Voice of the Faithful?

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Coder:
Not at all. VOTF does not represent truly Catholic laity. I’m all for laity and I trust them. I just don’t trust the laity in VOTF. I trust the laity that run Catholic Answers. I trust that laity that run the Couple to Couple League. I trust the laity that run many other truly faithful Catholic groups.

I do not trust the laity and clergy that run VOTF. Another one of VOTFs lies is that they represent the laity. They dont represent me and other laity - I’ll tell you that much.
Okay. So this is a matter of yoru personal negative judgement and distrust of a group of people from whom I take it you have limited or no interaction. Fine. You don’t trust them. I got a list of people I don’t trust. Go and be well.
 
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katherine2:
So this is a matter of your personal negative judgement and distrust of a group of people from whom I take it you have limited or no interaction.
Again, not true. I know about some of the people who are involved (some are even from the parish in my town). I also know that many of the leaders of VOTF are dissenters. Their documents that I have spelled out right here show clearly that they are a dissenting group.
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katherine2:
So this is a matter of your personal negative judgement and distrust of a group of people
No, it is a matter of my love for Jesus. There is a glory and transcendent power of the true faith that has been obscured. Anyone who has tasted this knows God who I speak of.
 
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Nate:
You may not trust VOF, but what other lay organization do you know of, that is trying to address these problems rather than just ignore them? Please give me the name of it.
Catholic Answers. By teaching the true faith without compromise.

Thank You CA!! :clapping:
 
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Coder:
Again, not true. I know about some of the people who are involved (some are even from the parish in my town). I also know that many of the leaders of VOTF are dissenters. Their documents that I have spelled out right here show clearly that they are a dissenting group.
You own posts on this matter have already been proven to be fabrications on your part.
 
Hi Katherine. You may very well be sincere and have good intentions. I find VOTF problematic. I understand they can seem attractive as a lay group that seeks to address problems. So are many other laity who are also and importantly faithful to the Magisterium. Perhaps such laity are also part of VOTF, but the leadership is generally dissenting and their documents bear that out. Is there any doubt they are pushing for contraception and women’s ordination?

Please consider what I have said. If we disagree, I still wish you very well. I hope you assent to the Magisterium as the teaching office of Jesus on earth. I do not know where you stand in this regard.
 
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Coder:
Hi Katherine. You may very well be sincere and have good intentions. I find VOTF problematic. I understand they can seem attractive as a lay group that seeks to address problems.
Certainly God calls upon you to use the reasoning and judgement you have been given. I understand you find VOTF problematic. I respect your private judgement on this.
So are many other laity who are also and importantly faithful to the Magisterium. Perhaps such laity are also part of VOTF, but the leadership is generally dissenting and their documents bear that out. Is there any doubt they are pushing for contraception and women’s ordination?
Yes, their is doubt. The documents you earlier referenced were not documents of VOTF nor authored by VOTF’s leadership. Their is no evidence that VOTF is pushing for contraception or women’s ordination. But there is evidence that others unjustly raise this mistruth as a way discrediting VOTF.
I hope you assent to the Magisterium as the teaching office of Jesus on earth. I do not know where you stand in this regard.
I’m sorry I don’t merit the presumption of faithfulness in your mind.
 
Eyewitness evidence that VOTF spreads dissidence!
Last Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, a priest, Fr. Thomas Doyle O.P, representing Voice of the Faithful gave a presentation after the last mass in an area outside the church proper at St. Hilary Catholic Church in akron, Ohio. Fr. Doyle, whose talk was advertized as being about clergy abuse and justice for victim-survivors, did not make any attempt to hide at least part of VOTF’s real agenda: the ordination of women. He then proceeded to insult Pope John Paul II by calling him an “embarassing icon.” Gee, with this kind of representation, we may not have much to worry about this gang. Not many can put on such displays of dead-horse-beating and at the same time turn off the vast majority of Pope-loving Catholics (youth especially). Obviously not inspired or led by the Holy Spirit, VOTF may just wither off the vine and blow away. Amen.

Keep the Faith!
 
Let’s see what kind of spin is put on Fr. Doyle’s remarks. Misrepresented? Taken out of context? Not really speaking for VOTF? Sancte Pater Dominice, ora pro nobis!
 
Forum Administrator, could the two threads about VOTF running in this Forum be combined?

Yes, Aridite, spin is inevitable, but it won’t wash this time. Fr. Doyle also treated the small group gathered to hear him to a fair share of hierarchy-bashing. Now, I ask you, would a Catholic priest who is a retired Air Force Chaplain, a Canon Lawyer (former?) serving at the Vatican Washington Embassy, and a co-author of the 1985 Report on Abuse offer to speak on behalf of an organization that didn’t have a formulated agenda? I think not. The leaders and representatives of VOTF are not interested in wasting their time. They are interested in gathering as many sheep as possible, under the guise of caring, and sharing, and discerning. Scripture tells us that “Out of the fullness of the mind, the mouth speaks.” Fr. Doyle and his kind speak words of dissent and rancor. They are poising for the eventual death of John Paul II. Like jackals they’ll gather, along with all the other disgruntled in the Church. We need to stay in prayer and fasting for Holy Mother Church. Church Militant arise! To armor! Don’t shrink from battle, but engage the enemy. He hates it when we pray and fast. These are formidable weapons in the hands of the true Faithful, along with our swords of the Spirit, the Word of God. Remember, as we heard in today’s (Immaculate Conception) readings, “Nothing is impossible for God.”
 
James the Least:
Forum Administrator, could the two threads about VOTF running in this Forum be combined?

Yes, Aridite, spin is inevitable, but it won’t wash this time. Fr. Doyle also treated the small group gathered to hear him to a fair share of hierarchy-bashing. Now, I ask you, would a Catholic priest who is a retired Air Force Chaplain, a Canon Lawyer (former?) serving at the Vatican Washington Embassy, and a co-author of the 1985 Report on Abuse offer to speak on behalf of an organization that didn’t have a formulated agenda? I think not. The leaders and representatives of VOTF are not interested in wasting their time. They are interested in gathering as many sheep as possible, under the guise of caring, and sharing, and discerning. Scripture tells us that “Out of the fullness of the mind, the mouth speaks.” Fr. Doyle and his kind speak words of dissent and rancor. They are poising for the eventual death of John Paul II. Like jackals they’ll gather, along with all the other disgruntled in the Church. We need to stay in prayer and fasting for Holy Mother Church. Church Militant arise! To armor! Don’t shrink from battle, but engage the enemy. He hates it when we pray and fast. These are formidable weapons in the hands of the true Faithful, along with our swords of the Spirit, the Word of God. Remember, as we heard in today’s (Immaculate Conception) readings, “Nothing is impossible for God.”
:amen:
 
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aridite:
Let’s see what kind of spin is put on Fr. Doyle’s remarks. Misrepresented? Taken out of context? Not really speaking for VOTF? Sancte Pater Dominice, ora pro nobis!
Very likely. We know for a fact that James misrepresented Fr. Doyle and I’ve not found anything other than the claims of a proven misrepresenter as to Fr. Doyle’s lecture.

Fr. Doyle has a legitimate claim to be a speaker worthy of hearing.

it is becoming increasingly clear to me that certain people recoil at such speakers not out a love for orthodoxy but a fear that by publicly posing tough questions, the indefensible is challenged.

When you can’t defend something, censor any discussion of it.
 
James the Least:
Forum Administrator, could the two threads about VOTF running in this Forum be combined?

Yes, Aridite, spin is inevitable, but it won’t wash this time. Fr. Doyle also treated the small group gathered to hear him to a fair share of hierarchy-bashing. Now, I ask you, would a Catholic priest who is a retired Air Force Chaplain, a Canon Lawyer (former?) serving at the Vatican Washington Embassy, and a co-author of the 1985 Report on Abuse offer to speak on behalf of an organization that didn’t have a formulated agenda? I think not. The leaders and representatives of VOTF are not interested in wasting their time. They are interested in gathering as many sheep as possible, under the guise of caring, and sharing, and discerning. Scripture tells us that “Out of the fullness of the mind, the mouth speaks.” Fr. Doyle and his kind speak words of dissent and rancor. They are poising for the eventual death of John Paul II. Like jackals they’ll gather, along with all the other disgruntled in the Church. We need to stay in prayer and fasting for Holy Mother Church. Church Militant arise! To armor! Don’t shrink from battle, but engage the enemy. He hates it when we pray and fast. These are formidable weapons in the hands of the true Faithful, along with our swords of the Spirit, the Word of God. Remember, as we heard in today’s (Immaculate Conception) readings, “Nothing is impossible for God.”
:amen: Annunciata:)
 
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katherine2:
Very likely. We know for a fact that James misrepresented Fr. Doyle and I’ve not found anything other than the claims of a proven misrepresenter as to Fr. Doyle’s lecture.
Who are “we” and how do “we know for a fact”? If one cannot trust the many eyewitnesses to dissenting statements uttered by VOTF representatives, how can we trust you, katherine2?
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katherine2:
it is becoming increasingly clear to me that certain people recoil at such speakers not out a love for orthodoxy but a fear that by publicly posing tough questions, the indefensible is challenged.
What has anyone said that shows that they do not in fact love orthodoxy, but rather fears “tough questions” (presumably about administration – for that is all we can agree is a legitimate aim of VOTF). If by “tough questions” you mean attacks on doctrine, I recoil, not out of fear, but from a distain for falsehood. Are you saying, that ipso facto, opposition to VOTF is to fear reform, and be disingenous in one’s call for orthodoxy?

But where is a clear articulation that VOTF loves orthodoxy? Their one rather timid statement that they support the teaching authority of bishops? That’s it? That places their faithfulness to the magisterium beyond question? Moreover, it has yet to be answered what legitimizes raising the issue of contraception and women’s ordination as part of their (yet to be articulated) agenda of lay representation. I’m sorry, but I find it more than a little disingenuous to imply that VOTF was not involved at all in the selection of speakers at their conference, and so bear absolutely no connection to the views expressed. Pul-eez!
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katherine2:
When you can’t defend something, censor any discussion of it.
You are part of a public debate. Those opposed to VOTF raise tough questions, and get answers (it is for the reader to judge the adequacy of the answers). VOTF continues to make presentations. This is hardly censorship. Simply because I disagree with you, does not mean I want to deny you your rights and dignity. As has been said before, some rank-and-file members of VOTF are well-intentioned, but that is not enough IMHO to legitimate the organization. Not all movements of reform in the Church progress well or end happily.
 
From another thread (VOTF, #32)
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katherine2:
The questions are non-negotiable. The people who have such questions are still children of God, possessing the human dignity He has given them.
Right. That’s why I said I would charitably and patiently discuss Holy Orders, etc. as a spiritual work of mercy: instuction for the ignorant, counselling for the doubtful or admonishment of the sinner. The (glaringly) ignorant, doubtful or sinful should not be the ones forming the agenda for lay representation. [Yes, I realize we are all to greater and lesser degrees ignorant, in doubt and sinful, and some of our bishops have been egregiously so. This is just what needs to be reformed. But it is counter-productive, to say the least, to ask the (glaringly) ignorant, doubtful and sinful to overcome ignorance, doubt and sin.]

But, the question remains, why should the entertainment of these question (questions which undermine legitimate teaching authority) be at all pertinent to the legitimate aims of fostering lay representation? Unless and until VOTF answers that question adequately, they have not earned the right to their name.
 
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aridite:
Are you saying, that ipso facto, opposition to VOTF is to fear reform, and be disingenous in one’s call for orthodoxy?
As I have acknowledged others the right to have their suspicions I will state now that yes, that is my suspicion.
But where is a clear articulation that VOTF loves orthodoxy? Their one rather timid statement that they support the teaching authority of bishops? That’s it?
Yes. Not timid. Clear and without reservation. I don’t notice you making a profession of faith before every post.
That places their faithfulness to the magisterium beyond question?
And that the rub. They have affirmed their faithfulness. But to you that’s not good enough. They have to make Herculean, extraordinary, detailed, repetitive, verified proofs of faithfulness. The simple People of God are not theologians. They have every right to associate for the purpose of bringing their concerns to their pastors. If they can affirm the Nicene Creed, (amybe even less) their pastors should listen to them. What garbage that good simple Catholics should have their human dignity ignored because they don’t humor the Spanish Inquistition.
You are part of a public debate. Those opposed to VOTF raise tough questions, and get answers (it is for the reader to judge the adequacy of the answers). VOTF continues to make presentations. This is hardly censorship. Simply because I disagree with you, does not mean I want to deny you your rights and dignity. As has been said before, some rank-and-file members of VOTF are well-intentioned, but that is not enough IMHO to legitimate the organization. Not all movements of reform in the Church progress well or end happily.
No disagreement if you position is you don’t fidn VOTF pleasing. Others have gone further. They demand censoring it, shutting it down, etc.
 
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katherine2:
Yes. Not timid. Clear and without reservation. I don’t notice you making a profession of faith before every post.
I affirm, hold and believe all that the Roman Catholic Church affirms, holds and believes. Just to be clear, that includes the belief that only males are able to be ordained to the ministerial priesthood and that the use of contraception merely to regulate births is gravely immoral. I apologize if anything I have said has led anyone to come to the conclusion that I do not fully support the Magisterium. Care to join me in this profession?
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katherine2:
And that the rub. They have affirmed their faithfulness. But to you that’s not good enough. They have to make Herculean, extraordinary, detailed, repetitive, verified proofs of faithfulness.
I’ll take you at your word, and accept that you really believe that VOTF fully, unconditionally and without reservation supports everything proposed for belief and enjoined as a rule of behavior by the teaching authority of the Church. So far all you’ve ever claimed is that there is no proof of dissent among VOTF leadership – I’ll accept, for the sake of argument, that that is proof of fidelity. But, honestly, are you really confused as to why people have their reservations? You really believe it is unfounded for people to look at the speakers VOTF chooses to have address them, and wonder about the orthodoxy of VOTF. As I said before, I’m not looking for an extraordinary declaration of orthodoxy, but an ordinary censure of heterodoxy. Has VOTF decried the heterodox positions posted on their website? Would you care to admit that some of them are heterodox?
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katherine2:
The simple People of God are not theologians.
Which is precisely why it is confusing why they should sponsor a conference at which theologians presented theological papers.
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katherine2:
They have every right to associate for the purpose of bringing their concerns to their pastors. If they can affirm the Nicene Creed, (amybe even less) their pastors should listen to them. What garbage that good simple Catholics should have their human dignity ignored because they don’t humor the Spanish Inquistition.
Whoa, I wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition! (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!)

Sorry, Monty Python aside, to say that a given position is inconsistent with Church teaching is not to set about burning heratics. Despite what some may say on this board, no one wants to do that. Really. But I for one cannot ignore when such inconsistencies raise their nefarious littles heads under the mantle of “Faithful Catholic.” Some Catholics have problems with some teachings of the Catholic Church, but the teachings remain what they are – I believe, true.

On the other thread you said:
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katherine2:
And let me be frank. The fact that a Catholic mother might offer the opinion that women should be ordained does not take away her natural law rights to direct the raising of her children and protect them from abuse.
Dissenters are people, too, and they have their legitimate rights. We should love them, pray for their conversion. Instruct, console, admonish. But, for the life of me, I cannot understand why you think we should consider their dissent when determining how best to protect children. Mothers (even those who have questions about women priests) do have something to contribute about how to protect children. I’m just saying that the questions don’t. Entertaining the questions only serves to undermine the authority they claim to support, and confuse the rest of us about their true motives.
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katherine2:
No disagreement if you position is you don’t fidn VOTF pleasing. Others have gone further. They demand censoring it, shutting it down, etc.
I think I missed those posts.
 
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aridite:
I affirm, hold and believe all that the Roman Catholic Church affirms, holds and believes. Just to be clear, that includes the belief that only males are able to be ordained to the ministerial priesthood and that the use of contraception merely to regulate births is gravely immoral. I apologize if anything I have said has led anyone to come to the conclusion that I do not fully support the Magisterium. Care to join me in this profession?
You may have set me up to perfectly explain my position.

I could join you in that profession of faith, but no, I don’t care to. I have serious reservations on the appropriateness of a general profession of faith elaborated on by citing exclusively contraception and women’s ordination, skipping over the Nicene Creed and a lot of other territory. For those like you who choose to make such a profession, I have no criticism. For me, any elaboration needs to start with the Nicene Creed.

If others would say the same about VOTF – they are not opposed to it in principle but don’t subscribe to their priortization of matters, I would be content.
But, honestly, are you really confused as to why people have their reservations?
No, I’m not confused. I have a pretty good idea why some people have reservations about VOTF.
Whoa, I wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition! (NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!)

Sorry, Monty Python aside…
No need to apologize. I was deliberately setting you up for that 😃
…, to say that a given position is inconsistent with Church teaching is not to set about burning heratics.
No. But to weed through a webpage finding something that I couldn’t find to save my life from their home page which werea few out of dozens of responses to an open forum and to make those the dominant characterization of an association over and above their stated principles does seem to g beyond noting a position is inconsistent with Church teaching and certainly misrepresenting who is taking that position.
Despite what some may say on this board, no one wants to do that. Really.
We have a couple people on this board would get me nervous if I saw them coming towards me with a book of matches and a bundle of sticks. But not you, dear. I would assume you were just having a smoke.
On the other thread you said:
Dissenters are people, too, and they have their legitimate rights. We should love them, pray for their conversion. Instruct, console, admonish. But, for the life of me, I cannot understand why you think we should consider their dissent when determining how best to protect children.
I never said we should consider their dissent. But we might consider dissenters. I am not ashamed to say a mother who might dissent on whatever issue does not lose her natural law and canonical right to protect her children, nor does the hierarchy lose its obligation to respect her rights.

Each party has rights. An Ordinary has the right to assign priests. Parents have the right to protect their children. There are situations were these rights overlap. Neither party trumps the other were these rights overlap. Dialogue, consultation and mutual agreement are called for in such situations. That dialogue, consultation and mutual agreement has been lacking in our Church. VOTF has taken up this cause when few others have. I say God bless them.
 
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katherine2:
You may have set me up to perfectly explain my position.

I could join you in that profession of faith, but no, I don’t care to. I have serious reservations on the appropriateness of a general profession of faith elaborated on by citing exclusively contraception and women’s ordination, skipping over the Nicene Creed and a lot of other territory. For those like you who choose to make such a profession, I have no criticism. For me, any elaboration needs to start with the Nicene Creed.
If others would say the same about VOTF – they are not opposed to it in principle but don’t subscribe to their priortization of matters, I would be content.
I didn’t think I was skipping over anything, but including everything. I’ll profess to any part or to a complete enumeration of all that Roman Catholic Church affirms, hold and believes. Nicene Creed, fine. Opposition to capital punishment, fine. Economic justice for workers, fine. Rights of parents to educate their children, fine. This our faith, this is the faith of the Church. I am proud to profess it.

My “Just to be clear, that includes …” statement wasn’t a prioritization, just an acknowledgement that these are issues about which people are confused with regard to VOTF.

Essentially, women’s ordination and contraception are no more related to the issue of protecting our children than capital punishment. This is precisely why I wonder why VOTF raised them (or allowed them to be raised) for discussion, and why (if they are so faithful) they have not said (a) they are contrary to the faith, and (b) they are not relevent to our aims as an organization which promotes lay consultation. The fact that they raised the issues, and (at least it seems to me that) you are defending the raising of the issues seems to indicate that they deny (b). I have yet to hear anyone connected to VOTF affirm (a). All I have heard is that there is no evidence VOTF denies (a) and “we support the teaching authority of the bishops.” – I will again say that both seem rather timid as statements of faith.

Thank you for the chance to elaborate with some precision why I have reservations about VOTF, and why I don’t think these reservations are being allayed. Unless and until they tell me that dissent is off the table, I am opposed to them in principle, not just their prioritization. I will look to others to work with the hierarchy to ensure legitimate rights of the faithful are respected. This is my private judgment, and I know you respect people’s right to that. I also think I’m correct in this judgment, and so I think others should come to the same conclusion. I realize I’m not going to convince you. You think people are being unfair to VOTF; I don’t think so.
 
This is precisely why I wonder why VOTF raised them (or allowed them to be raised) for discussion,…
Its the latre not the former, and this is not insignificant.
… and why (if they are so faithful) they have not said (a) they are contrary to the faith, and (b) they are not relevent to our aims as an organization which promotes lay consultation.
They have made a general statement of faithfulness. They choose not to respond and investigate every utterance for this perfect orthodoxy. That not the proper role of a lay organization, anyway.

Having saisd that, I respect your right to abstain from VOTF for your own good reasons. I, in turn, guarantee you that what appears to me to be giving women’s ordination a more central status in doctirne than the Nicene Creed would cause me to abstain from any association.

To each their own.
 
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katherine2:
We know for a fact that James misrepresented Fr. Doyle
How so?
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katherine2:
and I’ve not found anything other than the claims of a proven misrepresenter as to Fr. Doyle’s lecture
.

Where have you looked?
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katherine2:
Fr. Doyle has a legitimate claim to be a speaker worthy of hearing.
Fr. Doyle was given the opportunity to speak. Worthiness is in the ear of the listener.
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katherine2:
it is becoming increasingly clear to me that certain people recoil at such speakers not out a love for orthodoxy but a fear that by publicly posing tough questions, the indefensible is challenged.
I certainly don’t recoil at any speaker. Any questions that Fr. Doyle may have posed have not been noted. What are problematic are his statements, which were derogatory about the Catholic hierarchy and Pope John Paul II. He also voiced his support for positions that are contrary to Catholic teaching and discipline. Fr. Doyle was not making his thoughts known to his bishop or to the bishops collectively; he was speaking to laity in an attempt to persuade them of the rectitude of his ideas. In so doing, he betrayed his dissidence. Unless you question the hearing of those present, there has been no misrepresentation of Fr. Doyle.
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katherine2:
When you can’t defend something, censor any discussion of it.
Again, there has been no call for censorship. Fr. Doyle was allowed to speak. Perhaps you confuse criticism of ideas with censorship.
 
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