The best term to describe the current state of the Church is confusion, which has its origin in the lack of respect for the truth. Each of us, according to his vocation in life and his particular gifts, has the obligation to dispel confusion and to manifest the light that comes only from Christ. There is confusion about the very nature of the Church and its relationship with the world. Only with baptism does one become a child of God and it is not true that God wants a plurality of religions.
The best term to describe the current state of the Church is confusion; confusion that often borders on error. The confusion is not limited to one or another doctrine or discipline or aspect of the life of the Church: it concerns the very identity of the Church.
Confusion has its origin in the failure to respect the truth, either in the denial of the truth or in the pretense of not knowing the truth or in the failure to declare the truth that is known. In his confrontation with the Scribes and Pharisees on the occasion of the Feast of Tabernacles, Our Lord spoke clearly of those who promote confusion, refusing to recognize the truth and to speak the truth. The confusion is the work of the Evil One, as Our Lord himself taught, when he said these words to the scribes and Pharisees: “Why don’t you understand my language? Because you cannot listen to my words, you who have the devil as your father, and you want to fulfill your father’s wishes. He was a murderer from the beginning and did not persevere in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks of his own, because he is a liar and the father of lies. To me, instead, you don’t believe, because I tell the truth ». (Jn 8, 43-45).
The culture of lying and the confusion it generates has nothing to do with Christ and His Bride, the Church. Remember the admonition of Our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your speech be yes, yes; no, no; more comes from the evil one “(Mt 5:37).
Why is it important for us to reflect on the current state of the Church, marked as it is by so much confusion? Each of us, as a living member of the Mystical Body of Christ, is called to fight the good fight against evil and the Evil One, and to keep the race of good, the race of God, with Christ. Each of us, according to his vocation in life and his particular gifts, has the obligation to dispel confusion and to manifest the light that comes only from Christ who is alive for us in the living Tradition of the Church.
It should come as no surprise that, in the current state of the Church, those who care for the truth, who are faithful to Tradition, are labeled as rigid and as traditionalists because they oppose the prevailing agenda of confusion. They are portrayed by the authors of the culture of lies and confusion as poor and deficient, sick in need of treatment.
Actually, we only want one thing, that is, to be able to declare, like St. Paul at the end of his earthly days: «As for me, my blood is about to be shed in libation and the time has come to untangle the sails. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith. Now I have only the crown of justice that the Lord, just judge, will deliver to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all those who await its manifestation with love “(2 Tim 4: 6-8).
It is out of love for our Lord and his living presence with us in the Church that we fight for the truth and for the light it always brings into our life.
In addition to the duty to combat lies and confusion in our daily life, as living members of the Body of Christ, we have a duty to make our concerns for the Church known to our pastors – the Roman Pontiff, the bishops and priests who are the principal collaborators of the bishops in the care of God’s flock….
The above comes from a Feb. 15 edition of the Daily Compass.
Cardinal Burke, who led the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis, served as head of the Apostolic Signatura in Rome.
An alarming manifestation of the present culture of lies and confusion in the Church, is the confusion about the very nature of the Church and its relationship to the world. Today, we hear more and more that all men are children of God and that Catholics should relate to persons of other religions and of no religion as children of God. This is a fundamental lie and font of the most serious confusion.
All men are created in the image and likeness of God, but, since the Fall of our First Parents, with the consequent inheritance of original sin, men can only become children of God in Jesus Christ, God the Son, Whom God the Father sent into the world, in order that men could again become His sons and daughters through faith and Baptism. It is only through the Sacrament of Baptism that we become children of God, adopted sons and daughters of God in His only-begotten Son. In our relationships with persons of other religions and of no religion, we must show them the respect owed to those created in the image and likeness of God but, at the same time, we must give witness to the truth of original sin and of justification through Baptism. Otherwise, the mission of Christ, His Redemptive Incarnation, and the continuation of His mission in the Church makes no sense.
Serious question: Why is the Bible quote CCD used different than the one in the link?
CCD:
Actually, we only want one thing, that is, to be able to declare, like St. Paul at the end of his earthly days: «As for me, my blood is about to be shed in libation and the time has come to untangle the sails. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith. Now I have only the crown of justice that the Lord, just judge, will deliver to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all those who await its manifestation with love “(2 Tim 4: 6-8).
The Link:
In the end, we want only one thing, that is, to be able to declare, as Saint Paul declared at the end of his earthly days:
“For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”. (2 Tim 4, 6-8)
Aka weaponized ambiguity!
James, each error needs to be dealt with intelligently and with compassion Many of those who err do not know they are erring. Pope Francis is constantly being mis-characterized and mis-quoted in the media and online.
This is serious work.
Accusations are completely not helpful. They cause those who you wish to correct to not listen.
The tools for correctly getting out the truth by the Holy Father would be the Vatican’s newspaper and press corps, clear quotes from the scripture and catechism in addresses and writings, stop quoting one’s own documents as authoritative, have the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith carefully review written statements to avoid ambiguity, cease interviews with anti Catholic journalists like Scalfari who may mischaracterize what our Pope actually said.
This is not only true for our Holy Father, it is true for bishops and priests who have their diocesan newspapers, communications offices, parish bulletins, and websites.
It is also possible that ambiguity is purposeful in order to insert another interpretation into settled teaching.
Burke, Müller and others are not to be dismissed, rather they remain cardinals linked to the pope to assist the Holy Father, whether or not they have other official duties.
I have heard both speak. They know way more than I do or do others who comment so frequently here.
Excellent post, Fr. Perozich. I need to heed it, too, at times.
Fr. Perozich, I appreciate your take on this. Being more careful about what is said would be better.
A realization that the media has very little knowledge of the Catholic Faith and many want the Catholic Faith to be different that it is should make them more careful. But that is on them.
We have the job of cleaning up the mess.
The title of this article in the link is: Each of us is called to fight against the lies in the Church
Each of us is called to fight against the lies in the Church which we cannot do if we do not know the Truth.
The confusion of the 1970-80s was ended by the Catechism.
There needs to be a website that people can access with the teaching of the Church. We need an authoritative source for information.
Right after posting this, I came upon an expression “Bad workers always blame their tools.”
The Lord has His way of humbling us, doesn’t He?
Bad workers also blame other workers or their bosses.
Francis is beloved of the media, and he is not misquoted. Scalfari quotes him accurately, for instance. The proof is that Francis repeatedly goes to him and never corrects him or clarifies his reporting.
I feel sorry for a confused Cardinal, wondering around without a diocese or dicastery to oversee.
Bishop McElroy will speak at the RECongress this weekend. His keynote talk is titled, “What Is Truth?” I’m sure he’ll clear some things up. Maybe Cardinal Burke will want to listen to it?
The concept of McElroy speaking Truth is laughable. I stick with Cdl.Burke any day of the week
I hope Bishop McElroy finally finds the Truth because his words and actions certainly appears to violate the Truth. Great that Cardinal Burke doesn’t have to listen to his confusion and is addressing this.
Anon, are you sure the good Cardinal is “wondering around” or even “wandering” around?
Even though the Pope forced him into early retirement, at 72, I think His Eminence has enough to do to keep himself busy.
I pray he continues to write and speak and bring light and clarity where there is darkness. I pray the same for Cardinal Muller and Archbishop Chaput (who should’ve been made a cardinal). Though Pope Francis demonstrated very little “accompaniment” and collaboration with these fine men and prematurely ended their “careers,” their work is not yet done. See 1 Corinthians 4:7-18 and 5:5-12.
Thanks for getting my “wondering” post.
He was retired early for a reason.
He seems confused.
Stop being mean.
Anon, you claim the Cardinal was retired for a reason. Two simple questions: What was the reason for which he was retired?
And, how do you know?
Unless the Vatican’s HR department cannot keep confidential information in confidence, you must be a Vatican insider.
Are you Archbishop Paglia or James Martin SJ by any chance?
Some in the Vatican were threatened by intelligent, inquiring bishops, like Cardinal Pell as well.
Seriously, are you willing to answer those two questions?
Or, are you simply defaming Cardinal Burke without any factual basis?
Hey too!
I don’t “actually” know that he was retired for a reason or for what that reason might have been. But like Bill Maher, we don’t know for sure, we just know. Or like SNL’s Weekend Update, we know dis.
We all followed the scandals with his past appointments. We know he is no longer an ordinary. And we don’t ordinarily disorient ordinaries from their ordinary dioceses. And we don’t ordinarily move an extremely high ranking Vatican cleric to posts in the relative hinterlands.
Unless there is a reason.
Of course, I am not Paglia nor am I Martin nor a Vatican insider. I’ve only been to the Vatican once, and my second trip got cancelled due to the Coronovirus.
May Lent find you thirsting for our Lord and sharing in his Passion.
If you are defaming Cardinal Burke at all, you are definitely doing it without a factual basis. He comes off in the press a lot different than he is. He is above all a faithful man of the Church. He is very soft spoken but he always tells the Truth of Christ and His Church.
It is unimportant if there is politics involved in his placements, it is the Lord whose Will Cardinal Burke follows.
I think he does need to be wary because there are people on the Internet who use him for their own agenda.
I know he has been very distressed by that but he offers it up.
He has had his Cross to bear and he bears it well.
How soon we forget. Cardinal Burke was demoted by Pope Francis for signing the dubia regarding Amoris Laetitia, which have still not been answered by the Holy Father. There is no mystery to what happened to Cardinal Burke, unfortunately.
Anon, if you insist there is a reason, it’s likely because, like Cardinal Pell, he was orthodox and doesn’t depart from the teachings of the Scriptures, the Tradition, Councils, previous Popes and Catechisms.
Of course, as William noted previously, “daring” to ask the Vatican for clarification about an unclear document is, with the current Vatican, ungrounded grounds for firing. The Vatican still has not answered those bishops, some of whom died awaiting answers. So much for a Vatican with “absolute transparency,” as promised by Pope Francis.
And, since you “just know,” but won’t state how or why you “just know,” does your special knowledge mean you’re a Gnostic or are you a Catholic, who believes in both faith and reason?
i just know…because I am not stupid.
The Cardinal is right. Confusion seems to be reigning in many quarters of the Church today.
When bishops, some of them cardinals, ask legitimate questions in order to clarify unclear statements, there is, it seems, usually no response from the Vatican.
Confusion is addressed by Dr. Ralph Martin in his latest book, “A Church in Crisis – Pathways Forward.” He also addresses other problematic issues and documents deviations from the Faith and those within in the Church who are promoting such.
Remember the doctrine of the indefectibility of the Church. Jesus remains true to His promises until (and, of course, after!) He returns for His Bride, the Church.
Counseling the doubtful is a work of mercy. Many of them do not appreciate it. But I also have found many who do.
Go ahead and call me rigid. Go ahead and call me traditional (ist.)
So what?
Please click the link. This edit stops at an important point.
What they say is Hate is loud, Love is strong. applies here as well:
Error is loud. Truth is strong.
Quoting Jesus from John 8:44 “you who have the devil as your father, and you want to fulfill your father’s wishes. He was a murderer from the beginning and did not persevere in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks of his own, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” perfectly describes our contemporary culture/society. Reading it along with 1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him” expands the description of the followers of Satan [those who consider him their father] to “haters and liar”
Too bad Cdl. Burke could not be our Pope!
Yet.
Honestly, what is this man talking about? I think these men need to police their own ranks.
If you’re referring to Cardinal Burke, thanks you just proved his point!