Excellent! I have it and loved it. I bought a good many of his books when I was to the point where I could come to grips with the fact that I was actually seriously looking at Catholic doctrine to try to understand.
Everything sounded OK until you mentioned the dark seaating area. I have a thing for light. I’m slightly neurotic.
It’s funny, because I’ve heard a lot of Catholics say they don’t like him, I think precisely because he was once a Protestant. I think he brings a unique perspective to the table, a gift for explaining the faith in a way that makes sense and bridges the gap between the Protestant mind and the Catholic teachings. He understands the language of both and can relate the ideas effectively.Dr. Hahn is awesome to read. When I had more time I used to watch him on EWTN. I really enjoyed his talks, because I have never been a Protestant or other form of Christian. So I learned a great deal about Protestantism from him.
For some reason, Catholicism always felt much more comfortable for me. I guess because of my connections from childhood and because of its simiarities with Judaism.
I learned a great deal about other Christians from Dr. Hahn.
I think anyone would like him very much.
JR
Believe many Catholics may not like him for several reasons and everyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, I have never been anything other than Jewish and Catholic. But here goes:It’s funny, because I’ve heard a lot of Catholics say they don’t like him, I think precisely because he was once a Protestant. I think he brings a unique perspective to the table, a gift for explaining the faith in a way that makes sense and bridges the gap between the Protestant mind and the Catholic teachings. He understands the language of both and can relate the ideas effectively.
He’s brought a lot of converts into the Church because of this. He was one more instrument in my own conversion. Would like to shake his hand one day.
Yes, I think you are right. I’ve seen remarks that he’s trying to Protestantize the Church. Very unfair remark, unfounded. He is one of the biggest fans of the Church, totally dedicated and enthused about all things Catholic. It was his unabashed passion and love of teaching everything he had discovered that drew me completely in.Believe many Catholics may not like him for several reasons and everyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, I have never been anything other than Jewish and Catholic. But here goes:
I could be entirely wrong. Correct me if I am.
- He embraces the Church without trying to change her. He’s not dumb. He understands the need for renewal and recovery. But he sees the power of the Holy Spirit superior to anything that man can do. I think Americans like to take the bull by the horns. This kind of trust is difficult for American Catholics.
- He is a scholar and approaches faith with reason. Most craddle Catholics have never had to examine or question their faith. It’s part of their heritage. Like being Irish or something like that.
- He was a Protestant preacher and he has that style, which some American Catholics refer to as his Protestant style.
- He is a professor and he comes across as a teacher. We have a strong disrespect for educators in this country, as much as we demand of them.
- He is a convert. He’s often looked at as an outsier. I got that same treatment when I taught the faith.
- Americans can be very parrochial. They don’t trust anything from outside. He comes from outside the Catholic Church telling Catholics how to grow closer to Christ. They forget that his is now a Catholic.
JR
He’s also very devoted to Mary.Yes, I think you are right. I’ve seen remarks that he’s trying to Protestantize the Church. Very unfair remark, unfounded. He is one of the biggest fans of the Church, totally dedicated and enthused about all things Catholic. It was his unabashed passion and love of teaching everything he had discovered that drew me completely in.
I think because he knows how to speak Catholicism with a mind to saying it in a way that Protestants relate to unnerves many Catholics, they are some how threatened and feel he’s trying to Protestantize the faith. Just the opposite, he’s trying to bridge the gap to make the Church come alive to the Protestant mind.
Like I said, it worked on me.
This was at an ecumenical meeting in the Argentinian capital (June 19, 2006), where Father Raniero Cantalamessa and a Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, where present. In the earlier picture, Father Raniero Cantalamessa was indeed being “prayed over” by a group of protestant ministers - in Charismatic terms, that means these leaders of objectively heretical groups were calling the Holy Spirit down on an ordained priest. The Cardinal knelt down to receive his blessing (link and link) - I’ll refrain from posting the picture for the outrage it would cause. And I say this not to cause scandal or to show disrespect, but only because if we don’t talk about these things, alot of folks wouldn’t believe they were actually going on…and because I think it represents exactly what Pope Pius XI warned against - with the warned about results being manifest more and more the longer such practices persist.
I’m sorry, I’m going to disagree with you. This goes way, way beyond personally praying with a non-Catholic…it is a public pan-Christian “service” that attempts to place the Catholic faith - the One True Religion - on an equal footing and basis with false religions…descending even to the point where those who have been called and blessed and incorporated into the very Priesthood of Jesus Christ Himself bow down and receive “blessings” from leaders of these false religions.
An encyclical is written for the entire Church is it not? An encyclical applies to everyone - diocesan priests, religious, the hierarchy, and the layfolk. So you can’t fairly say that Mortalium Animos wasn’t written also for the Franciscans. And you can’t pit Pope Pius XI against St. Francis, given his glowing words (see here) - so something doesn’t fit.
I think you are trying to make this into a sort of Franciscan thing, but I don’t think it’s fair. It’s basicaly a charismatic / ecumenical thing that a Franciscan happens to be heavily involved in.
How can you say these groups are truly Franciscan, when as Pope Pius XI said so truly regarding St. Francis in the abovementioned encyclical:What evil they do and how far from a true appreciation of the Man of Assisi are they who, in order to bolster up their fantastic and erroneous ideas about him, imagine such an incredible thing as that Francis was an opponent of the discipline of the Church, that he did not accept the dogmas of the Faith, that he was the precursor and prophet of that false liberty which began to manifest itself at the beginning of modern times and which has caused so many disturbances both in the Church and in civil society!
Very well then. Regarding the Good Friday Liturgy, I feel you made a few accusations toward traditonal catholics, and when things actually began to be discussed in depth, and certain accusations examined, and clarifications asked for, you backed away. That’s too bad. This is not a way to truly foster “greater understanding between traditionalist and non-traditionalists” - and it reinforces the stereotype that the all the accusations and attacks and bashings of traditional catholics doesn’t really hold up under scrutiny.
but in light of jeanette’s previous post i’d like to add a comment.When all is said and done, the poor cardinal is only imitating the false example set by the previous pontiff - kissing the ring of the invalid Archbishop of Canterbury; kneeling in mosques by church hierarchs; shamanistic “blessings” by hindu priestesses on the forehead of a pope and embraces for false books pertaining to other religions. They make for wonderful media opportunities but they certainly send out a wide variety of mixed messages - most of which are entirely misleading. Is the above the behaviour Our Blessed Lord asked of His Apostles - to go into the world and preach the Gospel of salvation, in the name of The Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Ghost?
Thank You!
