Banned By the Pope

[Ridgerunner]

No. That is wrong and, furthermore, extremely dangerous. That sort of thought process puts out children in harms way.

That the previous poster said the “Pedophilia” problem was actually homosexuality?

The John Jay study showed:

Around 81% of the victims were male; 51% between the ages of 11 and 14, and 27% between the ages to 15 to 17 years.

I fail to see how knowing that can put children in harm’s way. Certainly, not all victims were male, and not all were prepubescent. But 81% were homosexual in nature and very heavily in the direction of postpubescent males. People should know that.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That both Theresa Kane RSM and Charles Curran have spoken against the Church
and in favor of female ordination in the past two days is nauseating.

Spare us, O Lord.

Fortunately, both are getting on in years, as is the case with many dissident leaders. Their day will not last forever.

 

[jjdrury81]

That the previous poster said the “Pedophilia” problem was actually homosexuality?

The John Jay study showed:

Around 81% of the victims were male; 51% between the ages of 11 and 14, and 27% between the ages to 15 to 17 years.

I fail to see how knowing that can put children in harm’s way. Certainly, not all victims were male, and not all were prepubescent. But 81% were homosexual in nature and very heavily in the direction of postpubescent males. People should know that.

The problem is Pedophilia, non the less.

When the victim is a female we do not say that it is a problem with heterosexuality.

It is preying on children.

 

[pnewton]

The problem is Pedophilia, non the less.

When the victim is a female we do not say that it is a problem with heterosexuality.

It is praying on children.

Preying. If one wants to just label and not solve anything, what you say is acceptable and true. Fortunately the Catholic Church is working harder to eliminate the problem. Therefore, since the mechanism of the pedophilia is primarily *homosexual *predation, homosexuals are not being admitted to the priesthood. This proactive approach is harsh, but drastic measures are needed.

 

[1holycatholic]

I always thought the purpose of Catholicism was to be aligned to God, not necessarily to modern life.

As the saying goes: “In the world, but not of the world.”
[bibledrb]John 17:11-16[/bibledrb]

 

[JimG]

I always thought the purpose of Catholicism was to be aligned to God, not necessarily to modern life.

Exactly. Which is where Fr. Curran along with many of his generation, have gone wrong, wanting the Church to conform to modern life.

 

[barb_finnegan]

Exactly. Which is where Fr. Curran along with many of his generation, have gone wrong, wanting the Church to conform to modern life.

Amen to that! :sad_yes:

 

[barb_finnegan]

That both Theresa Kane RSM and Charles Curran have spoken against the Church
and in favor of female ordination in the past two days is nauseating.

Spare us, O Lord.

In fact, ‘sister’ Kane is going to be speaking at a [wait for it, as Father Z says] ‘Call to Action’ forum today at a college not far from where I live. She’s going to be ‘whining’ [my term] about the Vatican Visitation of women’s religious communities.

Not that I’m going to this, mind you…

She hasn’t changed since that far-off day in 1979 when she had the chutzpah to stand before John Paul II at the National Shrine in Washington and ‘demand’ that women be admitted to ‘all Church ministries’ …a not-too-subtle shot about females in the priesthood.

Luckily-thank God-people like her and ‘father’ Curran are getting up there in years and will soon be shuffling off this mortal coil. Their 'time’s is past!

Please, Mother Catherine McAuley [foundress of the Sisters of Mercy], show your Irish temper from heaven and SLAP THIS ERRANT DAUGHTER OF YOURS SILLY! :slapfight:

 

[barb_finnegan]

fortunately, both are getting on in years, as is the case with many dissident leaders. Their day will not last forever.

Thank God!!!

 

[Redbaron998]

This article is so absurd. Ive never seen Women treated with more respect than in the Catholic Church. Whenever a Nun comes into a room to visit a class or meeting in the church the Men, (even not overall respectful men i know of) accord themselves to the highest levels of respect.

In addition Ive seen in many places where the Catholic Church is growing steadily or maintaining its numbers, while others such as Protestants are in decline.

For example here are some numbers:

Adult populations (US)

Catholics:
1990: 46,004,000
2000: 50,873,000
2008: 57,199,000

Baptists:
1990: 33,964,000
2000: 33,820,000
2008: 36,148,000

Mainline Christians (All Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Church of Christ)

1990: 32,784,000
2000: 35,788,000
2008: 29,375,000

Christian Generic (Non-Denominational)

1990: 25,980,000
2000: 22,546,000
2008: 32,441,000

(These are takin from the ARIS (American Religious Identification Survey) 2008 as can be found here. Its produced by Trinity College. These numbers are for what people identify themselves as, not on how active or devout they are. )

Catholics are growing by far the largest numbers and percentage, now you can argue that this is in part due to Hispanic Immigration and youd have a good point, but that does not account for such growth.

 

[JimG]

This Newsweek article may have been “news” back in the 1970’s, or even in 1986, the year in which Fr. Curran’s credentials to teach Catholic theology were finally suspended.

Now, it is just a nostalgia piece by an aging liberal cleric, lamenting what might have been. The tide has long since turned.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

Good point!
Also in the article, Curran says:
“Between 1975 and today, the number of Catholic priests in the United States has slid from nearly 60,000 to about 40,000. **Protestant churches, which allow their minsters to have families, have suffered no such struggles. I can only conclude that celibacy laws are to blame.**The shortage has created related problems… Some parishes are closing because no one can be found to lead them, while others remain open but no longer offer the eucharistic liturgy—the heart of Catholic faith and life—because there’s no priest to preside at it.”

IMHO, the shortage of priests has to do with the lack of faith among the people, not with the idea of celibacy. Vocations come from our Lord and are inspired by the Holy Spirit. If a person isn’t educated in the faith or comes from parents that don’t see weekly mass or prayer as important, how can that person have any chance of having a vocation?

Ok, everytime I read anything on this issue where someone insists that ordaining married men and women will increase vocations, the other side always cites studies showing that mainline Protestant denominations, even the ones that ordain women, are also suffering a clergy shortage. Where is Curran getting his numbers?

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[bhcordova]

He’s getting his statistics the same place most people get theirs - he made it up.

 

[OriginalJS]

I don’t think that there is any question that there is a shortage of priests in the US. In rural areas, like the one where I live now, one priest has to serve three churches and some nursing homes. He has no deacons to assist. Catholic churches are being closed and parishes consolidated. I have not seen any rural protestant churches close. In one large suburban church I know there are two priests, one experienced, the other young and in training. A couple of large protestant churches in the same area have several ordained ministers. I wonder if others have noticed this as well.

 

[Incomplete]

I don’t think that there is any question that there is a shortage of priests in the US. In rural areas, like the one where I live now, one priest has to serve three churches and some nursing homes. He has no deacons to assist. Catholic churches are being closed and parishes consolidated. I have not seen any rural protestant churches close. In one large suburban church I know there are two priests, one experienced, the other young and in training. A couple of large protestant churches in the same area have several ordained ministers. I wonder if others have noticed this as well.

A couple of comments:

First, regarding protestant churches with several ordained ministers, it’s good to remember that many of them have jobs in addition to their ministry. For example, a friend of mine is a counselor full-time, while also being one of several ministers at his church.

Second, here’s an article that explains in part why there are more Catholic closings than Protestant closings.

Here’s the Church But Where Are The People?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

This Newsweek article may have been “news” back in the 1970’s, or even in 1986, the year in which Fr. Curran’s credentials to teach Catholic theology were finally suspended.

Now, it is just a nostalgia piece by an aging liberal cleric, lamenting what might have been. The tide has long since turned.

I think it has, too. No where near as bad today than, say, 10-15 years ago. Still a lot of work to do, though.

 

[Corki]

This Newsweek article may have been “news” back in the 1970’s, or even in 1986, the year in which Fr. Curran’s credentials to teach Catholic theology were finally suspended.

Now, it is just a nostalgia piece by an aging liberal cleric, lamenting what might have been. The tide has long since turned.

So true.

Curran is a joke. OP, no need to feel sick over this or to lose any peace. He has been soundly discredited and hasn’t changed his tune in 30 years. He looks good on TV, however, so he keeps popping up once in a while.

In his own words:

The Vatican had finally had enough. “One who dissents from the Magisterium as you do,” the letter said, “is not suitable nor eligible to teach Catholic theology.”

Despite that rebuke, I remain a committed Catholic, a priest in good standing, and a professor of Catholic theology (albeit at a Methodist institution).

The Vatican told him not to teach Catholic theology but he claims to still be a professor of Catholic theology.

I guess a “committed” Catholic isn’t a faithful one, or an obedient one, or one serving the Church.

As for “priest in good standing” that just means he hasn’t been forbidden from saying Mass or hearing Confession. It doesn’t mean he has anyone’s “stamp of approval”. So his whole claim to fame is that he is “committed,” not defrocked, and eligible for hire by Protestants.

 

[1holycatholic]

So true.

Curran is a joke. OP, no need to feel sick over this or to lose any peace. He has been soundly discredited and hasn’t changed his tune in 30 years. He looks good on TV, however, so he keeps popping up once in a while.

In his own words:

The Vatican told him not to teach Catholic theology but he claims to still be a professor of Catholic theology.

I guess a “committed” Catholic isn’t a faithful one, or an obedient one, or one serving the Church.

As for “priest in good standing” that just means he hasn’t been forbidden from saying Mass or hearing Confession. It doesn’t mean he has anyone’s “stamp of approval”. So his whole claim to fame is that he is “committed,” not defrocked, and eligible for hire by Protestants.

“Good standing” aren’t the two words I would have chosen.

“Latæ Sententiæ” seems apropos. :coffeeread:

Can. 1364 vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P52.HTM

IANACL

 

[dragon]

We know from insurance returns that there is a higher rate of abuse in other denominations such as Protestantism, where the ‘‘Priests’’ are not celibate.

This rubbish about celibacy being the cause of pedophilia is absolute garbage, and is not supported by any evidence.

I was wondering if you could provide any links to support this evidence??

 

[JimG]

I don’t think that there is any question that there is a shortage of priests in the US. In rural areas, like the one where I live now, one priest has to serve three churches and some nursing homes. He has no deacons to assist. Catholic churches are being closed and parishes consolidated. I have not seen any rural protestant churches close. In one large suburban church I know there are two priests, one experienced, the other young and in training. A couple of large protestant churches in the same area have several ordained ministers. I wonder if others have noticed this as well.

Yes, there is a shortage. We do need more priests, but I think the tide is turning. In my own diocese last month there were five men ordained to the priesthood, along with four to the transitional diaconate. These men are solid, mature, committed to the Church, and see priesthood, not marriage, as their vocation.

This is far different from the decades immediately following Vatican II, when large numbers of young priests seemed to expect that the Church would soon universally approve a married priesthood, even though the Council never even addressed the issue. There was, in some cases, a certain naiveté and lack of maturity in evidence. Judging by the new priests I have met, that is no longer the case.