Polarization in Catholic church lamented

a) FIRST TEXT: THE DIDACHE APOSTOLORUM (90 A.D.):
"You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born." (4)

b) SECOND TEXT: TERTULLIAN (150 - 240 AD):
"To prevent birth is anticipated murder; it makes little difference whether one destroys a life already born or does away with it in its nascent stage. The one who will be a man is already one." (5)

c) THIRD TEXT: ST. AUGUSTINE (354 - 430 AD):
"Their licentious cruelty, or their cruel licentiousness, sometimes goes to such lengths as to procure sterilizing poisons and if these are unavailing, in some way to stifle within the womb and eject the fetus that has been conceived. They want their offspring to die before it comes to life or, if it is already living in the womb, to perish before it is born. Surely, if they are both of such a mind, they do not deserve the name of husband and wife; and if they have been of such a mind from the beginning, it was not for wedlock but for fornication that they became united. If they are not both of such a mind, then I will venture to say that either the woman is the mere mistress of the husband, or the man is the paramour of the wife." (6)

d) FOURTH TEXT: HIPPOLYTUS

"Women who were reputed to be believers began to take drugs to render themselves sterile, and to bind themselves tightly so as to expel what was being conceived, since they would not, on account of relatives and excess wealth, want to have a child by a slave or by any insignificant person. See, then, into what great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by teaching adultery and murder at the same time!" (Refutation of All Heresies [A.D. 228]).

e) FIFTH TEXT: THE COUNCIL OF ANCYRA

"Concerning women who commit fornication, and destroy that which they have conceived, or who are employed in making drugs for abortion, a former decree excluded them until the hour of death, and to this some have assented. Nevertheless, being desirous to use somewhat greater lenity, we have ordained that they fulfill ten years [of penance], according to the prescribed degrees" (canon 21 [A.D. 314]).

f) SIXTH TEXT : ST. BASIL THE GREAT

"He that kills another with a sword, or hurls an axe at his own wife and kills her, is guilty of willful murder; not he who throws a stone at a dog, and unintentionally kills a man, or who corrects one with a rod, or scourge, in order to reform him, or who kills a man in his own defense, when he only designed to hurt him. But the man, or woman, is a murderer that gives a philtrum, if the man that takes it die upon it; so are they who take medicines to procure abortion; and so are they who kill on the highway, and rapparees" (First Canonical Letter, canon 8[A.D. 374]).

g) SEVENTH TEXT: ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

"Wherefore I beseech you, flee fornication . . . Why sow where the ground makes it its care to destroy the fruit?--where there are many efforts at abortion?--where there is murder before the birth? For even the harlot you do not let continue a mere harlot, but make her a murderess also. You see how drunkenness leads to prostitution, prostitution to adultery, adultery to murder; or rather to a something even worse than murder. For I have no name to give it, since it does not take off the thing born, but prevents its being born. Why then do thou abuse the gift of God, and fight with His laws, and follow after what is a curse as if a blessing, and make the chamber of procreation a chamber for murder, and arm the woman that was given for childbearing unto slaughter? For with a view to drawing more money by being agreeable and an object of longing to her lovers, even this she is not backward to do, so heaping upon thy head a great pile of fire. For even if the daring deed be hers, yet the causing of it is thine" (Homilies on Romans 24 [A.D. 391]).

h) EIGHTH TEXT : ST. JEROME

"I cannot bring myself to speak of the many virgins who daily fall and are lost to the bosom of the Church, their mother . . . Some go so far as to take potions, that they may insure barrenness, and thus murder human beings almost before their conception. Some, when they find themselves with child through their sin, use drugs to procure abortion, and when, as often happens, they die with their offspring, they enter the lower world laden with the guilt not only of adultery against Christ but also of suicide and child murder" (Letters 22:13 [A.D. 396]).

i) NINTH TEXT: THE APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS

"Thou shalt not use magic. Thou shalt not use witchcraft; for He says, 'You shall not suffer a witch to live' [Ex. 22:18]. Thou shall not slay thy child by causing abortion, nor kill that which is begotten; for "everything that is shaped, and has received a soul from God, if it be slain, shall be avenged, as being unjustly destroyed." (Apostolic Constitutions 7:3 [A.D. 400]).

j) TENTH TEXT : POPE STEPHEN V (885 - 891 AD)

"That person is a murderer who causes to perish by abortion what has been conceived."(7)

If we are Catholic we should protect life at all ages. This is one of our core beliefs. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear on the protection of life and supporting our core beliefs should never be considered political. Just as the Bishops were called to reconcile the sexual abuse within the Church, it should be called to the protection of innocents in the womb. If the Bishops do not support the teachings of our Holy Church, they should be asked about their position.

The quotes below come directly from the Catechism. If we are truly Catholic, we support these tenants:

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

Non nobis, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Would it be best for the Catholic Church in the U.S. if the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops were to be dismantled? I say yes.

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100209

Character assassination has become the leading political tool of the right in this country. This neo-McCarthyism is growing and shows no sign of abating. I am often critical of the bishops, but they did the right thing here.

Steve

Are these activists of the RC far right funded by the same wealthy donors who underwrite the secessionists ("and we'll take the church and bank accounts too") in the Episcopal church? Ahmanson, Sciafe, and Coor are reportedly doing their thing in Anglicanism and elsewhere in mainstream Protestantism. Perhaps some investigative journalist should find out where the funding stream leads for these holier than the Pope types who dare to smear with a wide brush.

I won't hold my breath waiting for a certain occupant of the episcopal chair in St. Pat's, to come to the support of his neighbor bishop Bill Murphy. His Grace in Manhattan is too busy getting fawning profiles from Murdoch's NY Post and attending lectures given by activist conservative professors.

It is the leadership that has created the culture.

Isn't it the bishops themselves (i.e. John Carr's bosses) who are creating the polarization, however?

Let's face it, many of their public messages haven't been exactly unifying.

Start with their "my way or the highway" approach as regards both the ends AND the means of achieving pro-life goals. If you're a Catholic politician, it isn't good enough to be pro-Life, you must vote that agenda both against the wishes of your constituency and in the manner endorsed by your bishop.

Continue with their political involvment, in some cases outrageously inappropriate (i.e., actually making campaign calls and/or attempting to block legislation giving rights to the victims of their brother priests).

What about their efforts not just to deny gays and lesbians equality not just within their church (which may be their doctrinal privilege) but also to systematically deny them equality within secular society in the guise of "protecting marriage?"

How about their heavy-handed approach to quashing even civil dialogue about the question of the ordination of women? Or of married persons?

And coming full, circle, consider the President of the USCCB's recent unprovoked and out-of-the-blue aggression against a Catholic Gay and Lesbian ministry.

John Carr's bosses have engaged in the same quality of discourse and behavior that one might expect to see between Rush Limgbaugh and the Rev. Al Sharpton on a Sunday morning news magazine. It appears as though it is now coming to roost on one of their own employees, who is having his integrity, reputation, and "worthiness" impugned.

He is not just a victim of those who impugned him, but of his own bosses who set up the environment of aggression and hostility.

The key difference, though, is this time the victim isn't a minority, or a social or spiritual outcast, or a woman with a vocation to ministry, but a male who is a member of the "inner circle" of Catholic administrative authority. Somehow that seems to make it more sigificant.

It is the leadership that has created the culture.

In John Gehring's report, John Carr asks, “Does your faith shape your politics or the other way around? Are you more Catholic than Democrat or Republican?" Very interesting questions indeed. I live in a Republican stronghold community and it's pretty much a given that if you're not a Republican Catholic or a Catholic-Republican, you're pretty much out in the cold. God forbid that I should be like the Kennedy's and be a Catholic-Democrat who follow the party of more liberal views but also more concerned about the social injustices of poverty, inadequate education in our schools, intolerance of people who are different especially those of a different sexual orientation, and who seem to think that, not only do they have a God-given right to BE in the White House but also RUN the country. They barely stop short of saying "After all, God IS a Republican too, you know."

So, does my faith shape my political leaning? Yes! I doubt very, very much that Jesus would be a high-lofted Republican if he were here. He would be a socialist for one thing, wanting to spread the wealth as well as be all-embracing of everyone. He made it very clear how He felt about those who think they are so high & mighty and right about everything (read the Gospels about the Saccades and the Pharisees).

The polarization in the church today has been caused by none other than the Vatican down to the U.S. bishops themselves. I, for one, resent being told how to believe and what to believe politically by a religious organization. Isn't this what the Founding Fathers were trying to prevent when they set up this country with a separation of church and state?

Polarization is coming from a combination of the Bishops, radio, TV, and the Internet.

Read most diocesan newspapers and you get the "official" line and condemnation if you walk outside of it. This is where the divisions start with the "my way or the highway" talk. Other media take this to another level. Relevant Radio, Ave Maria Radio, Catholic Answers, EWTN, etc... all come across as speaking directly from Rome as official sources. Much of the programming ends up being the same as in the diocesan newspapers, Abortion and Gay Marriage and not much else. The laity media sources I referenced also have strong Republican ties (not as much with RR officially). What you end up is a virtual GOP PAC speaking with the blessing of Rome (e.g. Tom Monaghan and Ave Maria).

Because it is slanted towards the GOP, you get these attacks on the CCHD, Liberation Theology, and other general Social Justice as while they still fit in official Catholic Theology, they do not fit in the GOP platform, hence the jump to "socialism" talking points.

I find hard to match the Reporter's outrage about polarization in the Catholic Church and its editor in chief asking Inside Catholic's employees to leave Deal Hudson because of his past pecadilloes

The answer to this problem of polarization was solved by Archbishop Charles Chaput who said in a homily a year or so ago: "If you’re Catholic and you disagree with your Church. What do you do? You change your mind."

Just read "Who is a Catholic?" by the Reverend Father Richard P. McBrien, published by Dimension Books in 1971.

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