Chicago laity wants to pick

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dirt
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
It can’t be a bad thing because the Church allows it, and it won’t lead to democrazation of the Chuch, unless the Pope allows it. The faithful can make their needs, concerns and hopes known, but it’s up to the Church to make the final decision.

The article quotes the canon as saying this:

Canon law 212 - § 2 reads: “Christ’s faithful are at liberty to make known their needs, especially their spiritual needs, and their wishes to the Pastors of the Church.”
And § 3 reads: They have the right, indeed at times the duty, in keeping with their knowledge, competence and position, to manifest to the sacred Pastors their views on matters which concern the good of the Church.”
 
I’m doubtful that I would want the laity of Chicago picking bishops, although they are certainly entitled to voice their needs. The article mentions that “they fear that a pastor who is entirely oriented towards orthodoxy” will be chosen.

But of course, the first and primary job of any bishop is to preserve orthodoxy. He is a successor to the apostles. Handing down the faith intact and whole–preserving orthodoxy–is his job.
 
JimG said:
I’m doubtful that I would want the laity of Chicago picking bishops, although they are certainly entitled to voice their needs. The article mentions that “they fear that a pastor who is entirely oriented towards orthodoxy” will be chosen.

But of course, the first and primary job of any bishop is to preserve orthodoxy. He is a successor to the apostles. Handing down the faith intact and whole–preserving orthodoxy–is his job.
Click to expand...
Exactly Jim, and i feel that this Chicago effort is to preclude one such as San Francisco. They are afraid of a Bishop who will not rubber stamp the likes of Fr. Flagler, et al.
 
More specifically, they are certainly entitled and even encouraged, to discuss what they feel their needs are in a new bishop.

But that is decidedly different from being able to pick their next bishop, or do more than make their desires known.

After that, the final decision is reserved to the Holy See with the primary (name removed by moderator)ut coming from the USCCB and the Papal Nuncio.
 
There was another thread about this a while back, or at least I think there was. I concur with what seems to be the consensus so far on this thread. They absolutely have a right to express their needs, and even their desires should they choose to. However, that is where it stops. They do not have the right to demand, elect, etc. The Church is not a democracy at the end of the day. She has a divine charge to give us what we need, not what we think we want. Just like our physical mothers often had to give us something we might not have wanted because it was what was best for us, our spiritual mother, the Church, must do the same.
 
If they are angry at how the new bishop would be orthodox, then he’s doing a very good job. 🙂
 
Dirt said:
Catholics in Chicago are weighing in on what type of Bishop should replace +Cardinal George:
vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/stati-uniti-estados-unidos-united-states-19007/

Do y’all think this is a good thing? Or does this lend itself to a democratization of the Church?
Click to expand...
Forget it. That’s not how the Church works. You’re trying to turn the Church into the American government, and trust me, one American government is more than enough for the world to have to stomach.

People are trying to substitute politics for religion. And they’re going to be left empty-handed because politics is just politics. Winning an argument is not God.
 
Dirt said:
Catholics in Chicago are weighing in on what type of Bishop should replace +Cardinal George:
vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/stati-uniti-estados-unidos-united-states-19007/

Do y’all think this is a good thing? Or does this lend itself to a democratization of the Church?
Click to expand...
You know, somebody once said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” I surely don’t feel quite that strongly in this case, but it would be nice if people could distinguish the what of the opinions at issue here (they are liberals!) from the mere fact of expressing themselves. Would it ever occur to you to respond to somebody in this way?:
A. I’m thinking of getting a group together and petitioning the bishop for a TLM.
B. That is contributing to “a democratization of the church”! Which is not “a good thing.”
Of course, there are times when merely expressing an opinion is offensive and meddlesome. When members of non-Catholic churches start telling us how we should run the show, they deserve a reminder that it is None Of Their Business. But that is not the case here. And while I’m sure I disagree on substance with the people mentioned in this article – I for one would be extremely happy to see, say, Bishop Perry promoted to fill his boss’s job – the solution is not to make it clear that ordinary Catholics are not welcome to voice their views.
 
Dirt said:
Catholics in Chicago are weighing in on what type of Bishop should replace +Cardinal George:
vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/stati-uniti-estados-unidos-united-states-19007/

Do y’all think this is a good thing? Or does this lend itself to a democratization of the Church?
Click to expand...
Not sure where this is coming from. I live in Chicago and I haven’t heard any of this. Those who think they are going to get to pick the next bishop are going to be - and should be - severely disappointed.
 
Crescentinus said:
If they are angry at how the new bishop would be orthodox, then he’s doing a very good job. 🙂
Click to expand...
To be honest he hasn’t cracked down on the liberals as much as I had hoped when he took over. One example, he caved when dealing with Pfleger.
 
iloveangels said:
Forget it. That’s not how the Church works. You’re trying to turn the Church into the American government, and trust me, one American government is more than enough for the world to have to stomach.

People are trying to substitute politics for religion. And they’re going to be left empty-handed because politics is just politics. Winning an argument is not God.
Click to expand...
:amen:

The final authority rests with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

And, I’ve read reports that have said that Pope Benedict has over-ruled even the suggestions of Papal Nuncios in many cases. IE: The Papal Nuncio will normally recommend three priests or religious who are considered to be the “top picks” to be a Bishop (or whatever station it is)… and Pope Benedict will somehow find a completely different candidate who he prefers.

I’ve heard that Pope Benedict is a micro-manager when it comes to appointing Bishops and so forth, and I think the fruits of his actions have been widely felt throughout the whole Church. He’s restructuring the Church one Bishop and one Cardinal at a time.

Long Live Pope Benedict XVI!!! May the Lord continually grant him health and safety!!!
 
Semper_Zelare said:
I’ve heard that Pope Benedict is a micro-manager when it comes to appointing Bishops and so forth,
Click to expand...
Good! The decision of who will be elevated to the Episcopate is perhaps the most important that the Holy Father has to make. He should be personally involved with each and every one, and make sure that every last one of them is the right choice.
and I think the fruits of his actions have been widely felt throughout the whole Church. He’s restructuring the Church one Bishop and one Cardinal at a time.
Click to expand...
Bring it on!
Long Live Pope Benedict XVI!!! May the Lord continually grant him health and safety!!!
Click to expand...
You aren’t kidding. Please God, let us have him for as long as we need him!
 
jwinch2 said:
Good! The decision of who will be elevated to the Episcopate is perhaps the most important that the Holy Father has to make. He should be personally involved with each and every one, and make sure that every last one of them is the right choice. Bring it on!

You aren’t kidding. Please God, let us have him for as long as we need him!
Click to expand...
Amen.
 
jwinch2 said:
There was another thread about this a while back, or at least I think there was.
Click to expand...
Yes, here is a link to the thread
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=711991

The papal nuncio stated that he welcomed letters from individual Catholics who wish to make their concerns or suggestions known. However, he wasn’t interested in giving weight to organizations which claim to collectively represent Catholics.
chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-archbishop-selection-process-20120917,0,4753253.story
 
From the article:

“One of the most active members of the group seems to be Paul Culhane of St. James’ parish, a Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Northern Illinois University. The university set up a blog especially, inviting people to reflect and list the qualities the new pastor should have.”

There you have it. A political science professor and a liberal university are behind this. Political science professors are usually socialists and communists.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top