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Guest
The interview with canonist Pete Vere covers a lot but this surprised me and ties into some of what moralist Germain Grisez says.
Vere:
Another way of bringing about restitution would be for the LC/RC to revoke its settlement extracted from ReGAIN, which prohibits the organization – if I understand correctly – from publicly criticizing Fr. Maciel and current LC/RC practices. Perhaps the LC/RC could even reimburse the $40,000 in legal fees ReGAIN spent defending itself.
To me, that sounds a lot like some of the legal tactics of the Church of Scientology, a religious group many have criticized as a cult. There are other similarities as well, such as allegedly misleading or aggressive recruiting practices and alleged indoctrination. I know Vere has expressed strong criticism of some of the institutional practices of LC/RC but I don’t know he would join in my comparison of LC/RC’s legal tactics to Scientology’s.
Grisez:
—is that Fr. Alvaro and the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life will go on as if all were now well.**It seems that Satan meant to use Maciel to found a cult, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.**which Satan surely desires
We cannot presume to know G-d’s plans and nor can we presume to know Satan’s plans. In Christian tradition and more so in Jewish tradition, especially in Hasidic Orthodox Judaism, Satan’s design on man is part of in some way God’s plan for man. Like any angel, Satan’s intellect is vastly superior to man’s. We cannot know what his plans might be or how they might be integrated within G-d’s overarching plan for creation. Nor can we using our intellect try to thwart such plans.
I don’t think it’s proper to speak of G-d “outsmarting” Satan. Certainly G-d can confound the wisdom of any creature, but there is no battle of intellect between G-d and Satan and G-d allows (in some Christian thought) or commissions (in some Jewish thought) Satan to act because it serves God’s providential plan for creation. Satan knows how smarter G-d is and we should know not only how smarter G-d is but how smarter Satan is than we. The response to perceived temptation or trial of Satan must not be an attempt on our part to outwit Satan by speculating on what course of action he might prefer for specific Vatican dicasteries. Our response must be simply to pursue the good as we know it, leaving the war of the heavens to the heavens except by our prayer and good deeds.
IMO, a more scientific concern of the natural order that Vere raises is worth focusing on.
[/indent]For instance, how many of Fr. Maciel’s practices within the LC/RC were put in place to help members grow in holiness, and how many were put into place to facilitate and cover up his sexual misconduct?
I am not Christian but I hope the church also considers seriously the exhortation of Grisez and suggestion of canonist Edward Peters and others that the juridical person of LC be dissolved.
Vere:
Another way of bringing about restitution would be for the LC/RC to revoke its settlement extracted from ReGAIN, which prohibits the organization – if I understand correctly – from publicly criticizing Fr. Maciel and current LC/RC practices. Perhaps the LC/RC could even reimburse the $40,000 in legal fees ReGAIN spent defending itself.
To me, that sounds a lot like some of the legal tactics of the Church of Scientology, a religious group many have criticized as a cult. There are other similarities as well, such as allegedly misleading or aggressive recruiting practices and alleged indoctrination. I know Vere has expressed strong criticism of some of the institutional practices of LC/RC but I don’t know he would join in my comparison of LC/RC’s legal tactics to Scientology’s.
Grisez:
—is that Fr. Alvaro and the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life will go on as if all were now well.**It seems that Satan meant to use Maciel to found a cult, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.**which Satan surely desires
We cannot presume to know G-d’s plans and nor can we presume to know Satan’s plans. In Christian tradition and more so in Jewish tradition, especially in Hasidic Orthodox Judaism, Satan’s design on man is part of in some way God’s plan for man. Like any angel, Satan’s intellect is vastly superior to man’s. We cannot know what his plans might be or how they might be integrated within G-d’s overarching plan for creation. Nor can we using our intellect try to thwart such plans.
I don’t think it’s proper to speak of G-d “outsmarting” Satan. Certainly G-d can confound the wisdom of any creature, but there is no battle of intellect between G-d and Satan and G-d allows (in some Christian thought) or commissions (in some Jewish thought) Satan to act because it serves God’s providential plan for creation. Satan knows how smarter G-d is and we should know not only how smarter G-d is but how smarter Satan is than we. The response to perceived temptation or trial of Satan must not be an attempt on our part to outwit Satan by speculating on what course of action he might prefer for specific Vatican dicasteries. Our response must be simply to pursue the good as we know it, leaving the war of the heavens to the heavens except by our prayer and good deeds.
IMO, a more scientific concern of the natural order that Vere raises is worth focusing on.
[/indent]For instance, how many of Fr. Maciel’s practices within the LC/RC were put in place to help members grow in holiness, and how many were put into place to facilitate and cover up his sexual misconduct?
I am not Christian but I hope the church also considers seriously the exhortation of Grisez and suggestion of canonist Edward Peters and others that the juridical person of LC be dissolved.