The following comes from an October 12 story on Catholic News Agency.
Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles has written his first pastoral letter to his archdiocese, invoking the Catholic history of California and calling on Catholics to witness to the “New World of faith.”
“Los Angeles — like all of California and the Americas —is built on a Christian foundation. And today we are called to build on that missionary foundation to make a new evangelization of the Americas,” the archbishop said in his Oct. 2 letter, which was released Oct. 10, the eve of the Catholic Church’s Year of Faith.
“The world needs a new evangelization! The people of our city, our nation and our continent are waiting for the encounter with Jesus Christ who makes all things new,” he proclaimed….
“We need to ask ourselves: Is our work leading men and women to Jesus Christ and his Church? Is the Christian faith spreading and is knowledge of the faith deepening through our programs and ministries?” Archbishop Gomez said.
The archbishop, who took office in March 2011, named five pastoral priorities: improving faith education, encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life, fostering Catholic identity and diversity, promoting a “culture of life” and strengthening marriage and the family….
Archbishop Gomez encouraged lay people to sanctify their work and see their daily activities “as the place where you meet and walk with Jesus.”
“Through our witness, let us make this truly a City of the Angels — a city of love and truth, where all can know that God is near in his love, and where the horizons of every life are open to his promise of salvation,” he said.
The pastoral letter also announced some changes in the diocesan administration.
The archbishop intends to create an Office of the New Evangelization. He will expand the mission of the archdiocese’s Office of Justice and Peace to include “defending innocent life against the threats of abortion and euthanasia.”
The archbishop closed his letter by asking for the prayers of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of the Angels.
Archbishop Gomez is presently in Rome for the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, which will run until Oct. 28.
To read entire story, click here.
His first priority should be to reform his St. John’s seminary, sending men there is like sending them straight to hell.
Reform the formation of priests, and reform the Church. Holy Priests = a Holy Church
The Archbishop has been pretty much doing nothing since he was appointed t.o this see other than that big Mexican party he had
Unfortunately I think much of Abp. Gomez’ time is necessarily spent ensuring the archdiocese survives from a financial standpoint.
It’s simply ignorant (or a lie) to suggest that St. John’s Seminary is akin to hell. That’s neat hyperbole and all but I know some great priests that have come from there.
That you know some great priests from St.John’s is faint praise, Mr.Rodda, as so much of what you say is eccentric (off-center and to the left) as well as being in direct contradiction to Church teaching. That being said, I’m very glad that you contribute to this website as all voices ot the faithful need to be heard and we ALL can learn to sharpen our navigational skills and keep our compasses pointed toward Rome and Home.
Rodda,
I know some priests that have gone there, and are good and love the Church, but its got nothing to do with St. John, but their formation prior to St. John. They describe St. John as having served their pagatory in this world.
St. John is so bad, even the Bishop of San Diego stopped sending his men there, and he is not one who boils for a fight.
The financial health of a diocese is meaningless if souls are not being taken care off.
You’re simply mistaken. I don’t know if San Diego’s bishop stopped sending people to Saint John’s or not but even if he did, it’s not proof that “St. John is so bad”(sic).
You’re also mistaken about the financial health of the largest (by far) archdiocese in the USA. If it crumbled financially, it would have a great impact on a great many souls.
The Catholic Faith has never depended on money and institutions. It actually thrives when there is difficulty.
I’m not sure St. John’s can be reformed. Better to close it, sell the property and use the money saved to send seminarians elsewhere–there are far better seminaries around.
Just close it down, send all those men to Nebraska (the ones in formation) to complete their formation and then, start a fresh with new faculty.
There is no need to sell it.
Mchicha Wacheza I agree! GET RID OF THE CANCER
Why would you say something so terribly stultified? Even if a seminary (any seminary) actually was “akin to hell”, why couldn’t it be reformed? Are you a quitter? Do you just give up when things become difficult?
Yeah, I can just imagine the Archdiocese of LA sending seminarians to Nebraska! LOL! What a sick joke that would be!
Nothing is a sick joke Rodda if it sends out a positive message in Christ. Closing something that is not working is not giving up, but using something more devout is actually moving on…but if you rid of those who are not devoted to Christ, well then I guess it can stay open…just as long as it changes it’s bad patterns.
Having attended St. John’s Seminary myself, I would have to disagree with your assessment of the institution. There were plenty of good priests and good examples there. Why have the largest Archdiocese in the nation, and have no place to train it’s priests? Doesn’t sound like a wise plan to me……..
You shall know them by their fruits. Why is it that St. John produces some of the worst priests ever?
They even urgue with you in the confessional trying to convince you that a clear mortal sin is not one? eh?
Shut it down.
LA may be the largest Archdiocese but St. John’s is by far not the largest seminary in terms of students. If nothing else, St. John’s should be closed for reasons of financial inefficiency. It’s simply a token of prestige–and there’s plenty of excess capacity at other seminaries.
St. Patrick’s Seminary leases a huge chunk of its available space to Fuller Theological Seminary (evangelical) since they have no use for it.
Do you have any proof at all that Saint John’s is not being well utilized? Any at all? Saint John’s forms seminarians for several different (arch)dioceses. It’s not exactly a ghost town — not that you would be aware of that based on your posting.
If anything I think the four year college physically located right above the seminary on the hill should be reopened as soon as possible and not sold as Cdl. Mahony wanted to (thanks to the real estate dive.)
Oh I’m very aware of what goes on at St. John’s. Download their catalog from their website and you will see they have more people on their Board (to say nothing of faculty and a plethora of administrators) than ordinands in any given year. That’s no way to run an educational institution. Their M.Div. requirements are pathetic when compared to the rigorous education they would receive at places like the Josephinum. Do the comparisons yourself and you will see that the St. John’s seminarians are getting the short shrift. This is the way we treat priests in formation and we wonder why there are no vocations.
Mchicha Wacheza,
That was not a big Mexican party. It was a celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Bishop Gomez hasn’t done a lot, but that was one of the few good things he has done. He called Catholics and families to conversion with the help of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who was given the title Empress of the Americas by Pope Pius XII. To call a rally and celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, just a big Mexican party is blasphemous.
Mchicha Wacheza you are correct.
Not a bad proclamation, but vague. One can find a lot more heart warming proclamations by reading Scripture, Doctors of the Church and other Saints. The difference between this Vatican II rhetoric and Saint writing is vague vs specific. No matter what the outcome of the Archbishop’s efforts, this proclamation is not anything that can hold him to account … Does he intend to “become holy” as the Pope requested? Starting off vague is not going to cut it.
Call it for what it is. A Non statement
Moreover, I wonder what the Pope himself is doing to become holy?
The Holy Father is probably trying his darned best to imitate YOU, J.L.S., the obvious icon of holiness on this planet.
Ha! Very good.
So that’s the problem! I’ll stop answering his phone calls.
He is the Holy father.
God bless our Pope!
It is a good thing Archbishop Gomez woke up from hibernation. Time to do things that strengthen the Faith. Perhaps a positive answer to the 1400 petitions from Una Voce Los Angeles or the 600 petions from Una Voce Ventura? He has not dignified Traditional Catholics with even an answer to their petition so far.
He has probably never heard of them traditional Catholics. Are you sure he gets their letters?
The Bishop of San Diego not only gave his a parish, he made sure that its transferred fully to the canonical ownership of FSSP, an incoming bishop cannot uproot them.
MW: Do-it-yourself canon law is a recipe for disappointment. I don’t know what you mean by “canonical ownership,” since no such term exists in canon law and I can’t even think of what is meant by your use of the term. But there is no FSSP “magic bullet” to prevent them from being uprooted by the next Bishop of San Diego if he so chooses.
BTW being a supporter of the FSSP I’m glad they are in SD and would be unhappy if they were removed from there or anywhere else in CA.
Mchicha might have meant, he sold the property to FSSP, as in the Diocese does not have legal title over that Church anymore. Is that possible even, for one group to own a building or does the Bishop own everything Catholic in his diocese
If Archbishop Gomez is serious about evangelizing and teaching the Catholic Faith, then it is paramount to reform the Religious Education Congress. No more dissident speakers and for the love of Heaven, no more liturgical dancing. It is a liturgical abuse! Time to take away the REC from the liberals and progressives.
He should just shut it down
Dear Clinton R. That last comment was about the most STUPID thing I have heard in awhile. Thanks for making me laugh and making my day. People like you are a great reminder that the church is imperfect because the people who attend are imperfect.
I read a`quote about 10 years ago…..”If you are looking for the perfect church, once you join it, it isn’t perfect anymore.” Get with the times, and get over your petty ways.
Please tell that to Jesus, D…He commanded his disciples to “Be ye perfect’. That’s why we look to our saints with such hope and devotion…they show us that it can be done. Rather than ridicule others for their temerity to call our churches into account for their extreme imperfection (especially those permitting things that are absolutely absurd like prancing around during sacred services looking like a total nitwits.it’s embarrassing even to contemplate.) you and others of your stripe (pepe lepeu?) would be better served to seek inner holiness by reading the lives of our saints. Get with the times is what satan does so well. As Christians, we’re to align ourselves with the eternal, that never changes and never is fashionable.
D, I would definitely start with “The Fulfillment of All Desire” by Ralph Martin. God bless and keep you and I pray that all of us arrive in the same place someday to be with our Lord in eternity. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking of, does it?
The Catholic Church is perfect because she was founded by Our Lord Jesus. However, it would be either naive or stupid to believe that modernists and progressives have not taken over much of the Church and have changed things to suit their whims. “Getting with the times” has lead to a huge loss of Faith in the world. “Getting with the times” hasn’t done the Protestant communities much good, has it?
Those two issues would be very good things to specifically pray about, Clinton. Every day make it a part of your prayer time, perhaps asking Satan to be bound in that situation and his works undone, and pray to St.Michael the Archangel for his spiritual help in this battle. I have a book called Spiritual Warfare Prayers published by Valentine Publishing House,POBox 27422 Denver CO 27422. Anyone with the least common sense knows you don’t allow foolish women to subvert our sacred traditions. I find that most women my age know just how far some women will go without some sort of restraint…just look at the feministas in S.America breaking into Mass services and throwing things at communicants etc. It’s scary stuff and just the beginning if something isn’t done to curb their excesses. People have always known this, that is why society had some strict rules for women to be ladies. If you don’t think hiring a hit man to murder the child in your womb is not excessive, I don’t know what is. And let’s stop the blaming…the ones calling for unlimited abortion are all feminists. (though most of the ones HAVING them, are often just afraid and being made to do it) The tv shows all make men look stupid and the movies make men seem all but redundant. Our church is looking like a woman’s show…yesterday at mass the whole service was taken over by women, except for the pastor who looked a little out of place. If I were a man, I might wonder what this all means, but men never complain…they just give in to the women as they take more and more authority from them. When is it going to be enough?
By “liturgical dancing” you don’t mean to include “jump style shuffling”, of course.
Last year the excuse offered by Apb. Gomez supporters was that he didn’t have time to cancel the REC speakers in 2012 but that we could trust that this would not recur in 2013. Well the 2013 speaker list has been published and surprise, surprise, it’s the same old players from fifteen years ago. I don’t think they are on lifetime contracts.
Archbishop Gomez is not taking the action needed in his LA Diocese – – he should be telling the Faithful to; read the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH”, encourage others to do so, and discuss its contents.
The Faithful (including Priests) need to know the Faith accurately before they can teach others.
According to the CCC 2105 – we as individuals must spread the Faith.
Even the USCCB has a video on their site telling everyone to read their LOCAL USCCB catechism for adults, not the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”.
Pope Benedict gets it. If Bishops in the USA continue to ignore his requests, the Year of Faith will fail, as will the Church in the USA.
We’ve had 40 years of hand waving and words in the wind, and doing it their way. Many Diocese staffers seem to be interested in only job security or pushing their own personal and political beliefs.
Its time for concrete action – true teaching of the Church, not staffers or individual Bishops personal opinions.
Can you have a “local Catechism”?
“This catechism [CCC] is not intended to replace the local catechisms duly approved by the ecclesiastical authorities, the diocesan Bishops and the Episcopal Conferences, especially if they have been approved by the Apostolic See. It is meant to encourage and assist in the writing of new local catechisms, which take into account various situations and cultures, while carefully preserving the unity of faith and fidelity to catholic doctrine.” John Paul II Fidei Depositum On the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Oct 11, 1992
That is a problem.
You can have/need a local catechism for age appropriateness, illiterate societies, and those societies with little ability to understand.
For adults in the USA, there is no need for a local catechism for most over the age of 16.
However if there is a need, the Pope provided “COMPENDIUM of the Catechism of the Catholic Church”, and Youcat for young teens.
The Plenary Indulgence for the Year of Faith ONLY applies to the Documents of the Second Vatican Council and the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH” . It does not apply to the study of other Councils or LOCAL Catechisms.
For more info on this with links to the Vatican for verification – go to ” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE “.
In the United States, the local catechism is United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. There are many local catechisms for youth that are approved. One of the goals for the Year of Faith is to ensure that local catechisms are in accordance with the CCC.
No k, there is nothing in PORTA FIDEI regarding LOCAL Catechisms at all.
Local catechisms are only for those who might be unable to understand the CCC.
See CCC 24 – differences of age, spiritual maturity, etc. –
In the literate USA there are no excuses for the majority over age 16.
I have no idea why the USCCB puts out their own catechism forAdults, since the CCC is beautifully written.
The Indulgence for the Year of Faith does not include studying LOCAL catechisms.
Please read on net: ” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE ” for links directly to the Vatican so you can read for yourself.
Mike, It is in the Note that he mentioned he requested in No. 12. of Porta Fidei. Note with Pastoral Recommendations for the Year of Faith by Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Section II “On the Level of Episcopal Conferences” Number 9 “It is hoped that local catechisms and various catechetical supplements in use in particular Churches would be examined to ensure their complete conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Should a catechism or supplement be found to be not totally in accord with the Catechism, or should some lacunae be discovered, new one should be developed, following the examples of those Conferences which have already done so.” The Indulgences granted for the Year of Faith do not include studying the Catechism but there is a partial indulgence all the time for teaching and learning Christian doctrine (no. 20 Enchridion of Indulgences.)
The people who work in the Office of Justice and Peace are all “seamless garment” believers. Assigning the work of prompting pro life causes to that office is to bury those pro life concerns forever.
Abp. Gomes is the pastoral leader in the capital of pornography, homosexuality and abortion. He heads a Religious Education Department that has been bent on destroying the teachings of the Church for over 20 years. In his flock,Contraception and Cohabitation and Divorce are rampant.
His Deacon program only turns out dissenters. Believers in the Church’s teaching are screened out or washed out. Pastors who hold to what the Church teaches and do not bend to the theological fads pf the day are marginalized, ignored, and punished in a variety of direct and subtle ways.
His answer? Form a new office.. hire some new bureaucrats…and ignore all of the problems above. And then jet off to Washington, D.C to lecture Congress on what Government policy should be on Immigration. Bring back Roger! This is a total sham!
“Abp. Gomes is the pastoral leader in the capital of pornography, homosexuality and abortion.”
Whoa! I agree with two of those three. But I think the Bay Area is the capital when it comes to homosexuality.
SF is Sodom, LA is Gomorrah.
I admit Sodom by the Bay gets all the pub….. but Long Beach can stand proudly with any city in America for its level of perversion and degeneracy. Long beach has a higher homosexual population per capita then San Fran….
What a competition: my city is more evil than yours, so there!
obviously, you guys have never heard of amsterdam!
LOL Hillcrest is up there too
I thought his Opus Dei credentials was a good sign, apparently not, Social Justice office of Los Angeles running the pro-life and chastity effort is like asking the local crocodile to take care of a kids swimming area in a lake .
And that crocodile is very hungry!
Archbishop Gomez shouldn’t end there. He should also change the name of the Office of Justice and Peace. The name of the office should reflect Catholic Social Teaching instead of a slogan one would find in the Democratic Party or a Marxist rally.
Seraph, Ditto to that!
“In this Year of Faith, I want to give concrete expression to our witness by expanding the mission of our Archdiocesan Office of Justice and Peace. We will give the office a new name- the Office of Life, Justice and Peace- and we will include within its mission the work of defending innocent life against the threats of aboriton and euthanasia.” # 12
If you click the link, you will see that this is Archbishop Gomez’ Year of Faith initiative in accordance with the requests of Pope Benedict XVI. The parts that are not included in this edited version are very important. Better yet, go to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles website and read the Pastoral letter. They also have a transcript of his address to the Synod in Rome. The New Evangelization is the concern of the Synod. Historically, evangelization is aimed at announcing Christ to those who do not know Him. The New Evangelization is “directed principally at those who. though baptized, have drifted away from the Church and live without reference to the Christian life.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily for Synod opening)
I read the Abp’s letter on his web site.
NOT ONCE did he mention the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH”.
The Pope spent 3 paragraphs in Porta Fidei on the CCC – stressing its importance.
Does the Abp think all the people in the LA Diocese are illiterate? (The CCC comes in many languages.)
The Abp can not only rely mostly on those who work for him or work for his Parishes to evangelize those who have fallen away from the Faith or are non-Catholics. All Souls are important.
The Pope clearly asked each of us to study and re-discover the CCC (not local catechisms), and has attached a Plenary Indulgence in part to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Most Catholics have not read the CCC in entirety, and others have never even heard of it – so much for Diocese employees (including Priests).
Scandal, heresy, schism, pornography, homosexual acts, fornication are all covered in the CCC and much much more. Wave his words around with no concrete action?
So what is the Abp going to do about this ?
Is he going to do what the Pope asks? – or merely do his own thing ?
People can not accurately talk about, what they accurately do not know.
See “What Catholics Really Believe Source” on the internet for links to the Vatican documents. It is important we all know what the Pope has asked. We can be obedient to the wishes of the Pope even without the Diocese leaders – if necessary.
It’s in #9. “A good place to begin is to study the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) especially as they are expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. We need to listen to what the Spirit is still saying to the Church today through the Council.” On a personal note, you have read Porta Fidei and the letter and the CCC. I am so happy I could pop. And yes, do as the Pope says even if the direction does not come from the bishop.
Clinton R., thank you for your intelligent and timely reminder about the pressing need to clean out the Religious Education Congress. You are totally right. A good and necessary start is to put a new person in charge, preferably an orthodox priest. That way, we’ll get orthodox and pro-life speakers and much better celebrations of Holy Mass at the REC.
No good dead goes unpunished on this site. The Archbishop, in accordance with the Pope’s request related to the Year of Faith writes a pastoral letter about what the Archdiocese plans to do and you hang him out to dry. Every diocese in the world is supposed to have a program for the Year of Faith. He is just doing his part. How can anyone object to a year dedicated to increasing people’s knoledge of their faith? Really folks, let’s keep our eyes on the ball.
Because, Billy Bob One, so far all the words we have read from the Archiocese are hollow. So far he has not acted on any of the biggies. To write this off as “he’s new and has not been able to do anything yet” is utter, complete, and total naiivitee’. Abp Gomez has been in the L. A. Archdioces for over two years now. Ask yourself: Does he run it or does the bureaucracy? Being Opus Dei, what does this say about their influence?
Another thing of curiosity: When Cdl Mahony was first installed as archbishop of L. A., the mayor and local businessmen bought him his very own helicopter. What have these power players bought Abp Gomez?
an i-pad!
max, we should do stand up as a team. I’ll be the straight man, since you’re the one from San Francisco. Maybe we can do stand up comedy liturgies.
well, he just reminded people he exists
The Abp did NOT do what Pope Benedict requested.
Apparently Bob One you did not read Porta Fidei, nor the info from the Vatican regarding the Plenary Indulgence which includes the CCC.
Again, on the net go to: ” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE ” for links directly to the Vatican information..
Bob One, when the Pope writes 3 paragraphs on the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
and the Archbishop is purposely mute on the subject – he is sending a message to everyone on his staff and in his Diocese.
The message is disobey the instructions of Pope Benedict.
Forgot to mention: Influence is bought with either carrot or stick, or happens by enthusiasm. If enthusiasm, then what does the evidence say that this is in the case of Abp Gomez? Billy Bob One, are you listening?
Does St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo teach Latin?
Latin? They have never heard of that.
Mbuku, rather than be sarcastic, why don’t you go to the seminary’s web site and look up the curriculum. You will find that Latin is taught in the Language and Culture department. You might also find the subjects they must take to pass and get a degree is very difficult.
Bob One, you evidently never went to college. The curriculum is nothing compared to the faculty. L.A. Archdiocese continues to preach and teach heresy and abortion and gay rights runs rampant among Catholics … So, obviously whatever the curriculum, it is a waste.
Well, how many St. John Graduates ever say Mass in Latin? Eh? Tell me; BOB.. they come as ‘pastoral’ as they come.
V II clearly states Latin and Chant is to be given pre-eminence over everything else..
How Many V II graduates obey V II?
How Many V II graduates obey V II?
oh, i’d guess maybe v or vi….
LOL The thread on many of these have been funny…I am enjoying the good sense of humor..
Nero spoke Latin.
So what?
I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.
a nice quote from JLS’ good buddy Nero…
QUOTE: – – “ There are two levels to the New Evangelization explained.
FIRST is the FORMATION and EDUCATION of those who practice the faith, so they can be better witnesses and evangelizers in their own lives to those in their family, their neighborhood and their workplace.
The other level is to REACH OUT to the secular culture, to people who are away from the Church or who are seeking something better, and to put together arenas where they can feel comfortable coming to find something they are looking for. ” – – – UNQUOTE. Father Geno Sylva (from the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization)
We each should follow the Pope’s instruction to STUDY the Catechism of the Catholic Church as he stated in Porta Fidei.
And then share it with others.
” What Catholics REALLY Believe Source ” has direct links to the Vatican, and other Church documents.
This includes Plenary Indulgence info regarding the CCC only (not local catechisms).
Sarah, yes, one of the indulgences for the Year of Faith is for attending 3 lectures or hearing 3 homilies on the Proceedings of the Second Vatican Council or the CCC.
So, k, you’re reporting that a penance for one’s sins is listening to proceedings of Vatican Council II?
oh, JLS, you wily coyote!
she didn’t say it was a “penance,” but rather something to do to get the indulgence, much like making a pilgrimage to a cvhurch.
Ha ha.
Pope Benedict spent 3 paragraphs in “Porta Fidei” instructing each of us to read, study and/or rediscover the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
Why are so many US Bishops forgetting to spread this part of the Pope’s instructions?
Thanks for the web site Sarah. It’s excellent.
Everyone should see it, and share it with others, including the brief video from Dr. Scott Hahn about the CCC.
” What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE “.
As one of those who hoped for a new day with the arrival of Archbishop Gomez — whose credentials look solid — I am heartsick to see that the advance publicity indicates no improvement in the REC Congress.
The first photo in the Congress’ PR post is of “Featured Speaker’ Richard Rohr.
How long, O Lord? How long?