US priests urge Synod to issue clear affirmation of Church teaching on marriage

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PTL said:
I won’t speculate the reason why some who believe the Church’s teaching won’t let their names be seen and voice be heard on this important petition. I
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Perhaps they’re just not interested in signing petitions or playing Church politics. As
orthodox clergy, perhaps they simply are interested in ministering to their flock.

I know I rarely if ever sign petitions, even for those that are for causes I believe in. Usually petitions I’ve come across are thrust on me with a “please sign this”. I never, ever sign something under pressure like that.
 
OraLabora said:
Perhaps they’re just not interested in signing petitions or playing Church politics. As
orthodox clergy, perhaps they simply are interested in ministering to their flock.

I know I rarely if ever sign petitions, even for those that are for causes I believe in. Usually petitions I’ve come across are thrust on me with a “please sign this”. I never, ever sign something under pressure like that.
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👍

And internet petitions usually aren’t worth the paper that they’re not written on.
 
Up to 840 signatures now 🙂

There has also been another strong statement from Card Muller defending Church teaching in marriage:

lifesitenews.com/news/popes-doctrine-head-we-cant-adapt-doctrine-to-suit-secularists-or-superfici

When questioned about the possibility of allowing “remarried” divorcees to the Sacraments, as proposed by Cardinal Walter Kasper, Cardinal Müller states:

“Cardinal Kasper has presented a hypothesis in order to help persons who live in a relationship which, according to the Church, is not sacramental. We all agree about the desire to help our brothers and sisters concerning this situation. But how? The doctrine of the Church is not a theory, it reposes upon the fidelity to the Word of God. The marriage between two baptized persons is an effective sacrament, an objective reality. It is impossible to dissolve a sacramental marriage with all its constitutive attributes of liberty, indissolubility, fidelity and of fruitfulness. As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith I have to present the doctrine of the Church. The Church cannot change the sacramentality of marriage; one promises to be faithful until death.”

Cardinal Müller also cautioned against concentrating too much on the question of “remarried” divorcees during the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Family in October of 2015:

“The object of the Synod is not to discuss the problem of remarried divorcees, but to reaffirm marriage as the foundation of civil society and of the community of the Churches, and to revive its fundamental dimension. The risk is great to concentrate on this particular question while forgetting the essential. It is not about what we would wish, each in his own particular situation. If the Synod should provoke a change, it would be the reinforcement of the prophetic role of the Church. It would be easier for us to make compromises, but the good remedy is that one which permits to look at the situation with truth and to overcome the situation which has rendered possible such an accident. It is not possible to adapt the doctrine of the Church to our secularized countries, and even less to accept a superficial Christianity.”

When asked to clarify what he meant with the expression “superficial Christianity,” Cardinal Müller points out that many Christians in European countries “are baptized, but do not believe and do not practice the Faith.” And he continues:

“They do not accept the substance of Christianity which produces a change in thinking and acting: a conversion. I do not judge theses persons in saying that, but in our countries, it suffices to see the percentage of the baptized Christians who are not confirmed or the multiplication of abortions to see that the existence of a superficial Christianity is a reality.”
 
McCall1981 said:
Up to 840 signatures now 🙂

There has also been another strong statement from Card Muller defending Church teaching in marriage:

lifesitenews.com/news/popes-doctrine-head-we-cant-adapt-doctrine-to-suit-secularists-or-superfici
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The petition list is growing everyday. Now they put it in last name alphabetical order except the newly signed, which will be put in order at the end of the day.

I noticed another of our diocese young priests just signed. This is encouraging. 👍

Cardinal Muller’s statement is great. Thanks for posting it.🙂
 
PTL said:
The petition list is growing everyday. Now they put it in last name alphabetical order except the newly signed, which will be put in order at the end of the day.

I noticed another of our diocese young priests just signed. This is encouraging. 👍

Cardinal Muller’s statement is great. Thanks for posting it.🙂
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How many priests are there active in the US? Isn’t it like 400,000 or something? I can’t find a number. I would think we would need to hit around 50,000-70,000 before it has any real impact. (assuming my total is reasonably correct)
 
FollowChrist34 said:
How many priests are there active in the US? Isn’t it like 400,000 or something? I can’t find a number. I would think we would need to hit around 50,000-70,000 before it has any real impact. (assuming my total is reasonably correct)
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I don’t know how many priests we have in U.S. The more the better on the petition list, of course. That is why we need to encourage all the priests we know to sign. I went to internet and found the young priest’s email who just signed the petition and sent him a thank you note. To my surprise he emailed me back to thank me for my note.

There are many things the laity can do - to encourage, to show our appreciation, to pass information. All these are part of making things happen - a team work, sort of.

I believe in the spirit of St. Paul - forget what was behind and run to the post. Let’s run together.
 
McCall1981 said:
In 2013-14 there were 412,236 total Priests worldwide, and 38,275 total Priests in the US according to this:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priest_shortage_in_the_Roman_Catholic_Church#Worldwide
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Ah, ok. I must have been looking at TOTAL numbers. So if we hit 5000-9000+ I am happy. I remember reading somewhere that for every person who signs a petition or contacts a company about an issue, etc, there are approximately 5 more who agree but are not committed enough to act. (how you could determine this though is questionable) I wonder if that mentality is at work here.
 
FollowChrist34 said:
Ah, ok. I must have been looking at TOTAL numbers. So if we hit 5000-9000+ I am happy. I remember reading somewhere that for every person who signs a petition or contacts a company about an issue, etc, there are approximately 5 more who agree but are not committed enough to act. (how you could determine this though is questionable) I wonder if that mentality is at work here.
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I completely support this, and hope as many sign as possible, but I don’t think it’s the kind of thing where you’re looking for a high percentage to sign (for a variety of reasons).

I thought at the beginning it would be successful if it passed the UK one (at 500+). Since it did, I’ve now started hoping for it just to reach 1000, but who knows 🤷
 
McCall1981 said:
I completely support this, and hope as many sign as possible, but I don’t think it’s the kind of thing where you’re looking for a high percentage to sign (for a variety of reasons).

I thought at the beginning it would be successful if it passed the UK one (at 500+). Since it did, I’ve now started hoping for it just to reach 1000, but who knows 🤷
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Think big. Aim high. 🙂 Fortune favors the brave.
 
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