Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Perspectives: Staying Catholic amid the church's scandals

13 June, 2010

Perspectives: Staying Catholic amid the church's scandals - Pasadena Star-News

8 comments:

Anonymous13 June, 2010
But the most damaging consequence of mandatory celibacy lies in its character as the pulse of clericalism. The repressively psychotic nature of this inbred culture of power has shown itself in the still festering abuse scandal. Lies, denial, arrogance, selfishness and cowardice -- such are the notes of the structure within which Catholic priests now live, however individually virtuous many of them nevertheless remain. Celibacy is that structure’s central pillar and must be removed. The Catholic people see this clearly. It is time for us to say so."
THESE ARE HARD, TRUTH-TELLING WORDS TO HEAR. I AM A PRIEST OF 36 YEARS WHO CONCURS WITH THE ABOVE WORDS AND THE COMMENTS OF JAMES CARROLL. I AM UNDER THE RADAR OF THE LOCAL ARCHBISHOP WHO SERVES THE CHURCH BY MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO AT THE CONTINUED EXPENSE OF THE HEALTH OF THE CHURCH. HE USES THREATS OF EXCOMMUNICATION AND REMOVAL OF FACULTIES TO CONTROL HIS PRIESTS, DEACONS AND LAY PEOPLE. THE CONFIDENCE ALL PASTORAL LEADERS NEED FROM THOSE THAT THEY LEAD IS BEING SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY THE NARCISSISM AND PANIC OF A ROMAN IMPERIAL SYSTEM DESPERATE TO MAINTAIN ITS STATUS QUO & POWER IN THE 21st CENTURY. THE PEOPLE OF THIS 21st CENTURY, HAVE MANY SKILLS IN SCRUTINIZING THE FUNCTION OF ALL CORPORATE SYSTEMS AND CULTURES-NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY MAY BE AND NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PURPOSE. WHEN SYSTEMS ARE IN CRISIS THEY TEND TO DO "HARDER" WHAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH DOING. IT IS JUST THAT THE DYSFUNCTION THEY ARE REPEATING IS WHAT GOT THEM INTO THE MESS THEY ARE IN. DOING IT "HARDER" ACCELERATES THE NATURAL DIRECTION OF THE CRISIS. THEREFORE, THINGS GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. I AM FOR THE ACCELERATION AND PRAY FOR AN OPENNESS TO WHERE GOD'S SPIRIT WILL TAKE US AFTER THE SYSTEMIC COLLAPSE. --
Anonymous Midwest priest serving 1400 household parish
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Mary G13 June, 2010
i stay a Catholic because i , like St. Peter know i have nowhere else to God.Jesus had 12 apostles. 1 of whom betrayed Him and 1 who denied Him...why would i ever think this human church would be perfect..I need always to remember what Isiah told me..."i have a God who holds me by the hand and keeps me"
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Small Town Guy14 June, 2010
The way to God is through Jesus only. "Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John ch14 vs6 Saint Joseph's New American Bible. The way to God is not through the church or baptism, or some other sacrament. Jesus said it is only through Him. All through much of the gospel of John, you will find Jesus teaching it is through faith in Him. If you go through it verse by verse, and underline all the verses in which it is taught access to God is by faith in Jesus, you will probably be able to find a lot of verses to show that. See John ch1 vs12.

Chapter 3 talks about the necessity to be born again by the Spirit. Then in verse 14 it says "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." John 3 vs 14. Here again it talks about believing in Jesus as the way to have eternal life. In this chapter it is talking about believing (faith in Jesus) and the new birth or being born again by the Spirit. So the new birth (by the Spirit) is connected with believing in Jesus. The two thoughts are closely connected. Again it says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John ch3 vs 16.
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Small Town Guy14 June, 2010
Midwest priest,

Don't hold your breath for a collapse or significant change. If the pace of major change is any indication, it is not likely to happen anytime soon in the RCC.
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Anonymous15 June, 2010
It would be easier to stay Catholic in the Pembroke diocease if Monseigneur Robert Borne was brought to justice in a timely fashion! We are still waiting...
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Lady Janus15 June, 2010
"The way to God is through Jesus only."

That's pretty arrogant of you, Wayne. Not pretty.
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Fr. Tim Moyle15 June, 2010
Anonymous: I agree that the Borne affair hangs over many as he was well known in every parish of the Diocese. I can assure you that the priests look for it to be resolved so we can move forward. I suspect Borne feels the same way. I know I would if I were in his place I would want it over irrespective of whether or not I was guilty!

Fr. Tim
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Small Town Guy15 June, 2010
The biblical teaching is that God gives faith to whom he will. God is completely sovereign and man has no right to question what or how God does things. "Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us." Romans ch8 vs33-34

Salvation by works is the biggest lie ever told, straight from the pit of hell.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast." Ephesians ch2 vs8,9
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