Monday, October 29, 2012

A Deluded History Lesson



A recent email from a distantly-related gentleman arrived this week, gushing over a “non-political” homily presented by a midwestern priest.  This priest plays a game of verbal tag with the Gospel reading for the 28th Sunday, (the wealthy young man who wants to enter the Kingdom) and then concentrates his attack on all people that question or oppose the Church’s position on abortion, same-sex unions, stem cell research and the “non-negotiable” issues at hand.

This priest makes the stunning leap of logic that links Obama, Democrats and any pro-choice Republicans and Libertarians with Nazi genocide.  The “flaw” of being pro-choice disqualifies a person as being unfit to hold public office, just as the “flaw” of anti-Semitism should have disqualified Hitler from receiving the vote of any right-thinking German.

This delusional history lesson fails to mention that Hitler received the votes of millions of German Catholics who had no real problem with his anti-Semitism; the number of Catholic pastors who preached sermons in support of Hitler vastly outnumbered those clergy opposed to the Nazi Party.  Prior to his election to the Papacy, Pius XII signed a concordat with Hitler, firmly establishing the privileged position of the Catholic Church in Nazi Germany.  This agreement was signed shortly after Jews were legally excluded from teaching and operating schools in Germany.  And who received their property?  You guessed it, the Catholic Church.

The more the Church embroils itself in factional strife, the further it departs from serving the people of God.  



                                                                                                           29 October 2012

Clap and the world claps with you...


There is  a priest, mid thirties in  age, in a midwestern diocese who instructed his parishioners to stop clapping during the liturgy--because clapping is not part of our Catholic heritage.  What seminary wants to claim this man as an alumnus? 

                                                                                           29 October 2012

Monday, October 15, 2012

Peace, for God's sake, peace!

"Peace"---Jesus' first word to the assembled disciples following His Resurrection is usually interpreted as His effort to calm His frightened friends and fellow Galileans in the presence of a visitor from the dead.

Fearful, betrayed, adrift in a hostile and riotous city, it seems likely that they needed calming by the Teacher.  Recently, though, I've wondered just what the disciples were engaged in at that moment.  As the first assembly of Christians, I suggest that they were arguing:  about when and how to escape Jerusalem; who to follow now that Jesus was dead; was John alone supposed to carry the responsibility for Jesus's mother and any other family members cut loose by the murder of Jesus?  Perhaps Jesus just needed them to focus on the first principle and the Great Commandment.

In the ancient Christian tradition of debate, argument, tirades and vilification, we carry on in the pews and the social halls.  Peace would be a welcome balm for the ugly tangle of electoral politics and standards of orthodoxy.  Peace should be the beginning of our invitation back to all those divided and dismayed Christians who have parted ways with us in the past.

How many of the entrenched Catholics on the left and right would be able to hear Jesus calling for peace over the tumult of acrimony?

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                    15 October 2012

DID WE DO THAT?!

The persuasive power of the Internet is truly awesome!

Just two weeks ago on this site, I speculated why this papacy was so eager to reincorporate disgruntled Anglicans and Tridentine dissidents, yet ignore the millions of nominal Catholics who have chosen to walk away from the Church.**

And now, Pope Benedict has directed the bishops to explore ways to reconnect with these disaffected Catholics.  He has remembered that the shepherds are responsible for their entire flocks.  This is a good step forward, and one that deserves the support of all struggling Catholics.

**No, I am not really claiming credit for the Pope's announcement.  My delusions run through entirely different channels.  Peace to you.

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                        15 October 2012