Mikew,
First you talk about Bishop Burke’s actions and now you talk about Bishop Braxton’s actions.
Is this becoming a hobby for you?
Are you going to work your way down the alphabet…you’re on the “B’s”.
I’ve read about this situation and am familiar with Belleville. I have family there.
Liberal theology, sex scandal, new-age changes to the mass, liturgy, prayers etc etc. - it is obvious to me that the 2/3 of the…whatevers are trying to keep the status quo and so are hoping to pile up the lies against Bishop Braxton.
The smoke of Satan. That’s what is happening here. Bishop Braxton ( God bless him) might be confronted with the same situation as Bishop Burke very soon.
I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that excommunication is a forthcoming decision that is weighing heavily on the Bishop’s mind.
Any excuse, however murky or muddled is good enough for the new-age, liberal, heretics who prefer to compromise catholicity for the popular trends of this age.
2/3rds…a small number to get rid of as compared to 1/3 of angels expelled from heaven during that rebellion.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
You know, Mike CAN be supportive of the bishops when they speak in an orthodox way on matters of faith and morals, and yet disagree with how they conduct themselves in day-to-day dealings in their dioceses. If he feels that Burke was peremptory in how he initially handled St. Stanislaus (an opinion I happen to share), or feels that Bp. Braxton created an appearance of impropriety so egregious that would it rise to a level that would lead to dismissal in other organizational situations, Mike is entitled to those thoughts.
I don’t know enough about the Belleville situation to hold an opinion about Braxton’s actions. I do know, as a St. Louisan, that I have been sick unto death at the scandals that have especially plagued that diocese locally for so many years. I strongly suspect the scandals were the result of lax or even liberal diocesan leadership, a la “
Farewell Good Men”. Good leadership is needed to bring such things to heel. I admire Burke for being such a leader, even if I think that he misdirected his energies in how he handled St. Stan’s. St. Stan’s was NOT a hotbed of problems until he tried to arm-wrestle with them over financial control of the parish.
I have been in a position to know that at least a couple of convents in the greater St. Louis area are loaded with nuns whose private opinions and activities are in open rebellion against the public policies of the Magisterium. (That is to say, I know of nuns in at least two distinct orders who belong to organizations, even lead local chapters of organizations, which advocate priestly ordination for women, same-sex advocacy, pro-choice advocacy, and so forth).
The fact that Roman Catholic bishops have in the past not taken a firm hand in disciplining such things represent a minor deterrent to my considering the RCC as an alternative to my own Episcopal church. Frankly, it looks to me as if the same problems which are capsizing the TEC are lurking in the wings to do the same to the RCC, and too many Catholic bishops are largely allowing this situation to persist in much the same way Episcopal bishops allowed it in the 1940s, '50’s and 60’s. Y’all are just taking a little longer than we did to apostatise.
In any case: I have no doubt that if Braxton is the sort of man who would stand up to such abuses in Belleville, the popular press would roast him alive at every turn.
On the other hand, he may just be a jerk with a pointy hat and a crosier. I dunno. Anyhow, Mike isn’t doing anything wrong by wondering if Braxton might not be culpable for the financial issues that have come up recently.
