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PDF version'Emergency bishops' synod' in the offing?
by Thomas C. Fox on Mar. 29, 2010
According to a report in a British paper, Pope Benedict XVI is under mounting pressure to call an emergency synod of bishops from around the world. The purpose? To hammer out a new strategy to deal with the worsening child abuse scandal.
Writing in the Independent from Rome, John Phillips cites unnamed Vatican sources as saying that a number of Roman Catholic prelates have strongly urged the the Vatican that such an extraordinary synod be held "on the grounds that the German pontiff and the Vatican evidently cannot cope effectively on their own with the spiralling image crisis."
"There is a deep feeling of unease in the Vatican at the moment," said one well-placed source in the Holy See. "Senior people in the Curia feel under siege from parts of the international media as they see it trying to nail the Pope for allegedly covering up or mishandling abuse cases.
"Many bishops have let it be known they want Benedict to convene a special synod or worldwide conference of bishops to examine the problem because of a growing feeling that the Vatican cannot handle this."
The source added: "There is a realisation that the scandal is not going to stop. It is not one country or five countries but an increasing number."
Call a Synod and while there
Call a Synod and while there replace all the wacky 60s bishops that still remain with Catholic bishops. Thank God that Mahoney has less than a year to go. Can anyone be surprised with problems in the Church when they see that mockery of Christ and His Church that is put on in LA every year?
Boy, do you have it wrong!
Boy, do you have it wrong! Those great bishops appointed by John XXIII and Paul VI had the courage to challenge the Vatican bureaucracy. The frightened, cowardly lot appointed by JPII and B16 are the problem.
Here's the ideal agenda for this synod.
During this Holy Week, all the bishops of the world resign in penance for the sins of the Church. They are assigned as simple priests to the poorest parish in their diocese. The pompous clerics in Vatican City are assigned to the poorest parishes in the third world. They cannot hold any ecclesiastical office or wear any of their "finery" for five years. B16 as Bishop of Rome also resigns.
All records of church personnel involved in abusing children or covering up the abuse are immediately transferred to civil authority and cooperation with that authority is mandated.
The laity then elect replacement bishops who convene in Rome on the First Sunday in Advent and they (not the Cardinals) elect a new pope.
I sense deja vu here: Dallas
I sense deja vu here: Dallas on an international scale.
Someone should let Rome know that Dallas failed to reassure the RCC in the USA because it focused on classes, reports and oaths that primarily impacted the laity who know the problem was and remains the priesthood and Bishops.
As many of us said and heard others say, "Dallas has not restored my faith in the Church, rather, it has injured it and I must learn to live my Catholic Faith without the assistance of bishops and priests."
That's a pretty shocking result and I definitely would not want it repeated on a world wide scale. I hope more talk about an effective way to restore Trust and Confidence in the RCC continues and a better way is found than a Synod of Bishops.
By the way, the Vatican will be under seige until laity believe all the Truth is out in the open.
Rome does not want to hear it but, in my opnion, only a Vatican III including the full particpation of the laity will get the Church back on track. No naivete here...it will be very, very messy.
It is frustrating to read the
It is frustrating to read the NY Times article by Maureen Dowd. Frustrating because it is so well written, and the comments that follow--some 19 pages--all but dismantle the church. And the responses form the church leadership and hierarchy are so feeble.
A synod of the bishops is absolutely vital. This is a Church problem and the entire church leadership needs to weigh in conclusively. It may be a mini-Vatican III, but this crisis is no less damning that any heresy chruch councils addressed in the past. Indeed, it is more so because the Church is not being attacked from without, rather it may be eroding from within.
"...Pope Benedict XVI is
"...Pope Benedict XVI is under mounting pressure to call an emergency synod of bishops from around the world. The purpose?"
ELECT HIS SUCCESSOR AFTER HE TENDERS HIS RESIGNATION!
cf. Code of Canon Law 332.2
July 14, 2010.
ALLONS ENFANTS DE L'EGLISE CATHOLIQUE,
LE JOUR DE GLOIRE EST ARRIVE...
AUX ARMES CITOYENS!
FORMEZ VOS BATAILLONS!
MARCHONS, MARCHONS,
QU'UN SANG IMPUR ABREUVE NOS SILLONS!
Sadly, won't happen. Benedict
Sadly, won't happen. Benedict thinks it's all "rumor and gossip".
He's in denial, living in the 14th century w/ his linen finery.
Even if it did happen, won't be anything but PR. He will leave it to the next pope to deal with.
My God, My God, will there be a church left when that happens?
I see the church unraveling before our eyes w/ these "stiff necked" pharisees in charge.
Should it occur this synod
Should it occur this synod better include much more than just bishops. The whole world knows all about a lot of them.
After the pope-king resigns,
After the pope-king resigns, hold a synod to openly select someone in an open assembly
Amen! It is about time that
Amen! It is about time that the folks most negatively effected by the cowardice of the episcopacy, the malfeasance of the clergy and the need to pay out millions in recompense have a say: the flippin' laity, folks! And laity includes men AND women! I know that the ontologically favored don't like women confronting them (near occasions of sin, women) but they had better wake up and smell the roses --- or we'll take their roses away.
Benedict's pastoral letter
Benedict's pastoral letter "to the Catholics of Ireland contains but one sentence that is profound and prophetic: "Only by emamining carefully the many elements that gave rise to the present crisis can a clear-sighted diagnosis of its causes can be undertaken and effective remedies be found" (para.#4).
The responses from the vatican so far, including the letter, give me little hope that "an emergency synod of bishops" is capable of either "a clear-sighted diagnosis" nor to arrive at effective remedies.
This is not solely a "sexual abuse" crisis though it may well be the most henious expression. The underlying issue is "abusive authority".
Benedict should resign - a
Benedict should resign - a synod should select a new pope-king in an open furum not a secrecy-laden conclave
The lay mantra has to be
The lay mantra has to be 'It's the Cover-up stupid!!! don't let the bishops talk about their plans for detecting un-worthy priests.
while i deeply share the
while i deeply share the frustration of most of the commentors on this page, i foresee this pope producing a rather different type of solution to the problems:
a. a new solemn infallibly-declared dogma, the Mediatrix and Co-redemptrix one.
b. outpourings of forgiveness upon the people of the media for their unprovoked attacks.
c. splendid and radiant new golden vestments and vestment-accessories.
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