Once-obedient Catholic with glib tongue embodies uprising

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By Jeff Donn (AP)
December 12, 2004

WEYMOUTH, Mass. – Colin Riley has gone obediently to Mass since boyhood, but he was mumbling apologies for raw words the other day to a statue of Jesus in the quiet sanctuary of St. Albert the Great. He was seething over efforts to close his church and others around Boston.

He and other parishioners at St. Albert have mounted an extraordinary challenge to Roman Catholic authority, snatching control of their church and inspiring occupations at several others. As their most prominent public voice, Riley is articulating the fresh stance of many American Catholics energized by the child-abuse scandal to confront religious leaders: They are loyal – but only to a point.

He and thousands like him foretell greater strains as the hierarchy strives to impose its authority on policy over church closings, sex abuse, gays, priestly celibacy, and other divisive questions. “Rather than face Rome, face the parishioners,” Riley advises church officials. . . .
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I really hope that the Holy Father considers re-establishment of the anathema for these rebellious ingrates. If they want to act outside of the boundaries of the Church, the Church should grant their wish formally.
 
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Scott_Lafrance:
I really hope that the Holy Father considers re-establishment of the anathema for these rebellious ingrates. If they want to act outside of the boundaries of the Church, the Church should grant their wish formally.
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Amen.
 
Note that all of this is happening in Massachusettes, home of the Kennedys and the Kerrys. A top to bottom Ecclesial housecleaning is in order.
 
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Amen.
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Before Archbishop O’Malley went to Boston he was my Bishop here in Palm Beach. I firmly believe that he will eventually clean up the mess in Boston. He is very spiritual and traditional.
 
Bob Baran:
Before Archbishop O’Malley went to Boston he was my Bishop here in Palm Beach. I firmly believe that he will eventually clean up the mess in Boston. He is very spiritual and traditional.
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I agree. Archbishop Sean has been very pastoral about this whole matter. Rather than bad-mouth anyone, he has repeatedly affirmed that those who wish to keep their parishes open are people with a “great love” for the church. He has respected the laity by being willing to meet with them without any preconditions and has worked to win confidence of many by inviting a leader of VOTF to serve on the committee reviewing these matters.

He is in a tough position with his predecessor practically run out of town on a rail. But I think his gentle kindness and open approach will help in a very difficult situation.
 
Bob Baran:
Before Archbishop O’Malley went to Boston he was my Bishop here in Palm Beach. I firmly believe that he will eventually clean up the mess in Boston. He is very spiritual and traditional.
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Perhaps, but so far the secular press has made him out to be orthodox and conservative. I have read he appointed a VOTF person to a commitee. instead of excommunicating him. He has been silent about Kennerdy and Kerry, like Law was. When in Rome did he not seek an OK to wash women’s feet during Easter time after he first disallowed it?

Like many other bishop’s the rap is he inherited a diocese with many problems. That often gives one cover to do very little and act more political than Catholic. Just my opinion.
 
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Perhaps, but so far the secular press has made him out to be orthodox and conservative. I have read he appointed a VOTF person to a commitee. instead of excommunicating him. He has been silent about Kennerdy and Kerry, like Law was. When in Rome did he not seek an OK to wash women’s feet during Easter time after he first disallowed it?

Like many other bishop’s the rap is he inherited a diocese with many problems. That often gives one cover to do very little and act more political than Catholic. Just my opinion.
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Sean O’Malley (OFM Cap) is a very spiritually directed priest and is walking a via Crucis since he inherited this entire mess.

He has tried to be pastoral and inclusive - whether that is wise remains to be seen but at least VOTF can’t say they weren’t represented and as a result they have less gasoline to pour on the firest of dissent and downright defiance which they have been spreading throughout his diocese.

As far as the washing of feet, he used the traditional method of selecting 12 men; massive complaints from the progressives ensued and so he told them he would ask Rome if it could be changed, again trying to be pastoral. Cardinal George was faced with the same thing rgarding group confession.

When I saw him at Bishop Sheen’s memorial, the man looked gaunt, tired and totally exhausted. He is trying to hard and while I recognize the anger that many parishoners experience when their parishes have to close, it is not O’Malley’s fault - he has to raise the money to pay for the agreed upon settlements. Like so many things in life, the burden falls upon the innocent to clean up the mess the guilty leave behind them.

Frankly some of the people he is trying to work with had best examine their consciences and ty to help him rather than fight.
When I read a press report tht says " sex abuse, gays, priestly celibacy, and other divisive questions." I sometimes do wonder about exactly what and who he is having to deal with.
 
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HagiaSophia:
Sean O’Malley (OFM Cap) is a very spiritually directed priest and is walking a via Crucis since he inherited this entire mess.

He has tried to be pastoral and inclusive - whether that is wise remains to be seen but at least VOTF can’t say they weren’t represented and as a result they have less gasoline to pour on the firest of dissent and downright defiance which they have been spreading throughout his diocese.

As far as the washing of feet, he used the traditional method of selecting 12 men; massive complaints from the progressives ensued and so he told them he would ask Rome if it could be changed, again trying to be pastoral. Cardinal George was faced with the same thing rgarding group confession.

When I saw him at Bishop Sheen’s memorial, the man looked gaunt, tired and totally exhausted. He is trying to hard and while I recognize the anger that many parishoners experience when their parishes have to close, it is not O’Malley’s fault - he has to raise the money to pay for the agreed upon settlements. Like so many things in life, the burden falls upon the innocent to clean up the mess the guilty leave behind them.

Frankly some of the people he is trying to work with had best examine their consciences and ty to help him rather than fight.
When I read a press report tht says " sex abuse, gays, priestly celibacy, and other divisive questions." I sometimes do wonder about exactly what and who he is having to deal with.
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I gotta tell ya it always seems that the left wing gets the sympathy from the clergy. I read about “pastoral” notions and such. If it were a right wing group I bet most often they would not hear words like pastoral and inclusive. What you wrote tells me it pays to act up, cause problems and be disobedient. The heterodox are rewarded. instead of being told what the faith is what our obligations are, we get politcal manuevers and told how hard it is to administer the diocese. Again I say, is there a 500 year plan? Placating the left all these decades has left the Church in a shambles. Preach the truth and they will come.
 
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Nichevo:
Note that all of this is happening in Massachusettes, home of the Kennedys and the Kerrys. A top to bottom Ecclesial housecleaning is in order.
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“When the Boston Archdiocese announced plans this year to close 83 of its 357 parishes to rescue its finances – hurt by the revelations of molestations and how they were handled – St. Albert turned up on the list. Its last day was set for Sept. 1…”

Funny, I don’t remember any news reports confiming that either Ted Kennedy or John Kerry molested any children, were subsequently transferred to other parishes where the abuse continued, cost the Boston Archdiocese millions in settlements to abuse victims thus forcing the closure of parishes like St. Albert. Could be I wasn’t reading very carefully.
 
Island Oak said:
“When the Boston Archdiocese announced plans this year to close 83 of its 357 parishes to rescue its finances – hurt by the revelations of molestations and how they were handled – St. Albert turned up on the list. Its last day was set for Sept. 1…”

Funny, I don’t remember any news reports confiming that either Ted Kennedy or John Kerry molested any children, were subsequently transferred to other parishes where the abuse continued, cost the Boston Archdiocese millions in settlements to abuse victims thus forcing the closure of parishes like St. Albert. Could be I wasn’t reading very carefully.
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You tell it!!!

No its easier to blame secular politicians for even the internal responsbilities of the church.

Then you have claims that “it pays to act up, cause problems and be disobedient” and that “the heterodox are rewarded”.

It seems to me that it was Bernie Law and his molesting priests who were acting up.

And was is heterodoxy? Wanting to continue to worship in the parish church you’ve long belonged to and helped build? Taking responsibility for responding to the crisis in confidence in the Church as VOTF has?

Agree or disagree, these are not heterodoxies.

And maybe the bishops listen to the “left” because the “left” is really the left, center and a good portion of the right.

I’ve heard from some of the people objecting to their parish closing. They are not all wild-eyed liberals.
 
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Nichevo:
Note that all of this is happening in Massachusettes, home of the Kennedys and the Kerrys. A top to bottom Ecclesial housecleaning is in order.
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Interesting to note that *Nichevo *actually means *“nothing” *in Russian…
 
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katherine2:
You tell it!!!

No its easier to blame secular politicians for even the internal responsbilities of the church.

Then you have claims that “it pays to act up, cause problems and be disobedient” and that “the heterodox are rewarded”.

It seems to me that it was Bernie Law and his molesting priests who were acting up.

And was is heterodoxy? Wanting to continue to worship in the parish church you’ve long belonged to and helped build? Taking responsibility for responding to the crisis in confidence in the Church as VOTF has?

Agree or disagree, these are not heterodoxies.

And maybe the bishops listen to the “left” because the “left” is really the left, center and a good portion of the right.

I’ve heard from some of the people objecting to their parish closing. They are not all wild-eyed liberals.
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I think he was referring to a common degradation in the culture of the Boston society and to the spirituality of the Diocese.
I guess it becomes a chicken/egg question.
 
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fix:
I gotta tell ya it always seems that the left wing gets the sympathy from the clergy. I read about “pastoral” notions and such. If it were a right wing group I bet most often they would not hear words like pastoral and inclusive. What you wrote tells me it pays to act up, cause problems and be disobedient. The heterodox are rewarded. instead of being told what the faith is what our obligations are, we get politcal manuevers and told how hard it is to administer the diocese. Again I say, is there a 500 year plan? Placating the left all these decades has left the Church in a shambles. Preach the truth and they will come.
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I understand where you are coming from: I’m not saying I agree with the M/O but I’ve never met a Capuchin who didn’t err on the side of being pastoral or trying to persuade and lead by example. Often because we are in the “real” world it doesn’t work - but it’s almost a charism of their order.

My heart just ached when I saw him at the Mass. He looked like he needed a hug, a two week vacation and some meat on his bones. May God bless him and take care of him and help him resolve thse terrible situations which were not of his making.

And as me mum would’ve said: I hope the Good Lord recalls by name those who put the poor man in this position and calls them to account.
 
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HagiaSophia:
I

And as me mum would’ve said: I hope the Good Lord recalls by name those who put the poor man in this position and calls them to account.
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Your “mum” obviously was a very wise (and witty, and dead-on-pointed) woman–she often has a lot to add to this forum! I sure do like her!:clapping:
 
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st_felicity:
Your “mum” obviously was a very wise (and witty, and dead-on-pointed) woman–she often has a lot to add to this forum! I sure do like her!:clapping:
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She woulda’ loved forums - just loved them.
 
I just don’t know what the protesters hope to accomplish with these sit-ins.

They cannot provide their own priests, only the bishop can. My guess is that they were likely to have witheld contributions during the time period when the decisions about which parishes to close had to be made. Shortfalls in contributions in an older, high maintenance parish church is a sure recipe for closure in tight times.

This will all end in frustration for them.

On the other hand the best way that they can keep the parish open is to wave a big, big, big check at the bishop in the hand of a new candidate for the seminary.

Which brings me to one last point, it seems from where I sit that the people who complain the most are least likely to have fostered vocations among their own families.

Everyone wants someone else’s son to be their priest.

+T+
 
I tend to side with those who are refusing giving up the churches just so they can be sold to pay off even more victims ALL DUE to the Church looking the other way all these years… and whats the bigger sin? Fighting for a church you donated money to for years or even decades, or selling it so that it could possibly be turned into a buddist or hindu temple…or have the site used for an adult bookstore or something? (just possibilities that could happen)
 
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