USCCB Campaign for Human Development

[sauce]

It is impossible to fully communicate on the Internet. People can read into posts what they think they hear from a person’s writing.
Let me just say that you’ll never heal cancer with a cotton ball.

And when we pray at mass in the prayer of the faithful for the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth, we shouldn’t be surprised when he shows up. It may not be how we envisioned it: I just find that a lot of the time the clergy doesn’t like what they see. Prime example: Charismatic renewal and the operating gifts of the spirit.
Things are evolving. I don’t find any other church very interesting.
The Catholic Church has the main deposit of Faith. And I’m all too aware that it is human. Therefore I expect cracks in the road.

The bible tells us to stay alert. That is a healthy thing.

 

[quiet52]

We can protest and call for reform. We can call for the bishops to be more faithful and solid in teachings…

What the church needs now isn’t people tearing it apart. It needs faithful catholics to remain faithful and hold the bishops and priests accountable, and demand that they stay true to the one true faith. When things like the CHD come up, we must stand up and call the bishops to account…

Any specific suggestions on how to call our bishop to account?

 

[sauce]

Maybe by writing a nonthreatening letter to the archdiocesan office asking where the money goes dime for dime. Keep it down to 5 sentences at most. And sign off by saying something like “the only reason I’m asking is because I’d like the church to avoid political scandal.”

 

[CradleCath]

Maybe by writing a nonthreatening letter to the archdiocesan office asking where the money goes dime for dime. Keep it down to 5 sentences at most. And sign off by saying something like “the only reason I’m asking is because I’d like the church to avoid political scandal.”

`

And, if you’re planning on giving a donation to another organization…your state’s Right to Life Chapter can always use funds. They can also use . This link is to mine & will give you an idea of what they will do with your money.

votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=2733

 

[thomasf]

Any specific suggestions on how to call our bishop to account?

What she said:

Maybe by writing a nonthreatening letter to the archdiocesan office asking where the money goes dime for dime. Keep it down to 5 sentences at most. And sign off by saying something like “the only reason I’m asking is because I’d like the church to avoid political scandal.”

And

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=4444016&postcount=23

 

[crenfro]

Don’t be too hard on them - as Jesus would say, “Father, forgive them FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.”

You’re right. I will continue with the pledging, and put my foot in my mouth.

 

[rien]

Any specific suggestions on how to call our bishop to account?

Pray for them, the bishops, is the answer one hears on EWTN and from others.

But in many dioceses the false teaching has gone on for decades now. Rome has done nothing. Generations have been lost. Souls have been lost. Does Rome even get this?!

I read about one family who knew their local Catholic school were not teaching the faith, the secular schools were secular and anti-Chritian, but an Orthodox Christan group was trying to get a local Orthodox Chritian school started and this family converted to Orthodoxy because of their children.

Like how many decades and souls lost are Catholics to endure. Cause in the US anyway the prayers have gone unanswered and the schism remains stronger than ever. Despite JP2 and Benedict.

Rome has a bigger worry than the liberal Catholics now. Many orthodox Catholics are at their end of their ropes. Many are converting to Orthodoxy, but the tragedy is that some are losing their faith altogether.

And Rome basically does nothing.

 

[Tigg]

Pray for them, the bishops, is the answer one hears on EWTN and from others.

But in many dioceses the false teaching has gone on for decades now. Rome has done nothing. Generations have been lost. Souls have been lost. Does Rome even get this?!

I read about one family who knew their local Catholic school were not teaching the faith, the secular schools were secular and anti-Chritian, but an Orthodox Christan group was trying to get a local Orthodox Chritian school started and this family converted to Orthodoxy because of their children.

Like how many decades and souls lost are Catholics to endure. Cause in the US anyway the prayers have gone unanswered and the schism remains stronger than ever. Despite JP2 and Benedict.

Rome has a bigger worry than the liberal Catholics now. Many orthodox Catholics are at their end of their ropes. Many are converting to Orthodoxy, but the tragedy is that some are losing their faith altogether.

And Rome basically does nothing.

Yes, the silence is deafening, isn’t it? That has always been the way of the Church when something is terribly wrong internally. In what little defense of the USCCB I can muster, I will say there are those few who still speak out in defense of the true faith. But the result is even more confusion among the faithful because the bishops do not speak with a united voice!

Will the Son of Man find any faith left at all when HE returns?

 

[Tigg]

I just ordered and received a new book, “I Am With You Always” by Michael Davies.

I haven’t started reading it yet, so I can’t recommend it, but I know, speaking for myself, these forums are an encouragement to realize others, while faithful to the remnant and true Church are, nonetheless, questioning and disturbed by the rocking of the boat.

**Originally Posted by thomasf **
It is important to keep something in mind here. While there are times and places to call the bishops and the leadership of the church into question, that should not lead us to call all of the church into question. Nor is it reason to give up hope and faith in the church. Jesus promised us, the gates of hell will not prevail. He did not promise us that hell wouldn’t try.

Good words to contemplate!

ALL POWER is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach ye all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I AM WITH YOU ALL DAYS, even to the consummation of the world.
Mt. 28:18-20

 

[elgar]

Yes, the silence is deafening, isn’t it? That has always been the way of the Church when something is terribly wrong internally. In what little defense of the USCCB I can muster, I will say there are those few who still speak out in defense of the true faith. But the result is even more confusion among the faithful because the bishops do not speak with a united voice!

Will the Son of Man find any faith left at all when HE returns?

Trying to stay positive here. Just a reminder much of the non-western world is on fire for Christ with biblical Christianity growing especially in the Global South and Asia. The Catholic church in the US is not doing so well in spite of very modest increases in membership due mainly to Mexican immigrants who are already catholic. We can’t rely on church hierarchy to lead us. We can’t lose sight of the great commission to bring Jesus to the masses. The problem is when individual priests, nuns and bishops purposely decide to follow their own religion or are not willing to defend the true teachings of the faith.

It is so easy to get discouraged. That is exactly what Satan desires. Remember he can’t create but tempts with perversion and discord. Don’t fall into the trap. God will judge the unfaithful in the end. I’m a believer in that people need to do what they must do in times of desperation. If a person leaves the Catholic Church for Orthodoxy because a local situation is heretical, I can respect that since I’m in that situation at the moment and will be making a decision very soon. That doesn’t mean you’ve given up. If a person loses their faith because they are disappointed in a bishop or priest, then there is a much bigger problem here and we must help these people through prayer and guidance.

 

[sauce]

The finger that points the way should not be the finger that gouges out your eye.

We will all be individually responsible for a maturity of faith. If we don’t seek it out in this temporal life in an active, sincere way then we are at fault and will be judged accordingly. Hey, you reap what you sow, but on the same hand, you can’t reap where you haven’t sown. Let’s not allow ourselves to go spiritually bankrupt. Fight the good fight and let the truth shine through no matter the cost.

 

[quiet52]

I appreciate the last few posts (since mine asking about how to hold our bishops accountable).

In my diocese, it seems that people who write to the bishop are considered to be nut jobs (by the pastor and many lay people).

from elgar:
… We can’t rely on church hierarchy to lead us. We can’t lose sight of the great commission to bring Jesus to the masses. The problem is when individual priests, nuns and bishops purposely decide to follow their own religion or are not willing to defend the true teachings of the faith.

…It is so easy to get discouraged. That is exactly what Satan desires. Remember he can’t create but tempts with perversion and discord. Don’t fall into the trap…

I’m trying not to get trapped in discouragement. Which is why I hope more people will offer more concrete ideas on this forum.

Yes, let’s keep praying.

 

[sauce]

What is unwitting is if you do write a letter to the archdiocese you probably considered a trouble maker. But writing a letter is your right.

Is our hierarchy so delicate hat it can’t take criticism? I get hammered on a daily basis in the outside world. Maybe this is the time for the laity, and the Holy Spirit is calling us out to take a rightful place in the relationship. If you can never say no in a relationship then it is not a real relationship. It is something else. In fact, probably something closer to immaturity. That is dishonest and dangerous in the scheme of things.

Again, is the hierarchy so delicate that it cannot receive criticism?
The laity seems to be stronger to me. We’re out there taking punches in the outside world.

 

[Mimi]

“Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops, like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”

----Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
before the Knights of Columbus, June 1972

 

[Mimi]

Any specific suggestions on how to call our bishop to account?

Check out An Open Letter to Bishops by Stephanie Block.
You might choose to start a chapter of the Catholic Media Coalition, or call it whatever you like (Faithful Catholics of the ____ Diocese). Here is a web site you might find helpful. I did a lot of reading there just today. S.B. writes for this and another publication. She’s apparently been warning about this since 1997

You can download and print a brochure they have, “The Catholic Campaign for Human Development - Catholic dollars funding lef-wing politics for over forty years”.

I printed out a few and will try to get them distributed at church tomorrow. Gotta fight this dissident stuff wherever it rears its head! And also pray for their conversion!

Whew - I gotta go hit the sack! G’night!
Mimi

 

[Tigg]

Check out An Open Letter to Bishops by Stephanie Block.
You might choose to start a chapter of the Catholic Media Coalition, or call it whatever you like (Faithful Catholics of the ____ Diocese). Here is a web site you might find helpful. I did a lot of reading there just today. S.B. writes for this and another publication. She’s apparently been warning about this since 1997

Good work, Mimi. I immediately went to the dissenters page and my, my, what a treasure trove of information we have there. I believe this is what we, as Catholics faithful to true Church teaching MUST do! Expose the phonies and warn as many others as we can.

True story here - This past fall I joined a 4-year scripture study course given in this area by the Benedictine nuns. Imagine my surprise as I was looking over their colored brochure (after I had signed up for the course) to find out they are all masters of Reiki!

GOODNESS!!

 

[quiet52]

Check out An Open Letter to Bishops by Stephanie Block.
You might choose to start a chapter of the Catholic Media Coalition, or call it whatever you like (Faithful Catholics of the ____ Diocese). Here is a web site you might find helpful. I did a lot of reading there just today. S.B. writes for this and another publication. She’s apparently been warning about this since 1997

You can download and print a brochure they have, “The Catholic Campaign for Human Development - Catholic dollars funding lef-wing politics for over forty years”.

I printed out a few and will try to get them distributed at church tomorrow. Gotta fight this dissident stuff wherever it rears its head! And also pray for their conversion!

Whew - I gotta go hit the sack! G’night!
Mimi

Thank you for this website!

 

[rien]

Trying to stay positive here. Just a reminder much of the non-western world is on fire for Christ with biblical Christianity growing especially in the Global South and Asia. The Catholic church in the US is not doing so well in spite of very modest increases in membership due mainly to Mexican immigrants who are already catholic. We can’t rely on church hierarchy to lead us. We can’t lose sight of the great commission to bring Jesus to the masses. The problem is when individual priests, nuns and bishops purposely decide to follow their own religion or are not willing to defend the true teachings of the faith.

It is so easy to get discouraged. That is exactly what Satan desires. Remember he can’t create but tempts with perversion and discord. Don’t fall into the trap. God will judge the unfaithful in the end. I’m a believer in that people need to do what they must do in times of desperation. If a person leaves the Catholic Church for Orthodoxy because a local situation is heretical, I can respect that since I’m in that situation at the moment and will be making a decision very soon. That doesn’t mean you’ve given up. If a person loses their faith because they are disappointed in a bishop or priest, then there is a much bigger problem here and we must help these people through prayer and guidance.

The growth of Christianity in the south and east is pentecostal Christianity. Catholics are actually shrinking as a percentage of the Indian population but the huge growth of pentecostalism there is keeping Christians at between 2% and 3%. Steady, but behind Islam in India which is rapidly growing as a percentage of the population.

IMO this supposed growth of Catholicism in non-first world countries is a pipe dream. It ain’t happening. To the extent Chritianity is growing, versus Islam - and evangelicals play fast and loose on this too, it is Islam that is converting the world. Pentecostalism is second and, frankly, Catholcism is not even in the race,

 

[elgar]

The growth of Christianity in the south and east is pentecostal Christianity. Catholics are actually shrinking as a percentage of the Indian population but the huge growth of pentecostalism there is keeping Christians at between 2% and 3%. Steady, but behind Islam in India which is rapidly growing as a percentage of the population.

IMO this supposed growth of Catholicism in non-first world countries is a pipe dream. It ain’t happening. To the extent Chritianity is growing, versus Islam - and evangelicals play fast and loose on this too, it is Islam that is converting the world. Pentecostalism is second and, frankly, Catholcism is not even in the race,

I don’t have exact figures, but everything I’ve been hearing suggests huge conversions to Christianity on the continent of Africa. I can’t speak for the Catholic church but I know Anglican conversions continue to grow at an exponential rate according to many bishops there. Notice the recent massacres in Nigeria and Dominican Republic of Congo where hundreds of Christians are murdered–actually hacked to death-- and the villages/churches sacked and burned. Could it be that the muslims feel threatened by the new Christians? This is going to get me into trouble with some here when I say it doesn’t matter what Christian denomination leads the way in missionary work. The RC Church has done great work in the past, but I’m sure foreign missionary work is no longer considered so important. You know how a lot of people we know feel today about converting people to “our religion” when the new relativism says “all religions” lead to salvation. Many Catholics I know hold this view.

 

[Teelynn]

“Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops, like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”

----Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
before the Knights of Columbus, June 1972

I love this Mimi! Couldn’t be more spot on! What a wonderful gift God gave us in Bishop Sheen. (up for canonization) I think part of the problem came in in the previous generation when the prevailing attitude was " The Parish Priest and especially Bishop’s word was law. People seemed to do exactly what the clergy told them as they WERE CHURCH LAW so to speak. Total trust given to them. Only when dissent became obvious, and only when people started to think for themselves did this start to change.

We do have an obligation to respect our clergy, but we also, according to scripture, have the obligation to hold them accountable for dissenting guidance. And we will be judged on this! Some people I have even witnessed on these forums, that have the “don’t dare question the clergy” attitude. Very dangerous. I don’t want to be standing before Jesus some day trying to defend apathy in confronting heresy.:nope:

And thanks for the website!!