Flip this around; by living in the world they can have an impact on others and perhaps there will be conversion of hearts. Pagan reforms during the time of St. Francis routinely failed. Why? Because several homes and communities has Secular Franciscans living among them, and through their actions they likely had an impact on the non-believers.
But those secular Franciscans were different, behaved differently right? Catholics cannot “fit in” to pagan society and shouldn’t. We are like leaven, not like the rest of the dough.
Who said anything about him being a consecrated religious? I’ve been on this board for a year and you’ve explained the difference over and over.Finally, Cardinal Dolan is not a consecrated religious. He is a secular Catholic. He has every right to be counted among the leaders of the secular world, because he has been a good leader. Let’s separate priesthood from consecrated life, please. They are not the same. As long as we treat them the same, we’ll never get it right.
That is a good point.
This is not a worldly accolade. This is beyond that. This is an opportunity to remind the American people that the Church is very present in the secular world and that it’s not going away. It also reminds people that Catholics have rights in this society and that we have also made very significant contributions that the rest of America cannot sweep under the carpet in the name of separation of religious and secular. That’s why it’s important to emphasize that the Cardinal is part of the secular world and belongs there.
Well, he is currently the president of the USCCB, and an often, and rightly outspoken proponent and defender of religious freedom in general, and Catholic teachings, specificly. (in particular, most reciently in objection to the HHS mandate) For reference, please open any newspaper in the last 6 months, or read any news-source website during the same time period.
Cute.
That’s one way of looking at it.
Here are links to a couple of the Cardinal’s (written when he was still ArchBishop) blog.
Thanks for the VOTE “Havard”Voted!
And I spelled your name right!
Cardinal Dolan is one of the best things that has happened to the Catholic Church in the USA since Elizabeth Ann Seton. He certainly gets my vote. The letter that he wrote this week was outstanding.Here are links to a couple of the Cardinal’s (written when he was still ArchBishop) blog.
One on marriage
and another about the “external markers” of our faith..
I encourage you to read through his blog. The Cardinal is funny, insightful and deeply spiritual, and IMHO, we are very lucky to have him as the preisdent of the USCCB!
Dear Brother JR,Cardinal Dolan is one of the best things that has happened to the Catholic Church in the USA since Elizabeth Ann Seton. He certainly gets my vote. The letter that he wrote this week was outstanding.
I especially loved his retelling of his conversation with President Obama on the HHS situation, after they had already talked. The President called him to tell him that it was a done deal and the Cardinal told him flat out what the Catholic deal is.
**
I said, ‘Mr. President, I appreciate the call. Are you saying now that we have until August to introduce to you continual concerns that might trigger a substantive mitigation in these mandates?’ He said, ‘No, the mandates remain. We’re more or less giving you this time to find out how you’re going to be able to comply.’ I said, ‘Well, sir, we don’t need the [extra time]. I can tell you now we’re unable to comply.’”**
Church failed to teach against contraception.
He is very honest about the failures of the Church and the failures of society. I love his candor and his humility. Most of all, what impresses me about him is that he has an ability to tell the truth without being belligerent. Too many people don’t know the difference between the Church Militant and the Church Belligerent.
Again, he gets my vote for an influential man. He certainly has Catholics thinking and talking about these issues more than they ever have in the past. Even if people go in the opposite direction, this time they can’t say that they did not have a chance to talk about it or to hear more about it.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
I always learn a lot with your posts, humility, knowledge, kindness, demeanor! Thanks for spending time with us! And ministering to us!
And our Blessed Mother warns about this…Thank you.Here are links to a couple of the Cardinal’s (written when he was still ArchBishop) blog.
One on marriage
and another about the “external markers” of our faith..
I encourage you to read through his blog. The Cardinal is funny, insightful and deeply spiritual, and IMHO, we are very lucky to have him as the preisdent of the USCCB!
Thank you.Cardinal Dolan is one of the best things that has happened to the Catholic Church in the USA since Elizabeth Ann Seton. He certainly gets my vote. The letter that he wrote this week was outstanding.
I especially loved his retelling of his conversation with President Obama on the HHS situation, after they had already talked. The President called him to tell him that it was a done deal and the Cardinal told him flat out what the Catholic deal is.
**
I said, ‘Mr. President, I appreciate the call. Are you saying now that we have until August to introduce to you continual concerns that might trigger a substantive mitigation in these mandates?’ He said, ‘No, the mandates remain. We’re more or less giving you this time to find out how you’re going to be able to comply.’ I said, ‘Well, sir, we don’t need the [extra time]. I can tell you now we’re unable to comply.’”**
Church failed to teach against contraception.
He is very honest about the failures of the Church and the failures of society. I love his candor and his humility. Most of all, what impresses me about him is that he has an ability to tell the truth without being belligerent. Too many people don’t know the difference between the Church Militant and the Church Belligerent.
Again, he gets my vote for an influential man. He certainly has Catholics thinking and talking about these issues more than they ever have in the past. Even if people go in the opposite direction, this time they can’t say that they did not have a chance to talk about it or to hear more about it.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Well, thank you Megan. Can I put you down as one of my references on my resume?Dear Brother JR,
AWESOME post & explanation! I agree with you!
I also agree that a lot of people do not know the difference between the Church Militant & the Church Belligerent…
Thanks for your wisdom!
God Bless you Brother JR!
Pax,
Blessings to all reading this,
Megan
P.S: Here is the link to VOTE for Cardinal Dolan, in case someone missed it…
time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2107952_2107953_2109596,00.html
What did I do?
