in the right or absolved of their obligations.
He would not give them a pass anymore than he would give a “Catholic” politician like John Kerry a pass on his stance on abortion.
Don’t expect to hear that from the MSM, though. They usually get about 40% of the story straight - the rest is either twisted or omitted to fit their meta-narrative.
“It does not become the body of Christ. It is only symbolic of the body of Christ, and wine does not become his blood.”
It’s called transubstantiation, changing the eucharistic bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ….
Jeremiah 7:18,
“The children gather wood, and the Fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to the make cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.”
Why does the Pope call Mary the Queen of Heaven, and pray to her Prince Concort?
Leviticus 26:1,
“Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, nether rear up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your G-d.”
Why does the Pope bow down to the sunburst image, and the image of the Queen of Heaven?
Is this place turning into Hot Air?
Why does the Pope call Mary the Queen of Heaven, and pray to her Prince Concort?
Well, let’s see: Jesus is King of Kings, right? And Mary is His Mother, right? Therefore, Mary is the Queen Mother, which, in the House of David, was a very important position. There’s also a big difference between a nasty Phoenician goddess and the humble maiden who did one of the most important things ever. Catholics know the difference.
Why does the Pope bow down to the sunburst image, and the image of the Queen of Heaven?
I’ve already explained the purpose of rays on a monstrance. I think, being a lifelong Catholic and tolerably educated on what things mean in my creed, would know we’re not engaging in sun- worship. Son-worship, yes, but not a gaseous ball 93 million miles away.
As far as honoring images: you ever put a wreath or flowers on a grave? Kiss the picture of your wife or child? Keep the pic of a departed one in a prominent place? The same thing with the Saints. We don’t worship wood or metal or stone. Indeed, we worship none but God. But we honor our elder brothers and sisters and our friends.
Leatherneck:
A simpler question. Why is it the Bible is to be taken literally except in any and all instances that might even merely support Catholic doctrine? In which case (like the Eucharist), the Bible becomes metaphor or symbolism…or complete books are omitted wholesale?
I agree, although I find little evidence to show that these assaults were anything but homosexually oriented. Even a review of the Boston Globe’s coverage (http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/), where even though they constantly use the terms “children” and “victims,” all the stories describe assaults on young boys. If there were girls involved, they were a distinct minority, and such assaults would have received excessive coverage if for no other reason than to defuse the homosexual aspect of the assaults. I see none of that.
I respectfully disagree: if you are preying on young boys, you are a homosexual pedophile. Your references to some predators targeting both sexes or being married etc. have no bearing on this situation. Even if one were prone to prey on both sexes, same sex sexual assaults are, by definition, homosexual. As referenced above in the “less than conservative” Boston Globe, all the weasel words in the world do not change the fact that these “priests” were preying exclusively on young boys.
I find it interesting that the same liberals (I won’t presume that you are one of these, Rusty) who easily, and no doubt justifiably, attack these predatory priests both make no or little mention of the homosexual aspect of the assaults, and will reflexively and hypocritically attack the Boy Scouts for refusing to allow gays to be Scoutmasters to prevent this very type of scandal from even having a chance of occurring. Let me acknowledge for the record that I do not believe that all homosexuals are pedophiles, but you can be sure that the ones that are will be attracted to venues where they can get unsupervised access to young boys. It is not that “those with SSA are more likely to be pedophiles,” but rather that the children come first, and every effort must be made to ensure their safety. It is for this reason that the Girl Scouts have the following policy: “Because we believe that female role models are especially important to young girls during their developing years, men
working directly with girls are asked to serve as part of a leadership team that includes women.” In other words, you get a female “teammate” to ensure that everything remains above board. Maybe the church, and even the Boy Scouts, need to adopt this approach.
If the Catholic Church, and in particular, that enabling swine Bernard “Bunny” Law took the same steps to prevent these assaults as the Boy or Girl Scouts do, I think the problem would have been orders of magnitude smaller in scope, if it were a problem at all.
God = not Pope.
Prince (at al), Leatherneck is a fundamentalist - that is, he has been taught to cut and paste and ignore parts of the Bible and the Traditions of the Church which precede the canonization of the Bible. He will argue for direct literal acceptance then flip to “symbolism” when it comes to the Eucharist. He is typical of his sort, in that he is so busy attacking Catholicism, he has remained ignorant of the huge gaps in his, such as the massive theological errors of “sola fide” (based on a complete rewriting of key passages n the Bible) and “sola scriptura” (which chruch codified and preserved those scriptures, eh?)
So cut him some slack - he is fixed and dare not look to the whole of the truth lest the small part he has accepted be shattered.
Ordinary Coloradan, you have no idea what someone is by reading a few words.
Might I suggest Hebrews 7:27; 9:26-28; 10:10-14.
Christ died once for all of mankind. The waffer, and the wine does not turn into flesh, and blood again, and again, and again.