The Coppersmith (Commentary) I

[AndyF]

Paul mentions the harm this person does to his ministry, (2 Tim 4,14) and I see the situation not unlike the Catholic’s attitudes toward the Vatican today and in particular the lack of respect of Holy office of Vicar. The coppersmiths of today would receive open popularity and a pat on the back and make the celebrity hall of fame.

ATICAN-SSPX Oct-15-2009 (490 words) xxx

Vatican announces start of dialogue with traditionalist group

By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Vatican announced the start of a long-awaited dialogue aimed at repairing a 21-year break with a group of traditionalist Catholics.

The first encounter between the leaders of the Society of St. Pius X and Vatican experts will take place Oct. 26 at the Vatican, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said Oct. 15.

…“The announcement came a few days after the head of the traditionalist society, Bishop Bernard Fellay, reiterated a list of objections to the Second Vatican Council…”

…" He said the society’s main objections to Vatican II were…" (!!!)

…" Tradition, Bishop Fellay said the goal of the dialogue with the Vatican would be to clarify church teaching in recent years and “help dispel the errors or the severe ambiguities that have since been spread with full hands throughout the Catholic Church.”…

I am asked what I think of Cardinal X’s discussion with the Pope, or the debate of so-and-so with this X official. I could just has well been asked about a wrestling sparing match on television. We crave competition in all forms and choose sides. We are hopeful that our point of view has met approval by the Vatican and we inwardly cheer on the Bishop or Cardinal who presses the matter. “Open the bag of chips, and a bowl of popcorn, lets see who wins this time”, is our attitude.

Frankly it embarrasses me and if I should be curious, then the shame would be on me. What goes on in those hallowed halls is none of my business, just as it would a private conversation between Peter and Jesus. The tabloids find nothing sacred, and this has rubbed off on the Church’s attitude that every member must know the intricacies of the inner dealings of the Vatican. I ask myself what the root of this attitude is since the 50’s which I recall was absent and reserved to higher officials.

The 60’s brought on a movement of young adults who desired the liberty of questioning everything in life. These they would see themselves as free thinkers and intellectuals, pipe in hand and the bistros were full of this generation. A certain arrogance would emerge from all this. Coupled with a falling away from the Church and the influence of the erroneous Christian dogma of protestant religions, as well has the pull of eastern religions, they became self confident that nothing can stand in their path. There became a collective habit of indiscretion and an ideology that nothing could be sacred. The media found in these a willing entity that can never be satiated with enough information of discreet dealings only reserved for higher Vatican officials.

I think I lived and learned the old days to recognize discretion because a child lives it. That finger over the lips with an accompanying frown by an adult was common when a word of disrespect was said. It required the sign of the cross in penance and maybe a Hail Mary. I recall the days when the Church was recognized has an autocracy has Jesus intended. Some don’t remember it this way because of the influence of democratic processes present in the protestant religions, with it’s consensus driven election of members. These intellectuals of today now in their 50’s and 60’s and have taken on the mantle have then assigned democratic ideals to the Catholic Church.

(Part II)

 

[AndyF]

(Cont’d Part I)

Every person has his place in the scheme of Life and everyone should recognize his place. St. Francis knew his place and his attitude echoed Bernadette’s later quote of “Yes I am stupid” when told by the Bishop that she was stupid. Francis knew quite well Pope Gregory’s issues of his day but he kept silent not wanting to know what was going on. His brothers had an aire of self reservation. Scripture makes reference to this sense of heirarchy of place. The Bishop in this news item who pulled up a chair for a show down issue with the Pope to see who would blink first did not know his place, has there is no such thing has “the opposition”.

This scene is a culmination of an initial event of insubordination, where the Pope received the first challenge of his office by his flock. It was an example of mistrust of the Holy Spirit as it assumed that all effects of the Holy Spirit through the works/causes of a Vicar can always be found in a timely way in this generation through the experiential. It never enters the mind of these that the Spirit may wish the effect manifested generations from now, and by this successful action short circuits His plan. The effect is not dissimilar to abortions, in that we can assume the negative for an infant life that was destined to greater things. This attitude is presumptive, has it assumes we can always determine the issue is not Holy Spirit inspired, and this is a dangerous game of Russion Roulette with frightful consequences.

It also sends the message to Jesus that in fact it is not only he that can destroy his Church, inspite of the gates of hell that can’t, but Jesus should have considered the Pope as a possible has well. This is of course is total nonsense and so is the excuse we make that we are trying to “save” the Church. We have become so arrogant and inflated that we pick and choose a Pope in a specific era so we can venture a performance test and rate him as if in some grand competition. This competitive scenario entertains and occupies us out of total disrespect of his office. We see a human being, but ignore that Divine infusion of the Holy Spirit within him, who really actions this Servant to do his bidding. These things were unheard of in the 50’s and would have warranted a reprimand.

The protestants queu in on this sparring match and can now say there is no difference between the Catholic ramblings and the protestant. Dissention and insubordination is rampant in the Church as well as in their own, something they could have never found evidence for in the 50’s. This turmoil can only hinder the discernment of potential new converts.

So when I am asked what I think of all this I say I am not interested, you embarrass me, it is not my place to know, but I am interested in the edict that follows and here the Church can count on my carrying out his command with zeal and even to the death, and that is also tradition, the tradition of spirit.

Andy

“Let there be no factions; rather, be united in mind and judgement.” Cor 1,10

“Brothers, I beg you to be on watch for dissension and scandal, contrary to the teaching you have received.” Rom 16,17

“…as they make a pretense of religion but negate it’s power.” 2 Tim 3,5