Bishops Rip Gibson; RCF Rip Bishops

[EddieArent]

**TO: **Cardinal William H. Keeler
Bishop Arthur J. Seratelli (Paterson NJ)
Bishop John J. Nevins (Venice FL)
Bishop Gerald Walsh (New York)
Bishop John Nienstedt (New Ulm)
All bishops of the USCCB

**FROM: **The Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc.

Recently, at the conclusion of one of your endless series of committee meetings (The Challenge of Mixed Marriage in American Life is Major Topic of U.S. Catholic-Jewish Consultation Committee), you issued the following statement: The Consultation also discussed the state of Jewish-Catholic relations in the wake of the film, “The Passion of the Christ,” which caused such deep and understandable concern within Jewish community world-wide. The film, it was noted, was in reality a modern version of the notorious medieval Passion Plays which so often over the centuries have triggered riots against the Jews of Europe. Happily, however, the film precipitated no such anti-Jewish violence. Rather, in many places it sparked discussions in which Catholics learned why Jews feared such dramatic depictions of the death of Jesus, and Jews learned that many Catholics today have taken to heart the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the Jews collectively cannot be held responsible “then or now” for Jesus’ death. It was noted as well that continuing work needs to be done among those who have not yet absorbed these official teachings of the Church.

Generally, we in the laity read your prodigious output of wordy, useless position statements and constant “pastoral” bloviating with a mixture of boredom and mild irritation. Occasionally, however, the U.S. Bishops come out with something that is so outrageous, so offensive, so truly malignant, that the laity cannot remain mute. And so it is with this, your latest piece of ecclesiastical drivel.

When we consider your words, we must reflect upon all that you have given the laity during the past several decades; to wit:

• You have destroyed our precious liturgy and replaced it with a quasi-heretical and saccharine floor show.
• You have corrupted our children with poisonous sex ed programs.
• You have allowed our children to be raped by perverted monsters in the clergy and have done everything in your power to cover up these crimes.
• You have destroyed our beautiful churches and Cathedrals and replaced them with ugly “churches” that resemble aircraft hangars or cement factories.
• You have squandered billions of dollars on useless or harmful “ministries” that are little more than glorified havens for left wing activists.
• You have persecuted holy and orthodox priests and nuns.
• You have denied priests their right to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, a right which no bishop or pastor of the Church can ever take away.
• You have destroyed the faith of millions by promoting false catechesis.
• You have turned away worthy candidates for the priesthood because they accepted the perennial teachings of the Church or because they opposed homosexuality.

The collective evil committed by the American Bishops dwarfs any harm committed in the Enron scandal, yet none of you have been sent to jail.

 

[EddieArent]

And now, when a man like Mel Gibson comes along and tries to glorify Our Lord with a movie, when he risks his personal fortune and reputation because Our Lord is despised by the World, you miserable serpents not only do not support him, but join with those who condemn his courageous and beautiful effort. Well, to you bishops, and to all the bishops of the USCCB, the Roman Catholic Faithful responds: **The movie The Passion of the Christ has done more to uplift the human heart, to bring souls to Christ, to increase holiness, and to glorify Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, than all the USCCB committees, subcommittees, documents, pastorals, letters, faxes and speeches put together. **

 

[Church_Militant]

OUCH!

There’s nothing like charity…

 

[fix]

Very good. The USCCB deserves a much harsher tongue lasing than that. Shall we count up all that has gone wrong over the last 40 or so years and how the good bishops have responded? Catechesis is almost nonexistent, the faithful hold moral views that are no different from the pagan culture, most Church going Catholics contracept, the homosexual abuse scandal is ever present, you can go into any McDonalds in the USA and know what you are getting, the same can’t be said of every mass in the Latin rite of the Church in this country. Who knows what type of liturgical abuse or error one will be subjected to. I could rant more…

 

[bones_IV]

fix:

Very good. The USCCB deserves a much harsher tongue lasing than that. Shall we count up all that has gone wrong over the last 40 or so years and how the good bishops have responded? Catechesis is almost nonexistent, the faithful hold moral views that are no different from the pagan culture, most Church going Catholics contracept, the homosexual abuse scandal is ever present, you can go into any McDonalds in the USA and know what you are getting, the same can’t be said of every mass in the Latin rite of the Church in this country. Who knows what type of liturgical abuse or error one will be subjected to. I could rant more…

The leadership in the church of America is shameful and embarrasing to John Paul II. Given the false ecumenism being promoted by many of these bishops, liturgical experimentation, tearing down the holy father. Their true colors are showing and good 75% of them voted for Kerry and are hypocrites. They preach but do not practice. If some of these people do not repent they will burn in hell for eternity! Not everyone will be saved.

Padre Pio “Don’t worry, work and pray.”

 

[Hildebrand]

EddieArent:

When we consider your words, we must reflect upon all that you have given the laity during the past several decades; to wit:

• You have destroyed our precious liturgy and replaced it with a quasi-heretical and saccharine floor show.
• You have corrupted our children with poisonous sex ed programs.
• You have allowed our children to be raped by perverted monsters in the clergy and have done everything in your power to cover up these crimes.
• You have destroyed our beautiful churches and Cathedrals and replaced them with ugly ?churches? that resemble aircraft hangars or cement factories.
• You have squandered billions of dollars on useless or harmful ?ministries? that are little more than glorified havens for left wing activists.
• You have persecuted holy and orthodox priests and nuns.
• You have denied priests their right to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, a right which no bishop or pastor of the Church can ever take away.
• You have destroyed the faith of millions by promoting false catechesis.
• You have turned away worthy candidates for the priesthood because they accepted the perennial teachings of the Church or because they opposed homosexuality.

The collective evil committed by the American Bishops dwarfs any harm committed in the Enron scandal, yet none of you have been sent to jail.

Given the bishops are successors to the apostles, they ought to have been treated with more respect. Otherwise, the “laity” hit the nail right on the head.

I’ll give it another…

 

[BLB_Oregon]

Please retract this. The disrespect and mischaracterization in this piece rises to slander. I think your criticism of our Mass is self-important, not to mention just plain wrong. You may like it better the way it was, but even implying a charge of heresy is totally out of line.

I’m appalled that you think your disagreements over church decor and architecture rise to the level of fighting evil. As for the abuse scandal, you might think about giving the bishops some credit for making the changes that they have. We all know how many families covered up this kind of abuse. Let’s not act so holier-than-our-bishops. If you’re only going to stay in a Church that’s perfect, you’d better start a new one. Good luck to you; we only been able to gain access to mere sinful mortals to fill this one.

You seem to be mad at the bishops because they aren’t running the Church to suit you. You’re fine with obedience, I guess, so long as you agree with what you’re hearing. If not, you think it is your right to take them to task from the rooftops. Consider examining yourself on this, would you? Perhaps you could bring your complaints directly to the bishops, and in a more respectful manner.

 

[Island_Oak]

BLB_Oregon:

Please retract this. The disrespect and mischaracterization in this piece rises to slander. I think your criticism of our Mass is self-important, not to mention just plain wrong. You may like it better the way it was, but even implying a charge of heresy is totally out of line.

I’m appalled that you think your disagreements over church decor and architecture rise to the level of fighting evil. As for the abuse scandal, you might think about giving the bishops some credit for making the changes that they have. We all know how many families covered up this kind of abuse. Let’s not act so holier-than-our-bishops. If you’re only going to stay in a Church that’s perfect, you’d better start a new one. Good luck to you; we only been able to gain access to mere sinful mortals to fill this one.

You seem to be mad at the bishops because they aren’t running the Church to suit you. You’re fine with obedience, I guess, so long as you agree with what you’re hearing. If not, you think it is your right to take them to task from the rooftops. Consider examining yourself on this, would you? Perhaps you could bring your complaints directly to the bishops, and in a more respectful manner.

AMEN and DITTO.

 

[rwoehmke]

BLB_Oregon:

Please retract this. The disrespect and mischaracterization in this piece rises to slander. I think your criticism of our Mass is self-important, not to mention just plain wrong. You may like it better the way it was, but even implying a charge of heresy is totally out of line.

I’m appalled that you think your disagreements over church decor and architecture rise to the level of fighting evil. As for the abuse scandal, you might think about giving the bishops some credit for making the changes that they have. We all know how many families covered up this kind of abuse. Let’s not act so holier-than-our-bishops. If you’re only going to stay in a Church that’s perfect, you’d better start a new one. Good luck to you; we only been able to gain access to mere sinful mortals to fill this one.

You seem to be mad at the bishops because they aren’t running the Church to suit you. You’re fine with obedience, I guess, so long as you agree with what you’re hearing. If not, you think it is your right to take them to task from the rooftops. Consider examining yourself on this, would you? Perhaps you could bring your complaints directly to the bishops, and in a more respectful manner.

I agree absolutely. It is difficult for me to stomach the venom and off-the-wall anger by the thread poster. Evidently anything he/she diagrees with puts their unders in a bunch. May the Lord deliver us from this kind of “LOYAL” Catholic.

 

[jlw]

The response here may fall into the “too easliy offended” category.

 

[EddieArent]

Instead of getting emotional with the RCF and Mr. Brady, could you point out where in the press release they are in error?

You may dislike the tone, it’s your right. But the press release makes valid points. People have been mellow for so long. What has it given us?
%between%

 

[mlchance]

BLB_Oregon:

Please retract this. The disrespect and mischaracterization in this piece rises to slander.

Not so. Slander, which is a verb, is spoken. The charges, if false, are libel.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[sbcoral]

**TO: **Cardinal William H. Keeler
Bishop Arthur J. Seratelli (Paterson NJ)
Bishop John J. Nevins (Venice FL)
Bishop Gerald Walsh (New York)
Bishop John Nienstedt (New Ulm)
All bishops of the USCCB

**FROM: **The Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc.

Recently, at the conclusion of one of your endless series of committee meetings (The Challenge of Mixed Marriage in American Life is Major Topic of U.S. Catholic-Jewish Consultation Committee), you issued the following statement: The Consultation also discussed the state of Jewish-Catholic relations in the wake of the film, “The Passion of the Christ,” which caused such deep and understandable concern within Jewish community world-wide. The film, it was noted, was in reality a modern version of the notorious medieval Passion Plays which so often over the centuries have triggered riots against the Jews of Europe. Happily, however, the film precipitated no such anti-Jewish violence. Rather, in many places it sparked discussions in which Catholics learned why Jews feared such dramatic depictions of the death of Jesus, and Jews learned that many Catholics today have taken to heart the teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the Jews collectively cannot be held responsible “then or now” for Jesus’ death. It was noted as well that continuing work needs to be done among those who have not yet absorbed these official teachings of the Church.

must reflect upon all that you have given the laity during the past several decades; to wit:

• You have destroyed our precious liturgy and replaced it with a quasi-heretical and saccharine floor show.
• You have corrupted our children with poisonous sex ed programs.
• You have allowed our children to be raped by perverted monsters in the clergy and have done everything in your power to cover up these crimes.
• You have destroyed our beautiful churches and Cathedrals and replaced them with ugly “churches” that resemble aircraft hangars or cement factories.
• You have squandered billions of dollars on useless or harmful “ministries” that are little more than glorified havens for left wing activists.
• You have persecuted holy and orthodox priests and nuns.
• You have denied priests their right to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, a right which no bishop or pastor of the Church can ever take away.
• You have destroyed the faith of millions by promoting false catechesis.
• You have turned away worthy candidates for the priesthood because they accepted the perennial teachings of the Church or because they opposed homosexuality.

The collective evil committed by the American Bishops dwarfs any harm committed in the Enron scandal, yet none of you have been sent to jail.

This post doesn’t even make any sense to me. The quotation from the Catholic bishops’ committee is a reasonable statement about reasonable concerns about Gibson’s movie. I see no connection, though, between this simple statement and the vitriolic attack on our bishops that follows. What the heck?
Is the “Roman Catholic Faithful” really a Catholic organization?

 

[TPJCatholic]

I feel that we must show more love towards our Bishops. The last few decades have been a time of great upheveal and turmoil for the Church in the United States, the culture has helped to lead many people astray and the Bishops are only now beginning to “catch-up.” I feel that we have turned a corner, the future looks very bright…and in three years we will likely have Cardinal George as the president of the conference.
Take note that during this last election cycle there were many heated arguments and discussions across the nation regarding core Catholic teachings…we have NOT had that much public discourse regarding Catholic teachings in a very long time–there is a growing awakening in this country and it will still take time for all of this to take strong root.

There are some truly wonderful men being ordained.

Young people flock to our Pope.

Young people are starved for actual truth.

In the youth, the Church has hope!

 

[BLB_Oregon]

mlchance:

Not so. Slander, which is a verb, is spoken. The charges, if false, are libel.

– Mark L. Chance.

You are quite right… I think of this forum as verbal, but it is not.

 

[jlw]

TPJCatholic:

I feel that we must show more love towards our Bishops. The last few decades have been a time of great upheveal and turmoil for the Church in the United States, the culture has helped to lead many people astray and the Bishops are only now beginning to “catch-up.” I feel that we have turned a corner, the future looks very bright…and in three years we will likely have Cardinal George as the president of the conference.
Take note that during this last election cycle there were many heated arguments and discussions across the nation regarding core Catholic teachings…we have NOT had that much public discourse regarding Catholic teachings in a very long time–there is a growing awakening in this country and it will still take time for all of this to take strong root.

There are some truly wonderful men being ordained.

Young people flock to our Pope.

Young people are starved for actual truth.

In the youth, the Church has hope!

I, for one, have no problem whatsoever criticizing the performance and administrative decisions of our bishops.

With that said, I agree with everything else you said. Great post!

 

[Panis_Angelicas]

I unfortunately, agree with many if not most or all of the charges against our shepherds.

And I don’t believe that families covered up anything when their children were molested. I think many didn’t know until much later, and those that did find out sooner, took what they thought was appropriate action. Too bad the bishops didn’t take appropriate action. They permitted the seminaries to become hotbeds of homosexual activity and deterred many devout heterosexual men from being ordained.

I thank God for His promise that our Church will prevail against even the jaws of death. Without that assurance, I’d fear for the Church’s survival.

As St. John Chrysostom said, ***“The floors of hell are paved with the skulls of bishops.” ***

---

To whom much is given, much is required. Woe to the shepherds who fail to guard and nourish the souls of the sheep entrusted to them.

 

[HagiaSophia]

jlw:

The response here may fall into the “too easliy offended” category.

GMTA - Dennis Prager just popped right into my mind as I read them.

Have you seen the thread on Bishops as Teachers?

 

[rwoehmke]

mlchance:

Not so. Slander, which is a verb, is spoken. The charges, if false, are libel.-- Mark L. Chance.

Unfortunenately slander is also a noun and so is calumny. One is lying about someone while the other is telling the truth either of which tarnish someones character. Whether it is verbal or written down hardly matters, both can be grave sin. Watcha you mout and you pen my friend.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

BLB_Oregon:

You are quite right… I think of this forum as verbal, but it is not.

Still, for a charge to be slander, the accusations have to be false. Unfortunately, this letter peels back the covering of a festering, neglected sore.