Cardinal Sean O. O’Malley is now a superstar of the Catholic Church

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

My understanding is the Catholic Culture of Boston has been lost. It hasn’t gotten any better under his watch.
Vocations continue to decline and the base of Mass Catholics are ignornant of or in open hostility to the magistarium of the Catholic Church.
I’m now far IIIremoved from the Northeast so maybe I’m missing something.
I not blaming him for this, I even think Cardinal Law inherited a mess. Most of the complaints predates him by years.

Your understanding seems to be unfounded. Catholic culture is the same in Boston as it is in New York, Washington, etc.

As to Vocations, that, too, is unfounded. The College Seminary where I will be attending in the Fall had to TURN MEN AWAY due to overflowing and lack of room for them. Vocations are steadily on the rise. And while His Eminence may be too humble to admit it, he has been an inspiration for all of us, he is a beacon of Holiness in a secular and treacherous sea.

 

[bellasbane]

Your understanding seems to be unfounded. Catholic culture is the same in Boston as it is in New York, Washington, etc.

As to Vocations, that, too, is unfounded. The College Seminary where I will be attending in the Fall had to TURN MEN AWAY due to overflowing and lack of room for them. Vocations are steadily on the rise. And while His Eminence may be too humble to admit it, he has been an inspiration for all of us, he is a beacon of Holiness in a secular and treacherous sea.

That is great news! I wish you all the best.

 

[JReducation]

He does make a mistake in his blog, though.

This pope is not Hispanic. He is of Italian blood only.

That is not a mistake. The Pope is Hispanic.

1. Hispanic is a language group. He is Argentine by birth.
2. The Pope himself says “I am Argentine. My parents were Italian.”

One has to understand that in the former English colonies, for some strange reason, we still refer to our parent’s place of birth as our nationality. We use races, ethnicities and language groups interchangeably when they are not the same. To us, as Americans, we would look at Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Italian. However, Italians do not see him as Italian. South Americans do not see themselves as Europeans. They refer to themselves by the country of birth.

For example, the pope is Aregentine. That’s his nationality.

His parents are Italian. That’s his ancestry, not his nationality nor his ethnic group.

Argentines are Hispanics, regardless of where their ancestors came from, usually: Spain, England, Italy, Germany and Israel.

Finally, there are caucasian, some black, some Asian and some mestizos in Aregentina. Those are their racial groupings.

We have to be careful not to impose our American way of doing things on the rest of the world. The way that we and Canadians identify ourselves is not the way that the rest of the world uses.

I taught with a woman who was from South Africa. Her parents were Dutch. She never referred to herself as Dutch. She would say, “My parents are Dutch.”

In my own case, my mother was Israeli. I am American. I don’t identify myself as Israeli.

The Cardinal knows South America very well. He was a missionary there. He was also a delegate to the Capuchin Franciscans in South America, which outnumber the Franciscans in the USA. He worked with the South America, Central American and Caribbean bishops for many years. He was himself a Caribbean bishop.

For more than 10 years he was the senior diocesan authority in Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Washington. He lived and worked among Central and South Americans during that time, literally.

He is also a member of the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic LIfe. He’s the one who monitors religious life for South America.

He understands the many cultures of South America pretty well.

How do I know this? We’ve been close friends since 1971.

 

[JMJSHJ]

And you know for a fact, that Mr. Kennedy did not confess before he died?

We are told that Mr. Kennedy did make a confession before he passed away and I sincerely hope he is in Heaven.

However what my objection was the Public aspect of it. Since he never publicly recanted those things he did in favor of abortion as a legislator, then he shouldn’t have had a public Catholic Funeral Mass.

Here is a thread concerning this that explain it better than me

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=379059

 

[polki]

But I tell you this, the lay rebellion that has risen at certain former Parishes that I will not name is utterly disgraceful.

I don’t think that people who have not been directly affected by parish closings really understand the negative impact. I’m not quite sure what exactly you are referring to as “disgraceful” but certainly the laity have reason to be upset when their parish closes and they have the right to fight to keep it open. My parish saw four generations of my family receive the sacraments. It was a huge part of the social scene around here. It had a financial surplus because of the generous donations of the parishioners. Local priests offered to volunteer their time to say Masses there so that it could remain open, yet these requests fell upon deaf ears. Truly a whole community was scattered because of the Archdiocese decision. Wanting to keep a viable parish open is not disgraceful. It is actually a good thing.

 

[polki]

I could be uncharitable and say the RCAB was “disgraceful” in closing parishes for no reason other than financial gain. Think about if you have a small successful business which is beneficial to the community and all of a sudden the “powers that be” tell you that you will have to close because the city needs the money to pay off its debts. You did nothing wrong. You weren’t involved in incurring that debt. Yet, you are now suddenly another casualty in the whole scheme of things.
Fewer churches in the city are not good and being upset that your church has to close is certainly justified. Now Cardinal O’Malley is considered a “superstar”? He could have combined the parishes back then instead of closing them. He did not because RCAB needed money from the properties. I don’t know who was consulting the RCAB on financial matters but two wrongs don’t make a right. And blaming the victims for being justifiable upset is not very charitable.
Another fact: we proposed combining with the larger parish in our area, but the larger parish did not want us. It would have been “too much for them to handle.” So much for Christian charity. Yet this is essentially the same thing Cardinal O’Malley is proposing years later and he is just super. My old parish was not a burden on anyone and did not deserve the treatment it got.

 

[rfournier103]

In the case of my old parish, we were told point blank that it was slated to be closed because of the financial burden of the sex abuse lawsuits.

Absolutely disgraceful. This never should have happened in the first place. There are two thing that make me very angry…

1. American jobs being sent to China.
2. The sex abuse scandal that will not go away.

There is so much I would love to say, but I would hate to be reprimanded for it. I just hate that good people who have done no wrong are suffering because of “The Scandal.” I am not happy that two Parishes in town are being merged and ALL of our Priests are being moved away.

Forgive me, truly, but who are you to say that His Eminence is “better” or worse than any other prelate? Furthermore none of the Faithful, be them of Boston or otherwise, know of the inner circumstances of these decisions. This new Pastoral Planning Initiative can be frightful, but it is being lead with the utmost prudence and sensitivity. I have been graced to be the Son of rather Affluent Parishes, so I have never experienced these closures which seem focused on the cities. But I tell you this, the lay rebellion that has risen at certain former Parishes that I will not name is utterly disgraceful.

I will sooner trust in the care and declarations of His Eminence the Archbishop on what does and does not strengthen Catholic Community, and what is and is not necessary for the times.

With all due respect, Bl. Pope Pius IX… I am certainly entitled to my opinion; especially since it affects myself and thousands of others. I do not like this new Pastoral Planning Initiative. If His Eminence could give some specifics about how this makes my Parish, and our neighboring Parish better, I would like to hear it. We certainly haven’t heard anything from Cardinal O’Malley yet.

Naturally, the Priests that are leaving us must publicly say it’s a good thing; but I have yet to hear one peep about HOW this benefits the Faithful.

I would RESPECTFULLY ask His Eminence to explain why this is being done.

I don’t think that people who have not been directly affected by parish closings really understand the negative impact. I’m not quite sure what exactly you are referring to as “disgraceful” but certainly the laity have reason to be upset when their parish closes and they have the right to fight to keep it open. My parish saw four generations of my family receive the sacraments. It was a huge part of the social scene around here. It had a financial surplus because of the generous donations of the parishioners. Local priests offered to volunteer their time to say Masses there so that it could remain open, yet these requests fell upon deaf ears. Truly a whole community was scattered because of the Archdiocese decision. Wanting to keep a viable parish open is not disgraceful. It is actually a good thing.

Amen.

I could be uncharitable and say the RCAB was “disgraceful” in closing parishes for no reason other than financial gain. Think about if you have a small successful business which is beneficial to the community and all of a sudden the “powers that be” tell you that you will have to close because the city needs the money to pay off its debts. You did nothing wrong. You weren’t involved in incurring that debt. Yet, you are now suddenly another casualty in the whole scheme of things.
Fewer churches in the city are not good and being upset that your church has to close is certainly justified. Now Cardinal O’Malley is considered a “superstar”? He could have combined the parishes back then instead of closing them. He did not because RCAB needed money from the properties. I don’t know who was consulting the RCAB on financial matters but two wrongs don’t make a right. And blaming the victims for being justifiably upset is not very charitable.
Another fact: we proposed combining with the larger parish in our area, but the larger parish did not want us. It would have been “too much for them to handle.” So much for Christian charity. Yet this is essentially the same thing Cardinal O’Malley is proposing years later and he is just super. My old parish was not a burden on anyone and did not deserve the treatment it got.

Cardinal O’Malley is many things. A good and holy man? Check. A good Archbishop? Check. Perceived by many as an improvement over his predecessor? Check.

A superstar…?

The aftermath of “The Scandal” and how it’s affected so many in the Archdiocese is a painful topic. If you are not a victim of “The Scandal,” or a member of a Parish that has had to close or merge; I don’t think you can really understand how damaging it has been.

 

[CaptFun]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-DOdKdBv7vpxowm1F-yrfRnqBPJzQgrbGqa1-v88Zgs0gJn36Ww

" and if you ever need help Sister, remember … just dial “O” for O’Malley!" *

Then she did … and got the operator!

• not the Cardinal … but another O’Malley whose was of the clergy … and a superstar.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

That is great news! I wish you all the best.

Pray for me and all of us.

I don’t think that people who have not been directly affected by parish closings really understand the negative impact. I’m not quite sure what exactly you are referring to as “disgraceful” but certainly the laity have reason to be upset when their parish closes and they have the right to fight to keep it open. My parish saw four generations of my family receive the sacraments. It was a huge part of the social scene around here. It had a financial surplus because of the generous donations of the parishioners. Local priests offered to volunteer their time to say Masses there so that it could remain open, yet these requests fell upon deaf ears. Truly a whole community was scattered because of the Archdiocese decision. Wanting to keep a viable parish open is not disgraceful. It is actually a good thing.

I agree, that wanting to keep a Parish open is not disgraceful. Perhaps I phrased myself wrong. The Lay Rebellion that has been mounted in several former Parishes in which they berate the Archbishop, picket in front of a building, give treacherous interviews to reporters, are divisive. This Catholic church of ours must hold fast to the Bishop, and even if we may not approve of some acts taken place, we must hold fast. I remember when St. Augustine’s Grammar School down in Southie closed down. The words from the parents were repulsive and infuriating. They slandered His Eminence to no end!

Ultimately, wanting for a Parish to remain open is good, it is healthy, and it is loyal. However, once what is done is done, we must adapt and march on, find a new home, and pray for the Archdiocese and the good Archbishop.

With all due respect, Bl. Pope Pius IX… I am certainly entitled to my opinion; especially since it affects myself and thousands of others. I do not like this new Pastoral Planning Initiative. If His Eminence could give some specifics about how this makes my Parish, and our neighboring Parish better, I would like to hear it. We certainly haven’t heard anything from Cardinal O’Malley yet.

Oh, I didn’t realize you didn’t like the Pastoral Planning initiative. Well, since you don’t like it then we’ll just have to throw it out, huh? What difference would it make if you, me, or anyone knew what it is about? Ours is not to reason why. It is what needs to be done. It pains us all to see historic Parishes like Old Holy Trinity, St. Augustine, and Blessed Sacrament, but what is needed to be done, will be done.

Naturally, the Priests that are leaving us must publicly say it’s a good thing; but I have yet to hear one peep about HOW this benefits the Faithful.

It has been widely noted that it is to combat the shortage of Priests phase II of the Initiative will take effect in 2015.

I would RESPECTFULLY ask His Eminence to explain why this is being done.

As said above, it is to combat the shortage of priests and shifting resources where they are needed.

 

[rfournier103]

Oh, I didn’t realize you didn’t like the Pastoral Planning initiative. Well, since you don’t like it then we’ll just have to throw it out, huh? What difference would it make if you, me, or anyone knew what it is about? Ours is not to reason why. It is what needs to be done. It pains us all to see historic Parishes like Old Holy Trinity, St. Augustine, and Blessed Sacrament, but what is needed to be done, will be done.

I can assure you that I am far from alone in my dislike of the Pastoral Planning Initiative.

I would like to PM you with my feelings about this thread. It’s not as bad as you think, but I would like to discuss this further with you, if I may. Thank you.

 

[polki]

The aftermath of “The Scandal” and how it’s affected so many in the Archdiocese is a painful topic. If you are not a victim of “The Scandal,” or a member of a Parish that has had to close or merge; I don’t think you can really understand how damaging it has been.

True. In some cases, it will take generations to return fully to the Church. People should pray for them. Remember, the Archdiocese of Boston was hit with a 1-2-3 punch: 1) sex abuse scandals 2) church closings 3) marriage being re-defined by the state. This all happened back-to-back over the course of only a few years. For many Boston area Catholics, it was too much to handle. Life as we knew it changed so much, so quickly. Much healing still needs to be done.

 

[polki]

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-DOdKdBv7vpxowm1F-yrfRnqBPJzQgrbGqa1-v88Zgs0gJn36Ww

" and if you ever need help Sister, remember … just dial “O” for O’Malley!" *

Then she did … and got the operator!

• not the Cardinal … but another O’Malley whose was of the clergy … and a superstar.

LOL! Funny. Thanks for the laugh!

 

[tafan]

He does make a mistake in his blog, though.

This pope is not Hispanic. He is of Italian blood only.

You need to brush up on your vocabulary. Hispanic means that one’s primary/first language is Spansih

 

[JReducation]

You need to brush up on your vocabulary. Hispanic means that one’s primary/first language is Spansih

You are correct.

As posted before, outside of the North America people do not hold on to the nationalities of their parents. That’s an American and Canadian thing.

You don’t hear South Americans say

“I’m Spanish”

“I’m Italian”

“I’m English”

“I’m Portuguese”

My favorite is the silly one that we do in the USA: I’m 1/8 Cherokee, 1/8 Scottish, 1/4 British, 1/4 German and 1/4 Jewish.

First of all, you’re a mutt like most Americans and Canadians. Secondly, Jewish is not a national identity.

People from around the world identify themselves by the place of their birth. Someday, someone will have to help me understand why we don’t do the same in North America.

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

I can assure you that I am far from alone in my dislike of the Pastoral Planning Initiative.

But obedience, loyalty, and acceptance of the matter must be made immediately after the Phases are executed.

I would like to PM you with my feelings about this thread. It’s not as bad as you think, but I would like to discuss this further with you, if I may. Thank you.

Feel free to do so.

 

[gus]

You are correct.

As posted before, outside of the North America people do not hold on to the nationalities of their parents. That’s an American and Canadian thing.

You don’t hear South Americans say

“I’m Spanish”

“I’m Italian”

“I’m English”

“I’m Portuguese”

My favorite is the silly one that we do in the USA: I’m 1/8 Cherokee, 1/8 Scottish, 1/4 British, 1/4 German and 1/4 Jewish.

First of all, you’re a mutt like most Americans and Canadians. Secondly, Jewish is not a national identity.

People from around the world identify themselves by the place of their birth. Someday, someone will have to help me understand why we don’t do the same in North America.

It was beat into my grandparents they coming from Italy
they were not true Americans
The racism was not quite as bad in Latin America
Like it or not racism has been a North American trait.
Perhaps a residual from the Calvinist Elect

 

[JReducation]

It was beat into my grandparents they coming from Italy
they were not true Americans
The racism was not quite as bad in Latin America
Like it or not racism has been a North American trait.
Perhaps a residual from the Calvinist Elect

The bold is mine.

That’s a really interesting thought. Thanks for that.

Other countries where Calvinists were not a strong force would not have had this “elect” mentality. Therefore, if you were an Italian immigrant and your children were born in Argentina, in your mind, they would be Argentine, not Italian. You wouldn’t drill this into their heads.

This may also explain why the Pope speaks Italian with a Spanish accent. From what I heard his parents spoke Italian at home. He did not learn it in a formal setting. Like many other homes, as the younger children came, the spoke less and less the parent’s native language or spoke it with an accent. In his case, it would have been a Spanish accent.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Well whatya know- I learned something
I have heard commentators call him Latino, though

 

[Tampa_Dave]

Imagine the shock to my German Protestant grandmother when my Dad married a woman who was not only of direct Italian descent, but actually Sicilian and Catholic. Of course, my siblings and I were baptized Catholic and attended Catholic schools. It took years for Hilda to recover…

 

[JReducation]

Well whatya know- I learned something
I have heard commentators call him Latino, though

Latino is anyone from Latin America. He is Latino.

Stop and think. Greenland, where is it? It’s in North America. The people of Greenland are North American. However, Americans and Canadians do not think of them as North Americans for some strange reason. We do this with people Like Pope Francis. I wonder if the people of North America are more tied to Europe than they know.