Ending the USCCB's Path to Progressive Politics?

[RobbyS]

I saw this article a few days ago and was equally disturbed. Frankly, I should stop reading this stuff as all it does is make me angry and damages my faith in the Church in the process. On the other hand, if I am clueless and keep my head in the sand, I am powerless to be an agent of change for the better.

I believe in Archbishop Sheen’s statement that it is the laity who must save the Church, ensure that bishops act like bishops, religious like religious, etc. We must demand better of our shepherds. Pope Benedict has been appointing what appear to be very orthodox and faithful bishops in recent years, but unless we want to wait until we are all on death’s door for the Church in America to right itself, we must force the issue. Canon law does not give the laity the right to demand much at all from the clergy, but we can make noise when our spiritual needs are not being met, or when they are being harmed.

Part of this stems from the nature of the USCCB. It is not,per se, a church organization, but a national staff set up to acquaint the bishops with political as well as other matters, so as to enable them to take an informed collective stand on those matters that touch Catholic life. The Bishops gather occasionally, but the staff really sets the agenda for the meeting. They also produce and circulate statements that represents the bishops opinion. Given that liberal Catholics have been far more active than conservative ones for the past generation. it is not surprising that they include many who are virtual apostates from Catholicism. The remarks made by Carolina Kennedy at the Democratic convention were not unrepresentative of many USCCB staffers.

 

[RobbyS]

Becoming a priest is a calling NOT a job. One does not recruit for priests as for a doctor or Wal Mart Greeter.

Before Vatican II, the chief recruiters for the priesthood were the priests themselves. Not having sons of their own, they sought to inspire boys and young men to join their ranks. I gain the impression that during the ‘70s, this ceased to be the case, because many priests were disillusioned. That the seminaries of so many dioceses were near empty seems to verify my own perception of events. I must admit that I was not alarmed by all this myself, not until the 90s, when I encountered a Louvain priest and Bible scholar, whom I concluded had lost his faith, or at least faith in his mission.

 

[RobbyS]

I didn’t see the term “training ground” mentioned. Working for the “enemy” - the Church, and understanding its internal structure first-hand, makes your breaking from it look like the Church was somehow in the wrong by letting you in in the first place. Take a piece from history.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704586504574654282563939764.html

Peace,
Ed

A fish is not the most objective observer of the pond. But you might consider that it goes for you as well. Certainly the Beltway has its own culture, and the USCCB sometime looks very much like a lobby. Nowhere more than when the “Bishops” start talking about matters oddly, like the mischaracterization of Paul Ryan’s budget proposals, and in such a way as to cause his own bishop to protest that it was, if not a calumny, unjust.

 

[nordskoven]

The USCCB that hired two pro-abortion Democrats / ex-Clinton-era staffers to serve on their lay committee for oversight on priestly predators? That USCCB? The lesson might be in what in the secular sphere is being termed the fourth branch of government, the bureaucracy, that takes on a life of its own apart from the intent of the overarching organization.

May God stop these zombie forces that do not spring from the purity of intent or high goals of those who have put their trust in them but rebel from Your direction and leading. Shepherd us, Good Shepherd. AMEN

 

[Michael_jarman]

Your last statement paints with too broad a brush. There is an organized effort within and outside the Church that seeks to do damage. Always will be. This dilemma did not happen overnight.

Peace,
Ed

I understand what your saying. what im trying to say is that some people that are supposedly call themselves catholics are buying into the a secularist view. The Church teachings are there for a reason. If catholics would adhere to what she teaches we wouldnt be any dilemma. .The church itself is made of the lay as well as religious . So yes it both laity and religious at fault. Its simple we must be congruent in word and deed with our faith. Jesu est rex.

 

[jwinch2]

Becoming a priest is a calling NOT a job. One does not recruit for priests as for a doctor or Wal Mart Greeter.

You might wish to actually read the thread and get the context for my post before you comment the next time. I was not talking about priests at all, but rather laypersons to work at the USCCB. In a previous post I made the statement that we need priests far too badly in our parishes to use them in such positions and suggested recruiting faithful laypersons to fill them instead. I was then asked how the USCCB might go about finding those types of people to which I responded with the post you quoted.

If you are going to get upset at someone, please make sure you know what you are talking about.

 

[Robert_Bay]

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