Should we hope and pray that certain religious congregations die a natural death?

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I realize that this comes across as uncharitable…but…wouldn’t the Church be better off if religious congregations that have lost their charism simply die off?

Many congregations seemingly have lost the Christo-centric vision of their saintly founders. Instead, they have adopted elements of paganism, modernism, indifferentism, and everything else under the sun, and by promoting same they endanger the souls of all within their spheres of influence. Many of these congregations are unrecognizable from the way they were just 40 years ago.

These congregations have been dying a slow death over decades for lack of vocations and will almost certainly be extinct within a generation or two (unless they first merge themselves out of existence with other dying congregations).

In the corporate world, these congregations might be classified as “dead wood.” They add nothing – yet they may actually distract or confuse people from fidelity to the Magisterium.

Should we hope and pray that irreparable religious congregations die a natural death?* Would the Church be better off without them?

*NOTE: of course, I am not suggesting that anyone should want any individuals to die!! I’m only referring to the misguided congregations themselves!!
 
Wouldn’t you prefer that they become revitalized and revert to, for lack of a better word, orthodox behavior, leaving behind their New Age toys?
 
OutinChgoburbs said:
Wouldn’t you prefer that they become revitalized and revert to, for lack of a better word, orthodox behavior, leaving behind their New Age toys?
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Yes, of course I would. But that’s why I qualified my question by referring to them as “irreparable” religious congregations. If there is no hope that they can be repaired then perhaps it is better that they die a natural death.

Even Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope B16) at the papal conclave said that the Church might have to shrink for a while in order to become purer.
 
lepanto said:
Yes, of course I would. But that’s why I qualified my question by referring to them as “irreparable” religious congregations. If there is no hope that they can be repaired then perhaps it is better that they die a natural death.
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There is always hope. Imagine what could happen if each of these congregations got a a handful of new vocations, who were orthodox and faithful to the order’s original charism. Change might be gradual, but it could happen. 🙂
 
We should pray as Christ taught us: Thy Kingdom Come.

So, we should pray for the building up of the Kingdom, not the tearing down of any part of it.
 
I investigated a religious order because I was interested in possibly becoming an associate. I found it to be too new-agey and did not connect at all to the charism. At the present time, there are no associations or third orders that I discern a calling to.
 
CarolAnnSFO said:
There is always hope. Imagine what could happen if each of these congregations got a a handful of new vocations, who were orthodox and faithful to the order’s original charism. Change might be gradual, but it could happen. 🙂
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I would imagine that people who were faithful and orthodox would be unlikely to be accepted by the vocations director.

This happens with some seminaries. Those men who aren’t willing to be open to women’s ordination, gay marriage, divorce and remarriage are found to be “psychologically unacceptable.” Especially if they wear a scapular and pray the rosary every day and go in for such practices as adoration.
 
Nothing’s ever irreparable, nothing is impossible for God–pray for their conversion, not their complete external apostacy.
 
I think we got so used to the religious praying for us, everybody neglected to pray for them 😦
 
Eileen_T said:
I would imagine that people who were faithful and orthodox would be unlikely to be accepted by the vocations director.

This happens with some seminaries. Those men who aren’t willing to be open to women’s ordination, gay marriage, divorce and remarriage are found to be “psychologically unacceptable.” Especially if they wear a scapular and pray the rosary every day and go in for such practices as adoration.
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In that case, we really need to pray for those orders (and seminaries). :gopray2:
 
There is nothing wrong with hoping for the death of those congregations that have strayed from the Truth and have begun to import pagan elements into their worship. A further help would be the more frequent use of excommunications to hasten along the dying process. Christ showed us that sometimes, in order to purify the House of God, one needs to wield a bullwhip and cast out the impure. Let’s pray that the individuals involved with such errant congregations come to their senses and come back to Christ’s Church.
 
This happens with some seminaries. Those men who aren’t willing to be open to women’s ordination, gay marriage, divorce and remarriage are found to be “psychologically unacceptable.” Especially if they wear a scapular and pray the rosary every day and go in for such practices as adoration.
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Is this really happening???
 
wifrost said:
Is this really happening???
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This is a line touted by just about everyone with exception of the most nominal/borderline heterodox Catholics, but I’m really not sure how much truth there is to it. Some bishops have disputed these claims (I know that doesn’t give much credibility for many here on CAF, and rightly so), but I would like some solid documentation of this just for record-keeping purposes…sources, anyone?
 
Certainly time will tell with these things, as those which are meant to last will somehow continue and those not will naturally die off, if left alone. It’s sort of like the advice which was given by the guy who suggested that the apostles not be interfered with.
 
Andy_K said:
This is a line touted by just about everyone with exception of the most nominal/borderline heterodox Catholics, but I’m really not sure how much truth there is to it. Some bishops have disputed these claims (I know that doesn’t give much credibility for many here on CAF, and rightly so), but I would like some solid documentation of this just for record-keeping purposes…sources, anyone?
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You can see this review of Rose’s book (Good Bye, Good Men). Fr. Trigilio, a regular on EWTN, has open backed Rose’s accounts, and is quoted at length about his own expereince.

Supposedly, the worst seminaries have been closed, or purged, and things are improving.

christianorder.com/features/features_2002/features_aug_sep02.html
 
Suppression and reform – both are happening in these “updated” orders.

When the numbers drop, the house closes–is “suppressed.” At least five motherhouses of different orders have been closed, sold, remodeled, etc. within the last few years.

Reform – such has to happen from within the community. I’ve been assisting two discerners to “updated” orders, and they’ve said, “I want to wear the habit, though. How can I break the news–or should I wait until after profession?” (My advice–start with the veil).

I am amazed by those convents who are having to transition to nursing home status, who keep insisting on the “updates,” and insist that nothing is wrong.

Believe it or not, some of the sisters are hurting very, very deeply, and love their congregations very much, and are basically despairing of anything changing.

I’ve been very tempted to write the pope and ask him to give these “updated” sisters an ultimatum–either “demote” to secular institute, which is what they are in essence; be suppressed; or allow Rome to send someone to assist with a reform.

In all actuality, pray for God’s will to be done–and support emerging communities.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Andy_K said:
This is a line touted by just about everyone with exception of the most nominal/borderline heterodox Catholics, but I’m really not sure how much truth there is to it. Some bishops have disputed these claims (I know that doesn’t give much credibility for many here on CAF, and rightly so), but I would like some solid documentation of this just for record-keeping purposes…sources, anyone?
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Somethings go on without any documentation. Those corrupting wouldn’t want to leave solid documentation. Mt 16:6 "And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Did the apostles ask for solid documentation of the leaven of hte Pharisees?

I have no solid documentation of a lunch conversation I had with a Jesuit priest, a professor of bioethics at a well known Catholic institution. I can’t prove he verbalized opinions on birth control contrary to Church teaching. Does that make it any less concerning?

Michael
 
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