Did Cardinal Bernard Law abuse Apostolic Power to commit social injustice?

[Steven_Merten]

Hello All,

Jesus gave Apostolic Successors the “Keys to the Kingdom”. Jesus swears that anyone that Apostolic Successors bind to sin on earth, He will bind to sin in heaven. Entrusted with such Power from Jesus, Apostolic Successors, I would think, have a moral obligation to how such Power is wielded. They would also have a moral obligation as to how they are seen by the world when projecting this position of Power.

When a non-Apostolic Successor says, “Damn you!” this can be seen as cursing, but it is not an abuse of Apostolic Christ given power because a non-Apostolic Successor has no Power to call upon Jesus to bind a soul to sin in heaven. When an Apostolic Successor calls upon Jesus to bind souls to sin in heaven, this is quite another thing. To even inffur to the use of the “Keys to the Kingdom”, "By all means we call down God’s power on the media (Cardinal Bernard Law" in order to commit social injustice in the world, seems to me, is vastly immoral. To actually use the Christ given “Keys to the Kingdom” to commit social injustice in the world, it would seem to me, is emensly evil. "I assure you, whatever you declare bound on earth shall be held bound in heaven (Jesus to Apostolic Successors)"

Cardinal Bernard Law was forgiven by the Church and even given the extreme honor of presiding over Pope John Paul II’s funeral. I have never read where Apostolic Successor Cardinal Bernard Law, loost, appologised, or explained his calling upon God to bring down His wrath on the Boston Globe. I have seen no calls from the Holy See that Cardinal Bernard Law do so. This seems vastly unjust. Even if Cardinal Bernard Law was using his position of Apostolic Power for mearely social unjust intimidation, and no real Apostolic Power was used, should there not be a retraction? Especially in this situation where where such emense Power and authority is involved. Should not the Holy See demand, loosting, a retraction, an apology, or at least an explination, from Cardinal Bernard Law to the Boston Globe?

Cardinal Law on the ropes

Ten years ago, in the midst of an earlier pedophile scandal, Cardinal Law called down the wrath of God on the media. Now the media are giving him hell.

BY DAN KENNEDY

ALMOST EXACTLY a decade ago, Cardinal Law lashed out at the media for what he saw as their excessive coverage of another notorious pedophile priest, James Porter. “We call down God’s power on our business leaders and the political leaders and community leaders. By all means we call down God’s power on the media, particularly the Globe,” Law was reported as saying in an angry outburst during — of all things — an antiviolence march.

Quoted from: 72.166.46.24//boston/news_features/top/features/documents/02187944.htm

**NAB MAT 18:17 **

“If he ignores them, refer it to the church . If he ignores even the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. I assure you, whatever you declare bound on earth shall be held bound in heaven, and whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be held loosed in heaven.” **NAB MAT 16:13 **

Jesus replied, “Blest are you, Simon son of John! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. I for my part declare to you, you are ‘Rock,’ and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

NAB REV 1:16
A sharp, two-edged sword came out of his mouth,

I hold the keys of death and the nether world."
**NAB JOH 20:20 **

"Recieve the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound."

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hmmm, weren’t the “Keys to the Kingdom” given to Peter and are a sign of his authority as first among the apostles?

Also, I would think that binding in sin would be excommunication.

Other than that, very confusing poll.

 

[Corki]

Cardinal Law presided over the Pope’s funeral??? News to me and I got up at 3 am to watch it.

None of your choices make sense to me so I couldn’t vote. The “media” is not a person so under the “whosoever’s sins…” it doesn’t seem to apply. On the other hand, there are many and several individuals in the media who might merit priestly censure.

Whatever Cardinal Law has confessed or been forgiven of is not our business, neither is any penance or restitution that has been required.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Hmmm, weren’t the “Keys to the Kingdom” given to Peter and are a sign of his authority as first among the apostles?

Also, I would think that binding in sin would be excommunication.

Other than that, very confusing poll.

Hello ByzCath,

My bible says that Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on “them” rather than on “him” (St. Peter). Are you saying that Jesus gave only St. Peter, not the other elleven Apostles (the Bishops), the power to bind and loost sin? Scriptures indicate that all the Apostles recieved the Holy Spirit from Jesus to bind and loost sin. What is your thought on John 20:20?
**NAB JOH 20:20 **

At the sight of the Lord the disciples rejoiced. “Peace be with you,” he said again. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said: "Recieve the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound."

 

[Steven_Merten]

Whatever Cardinal Law has confessed or been forgiven of is not our business, neither is any penance or restitution that has been required.

Hello Corki,

Are you saying that if a Catholic does an injustice to another human being there is no call, and should be no call, from the Church that that Catholic appologise, right the wrong or give restitution?

 

[mlchance]

Are you saying that if a Catholic does an injustice to another human being there is no call, and should be no call, from the Church that that Catholic appologise, right the wrong or give restitution?

Seems to me what he was saying is that whatever Cardinal Law’s penance was, it is most decidely none of your business.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Cardinal Law presided over the Pope’s funeral??? News to me and I got up at 3 am to watch it.

Hello Corki,

I appologize. I remembered incorrectly. Let me now clarify it was only day four, one of, I beleive nine Mases, for Pope John Paul II that Cardinal Bernard Law presided over.

Vatican Gives Cardinal Law Role of Honor

Thursday April 7, 2005 7:16 PM

By RACHEL ZOLL

AP Religion Writer

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Cardinal Bernard Law, who resigned in disgrace as archbishop of Boston over his role in the clergy sex abuse crisis, has been given a role of honor in the mourning for Pope John Paul II.

The Vatican announced Thursday he will lead one of the daily Masses celebrated in the pope’s memory during the nine-day period that follows the funeral, called Novemdiales. The service will be held Monday at Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica, where Law was appointed archpriest after leaving Boston.

"The funeral Mass for the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II will take place April 8 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square whereas in the Vatican Basilica, from the 9th to the 16th of April, the novendiali celebrations for the repose of the soul of the deceased Pope, will continue in the following manner:…

**…Day 4: Monday, April 11, 5 p.m. For the Chapters of the Patriarchal Basilicas. The concelebration will be presided by Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, archbishop emeritus of Boston and archpriest of the Patriarchal Basilica of St Mary Major.
**

 

[Steven_Merten]

Seems to me what he was saying is that whatever Cardinal Law’s penance was, it is most decidely none of your business.

– Mark L. Chance.

Hello Mark,

Are you saying that if an Apostolic Successor uses Apostolic Power from Jesus to do injustice, then he goes to confession and is absolved from the sinful way he abused Apostolic Power, the Church is under no obligation to have the unjust sinful application of Apostolic Power loost and removed from those suffering the injustice?

This seems unjust to those who may suffer for all eterninity from an Apostolic Successor proclimation that was given in a sinful, vengeful, way.

Is there a quote where the Church states that unjustly applied, and unloost applications of Apostolic bindings, are none of Catholics business nor is it the business of those continued to be bound by unjust Apostolic bindings?

 

[Corki]

Hello Mark,

Are you saying that if an Apostolic Successor uses Apostolic Power from Jesus to do injustice, then he goes to confession and is absolved from the sinful way he abused Apostolic Power, the Church is under no obligation to have the unjust sinful application of Apostolic Power loost and removed from those suffering the injustice?

Who is unjustly suffering? I take Cardinal Law’s comment as one made in frustration and anger. It was possibly poor judgement on his part but there is no person to whom it was directed. It wasn’t even directed at a group of people (ie the reporters at the Boston Globe or the editors or the financiers …) Only people have souls and risk “suffering for all eternity”. You can’t condemn a newspaper (the Boston Globe) to Hell. And you can’t correct something that never happened.

 

[mlchance]

That you managed to from here…
"MLChance:

…whatever Cardinal Law’s penance was, it is most decidely none of your business.

…to this…

Are you saying that if an Apostolic Successor uses Apostolic Power from Jesus to do injustice, then he goes to confession and is absolved from the sinful way he abused Apostolic Power, the Church is under no obligation to have the unjust sinful application of Apostolic Power loost and removed from those suffering the injustice?

…seems to indicate a serious disconnect on your part.

One more time: Whatever Cardinal Law’s penance for whatever of his sins he’s confessed, it’s none of your business. You’re not the Cardinal’s confessor, nor are you the Pope. Take care of the splinter in your own eye.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Who is unjustly suffering? I take Cardinal Law’s comment as one made in frustration and anger. It was possibly poor judgement on his part but there is no person to whom it was directed. It wasn’t even directed at a group of people (ie the reporters at the Boston Globe or the editors or the financiers …) Only people have souls and risk “suffering for all eternity”. You can’t condemn a newspaper (the Boston Globe) to Hell. And you can’t correct something that never happened.

Hello Corki,

Would it make more sence to you if I use the “business leaders”, “political leaders” and “community leaders” that Cardinal Bernard Law called down God’s wrath upon? Will you agree that “business leaders”, “political leaders” and “community leaders” have souls that God can bring down His wrath upon?

Even papal automatic excommunication on abortionists does not have the severity of an Apostolic call to “**By all means we call down God’s power on the abortionists” **Excommunication of abortionists simply means that aboritionists can no longer recieve the Eucharist. There is no call from Apostolic Successors to bring down God’s wrath on abortionists.

Can we just disregard anything that any Apostolic Successors say in reprimands? Can we judge on our own which Apostolic Successor reprimands we have to respect and obey and which Apostolic Successor reprimands we must throw in the garbage? Is it the people on the street and not the Pope, Cardinals and Bishops who have the power to decide which Apostolic Successor reprimands are just and aplicable and which Apostolic Successor reprimands are to be discarded as garbage from vengeful, evil, men abusing their positions of authority to intimidate, slander and humiliate, political leaders, community leaders and business leaders?

Cardinal Bernard Law has made a mockary of Apostolic Powers that Jesus entrusted to the Apostles.
"We call down God’s power on our business leaders and the political leaders and community leaders. By all means we call down God’s power on the media,

Quoted from: 72.166.46.24//boston/news_fea…s/02187944.htm

 

[Corki]

Well,

Following the link you gave led me to no more of the quote in context than the OP. The article stated that Cardinal Law called down the power of God in the context of an anti-violence rally. I think we all call on God’s power to end violence and to act through our business, community, political leaders as well as the media.

The only mention of “wrath” was by Dan Kennedy, the author of the article to which you linked.

If Cardinal Law was calling on the power of God to influence our leaders and the media, I just don’t see what he or anyone else has to appologize for (with regard to this one quoted comment). This doesn’t even seem to fall under the binding and loosing powers of Apostolic Succession.

Do you have any information to the contrary?

 

[Steven_Merten]

Well,

Following the link you gave led me to no more of the quote in context than the OP. The article stated that Cardinal Law called down the power of God in the context of an anti-violence rally. I think we all call on God’s power to end violence and to act through our business, community, political leaders as well as the media.

The only mention of “wrath” was by Dan Kennedy, the author of the article to which you linked.

If Cardinal Law was calling on the power of God to influence our leaders and the media, I just don’t see what he or anyone else has to appologize for (with regard to this one quoted comment). This doesn’t even seem to fall under the binding and loosing powers of Apostolic Succession.

Do you have any information to the contrary?

Hello Corki,

If Cardinal Bernard Law calling down God’s power is a good thing then why did he not call down God’s power on the Catholic Church in the clergy sex scandal? Certianly Catholic Clergy should want God’s help protecting children from the violence of sexual preditor priests and the bishops and Cardinals who perpetuate such violence by knowingly, secretly moving known sexual clergy predators from one group of child victims to the next.

Why does he target the Boston Globe? Did the Boston Globe ever do any violence to anyone?

""We call down God’s power on our business leaders and the political leaders and community leaders. By all means we call down God’s power on the media,"

Quoted from: 72.166.46.24//boston/news_fea…s/02187944.htm

 

[John_Higgins]

Sorry, Steven, this poll is goofy and the topic is far from timely. Whatever beef you have with His Eminence, he has lost his job and doesn’t even live in his native land. I think he has lost enough. Let it go, this is between the Cardinal and the Holy Father and the Cardinal and the Lord.

John

PS: What is “loost” anyway?

 

[Steven_Merten]

Sorry, Steven, this poll is goofy and the topic is far from timely. Whatever beef you have with His Eminence, he has lost his job and doesn’t even live in his native land. I think he has lost enough. Let it go, this is between the Cardinal and the Holy Father and the Cardinal and the Lord.

John

PS: What is “loost” anyway?

Hello John,

Jesus swears to the Apostles, thus Apostolic Successors, that anyone that they hold bound to sin on earth, He will hold bound to sin in heaven. Anyone Jesus holds bound to sin in heaven cannot go to heaven and suffers eternal death. Jesus binding sin in heaven, which slays souls to eternal death, is the “sword” of Christ’s mouth.

If “**By all means we call down God’s power on the media (Cardinal Bernard Law)” **includes Apostolic Power to bind souls to mortal sin (binding consciences) then Jesus is bound by His sworn oath to bind in heaven as an Apostolic Successor like Cardinal Bernard Law has bound on earth.

For Cardinal Bernard Law to bind people to sin on earth, even if the reason is an evil desire to abuse Apostolic Power to intimidate his enemies and cover over his evil deeds in the clergy sexual abuse scandal, the binding remains until he or another Apostolic Successor, loosts it again. An Apostolic binding does not just fade away when it is no longer in style for an Apostolic Successor. Apostolic Bindings last for all eternity unless loost again.

For the sake of the salvation of the souls unjustly treated by Cardinal Bernard Law’s abuse of Apostolic Power, let us demand the Church loost and appologize for the evil abuse of Apostolic Power Cardinal Bernard Law has committed.

Please visit: Throwing Stones

**NAB MAT 16:13 **

Jesus replied, “Blest are you, Simon son of John! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. I for my part declare to you, you are ‘Rock,’ and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.**NAB REV 1:16 **

A sharp, two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest. When I caught sight of him I fell down at his feet as though dead, he touched me with his right hand and said: “There is nothing to fear. I am the First and the Last and the One who lives. Once I was dead but now I live-- forever and ever. I hold the keys of death and the nether world.”
NAB ISA 11:4

The Rule of Immanuel

He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.​

**NAB JOH 20:20 **

At the sight of the Lord the disciples rejoiced. “Peace be with you,” he said again. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said: “Recieve the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men’s sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound.” NAB MAT 5:22

What I say to you is: everyone who grows angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; any man who uses abusive language toward his brother shall be** answerable to the Sanhedrin,** and if he holds him in contempt he risks the fires of Gehenna. **NAB MAT 18:17 **

“If he ignores them, refer it to the church . If he ignores even the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. I assure you, whatever you declare bound on earth shall be held bound in heaven, and whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be held loosed in heaven.”