The following came from a Cal Catholic reader today, Feb. 7.
The young adult ministry at St. Ignatius Parish in Sacramento will host a special presentation by Lisa Fullam, associate professor of moral theology at Santa Clara University, on Sunday, February 9, at 7:00 pm, following 5:30 Mass and 6:30 cocktails and dinner.
According to the parish bulletin for February 2,
“Dr. Lisa Fullam, D.V.M., Th.D., from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley will present a topic that is sure to make us all uncomfortable…IN A GOOD WAY! It will be a chance for you to ask anything you’d like without being shamed or reprimanded. No topic in the Church will be off limits!
“You have no idea how blessed we are to have such a dynamic guest speaker! As Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Dr. Fullam teaches courses such as Fundamental Moral Theology, Sexual Ethics, Luther and Ignatius: Conversations Ethics, and Spirituality of Pastoral Ministry, and Issues in Virtue Ethics. Dr. Fullam’s research interests include virtue ethics, Thomas Aquinas, biomedical ethics, Ignatian spirituality, and the relationship of spirituality and ethics.”
Lisa Fullam has been very public in her dissent from Catholic Church teachings on abortion, embryonic stem cells, and other moral issues.
Fullam showed contempt for Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmstead when he excommunicated a nun for her involvement in an abortion.
As CalCatholic reported following the November 2012 elections when same-sex “marriage” was legalized in three states, Fullam wrote in Commonweal magazine that same-sex “marriage” is actually in line with Catholic teaching.
Catholics remember how Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto quickly blocked a homosexual and “leather” (sado-masochism) retreat by Fr. Tom Bonacci from using the Christ the King retreat center a day before it was to begin last summer.
Last July, Bishop Soto required an entire home school education conference to be blocked from using St. Stephen Martyr Parish in Sacramento, which is under the care of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, apparently due to complaints that Robert Spencer, who was to speak as a home-schooling father, was a controversial writer about the threat of Islam.
To contact Bishop Soto:
Telephone: 916-733-0200
Fax: 916-733-0215
e-mail: Bishop Jaime Soto <BishopSoto@scd.org>
address: 2110 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818
To get a clear impression of Lisa Fullam’s “theology” see the
two part video of her presentation and answers to questions for the: Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS) at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.
“Lavender Lunch: Faithful Ethics to End Anti-LGBT Violence”
Part 1
37 minutes, 14 seconds
Part 2
21 minutes, 8 seconds
I watched both parts. Based on questions asked and answers given, I didn’t hear or see anything that was against the teachings of the church. Did she ask deep questions? Yes. Did the audience ask penetrating questions? Yes. But in all cases, she did not violate church teachings. Now, the question that is most important, is what if she did? She is a teacher, a professor. Theology profs are always questioning everything. That is their job. They are not paid to require every student to memorize the catechism. Their job is to ask what it means, how it fits/works in every day life. They are to teach. In the case of the tapes you suggested we watch, that is what she did. If she had said, this is what you must believe, she would not have been doing her job.
Dear Friends,
If you view the two videos of dissident “theologian” Lisa Fullam’s talk to the Lavender Lunch at the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry (CLGS) at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley
(“Lavender Lunch: Faithful Ethics to End Anti-LGBT Violence”
Part 1
37 minutes
Part 2
21 minutes)
and then view her 55 minute talk to the Catholic students at Stanford University
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfHQVx0De_s
you will see how Dr. Lisa Fullam “fools them” by insinuating that there have been and are no absolute moral commandments and that the Church’s teachings are all evolving (especially in regard to sex, marriage, etc.) and that therefore, each person has to develop his or her own moral teachings or “conscience” and then must obey the absolute moral commandments of their own conscience under pain of “sin” (if there could be any such thing as “sin”)!
Dissident “theologian” Lisa Fullam, D.V.M. (Cornell Univ.), Th.D. (Harvard Univ.) has impressive academic degrees and status as an “Associate Professor of Moral Theology” at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley ( in the shadow of UC Berkeley!), which is a Graduate School of the University of Santa Clara. See:
https://www.scu.edu/jst/academics/faculty/fullam/
Thank you Concerned Catholic for sharing these informative links. Thank you also for always exposing the many attempts to cover up the truth. God bless you!
Lisa Fullam (fool them) with her academic degrees and as an Associate Professor of Moral Theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley which is a Graduate School of the University of Santa Clara has a powerful catbird seat to subvert the Church. See:
https://www.scu.edu/jst/academics/faculty/fullam/
1. To indoctrinate seminarians. It appears that Jesuit seminarians are required to earn Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degrees, which includes passing Professor Lisa Fullam’s “Moral Theology” courses such as CE 2008 Sexual Ethics, and CESP 3055 Catholic High School Teaching and Ministry!
https://www.jesuitscalifornia.org/Page.aspx?pid=1313
One of dissident Dr. Fullam’s students who was ordained last year, Fr. Phillip A. Ganir, S.J., now associate pastor at St. Ignatius Parish in Sacramento and chaplain to the Young Adult group, was so impressed that he invited her to present “Can I Disagree with the Church and be ‘Catholic’?”
https://www.as-you-are.net/index.cfm?load=page&page=193
Another crackpot, immoral “Professor of Moral Theology,” with a “doctorate,” at a crackpot, immoral Jesuit “school!” Leading all the Catholic kids astray– as usual!! Destroying the Church and the Nation! Satan must be very pleased! When will the Church have the GUTS to EXCOMMUNICATE these crackpots– instead of giving them phoney Catholic university degrees in “Moral Theology??”
yep, you said a mouthful. Real far away from the One True Holy Catholic Faith, that’s fer sure.
One can NOT disagree with any of the “Doctrine of the Faith” and be “Catholic”.
The entire Doctrine of the Faith is contained in the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II.
A person who was baptized “Catholic” and disagrees with the Doctrine of the Faith is a Catholic “heretic” and/or “schismatic”.
CCC: ” 2089 INCREDULITY is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it.
HERESY is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same;
APOSTACY is the total repudiation of the Christian faith;
SCHISM is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him. ”
A Catholic may disagree with the Pope and Magisterium on matters that have nothing to do with Faith and Morals.
CCC: ” 891 “The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful – who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. . . .
The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter’s successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium,” above all in an Ecumenical Council.
Lisa Fullam is a heretic and schismatic. She is not qualified to be an authority on the Church teaching and influencing young people.
She should not be teaching at any educational institution that refers to itself as “Catholic”.
Per Code of Canon Law – “Can. 808 Even if it is in fact Catholic, no university is to bear the title or name of Catholic university without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority.”
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2O.HTM
Diocese Bishop Soto should not allow Santa Clara University to advertise itself “Catholic” when they have know heretics and schimatics on the payroll, especially in a teaching capacity.
Everyone should send an email to Bishop Soto.
Soto can block a speaker in the Diocvese of Sacramento, but he has no jurisdiction whatsoever over Santa Clara University – so not much point in “everyone” sending him an email. Soto is Sacramento; Santa Clara is in the Diocese of San Jose under Bishop McGrath. But no bishop in this country challenges any Jesuit school in his diocese anyway.
The ‘Church of Sandra Fullam” is her own. She is not “Catholic”.
Santa Clara University and St. Ignatius Parish should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this heretic to participate in education.
Code of Canon Law: Can. 812 Those who teach theological disciplines in any institutes of higher studies whatsoever must have a mandate from the competent ecclesiastical authority.”
Does Fullam have a mandate to teach theological disciplines from Bishop Soto – – – ask him.
How many mandates has he approved?
Those Bishops who do not adhere to the Code of Canon Law and the CCC – by example -teach RELATIVISM and that it is ok to disobey the teachings of Christ’s Church.
In my view Catholic education has failed. Pray for our Church and our Church leaders!
See Lisa Fullam’s 54 minute, 55 second talk about a year ago on January 29, 2013 at the Stanford University Newman Center on the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfHQVx0De_s
This will probably be very close to her “standard” message to be imparted to the young adults at St. Ignatius parish, on Sunday evening, February 9.
That is the “sophisticated” “conscience” message which has resulted in a great many, if not most “Catholics” believing and acting as if there is no longer any absolute Catholic morality on fornication, adultery, abortion, homosexuality, marriage, contraception, sterilization, alternate reproduction, use of embryonic stem cells, and euthanasia !!!
Lisa Fullam and many others like her are effectively “evangelizing” young adults and others to just “follow” their conscience in these and other matters!
Nature does not care if people are “following their consciences” when they do evil things that have dire natural consequences!
One should not expect that God will protect people from the natural consequences of evil actions, just because they are “following their consciences”!
Of course, only Our Lord Jesus Christ can and will judge us all in eternity, according to His absolute knowledge of our thoughts, intentions, and “consciences”.
Who will protect the naïve young adults from the sophisticated words and winsome presentation of heresies which can have dire effects on the conduct of their personal lives and on their families and friends ?
You are right. Consciences can be wrongly formed. Bishops and their Priests need to actively and publically promote the reading of CATHOLIC BIBLES and the CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition.
Jesus would not have instituted His Church if we did not need proper teaching and only needed to rely on our own conscience.
CCC: ” 1783 Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.”
CCC: ” 1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel,
bad example given by others,
enslavement to one’s passions,
assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience,
rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching,
lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.”
CCC: ” 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good,
or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.
In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”
I might recommend watching/listening to that before being too critical. I did. I found it compelling, and not something wildly heretical.
I can see the responses here indicating a kind of fundamentalism that I don’t see as particularly in line with Catholic tradition. Anti-intellectualism and deep fear of any questioning or debate that is not designed to arrive at a predetermined conclusion is more troubling (to me) than any one scholar’s opinion.
Mr. Radnitzky, do you know what Catholic tradition is ?
It is the teaching contained in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
The CCC contains the Doctrine of the Faith.
There can be no deviations.
You give Fullam too much credit calling her a scholar. You would be more accurate in calling her a Catholic heretic and schismatic.
(See the definition in the CCC for heresy and schism.)
Peter, someone with multiple graduate degrees who makes a living as an academic is a scholar.
I would recommend watching that video, then pointing out exactly what’s heretical about it. You can even skip to about the 30 minute mark. The most controversial part of it is the second half, where she points out that disagreement and dissent are nothing new, and that there are degrees of authority in Church teaching, with infallibility being something rare, and there is no ex-cathedra teaching on sexual morality.
There is nothing polemic about it, and she endorses no particular breed of dissent, other than pointing out that you can find it on both the Right and Left.
The Catholic Church is infallible on matters of faith and morals. There is no ex-cathedra teaching on sexual morality. It is not necessary. The teachings on morality in the Catholic Church are infallible. Thanks for posting concerning the video. You can see her writings at Commonweal.
“no contraception, no women in authority, no abortion, no remarriage after divorce (without annulment,) no marriage for priests, no gay sex, and (more recently,) certainly no same-sex civil marriage. These teachings had become a tidy para-creed often used to label those of us who quibbled with any of these items “heretics.”
“For those of us who have difficulties with the para-creed, one big issue is that it seems to exclude, condemn or otherwise harm whole categories of human beings–women called to leadership in the Church (whose desire to lead as they are called is said to reflect a defect in their femininity,) LGB Catholics (whose sexuality, should they act on it, is said to pose a threat to society,) people in truly difficult marital or reproductive situations (whose difficulties are too often simply dismissed as less important than upholding the teaching,) etc. etc.”
Faith and morals. Blanket infallibility that can mean almost anything, and insinuates that it covers everything. What exactly would fall outside the realm of faith and morals? Groundskeeping?
Yes, the Church is not infallible in matters of groundskeeping. Nor Administration, nor discipline, nor science, nor history, nor culture, nor economics. To name a few.
My question would be, “Why would you want to belong to a church that you disagreed with?” I went through that questioning a long time ago and thought that Jesus would either be a fraud or a liar because His Church says one thing and I don’t agree with it. Who am I? Do I believe Him or not? I decided that He was the Truth and that I had to change not Jesus changing to suit me.
The Devil wants to destroy Christ’s Church on earth.
If the Bishops would be less concerned about money – from the Government and from the masses – they would teach according to Christ, and excommunicate public heretics and schismatics.
Some Bishops are straying too far from the Bible and from the CCC.
2 Peter 2:1-3; Titus: 3:10; 1 Tim 5:20; 1 Cor 5:9-13
A smaller but HOLY Church is needed. Not one concerned about money and power.
We are now, and will be, for many years to come suffer the ravages of Vatican II when our venerable, centuries old Mass was butchered and respect for the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist abandoned——Eucharist Ministers.
The Baltimore Cathecism with all of its solid Roman Catholic theology has been replaced by insipid “feel good”, “be nice” garbage.
I feel so blessed to be a traditional Roman Catholic. I am not a revolutionary, the Novus Ordo church abandoned me long ago. When I was a child abortion was legally and morally , murder. Contraception a mortal sin. There were moral certainties then and the Church enjoyed tremendous respect. Hopefully a saintly Pope will someday rescue us from the devastation we have today.
I would really appreciate your printing my response. My statements are all true. I realize the word “Garbage” is a strong one and perhaps substituting ‘ instructional materials” would be better. Thank you for your consideration in this matter—Lawrence J. Becht, Naples, FL
Well said Doc, Our Lord is punishing His Church, but he never without a good reason…
You can disagree…not on matters of faith and morals, nor on a “dogma” of the Church, lest you become an excommunicate and heretic…the Church is not a democracy…we don’t get to pick and choose…if a person seeks this, they should join the episcopalian’s…you can ask 10 episcopal priest’s the same religious question and get 10 different answers!…you want a buffet style church, steeped in ambiguity…become a protestant, this kind of thinking is what makes protestant’s who and what they are…
If you ask ten Catholic Priest a religious question, you will get more than ten different answers because they work harder at finding out who God is and what he demands of us. Reading the CCC, 2nd edition tells us what the rules are. If we agree with all the rules, but do not take that faith to the streets it is all for naught. Today’s first reading from Isaiah told us what makes us Christian – Feed the hungry, etc. The second reading from 1st Corinthians told us that eloquent words don’t make us followers of Christ, but that our faith is based on the Spirit. The Gospel told us not to be salt (Pharisees) but salt to the earth and light to the world. Just trying out how to meet the expectations of those three readings will make us ask questions for the rest of our lives.
your response is irrelevant, it in no way refutes my statement…if 10 different catholic priest’s give you 10 different answers to a question on faith and morals, they would not only be heretic, but possibly an excommunicate…a priest who chooses to disbelieve in the eternal, painful reality of hell, because it doesn’t conform to his “personal” value” system is not only a fool, but heretic as well!…if he disbelieves in the reality of purgatory and teaches otherwise, he is heretic…referring to the hypocrisy of the Pharisee of Scripture, has nothing to do with my statement, or the question I was responding too
But what pray will you take to the streets, Bob One? Seek God? Many do and their search has led them to the church of popular opinion or agnostic or I-just-don’t-give-a-whit.
You say that priests who disagree, disagree because they ‘work harder’ at trying to find out what God asks of us. Who are they working harder than? Christ? Even Our Lord did His duty, that is what the Father required.
Well said Dr. Lawrence J. Becht!
Bishop Soto, do you only act when scandals become public? Why are you so unaware of what is going on in your diocese? It appears that you acted on the “no-brainer” sado-machochistic retreat” as an afterthought (the day before??). Then, after someone complained about a speaker who wrote against Islam, you barred him from speaking in the diocese. (Why)?? Now, you apparently approve of one who dissents major tenets of the Church, indoctrinating the youth of your diocese. Are you waiting to count the complaints before acting on this? Find your spine, act according to the teachings of the Church and you will do well at the Second Coming.
One final comment: why does the laity seem to be frequently directing the bishops/priests/spiritual leaders to do the right thing? Where is our spiritual direction.
This is unfair! How is a Bishop to know what goes on in every parish in this huge diocese of nearly a million people scattered from Vallejo to the northern border. Do you really think that each parish bulletin is submitted to the Bishop for approval each week? Give him some slack.
Bob One writes… ” This is unfair! How is a Bishop to know what goes on in every parish in this huge diocese of nearly a million people scattered from Vallejo to the northern border.” = Now try that load of rancid baloney at a SNAP conference with the victims of the sex abuse scandals! Still sweeping dirt under the rug Bob?
Bob, Do you really think that if these heretics and dissenters who are also known as professional Catholics and corporate men from Vallejo to the northern border were the least bit worried about facing immediate terminations OR if complicit clergy knew that their faculties would be removed for betraying the faith that they would have the nerve to do this unless they felt somewhat cushy and comfortable to be doing these kinds of things in that particular bishop’s diocese in the first place? According to your newest enabling excuse, none of the flock including children are really safe then if a bishop is given “too large a diocese” and now because of being given a large territory a lead shepherd cannot be held responsible to place the fear of God in those roaming wolves who would *spiritually molest* as well as *physically molest* the flock?
Please stop making ridiculously lame excuses then when it comes to guarding the deposit of faith. Bishops also have secretaries who are quite capable of sending out clearly written letters or emails to each parish to warn them what will take place if this kind of “garbage” continues. Perhaps a bishop might even learn that the secretaries in their chanceries are professional Catholic too if letters and emails are never sent. Pope Francis just spoke about the gift of using the internet so Bob One, there is NO EXCUSE! Please remove yourself from the stagecoach era of trying to use a steady slow mule train supply of incredibly lame excuses for shepherds with large dioceses who are NOT guarding their sheep from the wolves. Those lame excuses will not work with God.
It’s odd, Catherine, how those given the responsibility to guard our souls are held to such a low standard of – give them a little slack – when those responsible for our finances would be dragged through the courts for negligence and requisite remuneration.
I forget which parable it was, but Our Lord was absolutely correct – obviously – in advising us to learn from the example of the worldly who do anything and everything to protect their wealth, when it comes to protecting the wealth of the Deposit of the Faith.
If only we all would value Truth and be willing to die to defend it.
It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY (and everyone else’s) to forward articles and information to any Diocese Bishop when there is heresy, schism, relativism or sacrilege being promoted on any Catholic Church property,
or any property belonging to schools, colleges, etc that advertise themselves as “Catholic”.
The Diocese Bishop has authority over everything Catholic within his own Diocese.
God gave us brains to use; He gave us His Son to teach us how to live; Jesus Christ established the Church we love to help pass along those teachings to fortunate us and beyond our mere selves, to the world.
It is not wrong to examine with our limited human minds all that the Church tries to teach us in His Name; it is error to imagine our own minds are capable of finding higher truths than those given to us freely by the Son of God and preserved for us and disseminated for the good of the entire world by the Church.
The Church is capable of error in that it is run by human beings; we are capable of error in that we are mere human beings; however, Jesus Christ is never in error in His magnificent teachings; any and all error belongs to those of us human beings who strive to understand and live up to His wondrous ways and somehow fail to understand and/or to live by His teachings.
The closer we stay to the teachings of Jesus Christ in our daily lives, the closer we are to heaven. There is no individual or group in the history of mankind that has done a better job of preserving, studying, and disseminating the words of Jesus Christ than the Catholic Church.
Anyone who concludes otherwise is in grave error and should not be given a platform by anyone or anything Catholic in order to spread error, especially not grievous error. To do so is to harm the minds, and very possibly the souls, of ourselves and our fellow human beings, and that is both contemptible and damnable.
Satan must be pleased when the successors of the Apostles follow him instead of Christ. How else can one explain how bishops like Jaime Soto and too many of his brother bishops allow traitors to the Catholic faith to be given places of honor in our churches and schools? From past experience in writing to bishops I would guess that those Catholics who complain to Bishop Soto about this heretic will receive no response whatever. It used to be that Catholics would get some response – maybe even something like “get lost” – but now the “protocol” of the bishops is not to respond at all.
Do you suppose their consciences ever twinge?
All Church teachings were arrived at by internal debate, and a Pope making the final decision and ordering it to be binding on all Catholics doesn’t eliminate the debater positoin that didn’t win the Pope’s blessing. It simply means “dont’ be public about it”. Hundreds of millions of Catholics disagree with the Church on many teachings, but keep those opinions to themselves.
My favorite fantasy: lock 12 randomly selected priest in a room, then leave them with issues that they all have to agree on, maybe birth control, divorce, the existence of Purgatory, or returning to Latin Masses, the role of Mary, and watch the fights break out. It is highly unlikely that there will be unanimity on any of the Church’s major teachings, much less the minor ones. We call that dissent….private, yes, but dissent.
Christ himself was a vigorous dissenter, and our Church was founded on dissent. Indeed, that is how virtually all Church teachings got to be teachings. We should keep that in mind. Remember, too, that sometimes the Church changes its teachings……remember Limbo?
Jesus was not a dissenter. They thought he was a blasphemer. Where did you get that? Sometimes the church has to re-clarify what was already taught, but not change what was already written in faith and morals. She can add to it when a new sin arrives to make the distinctions and teaching about it, like contraception, cloning, drugs and such.
That is the purpose of the councils to re- clarify. Vatican 11 was not followed properly that was the problem, not the document. Some things need more clarification because they probably didn’t think that the bishops would start throwing things out that were never said to. We need to be respectful to the church. We cannot disagree with the faith and morals, but we can have trouble understanding why she does what she does. We still have to respect her authority. This women should be thrown out for these things she is lying about the church.
Just my thoughts.
Church teachings were not arrived at by internal debate. The Holy Spirit is the infallible Guide of the Catholic Church. Although there are disputes and challenges to the Faith, the Holy Spirit is the arbiter.
The Catholic Church wasn’t founded on dissent, good cause. Christ came to fulfill the law – that’s not dissent.
good cause, you are talking about many Protestant Churches.
Read your own Bible. And follow the teachings of Jesus if you are a Christian.
Teachings on Divorce with remarriage, homosexuality, fornication, etc., are directly from the Bible, not the Pope. Celibacy is from the Bible. The Ten Commandments are from the Bible.
If you choose to join any Religion, you should adhere to their teachings or leave.
I’m sure dissenters can find something somewhere that they can believe in, or simply start their own church.
The reason that there is any dissent in the Catholic Church is due to those bad Bishops (and their Priests0 who do not publically teach the Bible (Holy Scripture) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition. They do not ask literate persons in their Diocese to read them.
Bad Bishops allow Sacrilege against the Body and Blood of our Lord (receiving of Holy Communion while in a public state of Mortal Sin).
Dissenters within the Catholic Church are prideful, arrogant, and out to destroy the Church.
One cannot disagree with dogmatic and moral certainties and still be a Catholic. One could disagree with canon law, or some liturgical law, and that would not necessarily be a problem. An example would be one prefers the old code of Canon Law more than the present one in force. Another example would be that someone believes there should be no vernacular in the Mass. But to question fundamental beliefs and teachings is quite serious. As Pope Benedict XVI stated, as also did Pope John Paul II, if one is a cafeteria Catholic, he can not be in good standing with Holy Mother Church. Since apostolic times, heretics have been excommunicated for publicly expressing false and erroneous ideas. It’s about time that this remedial form be put to greater use in order to safeguard the precious faith which martyrs died for.
Father Karl, you’ve got to be kidding!
To say that an individual can simply proclaim, “I prefer the OLD Code of Canon Law,” or “I believe the vernacular should not be part of the Mass,” is BEING a cafeteria Catholic.
Liturgical law, as you should know, is one of the most stringent forms of law in the Church, so for people to invent their own liturgy (e.g., no English) is the epitome of disobedience. They can’t simply decide to put chocolate chips into the altar bread, nor can they choose to use grape juice instead of wine. They can’t go on a whim and use novels instead of Sacred Scripture for the readings, nor may they declare themselves competent to make proclamations that violate what the Church Universal has also spoken clearly about — such as how Mass may or may not be celebrated.
Your statements are very misleading to the faithful — and to the not so faithful who might be fooled by them even more easily.
Anonymous, as to your negative comment regarding those of us who don’t attend a mass in the venacular. We are what you once were, . We believe what you once believed. We worship as you once worshiped. If we are wrong now, you were wrong then. If you were right then, we are right now.
Anonymous, I think Father Karl was saying that it is OK to have a personal opinion on some matters and not on others. It is not being a cafeteria Catholic to have an opinion on a matter than is not faith or morals. It is not being a cafeteria Catholic to prefer the tabernacle in a certain place or to like one form of the Mass over another. You may dislike decisions such as moving Ascension Thursday to Sunday or wearing white at funerals or suppressing the prayers after low Mass or the changes in Matins. However if you have an opinion such as human life begins at birth or it’s ok to kill unproductive people or Jesus married Mary Magdelene-those are wrong and would make one a cafeteria Catholic or worse.
Amen!
Fr. Karl,
When something such as Code of Canon Law is promulgated by a Pope as part of the Apostolic Constitution, none of us have the authority to disagree with it.
It becomes part of the Doctrine of the Faith. They have a juridical binding force.
APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION “SACRAE DISCIPLINAE LEGES”
of the SUPREME PONTIFF POPE JOHN PAUL II
https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_25011983_sacrae-disciplinae-leges_en.html
“I command that for the future it is to have the force of law for the whole Latin Church, and I entrust it to the watchful care of all those concerned, in order that it may be observed. ”
Note the word “COMMAND”, not “should”.
Can the Code be changed? – Yes, but not by Priests, Nuns, or Laity.
We should always check out how something is “promulgated” to determine its binding force.
Individual Bishops do not have the authority to ignore the Code of Canon Law either. :)
And those who have disobeyed in solemn liturgical promulgations have their own issues with the Church, please see, for example. various postings by Ann Malley and Kenneth Fisher, which deny the Roman catholic Church the authority to command obedience with respect to the liturgy of the Church. Disobedient catholics attend!
Obedience in all but sin, YFC, that includes avoiding the occasion of sin. One must know oneself. So sorry, if the Pope by decree commanded that I attend a promulgated ceremony – say a naked mass that seeks to evoke the sinless, be-not-afraid Garden of Eden complete with animals and full on hugging as the sign of peace for the sake of not offending naturists – I’m not going.
I know myself. That is no denial of the Pope’s authority to make the change. That is no denial of Christ’s presence either. If the priest at such a ‘mass’ were to say the words of consecration, Christ would be there. Yes, indeed. But woe unto him. And woe unto me if I used ‘obedience’ as a blanket for attending where I know my faith is undermined – or in the above example – my purity.
You may be of a higher fiber that can withstand such weekly/daily abrasion of that which focuses on the human in lieu of that which is divine, but I cannot. Neither would I subject my children to such. So no, I will not attend that ‘solemn liturgy.’
As to those in authority whom you would protect, I say woe unto them that scandalize the little ones… they do it all the time, YFC, and always with ‘legal’ backing much like the Pharisees did.
God bless:)
“Father Karl”: You are correct, but largely only in theory. Those in power in the Church today will not debate, or even review, the “dogmatic and moral certainties” that many say were altered by, and through implementation of, the Vatican II Council. Bishops, Cardinals, and, sadly, even the Vatican embrace modernity and its teachings. We need to pray for Pope Francis, who is being put to the test, and will be with this Fall’s Synod on the Family. What is really different, for example, with what Ms. Fullam says, in dissent of Church teachings, and what the German bishops say, and do, in complete schism with the Catholic moral teachings on a wide variety of sexual sins, including: divorced/remarried Catholics receiving communion; (2) sex before marriage; and, (3) homosexual unions. In fact, the Germans (and Austrians, etc.), have a wider claim to the need to change much of the Church’s moral authority, including making women priests, married clergy, and much, much more. Funny how these bishops claim the need to change things because people no longer believe what the Church says on moral issues, and that these teachings are “cruel.” Of course, this is entirely self-serving, in that these same bishops are largely responsible for prohibiting the full and complete teaching of the Faith in the first place. Of course ignorant people will want to act just as their Lutheran and other Protestant brethren act: it is a political set of beliefs that they have been given all of their lives, not religious ones. Similarly, Catholic Tradition, and the direct will of the Pope to reinvigorate and reinstate important traditional elements, such as teaching Latin the seminaries (“Veterum Sapientia”), and giving the TLM its rightful place in parishes around the world (“Summorum Pontificum”), are essentially ignored by these same bishops (who, nonetheless, always demand “obedience” to their lefty rants and demands, including at many churches, that parishioners no longer genuflect when receiving communion, or kneel when they return to their pews). The Pope will need to make hard choices now. Liberals are getting set to run the table on Francis, and on us all.
These bad Bishops would change all the teachings of the Church based upon ‘popular opinion’ rather than the teachings of Jesus.
When in fact they are responsible for much of the ‘popular opinion’ within their Country.
They do NOT encourage Catholics to read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”
People do not know their Faith, nor the reasons for the teachings of the Church which is explained in the CCC.
Jesus warned us of bad Bishops by his appointment of Judas Iscariot as one of His apostles. He also told us to beware of the Pharisees (religious leaders of His day.)
People will leave the Church even faster when it has no principles.
It would be better the Church be smaller and Holy.
Know your Faith my friends.
Study a Catholic BIBLE (especially the New Testament), and the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition”.
Pass these on to all those you care about.
Help to Save their Souls. Most Bishops are failing in this respect.
Did Jesus teach that the mass should be celebrated in Latin with the priest’s back to the people? If so, where does this authority proceed?
Would you rather the priest has his back to God, YFC? If so, why?
Santa Clara University is in the Diocese of San Jose, and the Bishop for that Diocese is Most Rev. Patrick J. McGrath. The phone number for this Diocese is (408) 983-0295. Bishop McGrath used to be an Auxiliary Bishop for the San Francisco Archdiocese. Like most of our Church leaders– he seems to be very liberal, which is a tragedy!! You can call the Santa Clara University President’s office at (408) 554-4100. Overall, I think the Catholic Church is desperately in need of true leadership, starting at the Vatican!!
She actually teaches at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, which is administratively part of SCU but geographically outside of Bp. McGrath’s purview.
Because the Jesuit School of Theology is a Pontifical Institution, you should contact the Papal Nuncio: Abp. Carlo Vigano, 3339 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. (202)333-7121; Fax: (202)337-4036.
Papal Nuncio USA
nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org
Dave N., the Jesuit School of “Theology” is supposed to be part of Santa Clara U’s graduate faculty now, so although the few classrooms they have are geographically outside of Bp. Paddy McGrath’s diocese, Dr. Fullam actually is given her official “mandate” to teach theology according to Canon 812 (new CCL, 1984) by her local ordinary—that champion of Catholic orthodoxy, Bp. Paddy.
According to JP II’s 1990 apostolic constitution governing the matter, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, “those who teach theological disciplines subjects in any institute of higher studies must have a mandate from the competent ecclesiastical authority,” i.e. from the local bishop. I wonder how he will squirm out of this one.
Thank you. We should all contact the office of Bishop McGrath.
And also contact Bishop Soto, since St. Ignatious Parish is in his Diocese.
The Bishops must stop this behavior in all institutions within their own Diocese or forbid them to falsely advertise themselves as “Catholic”.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 –
“A wise man’s heart inclines him torward the right,
But a fool’s heart toward the left.”
Actually, I received my San Jose diocese ADA letter today (they find me ALWAYS, no matter where I reside, to ask for money—amazing what they can do when they set their mind to it.), and I am going to send a copy of this article in the response back to them, asking that the good Bp. Paddy McG will 1st kindly address this matter. I may be put on a blacklist…again…but come what may, this should be interesting.
How sad it is that we, just simple Catholics, allow this sort of garbage to be shoved down our throats, and what is worse, to allow it to poison our young people. It seems that anyone with a divinity-type degree, especially a woman, is fawned over as if they were actually speaking God’s truth. How shameful that this woman can contradict the teachings of the Church (and therefore of God) by pulling the old conscience is supreme trick. I see that the people in the Sacramento Diocese just lap this up because it is offered under conditions (at a church) that affirms its orthodoxy.
Beware, the shepherds are giving free rein (and free reign) to the heretics and the foxes are savaging the flock.
When Bishop Olmstead was in discussion with a hospital that had performed an abortion to save a patients life and was saying that if their policy was this, that they could not call themselves Catholic:
Lisa Fullam, professor of moral theology at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, blogged at commonwealmagazine.org that the hospital ought to stand up to the bishop.
“Why don’t they simply point out to Bishop Olmsted that, while under church law he can restrict who uses the appellation ‘Catholic,’ he does not have a copyright to the term under U.S. law? If the administrators at St. Joseph’s believe it to be a Catholic hospital, they should continue to use the name and let the canonical chips fall where they may. The bishop does not own Catholicism, in his diocese or elsewhere.”
From the link that CCD provided to the earlier story:
Father Robert Araujo, SJ, denied the fidelity of Fullam’s interpretation [on same sex marriage] and noted “For the most part at many institutions that claim the moniker ‘Catholic,’ students are being exposed to a shadow magisterium which is a corruption of rather than intellectual fidelity to Church teachings on the neuralgic issues of the day including marriage. While these young may be receiving a great deal of education, they are not receiving the wisdom of the Church….”
They are serving cocktails at a church??????
And they are going to start drinking a half hour before the moral theologian begins her talk.
Oh…I wish I could go..
At my Church, this would get wild fast.
Anonymous, perhaps the only way most people could stomach this talk is to at least partly anesthetize themselves with some adult beverages prior to listening to Dr Fullam’s foolery.
Just imagine! What is the Pope made a man a bishop and that bishop acted like a true shepherd who looked after his flock? With the exception of three bishops here in California whom I know of, just about all the rest of these guys appear to be gutless. In this matter, Soto appears to be among the latter grouping.
Misspelling corrected in this message. If you choose to publish, please use this version, below. Thank you.
Just imagine! What if the Pope made a man a bishop and that bishop acted like a true shepherd who looked after his flock? With the exception of three bishops here in California whom I know of, just about all the rest of these guys appear to be gutless. In this matter, Soto appears to be among the latter grouping.
Because the Jesuit School of Theology is a Pontifical Institution, you should contact the Papal Nuncio: Abp. Carlo Vigano, 3339 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. (202)333-7121; Fax: (202)337-4036. I have already faxed them a letter.
Knowledge without action is complicity.
CCC: 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers.”
Email address: Papal Nuncio USA
nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org
Please keep calling and emailing. The talk is still going on! We need help here in our dioces because San Jose wont step up against this Jesuit seminary. Please help!
Dr. Fulham has a certain hardness in her eyes. Chilling.
I sure would not want to be on a sinking ship with most of you folks, you are a charming group of mean spirited far right wiing catholics! I don’t agree with the professor on any of the issues, but the above comments violate the concept of CHRISTIAN CHARITY!!
“Thomas Edward Miles”: Your comment is laughable. “Christian Charity” has become the slogan of the far Left (along with “judgmental” and “pastoral” and “kindness” and, if a woman is saying it, “outraged” and “angry”) to challenge use of just about any Catholic doctrine that they see as prohibitory (usually dealing with sexual license). The command to “charitable” means to tell the truth, the Christian Truth, to all Mankind. A tough thing to do — just look at where being “charitable” got: (1) Jesus Christ; (2) John the Baptist; and (3) the Apostles, to name just a few. In fact, commenters to CDC are pretty literate, knowledgeable, and articulate (even if a tough bunch, sometimes). Too bad a good number of them are not bishops. Yes, Francis did say, “who am I to judge,” a comment widely misunderstood. You might be interested to see that the today’s “Washington Post” highlights, above the fold, the alleged “stark divisions” among Catholics “worldwide” and the teachings of the Church. Too bad that these same Catholics were never really taught much by their priests and bishops, mired as many of them are in their own apostasy. Pray that Pope Francis says, “enough” and tells the world what the Catholic Church holds dear. Many fear for the worst, even though everything must go according to God’s Plan. You may not know it, but a good number of practicing Catholics will not tolerate being in a Church that suddenly embraces what the Germans want us all to accept; the Church belongs to Christ, not to the Pope, the “Order of Bishops” (whatever that is), or to the liberals crying out “how dare you” say that “pro multis” must be translated as “for many” even though the promise of Hell was made by Christ, himself, not his disciples (and repeated by our Blessed Mother at Fatima). Saying, “Repent” is not uncharitable; but a shout of Christian love. Happy to be in a sinking ship with all accounted for, even the grumblers.
Miles, Charity demands correction.
If you LOVE GOD which is the first required principle of CHARITY, and if you love your neighbor which is the second – you will not allow anyone to draw your neighbors into sin.
The posts I have read so far are extremely charitable.
The first 3 Works of Mercy are:
Admonish sinners;
Instruct the uninformed;
Counsel the doubtful.
Miles, I guess you would call St Peter and St Paul uncharitable too.
2 Peter 2:1–3
” 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.
3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep. ”
St Paul to Romans – 16:17-18
” 17 I appeal to you, brethren, to take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught;
avoid them.
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,
and by fair and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. “
TEM: Long live the far right wing Catholics,,, we will be there to pick up the pieces from the destruction your ilk on the Left has caused
I ask again the question that Jenny posed, “Is this person a man or a woman?” It seems that the majority of the mad and angry female members of the Church have an identity problem with their gender. In simple words, they want to be men. Communism brought to the surface this envy and denial of truth, and because Vatican II NEVER mentioned or condemned communism, this diabolical evil has been able to poison most of the world. Ave Maria Purrissima!
Jesusita, you are so exactly right, again: prior to the convening of Vat 2, the largest single area of response to the interrogatories sent world-wide to bishops, archbishops, and cardinals as preparations for “Pope John’s Council” was the issue of their recommended condemnation of communism/socialism—and yet this schemata, like all the other schemata and results of the hundreds of actually “collegial” letters sent back by the bishops to John XXIII and the Curia, were all mysteriously set aside in the first hours of the initial convocation of V2. (This fact is exhaustively documented in Robert De Mattei’s book: “The 2nd Vatican Council: An Unwritten Story.”)
The reason that so many bishops and cardinals around the world thought this condemnation was so much an issue was because they saw their seminaries and clergy being infiltrated by socialist/communist ideology and its fundamental class warfare agenda. One level of the class warfare agenda was the opportunistic seizing on the war between the genders and the inequality of women in western societies. Here we are, 50 years later, and what the Council should have done, and did not do, is completely undermining the CC.
I loved that book, Steve Phoenix. It is an excellent reporting of the facts that I wish to be as widely promoted as the CCC.
God bless!
The initials after Ms Fullam’s name are D.V.M. and Th.D. I thought DVM referred to an animal physician. Is there some other degree or organization to which DVM refers?
She is a veterinary.
Ms. Fullam has an undergraduate degree and a degree in veterinary medicine from Cornell, one of the best schools in the country. She also has a Masters in Theological Studies and a Doctorate in Theology from Harvard Divinity School, on of the most respected non-denominational divinity schools in the country. Non of the above is a comment on her willingness to question Catholic beliefs. It does indicate, however, that she is pretty smart. If she has anything of value to talk about is a judgement call.
On of the clearest signs of the discontinuity or break in church tradition that happened at Vatican 2, is an example like this, where a professor is teaching something so fundamentally anti Catholic as Dr. Fool-em, is a theology teacher in a Catholic University. An event like this, a person speaking of these things so antithetically anti-Catholic, would have been unheard of prior to 1960. Now it is the norm.
I was told by a staff member that they do have a vetting process, however; it was a new Priest that was not aware of the process, so she slipped through the cracks!
And the diocese found out that she had slipped through the cracks too late.
MORE communication is needed I would say!
Very well. So a new priest didn’t know there was a vetting process for speakers. In charity, we must give said priest the benefit of the doubt until there is hard evidence to the contrary. We must assume that he sinned due to ignorance, ignorance of the vetting process and ignorance of the fact that even without a vetting process, Dr. Lisa Fullam was a manifestly unfitting speaker. Now that the damage has been done, however, what is to be the medicinal discipline? Bishop Soto?
CCC: ” 1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good,
or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.
In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.”
CCC : 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:
– by participating directly and voluntarily in them;
– by ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers.”
St. Ignatius Parish has to answer for supporting heresy, schism, and scandal.
Santa Clara University has to answer for the spread of heresy, schism and scandal through the University.
CCC 1793: If – on the contrary – the ignorance is invincible, or the moral subject is not responsible for his erroneous judgment, the evil committed by the person cannot be imputed to him. It remains no less an evil, a privation, a disorder. One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.
Since the publication of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” about 25 years ago, there is no excuse for literate persons over age 16 to be ignorant.
They are ignorant of their own choosing if they have not read the CCC. And therefore are 100% responsible for all their own sins.
The Magisterium of the Church has provided the CCC to each of us.
I hope the diocese will send someone to correct any errors or misleading statements.
Why is it that those in authority are always claiming to NOT KNOW.
Good grief.
Fullham sounds so highly educated, but poorly knowledgeable about Church teaching. Hang on, Church…more struggles are coming!!!!
Yes, Dr Fullam has her Ph.D in vet medicine from Cornell U, and her Ph.D in theology from that bastion of Catholic orthodoxy, the oxymoronoically-named Harvard Divinity School. If any where in the universe God were not to and did not somehow exist, I am sure it would be the intellectual black hole of Harvard Div. Diogenes would be wasting his time stopping there.
Please forgive me if I gave the wrong impression. I meant to convey that canon and liturgical laws, even though they MUST be obeyed, are not articles of faith. Those laws can and have changed (we do not have to fast from midnight until we receive Holy Communion, and it is no longer a penalty to strike a priest). Articles of faith, and morality is not up for grabs, and Catholics are obligated to believe all the truths which the Catholic Church has taught, and to obey the 10 Commandments and other moral laws, which WILL NEVER change.
Dear Father Karl: I remember the Church used to forbid usury, which is why the Jewish people ended up being moneylenders and bankers, as many other professions were closed to them.
Then that teaching changed, and now Catholics can take part in usury.
Where would this change fit, in your opinion?
It’s hard for me to tell when such changes are doctrine, moral theology, canon law, etc.
Thanks for any guidance you can give us!
Usury is the practice of making unethical or immoral monetary loans based upon the misfortune of others. (Charging high/ unethical interest rates.)
This is not loving one’s neighbor.
CCC: ” 2449 Beginning with the Old Testament, all kinds of juridical measures (the jubilee year of forgiveness of debts, prohibition of loans at interest and the keeping of collateral, the obligation to tithe, the daily payment of the day-laborer, the right to glean vines and fields) answer the exhortation of Deuteronomy: “For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in the land.'” Jesus makes these words his own: “The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” In so doing he does not soften the vehemence of former oracles against “buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals . . .,” but invites us to recognize his own presence in the poor who are his brethren:
When her mother reproached her for caring for the poor and the sick at home, St. Rose of Lima said to her: “When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus. ”
However we are all required to pay back our just debts that we have freely entered into. – Commutative justice -#CCC 2411.
Thou shall not steal. – GOD.
Unfortunately today, many Americans live past their means with credit. Credit not for food and minimal shelter;
but for TV sets, computers, cell phones, android devices, cars, mortgages on expensive homes, expensive sneakers and designer clothing, etc., etc.
They have made things their gods / idols.
Those who call themselves “Catholic” must 100% conform to:
– Holy Scripture (Catholic Bible);
– Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition;
– Code of Canon Law;
and
– GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal) for the Ordinary Form of the Mass.
(1962 Missal for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass).
If you do not own, and read the above – you do not know your Faith in entirety.
There will be no unity within the Church until the majority of Catholics know, understand, and adhere to their Faith.
We each have a requirement/responsibility to know our Faith to the best of our ability. There are no excuses for the literate over age 16.
Pat, you are fervent in your exhortations. I assume you are just as fervent when you teach religion/faith formation classes at your parish. I’m sure that you preach the Gospel on a regular basis, as St. Francis taught us: “use words if you have to.” One must always be careful when reading and adhering to the Bible that we know what it says, why and how. For example, if we eat shell fish we are in violation of the words of the Bible. Is that what you meant? To know all that is taught in each of the books you mentioned is not really as important a living the teachings. That was the key message in the readings last Sunday. Be salt to the earth, cloth the naked, feed the hungry be a light to the world. Check the parish library and see if it has a copy of the book of canon law or the GRIM.