Kasper: “The pope is not a liberal. He is a radical.”

[JackVk]

If this is how you have attempted to defend life, then it’s no wonder you’re frustrated! It seems to me that appropriate Christian tactics would NOT involve “screaming at people and demonizing them.”

I urge you to come back on board with the full-court press against abortion and other social issues that our sick society embraces. With a revised approach that employs true Christian charity, I think you’ll feel less jaded.

Okay, when I said I was “screaming at and demonizing people”, I was exaggerating.

Either way, when I was involved (for lack of a better word), I was almost constantly angry, sad, or upset. I couldn’t see good in anything in those days. I can offer them prayers and ballots, but anything more is too grueling for me.

 

[Darryl1958]

Every age has its challenges. Would you say that the German Church shouldn’t have focused on Nazism?

The biggest criticism of the Church in Europe will always be that it did not oppose Nazism enough.

 

[Darryl1958]

…
Before progressives get too excited over the new Pope following their agenda as many in the American media seem to wish, they may want to consider his perspective. Latin American countries are quite corrupt and controlling compared to the USA.

So the Pope talks about trickle down economics, he is not necessarily condemning capitalism.

It’s rather annoying to see the left-wing media try and use Pope Francis as a vehicle for their agenda, and for someone like Rush Limbaugh to fly off the handle and call him a Marxist.

Someone should’ve sent these folk a copy of the Catechism. Open until X-mas need not apply.

One of the wonderful things about Pope John Paul II is that it was always fairly clear and unambiguous as to what he was opposing in his efforts. It was really quite wonderful too that he was from behind the Iron Curtain and could address the powers- that -be in terms that they could understand.
And when he talked of the culture of death of consumerism, we could all take heart at who that message was being directed to as well.

I would like to think that the pope from Argentina is addressing the powers that be in South America with a similar message too, but so far, it has all got lost in the translation.
There is no definitive answers as to who he is addressing.

 

[TEPO]

First, I apologize if my first post on this thread was uncharitable. Much of it was out of frustration.

But to call me a “Pseudo-Catholic”? “Enemy of Francis”? No!

all I am saying is that I’m tired of our hackneyed conversations about “abortion this and contraception that and homosexuals blah blah blah”. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, condoning such sins. It’s not that I’ve been silent on these moral issues,* but that I’ve been vocal about them for too long. *

Have you ever heard of acedia? It is a sort of spiritual weariness. Things come to the point where they just don’t seem “worth it” anymore. For example, parents experience it when their kids stop being so cute (called the “seven-year itch”), priests feel tired of it, and many in the pro-life movement feel it as well (their opponents don’t; they have little helpers by the names of Wormwood and Moloch).

This acedia is what caused me to withdraw from the “culture wars” of the faith. It has been a cross that has plagued me for at least a year, possibly longer. I just want to focus on growing in my relationship with Christ, not worrying about what “those people” are up to, considering the only methods I have of potentially convincing them-legislation and fruitless internet arguments-have proven marginal at best and a waste of time and energy at worst.

So, it’s not that I’m a “pseudo-Catholic”. It’s that I’m not feeling called to limit my faith to running around the same treadmill of issues every single day. Yes, we should speak up about the abortion-marriage-contraception rigmarole once in a while, but not constantly!

…so what other paths do you think the “radicals” might want to embark on? What is all the mercy talk about? Just letting-go? Im waiting for suprises, but i cant wait i want to open them.

 

[TEPO]

Im a radical too BTW.

 

[sennincatholic]

What a shameful thread and I was determined to ignore it until I received an e-mail from a friend who is not a member of this board but regularly reads the forum and who drew my attention to Post #14 and #41.

She remarked on the vulgarity of its content. Yes….that is the very word she used. To broad-brush a movement of prayer and sacrifice as maggot infested and screaming and demonizing is not only hyperbole, but brings dishonor to those countless faithful ones who, no matter the weather week after week, quietly offer up their rosaries, distress and tears in absolute fidelity. I rejoice with them for the rare, small victory when a life is actually saved and the mother rejects the open doors leading to death. I am appalled at the inference that certain moral issues are nothing more than conservative politics, when they are the absolute and most abominable offense against all that is sacred and good.

I pity the pseudo-Catholics on these many threads who having rejected truth now erroneously believe the Church is actually going to be silent on the ugliness of sin and the degradation of humanity. This is not what the pope is asking of us when we are called to embrace the entire gospel. You who think you are the champions of Francis…. are instead, his enemy when speaking in this manner because the Vicar of Christ, self-described as a Son of the Church, would never be opposed to the very mission of the institution Christ created to save souls.

How did we ever reach this point when bishop is against bishop and Catholic against Catholic in all manner of vitriol and hatred and certitude is twisted beyond recognition. God have mercy on us all.

Wao…what shameful thread are you talking about and why didn’t you just keep ignoring it while you were at it?
Besides, calling people pseudo-catholics based on what you’ve read from them on threads like this one is being judgemental.You have no idea how these ‘pseudo catholics’ live their daily lives.I have not read all of the posts on these threads but I have read most of them and one thing I find in common is that we all are against abortion and contraception so I dont even understand what you are trying to say here.
Have a nice day!

 

[LongingSoul]

Wao…what shameful thread are you talking about and why didn’t you just keep ignoring it while you were at it?
Besides, calling people pseudo-catholics based on what you’ve read from them on threads like this one is being judgemental.You have no idea how these ‘pseudo catholics’ live their daily lives.I have not read all of the posts on these threads but I have read most of them and one thing I find in common is that we all are against abortion and contraception so I dont even understand what you are trying to say here.
Have a nice day!

I was born just as Vatican II was cranking up and so technically have been alive during the pontificate of 6 popes (including the short tenure of John Paul 1). One of the unique experiences of being Catholic is fidelity to the Pope. Unlike loyalty to a political leader or party, it does not follow the pattern of having happy favourites who are in government and patiently bearing the tenure of a politician or political party you don’t like. It’s more like adjusting your loyalties to love and support the reigning head whoever he may be. I believe that some new Catholics struggle with this strange concept of having loyalty to a ‘seat’ rather than loyalty to a particular person or style of leading. That’s what I believe leads these some to call other perfectly faithful and practicing Catholics ‘psuedo-Catholics’ when they love and support a Pope that they may have a personal problem with. They are seeing a division between themselves and their ‘political’ enemies in faith… where there really shouldn’t be a division.

 

[M-Dent]

I was born just as Vatican II was cranking up and so technically have been alive during the pontificate of 6 popes (including the short tenure of John Paul 1). One of the unique experiences of being Catholic is fidelity to the Pope. Unlike loyalty to a political leader or party, it does not follow the pattern of having happy favourites who are in government and patiently bearing the tenure of a politician or political party you don’t like. It’s more like adjusting your loyalties to love and support the reigning head whoever he may be. I believe that some new Catholics struggle with this strange concept of having loyalty to a ‘seat’ rather than loyalty to a particular person or style of leading. That’s what I believe leads these some to call other perfectly faithful and practicing Catholics ‘psuedo-Catholics’ when they love and support a Pope that they may have a personal problem with. They are seeing a division between themselves and their ‘political’ enemies in faith… where there really shouldn’t be a division.

There are multiple perceptions. That is one.

Another (one I was reminded of in a homily recently)…

One doesn’t need to be overly observant to notice a vocal group attracted to a more passive personality so they can be accepted on their terms while jettison the office that welcome us in God’s terms. Thus, the end sought is not God and Salvation but man and self affirmation. That’s dangerous but some react inappropriately and demand a purge of sorts.

Yet a reminder is needed (like this opportunity) that only Jesus directs the separation of the weeds from the wheat. And He dictates the time. We don’t. And it’s best not to second guess God and try to deny His Angels their role.

 

[Tigg]

First, I apologize if my first post on this thread was uncharitable. Much of it was out of frustration.

But to call me a “Pseudo-Catholic”? “Enemy of Francis”? No!

all I am saying is that I’m tired of our hackneyed conversations about “abortion this and contraception that and homosexuals blah blah blah”. I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, condoning such sins. It’s not that I’ve been silent on these moral issues,* but that I’ve been vocal about them for too long. *

Have you ever heard of acedia? It is a sort of spiritual weariness. Things come to the point where they just don’t seem “worth it” anymore. For example, parents experience it when their kids stop being so cute (called the “seven-year itch”), priests feel tired of it, and many in the pro-life movement feel it as well (their opponents don’t; they have little helpers by the names of Wormwood and Moloch).

This acedia is what caused me to withdraw from the “culture wars” of the faith. It has been a cross that has plagued me for at least a year, possibly longer. I just want to focus on growing in my relationship with Christ, not worrying about what “those people” are up to, considering the only methods I have of potentially convincing them-legislation and fruitless internet arguments-have proven marginal at best and a waste of time and energy at worst.

So, it’s not that I’m a “pseudo-Catholic”. It’s that I’m not feeling called to limit my faith to running around the same treadmill of issues every single day. Yes, we should speak up about the abortion-marriage-contraception rigmarole once in a while, but not constantly!

Before I exit this thread, I want to thank you, Jack for your post. Actually, if you read my words carefully I was not calling you a pseudo-Catholic since in your earlier posts you made it clear your were practicing. Here are my actual words. “I pity the pseudo-Catholics on these many threads** who having rejected truth now erroneously believe the Church is actually going to be silent on the ugliness of sin and the degradation of humanity.”**

If you read through these threads you will see many that publically pronounce they cannot and do not accept church teaching, nor do they practice the faith and some even lament over the fact that because they are baptized Catholic, technically they are still Catholics. (There was actually a thread on this subject some time ago.) My term was directed only to them and since they themselves have made this claim, there is no judgment upon them except for the acceptance of what they themselves have freely admitted. How unfortunate that some of them have now misinterpreted the role of the pope to the extent that they hope and believe there will be a radical departure from Tradition and dogma. My point was that if the Church is silent on difficult moral issues and sin, she will then have denied her very mission.