A member of the Vatican’s International Theological Commission has been asked to resign from his position as a consultant to the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine, following the publication of a letter written to Pope Francis asking the Pope to correct the “chronic confusion” of his pontificate, which he says “fosters within the faithful a growing unease.”
Father Thomas Weinandy, OFM, Cap., who previously served as Executive Director of the USCCB’s Secretariat for Doctrine, sent the five-page letter to Pope Francis July 31, the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, James Rogers, Chief Communications Officer of the USCCB, said that “after speaking with the General Secretary of the Conference today, Father Thomas Weinandy, OFM, Cap., has resigned, effective immediately, from his position as consultant to the USCCB Committee on Doctrine. The work of the Committee is done in support of, and in affective collegiality with, the Holy Father and the Church in the United States. Our prayers go with Father Weinandy as his service to the Committee comes to a close.”
Weinandy’s letter, published by Crux on Wednesday, addressed five points. Weinandy told the Pope that his pontificate had fostered confusion, diminished the importance of doctrine in the Church’s life, appointed bishops who teach and act in harmful ways, fostered a culture of fear among bishops, and caused faithful Catholics to lose confidence in the papacy.
Father Thomas Petri, OP, academic dean of the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, told CNA that Weinandy “is a theologian of the highest caliber,” and that the “letter to His Holiness is quite obviously written with a deep filial piety and loyalty to both our Holy Father Pope Francis and to the Church.”
Chad Pecknold, professor of theology at the Catholic University of America, agreed. Weinandy “is arguably the most distinguished Franciscan theologian working in the English language today,” Pecknold told CNA. “He is a theologian centered in the Church, and not at all at her outermost fringe. So his letter carries the weight of the center.”
“Rather than presume to correct, Father Weinandy describes the current situation, and informs the Holy Father that what seems to many like ‘intentionally ambiguous’ teaching has led to confusion, leading some of his own advisors to publicly advance error….There is something admirable about the impassioned plea of a son of St. Francis writing to Pope Francis, in truth and love, as a son to a father. His love for the pope is evident throughout his appeal.”
While Pecknold called Weinandy’s letter “deferential,” he told CNA “it is certainly reasonable to ask whether it should have been published in the media.”
Weinandy told Crux that he published the letter because it “expresses the concerns of many more people than just me, ordinary people who’ve come to me with their questions and apprehensions,” adding: “I wanted them to know that I listened.”
Father Charles L. Sammons, OFM Cap, told CNA that he lived with Weinandy in 2015. “I experienced Fr. Thomas as an uncomplicated and earnest person who simply loved the Lord and his Church, and didn’t seem to have many concerns apart from that. I remarked to myself more than once that this seemed like a blessed way to live,” Sammons told CNA.
Sammons said that time with Weinandy “had been given to me as a grace of good example, for my own religious life as a Capuchin friar.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
Fr.Weinandy’s note of explanation:
At the end of this past May I was in Rome to attend a meeting of the International Theological Commission, of which I am a member. I stayed at Domus Sanctae Marthae. Since I arrived early, I spent most of the Sunday afternoon prior to the meeting on Monday in Saint Peter’s praying in the Eucharistic Chapel. I was praying about the present state of the Church and the anxieties I had about the present Pontificate. I was beseeching Jesus and Mary, St. Peter and all of the saintly popes who are buried there to do something to rectify the confusion and turmoil within the Church today, a chaos and an uncertainty that I felt Pope Francis had himself caused. I was also pondering whether or not I should write and publish something expressing my concerns and anxiety. On the following Wednesday afternoon, at the conclusion of my meeting, I went again to St. Peter’s and prayed in the same manner. That night I could not get to sleep, which is very unusual for me. It was due to all that was on my mind pertaining to the Church and Pope Francis. At 1:15 AM I got up and went outside for short time. When I went back to my room, I said to the Lord: “If you want me to write something, you have to give me a clear sign. This is what the sign must be. Tomorrow morning I am going to Saint Mary Major’s to pray and then I am going to Saint John Lateran. After that I am coming back to Saint Peter’s to have lunch with a seminary friend of mine. During that interval, I must meet someone that I know but have not seen in a very long time and would never expect to see in Rome at this time. That person cannot be from the United States, Canada or Great Britain. Moreover, that person has to say to me in the course of our conversation, ‘Keep up the good writing’.”
The next morning I did all of the above and by the time I met my seminarian friend for lunch what I had asked the Lord the following night was no longer in the forefront of my mind. However, towards the end of the meal an archbishop appeared between two parked cars right in front of our table (we were sitting outside). I had not seen him for over twenty years, long before he became an archbishop. We recognized one another immediately. What made his appearance even more unusual was that because of his recent personal circumstances I would never have expected to see him in Rome or anywhere else, other than in his own archdiocese. (He was from none of the above mentioned countries.) We spoke about his coming to Rome and caught up on what we were doing. I then introduced him to my seminarian friend. He said to my friend that we had met a long time ago and that he had, at that time, just finished reading my book on the immutability of God and the Incarnation. He told my friend that it was an excellent book, that it helped him sort out the issue, and that my friend should read the book. Then he turned to me and said: “Keep up the good writing.”
In the light of Jesus fulfilling my demanding “sign,” I want to make two comments. First, I decided to write Pope Francis a letter, which I intended then to publish unless he adequately addressed the issues I raised. Almost two months after having received my letter, I did receive an acknowledgement from Vatican Secretariat of State informing me that the letter had been received. This was simply an acknowledgement and not a response to my concerns. Second, I find it significant that not only did the Lord fulfill my demand for a sign, but also did so in, what I believe, a very significant manner. He accomplished it through an archbishop. By utilizing an archbishop, I believe, that Jesus’ fulfillment of my request took on an apostolic mandate.
To read the full text of Father Weinandy’s letter to Pope Francis, click here.
Once again, the proponents of “tolerance” and “inclusion” and “dialogue” show themselves to be the worst practicioners of each as well as insincere. Truth is, Fr. Weinandy’s letter made the likes of Bishop McElroy and Cardinal Cupich very uncomfortable and resentful, so they wanted Weinandy out of everything and anything at the USCCB and they made the calls to get it done quickly to send a chilling message. Get it? Dissident shepherds of the flock are out to destroy the Church, and it goes all the way to the top. God bless Fr. Weinandy for his fortitude and integrity and prudence.
Covfete .. How do you know what calls anyone made? Fr. Weinandy was not fired. He quit, undoubtedly over what he saw as a matter of principle.
If you bother to read a variety of news sources, Fr. Weinandy was forced to resign: he was fired.
You think some lay desk bureaucrat at the USCCB decided on his own to tell Fr. Weinandy that he had to resign? The biggest power brokers in the USCCB called each other and agreed that he had to go. I believe he’s the sort that Bishop McElroy has arrogantly referred to as a cancer in the Church while extolling Fr. James Martin as a faithful and pastoral priest.
He was forced to resign. Please don’t play at semantics here.
What makes them dissident? Especially if it goes to the top. That does not make sense. If you are agreeing with the top, you are not a dissident.
The top is accountable to heavenly truths from which they are dissenting.
What heavenly truths is he dissenting from?
Jesus-Christ said to spread his message. If you enter a home and they don’t want to hear the message, turn your back and leave quietly.
This guy, Pope whatever that gave me great contempt for the Church, is asking us to accept into our home the people who are killing us, want to eradicate us, want to subjugate us, want to impose their deity over Jesus-Christ, or who agree with the killing of our members, these same people who will sit by quietly while their neighbours attempt to destroy us. (See all the countries where this is happening).
Worse, this ”pope” is in league with their blood-lust deity, and has abandoned his persecuted flock.
My deity is into love and kindness but not to the point of suicide nor assisting in…
Thank you, Anonymous, for telling us why your are upset. I am sorry that your comment got cut off at the word limit. I would like to know what more you had to say.
I sympathize with you. The Church is Jesus Christ. You should not let any human come between you and the Church.
Somebody talk to whoever writes your headlines. Fr. Weinandy wasn’t fired, he resigned.
Thank you for your comment, and sorry for the confusion. Father Weinandy was asked to resign by the USCCB, effectively firing him. Here is the link (3rd paragraph). This story will be updated.
Fr. Weinandy was forced to resign, plain and simple. What don’t you get C&H ???
“Covfefe” You are correct, although the firing is quite predictable. The USCCB is an arm of the totalitarian wing of the Church, actually almost the entire administration of the Church. Virtually any critic of Francis, or of his Zombie-Liberal Minions, will be fired or, if the political optics would seem disadvantageous, publicly rebuked (think Cardinal Sarah). Nope, no one will be spared the rod because the try believers at the Vatican are building a NewChurch and even good faith opposition will be seen as treason. Think about, say, Lenin and Trotsky in their efforts to eliminate the Royal Tsarist Family as well as the Russian middle and professional classes. All must be killed or retrained, like Mao for another. No real…
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is an assembly of the hierarchy of the United States and the US Virgin Islands. It includes 17 Cardinals and around 450 active and retired bishops.
YES.
Forgot to mention ALL into major dollars. This is not the way of Jesus-Christ.
(Part Deux) ” . . . difference here.
Francis and the Vatican have simply thrown Jesus under the bus. What counts is popularity, notwithstanding that it is gained by following the whims of the crowd (and its appetites), however inconsistent with Catholic teaching. However, didn’t Christ commission the Apostles to go to the world, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:” (Matt. 28:20). Christ did not say to teach the world about all things you like, or that you think are important. Sadly, the Pope ignores the Holy Ghost.
What has happened to the Church of “dialogue?” Where has it gone?
The dialogue goes like this now, “Uts our way or the highway.”
Perhaps Father Weinandy should have worked through the chain of command at the Vatican rather than go directly to the top – the Pope! Other theologians have been criticized by the bishops and the Vatican (Hans Kung comes to mind). Remember also, Our Lord and Savior sowed confusion and discontent during his earthly ministry A lot of the religious and political leaders were not too happy with Him for doing so.
Might disagree with you about the Chain of Command comment. Fr. Weinandy is an appointed member of the Vatican Int’l Theological Commission. As such, it could be argued that his position is not directly related to the authority of the U.S. Bishops. He was simply a consultant to the US Bishops in his capacity as a member of that commission. They are now clearly uncomfortable with the arrangement, and asked Fr. Weinandy to step down.
In any event, I do find US Bishops’ action rather troubling, especially given the constant call to dialogue and understanding of a pluralistic church and world, i.e. many bishops’ recent and vociferous defense of Fr. James Martin, SJ and his contention that we as a church must embrace the “special…
I think what he said about the bishops would warrant his resignation.
“The work of the committee is done in support of, and in affective collegiality with, the Holy Father and the church in the United States. “
Such a typical response from a mindless liberal. Our Divine Savior NEVER sowed confusion or lies, He spoke the Truth because He is the Truth.
Harold, what is the point of going through the chain of command? The problem lies not with the secantes but with the master. As for Jesus, He sowed the truth and that is what bothered so many. Francis? In my opinion and the opinion of countless authentic faithful Catholics, sows his personal and many times erroneous opinions as truth; he maligns certain Catholics; he introduces and encourages apostasy by elevating a destroyer of the church in the person of Luther who at least one saint has seen in hell; he spouts comments which confuse such as stating “who am I to judge” in the face of sin; he encourages desecration if the Blessed Sacrament practically inviting a non-Catholic to receive Holy Communion. I can go on sand on but I think I’ve…
I admit to Confusion approaching the level of Chronic, given the difference in the Non-Acceptance of this apparently Wise and Well Intentioned effort to Bridge gaps of understanding & communication between People of Good Will…
And the shrill, divisive and strident tone of those denouncing an “‘ecumenism of hate’” rooted in political alliances, further contributing to the polarization of both the Church and the country.”
“They certainly had their finger on something,” said McElroy, while adding a few qualifiers… “There is a cancer in the Church,” in his assessment
This certainly seems to break down on the Pander or Perish lines of adherence to the GILBERT Gaystapo ‘gospel’.
I read this article and I read the letter to the Holy Father. I found the letter to be challenging but reasonable. It did not cast aspersions on the Pope’s intentions, merely reflected on how his actions were being read by the world. My only complaint is why he put this letter into the public sphere. It didn’t belong there, it belonged between these two holy men. Putting it into the public sphere causes scandal for the faithful, as is witnessed by articles such as this one.
And Fr. James Martin doesn’t cause scandal?
And neither do ‘Anonymous’ radical homosex Trolls trashing this board and Church Teaching cause ‘scandal’…
Because, like, they are ‘Anonymous’; and thus can get away with posting whatever they want (Unlike Father Weinandy), without scrutiny of motive or funding for their Trolling.
Why are you changing the subject? This article, and my comments, have ZERO to do with Fr. James Martin, and don’t make ad hominem attacks and false statements that relate in any way to Michael McDermott’s commentary.
God bless this faithful son of Francis Assisi!
after being rehabbed at the hans kung institute for ecclesiology, fr weinandy will be allowed to function as a lutheran minister.
The article says he resigned.
The key point here is, as many of us have said for years, this pontiff sows confusion and appears to be intentionally ambiguous about the most established fundamental tenets of the Catholic Faith.
To even speak that fundamental truth now has become “extreme.”
What are you confused about?
Of course. A baited question only intended to personalize, isolate, and negativize someone (“What are ‘you’ confused about?”):
That riposte that someone thought was so awfully clever epitomizes the state of discord and bad faith today.
The topic here is Fr. Weinandy speaking of “intentionally ambiguous teaching leading to confusion.”
And some Francis-Folk will pretend it doesnt exist. Look around you.
It was a sincere question.
Please inform us what you are confused about.
Maybe we can help.
“Maybe We can help”
We Who?
More ‘Anonymous Trolls’?
Sign your own name, before you make any offers
We-the people who read the website.
I am assuming that you are not confused, then.
Asking the Church to make its teaching clear results in punishment. There must be a passage somewhere in the Bible where Jesus told his disciples that the Gospel should be hidden under a bushel basket. That’s got to be it.
Yes, it’s just before the passage where Jesus says, “Let your yes mean perhaps, perhaps not because there are only shades of gray; and let your no mean well maybe sometimes, if your conscience feels at ease and if your priest offers you pastoral accompaniment.”
Later Jesus said, “I have come to abolish the law and replace it with relativism.”
And don’t forget the passage that reads, “Whatever you feel is the way the truth and the life.”
Jesus’ last words on the cross, “Father forgive them for no one commits grave sin anyway.”
Please repent.
???
Of what, quoting the NT?
He did not quote the New Testament. He bastardized these quotes. Like the old bumper sticker…Do unto others then split.
God bless Fr. Weinandy! Wonder how many vocations to the Priesthood are being lost, due to the poor Church leadership that we currenty have?? Tragic! So sad that Fr. Weinandy was asked to resign— BECAUSE HE STOOD UP FOR CHRIST’S TRUTH!! It takes real mature commitment, strnegth, integrity, courage, manhood, the grace of God, and holiness– to truly follow Christ! The early Christians, persecuted by Rome for several centuries- were willing to DIE for their Lord and Savior– Who shed His Blood on a Cross, for our Salvation!!
The bishops and the pope preach dialogue, but don’t practice it.
Thanks for the link to the letter.
I think he is out of touch. Most Catholics love Pope Francis and I don’t know anyone who is confused.
Even those who complain aren’t confused. They just don’t agree.
The letter writer is confusing the trouble-makers on the Internet with the Catholic faithful.
So many of the disturbers don’t even go to the Catholic Church. Many belong to schismatic sects or have been heavily influenced by their ideas.
A series of remarkably baseless judgments, that essentially regards everyone else of differing opinion pejoratively.
No surplus of charity here!
That was nasty.
And wrong.
And excuse you and your lack of charity toward others’ comments here. You’re welcome.
I have said nothing about anyone’s comments here. You are misinterpreting something I wrote.
Does this article speak of you? Is it why you are upset?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/local/2015/09/18/francis-is-a-global-sensation-but-to-certain-traditional-catholics-his-message-rings-hollow/?utm_term=.1d8340e38c65
What a great comment, Mike!
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like yours.
Beautiful letter written to the Pope. I am surprised the USCCB suppress speech and open dialogue.
Ahhhhhhh, more proof that the leaders of our Church don’t want anyone to ask questions! How sad!
“A basic general condition is this: to speak clearly. No one must say: ‘This can’t be said; he will think of me this way or that,…It is necessary to say everything that is felt.” Pope Francis to bishops at the Synod on the Family, 2014.
So after many in the Church, including Pope Francis, celebrated the 500th anniversary of Luther’s revolt, the same bishops who extolled the “virtues” of Martin Luther, dropped the hammer upon Fr. Weinandy for daring to state the obvious. Pope Francis has indeed espoused heresy and sown confusion throughout the Church. So it is acceptable to reject the papacy, attack the Sacraments and the teaching of the Catholic Church as Luther did, but Heaven forbid a priest should question the tactics of a pontiff who is leading a revolt against the teachings of the Catholic Church? Luther got a stamp from the Vatican ‘commemorating” his treason. Fr. Weinandy has been sacked for his desire the teachings of the Church be defended. The sad state of…
the Church continues.
Maybe you’ll be nicer to me than the other people.
What obvious thing did he state? Have you read the letter? It is extremely vague and generalized. What’s specifically is the problem?
What heresy has Pope Francis espoused?
Are you confused about some Catholic teaching because of something the Pope said? You don’t seem confused; you seem to be sure of yourself.
What Church teachings is he leading a revolt against? What did he say? When? Where?
See for yourself:
https://thewildvoice.org/pope-francis-chronology-perspective/
What other pontiff for example ever said anything similar to Pope Francis’ homily on 12/20/13:
“The Gospel does not tell us anything: if she spoke a word or not… She was silent, but in her heart, how many things [she] told the Lord! ‘You, that day, this and the other that we read, you had told me that he would be great, you had told me that you would have given him the throne of David, his forefather, that he would have reigned forever and now I see him there!’ Our Lady was human! And perhaps she even had the desire to say: ‘Lies! I was deceived!’
Clinton R., thank you for an answer.
Wow!
I can see why people would freak out with a list like that.
I’ve explored that site a little more and I hope you saw the disclaimer on the
ABOUT US page. This is a site that promotes an unapproved private revelation.
I would be very wary of this website.
“Maybe you’ll be nicer to ME than the other people”
But Who Are You?
Without a Name (and some background, like which Parish or Positions You Hold) and without any discussion of Funding for your ‘anonymous’ Trolling (like a George Soros supported pogrom), being nice to You is like being nice to a phony composite TV Character, made up to fool the gullible in to sympathizing with somebody who doesn’t even exist.
Just Say No to ‘Anonymous Trolls’ – they only cloud the discussion
I am anonymous because that is what internet security experts tell people to do.
I am not funded by anyone.
I hold no positions in the Church or anywhere else.
May Mary intercede for us with the Lord.
I am not going to post here anymore because of the bullying.
I am not the only anonymous person here so don’t bully them thinking it is me.
“thinking it is me”
The Absurdity is Profound
Yes, there are a number here who post under the pseudonym ‘Anonymous’ – and it is virtually impossible to tell one from another, let alone “Bully” one in place of another.
By the very nature of joining the Ranks of the ‘Anonymous’, whoever you are is lost in whoever they are, which is ultimately nobody worth taking serious
It’s ok not to take us seriously, I guess.
As long as you take God seriously.
Michael McDermott-the anonymous posters here were engaged in conversations with other people when you jumped in.
Nobody was even talking to you.
Says Who?
I wondered whether you were posting under another name.
In that case, I stand corrected.
more and more ….
Push is coming to Shove
no more fence sitting
Is the good Father still a member of the Vatican panel? I find the article unclear on that point.
Father Weinandy was my patristics professor in graduate school at Franciscan University in the 80’s. He is one of the wisest, most scholarly and even holy men I’ve been blessed to know, and I’ve been blessed to know several. This is so deeply saddening, more for the Church than for Father Tom, as we called him. His students were struck by the fact that he not only lectured about the Trinity, but that he knew the Persons of our Triune God! His love for God was apparent in an academic setting as in all settings. Lord, have mercy on your Church.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/11/02/open-letter-father-weinandy-his-predecessor-amoris-laetitia-and-pope-francis
This may be of interest to some of you.
Why, I am not surprised Weinandy resigned after having written this letter! Folks have you actually read it? Well I have, and I can tell you that Weinandy’s letter is an example of how NOT to write to a pope–whether it be Francis or whichever pope! Folks, this letter is RUDE and disrespectful! It is accusatory and not at all reverential which is the proper Catholic demeanor towards his/her spiritual father! Just notice the awful phrasings: “the manner of your teaching,” “you seem to censor and even mock,” “you resent [criticism]” and more disrespectful phrasings are scattered all over the letter! He accuses the Pope of calumny and of risking to commit the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit! Why, after accusing this…
Pope–or any pope–of such a sin, you might as well exile yourself to Siberia!
Folks, if you want a model of how to write to a pope, read the late Cardinal Caffarra’s letter to the same Pope back in April 2017 OR the letter that Cardinals Brandmuller, Burke, the late Caffarra, and the late Meisner all wrote together accompanying their dubia. These letters were uber-respectful, reverential, genuine, even courtly (and you must write in a courtly manner especially if your letter is a critique of sorts). So yeah, I am NOT surprised Weinandy resigned. As for his story about the “sign.” Impressive, but unsettling (as in he gives the impression of him going above his head). Notice how he even specified in great detail to God…
Almighty what his requirements are for this “sign”? Wow.
jon, it takes a lot of personal integrity, manly strength, and the courage of your convictions, to follow Jesus Christ! Christ was our Divine Teacher, and our Lord and Savior– He came down to earth, to teach and to lead a CORRUPT society, back to God– and He died for our Salvation! He was not afraid to tell the Truth to the hypocritical Pharisees, nor to the evil Jewish Sanhedrin, nor to Pontius Pilate, in the very end! Christ’s holy cousin and forerunner– St. John the Baptist– was likewise unafraid to live and to die by God’s Divine Truth, as he, too, came to teach a CORRUPT society, and bring it back to God, before Christ’s Mission began!!
jon, there seem to be some people who don’t trust the Pope and maybe that is what the letter writer was trying to tell him. Maybe he was trying to tell him what he was doing that was causing the distrust. As if the Pope didn’t already know. The USCCB asking Fr. Weinandy to resign plays into people’s distrust of the hierarchy. Once people don’t trust somebody, it is really hard to get their trust back. There is nothing you can say. You just become someone else they don’t trust.
You and I don’t have the problem of distrusting the Pope so the letter just looks really weird to us We look gullible or sinister to those who have the problem.
What’s wrong with asking God for a detailed sign? Gideon did that; not once but twice to make sure before proceeding with a course of action to be sure that he was doing God’s will. Maybe you should read the Bible. Or has the “living magisterium” done away with the need for reading the Bible? All we have to do is listen to what the popes and bishops tell us, no matter how unclear, misleading, wrong, erroneous or dangerous to salvation? Hooray for the living magisterium! We no longer have to read or think!
Did Gideon ask God Almighty that one of the signs should be that the person give him a compliment and praise him? I rest my case. Folks, if you analyze this further it seems that was Weinandy did here was a Sen. Jeff Flake. He seems to be on the way out (pure speculation on my part), and before he went out the door he had to lambast Francis, just as Flake lambasted Trump. Don’t ask me to prove this of course. Pure fun speculation.
“Don’t ask me to prove this.” Says the guy who has chastised others for not (in his mind) proving the points they make. jon just makes it up as he goes, and his own rules don’t apply to him. Few people on this site have less credibility than he has.
Mike, on matters of great importance such as faith and morals I have called out commenters here to supply proof to prove their point; and I supply proof consistently to buttress my points. HOWEVER, on matter of trivial importance—such as the contention that Weinandy was doing a Sen. Jeff Flake—I wouldn’t demand any proof, as I had already said, this is “pure fun speculation.” I hope this answers your question.
jpon, that’s not fun, it’s false witness.
Yeah right.
Yeah, he is right.
Folk you must remember jon is not be questioned he knows all, he has near angelic intelligence so he should not be question. He tows the establishment line no matter what evil it has caused the Church.
Ok. So I ask you bohemond to prove the claim you are making that I “tow the establishment line no matter what evil it has caused the Church.” Quote statements of mine that supported an “evil” committed by the “establishment.” You’re making a claim and those who make claims are duty-bound to prove it when called upon. I am calling you on it.
Everything in the letter is true and was stated respectfully. Francis’ friends in the USCCB (McElroy and Cupich, among others) don’t like the fact that Fr. Weinandy said publicly that the emperor has no clothes. That’s what this is about. The emperor has no clothes. The pope has no alb. Say it however you want. Career clerics are trying to maintain the lies and the facade because they have a vested uncharitable interest in the confusion, errors and damage that are being inflicted on the Church. They are now using intimidation to maintain their lies.
“Career clerics are trying to maintain the lies and the facade because they have a vested uncharitable interest in the confusion”—to ascribe intent into the heart of another person belongs to God Almighty alone as only He can read into people’s hearts. I judge by what I see, hear, and read. What I read in this letter is rudeness and disrespect; and I buttressed my observation with specific quotes. I do not judge people’s intentions when people comment here: I judge the content of their comment or their style of commenting.
And we jon judge your snide comments and arrogance.
The person making a claim is obligated to prove it if called upon. You’re making a claim that I am arrogant and make snide comments. Go ahead. Quote where the snide and arrogance are in my comments.
I often hear that Pope Francis is confusing people about the faith. This article speaks of a very solid theology prof who is willing to as the questions that some want asked. Yet, I also wonder who is being confused. I suspect that 99.99% of good upstanding faithful Catholics are not confused. For them nothing has changed except that Pope Francis has been a light to the world, welcoming everyone, spreading the Gospel of love. 99.90% of Catholics see no harm in married priests, and efforts to save the environment. Many, at least a few, find fault with these ideas, but can’t name one article of faith that the Pope has contradicted. Those of us who fume over these gnats are less than one percent of the millions who attend Mass each…
The Pope should be leading those in gay “marriages,” and civilly divorced and remarried Catholics without Church annulments — as well as those co-habitating in sin– straight back to Christ! He should show them all, the Way to Christ! And teach them all with love, enthusiasm, and support, so that they all can truly succeed in their Catholic Faith! Those clerics with true vocations, are happy and eager to reach out to those in sin, and lead and teach them sucessfully, for Christ! They have sincerely given their lives to Christ, and are even ready to DIE while in service to their Lord, Who died for their very Salvation! Priestly celibacy and holiness– is happly embraced, for Christ, by His true priests!
” I suspect that 99.99% of good upstanding faithful Catholics are not confused.” That’s because the percentage of Catholics are poorly catechized ” 99.90% of Catholics see no harm in married priests, and efforts to save the environment.” again the result of Catholics not knowing their Faith, Bob One why do prattle on with their liberal drivel. Saving the environment will do nothing to get souls to heaven. We now have Church which has replaced God with man as it focus. You claim we “fume at gnats” but know whats going on, the complete and utter destruction of Catholic identity in the name of tolerance and false ecumenism.
bohemond, the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Part I, Section II, expounds on the relationship of man to the visible world. It is our duty, according to the teachings of our Church and faith to do nothing that would harm the order of the universe. This is a long standing teaching of faith. Ruining the environment places us among the few who will not be saved, as opposed to the many who will be saved. Given that choice, I want to be among the many; I will do what I can to prevent further harm to the environment because that is what the Church teaches. By the way, it is God’s environment that we must nurture, not man’s.
While you and the rest of liberals blather on about the false climate change, babies continue to be slaughtered and not a word from this anti-pope. You see Bob One I am not fooled by your con game, you and the rest of liberals have made man the center of the Church and not Our Lord. Those who scream about the environment are the same ones supporting abortion and gay marriage. And not think you can school me on anything you are liberal so there is nothing i can learn from you
Taking care of the environment responsiby, which God created, is very, very important! I always think of that, with things like scary oil spills in the ocean, nuclear accidents (or bombs) and dangerous radiation, food recalls due to people getting sick or even dying– and toxic chemicals polluting our air, land, and water, making a dangerous health hazard, causing people to even get cancer, and die! And it is so sad, to see thoughtless people litter our beautiful parks, and other areas! Plus, so much more! Caring properly for our environment, is a HUGE responsibility! Our enviroment was horrificaly destroyed, starting in the 20th century!
Yes but people like Bob One want to make them sacraments and replace God with man as the center of the Church.,
So we can’t write a letter to the Pope that is written the same way that jon writes his comments here.
jon got his take on the letter from reading Michael Sean Winters’ column in NCR. Plagiarism is a sin.
Mike: Not that it matters, but I do not read NCR. But apparently you do.
Which is truly surprising, Ski Ven, seeing that jon speaks “infallibly” in these pages more often than any Pope has in exercising his unique Petrine Office.
Responding to posts by Anonymous only encourages him/her. Best simply to ignore his/her postings.
okay.
Anonymous says some crazy things anyhow.
Fr. Weinandy: “The USCCB strongly encouraged me to resign.”
When I asked about the timeline, he told me that his letter had first been published at 10:00am Eastern time, and that the USCCB contacted him at about 2:30pm. He submitted his resignation an hour later. The two press releases from the USCCB were released in succession around 4:00pm (here and here).
Fr. Weinandy also told me that he has received “hundreds of e-mails and all of them are positive.” Most of them, he added, “are from laity. Many of them expressed their gratitude that I gave voice to their concerns.”
From Catholic World Report