The problem with calling this a “scandal” is that the Church is called to be part of the world, not seperated from it. To be able to address issues of homosexulityand abortion, it must hear form all sides. These folks from “realcatholicTV” are failing to recongize that having people from opposing views to speak as part of panels to address these issues is fulling the call of the Church. It does not mean that the Church is endorsing thier views.
i agree with you. i did not see anyone here asking to oust teh Bishops nor no one can do that. this is not a democracy. we did not vote them in neither we can take them down. i think the fight is against liberals in the Church trying to bring down the Church. i would like to think that our Bishops will see these problems pointed out by the watchee dogs and correct the problem. we will support them always.
I don’t understand you. This is not an issue of the bishops “speaking with” these groups. This is an issue of the Bishops Conference (A beurucratic organization) PAYING these people to LECTURE the faithful. Where did you get the idea that this is some sort of council between these groups and the bishops to talk about our differences?
Teh issue i that yu are trying tosay that th USCCB th CC stand’s for Catholic Bishops is somehow seperate form the bishops themselves. Th conference is requied under vatican II and works to carry out the church mission in the US United states. Sorry to sound condensending, but calling the USCCB a beurucratic organization is like saying the body operates seperatly from the he and the mind.
I’m sorry - I should have specified which post I was quoting.
It was in Post #149.(Emphasis in quote was mine)
First of all, we do not have the right to say that the bishops must go.
I agree with all the points you made about the bishops in that post.
The USCCB is not part of the magisterium, but the bishops that compose the organization are. They formally meet a couple of time a year to discuss and adress issue in the United States. They have in unity set up dicplinary rules for the United States and when they they are reviews by Rome. The priest scandle is a good example, in it’s aftermath, the bishops, in thier meetings as the USCCB addressed the issue and instituted changes in the United States for both the clergy and the laity. As a group they will partition Rome for specific disaplines for the Churh in America. In many ways thier actions and policies have effects and lead the church as a whole.
Two words: Rembert Weakland.First of all, we do not have the right to say that the bishops must go.
Second, a bishop is a man in Holy Orders, not an executive that one hires and fires. He has an ontological change that will never go away. He will always be a bishop and we have to accept that if we believe in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Third, a bishop is the only man of the cloth, to use a very Protestant term, who has the fulness of the priesthood. Even if he’s stealing from the poor box, we can’t do without him. No bishop, not priesthood. No priesthood, no Church.
Fourth, a bishop is the only legitimate successor to the Apostles. We are not successors to the Apostles. We are successors to the disciples of the Apostles. There is more to a bishop than what he does right or wrong.
Fifth, bishops are human beings. There have always been men of great character and strength among the bishops and men who are not as strong or as holy. This is not new. Look at the Middle Ages. But what would have happened if those bishops who had mistresses, had bizzare and crooked connections with monarchs, abused the peasants, ignored the clergy and did not educate them, what would have happened if we had not had these bishops, if we could do what the Protestants do, fire them?
It’s not a matter of saying that they have to go, because they are human. It’s a matter of offering to help with solutions and being patient, because problems are not always fixed as quickly as we wish. We can’t send the bishops anywhere or demand that they resign. If a bishop resigns from his post, he remains a bishop and by canon law must be given another post. The Church cannot abolish the Conference, because it was mandated by a Council and Pope John Paul II put it into canon law that we must have a conference. In addition, the Holy Father has a policy of not taking on these problems until the situation is out of control. As long as there is an infrastructure, he maintains his hands off and waits for the local bishops to fix the problem. The solution is to pray, offer our assistance and wait patiently. We have to help fix our problems, not just complain about them or thnk that we can fire bishops.
I’ve never been Protestant, but I have seen the great damage that has been done to the Reformation communities because of the hiring and firing of bishops and pastors. There is no unity. I don’t want to live in a church like that.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Believe what you want. You seem not to trust anyone who works for the church including the bishops, it’s just all a big conspiracy to undermind the foundation of the church.
