Florida bishop on hurricanes: 'We don't have the same theology as Pat Robertson'

[stumbler]

**Prayers ask hurricanes to avoid Central Florida
**
A Catholic bishop holds a special Mass on the first day of storm season to pray for public safety.

By Mark I. Pinsky | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 2, 2005

Bishop Thomas Wenski lost no time preparing for hurricane season, which began Wednesday. He led a special Roman Catholic Mass to protect Central Florida from devastating storms.

The number of worshipers at the noon service in St. James Cathedral was slightly higher than normal for a weekday – and included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who is not Catholic.

“We’re making all the necessary preparations . . . and I certainly believe in the power of prayer,” Dyer said.

Weather, natural disasters and faith were threads woven through the service, sometimes lightheartedly. Rain was falling, and Wenski suggested that an appropriate hymn might be “Singin’ in the Rain.”

As he began the service, Wenski prayed, “Today, as we begin a new hurricane season, we unite in prayer asking God to avert any storms from inflicting harm on us or our loved ones. . . . We ask the Lord to keep those hurricanes as far away from us as possible, and that he keep us as close as possible to him.”

The Scripture reading was from the Gospel of Mark, 4:35-41, in which Jesus is awakened by a violent squall while sailing with the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee. He rebukes the wind and orders the sea to be still.

In another biblical reference, Wenski cited the death of innocents when the tower of Siloam collapsed, and compared it with the damage done by hurricanes and tsunamis.

“Jesus warns us not to see these events as somehow the wrath of an angry God,” Wenski said.

Not all religious leaders agree.

In 1985, televangelist Pat Robertson asked his supporters to pray for God to steer Hurricane Gloria away from the Virginia coast, home to his Christian Broadcasting Network. The storm veered harmlessly out to sea, and Robertson credited the prayers of his viewers.

When the Orlando City Council voted in 1998 to allow gay organizations to hang rainbow banners from municipal flagpoles to coincide with Gay Days, Robertson warned that the city was risking not only hurricanes, but also earthquakes and terrorist bombs.

Wenski distanced himself from the notion of weather as heavenly retribution.

“We don’t have the same theology as Pat Robertson,” Wenski said before the Mass. “Hurricanes are not a divine punishment.”

In fact, sometimes the storms provide opportunities, he said. One of the good things that came out of last year’s hurricanes, Wenski said, was a greater sense of community and generosity to others, including tsunami victims…

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Full article

 

[fix]

How does the bishop know for certain the hurricane, or any act of nature, is not the ordained will of God?

 

[TPJCatholic]

Is it not true that everything that happens is know and/or sanctioned by God? Further, is it not true that God has used natural disasters to chastise His children before?

 

[mike182d]

fix:

How does the bishop know for certain the hurricane, or any act of nature, is not the ordained will of God?

How do you know for certain that it is?

 

[jrabs]

TPJCatholic:

Is it not true that everything that happens is know and/or sanctioned by God? Further, is it not true that God has used natural disasters to chastise His children before?

I agree that perhaps ( and only God can know for certain) God may need to use stern force to smack us in the head and take notice at times when we are especially disobedient. Hurricanes can be a mighty smack.

 

[fix]

mike182d:

How do you know for certain that it is?

I do not, that is why I do not make stupid remarks as the bishop did. It is one thing to say it may or may not be the ordained will of God and try to make a case in either direction, but it is foolish to say with certainty that one knows that God did not intend it as a punishment.

 

[Richardols]

jrabs:

I agree that perhaps ( and only God can know for certain) God may need to use stern force to smack us in the head and take notice at times when we are especially disobedient. Hurricanes can be a mighty smack.

And, what did the victims of the tsunami do to deserve being smacked down by God?

And, why bother to try to alleviate their distress if they’re getting what God ordained for them? Are we defying God by sending them help?

 

[Richardols]

fix:

I do not, that is why I do not make stupid remarks as the bishop did.

Out of charity and respect for our Church hierarchy, I’d hesitate before calling a bishop stupid.

 

[Other_Eric]

Reflect now, what innocent person perishes? Since when are the upright destroyed? As I see it, those who plow for mischief and sow trouble, reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his wrath they are consumed.

-Job 4:7-9
​

​

 

[Della]

Other Eric wrote:

Reflect now, what innocent person perishes? Since when are the upright destroyed? As I see it, those who plow for mischief and sow trouble, reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his wrath they are consumed.

-Job 4:7-9

I counter with:

Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No’ but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:4-5

So, what are we to believe? We are to believe what the Magisterium tells us these verses mean within the context of the whole of the revelation of God to men completed in Christ.

God may or may not allow calamities to descend upon the wicked, but he also allows the rains that refresh the earth to fall upon the good and the bad alike. I don’t think we’ll truly know which events met which criteria until the day of judgment. Until that time we should leave such things in God’s hands to judge and help our fellow men caught in such catastrophes, which is our Christian duty.

 

[David_Paul]

Jesuits in Portugal thought the Great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 was God’s retribution on the people of the city for their sins. Their dispute with the Crown over the event aggravated existing conflicts and led to the expulsion of the order several years later.

What is it with your Bishops? A cheap shot at Robertson more important than illuminating true Christian teachings on this subject? Does the Bishop want the MSM to love him? They are the ones who took Robertson’s comments and pretended they were totally whacked and outside the bounds of Christian theology.

On a lighter note, Jeb and the legislature have done what government should do this month–help the citizens.

No sales tax until the 12th (i think) on hurricane supplies. Home Depot, Cosco, Walmart and other stores have sections set off with the tax free items–generators, tarps, lanterns etc.

Cosco near me sold $50,000 of supplies the first day. Not a huge savings but it gives everyone an incentive not to put the purchases off and gives the stores a boost (which were all set with good deals on high ticket generators).

 

[bones_IV]

I truly believe that the reason why such things like this happen is because we are not being as holy as we should be. There is a connection between natural disasters and sin. I can tell you however that we are no more innocent then the victims of the tsunami are. It is because of personal sin, original sin, the sins of nature and the sins of mankind are the reasons for things like this. When you violate the laws of nature there will be consequences. It is a symbolic way of saying that God allows evil to happen if it is for a greater good.

 

[bones_IV]

Richardols:

Out of charity and respect for our Church hierarchy, I’d hesitate before calling a bishop stupid.

It was the bishop’s statement that he called stupid not the bishop himself.

 

[fix]

bones_IV:

It was the bishop’s statement that he called stupid not the bishop himself.

Thank you for pointing this out to Richard.

 

[fix]

Richardols:

Out of charity and respect for our Church hierarchy, I’d hesitate before calling a bishop stupid.

I did not call anyone stupid. I characterized his unfortunate remark.

 

[grammyof3]

Maybe we should ask Noah if he thinks God punishes the world with weather. Hmmm?
This is nothing new people. God uses his creation to teach his creation.

Interestingly, I was just watching the History channel. They were doing a program on the great Alaska earth quake. I think it was 1964. It was a 9.2 quake., the largest in North America in recorded history. It created tsunami waves that killed people as far away as 2,000 miles and the ways were as high as 210 feet. It was Good Friday.

The Episcopal priest was leading the Stations of the Cross. He said he was in the middle of reading text that discribed what happened when the earth quaked at Jesus death when at that moment everything broke lose in Anchorage. Coincidence?

The great Tusmani we just experienced originated in the quake on Christmas Day. Coincidence?

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

mike182d:

How do you know for certain that it is?

Well God has certainly used that kind of thing as chastisement before.I would hate to think we now believe tha God will allow us to mock and do evil without fear of consequences that kind of sounds presumptuous:nope: Yes God is mercy but he is also just and he reproves the ones he loves:nope:

 

[Philip_P]

We can’t even predict something as relatively simple and benign as what the weather will be next week, yet we presume to read the deep purposes of God in this same weather. Talk about presumption.

More important, and far more fruitful from a moral and theological point of view, is not why hurricanes or other disasters happen, but how we respond to them. Do we price gouge, loot, and generally take advantage of our neighbors? Or do we rise to the challenge and act with love to our neighbors particularly when the situation is most trying and difficult?

Rain and sunshine fall on the just and unjust alike, and I won’t even pretend to know the deep reasons behind how and why God acts. As for my own actions, and in a larger sense those of my society, though, I am responsible, and that seems to be the truly relevant point.

 

[MarilynIN]

I will not assume the right to understand the reasoning behind why God allows certain disasters to happen. I think it verges on sin to presume that this is punishment and to declare it as such. We don’t have that right. Unless it’s a direct revelation from God, which I know that the hurricaines and the tsunami weren’t to any of us here, we cannot know the Good Lord’s mind. I think, as was mentioned, He would rather want us to rally around and help everyone who has been affected.

When a natural disaster happens, it has a ripple effect. People far away pitch in and help out. Disasters affect all of us in one way or another. Maybe it’s a punishment, maybe it’s for some other reason. It’s not up to us to make the declaration, though.

 

[Digitonomy]

More important…is not why hurricanes or other disasters happen, but how we respond to them. Do we price gouge, loot, and generally take advantage of our neighbors?

“Price gouging” has an undeserved bad rap, borne out of ignorance of economics.

Sellers raise prices when there is scarcity of supply. The increase in prices decreases demand. The result is that in the end, supply equals demand. Those who need something the most, are generally willing to pay the most to buy it. Those who don’t really need a product will be discouraged by the higher prices, freeing up supply for those who do need it.

Example: Before a hurricane, plywood is usually in short supply. I may have only three windows I need to board up, but I also have six other windows, plus the dog house, that I’d consider boarding up.

My local hardware store is down to ten pieces of plywood. Under normal circumstances, they might jack up the price of plywood to $200, which I’d be willing to pay for those three important windows. However, under the anti-gouging laws in effect during a hurricane, they are forced to freeze their prices. If I can get a sheet for only $10, it makes sense to do so to protect the other windows and Fido’s house, all of which will cost a lot more than $10 to replace. So I buy nine pieces for $90, and I might as will get that tenth just in case there is something else I forgot - I can always use it down the road.

On the other hand, if they raise the price to $200 or more, I’ll only get three, and maybe only two if I can figure out a way to jury-rig the scrap - it’s well-worth it to save a couple hundred. The plywood lasts much longer at the store Even more importantly, if people know they can make a big profit, people may take their extra few sheets of plywood out of their garage and sell it in the parking lot of Home Depot. Others will bring truckloads of plywood into the hurricane zone to meet the demand. There’s no reason to risk your truck and product if you only expect to make the normal rate.

For all the reasons that freezing prices is a bad idea under normal circumstances, it is even more so during a crisis like a hurricane. Capitalism is simply the best way to set fair prices and distribute a product. If the seller charges too much, they won’t sell their product. If they do sell their product, why should it be a crime to charge what the market will bear.