The following comes from a May 16 Catholic News Agency article by Mary Rezac:
Nearly 1,000 United States priests made their own a petition to the fathers of the upcoming Synod, originally made public and signed by nearly 500 English priests.
The statement’s wording is exactly that of the English version, and urges the fathers of the upcoming Ordinary Synod on the Family to issue a “clear and firm” proclamation of Church teaching on marriage and sexuality.
An incorrectly translated midterm document as well as skewed media coverage of last year’s preliminary Synod led to confusion among many Catholics about the purpose and practical effects of a Synod. The purpose of this signed statement is to clarify where the Church stands in regards to its teachings on marriage and family, said J.D. Flynn, director of communications for the Diocese of Lincoln.
Bishop Kagan of Bismark, N.D., said he thought the secular media was trying to understand the synod from the point of view of a political process, rather than as a dialogue amongst bishops who are in union under the same Pope.
A look at Church history and the various synods and councils that have taken place will show that there has often been differences of personal opinion and perspective among the faithful during discussions, but this does not mean that everything everyone says will then be codified into official Church teaching, Bishop Kagan explained.
“If people in general want a good idea of how the synod works, or how a council works, read the section (in Acts of the Apostles) where Paul and Barnabas come to Jerusalem and meet with the apostles to clarify whether Gentile converts needing to be circumcised in order to be true Christians,” Bishop Kagan said. “That’s a very good analogy to keep in mind.”
“The credo statement certainly isn’t new, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to any Catholic,” he said. “I see it as an expression of my fraternal support for my brother bishops and for the Holy Father, and it’s a great teaching moment for the whole church.”
I signed.
Thank you for signing it, Fr. Perozich.
Thank you, Father!
God bless you, Father Perozich!
God bless them!
According to this website,
https://cara.georgetown.edu/CARAServices/requestedchurchstats.html
the number of Catholic priests in the USA is 38,275.
So less than 1 in 38 signed…..not too impressive. By my own experience, if you told me only one in 30 American priests was truly faithful to the Church, it would match my experience. I hope I am wrong….but I don’t think so. I do live in the former realm of Cardinal Mahony so my view could be skewed by his disastrous effects on the priesthood here.
The 2015 Synod will only be a success if all Diocese Bishops are required to encourage all the Literate in their own Diocese to read a Catholic Bible, and the Doctrine of the Faith (“Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” 1997, dark green cover in the USA).
There would have been no need for a Synod of the Family if almost ALL Bishops and almost ALL Priests encouraged all the Literate to read the two most important books in the Catholic Faith – the Bible and CCC at home on a regular basis.
Young men should beware of Seminaries that do not require the ‘CCC’ as a required student text.
The CCC contains the entire Doctrine of the Faith.
And Priests can not teach or preach what they do not know.
In addition it would be most appropriate if all Diocese Seminaries required the teaching of both the OF and EF Masses to serve all the People of God.
Dottie, please tell us which seminaries do not use the Bible as a basic text and which do not use the CCC as a basic text. It is not helpful to hint that there are some that don’t without listing them. If you look at the curriculum required of every seminary in the U.S., approved by Rome, you will see that there are lots of required courses in theology, not just one or two. Would you not agree that our discussion should rise above the level of talk radio?
Bob One, are you saying that young men should NOT check all seminaries of interest to them to insure that both Sacred Scripture and the CCC are both used as required texts ? ? ? ? ?
That is all Dottie said. To check seminaries out before signing up.
BobOne, why do you hate the Doctrine of the Faith (CCC) so much ?
IF you are right BobOne and all seminaries use the Bible AND the CCC then a lot of Priests who do not fully and accurately teach the Faith will probably end up in Hell. They will have no excuse for not teaching the Faith.
Andrew, you don’t need to check out the seminaries. They are all required to teach a course of studies dictated from Rome. They all do. Of course, the teacher of those courses may make a difference, but… How could you possibly get through several years of seminary without several courses in theology? What do you think they teach there? How/what makes you think I have the Doctrine of the Faith (CCC)? I refer to it on a regular basis. It states what the Catholic Church teaches. As people grow in the faith they come closer and closer to believing it all, but it is a journey of faith, isn’t it?
BobOne: If all or most seminaries use both the Bible and CCC – then there are a lot of Bishops and Priests going to hell for not doing their job of teaching – completely and accurately.
What is wrong with most Bishops and most Priests ?
Most Priests do not pass this on to the Laity as required – – – –
CCC: ” 133 The Church forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful. . . to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures.
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine,
enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
The Holy Father just appointed the extremely liberal, immoral, British Dominican priest, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, as a consultor, for the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace. This is a HORROR! Fr. Radcliffe, a former head of the worldwide Dominican Order– travels the world, preaching the glories of gay love, sex and “marriage,” to all! I think the Church needs to find a way, to get rid of Pope Francis, and all his appointments, and all his programs– including, the Synod on the Family– and start over! None of these current Church “leaders,” working together with Pope Francis—- are dedicated to Christ, nor working for Him!! We are headed for complete DISASTER, I’m afraid!!
To quote St Pope a John Paul II, “Be not afraid!” The Church has had popes much worst and survived. My feeling is the Pope Francis is naive and too trusting, but is well founded in the faith.
To put things in context read about one of the worst (if not the worst) popes in history: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Alexander_VI
Whoever this “Anonymous” may be– I read your link, and appreciated it! Pope Alexander VI, the immoral Pope of the wealthy ruling Borgia family of Italy (and Spain)– is a big shock, isn’t he?? Mistresses, (most of them married, so he committed adultery!)– and all of this Pope’s famed illegitimate children, whom he publicly acknowledged, and bestowed his affections (and his family’s wealth!) on!!!! All sorts of worldly glamor and sin– while many famous monks, nuns, and holy saints of this same era, were living truly holy lives!! In England, during this Pope’s reign– King Henry VIII of England, and his Chancellor (second-in-command) St. Thomas More, were young. Oh, what a Pope to serve, in Rome!! What must have been their thoughts, individually??
It’s a wonder– but the Catholic Faith has survived intact, for twenty centuries, as best we can determine, historically! Also, the Bible has survived intact, too! There has been a great deal of respect for the Holy Bible, the Church, and Holy Mass and Sacraments— even among those in high posts, who have committed grave mortal sins! It is a well-known fact, that historically, the Church has had to endure many of the clergy (including bishops, cardinals, and Popes) who were non-believers, ordained and appointed (also, bribed!) by royalty,— with nepotism, too!— for political reasons. But still– everyone knew the difference between right and wrong, sinner and holy monk or nun!!
In this day of relativism throughout society and in all modes of entertainment – we each are RESPONSIBLE to read the Bible and CCC.
There is NO excuse for ignorance among the literate.
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. “
DAVID V I completely agree. ☺
I will add one more interesting thing, to my above posts. The immoral Pope Alexander VI began his reign in 1492– the same year that Columbus discovered America! What did Columbus, his crew, and Columbus’ financial supporters— King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella– all think of this immoral Pope?? How funny! Lots of interesting history!!
I don’t know what Pope Francis is thinking. We must not assume anything.
However he is responsible for his own actions.
He personally invited heretics Kasper and Danneels to speak heresy at the 2014 Synod.
He has appointed heretic Donald Weurl as the only American on the Congregation for Bishops – to make recommendations for new Bishops which has promoted Blasé Cupich, Robert McElroy, and others of questionable actions and belief regarding Doctrine of the Faith, etc.
We must hold fast to the knowledge that as human beings – no Pope is without sin, going all the way back to St. Peter.
We must never follow any Pope or Bishop or Priest in anything regarding Faith and Morals that is sinful.
Many Priests have been poorly formed in bad seminaries.
How do we KNOW the TRUTH ? – by reading Sacred Scripture and the CCC
Anon #2, I know that your comments are made in good faith, but I disagree with your, and other folks, comments about knowing the truth simply by reading Scripture and the CCC. Reading them simply means that you have read them. Many Christians attend weekly classes to study only parts of the Bible, to ask what it means in their lives, how they can apply each teaching, and how it brings them to a closer relationship with God. Most Catholics don’t do that. A simple illustration:”…but in my house we will serve the Lord.” I once attended a weekend men’s retreat based on that one partial sentence. What does that mean? How will I know if I am fulfilling that promise? How do I bring the rest of the family along? What are best practices? How does that lead me to better teach my children?
Bob One, reading in ENTIRETY (from cover to cover) both the Bible and CCC at home – means they will KNOW the TRUTH.
IF they choose to ignore the Bible and Doctrine of the Faith in their lives – that is their sin.
Attending occasional classes at a parish is better than nothing, but usually does not allow for continuity.
Sounds like the class you attended was a waste of time if they could not help you answer your own silly questions. Perhaps you should take the time to read the Bible and CCC in entirety.
If you don’t know by now what to teach your children, you are in danger of losing your Soul and perhaps the Souls of your children.
Get off the internet and start spending your time learning the Faith – through reading the Bible and CCC.
God bless Fr. Perozich and all the other priests for signing. The world already has enough broken homes and children without mothers and fathers. Let us not add to it.
Mac, let’s read the whole verse: Joshua 24:15 If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. There, we have read it, but we have not studied it, we have not asked what you call stupid questions, to see what it really means to serve the Lord and how studying this verse will help us grow closer to the Lord our God. Its like reading a school text book on U.S. History. You can read it, but then you have to study it. That is why there are questions at the end of the chapter, lectures in class and special projects. Reading is only the beginning.
This is the basic info on what seminaries are to do to form Priests.
https://www.usccb.org/upload/program-priestly-formation-fifth-edition.pdf