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PDF versionChaput: The Problem With Culture Warrior Bishops
by Michael Sean Winters on Jul. 19, 2011
“As a young bishop in the West Indies I once celebrated a memorial Mass for a local ‘madame’ who ran a brothel near my Cathedral. It was said she smuggled women in from other islands in oil barrels for her business. Some women suffocated in the crossing. She herself was murdered by her lover. At the Mass I met the woman’s daughter, a lovely little girl. I asked her what grade she was in. She replied that she didn’t go to school. I sent a stern glance to her grandmother, who said: ‘Her name is the same as that of the brothel. The other children were so cruel to her, she left the public school.’ I told her grandmother, ‘Take her to the Catholic school tomorrow.’
Catholic schools exist for the good of the children and our admission standards must reflect that. We have never had categories of people who were excluded. We have often given preference to children from a parish where a school is located, siblings of children already enrolled at the school or Catholic children from nearby parishes. Sometimes we might not be able to accept children, because of behavioral problems or other circumstances that would be disruptive to a school community. While there are legitimate reasons that might lead to a decision not to admit a child, I believe all would agree that the good of the child must always be our primary concern.”
As I wrote last week, we should all pray for whoever was picked to take over the Archdiocese of Philadelphia which has been in meltdown since February when a second Grand Jury Report indicated that archdiocesan officials had failed to follow their own guidelines regarding the protection of children. In addition, Philadelphia has had few priestly vocations in recent years compared to comparably sized dioceses. And, still worse, the archdiocese is due for a reconfiguration, and closure, of many parishes, a process that is painful even if it is done well.
With the news that Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput has been named to replace Rigali in Philadelphia, I am overcome with a felt need to pray not only for the new archbishop but more especially for the people and priests of Philadelphia. Of course, none of us can know how Chaput will govern in Philadelphia, but his leadership to date gives us some indication and that history does not improve the prospect. The people of Philadelphia need someone who could provide balm and they are getting someone who throws bombs. They need someone who can focus like a laser beam on the “ad intra” difficulties facing a local Church beset by decades of clericalism not someone who seems only to be stirred by “ad extra” concerns. Chaput is a culture warrior, and that is not a compliment.
What does it mean to be a “culture warrior”? Let’s take one example. In Denver, when confronted with a decision by a pastor to bar the child of lesbian parents from attending a Catholic school, Chaput agreed with the pastor and wrote of the decision: “The policies of our Catholic school system exist to protect all parties involved, including the children of homosexual couples and the couples themselves. Our schools are meant to be ‘partners in faith’ with parents. If parents don’t respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible. It also places unfair stress on the children, who find themselves caught in the middle, and on their teachers, who have an obligation to teach the authentic faith of the Church.…Most parents who send their children to Catholic schools want an environment where the Catholic faith is fully taught and practiced. That simply can’t be done if teachers need to worry about wounding the feelings of their students or about alienating students from their parents. That isn’t fair to anyone -- including the wider school community. Persons who have an understanding of marriage and family life sharply different from Catholic belief are often people of sincerity and good will. They have other, excellent options for education and should see in them the better course for their children.” Hmmmm.
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Set aside the paternalistic, “Bishop knows best,” quality to the assertions about what is best for the child and the family. I am wondering about this claim “If parents don’t respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible.” How does that square with the fact that Catholic schools permit Protestants who “openly reject” certain Catholic beliefs? Or non-Christians who “openly reject” the divinty of Christ? Does the archdiocese of Denver deny admission to the children of parents who are divorced and remarried? Or is it just the children of gays who get discriminated against? And how does Chaput’s argument square with the argument made by the bishops in defending the DREAM Act? If we agree that it is wrong to penalize the children of immigrants for the decisions of their parents, why should we penalize the children of gay parents for their decisions? Most of all, how can Chaput justify – theologically or pastorally - baptizing the children of gay parents, and then denying that baptized child a Catholic education? Chaput’s decision only makes sense if the objective is to score a point in the culture wars.
Of course, in Boston, Chaput’s seminary classmate, Cardinal Sean O’Malley reached a completely different conclusion in circumstances that were almost identical, adopting a policy that does not discriminate against any children. Cardinal O’Malley is just as orthodox and just as conservative as Archbishop Chaput. The difference? O’Malley is not a culture warrior, he is a pastor. Here is how O’Malley explained his decision in his blog:
The difference in tone is obvious, but the difference is more than one of tone. Cardinal O’Malley, by avoiding an opportunity to win a skirmish in the culture war instead provided his flock with a parable worthy of the Gospels. He did not just do right by the child, he called everyone involved – and everyone reading his blog, to holiness which, for a Christian, must include reaching out to and embracing those whom society marginalizes. The problem with the culture war approach is that it loses the Gospel in its defensive moralism. So busy wagging a finger at the culture (certainly never at oneself or at the Church) the culture warrior never engages the culture in a way that makes evangelization possible. As Cardinal Francis George has written, “We have to form people with a genuine love of today’s city and love our culture itself. Even with its demonic elements, the culture must be loved, because you cannot evangelize what you do not love.”
I wrote last week about how Bishop Tobin of Providence has exhibited the kind of defensive culture war stance. It is a religious posture with a long tradition in America, going all the way back to Increase Mather, but it has resulted primarily in pietistic faith and, then, in rationalism. It cannot generate culture, the only sign of a living faith.
Another one of Archbishop Chaput’s least fine moments was the article he wrote attacking Father John Jenkins and the University of Notre Dame over its decision to invite President Obama to speak at graduation and to bestow upon him an honorary degree. Mind you, Notre Dame has extended the invitation and the honor to every president since Eisenhower. How does Chaput think it would look if they stopped with the first black president? Did Chaput think to speak with any African-American Catholics? I sometimes attend a black church here in DC and they are quite conservative but they are also enormously proud of Obama, as the Irish felt pride in the Kennedys and Latinos felt pride in Sotomayor. How do you think it would have made those black Catholics feel if Obama had been shunned? But, Chaput seemed to know Father Jenkins’ motives inside and out. “There was no excuse – none, except intellectual vanity – for the university to persist in its course,” Chaput wrote. He said the university violated the norms the bishops laid down in the document entitled “Catholics in Public Life,” but felt no need to recognize that perhaps that text did not apply here because the President, while living a public life, is not a Catholic. Chaput accused Notre Dame of “prostituting out Catholic identity.” It was his way, or the highway. Mind you, he wrote these words after the ceremony and after the extraordinary Laetare speech by Judge Noonan that made the ever salient point the well-informed consciences can disagree. In the real world, that is true. In the culture war world, all disagreement is total, it is always us vs. them, one always places the worst possible interpretation on other’s intentions. And, what disturbs most about Chaput's article? It was written after the fact, not in the heat of the moment, after time to let his emotions calm down, and yet there is still so much anger and venom in the text, it is shocking.
For those who think this selection indicates Pope Benedict’s uncomplicated blessing of the culture war model, ask and answer this question: Can you imagine Cardinal Angelo Scola writing that column about Notre Dame or reacting to the child of gay parents in that way? Of course not. The new archbishop of Milan is always urging Catholics to make sure we live our lives in such a way that the innate attractiveness of the Gospel shines forth. Scola does not scowl. He does not wag his finger at anybody. With Scola, you encounter his infectious joy at living the Gospel and you want to be with him. If one has to choose, I would rather the party of joy and mystery has the cathedra in Milan and the neo-con culture warriors have the throne in Philly than the other way round.
Last week, as I sat at Mass listening to the Gospel, I wondered how Archbishop Chaput would preach on that text. The Master is quite explicit – do not pull up the weeds because, in doing so you might destroy the wheat. At the end time, the Lord will send his angels and they will separate the wheat from the weeds. One of the problems with culture warriors is that they always think it is the end time, and they also mistake themselves for God’s angels. They are always trying to uproot the weeds with little concern about any damage their actions might cause to the wheat. So focused on the weeds, and so focused on their own role in the divine economy, so absent of trust in God to deal with the weeds in His own way and in His own time, they are unable to recognize that the little faith of the mustard seed can grow into a great tree, that the leaven will affect many loaves.
It is my sincere hope that having achieved his new high office, Archbishop Chaput will ponder last Sunday’s Gospel and see how directly it challenges his culture war pessimism, his scolding, scowling way of engaging the culture. I hope he will meet his new flock and, where he sees little faith, he will hope it will grow, that he will not extinguish the flickering flame. I hope he will learn to listen, not just to preach, to be less concerned with policing the culture and more concerned with building up the faith of his flock. I hope he will stop reducing religion to moralism. I am a silver lining kinda guy but I confess that it is difficult for me to discern such a silver lining in today’s appointment. No one would be more delighted than me to be proven wrong.
The catholic church is dying
The catholic church is dying a long and painful death.
Oh brother. It is not. People
Oh brother. It is not. People on the right and people on the left who want to wring their hands and say "the church is dying" ought to stop, already.
I wouldn't hold your breath.
I wouldn't hold your breath. Often there has to be a trimming back in order to grow anew.
The Church is growing. What
The Church is growing. What is dying, is the "spirit of Vatican II". It can't come soon enough. Is that a death rattle I hear?
If someone rejects Vatican
If someone rejects Vatican II, does that make them a "cafeteria Catholic"? I get confused.
Yes, the Church goes on and
Yes, the Church goes on and that is the miracle. But it is not spared the consequences of its pride and stupidity. It is easy to cast people off. It is next to impossible to repair the tear. And so the split with the Orthodox remains unhealed. The split with the Protestants goes on. I sense that we are moving toward a new permanent split created by arrogant fools who never allow themselves a moment of doubt or a second thought.
He didn't say anything about
He didn't say anything about rejecting Vatican II. He said "the spirit of vatican II" which has nothing to do with the Council. The former is the teaching of the Church. The latter is the crazy nonsense carried on by those in charge the last 40 years that had nothing to do with the Council. The "spirit of VII" was used to justify all kinds of crazy things that the council did not call for, or specifically stated not to do, all in the name of "what I think the bishops intended not what they actually said."
The commentator is right:
The commentator is right: what is dying is the spirit of VII, which is different than the actual teachings of VII.
The poster is not rejecting
The poster is not rejecting Vatican II. They are rejecting the so-called "spirit of Vatican II," which is a catch phrase for the vulgar liturgical and theological experimentation that swept over parishes and schools in the 1970' and 1980's, claiming to be following the Council while at the same time ignoring what the Council actually said.
I am only too happy to watch the "spirit of Vatican II" finally be exorcised from the Church; now maybe we can actually implement what the Council called for: a reinvigoration of the life of the Church through a return to the sources of the faith: Scripture and the Church Fathers.
"If someone rejects Vatican
"If someone rejects Vatican II, does that make them a "cafeteria Catholic"? I get confused."
Depends on what you mean by "Vatican II". Do you mean the actual Council, or do you mean the plethora of abuses that took place "in the spirit of Vatican II"?
"The Church is
"The Church is growing."
Hmmmm --- For every one person joining the RCC, four others are leaving the RCC. One of every ten Americans is ex-Cathlics (indeed, they would comprise the second largest denomination if they were one single group). One of every three persons raised Catholic is ex-Catholic.
Many different reasons for leaving, to be sure.
But "the Church is growing"???
Doesn't look like it!
On the other hand, Catholic churches are growing outside the Church of Rome. In comparison with the RCC, of course, they are but the size of a mustard seed, but, of course, the future Church of Rome began the same way!
just call where ever YOU
just call where ever YOU worship the church of the winsome wojtyla and call it a night . . .
for wojtyla killed our church.
Don't you have Faith in what
Don't you have Faith in what Jesus said that the "gates of hell will not prevail" I do. The war has been won all ready,satan just quite not believe it!
Odd. I don't recall the
Odd.
I don't recall the phrase "the Church of Rome" in the gospel account.
Trace papal lineage. It
Trace papal lineage. It leads from Peter to Benedict.
The word "Rome" may not
The word "Rome" may not appear, but St. Peter is discussed who governed the Church from Rome, as attested by the Church Fathers. Also, note the mention of "Babylon" (code for pagan Rome) in 1 Peter 5:13, indicating that St. Peter was in Rome.
Christ has said in Matthew
Christ has said in Matthew 16:18 "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The book of Daniel 12:4 "As for you Daniel, keep secret the message and seal the book until the end of time; many shall fall away and evil shall increase." Again in Matthew 24:22, " Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."
In other words Jesus is saying He established His church and entrusted it to our first pope, Peter. The times and men will grow evil and if He hadn't shortened the length of time until He returns, there would be few who would remain faithful and deserving of heaven. His Church will never die; the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Revelations, the very last book of the Bible tells us WE WIN!
Vocations to the Priesthood
Vocations to the Priesthood have followed Archbishop Chaput.
Amen.
Amen.
People first posted that
People first posted that comment about 2000 years ago, but on clay tablets.
Independent Catholicism's
Independent Catholicism's foothold in the Philadelphia area has been minimal. This appointment may well give it a leg-up. Philadelphians shouldn't expect the likes of Chaput to change; it is more likely he expects them to change. Where ever he has been, the man has been a force for polarization.
So, he's separating the wheat
So, he's separating the wheat from the chaff? If that is polarization I'm all for it.
Amen! As a convert to the
Amen! As a convert to the Faith, I am surprised at Catholics who wish the Church to give her imprimatur to divorce, contraception, abortion, female clergy, homosexuality, etc. One would think that a brief perusal of the history of the 20th Century alone would show how Christianity declines as such practices are 'normalized'in the culture. As a shepherd and pastor, Archbishop Chaput is a ray of hope to those Catholics who faithfully adhere to the Holy Father and the Magesterium. Thank you Holy Father!
Obviously brainwashing is
Obviously brainwashing is alive and well!
"As a convert to the Faith, I
"As a convert to the Faith, I am surprised at Catholics who wish the Church to give her imprimatur to divorce, contraception, abortion, female clergy, homosexuality, etc."
In case you didn't know, you're reading quite a liberal publication. These guys aren't especially fond of the Church that you and I know exists; the Church that we love. Might I suggest http://wdtprs.com/blog for your Catholic news. It's faithful and interesting, without all of the heterodoxy.
For what it's worth, I'm a convert myself. It saddens me how much so many cradle Catholics take for granted.
why do self-proclaimed
why do self-proclaimed converts to the faith like newt and the anonymous you always fight to convert our church to their bizarre faith, usually in the dollar and in war, and in a totalitarianism foreign to our Faith in Jesus?
Why would you call converts
Why would you call converts "self-proclaimed" converts? As a convert myself, I find this sort of language distressing. I converted to the Catholic faith originally because I was persuaded that the Catholic Church, by her nature, can do nothing else but teach truth without error. So when I gave my assent to all of Catholic teaching, I did so without reservation. The Church then proclaimed me a convert to the Catholic faith; I did *not* proclaim myself.
I beg you to see how this "us-vs.-them" mentality--viz., this division of ourselves up into "parties"--has sullied the Church by subjecting her to a crass sort of politicalization. I am a more "conservative", traditional Catholic than you appear to be, but that doesn't change our duty of charity to each other. We still are mutually obligated in our dealings with one another to encourage the other to grow more faithfully Catholic in service to Christ and His Church. Pax tibi.
This is why we Catholics say
This is why we Catholics say that "Converts are more Catholic than the pope!"
Let the hard left spin
Let the hard left spin begin!!!
How he deals with the
How he deals with the conspiracy, collusion and cover-up surrounding the clergy sexual abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be the litmus test and he will have to hit the ground running.
The realities that are documented in the 2011 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report on the archdiocese have put the lie to just about everything the bishops promised in 2002. It's not over and no words and no "Witness to the Sorrow" programs will do.
Most individuals posting here know the positions taken by Archbishop Chaput regarding the Accountability & Transparency promised by the USCCB in 2002 and the legislative reform of arbitrary statutes of limitation that have been inadequate in dealing with sexual predators of any religious stripe and those who have enabled their perfidy and shielded them from justice.
Let’s hope that Chaput takes this opportunity to get it right whereas Cardinals Rigali, Bevilaequa and Krol did everything possible to protect known sexual predators while further exploiting the individuals who were sexually abused.
That's fact not fiction.
Don't believe me? Then read all three PGJReports.
After a close reading of both the 2005 and 2011 Philadelphia Grand Jury Reports, which detail the failures of the last three episcopal leaders of the archdiocese, it is sincerely hoped that Archbishop Chaput will meet with the leadership of reform groups in Philly including the Greater Philadelphia Voice of the Faithful (www.votfgp.org) and Catholics 4 Change (www.catholics4change.org).
VOTFGP has tried repeatedly but unsuccessfully to open a dialog with church leadership, especially with Cardinal Justin Rigali.
Since 2005 the words and actions of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have belied the mandates for Accountability & Transparency put forward by the USCCB.
More than that, they were downright dishonest as was Cardinal Bevilaequa's words on a CNN "Newsnight" report on April 26, 2002, when he answered a reporter's question by saying, "We all are agreed that no priest guilty of even one act of sexual abuse of a minor will function in any ecclesial ministry or any capacity in our diocese."
Everyone knows just how disingenuous that statement was.
Archbishop Charles Chaput needs to state publicly and unequivocally his support for needed legislative reform; namely House Bills 832 & 878.
By virtue of his new office, Chaput will direct the positions taken by the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. Under the direction of the previous cardinal archbishops of Philadelphia that position has been to viciously oppose statute of limitation reform in Pennsylvania.
Archbishop Chaput has opposed Statute of Limitation reform in Colorado.
Catholics in Philadelphia's five county archdiocese need to know that and make their voices heard in the Pennsylvania legislature as do all the citizens of the state.
While the epidemic of childhood sexual abuse in this country is not peculiar to the Roman Catholic Church the conspiracy, collusion and cover-up by episcopal leadership is.
His words aside, Archbishop Chaput's real test here in Philadelphia will be whether or not he directs the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference to support House Bills 832 & 878.
However, with or without Archbishop Chaput's support, the citizens of Pennsylvania should realize by now that the protection and cover-up of sexually abusive priests by the episcopacy of any religious denomination points out the reality that no religious organization, sect or cult, public or private organization can or should be trusted to police itself.
Criminal acts and the endangerment of children are responsibilities belonging to the larger society. Child protection laws need to be strengthened and brought into the 21st century. Violators and their enables be held accountable according to the law.
NO EXCEPTIONS!
Does Archbishop Chaput support this position or not?
We welcome Archbishop Chaput to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, look forward to meeting with him for the renewal of the Church in Philadelphia and fully expect his to consider the justice that is due to the victim/survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Church leadership has so far failed to act with the mind of Christ in their regard.
PHILADELPHIA: WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/philadelphia-where-outrage
JUSTICE AND RENEWAL IN THE CHURCH; A JOURNEY
http://votfgp.org/Turlish%20talk%2020110312.pdf
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims’ Advocate
Steering Committee
Greater Philadelphia Voice of the Faithful
maturlishmdsnd@yahoo.com
Chaput is "On the Road to the
Chaput is "On the Road to the Papacy!" Chaput is the Conservation Darling of the USCB's Conference, and he is well on the road to becoming Pope. Mark my words: A Cardinal's Hat will soon follow his appointment to the Archdiocese of Philly. In recent months, Chaput oversaw the overthrow of Bishop Morris, the Australian Archbishop of Toowoomba. Chaput went there and met with "The Temple Police," a group of Catholics who felt that Bishop Morris' loving way of acting like Christ, instead of your normal, run-of-the-mill bishop, was an affront to their Catholic sensibilities. Bishop Morris wasn't given the opportunity to defend himself. WHY? Chaput's recommendations were kept "In Secret!" Why?
(This is a direct quote:) "For the good of all concerned!" In other words, it was a good, old-fashioned, present-day, Catholic Inquisition! Hide and wait! Watch Chaput make decisions in Philly and not feel that he should be accountable to anyone for his decisions! WHY? "For the good of all concerned!"
That would be great! I hope
That would be great! I hope you dissidents who call yourselves Catholic, hope to see the day.
Me too. It will simply prove
Me too. It will simply prove once again that the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the politics of papalotry. Never did. Never will.
As an Australian, i probably
As an Australian, i probably know more about what goes on over here than you do. Going by your comments, you seem to know very little.
Are you saying that a bishop (not an archbishop), who publicly suggests ordaining women, is orthodox?
Something i`ve noticed with folks like ex-Bishop Morris: when acting as clergy, there`s no clerical collar in sight; but when facing the secular Press, a clerical collar magically appears. A bit two-faced, don`t you think?
"Bishop Morris`loving way of acting like Christ"? That doesn`t give a bishop the "right" to push heresy!
Please understand that the Catholic Church is a divinely instituted Church of Truth: not of anarchy!
Good on Pope Benedict, the current successor of St. Peter, for intervening!
Hmmm--just like McBrien and
Hmmm--just like McBrien and Reese!
Jeannie, I've read a bit
Jeannie,
I've read a bit about the Australian bishop and seen his picture too.
Said bishop wound up being forced from his job primarily on grounds of willful and intentional incompetence in leading his flock, not to mention refusing to teach the Church's actual teachings.
Over my lifetime, I've grown VERY weary of this insistence that we'll scandalize someone or scar someone for life by actually teaching what the Church teaches and expecting people to live up to it.
I've been a big fan of Chaput for a few years now, PRECISELY because he wastes much less time on BS.
If he had only serially
If he had only serially transfered pedophile priests all over his diocese, he'd been sent to Rome to help out Cardinal (out)Law!
Regarding: "However, with or
Regarding: "However, with or without Archbishop Chaput's support, the citizens of Pennsylvania should realize by now that the protection and cover-up of sexually abusive priests by the episcopacy of any religious denomination points out the reality that no religious organization, sect or cult, public or private organization can or should be trusted to police itself."
- While acknowledging Archbishop Charles' birthright to political opinions, that he has any opinions on how a civil society organizes itself for justice is not relevant; though it would be nice if he were in favour of the aforementioned bills.
- What is relevant is that the laity in Pennsylvania determine what and how they want the institutions which serve them to behave in civil society. If there is a conflict between what the citizens want in the name of justice and what the institution wants, then, inasmuch as the citizens are also members of institutions in civil society, the citizens must change these institutions.
- Surely, if Archbishop Charles' starts to use diocesan resources to lobby a government body, as oppose to evangelizing, then the people of the Philadelphia archdiocese need to limit Archbishop Charles' access to the resources of the dioceses.
Frankly, Sister, I'm quite
Frankly, Sister, I'm quite suspicious of your own motives. Describing yourself as a "Victim's Advocate" suggests to me that you care little for any person's legal rights nor truth, unless you have the full authority to define both. I don't know what your legislative bills enact, but if the tone of these bills has as hostile a tone as your comments, I would likely encourage Bishop Chaput to oppose them.
On the whole, your comments seem to me to reek of a dangerous contempt for appropriate authority within the Church, and for priests and bishops in particular.
If you can't focus on anything besides past abuses, I think it unlikely that we can trust you to teach or live out orthodox ideals.
They're known as "shakedown
They're known as "shakedown artists".
"If you can't focus on
"If you can't focus on anything besides past abuses, I think it unlikely that we can trust you to teach or live out orthodox ideals."
Those who do not correct the failed paradigms of the past are doomed to experience failure again. Are the recent Philly and KC/St Joe debacles part of your definition of "the past"?
Is he also welcome to check
Is he also welcome to check into the outcome of abuse claims against womens orders, or is that, like the Apostolic Visitation, a violation of the all male patriarchal heirarchy?
Rigali lied about child
Rigali lied about child safety...
yet nothing has happened to him yet. Undoubtedly, he will be well treated by the Vatican, who sent Boston's Cardinal Law to Rome for a wonderful assignment after he covered up 800+ child rapes.
Rigali's signature moment was worse than portrayed. In February of 2011, he said there were "no priests credibly accused of abusing minors" in ministry, then suspended 21 after the truth came out in a Grand Jury report.
He lied to their face about the safety of their children, because he assumed they wouldn't find out. He is symbolic of the lack of concern the Catholic church has about keeping their pedophile priests away from children.
Google "Philadelphia district attorney grand jury report" and read just the first 6 pages, and you’ll see what these pedophile priests did to children, and its horrifying,
Ironic that they bring in Chaput, since the Catholic church in Philadelphia is ka-put.
Rigali has not been invited
Rigali has not been invited to Rome, according to any report I have seen. He will likely retire to Philadelphia. Just like horribly disgraced Archbishop Rembert Weakland is still sleazing around in Milwaukee.
Chaput is a great hope for healing Philadelphia. He will clean out (and not cover up) any remaining homosexual priests. Vocations will come in from all over the country -- there are still plenty of delayed vocations, looking for good bishops to take them. And the young men of the "vocation boom" are especially attracted to Culture Warrior bishops.
None of this good news will be pleasing to NCR readers.
regarding your thought that
regarding your thought that homosexual priests should be removed, my response is simply to pose a few questions, 1. in the 2000 year history of the Church do you suppose there might have been some very good homosexual priests? 2. do you also suppose some of them might have been so good, even great that they might be called Saint in our Church? 3. if so, why deny any homosexual the call to holy orders? This tendency to "purify" the Catholic Church appears to be more and more an effort to rid itself of so-called undesirables....are you suggesting a Church free of the wanting, wounded and sinful? God help you if you are because I'm not certain I know anyone who could belong!
Thank you for this
Thank you for this sermonette. You should try keeping yourself out of the story for a change. That's called journalism.
Amen, Stephen. Archbishop
Amen, Stephen. Archbishop Chaput governs according to the rule and faith of his Church. The attacks on him are typical of those on the left -- first confuse the issue then attack the person personally. Not to worry because Archbishop Chaput isn't a worrier. He is a merry warrior who does the right thing and it drives the agenda-driven left up a wall. We will miss this man in Colorado.
An excellent article! You
An excellent article! You articulate the issues so well regarding the leadership in today's Church, particularly in the style of Chaput. I often wonder where Jesus is in the lives of the sanctimonious bishops. He certainly had some choice words for the religious leaders of his time, didn't He?
Thank you for your insight and the courage to speak what you believe.
You mean bishops who do their
You mean bishops who do their job?
JTM, you are absolutely
JTM, you are absolutely correct. MSW is first and foremost a Democrat. He only has problems with bishops who take positions not supported by the Democratic Party! He (MSW) would have problems with St. Paul who said "Preach the truth in season and out of season."
Chaput, accusing Fr. Jenkins
Chaput, accusing Fr. Jenkins of "Intellectual Vanity," now that's rich! I had to laugh when I read about Chaput's comment concerning Obama speaking at Notre Dame! For those who think that Chaput is going to sit down with VOTF and Catholics for Change, I've got news for you, and it can be summed up in two words: Intellectual Vanity! I predict that Chaput will do ALL in his power, and I wouldn't rule out excommunication, in order to bring non-traditional Catholics in line with his (self-anointed) agendas. Conservative Catholics in Philly will love him, and as Pope Benedict predicted the Church will be a smaller Church, and my guess is that regarding Philly, his prediction will come true. With the appointment of the holy Reverend Archbishop Chuput, people in Philly will leave the Church in droves.
The Voice of the Faithless
The Voice of the Faithless and the other "non-traditional Catholics" (you know, the Catholics in name only who oppose the Truth in favor of a liberal agenda)will never change Archbishop Chaput, and thank God for that! We in Denver who are true Catholics recognize the Archbishop as a wonderful pastor who loves the Truth and lives our faith. He will expect his new flock to live their faith, just as he taught us here in Denver. Anyone who doesn't want to live that faith is free to leave. The Church may get smaller as the faithless, pseudo-"Catholics" leave when they don't get their way...but it is THEIR decision to live their lives by ignoring true Catholicism. If you really believe that you can still be Catholic yet support abortion, gay relationships or other lies, then you are tragically mistaken. It's a bishop's job to guide his flock, and Chaput does that wonderfully well.
Philadelphia NEEDS a strong, capable and loving shepherd...and as someone who has met Archbishop Chaput several times, that is what he will be! Liberal, lukewarm Catholics who live a lie instead of the true faith may disagree, but he is a fine man, a courageous priest and a terrific bishop. We will miss him and always pray for him.
Archbishop Chaput is a
Archbishop Chaput is a wonderful and courageous leader in the Church today. The Archdiocese of Denver under his leadership has been a light to this entire region. We agree with Mark and will pray for him daily in this time of transition. As a deacon and wife in a smaller diocese, we have looked to him for vision and wisdom.
You don't know anything about
You don't know anything about the great people of Philadelphia and the Catholics who are part of a wonderful Archdiocese.
Deo gratias! I will be more
Deo gratias!
I will be more than happy to buy the Archbishop a set of hedge clippers to take care of the errant priests that may still be lurking, protected by some on the hierarchy of the Archdiocese. May he drain the swamp.
A very good portrait of
A very good portrait of Archbishop Charles.
Regarding: " He said the university violated the norms the bishops laid down in the document entitled “Catholics in Public Life,” but felt no need to recognize that perhaps that text did not apply here because the President, while living a public life, is not a Catholic. Chaput accused Notre Dame of “prostituting out Catholic identity.”"
- I suspect that there is enough cause to consider whether Archbishop Charles and the 80 [the number that I recall from press releases at that time]other bishops who felt called upon to criticize the University of Notre Dame were actually 'invited' to go public with their misguided and unfounded criticism by a third party. The timing for release of Archbishop Charles' aforementioned essay certainly gives cause to asking if he was commissioned and even paid to write such an essay. Indeed I wonder if most of the 80 bishops' statements were written by a third party, one which confuses culture wars with evangelization.
Regarding: "It is my sincere hope that having achieved his new high office, Archbishop Chaput will ponder last Sunday’s Gospel and see how directly it challenges his culture war pessimism, his scolding, scowling way of engaging the culture. "
- Let us hope that Archbishop Charles on his translation to Philadelphia will become aware that he is in a diocese which was the home of saints who knew how to evangelize and build up the church. Let us also hope that having put up with the likes of the two previous Archbishops, the laity will be up standing and actively demand behaviours from Archbishop Charles which fit the profile of pastor and evangelizer.
Oh, yes. This guy will
Oh, yes. This guy will REALLY listen to the laity. Oh yes, indeedy.
PS - call me. I have a bridge across the Golden Gate that I can sell you very cheaply! Etcumspiri 220.
The National Survivor
The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) calls on the new archbishop of Philadelphia to forego a lavish installation ceremony and reception and contribute the monies the events will cost to ease the suffering of survivors of sexual abuse by priests and nuns, truly promote the protection of children, and seek justice.
Philadelphia is a hurting local Church.
If anyone needs convincing here is the link to the second Grand Jury Report. http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/grandJury_clergyAbuse2.html
These bills are paid by hard working Catholics through their collection basket donations, their parishes’ assessments, the money given to diocesan appeals and direct gifts.
In these hard times, both economically in our country and morally in the Church, NSAC asks the new archbishop to focus on what’s really important: the people, especially the children.
Giving up a ceremony where his already known appointment will be read, a ring will be put on this finger and a crosier in his hand --- things he already has -- is a minor loss for this new bishop juxtaposed to actually aiding those who bear the burdens of rape and sodomy by priests and nuns and carry the wounds of the persistent cover-up of criminality.
In addition to the monies Philadelphia Catholics will be called upon to spend, Catholics throughout the country will be tapped through their diocesan assessments for the travel, hotel and meal expenses of visiting cardinals and bishops.
In the face of the revelations of the second Grand Jury Report and removal of 24 priests with credible allegations still serving in ministry on the day it was issued, NSAC calls upon these cardinals and bishops to refrain from making travel arrangements, send a congratulations email or make a phone call, skip the party and instead contribute the money to the survivor causes, the effort to protect children and bring about justice.
NSAC is a national volunteer organization composed of a confederacy of in the pew Catholics and men and women of goodwill united to educate the public regarding sexual abuse, the protection of children and promotion of justice for victims.
Contact: Kristine Ward, NSAC Chair, KristineWard@hotmail.com, 937-272-0308
Are you kidding? How much do
Are you kidding? How much do you think a Mass "costs"? God bless Archbishop Chaput! He's what the church needs.
The problem of religious
The problem of religious leaders protestant, or Catholic who claim conservative positions and values is this. They do not come accross to us sinners as Holy. They come accross as small mind self rightous schills of personel advancment. Bishop Caput is a bad choice looking for a cardinals hat for a long time.
Could it be that your
Could it be that your impression is wrong?
How appropriate the Gospel
How appropriate the Gospel text to address the mindset of those who want to "purify" the Church and cast out those who disagree, differ and dispute what Church authorities uphold and teach. Soon there will be no sinners in the Church just the saved and the righteous.....us vs. them! No room for inclusiveness, no room for questioning, just mindless obedience. True enough when one values obedience above charity then we have the simple response, "I was just following orders" to justify behavior.
Jesus didn't say, "Welcome,
Jesus didn't say, "Welcome, and keep sinning." He said, "Go, and sin no more." The Church is full of sinners, but they are meant to be repentant sinners. Not those who want to wallow in their sin and be defiant about it.
And then accuse those who at least TRY to follow Christ's teachings of being Nazis.
Why bother to be Catholic if you don't accept even the basic tenets of the Faith?
Vatican II is marvelous, but not the nonsense that has been foisted on us in its name. Fortunately, we finally have priests and bishops who are overseeing the demise of the silliness and the resultant sin.
An interesting and
An interesting and well-written piece. While I disagree with Mr. Winters on many points, it is nice to read a reasonable essay with arguments one can follow and agree or disagree with, as opposed to pure emoting. His bit about the wheat and the tares is especially good. But isn't that the hard part? Knowing when to pull the weeds and when to let them grow. I assume that he, and the VOTF spokeswoman who commented at GREAT length, would have liked some weed-pulling from Cardinal Rigali, who seems to have left the weeds right where they were. I don't see anyone defending THAT bit of weed-retention.
I hope that Archbishop Chaput will do what Philadelphia needs, as I pray for all bishops.
Some of the best journalism
Some of the best journalism by necessity includes the writer. Sometimes it's the only way to report facts. But more to the point, this article written by Michael Sean Winters' on his blog is not meant to be classic factual reporting. Rather, it is clearly an opinion piece, as are the comments made by most bloggers.
Wow. What an ignorant article
Wow. What an ignorant article of the actual state of affairs in Denver, which has undergone a spiritual revival beginning with Pope John Paul II's visit in 1993 and accelerating under Abp. Chaput.
Chaput's singular fault, as Winter's has repeated here, is his unapolegetic orthodoxy and his unwillingness to surrender Catholicism and Catholic entities to the zeitgeist. Its not about the child, Sean, when a pair of active homosexuals effectively "demand" the Church ratify their "lifestyle" choices by accepting them as they are. The "parents" have penalized the child, not the Church, who has no moral obligation to confirm them in their behavior by ignoring it "for the sake of the child." Let the two of them change it, for the sake of the child. THAT would be both justice to the divine law and to the child, and thus true pastoral charity, as well.
So why is not the same
So why is not the same standard held against Protestant couple who by definition defy the authority of the Church, non Christian couples who deny the divinity of Christ, and couples who are married outside of the Church, particularly if divorced? You are right when you say it is not about the child. But why should the child be punished for the purported sins of the parents? What do you think Jesus would do?
I am from Denver and believe
I am from Denver and believe that the diocese of Philadelphia will be in good hands.
The author says he hopes Chaput stops reducing religion to "moralism". How squishy do you want the church to be? We need traditional church teachings preached through the love of the Father that knows right from wrong.
From my point of view, the east coast and California seem to have lost their way.
Hey Denver I am total
Hey Denver I am total agreement with you. Philly will be in good hands. Although there are many of us on the East Coast who are not lost but holding on by our finger nails.
Bishops do not "govern".
Bishops do not "govern". They are to be shepherds. They are successors to the Apostles, endowed with both authority and tremendous responsibility. I, for one, see Archbishop Chaput to be a man who is dedicated to Christ and trying, to the best of his ability, to faithfully execute the office of Bishop. You, sir, remind me of the Hellenistic Jews who compromised with the Seleucid Emperor, Antiochus VI Epiphanes, whom the Maccabees revolted against. You will suffer the same fate unless you repent of your worldliness. Remember the warning to the Church at Laodicea and change your life.
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