It's official: Levada is new doctrinal watchdog!

[Lurch104]

TPJCatholic:

I found the following article quite disturbing (it sure does not look like faithful Catholics are going to be happy):

catholicexchange.com/e3news/index.asp?category_id=10

Even though Catholic Exchange is a great site, the people who disagree will now trash it. “Where are the footnotes?” “I will need a notarized statement from the Pope before I will consider such information.”…etc.

I am gravely concerned with this appointment. We will all have to trust and pray that B16 will lend Archbishop Laveda some of his backbone.

 

[amantoan]

I was also concerned about the appointment of AB Levada, after spending some time reading his teachings, I am not concerned. Everything he teaches is 100% orthodox, often it is even hard-line The prefect of the CDF is a teacher, and Levada teaches the faith excellently. On the other hand some of his actions as a bishop seem spineless. All the more reason to remove him from a position of governance. Personally I think the Holy Father plans to remain heavily involved in the work of the CDF, so I have no worries there. Given Levada’s background on issues relating to natural law, and the Eastern Orthodox he has a lot to bring to the table for the CDF. Also consider that the Archdiocese of SF is a major American see, and a great grooming place for a new AB of Los Angeles. Just a thought there.
Having said that, I am still shocked that in the whole world there is not a better choice than AB Levada (Cardinal Schönborn comes to mind) but maybe those guys are needed we they are. I also believe there is a host of other reasons that may never be know to us. However, when the first new hard-line document comes out from the CDF, all doubts will be laid to rest.

 

[Brad]

jlw:

I just went to lunch and was praying in the car, asking Jesus “what’s the deal here”??

Upon reflection, and my faith in my Pope, I see that it will all be ok.

We have problems with our bishops in America, no?? YES.

So Benedict…

1. appoints an American. He could have picked George, but he best serves the Church by straining to hold Chicago together (Chicago posters agree???)
2. a Latino. Does this matter, given the enormous Catholic population of SOUTH America?? Dunno.
3. Vacates the San Francisco post. AH, yes. Fresh air is needed. I bet he DOES appoint an orthodox priest to the position.
4. THEORY: Instead of promoting a recognizably orthodox man to the CDF, he appoints possibly a man who is orthodox, but finally given a chance to exercise his theological muscles?? SF is not an easy place to be Catholic or conservative socially. Taking this on faith.
5. So instead of promoting the orthodox to Rome, (thereby vacating archbishop positions held by good bishops, he might be moving liberal/heterodox OUT of archbishop postions, and replacing them with orthodox/conservatives.

Whatcha think??

Your points make some sense. Building on point #4, we have to remember that the prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith meets with the Pope minimally once a week. Pope Benedict XVI will not allow false or unclear teaching to flow from the congregation. In the meantime, the church in America and the western world - which has been rocked by sex scandals to which even Bishop Levada has been tied to some blame - will receive plain, orthodox, clear teaching from one of their “fairly good” guys. What is a liberal, dissenting, anti-authority group of priests and sisters to do or think when even one of the “fairly good” guys is on the side of the Pope?

 

[harveyc]

The correct link to the Catholic Exchange article is now here.

Lurch104 - I am not about to say that these events do not disturb me. However, I do not see how they relate to the ability of him to serve in the role in his new appointment. Many men of good faith have made bad decisions, such as Peter. You have continued to beat on this issue and that is your right. However, I have not seen where you have respoinded to those that point out the the Archbishop Levada has gone to court to fight over the requirement to pay benefits to gay partners. Are you saying he should violate the law in the meantime? We all pay income taxes that fund abortions. Should we all stop paying our taxes? I am troubled that I’m helping fund abortions, but also know that good is coming from the taxes I pay also and I’m not about to violate the law. My son needs a dad at home, not in prison.

 

[Brad]

Lurch104:

I found this after 30 seconds on google. I have read direct quotes from the Bishop in several news stories that do not dispute what has been reported. I don’t think there is enough evidence that will ever sway you. There were many other abuse cases involving this bishop both in SF and Oregon. I guess all of the courts, victims, juries, the abusers who admitted their crimes and Levada’s role in them, and the bishop himself are all lying in the press. As far as him forbidding the Indult…it is a fact that cannot be disputed. Also, the fact that he rolled over to the SF mayor and granted same sex benefits is also not in dispute.

This is what I was looking for. With all due respect to yourself, it wasn’t yet produced when we were having our discussion. This is enough detail to concern me. It appears the Bishop made some wrong choices and used some faulty judgement. However, I still have faith that our Holy Father knows what he is doing and has a plan through the Holy Spirit to make good come from this. I believe he will be keeping a stringent eye on this Congregation that he is so highly attached to. I also see many strengths in the Bishop and it may be that this is a better spot for him - he is strong doctrinally and apparently weak pastorally.

---

cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=37124

The Forum: Archbishop Levada: the Pope’s surprising choice

 

[Brad]

benedictusoblat:

You’ve got to be kidding. Who requires that kind of standard for passing a smell test? If you want to convict him and send him to jail - yes, absolutely! Archbishop Levada isn’t an Archbishop Burke. Maybe he will become one. Pope Benedict XVI knows why he appointed him - we can only speculate. I honestly hope it was for some good reason - better than just a desire to reward an old friend regardless of that friend’s beliefs.

Time will tell what this tree’s fruit smells like.

Sorry. I like facts. I don’t do smell tests. If I did smell tests, I would think GW Bush salivates at the thought of war and bloodshed. Now that I have seen some detail and facts from a respected Catholic publication, I understand the concerns better but I don’t leap to hang a guy based on hearsay.

Also, what we need here, is - in a word - faith. The Holy Father has been a loyal and courageous soldier of Christ for most of his life. He knows better than we what he is doing. I am the first to condemn dissent and false teaching at any level and in any environment. That is the biggest problem we face as a church. I don’t expect to see it coming out of the Vatican.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

“From the perspective of society, the tendency to ‘privatize’ the moral dimension, so common to America with its slogan ‘separation of church and state,’ can potentially have disastrous consequences.” - Archbishop William J. Levada, just appointed to be pope Benedict XVI’s guardian of orthodoxy. Even back in 1995, Levada was singling out one political party, the Democrats, for censure. And, for Levada, church-state separation is now merely a ‘slogan’, not a fundamental principle of a free society? Another sign of where Benedict is going." (Andrew Sullivan)

Source : andrewsullivan.com/index.php?dish_inc=archives/2005_05_08_dish_archive.html#111600033154463012

If Archbishop Levada makes Andrew Sullivan mad, then I’m satisfied…

 

[sweetchuck]

His statement:

**Statement of Archbishop William Levada

****New Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

**SAN FRANCISCO, California, MAY 15, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Below is the statement released Friday by Archbishop William Levada of San Francisco on the occasion of his appointment by Benedict XVI to be prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

---

On the occasion of the announcement of my appointment as the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I want to express first of all my profound gratitude to our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, for the trust he has placed in me to ask me to take the position that he himself filled so effectively for the past 24 years. I can only say that I will do my best to live up to that expression of trust, with the help of God.

I have known Benedict XVI since 1981, when he came to the Vatican as the then-new prefect of the same congregation, where I was working at the time, on loan from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. My return to California in 1982 had already been scheduled by his predecessor, Cardinal Franjo Seper, before the latter’s retirement and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s appointment had been announced.

In 1987 I was appointed by Cardinal Ratzinger, whom John Paul II asked to develop the project for a new catechism for the universal Church, to serve on its editorial committee, a group of 7 bishops whose task it was to prepare a draft of the catechism, conduct a consultation among the bishops of the world and many scholars, and develop a final text under the direction of the commission of 12 cardinals of which Cardinal Ratzinger was president. I remember many occasions when he would unexpectedly join our discussions, roll up his sleeves, review the proposed changes and amendments, ask our opinions and discuss them with us – we felt blessed by his insights and his encouragement, and by his real spirit of collegial work.

Since 2000 I have been a member of the same congregation, participating in many meetings under his guidance as prefect. No doubt his choice of me is in part due to my familiarity with the work of the congregation over the years. This choice is also a tribute to the Church in the United States, and a recognition of our important contribution to the work of the universal Church. I hope my 22 years of experience as a bishop in the United States will help to represent the Church here well at the Holy See, and to make the bonds between the See of Peter and the American bishops ever stronger.

The work of the congregation seeks principally to promote a sound understanding of the content of the Christian faith, as that has been handed on through the Church since the time of Christ, and to assist the Pope and the bishops of the Church throughout the world in the delicate task of clarifying erroneous doctrinal positions when that is judged necessary.

I look forward to undertaking this work as a service to the Petrine ministry of Benedict XVI, who has been called by Christ to serve the people of God – and especially their bishops – throughout the world. At the same time I will be sorry to have to leave San Francisco, where I have served almost ten years, and developed close ties with many priests and people. But it is comforting to know that my ties with San Francisco will not be broken, since in my new position I will retain my link with this local church by having the official title archbishop of San Francisco emeritus, a title also enjoyed by my immediate predecessor, Archbishop John Quinn.

I plan to visit the congregation to meet the staff and get an overview of the tasks ahead during the first week of June. I expect to relocate permanently to Rome during August, with my official date of resignation as archbishop of San Francisco to be set for Aug. 17, the 10th anniversary of the announcement of my appointment as archbishop here. I ask for God’s grace and blessing on this new ministry to which he has called me, and I earnestly ask for the prayers of all who hear or read this statement. May Our Lady of Fatima, whose feast the Church celebrates today, intercede for me and guide me.

 

[Swiss_Guard]

Illini:

Living in the neighboring Diocese of Joliet, I would second that. When Cardinal George first came to Chicago, he tried to correct the liturgical abuses, and the old guard publicly mocked him as “Francis the Corrector.” However, in his eight years here he has gained control of the archdiocese and the respect of the local media. That allowed him to move the rector of the Cathedral even though the rector took his protest public. The disobedience of the old guard here is incredible.

The “old guard” is still in place in the chancery office. The new chancellor, a layman, was appointed by Cardinal George, but the majority in the chancery office were appointed by Cardinal Bernadin. This includes the board that oversees the transfer of priests, which is why good priests obedient to the Holy See and the cardinal are being bypassed as pastors in favor of the less orthodox and disobedient priests. The removal of the late Fr. McLaughlin from Holy Name Cathedral is the exception, not the rule.

Illini:

However, Cardinal George improved Mundelein Seminary (our parish has experienced a recent graduate, who likes to quote St. Catherine of Siena ) and has ordained an average of 15 men to the priesthood each of the last four years (including 16 next Saturday), so his leadership and his people are starting to have an impact.

Cardinal George is improving Mundelein. He has a long way to go. His people aren’t in Mundelein. The rector, Fr. Canary and the formation director, Fr. Wachdorf, were both appointed to their respective postions by Cardinal Bernadin. He rid the seminary of professors, such as Gabe Huck, who teach heresy. The academics have improved, the quality of seminarians has improved, but the formation has remained the same.

Illini:

The “reforms” of the 1970’s take a long time to undo!

-Illini

You are correct, the so-called “reforms” of the late 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s cannot be undone immediately. It will still take time. I hope Cardinal George replaces the rector and the formation director at Mundelein. I heard the formation director say that the enneagram is a good tool for vocation discernment. Anyone who read Fr. Mitch Pacwa’s book Catholics and the New Age know the enneagram is anything but a tool for discernment.

---

I know two priests who were recently ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago and they attest that the quality of seminarians is improving, which is why Cardinal George needs to rid the seminary of both Fr. Canary and Fr. Wachdorf. I know more priests who were refused admission to Mundelein and are now priests in the Rockford Diocese. These men applied while Cardinal George has been archbishop. Apparently, the theology of these men fit in with the Rockford Diocese.

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Cardinal George has been rock solid in his defense of the Catholic faith and as a teacher of the faith. I hope his actions will back up his words.

 

[TPJCatholic]

Rockford is very obedient and right they have 43 seminarians, go here: rockvoc.org/I live in the Chicago Archdiocese, yet I frequently attend Mass in a Rockford church just four-five miles from my home. I have not heard of any liturgical abuses in Rockford, yet they remain widespread in Chicago area. I sometimes go to Saint Mary of the Angels in Chicago, which is run by Opus Dei Priests.

I love Cardinal George, yet I do wish he would quicken his pace of improvements.

 

[chicago]

The “old guard” is still in place in the chancery office. The new chancellor, a layman, was appointed by Cardinal George, but the majority in the chancery office were appointed by Cardinal Bernadin. This includes the board that oversees the transfer of priests, which is why good priests obedient to the Holy See and the cardinal are being bypassed as pastors in favor of the less orthodox and disobedient priests. The removal of the late Fr. McLaughlin from Holy Name Cathedral is the exception, not the rule.

I have to disagree on both counts here. While, certainly, some chancery office people remain from the Bernardin era, these people typically work on 5 year contracts and often don’t stay more than 5 or 10 years. A careful review of some of Cardinal George’s office head appointments will clearly indicate his own hand at work in these matters in reshuffling. Further, I imagine that he doesn’t merely take just any recommendation unchallenged, but questions and seeks to influence policies, also. I think that many of them are at least tacitly under his thumb, then.

Concerning pastoral appointments, many factors have to be considered. It is not unusual for priests who didn’t get their ideal appointment to whine and make accusations about the system. But, again, I believe that a careful review of the appointments which Cardinal George has made will indicate a general improvement of circusmtances and increasing fidelity in the parishes.

I know two priests who were recently ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago and they attest that the quality of seminarians is improving, which is why Cardinal George needs to rid the seminary of both Fr. Canary and Fr. Wachdorf.

Typically, priests at this degree of position get promoted out of their jobs. Where is it that you would like to see them moved up to? Auxiliary Bishop, perhaps?

I know more priests who were refused admission to Mundelein and are now priests in the Rockford Diocese. These men applied while Cardinal George has been archbishop. Apparently, the theology of these men fit in with the Rockford Diocese.

There may be more than mere theology at play. The circumstances surrounding acceptance as a priestly candidate are wide and varied.

---

Cardinal George has been rock solid in his defense of the Catholic faith and as a teacher of the faith. I hope his actions will back up his words.

I think that his actions have backed up his words. Even if they don’t fit your model ideal.

 

[chicago]

TPJCatholic:

I sometimes go to Saint Mary of the Angels in Chicago, which is run by Opus Dei Priests.

Opus Dei priests who Cardinal Bernardin invited into that parish and supported, BTW.

 

[chicago]

Illini:

Also less than impressed with the remodeling. St. Patrick is great and all, but the crucifix, and not a statue of him, should be behind the alter. The tabernacle is behind the alter but is made almost indistinguishable from the back wall.

-Illini

I’d have to look at a better picture or stop in to check that out more clearly, but from what I see on their website panorama, there doesn’t appear to be a major problem, if any at all. It is traditional (even very much pre-Vat II) for a large statue of the patronal saint of a parish or chapel to be in the place you indicated. Sometimes, it is accompanied by a smaller crucifix. (Though such might not be quite so necessary these days with Mass no longer celebrated at the high altar… there is a smaller processional crucifix elsewhere in the sancturay from what I see.) It seems that there may well be a cross built into the altar stonework there, too. The tabernacle is quite nice and signifigant in size, beauty, and placement.

 

[maklavan]

Interesting that the leading catholic newspaper in the UK referred to William levada as “the Conservative”