The following comes from a September 18 op-ed New York Times essay by Francis A. Quinn. Francis A. Quinn is the retired bishop of Sacramento and the author of “Behind Closed Doors: Conflicts in Today’s Church.”:
Sacramento — I am a Catholic, born in 1921 of Italian and Irish families and raised in California seminaries. After decades of work as a priest, I was astonished that Pope Paul VI appointed me a bishop in San Francisco. I love my church, and every night I pray that I might die in her warm, loving arms.
Yet I worry about my church’s future. Basic doctrines will not change. But the church may change policies and practices after doing serious study.
So, as we await Pope Francis’ visit to America, I offer a peaceful contribution to the controversies that convulse the church today.
American Catholics are divided, primarily, by three internal church conflicts.
The first is over priestly celibacy. Observers within and outside the church point to mandatory celibacy as a principal factor driving down the number of American priests.
A celibate life is admirable for a priest who personally chooses it. For 1,000 years, great good has been accomplished because priests could fully devote their lives to their ministry.
Nevertheless, in recent years married clergy of other Christian churches have been accepted into service in the Catholic Church. So far, the ministry of these married priests has appeared successful.
The church should start relieving the desperate shortage of clergy members by also accepting for ordination men of mature age, of proven character and in stable marriages.
Optional celibacy allows a choice between an abstinent life, totally free for ministry, or a married life that enables better understanding of the lives of parishioners.
American Catholics are also divided over the ordination of women as priests.
Recent popes have said publicly that priesthood for women cannot be considered because the gospel and other documents state that Christ ordained men only.
Yet women have shown great qualities of leadership: strength, intelligence, prayerfulness, wisdom, practicality, sensitivity and knowledge of theology and sacred Scripture.
Might the teaching church one day, taking account of changing circumstances, be inspired by the Holy Spirit to study and reinterpret this biblical tradition?
Finally, why is a divorced Catholic who has remarried denied the Eucharist? Such people are considered living in an irregular union.
Valid marriages remain indissoluble. However, in confession a priest, after reviewing the circumstances with a remarried penitent, already can assist that person to develop a clear conscience with God and resume receiving the Eucharist.
A Vatican Council III would bring together the world’s bishops under the unifying guidance of Peter. It would include representative major theologians, scholars of sacred Scripture, scientists and appropriate academics, lay people of all ages, clergy members and parishioners, and officials of other faiths.
In addition to the three issues dividing the church, this council and future councils would explore the morality of world economies, spiritual life, human sexuality, peace and war, and the poor and suffering.
Such a council might slow or reverse the flow of the faithful out of the church. It would also stimulate a new conversation about God, one that shows young people that God is not an old man with a long white beard. God is infinite and unlimited.
The main challenge facing the church today is not simply to resolve questions like celibacy, but to relearn how to communicate a deeper, more intelligent, more relevant religion that leads to a life of acceptance and love.
This Priest sure does not know the Catholic Faith. No wonder the Catholic Church is in such a mess with bad teachers like him.
Start reading the Bible and the CCC folks, we are being fed too much garbage from Clergy of various ranks.
CCC: ” 1577 Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination.
” The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ’s return.
The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.”
(See the footnotes in the CCC for many Bible references.)
Amen! St. Pope John Paul II said the issue on women’s ordination was CLOSED, and that the Church has no authority to ordain women as priests. The Lord Jesus Christ did not do it, even for the Blessed Mother. Which other woman would be as worthy as she? The answer is NONE.
Our Lord gave up His lfe for His Bride the Church. Having a female priest would be spiritual lesbianism.
CCC: ” 81 Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit.”
And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching.”
….. I guess this evil Priest does not care what God says about Adultery, receiving Communion unworthily, etc. He calls Sacred Scripture merely tradition rather than the word of God. He is a heretic.
When the Catholic Church no longer has principles – TRUTHS by which it stands based upon the Bible and the Doctrine of the Faith ,
more people will leave the Church than ever before.
There will be no reason to stay.
Heretics like this Priest are bent on the destruction of the God’s Church.
No need for repentance, no need to sin no more.
“…Heretics like this Priest are bent on the destruction of the God’s Church.
No need for repentance, no need to sin no more.”
And this is precisely why many have sought refuge in the Church supplying the requisite jurisdiction in receiving Catholic Sacraments, Ted B. Not going to the next door neighbor. Another reason why the ridiculous legalistic vitriol against the Society is entirely misplaced. But hey, Canon Law does provide for necessity. For the primary purpose of the Church is to save souls – in spite of those like +Quinn who may hold the keys, but do hold the Spirit. Kind of like what Our Lord said of the Pharisees.
If the standard for admittance to the sacramental life of the Church is the condition that an individual “sin no more” forever afterwards, will anyone be able to attend?
All of us, most likely will fail such a standard.
Ask yourself truthfully, how long has it been since your last sin?
You misunderstand.
JonJ– You misunderstand Christ’s words! What Christ means, is to MAKE A SINCERE EFFORT, to AVOID SIN, and LEAD A GOOD LIFE!! Some people are very IRRESPONSIBLE, and do not care to listen to Jesus! Just like if your Mom told you the same thing as a child– some kids just do not LISTEN!! And don’t care!! When a Mom– or the Church– is TOO LAZY, AND TOO IRRESPONSIBLE, TO CORRECT YOU— then, we end up with a horrible world, with lots of juvenile delinquents and criminals, that don’t care what they do!!
Tell me, Linda Marie, did you correct Kim Davis for her gluttony? Why did you fail to mention Kim Davis’ gluttony when cheerleading her stand against gay marriage. Aren’t you afraid that you might be seen as approving gluttony?
My point is, certain sins are not treated as others. In reality, with these particularly despised sins, people act out of revulsion and justify their behavior as devotion to God.
If you are talking about the SSPX – their own heretical teaching videos that state it is sinful to attend an OF Mass, and encouragement for people to commit a mortal sin of missing Mass rather than attend an OF Mass speaks for itself.
There are other Orders and Diocese Priests throughout the USA and the world who are in full communion with the Church that dedicate themselves to the EF (aka TLM, Latin) Mass. And are NOT followers of excommunicated Marcel Lefebvre.
PETE, you need to get off the notion that there is heresy in questioning the Novus Ordo Missae. What speaks for itself is that there has been no declaration of schism from the lawful authority – and, sorry, MIKE, I mean, PETE, Michael Voris has no jurisdiction to declare anything. Certainly not in a binding fashion. (Methinks he attempts to play Pope too much.)
That is why you must, if you’re going to claim to be a faithful son of the Church, yield to the reality that the Societies position on the Novus Ordo Missae is not new despite the sensationalizing/polarizing nonsense others are doing to up their credibility while blackballing common sense.
Let the Vatican do it’s job, friend. https://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/reformof…
This is a CATHOLIC website.
It is a Catholic website, Anonymous, which is why your anti-Catholic rhetoric that calls Catholics anything but what they are is truly out of place.
I don’t have any anti-Catholic rhetoric.
PETE, I agree with you.
I have caught them in so many lies it isn’t funny.
PETE Correct. Good posts. The truth saves souls. Some just like to pick n choose. Its all or nothing on matters of salvation and obtaining sanctifying grace.
Yes, indeed, Abeca, the truth saves souls. That is why you should encourage not picking and choosing between the truth about certain organizations vs the calumniating of them. For while you think you are doing good, you are sinning in spreading calumny and encouraging others to do the same by way of your own blindness.
Judge with right judgement.
Do you believe that not having a TLM to attend is a valid excuse for missing Sunday Mass?
Do you believe that a Saint is someone in Heaven?
The goal of the Church should not be to get warm bodies in the pews to take their money. The goal should be the Salvation of Souls.
And that means –
CCC: ” 1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place.
Contrition is sorrow of the soul
and detestation for the sin committed,
together with the resolution not to sin again.”
Continuing to have a sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another (civilly divorced and remarried) is adultery.
What does this Priest mean by “renewal” – turning it into a Protestant Church ?
Why be Catholic if people can do whatever they want.
This is not the Bishop Quinn that I remember back when he was Bishop of Sacramento. It makes me wonder if the NY Times did some strategic editing of his piece. But if they didn’t, Bishop Quinn’s prose is like that of many retired priests of his age. They lived, matured, and functioned in the 70s, 80s, and 90s back when debates about sexual things raged in both society and the Church. With old age, it seems that he’s now stuck in the past rather than looking forward in a spirit of evangelization.
Click the link and read the whole thing. It makes more sense than the edited version here.
Both when Cardinal Mahony became bishop of Los Angeles and Pope Francis became Bishop of Rome, I had ecstatic hopes that these men would move us past destructive internal disputes so that the Church could focus outward on evangelization. Mahony, of course, did no such thing. Pope Francis, regretfully, seems to be doing the same as Mahony. This is so frustrating and sad.
It is very sad that we hear so little from our high ranking Clergy on the exact things that are destroying society – SEXUAL IMMORALITY.
Adultery, Fornication, Homosexual Acts, Contraception, Pornography;
and also the murder of the innocent through Abortion.
Instead we hear their personal opinions on climate change, economics, politics, illegal immigration, etc. And half of that is baloney.
I agree 100% with you Pete and this failure I believe has led many to just flat leave the Church which also has over feminized our Lord Jesus which turns men off, when in fact his human side was really strong and manly, seldom if ever taught or mentioned in Mass. The very things you mentioned this secular society promotes as good 24 hours a day drumbeat with little or no challenge from our clergy. Is it no wonder that more Catholics knowingly voted for pro-abortion Obama. That large numbers of Catholics think same sex marriage is okay, that some think abortion is okay when they hear little or nothing to counter these evils from the very institution (Church) that should be doing so. These stats would have never occurred in the 1950s…
This is sad. It’s interesting how under Pope Francis, dissenters feel comfortable in airing their views.
Why is CalCatholic publishing this garbage? Bishop Quinn is one of the most radical bishops that the US has ever had. I am disgusted!
Linda,
I think you’re confusing Bishop Francis Quinn of Sacramento with Archbishop John Quinn of San Francisco. John Quinn was, in fact, always very liberal.
They BOTH were.
The difference is that Bishop Frank Quinn of Sacramento is also an incredibly humble man: when the Holy Father made him Bishop of Sacramento, he chose not to live in some gorgeous mansion, but in one of the basement guest rooms of the rectory.
When he retired, his people gave him an R.V. he used to minister to the American Indians throughout the southwest. Not exactly a lazy bum.
To Linda Barry and Steve Seitz– Both retired Bishop Francis Quinn, and retired Archbishop John Quinn– have shown themselves, lifelong, to sadly be liberal, radical, and deeply subversive to our Church!! Neither are good, practicing Catholics! Very poor Church leadership! And retired Cardinal Mahoney is one step worse– a TOTAL DISASTER!! I am so sorry for the terrible work that these bad Church leaders continue to do, in their elder years! These Churchmen desperately need corrections, for their misguided malpractice of the Faith! But also– I agree, they do need prayers for their health, too, in their elder years!
Our Blessed Lord spoke to St. Francis of Assisi and told him ‘Rebuild My Church.’ It seems someone else appeared Jorge and told him to ‘Destroy the Church’. Renew means to make fresh or to repair. By changing serious moral principles one does not rebuild, but destroys. Less people are attending Sunday Mass then when Pope Benedict was pontiff. Confusion, doubt and double speak are not signs of the divine. When many orthodox Catholics are boycotting the papal visit, it shows things are not going well.
So I think BIshop Quinn might take a cue from his similarly named Archbishop Emieritus Quinn of San Francisco, and from Pope Francis himself, and realize that the problem may not be with Vatican III, but the fact that th emost important aspects of Vatican II have not been implemented, especially in the areas of collegiality and the role of the laity in the Church. We have to inculcate those teachings into the life of the Church before we can begin to undertake a new Council.
Not that I disagree with Bishop Francis Quinn on celibacy and women, etc. I just think that Vatican II gave us a wealth of tools that we have only begun to appreciate.
YFC – you are correct in naming a BIG PROBLEM in our Church: some people are so nostalgic for the “good old days” (when priests wore cassocks and birettas, when sisters wore heavy habits even in the tropics, when lay people [like us] had no say in anything but were just told to “pray, pay, and obey”), they forget that the good old days never were.
They also neglect the possibilities we have TODAY. The Catholic Church must always grow & renew herself, or she’ll end us some tired old dusty thing in a museum.
Anon hate to tell you (actually I am glad to tell you) the young priests are wearing cassocks and birettas and sisters are wearing full habits. They are the only growing orders, the Vatican 2 orders are dead and empty. Vatican 2 has failed, deal with it, people like YFC 60 years later are still trying to con the Faithful that it has not been full implemented. Its has been tried and found to be a disaster. The only solution is complete and total schism with liberals you can have your divorce and gay marriage and all the other sins you fools demand. Yes it will tear the Church apart but at least it will be out in the open the pretending can stop, and within a few generations we on the traditionalist will heal the Church.
….but being shiny and new is not necessarily equal to still holding the Faith which was passed down by Christ. Rather what seems to be advocated is finding a new and improved pathway to allow for sin and offenses against God.
But then, that is not new.
Your description of “the good old days” is one of those mythical memes about the Catholic Church that the Internet has allowed to be repeated until some people claim they are true.
Indeed…martin Luther and Henry VIII created shiny new religions that people were willing to kill for. The idea of an Anglican or Lutheran risking even a meal for their faith is laughable these days and the only globes to die for their ‘religions are innocent aborted babies.
Hmm. That was supposed to be people not globes. My key bd. And I often don’t agree ;)
Anonymous– You do not understand! To follow Jesus, is both a PRIVILEGE– and a BIG RESPONSIBIITY!! Discipleship is a DISCIPLINE!! YES!! Pray, go to Mass, receive all the Sacraments, send your children to Catholic schools, for a fine education, as well as training in their Faith — and pay your tithes to support Christ’s holy Church– and tell Our Lord, you are HAPPY to have His Church, and HAPPY to obey and follow Him!! YES!! “Pray, pay, and obey!” How LUCKY we are! Christianity was totally destroyed, with millions killed, in Communist countries!!
One more thing, Anonymous! Catholics who managed to escaped horrible Communist regimes, and flee to the United States, were so HAPPY to also receive the Late Rites of the Church, with Confession and Holy Communion, on their deathbeds!! This is a VERY PRECIOUS EXPERIENCE!! You go talk to a suffering Cuban Catholic, tortured for his or her Faith, and see what they have to say!
When some Bishops, some Priests, and many Laity do not know the Faith accurately and completely, nothing can improve. Only errors will be propagated.
People can not evangelize what they do not know.
With few exceptions – Bishops & Priests have done a lousy job in actively and frequently encouraging people to know their Faith – by reading the Bible and “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” of 1997 (dark green cover in the USA).
Schism with the liberals is the only solution…let them have their gay whatever, abortion etc, man made climate hoax…we can keep the True Faith
Canisius, to be Catholic is to be orthodox. Even “liberals” (though I don’t know what you mean by that term) do not believe in abortions etc. Not all “True Faith” Catholics are “conservative”,( though I don’t know what your mean by that term). The Catholic Church is a big tent that holds people at all stages of their faith journey. We can only pray that most of us will be included in the “few” when heaven awaits us.
More modernist nonsense from Bob One, the Church is NOT a big tent, liberals and what I mean are people like you and YFC who want to reconcile gay marriage with Catholic doctrine. Liberals need to be removed from the Church and Pope Francis must be stopped.
He’s bringing shame and scandal in myriad ways. If only he would even be quiet for five minutes. The cardinals are simply going to have to get s grip and put some kind of restraint on what he says. All this adulation has gone to his head. At least we don’t have to endure hearing how humble he is anymore
Quinn ‘WRECKOVATED” his cathedral in Sacramento and as such is also a Novus Ordo modernist bishop, there was not a thing wrong with the cathedral and its high altar. These men had the time of their lives during the new SPRINGTIME of the Church after the Second Vatican Council, but he and the others are slowly dying out and the real SPRINGTIME is upon us with the return of the TLM to all of our altars.
I wonder why the Bishop didn’t bring in the Sodomy topic while he was at it.
Apparently he didn’t need to. He knew that people like Joe obsess about homosexuality as though it were a big deal for the Church.
YFC, do you accept this life style of tolerate it ? Try transporting a child molesting, convicted, same sex attraction, homosexual, sodomite Priest to prison who continues this behavior with men of course while in prison and see if maybe you’ll have the same obsession that you claim I have. Jesus did say, “go and sin no more”.
Hey WFC, how about Mo Rocca being picked for mass by The Dolan group ? Now who’s obsessing about the gay movement ? This is exactly why this topic needs attention.
Joe, in the past, he has supported homosexuality! Very sad!
Jorge Bergoglio “renewing” the church? More like destroying the church.
https://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/09/18/radical-homosexual-priest-appointed-to-vatican-says-gay-sex-can-express-jesus-self-gift/
Oh my how very true luvgabe, the Church is in total collaspe from Bergoglio we knew this was going to happen the day he stepped out onto the loggia in St. Peter’s square, I was in total shock,I knew right there and then he would complete the destruction started by The Second Vatican Council.
I’ll never forget my first impression janek. I’d never heard of him but when he crept out of the shadows of the logia I felt dread. I just knew something was terribly wrong. . He looked shifty as if he weren’t sure what his reception would be. I had no idea why but that’s what I saw. As for discussing California’s Bp ‘s Quinn I’ll raise you and give you Cd bernardin who a busy bee here in Cincinati and Chicago who would trump your two bishops any day :)
Dana, I felt the same dread the first time I saw him on the loggia after his “election” to the papacy. His expression was one of almost unreadable “observation” of the crowd below. Made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. *Shudder*
That was my reaction to Benedict XVI. I was so happy when he was elected. Then there was this weird look on his face when he came out. I did not let it affect how I believed and obeyed his teaching.
I think it is probably a really weird moment for a person to become the Pope. Maybe there is a grace of God which says “This is it. No turning back.” Remember both Ratzinger and Begoglio had turned in their resignations. Maybe the devil enters our hearts and tries to instill distrust of the Pope.
This retired priest is clearly out of touch if he thinks it’s just priestly celibacy, women priests, and divorce & remarriage that is tearing today’s Church apart. How about unclear leadership from the top, and spineless bishops afraid to speak out when Church teachings are violated?
If our bishops are thinking like this, I now understand why the church is moving away from her moorings in Scripture and Tradition in Jesus Christ, to accommodate the world. The Holy See needs to take more care before ordaining men to the episcopacy rather than just to accept what a local bishop or conference of bishops says about a particular priest proposed for the episcopacy. It seems now that those priests who agree with what the secular press reports from Pope Francis and the Vatican, are the ones who are chosen to lead us. It will be worse before it gets better.
…bishops have been thinking like this for decades, Father, and acting to install their views accordingly. It’s just getting more press now. And with the shine off the apple of “Vatican II requires it”, more folks are understanding that this is change agency, not Catholic Faith. (The old syllabus of errors was written up for good reason.)
In that sense, we should thank Pope Francis for giving the green light to the big reveal. After all, it is easier to recognize evil that is out there for all to see instead of that which is hidden away. And yet, the stacking of the upcoming Synod by the man in charge seems to be revealing that which many Catholics never believed possible.
It will be worse before it gets better. But with the…
….pus drawn out and the corrupt flesh pared away from the bad, it will heal. Although the process will be painful.
Thank you for acknowledging what you see.
Ann Malley, this is a serious Catholic website.
Indeed this is a serious Catholic website which is why you should begin to seriously address your obvious inability to judge with right judgement. You should be thanking Fr. Perozich for speaking clearly.
Would that others like him had spoken clearly long ago. But hey, God works in His time. So while you lament about what constitutes seriousness, you seriously neglect your own lack of understanding. Crisis, however, has a way of waking up the sleepy. And that is precisely what is going on now. May He be praised!
“You should be thanking Fr. Perozich for speaking clearly.”
Excellent post Ann Malley! I agree! Little by little in the measure that our faithful priests are able to be clearly shown to see and withstand the Goliath that they are up against. Like David they will be victorious in Christ. There is a great spiritual battle but the gates of hell will never prevail. God bless Fr. Perozich!
Fr. Richard, you reminded me of Dante and his surprise at finding “priests, cardinals and popes” in his journey through hell. See my post below.
Well, priestly celibacy is discipline not doctrine. That can change.
While I may not agree with Bishop Quinn, thankfully we have a God whose justice is exemplified in compassionate love. In the end, it is that love upon wish we depend for none of us is free of transgressions. I pray that in time we all find ourselves with the saints in the glory of Our Lord, in the company of those who have been the most evil in this world, for Jesus came that not one be lost, that we all come to share everlasting life. Not as man sees does God see.
That being said, I pray that our shepherds (bishops, priests, and even deacons) through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have the Wisdom, Courage, and Fortitude to guide the flock in keeping with God’s Divine Will. We are in a period of grave spiritual warfare against the…
…against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Amen I met a woman recently who’s uncle had been a young preVatican II priest and had left the Church in much bitterness for he felt the Church’s teaching had been undermined and refused to say the ‘new Mass’. It’s the first I’ve heard from anyone even indirectly as to why they left the Church in such huge numbers. Think of it! Are we facing a similar loss of vocations just starting to bloom again? Pray for the Church for protection against evil that manifests itself within her very walls.
So many comments are little more than personal attacks against Bishop Quinn, whose biggest faux pas seems to be having become old. Failing to die when others want you to is not a sin. Why not avoid practicing ageism and small-mindedness, and instead debate the merits, or lack thereof, of his ideas? To do so would make the commentor appear still to have their own wits about them, whether or not in fact they do. It would also be a bit more seemly, and dare I say, Christian?
Ageism, Maryanne. Really?
If anything, expressing outrage about +Quinn’s preposterous positions is a sign that he’s being held accountable for the ridiculousness and anti-Catholic attitude he seems to have. That is a compliment as far as “ageism” goes. That is he’s not being given a pass just because he’s old.
The same holds true for not giving women a pass just because they’re women.
Time for the tone police to cease and desist.
Read the comments again, Ann; without question his thoughts were being discredited because of his age. Clearly this is ageism.
Discredit statements based on reason, fact, fundamentals of faith, or argue against them from the point of view of your own personal opinions and values, but not on the age of the speaker, young or old, nor on his or her gender, nor on anything other than the merit of the concepts being put forth.
+Quinn is a decided product of his age – that is his era, Maryann. Like it or not, the aging hippie is a stigma that will only live on as aging clerics cling to a Woodstock mentality, spouting positions that are better left behind in the past or, personally, once a body passes age 21. Ideally, and especially for a cleric, that shift to understanding why there are rules/regs comes sooner. (Much like young parents quickly come to respect why their own mom and dad had house rules. And its not to be authoritarian or a meanie tot ;^)
Attributing +Quinn’s positions to his being his dotage seems more of a tongue-in-cheek benefit of the doubt. But really. In many ways, the days of looking to one’s elders for stability and truth is blown…
…out of the water as even the priests on the forum can look at what is being said and give a cyber-shudder.
I see much of the reaction on this string of comments to be a reaction to that sad shifting of roles, wherein the “old” seemingly cannot be trusted to teach the young.
Maryanne Leonard, It is clear that the thought of being “old” bothers you more than the corrupting of souls. You are also the same poster who wanted dialogue in order to pre canonize a priest who openly supports same sex marriage. You found it necessary in many posts to paint a picture of how attractive you are. Red flag. Why did you do that Maryanne if we should only go on the merits of what someone writes? Maryanne, If the stories that you have posted about your life are true then you should and would be the FIRST to address the corruption without your silly distraction about ageism.
I am reminded of Dante’s “The Inferno” when he asks,
“Master”…what people can these be?
And all those tonsured ones there on our left–
is it possible they all were of the clergy? (Canto VII, 37-39)
These tonsured wraiths of greed were priests indeed,
and popes and cardinals, for it is in these
the weed of avarice sows its rankest seed. Canto VII, 46-48)
We are all sinners, but the clergy will be judged at a higher standard because of their leadership role. God help the Bishop Quinns among us.
I think many people mistake the concept of “Love,” for being a big, personal, romantic emotion. Christian Love is of God, and God’s Love is not like romantic, personal, human emotions! God is impersonal, universal, and PURE!! God’s Love is unique, and is of God, and not of a human being. God’s Love sometimes comes to human beings, who are ready to receive Him. To be truly ready to receive Divine Love, one must remain only in Christ, free of all else! One must work hard, to be purified as much as possible, from all egoism, “me-ism,” attachments, misconceptions and ignorance, and sin. That is the true vocation of all clergy and nuns— which so many have missed, in today’s world!
Love of neighbor is wanting everyone to get to Heaven. This is true love.
Spiritual Works of Mercy include: Admonishing sinners, Instructing the uniformed, Counselling the doubtful.
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. “
“…I think many people mistake the concept of “Love,” for being a big, personal, romantic emotion.”
Thou has said it, Linda Maria! Would that we all could get back to the reality that love is an act of the will. Wanting that which is truly good for oneself and one’s neighbor.
God bless!
I will add something to my above post. When one is truly in Christ, and not of the world, and not of one’s misguided self— that person who may be (hopefully!) receiving God’s Divine Love, also should be receiving God’s direction, to co-operate with Him, to help Him convert and help the poor, broken, fallen world! Just like St. Francis of Assisi, who was told to “rebuild My house,” by the Lord! Those who are not truly with Christ, doing His true work in the world, only delude themselves, doing whatever they want, and calling it “Christ’s work.” Lots of misguided clergy and nuns today, have missed their true vocations!
I will say one final thing. Our Western Civilization has for centuries been very heavily egoistic, materialistic, and deluded completely, mired in the world, the flesh, the devil, and “me-ism!” Christ was a Middle Eastern Jew, and He founded Christianity, in a land very foreign, to both Rome (who later adopted His religion) and Europe, as well as the rest of the world. We all are truly His adopted children– and must learn His ways! His ways are not of this world, but of Heaven! God is very subtle, and refined! He is best heard, in quiet prayer and meditation– where He may sometimes “speak” to us, in soft whispers!!
I will continue, with my last post, above. So, how are all of our Church leaders truly doing, in their daily practice of prayer, recollection, meditation, etc.?? How are they all doing, in taking the time, to best discern what God is saying to them? How does God want to lead His Church? What is God truly saying to our Church leaders, about the state of His Church?? What does GOD want– not mankind?? I think many Church leaders, of today— never were true believers, and never truly bothered to practice their Faith!! They are IMPOSTERS!!
Absolution is valid as long as the priest has prayed the proper prayer of absolution and as long as a penitent has not intentionally concealed a mortal sin.
Be very wary of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
There is a person here who has a very polluted religion filled with progressiveness and modernism, Protestantism and new age thinking who tries to pass themselves off as a traditional Catholic.
No that is not quite correct. For absolution to be valid, faculties must be given by the local Ordinary. Therefore, in the normal course of things, SSPX absolutions are not valid. Thankfully, our Pope Francis has provided faculties himself during the Year of Mercy for SSPX priests to validly absolve penitents.
I keep reading people saying that Pope Francis gave faculties to SSPX priests. That is NOT what Pope Francis said. Pope Francis gave the grace to the penitents. Perhaps this is a picky point and perhaps the situation will be further elaborated on, but as of right now and after Dec 8-SSPX do not have faculties.
How did this guy ever become a bishop? Am I to believe he really made it all the way through seminary with just a 3rd-grade level understanding of the Faith?
I wonder if this website ever thinks about its brand. It’s Catholicity is really being sullied by some of the schismatic posters. Enforcing the libelous language etiquette rule would help.
Anon, to paraphrase Yoda: Calumny is strong with this one.
One would think that if one wanted to make the faith enticing to others, there wouldn’t be so much bitterness, hostility, and calumny expressed.
….one doesn’t “make” the Faith enticing, Anonymous. THAT is branding. And truth is truth, not something to be painted up and sold.
….it is your attitude of libel that is at odds with reality, Anonymous. +Quinn, by his very statements, shows himself to be out of touch with or opposed to Catholic Faith/Morals. Your endorsement of such views demonstrates your schism from logic (The Logos), that of the requisite necessity of the Catholic Church to promote that which is Catholic. (A house divided against itself does not stand. Remember?)
But then it is likely because you think of the Church as a brand that must be adjusted to meet market demand in order to maintain its revenue stream. Unfortunately, it would seem many charged with the task of teaching God’s truth have jumped ship as they say to take on your more corporate mindset. But methinks the end game is not…
… to grow the brand, but rather to wrest hold of the board so a motion to sell off the company in parts (for higher profits, of course) will be approved.
My apologies if that is too serious for you, Anonymous, or if the “tone” is such that an instant fanning and restorative tonic will be required.
Keep a bottle of sal volatile and a swooning couch ready for our anonymouses, Ann. And the brand ! (Madison Ave meets Catholicland )
It would appear the pope is changing the brand pretty significantly on his own…who knew old Boring George could be so vituperous! https://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will091915.php3
What is wrong with people? Is everyone going nuts? I used to enjoy his witty repartee but he’s gone too far…why doesn’t he write a hit piece on Obama?
Also, in the same vein, he accuses the Church of wanting to go back to the Medieval age which is so ironic because that is what the muslims are doing…trying to bomb us all back to the 8th century. You can be sure that whiny, cowardly journos aren’t about to write scurrilous hit pieces on their peaceful friends that only want the rest of us dead and our culture obliterated. This pope may have the understanding of a gnat but he is speaking for The One True Church and Will has morphed into Gary Wills. God help him.
…the talking points are those aimed at cultivated, non-thinkers, Dana. The shallow end of the gene pool to quote Disney. (The end that is mandated to remain shallow for the “greater good” as the thinking heads sell out everyone and his brother, except themselves of course.) But with society as dumbed down as it is, this “holy” sentiment rings true to the people.
I feel like a Cordon Bleu chef endlessly looping the Taco Bell drive thru with a van load of those convinced that mass produced bean burritos are the food of the gods….let alone “real” Mexican food.
Wow! Are you conceited or what?
God’s gift to the world.
Wow! Just wow!
Well, I made the point in a recent post that the progressives were running wild in Northern California and here’s old man Quinn proving himself to be a white washed tomb publicly. Those who had to suffer his misrule in Sacramento now know that it wasn’t merely incompetence but malice that converted that diocese to a toxic waste dump.