Is the pope signaling a new age of openness?

[Contarini]

Conservative (adj): disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

Liberal (adj): favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

The Word of God is unchanging.

But the Church’s understanding and application changes.

As it was in the past, it is today, and will be tomorrow. There is no place in the church for “liberal” Catholics. This implies that God’s word was not good enough to begin with, and must be changed or altered to fit our wants and desires.

No, it implies that people in different periods understand the Word of God differently, and that the Church grows and develops in her understanding. Sometimes this requires being “liberal”–i.e., speaking out for social reform–and sometimes it requires being “conservative”–holding the line against cultural change for the worse. Change is neither good or bad in itself.

You at least are honest in your language, though. What you are saying is what the “no liberal or conservative” folks generally seem to think.

Can you deny that Vatican II made some changes that were “liberal” compared to what had gone before?

Edwin

 

[Richardols]

Every time I hear the term “liberal Catholic”, I want to be sick. If you are a true Catholic, you are conservative. Hate to break it to you, but that’s the way it is.

Got to break it to you that such is your own opinion.

 

[Richardols]

No, it implies that people in different periods understand the Word of God differently, and that the Church grows and develops in her understanding. Sometimes this requires being “liberal”–i.e., speaking out for social reform–and sometimes it requires being “conservative”–holding the line against cultural change for the worse. Change is neither good or bad in itself.

And the Church can be both liberal and conservative at the same time.

 

[m134e5]

I think this is a surprising opening of the chirch to the realities of today. I also think the Pope will not, in the end, expand the indult. It keeps getting delayed and it is too divisive. In a way Benedict may open the church to the world like not even John 23. They are looking again at contraception and I am praying the church will change its position on that under Benedict. There are hints it will.

? The gates of hell won’t prevail against the Church. There won’t be that much “opening of the Church to the realities of today”. There will be no contraception. There MAY be married priests (but celibacy hasn’t totally lost favor in the Church either- and that won’t happen for a long time, if ever).

The Holy Spirit is truly leading if this so-called right wing bishop ushers in as Pope an openess to contraception, maybe non-celibate priests in the Western Rite. Truly an exciting time!

I suppose…trying times make great saints

The conservative Catholics are, IMO, on the losing side of history.

The conservatives may be on the losing side of history, but onsidering the liberals are contracepting and the conservatives are not, the liberals are the ones on the losing side of biology.

 

[m134e5]

Every time I hear the term “liberal Catholic”, I want to be sick. If you are a true Catholic, you are conservative. Hate to break it to you, but that’s the way it is.

There is always a need for reform and progress…but at the same time respecting and keeping the traditions that are good, and allowing new ones to form that are also good. All traditions were new at one time. The good ones stand the test of time. Some fall out of practice after they have been around awhile, some don’t last more than a few generations, and some continue on. Don’t be liberal or conservative- just be Catholic. There is no need for extra labels (well, Roman is appropriate…). Just follow the Church’s teachings, respect the Church’s traditions, and live a life that reflects that.

 

[pig_boy]

If you are a true Catholic, you are conservative. Hate to break it to you, but that’s the way it is.

I don’t like using that term to describe whether I’m a “true” Catholic. It’s taken on too much of a political meaning. We can sit here and discuss whether it fits a dictionary definition but we all understand the connotations that come with it. I prefer to think of myself as an orthodox Catholic and can only hope that I live my life in such a manner.