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As the USCCB, the national Progressive bishops organization, continues to issue weak statements followed up with no action at all, local Bishops are beginning to take the lead in clearing the chaff from the wheat. This is subsidiarity in action.
I wonder; are the local Bishops receiving support and guidance from Rome? After Archbishop Burke spoke out against the CHA last week one has to consider the possibility of a Vatican end run around the USCCB and the Bishops that control it.
I believe that the Church is about to act. I think Rome has had enough with the dissent and abuse so prevalent here in America and around the world. I think we're going to start to see statements and actions in the near future that basically draw a line in the sand, telling the members of the faith, "You're either with us or against us." Those that refuse to accept and live the teachings of the Church will be asked to leave and if they refuse they will be forcibly removed.
And I say it's about time.
"At least two U.S. bishops have taken actions to indicate their disapproval of the support some women's religious communities and the Catholic Health Association gave to the final version of health care reform legislation. Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of Greensburg, Pa., has directed diocesan offices, parishes and the diocesan newspaper not to promote the "vocation awareness program of any religious community" that was a signatory to a letter urging members of the House of Representatives to pass the health reform bill. In Providence, R.I., Bishop Thomas J. Tobin asked the Catholic Health Association to remove the diocesan-sponsored St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island from its membership rolls, saying that CHA leadership had "misled the public and caused serious scandal" by supporting health reform legislation that the bishops opposed. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was against the measure because its provisions on abortion funding and conscience protections were morally unacceptable. When the bill passed, the bishops reiterated their decades-long support for providing access to health care for all but expressed regret that health care reform came with the possibility of expanded abortion funding and urged vigilance that an executive order by President Barack Obama would, as promised, ensure no federal funds will be spent on abortion. Some Catholic groups reacted with enthusiasm to the passage of health reform and Obama's executive order, and others said the order would have no effect on abortion funding."
Georgia Bulletin
After publicly awarding Father Pfleger with a lifetime achievement award, Cardinal George has refused to discipline him for yet another heretical statement.
The Cardinal's lack of action in this instance stands as a silent endorsement of Pfleger's opinion.
If a Cardinal can tolerate heresy and the Vatican does nothing to correct the problem how are the faithful to understand this situation? Is this to be construed as a silent endorsement of women priests and a married priesthood by Rome? Has all doctrine become subject to the personal opinion of the leadership? Is everything open to discussion if it is spoken under the aegis of "personal opinion"?
What is truth?
HERESY
1 a : adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma b : denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church c : an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma
2 a : dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice b : an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards
Merriam-Webster
"After recently being honored with a lifetime achievement award by Cardinal Francis George, a Chicago priest stated in a homily this week that there “should be women priests,” bishops and cardinals and that priests in general should be allowed to marry.
Fr. Michael Pfleger was recently recognized at a ceremony celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office for Racial Justice. Cardinal Francis George issued comments during the April 7 event, saying that the priest is a good pastor who “acts out of love.”
In a homily on Divine Mercy Sunday earlier this week, Fr. Pfleger, who is pastor of Saint Sabina's Catholic Church, discussed how Christ's disciples abandoned him at the time of his crucifixion. The disciples, said Fr. Pfleger, “ran away when he most needed them. Only John at the foot of the Cross, and the women.”
“That's why there should be woman priests. That's why there should be married priests. That's why there should be women bishops and women cardinals.”
In a follow up statement on the Archdiocese of Chicago's website issued on Thursday, Fr. Pfleger addressed his April 11 homily saying that “while preaching a sermon on the power of fear, I was referring to the fear that paralyzed the apostles, locking them in a room, leaving only John and the women at the foot of the cross.”
“I stated that is why I believe women ought to be able to be ordained, as well as priests ought to be able to get married,” Fr. Pfleger commented. “While this is my personal opinion, I do respect and follow the Catholic Church teachings and I am sorry I failed to do this.”
EWTN contacted the Archdiocese of Chicago on Thursday in order to receive clarification on Fr. Pfleger's web statement. Though the priest apologized for failing to follow Church teaching which he claims to “respect,” he did not recant his position or alter his “personal opinion.” EWTN also asked if Cardinal Francis George has issued a statement in response to Fr. Pfleger's comments.
The archdiocese responded that Fr. Pfleger's “website statement stands by itself.”
EWTN News
"A two-man Washington, D.C. panel has preferred to advance same-sex “marriage” at the cost of religious liberty, the Archdiocese of Washington has charged. The panel ruled that a referendum on a city council bill recognizing same-sex marriage would violate the District’s human rights law.
Opponents of the D.C. City Council’s decision, including the archdiocese, have sought a referendum to try to overturn the action.
However, two members of the Board of Elections and Ethics ruled the referendum would thwart the Council’s efforts to “eradicate unlawful discrimination” and would violate the District’s Human Rights Act (HRA).
“The Civil Marriage Equality Act represents the Council’s effort to eliminate the discriminatory exclusion of same-sex couples from the institution of marriage on the basis of sex and sexual orientation. The Referendum seeks to frustrate this effort, and would, if successful, have the effect of authorizing discrimination in contravention of the HRA,” the board stated.
The ruling was issued by Errol R. Arthur, Chairman of the Board of Elections and Ethics, and board member Charles R. Lowery, Jr.
The Archdiocese of Washington in a Friday statement said it was “extremely disappointing” that the two-person panel forbade the referendum without addressing religious liberty concerns."
CNA
I think that the Church should be upset about these pro gay rights bills being passed. Of course, I might be just a bit happier if the United States Council of Catholic Bishops didn't support the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a group which promotes abortion, gay rights and same sex marriage.
I realize that the USCCB is not an official Church organization; it's more of a trade association for the Bishops. However, if the Church wants the secular world to follow Gods rules might I suggest that it ask the Bishops not to belong to the at least schismatic, if not heretical, USCCB?
If you go to the website linked above you can find out who your CCHD money has supported. Here is the description of the organization they have posted on their website:
"Civilrights.org is a collaboration of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights coalition, consisting of nearly 200 national organizations, representing persons of color, women, children, labor unions, individuals with disabilities, older Americans, major religious groups, gays and lesbians and civil liberties and human rights groups. LCCR was founded in 1950 and has coordinated national lobbying efforts on behalf of every major civil rights law since 1957. LCCR is a 501(c)(4) organization that engages in legislative advocacy.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) was founded in 1969 as the education and research arm of LCCR. LCCREF produces educational materials such as special reports, email newsletters, the Civilrights.org website, and the Civil Rights Monitor. In addition, LCCREF tracks legislation, court decisions, and the enforcement of civil rights laws. LCCREF is a 501(c)(3) organization and contributions are tax-deductible."
So on the one hand the Church is spending money and other resources to fight same sex marriage while on the other hand it is allowing the USCCB to take donations from the parishioners and send them to this group and others like it which are fighting to legalize it.
Click on this link (LCCR Coalition Members) to see who else belongs to this coalition along with the USCCB. You'll find the usual cast of Progressives; the same ones our President surrounds himself with. Groups like SEIU and the ACLU. In other words, the usual suspects.
Hey Rome, who's the ring master in this circus? Can't you exert at least some control on the Church in America? Don't the Bishops answer to you?
Is it a wonder that the Church in America is in decline?
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