Cardinal Robert McElroy, in his recent remarks to the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, stated the following:
“It is essential to safeguard the deposit of faith. But how do the doctrinal tradition and history of the church restrict the church’s ability to refine its teaching when confronted with a world where life itself is evolving in critical ways, and it is becoming clear that on some issues the understanding of human nature and moral reality upon which previous declarations of doctrine were made were in fact limited or defective?”
What does Cardinal McElroy mean by “life itself is evolving in critical ways”, as he does not define what he means by “life” here? We can surmise, perhaps, that he means the cultural context in which our lives are now embedded—and that this context has changed in radical ways. If that is all he means, then I am in full agreement. However, also left undefined is whether this “evolution” is, on the whole, a positive or a negative thing when analyzed from within a Catholic theological vision of life. And I have to think that the good Cardinal views this evolution in a largely positive light since he is lamenting the fact that current construals of Catholic doctrine need to be refined in the light of this new reality. And by “refined” it is clear that he means “repudiated and then reconstructed in line with modernity”.
Before I am criticized for reading too much into his words, Cardinal McElroy himself goes on to say that “it is now becoming clear that on some issues the understanding of human nature and moral reality upon which previous declarations of doctrine were made were in fact limited or defective…” Certain doctrines of the Church need to change in order to keep up with cultural evolution, and the doctrinal tradition “restricts” the efforts of those who now see “clearly” that we need to “refine” these teachings. Indeed, the older doctrines to which he is referring—and he clearly means in the whole context of his speech the sexual doctrines—not only restrict our ability to bless the modern shift in sexual morality, but that they are also in fact “defective” and rooted in a now discredited “understanding of human nature”.
….The claim is made that homosexual acts as such were never properly understood by the Scriptural authors or later Church interpreters since they did not understand, or have knowledge of, what we moderns now “know”: homosexuality is a deep-seated orientation and those in same-sex relationships really can love each other.
….It is important that we understand that the words of Cardinal McElroy in his speech were not the isolated, idiosyncratic ramblings of a single wayward and confused Cardinal who can be safely ignored. His words are expressive of a powerful movement within the Church by many in the hierarchy and the theological academy to change the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. The fact that he uttered such words at one of the largest gatherings of religious educators in the United States, without any evident fear of ecclesial discipline from above, says all you need to know about the increasing sense of empowerment that this movement feels at the moment.
….Make no mistake, Cardinal McElroy is not calling for a deepening of our doctrines or their organic development. He is calling for their repudiation and reversal….
Fromm Larry Chapp in Catholic World Report
This has nothing to do with homosexuality.
It is under the heading: The Issue of Change and Continuity in the Church
These are the paragraphs that follow the quote in the article.
After the conclusion of the October assembly, Pope Francis pointed to a pathway for answering this question with his Motu Proprio “Ad Theologiam Promovendam.” In it, he calls for a transformation of Catholic theology so that it moves away from abstraction and ideology and towards “mercifully addressing the open wounds of humanity and creation and within the folds of human history, to which it prophesies the hope of an ultimate fulfillment.”
Such a theology is inherently pastoral, with theological reflection starting from “the different contexts and concrete situations in which people find themselves.” Placing itself at the service of evangelization, it seeks “engagement and dialogue in every sphere of knowledge, in order to reach and involve the whole People of God in theological research, so that the life of the people may become theological life.”
Such a pathway for theology must be continually nourished by the doctrinal tradition of the church. In fact, the theological pathway outlined by Pope Francis can itself foster greater authentic fidelity to the deposit of faith, not less, since it is embedded firmly in the real world where our earthly pilgrimage takes place.
Christ’s Truth is the same, in all ages, in all situations, and in all societies. The Church’s Mission is to preach Christ’s Truth, and reform societies, bring people to Christ.
Jesus never said to reform societies. See what happens? People start taking away or adding to Christ’s Truth.
Jesus’ Mission was to spiritually reform and save the entire world– all peoples, all societies, worldwide. All Christian missionaries have worked to do this, worldwide. They converted the pagan society of the Roman Empire, and pagan, non-Christian societies in all parts of the world. Christ’s Mission to save the world was– is a spiritual mission– not a political one.
Ad Theologiam Promovendam is still not available in English.
Why didn’t he contact Bishop McElroy and ask him what he meant if he could not understand him?
Do you honestly think the cardinal would have a conversation with Dr. Chapp?
The cardinal’s statement is an example of the studied ambiguity about which Pope Benedict warned us.
Notice the cardinal gave himself plausible deniability. He did not make a statement, “I simply asked a question.” (Wink, Nod.)
The development of doctrine and “refining teaching” do not involve denying Church teaching and proposing the opposite.
“Your Eminence,” one could ask, “do you think sexual activity outside of marriage, gay or straight, is sinful?”
That’s what the Scriptures, Sacred Tradition and the Church have always taught. But, don’t hold your breath waiting for an answer.
The Jesuit Cardinal Hollerich at least seemed more honest: “I believe that the sociological-scientific foundation of this teaching is no longer correct. What one formerly condemned was sodomy. One thought at that time that in the sperm of the man, the whole child was kept. And one has simply transferred this to homosexual men.But there is no homosexuality at all in the New Testament. There is only discussion of homosexual acts, which were to some extent pagan cultic acts. That was naturally forbidden. I believe it is time for us to make a revision in the foundation of the teaching.”
Jesus had something to say about the foundations upon which we build.
And, don’t forget to give to the annual diocesan appeal. That “teaching” is not subject to evolution or any change.
Yes. I think the Cardinal would have a conversation with Larry Chapp and anyone who needed help understanding.
Catholic theology is too difficult for most Catholics to understand.
Yet, it can be done at a simple level and that is where you are safest.
You went back to homosexuality.
He does not address sexuality in this speech.
He does address how LGBT persons are treated but not their sexuality.
You can click the link and then click “recent remarks” in the first sentence of the writing.
That will take you to a transcript of the speech.
You’re right, “Catholic theology is too difficult for most Catholics to understand.” As if St. Peter, a fisherman, could understand it. Or, a first-century Jewish Carpenter. See Matthew 11:25 (but, what does a tax collector know?). Forget the Bible, the Creeds, the Councils and the Saints. Refer only to us theological experts. We are the experts in the law. We will tell you want God says, in terms simple enough for you to understand. Just do as we say.
The Gospels talk often about how Jesus was not understood.
The Apostles did not understand until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
I do not know why people feel the need to be sarcastic.
You must know more about theology than I do.
I avoid theologians because I do not trust them.
I only encounter it at adult ed where someone will present an idea that they read somewhere.
I am reading Map Of Life by Frank J. Sheed.
I found something in there that I do not believe is Church Teaching and I cannot verify it anywhere.
Frank J. Sheed was an outstanding, orthodox Catholic author and book publisher, in England. I used to love reading all iof his excellent books– they were classics, written before the Second Vatican Council, highly recommended to Catholics. His book, “Map of Life, ” was excellent! What are your questions regarding this book? Maybe your priest could help.
Can you find in Church teaching this:
For the human act of rebellion, a human act of atonement was REQUIRED.
(So Christ HAD to become man?)
“(So Christ HAD to become man?)” Yes, Yes Yes!!! He had to become man to represent humanity as our great High Priest, and had to be God to offer an infinitely perfect sacrifice of blood in atonement for our sins.
“A Map of Life” is a wonderful, short summary of the Catholic Faith, for the reader in today’s era– first published in 1933. Very good and easy to read. I looked at a catalog of Ignatius Press, and noticed that they now publish this book. There are a number of good Catholic books, written in the early part of the 20th century, that are really good, have the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat, and are easy to read for laymen. Ven. Abp. Sheen wrote some wonderful books too, during this era. Catholic books then, were accurate in Catholic teaching, very reliable, and had to have the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat. Many were well-written. I have always missed these kinds of wonderful books, since the horrible, shallow, destructive, worthless 1960s.
Easy answer to your question — Look in your Bible. Christ is the “New Adam,” who came to redeem mankind, after the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden. Christ is called the “New Adam”– and His pure, immaculately conceived Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, is called the “New Eve.” “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
1Corinthians 15:21-22
That is not quite the same thing. That is the result of the atonement.
Roman Catechism states:
To remedy the evil and repair the loss it became necessary that the Son of God, whose power is infinite, clothed in the weakness of our flesh, should remove the infinite weight of sin and reconcile us to God in His blood.
Not quite the same thing either.
Only place I have found it is on a website
https://sites.google.com/view/catholic-social-teaching/on-the-redemption
I do not see this in the Catechism, either. It seems like somebody’s idea based on Church teaching.
Ven. Abp. Fulton J. Sheen taught at Catholic University of America from 1926-1950. During that time, he wrote 34 wonderful books, and delivered numerous sermons, speeches, radio programs, and had numerous articles and pamphlets published. This was all before his successful TV show, “Life is Worth Living” began. He wrote a total of 66 books. Today, many of these books have been re-published by new companies. Loved all his material– his earlier material is outstanding, well worth reading– just as wonderful as his books written after he rose to great fame, with his TV show. His 1958 “Life of Christ” is one of the
classics, along with many other of his excellent books.
I don’t know why anyone would be confused, and ask this question. It is so simple. It is God’s plan for our salvation. It was prophesied for centuries in the Bible. Christ actually incarnated as a man, God clothed in human flesh– a man like us in all things but sin. And He died in our place on the Cross, as the propitiation for our sins. By Adam, all men died, and by Christ, all were made alive… it is not “somebody’s idea,” it was God’s plan, in the Bible. We will hear lots about this, next week, during Holy Week and Easter. Very simple teaching.
What it says is that it was NOT necessary for God to become man.
It says for a human act of rebellion a human act of atonement was necessary.
You are not understanding the issue.
In my last comment, starting with “I don’t know why anyone would be confused…(etc.)” the Cal. Catholic Daily editors removed my capital “P” in the phrase, “God’s Plan.” I have always seen this phrase printed in books, as “God’s Plan,” with a capital “P,” because His Plan for our salvation is extremely important.
In old timey books anything of God’s was capitalized. God’s Plan, God’s Will, God’s Love
I am asking for a Church source that says explicitly for the human act of rebellion a human act of atonement was necessary.
The closest thing I have found is the quote in the Roman Catechism.
But it does not say exactly that.
:
How about the Holy Scriptures? See Hebrews 2:14ff–indeed–the entire book of Hebrews.
Thank you.
That does apply to my question.
Perhaps you have an unusual problem, understanding the Incarnation of Christ, and His Atonement for our sins.Christ died in our place, for our sins, on the Cross. It is a very simple thing. It is God’s Plan for our salvation. It is called a “Divine paradox,” too. Just ask a priest your questIon, and see what he has to say.
You have to just take some things on faith. Salvation is a matter that is God’s Plan. It is often called a “Divine Paradox.” Just ask a priest, then.
Here is another teaching of the Church. Christ did not have to incarnate in human flesh, and die for the sins of mankind. But He chose to do this willingly, out of love for us.
That sounds like what I have heard before.
I’ve looked up the dogmas:
The Son of God became man in order to redeem man.
Fallen man cannot redeem himself.
In the same writing, listed as a Certain Truth not yet defined by the Church, it says:
God was not compelled to redeem mankind by either an internal or an external compulsion.
“Christ did not have to incarnate in human flesh,…” The words: “did not have to” are the key. read Hebrews 2:14-18. Verse 17 in particular: “He had to be made like his brethren in all things…” The Scriptures are always a good source for good theology.
Yes, theology.
Which is not Church teaching.
Theology seeks to answer these kinds of questions.
https://ctk.org/penal-substitutionary-atonement
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02055a.htm
https://www.catholic.com/qa/a-primer-on-atonement
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2022/09/30/review-atonement-turek-imbelli-243872
Yes. Christ’s suffering and death on the Cross for our sins was a completely selfless, willing, humble act of Love for mankind. Next week, Holy Week, we will, once again, learn all about that, and hear sermons about that. Very holy, exquisitely beautiful!
Christ did not “have” to incarnate of the Pure Virgin Mother, Mary, and suffer and die for our salvation. He did it as an act of Pure Divine Love for us. He was compelled by His Most Sacred Heart to act only out of one pure, selfless, humble motive— Divine Love. That is holy and beautiful, far beyond anything we could possibly comprehend.
Do you have a source for that?
Bemoaning “the way LGBT Catholics are treated” and claiming it’s motivated by “animus towards gays” is code for “we need to let them have gay sex without guilt, which means Church doctrine needs to change.
That truly is what he’s implying. He can’t come right out and say it, but he wishes that he could because it’s what he means.
No. He is saying that you should obey the catechism and treat people with respect and without discrimination.
That is actually not what he said.
I should not have interpreted it.
He said what he said and it is not code for anything.
Some people do have an animus (hostility or ill feelings) toward gay people.
Some people have an animus toward Catholics.
Thanks for dumbing it down for us. Without your patronizing input, we would never be able grasp complex theology.
What complex theology are you referring to?
Gay is poison everywhere it is tolerated.
I have no problem stating that many churchmen, any churchmen who promote gay are fake Catholics.
Big Mac is one of the fakes.
It is impossible to know Jesus, impossible to have true Catholic faith and to promote what he does. He gives away that he’s fake.
Card McElroy’ s assault on revealed truth brings to mind Revelations 12:12…’ r he devil has come down to you in great wrath for he knows his time is short’
What Cardinal McElroy wants regarding the full acceptance of homosexual sex and marriage, and the blessing of fornication, is pretty much what’s taught in morality classes at Archbishop Mitty High School. The Church’s teaching is outdated, blah blah. Love is the highest value, blah blah, We know better now, blah blah. Follow what your conscience says, blah blah. If you disagree with Church teaching you are more morally developed than cretins who accept it, blah blah.
Modernism is the heresy that’s all the rage in liberal Catholic circles.
Pretty much the only sin at Mitty and in liberals’ minds is to be a conservative or a Republican. It’s amazing how totalitarian and ignorant and wrong they are without realizing it about themselves. No self-awareness whatsoever.
Cardinal McElroy completely adheres to the Church’s teaching on sexuality and marriage.
Looks like nobody agrees with you about that.
I just went back to the interview where he speaks about it.
He does say that he does not think that the teaching that all sexual sins are mortal sins is a good part of the Catholic moral tradition.
However, the Catholic Church does not teach that.
It teaches that all sexual sins are grave sins.
For a sin to be mortal, it requires grave matter, full knowledge and full consent of the will.
I see where those who have a lot of anxiety about the Church “changing its teaching” could add their own fears to what he is saying.
Why are people so anxious about it? Several months ago, someone wrote that if the church changed its teaching, they would have to leave the Church. So that is why it is a big issue to some I guess.
adherent, I have a bridge to sell you.
I hope it’s the Golden Gate Bridge.
If it walks and quacks like a duck, then ….
The only thing that is “…limited and defective” is his Eminence’s willingness to consciously conform his own conscience to eternal verities, objective moral truth, and the basic anthropology of the human race.
The writer’s assumptions are not correct. Good journalists ask questions first before penning and publishing baseless conclusions
Please remember that it was Archbishop Gomez who allowed Cardinal McElroy to speak these things at the LA Religious Education Congress heresyfest. Note, too, that Archbishop Gomez did not issue any statement of disagreement nor objection. It happened under Gomez’s auspices, on his watch, and apparently with his approval.
We know what McElroy is all about, and just what he means when he speaks. Is there anyone who doesn’t understand why the Pope ignored the two Archdioceses in California, one of which is the largest in the USA, only to appoint the Bishop of the relatively small Diocese of San Diego as California’s only Cardinal?
There is no church rule that says the size of the diocese matters.
There have been cardinals who had no diocese.
True, it’s the pope’s prerogative. However, keep in mind that “personnel is policy”. Who is appointed to high office says a lot about current priorities. Someone’s priorities.
That is kind of cynical.
You hope they are seeking the will of the Lord.
The Pope’s priorities are evangelization and care of the poor.
And in terms of strengthening the brethren, he has strengthen those who will allow him, too.
There are many rebels.
I agree, Xavier. If Pope Francis wanted to give the red hat to Abp. Gomez, he certainly would have. But this pope has other ideas.
You can’t just write that someone who has not said so wants a repudiation of Church teaching.
This is defamation
Church Militant had to pay $500,000 for defaming a priest.
Another priest passed away before his defamation case suing for $500,000 against a web site could be heard.
Businesses have won verdicts over $30,000,000 for defamation by websites.
You owe your readers the truth.
Speaking of very bad Catholic bishops… I laughed myself silly, over all the news stories of President Joe Biden’s St. Patrick’s Day brunch at the White House, with about 200 guests, and a celebration of Irish Catholics, led by U.S. papal nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. The homosexual Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, was there, along with Jesuit Fathers James Martin and Thomas Reese, plus the LGBT radical activist group, Outreach. After Cardinal Pierre gave the invocation and said grace, President Biden crossed himself– but the Catholic Cardinal did not. And Cdl. Pierre praised and honored all those bad Catholics, and all their bad works, as Catholics, too. Biden spoke of one of his ancestors in Ireland, in the early part of the 19th century, who worked in a brickyard, that supplied bricks to build a great cathedral. That poor Irish Catholic bricklayer would have been so shocked and scandalized at his descendant. Poor Bishop Strickland—- a fine Catholic bishop emeritus, slapped in the face for his honesty and faithfulness to Christ, by hypocrite Cdl. Pierre. I bet Bp. Strickland emeritus has a devout Catholic Irish ancestor, too.
It is really sad, that our Catholic leaders today are doing such a bad job. This White House St. Patrick’s Day celebration of Catholics– was not Catholic at all. I don’t see how the U.S. Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, can stand the horrific hypocrisy — and total dishonesty, before Almighty God. How can he live with himself? Not a drop of interest to evangelize, to preach, teach, and live the Catholic Faith honestly– and get all the people in the highest political and religious posts, to repent of terrible sins, and return to the True Faith. The Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, whose mother is Irish, and whose father is a doctor from Mumbai (Bombay) India, was raised in a Catholic home, in Ireland, and grew up to also become a doctor– and then became a politician. He has a lover, also a doctor, named Matthew Barrett, who is treated as a spouse by the White House. How can honest Irish Catholics– and Irish Protestants, too– stand this awful situation, of a gay man and his lover, leading their country? Poor St. Patrick. Not a nice Feast Day, in his honor. The Ireland we all were once familiar with, and its once-strong, devout Catholic culture– is gone with the wind.
Well, Irish Prine Minister Leo Varadkar went home, and resigned, stating his reasons were “personal and political” — but mostly, “political.” Anyway, formerly devout Catholic Ireland has been so ruined, by “woke” liberals, with gay “marriage” and the LGBT agenda– plus abortion. Irish voters recently rejected their liberal, woke government’s two proposed amendments to their constitution– one would have horrifically changed the traditional definition of family, and the other would have severely damaged the traditional role of women in the home. Of course, Varadkar has been seeking to destroy traditional, Biblically-based Marriage of One Man/One Woman, traditional roles of Husband and Wife, and the Traditional Family. He said he views all of that as “outdated.” Anortion laws now in effect in Ireland and in Northern Ireland are a horror, for the once-Catholic Emerald Isle, that endured centuries (1536-1829) of terrible persecution and martyrdom from the British, for their cherished Catholic Faith.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s predecessor, the sick, demented, woke, LGBT-promoting, pro abortion, radical feminist, Mary McAleese, was much worse than Pres. Biden. She tried to destroy Church teaching on the male priesthood, and Biblically-based Traditional Marriage and Family, promote abortion– and much more– while claiming to be a “devout Catholic”– just like much-older Pres. Joe Biden. She should never have been given her doctorate in Canon Law– instead, she should have been refused to enroll to study, at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome– and should have been excommunicated,
long ago. She has deviantly, diabolically used her expertise as a lawyer, political leader, and as a Canon Lawyer, to do terrible destructions to her country and to our Church. A deviant, sick, woke, radical feminist, pro-abortion, pro-LGBT, (etc.) Liberal Social Justice Warrior. Ireland, America, and many other Western countries are doomed, going down this evil, deviant, Godless, immoral, anti-Christian, diabolical pathway
“A law, even though divine, is potent only so long as the conditions and circumstances of life, to meet which it was enacted, continue; when these change, however, the law also must be abrogated even though it have God for its author.” Rabbi Sameul Holdheim in 1845, as quoted in Rodney Stark’s “The Rise of Christianity”, p.53. Methinks the Cardinal is not an original thinker. Nor a very good theologian either.
Do the People of God have a right to know if Cardinal McElroy struggles with SSA? Hear me out.
If hierarchs like McElroy, Hollerich, and Bergoglio are regularly tampering with orthodox Catholic teaching regarding the disordered nature of homosexuality, couldn’t we suspect that such thinking might have some connection with their own personal interior moral struggles? Doesn’t it stand to reason that a cleric who’s found to be stealing from the Church coffers might turn aside from chastising the sheep who violate the 7th Commandment? Do the Faithful in Ireland have a right to know that their bishop is using church funds to support a child he fathered and the child’s mother living in Ridgefield CT? Do the Faithful have a right to know that their pastor in the Bronx is stealing money from church funds to pay for a beach condo in NJ that he uses to frolic with his homosexual boyfriend and to procure drugs?
So, I ask again: do the people of God have a right to know when their shepherds are struggling with particular vices because those struggles potentually impair their ability to teach the Catholic faith as Tradition and Scripture dictate?
No.
Public confession is not done in the Catholic Church.
100% agree with you.
More important than whether he “struggles with SSA” is this”
Does he just want to make everybody happy?
Is he a people pleaser who does not like to upset people?
If he were a people pleaser, wouldn’t he try to please Catholics who prefer the TLM?
They’re people too. He has upset them, among others.
He talks about it. Did he not follow up?
Being a people pleaser does not preclude a person wanting to please some and not others. If Cdl. McElroy seeks above all to please Pope Francis, a discriminating stance would be expected.
Daniel, he should seek to please Pope Francis; he should obey Pope Francis.
I would have to go back over it, but when I listened to his speech I thought he was including his own ideas.
He was at the Synod and he can do that.
I think he has ideas that Pope Francis has not endorsed.
I don’t think we do. But, if he does, he should be promoting Courage and Eden Invitation and ministries that truly help those so struggling.
Courage is 18+. I think it is like a 12 step program for those with sex addiction.
Often the “struggle” comes much earlier.
Eden Invitation seems like it is for very serious Christians who are integrating their sexuality and their identity into Catholicism.
I am sure that the Diocese of San Diego has some kind of gay ministry.
Can you imagine telling Catholic business owners that they need to go to Greed Support Group?
Or overweight parishioners to the Gluttony Ministry?
Or married parishioners that they need to join a ministry to make sure they won’t commit adultery?
No, because we don’t support greed. Groups like Legatus, Knights of Columbus, the Napa Institute, Christians in Commerce and others help Catholic business people avoid the trap of greed.
Many parishes host Overeaters Anonymous to help those struggling with overeating.
And, many groups and ministries exist to help strengthen marriage, so that adultery doesn’t happen.
Whatever struggles we may face, our parishes should help us live in freedom as followers of Jesus, not followers of the world.
I think those ministries are so that divorce doesn’t happen.
If God wanted perfect men for the clergy, He would make perfect men.
He does not.
Luke 22:31-32
Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you* like wheat,
but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.
God knows exactly what kind of men He has called to His ministry.
Are you saying there are no improperly discerned vocations nor inadvisable ordinations?
Yes. That is the Catholic Faith. All men who are ordained are called by God.
I know it seems different some times.
The Church does not teach any such thing. It is possible for a man and his bishop to err about his calling to priesthood. If he’s ordained, it’s a mistake. Maybe it will work out, maybe not.
That’s like saying that every putative sacramental marriage is willed by God. We know from the fact of annulments that such is not the case.
Similarly, we know from laicizations that some men should not have received Holy Orders.
I know.
I go by the catechism.
1578 No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Indeed no one claims this office for himself; he is called to it by God. Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God’s call to the ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to the authority of the Church, who has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive orders. Like every grace this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift.
Annulments say that the marriage did not meet the criteria for a sacrament.
The Church does not teach that every marriage, even sacramental, is willed by God.
So how did Judas make the cut?
Free will.
It remains even after ordination.
Anyone can choose sin, even hell.
Yet “Many are invited, but few are chosen”–Matthew 22:14.
“So how did Judas make the cut?” Jesus called Judas the son of perdition John 17:12. Thus Jesus chose Judas knowing he would fulfill his role as the betrayer.
“Jesus called Judas the son of perdition John 17:12. Thus Jesus chose Judas knowing he would fulfill his role as the betrayer.” So do we expect too much of the screening process or too little?
All people are sinners, even priests.
We all have seen priests where we say “How did they get ordained?” but if you talk to someone else they will say “I wouldn’t be Catholic if not for that priest” or “That priest really helped me or someone in my family”, “That priest talked me out of suicide”
The best way to help priests be holy is prayer especially the Rosary with the Sub Tuum Praesidium and prayer to St. Michael added at the end, as per the request of Pope Francis.
Also, be holy yourself. Be the best Catholic you can be.
Anyone can fall. We pray “Give us this day our daily bread.”
neither
“Neither” is a curious defense of the status quo
These princes of the church spout off about things they know nothing about. Today Pope Francis condemned people who didn’t get the COVID clot shot. Like he’s an expert? I’m done with the clergy. They are good for the sacraments, that’s it. I’d rather watch a movie than care anymore or listen to what they say.
The Catholic priesthood is holy, and it is a huge responsibility to Almighty God. But the Devil is always there, in all things in life– and some men who are ordained to the priesthood, are very evil. Yet, also– some are saintly! The post-Conciliar Church is notably permissive and untrustworthy. The current pope favors bad clerics– so, one must be very careful. Steer clear of evil clerics like “Tucho the Terrible,” ex-Jesuit Fr. “Rapenik” (Rupnik), LGBT-“apologist,” Jesuit Fr. James Martin, Abp. Paglia, notorious head of the PAL, and his filthy, half-naked gay couples (including himself) in his cathedral mural, and many others. Pray to God to help you find one little parish with good, holy, faithful Catholic priests, for you and your spouse and children. Establish a Domestic Church in your home, with regular, daily prayer, good religious books, and daily religious devotions. Don’t allow any evil influences in your home. God will help and guide you and your family.
God is not pleased.
When you strike a shepherd, the sheep scatter.
Don’t do it.
Beware, all you false shepherds who are evil wolves in sheep’s clothing! God Hinself will strike you at just the right moment in time, and set things right. God is not asleep. God knows all and sees all. I don’t think God is as interested in temporal, earthly affairs, as in spiritual affairs, and Eternal Life. I have come to believe that many people will be in for a great shock, when God sets things right. Evil does not last forever. God is watching. Better for mankind to set his own errors right, than to let things go, while many people are seriously hurt by evil shepherds. The Judgment Day is nearer than we think. God is not asleep.
The picture above is a most interesting assembly of cardinals. On the extreme right, is, I believe, Cardinal James Harvey. He certainly should be look at more closely for all his behind the scenes machinations over the years, i.e. protecting his late archbishop , Rembert Weakland , from 25+ years of complaints. Also, his close association with Cardinal McCarrick should be looked into. . And the list goes on. Then we have Cardinal Roger Mahony, who needs no introduction. Then Cardinal Re, who was at the Congregation for Bishops for numerous years and gave us many of the current and outstanding bishops and cardinals of our day. Last but not least Cardinal McElroy, the subject of this article.
Re: Dietrich von Hildebrand, I think his books before 1967 look OK.
After that, I would be wary.
Pope Pius XII died in 1958 so he would not have seen those later works so they would not be included in his praise.