Obama’s Notre Dame speech tried to redefine U.S. Catholicism, George Weigel charges

[Caveman]

Here are the first 3 paragraphs from the Catholic News Agency; (emphasis mine)

Obama’s Notre Dame speech tried to redefine U.S. Catholicism, George Weigel charges

Washington D.C., May 19, 2009 / 05:38 pm (CNA).- Continuing his criticism of President Barack Obama’s appearance at Notre Dame, Catholic commentator George Weigel charged that Obama has inserted himself into intra-Catholic disputes by trying to define who a “real Catholic” is. He warned the president risks assuming the headship of the dissident wing of U.S. Catholicism, pitting Catholic intellectuals and institutions against their bishops.

Weigel, writing in a Monday essay for National Review Online, said it was “surprising” and “disturbing” that President Obama decided to “insert himself” into “the ongoing Catholic debate over the boundaries of Catholic identity and the applicability of settled Catholic convention in the public square.” He said** President Obama tried to settle “the decades-long intra-Catholic culture war” in favor of one faction: “the faction that had supported his candidacy and that had spent the first months of his administration defending his policies.”**

In an exclusive comment to CNA, Weigel compared the effort to the historical phenomenon of “Gallicanism,” the French bishops’ past efforts to establish a church generally independent of papal authority. “This is a very serious business, with the president of the United States putting himself in charge of the Gallican wing of the Catholic Church in the United States – the difference being that this new Gallicanism isn’t local bishops vs. Rome but intellectuals and their institutions and magazines vs. local bishops and Rome,” Weigel told CNA.

 

[Catholic20064]

Here are the first 3 paragraphs from the Catholic News Agency; (emphasis mine)

Obama’s Notre Dame speech tried to redefine U.S. Catholicism, George Weigel charges

Washington D.C., May 19, 2009 / 05:38 pm (CNA).- Continuing his criticism of President Barack Obama’s appearance at Notre Dame, Catholic commentator George Weigel charged that Obama has inserted himself into intra-Catholic disputes by trying to define who a “real Catholic” is. He warned the president risks assuming the headship of the dissident wing of U.S. Catholicism, pitting Catholic intellectuals and institutions against their bishops.

Weigel, writing in a Monday essay for National Review Online, said it was “surprising” and “disturbing” that President Obama decided to “insert himself” into “the ongoing Catholic debate over the boundaries of Catholic identity and the applicability of settled Catholic convention in the public square.” He said** President Obama tried to settle “the decades-long intra-Catholic culture war” in favor of one faction: “the faction that had supported his candidacy and that had spent the first months of his administration defending his policies.”**

In an exclusive comment to CNA, Weigel compared the effort to the historical phenomenon of “Gallicanism,” the French bishops’ past efforts to establish a church generally independent of papal authority. “This is a very serious business, with the president of the United States putting himself in charge of the Gallican wing of the Catholic Church in the United States – the difference being that this new Gallicanism isn’t local bishops vs. Rome but intellectuals and their institutions and magazines vs. local bishops and Rome,” Weigel told CNA.

That article was right on. Poor Obama. He failed. There are over 70 Bishops that will keep that from happening.

 

[4HisChurch]

I honestly think that for most Catholics here, U.S. Catholicism has already been “redefined”. Poor catechesis and decades of cultural assimilation have resulted in Kennedy-esque Catholics who pick and choose.

Obama is taking full political advantage of what was already there.

 

[cecilia97]

I honestly think that for most Catholics here, U.S. Catholicism has already been “redefined”. Poor catechesis and decades of cultural assimilation have resulted in Kennedy-esque Catholics who pick and choose.

Obama is taking full political advantage of what was already there.

I think you are right, 4HisChurch, but I also see a rising tide of orthodoxy, especially among some of us younger adults who were part of that poor catechesis and now realize what a beautiful faith we were almost cheated out of. Take heart.

 

[tm30]

The problem with U.S. Catholicism is not the bishops. The bishops have spoken out boldly and in great numbers against the liberal/secular/atheist agenda in this country.

The problem is that the horse is out of the barn with American Catholics. And as Generations Y and Z ascend to power in the political and commercial spheres of influence, the Catholic Church is going to take a beating in this country.

I have great hope, however, that the current population of vocal, orthodox bishops will successfully form the consciences of Catholic parents and their children, who will revitalize the Church in America twenty years from now… Between now and then, however, it’s going to be rough sledding.

At some point, one of the bishops will snap and bring down the hammer in a meaningful way, which will start a chain reaction among the rest. What will precipitate that, I’m not sure, but we’re nearing critical mass (no pun intended)

 

[Catholic20064]

The problem with U.S. Catholicism is not the bishops. The bishops have spoken out boldly and in great numbers against the liberal/secular/atheist agenda in this country.

The problem is that the horse is out of the barn with American Catholics. And as Generations Y and Z ascend to power in the political and commercial spheres of influence, the Catholic Church is going to take a beating in this country.

I have great hope, however, that the current population of vocal, orthodox bishops will successfully form the consciences of Catholic parents and their children, who will revitalize the Church in America twenty years from now… Between now and then, however, it’s going to be rough sledding.

At some point, one of the bishops will snap and bring down the hammer in a meaningful way, which will start a chain reaction among the rest. What will precipitate that, I’m not sure, but we’re nearing critical mass (no pun intended)

I don’t understand why all of the pro-life Catholic politicians haven’t caused the Bishops to snap. Now that’s a scandal that makes the Obama problem look small. None of them should be able to take the Eucharist.

 

[manualman]

You know, the Weigel piece raises a VERY interesting point in my mind. Things are getting BETTER in the catholic church in America! 30 years ago, the vast majority of the bishops were either silent or vocally in opposition to the controversy of the day: Humanae Vitae. Many of the bishops of that day were part of the dissident force with disasterous results on the faithful.

Contrast that with today’s leftist issues at hand: abortion and homosexual normalization. We seem to have finally reached the point on the secular drift of this nation where the bishops have woken up and are actively taking the side of the Church! That’s a GOOD thing.

This seems to me like a major turn in the tide over the last 30 years.

 

[markeverett49]

St. John Chrysostom warned us 1500 years ago that the road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops. They are not responsible for all the ills in the Church, but American bishops of the past 50 years have been for the most part, in Eric Holder’s phrase, “a nation of cowards.”

 

[quiet52]

The problem with U.S. Catholicism is not the bishops. The bishops have spoken out boldly and in great numbers against the liberal/secular/atheist agenda in this country.

Perhaps a few people have – but “in great numbers” … no way.

The problem is that the horse is out of the barn with American Catholics. And as Generations Y and Z ascend to power in the political and commercial spheres of influence, the Catholic Church is going to take a beating in this country.

The Church has already taken a beating. It just seems a great many Catholics don’t feel the pain. It’s going to get worse.

I have great hope, however, that the current population of vocal, orthodox bishops will successfully form the consciences of Catholic parents and their children, who will revitalize the Church in America twenty years from now… Between now and then, however, it’s going to be rough sledding.

My hope is that this isn’t merely wishful thinking. Of course, it’s not the bishops, but their priests, who are to help form the consciences of Catholic parents and their children. Are the bishops working with their priests?

How many bishops will be retiring within five years? I read it somewhere but can’t remember – but it’s a significant block of them.

What was the mean age of the 83 bishops who have been identified as speaking against the ND scandal? It IS hopeful that about a quarter of our bishops spoke up in some way. But I don’t think their messages were heard in the pews. Some bishops spoke up in their homilies or wrote something for their newspapers or bulletins, but few of us ever see or hear a bishop. Many bishops did write to Father Jenkins or others associated with the ND decision.

So how about our priests – Mine haven’t said anything about this. Catholics are aware of Obama’s speech (and applaud it) – they’re basically unaware of why it’s a scandal. My observation of my fellow parishioners has been that most Catholics don’t know what the controversy is about, and they didn’t hear anything from our bishop or priests – and I’m just talking about those who attend Mass.

At some point, one of the bishops will snap and bring down the hammer in a meaningful way, which will start a chain reaction among the rest. What will precipitate that, I’m not sure, but we’re nearing critical mass (no pun intended

Let’s pray this will happen.

 

[4HisChurch]

I feel like the bishops have certainly spoken out in greater numbers on this issue than any in recent memory. It is a good trend, although by no means complete.

Catholicism is taking more and more of a hit as each day goes by, it seems. I fear, not only for the Church, but for freedom of religion in general in this country. Atheists are more and more militant and Christians more and more marginalized.

The persecution is only beginning, IMO.

I am very thankful for those young people who are more orthodox. It is not all of them, though. The so-called “new” atheism is claiming the young as well.