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PDF versionPope sees the Devil behind timing of sex abuse crisis
by John L Allen Jr on Jun. 11, 2010
Priests from around the world gather at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome June 10, part of concluding ceremonies for the Year for Priests. (CNS/Paul Haring)Since the Catholic sexual abuse crisis erupted a decade ago, there have been numerous attempts to explain its causes, from a lack of fidelity to an over-emphasis on celibacy and clerical privilege. This morning in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI pointed to a deeper unseen force lurking behind the crisis, especially its timing: the Devil.
It’s no accident, the pope implied, that precisely as the Catholic church was celebrating a “Year for Priests” in 2009-2010, the sexual abuse crisis once again took on massive global proportions.
“It was to be expected that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the ‘enemy,’” Benedict XVI said. “He would have rather preferred to see it disappear, so that God would ultimately be driven out of the world.”
The term "the enemy" is a traditional Catholic way of referring to the Devil.
The line drew applause from the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for a Mass bringing the "Year for Priests" to a close. The Vatican said that some 15,000 priests from more than 90 countries were on hand for the event.
Benedict said that the sexual abuse of minors amounts to a direct contradiction of the meaning of the Catholic priesthood.
“So it happened in this very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light – particularly the abuse of the little ones, in which the priesthood, whose task is to manifest God’s concern for our good, turns into its very opposite,” the pope said.
Those comments came as part of Benedict’s homily for the closing Mass of the “Year for Priests," which also marked the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Benedict XVI did not allude to recent criticism of his own role, or that of the Vatican, in responding to the crisis.
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In the run-up to this morning's Mass, some had speculated that Benedict might use the occasion to unveil dramatic new policy measures on the sexual abuse crisis. In fact, the pope did not announce any new initiatives, but instead referred to the crisis in a more spiritual key as a “summons to purification.”
As he has on numerous occasions in the past, the pope apologized both to God and to the victims of abuse, and pledged to prevent such abuse in the future.
“We insistently beg forgiveness from God and from the persons involved, while promising to do everything possible to ensure that such abuse will never occur again,” the pope said.
“In admitting men to priestly ministry and in their formation, we will do everything we can to weigh the authenticity of their vocation and make every effort to accompany priests along their journey, so that the Lord will protect them and watch over them in troubled situations and amid life’s dangers,” he said.
Had the “Year for Priests” been merely a celebration of the human performance of priests, Benedict said, it would have been ruined by the revelations of the sexual abuse crisis. Instead, he said, the crisis should make the church embrace its faith in God with new “courage and humility.”
Later, Benedict XVI invoked the image of the shepherd’s rod, saying that using the rod to correct those who go astray can be a “service of love.”
The use of the rod, the pope said, clearly applies to taking a firmer hand on the sexual abuse crisis.
“Today we can see that it has nothing to do with love when conduct unworthy of the priestly life is tolerated,” he said.
On other matters, Benedict XVI rejected a “functionalist” understanding of the priesthood, treating it as comparable to other jobs or professional roles. Instead, the pope insisted, the priesthood is not an office but a sacrament.
Ultimately, he said, the priesthood expresses the “audacity of God,” who considers flawed men capable of “acting and being present in his stead.”
The pope argued that a priest must make present a God who is actively involved in the affairs of the world and in individual human lives, as opposed to the unknown deities of the ancient world or the “watchmaker” God of the Enlightenment, who creates the world and then withdraws from it.
God actively looks after the world, the pope insisted, including laying down clear moral laws – not to control human beings, but to see them flourish.
“Wherever God’s loving concern is perceived as getting in the way, human beings go awry,” he said.
“We understand that these rules from God are not chains, but the way which he is pointing out to us,” the pope said. “As priests, we need to communicate to others our own joy at the fact that we have been shown the right way.”
In addition to being firm on sexual abuse, the pope also called for greater vigilance about deviations from the faith.
It has nothing to do with love, Benedict XVI said, “if heresy is allowed to spread and the faith twisted and chipped away, as if it were something that we ourselves had invented.”
That remark likewise drew applause, the only other time the crowd this morning interrupted the pope's homily to affirm a particular line.
As a footnote, Italian Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the former Secretary of State under Pope John Paul II and still the dean of the College of Cardinals, was a principal concelebrant of this morning's Mass. It was Sodano's first major appearance alongside the pope since his remarks at the Easter Sunday liturgy, comparing criticism of Benedict XVI on the sexual abuse crisis to "petty gossip," drew wide international criticism.
An earlier report by John Allen is here: As priests rally to defend pope, pope defends celibacy.
You've got to be kidding! The
You've got to be kidding! The abuse scandal didn't go global in reponse to this past year being the "year of the priest". It's been global, just not yet fully revealed. I believe the "year of the priest" was declared as a diversion to the scandal. "Let's get everyone tripping over each other to thank their priests so they don't notice the poor way we've handled this crisis." Sorry, but I'm not falling for that one. Yes, we do have some good priests, but the "year of the priest" did nothing to weed out the bad ones and their accomplice bishops. That requires work and change, not "celebration".
You write: ‘The abuse scandal
You write: ‘The abuse scandal didn't go global in response to this past year being the "year of the priest". It's been global, just not yet fully revealed.’
If you read the homily, this is exactly what the pope is saying: ‘And so it happened that, in this very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light – particularly the abuse of the little ones, in which the priesthood, whose task is to manifest God’s concern for our good, turns into its very opposite.’
Furthermore, the Pope is not asking anyone to trip over themselves to thank their priests. The Pope is consistently talking about the sacrament of priesthood, and not about individual priests. (Unfortunately, John Allen missed this one too.)
Just because by far, most of the child abuse happens in the family, we do not blame the institution of the family for it. Instead we condemn the individuals who abuse rights and responsibilities of that institution and yes, we often try to fix the problem by trying to strengthen the institution of the family by celebrating its goodness (weddings and anniversaries).
(family ) So why are the
(family )
So why are the priests being "protected" by the purely arbitrary claim of "sacramental " statut instead of letting civil justice do it's duty.
This is very similar to the" Them and us " practiced by the(mortal ) Elite of this world . Pope Benedict XVI is showing the pragmatism of his HUMAN institution and refers to God has a CEO would refer to the board of directors.
The deception as been working for centuries and who did not get it has a problem with his soul.
The energy of God is ALL THERE IS we all have it in us . We know good from bad
Christ came to separate us from the eye for an eye of the judeo/testament
Christianity is about love and he recomanded to not make any institution about him . Just to BEHAVE the way he showed is to honore Christ . Not to belong to a church, and then buy shares, go to wars and do all the wrong things
Being a Christian is to have matured enough to KNOW how to behave without following the caprices of a church .
Then w'll have PEACE
"Just because by far, most of
"Just because by far, most of the child abuse happens in the family, we do not blame the institution of the family for it. Instead we condemn the individuals who abuse rights and responsibilities of that institution and yes, we often try to fix the problem by trying to strengthen the institution of the family by celebrating its goodness (weddings and anniversaries)."
This is true, but the church has never had a "year of marriage". Couples celebrate their weddings and anniversaries and individual priests celebrate their ordinations and anniversaries as they chose. These are not churchwide celebrations.
If one truly believes (and I
If one truly believes (and I do) that pedaphilia is a mental illness, then there should be prayers for the priest suffering fromt he mental illness. Unfortunately, the Pope continues to rail against the "filth" within the priesthood but conveniently forgets that the real filth is the cover-up by Church Hierarcy. The sin (pedophilia) is one thing, the cover-up is another much more serious sin. The hierarchy were and in many cases today are enablers, allowing the predators to continue their ministry.
"Resist the devil and he will
"Resist the devil and he will flee."
He is no stranger in the Holy See.
A welcome guest to blame,
While old Cardinals dance around his flame.
H.G. Bishop Timothy MacLam
You misunderstand. It was
You misunderstand. It was not the Year OF the Priest. It was the Year FOR the Priest. The whole point was not to glorify or praise fallible human beings, but to pray for them, because they are fallible! Priests are weak and vulnerable as any human being. The Year FOR Priests was a time to ask God's special blessings and graces upon them, something especially important given the abuse scandal. Since you clearly missed the point over the last year, I would invite you to pray for priests starting now, and ask that they be purified and made holy and kept strong, as so many faithful priests around the world have been and continue to be.
JP, You are forming a
JP,
You are forming a contradictory argument here.
First you state, "It's been global, just not yet fully revealed."
Then you say that "the 'year of the priest' was declared as a diversion to the scandal."
Finally you stated that, "the 'year of the priest' did nothing to weed out the bad ones and their accomplice bishops."
If the scandal came out so vociferously in this year, was that not a result of the "bad ones and their accomplice bishops" being "weed[ed] out"? If that happened then how is the premise of your argument true?
Based on the recent surfacing of more cases, the "Year of the Priests" did exactly what you stated it didn't do. While I agree with you that the problem is not fully revealed I wouldn't say that none of the bad ones and their accomplices were rooted out in the "year of the priests."
God's Blessings,
Joe
A typical NCR reader
A typical NCR reader response. Until the contemporary world once again recognizes the existence of evil, and affirms the existence of the supernatural realm, it will never "get it". We have 'some' good priests? What does that mean? Since less than 2% of priests have been involved in the abuse scandal, that leaves 98% of priests in the world in good standing. The problem is identified and it is being corrected. I believe that the media had a lot to do with it; otherwise, it would still have been relegated to dust under the carpet. And there is no reason not to believe that the Holy Spirit is "cleaning house." The priesthood NEEDS to be celebrated, and those who have such a special calling need to be affirmed by us, the Church. "Work and change" is an ongoing action. If we place our trust in Christ,and PRAY FOR PRIESTS, the problem will be resolved.
See 'The assault on the
See 'The assault on the Catholic Church' top of www.inquisition21.com
What's that I hear? Flip
What's that I hear? Flip Wilson is back doing his famous Geraldine character. "The Devil made me do it, honey!" Aside from that innovative remark about the "enemy" the Pope threw in (sarcasm), can anyone in Rome or in the American hierarchy speak in any terms other than pious platitudes? I mean, really...
John Allen messed this one up
John Allen messed this one up in a rather uncharacteristic way. The Pope never said in his homily that the devil should be blamed for the sexual abuse and not the priests. He refers to the timing for the ‘sins of the priests’ coming to light. Please read the homily before posting a comment.
Not only did I read it... I
Not only did I read it... I watched it and listened to him read it word for word in Italian with barely an inflection in his voice. No wonder Catholics everywhere find homilies boring if our leader puts even priests to sleep with boredom. Oh well, maybe you had to be there. Here's the quote...
"It was to be expected that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the “enemy”; he would have rather preferred to see it disappear, so that God would ultimately be driven out of the world. And so it happened that, in this very year of joy for the sacrament of the priesthood, the sins of priests came to light – particularly the abuse of the little ones, in which the priesthood, whose task is to manifest God’s concern for our good, turns into its very opposite."
Of course he didn't relieve the priests of their guilt, but in saying that (a) the enemy/Devil would rather see the priesthood disappear paired with (b) And so it happened that the sins of priests came to light; therefore (c) it must follow that the devil was the agent behind the sins coming to light -- right? I mean, he surely is inferring causality by what he said.
It is still assigning control of events to the devil (the devil made me do it). It was priests that did the crime, priests that hid the crime, priests that perpetuated the crime by passing bad priests from parish to parish, and it was priests who hid the crime in a web of secrecy. But it was also the persistence of reporters who doggedly pursued the story from the tale of Fr. Marcial Maciel to the coverup of Cardinal Law despite the barriers put up and the aspersions cast on them by priests. It was also the lawyers who forced disclosure, had the courage to stand up for those who had been injured, and brought about some modicum of justice. It was the work of the reporters and lawyers that brought it to light, not the Devil. (Did the Devil make phony victims issue false allegations? The Devil that made greedy lawyers bankrupt dioceses? The Devil that made reporters vent their hatred of the Church in stories that had enough spin to make one dizzy?) The Devil may rejoice in the stupidity of Man but he rarely has to do anything on his own to encourage it. We seem to do quite well on our own, thank you very much. And it wasn't just during this year for priests that brought to light the sins of abusive priests. Good grief its been a hot topic since the 80s.
Perhaps it wasn't the Devil's doings but God's work that led to the international disclosures during the international year for priests. Maybe it was the gifts of the Holy Spirit that gave wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord to some men and women who fought to uncover the cancer within the Church. The Church needs reform, but not by withdrawing into some pre-Vatican II dream world - but by sincerely trying to effect the changes of the Council: collegiality in governance (including lay people), opening the Church to the greater participation of women, addressing the priest shortage ourselves rather than waiting for the Holy Spirit to magically make more priests, to rid the Church of its obsession with sex and abortion to the practical exclusion of every other grave moral and ethical consideration, to allow theologians to freely continue the scholarly search for a better human understanding of God and our relationship with God, to allow the liturgy to continue to evolve and progress rather than turning it back a private affair between priest and God, to allow priests the human comforts of a wife and family instead of forcing them into a life of loneliness and frustration, and to give greater voice to the local Church in the selection of its leaders.
Let's start with the Pope accepting, like Harry Truman, that the Buck Stops Here. He is responsible - in all his current and past responsibilities as a leader - as bishop, as Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, and as Pope, for what happened on his watch. Own the crimes! Repent! And make sure it doesn't happen again. Clean out the priesthood of truly evil people - not homosexuals and "heretical" theologians but men who think they are never wrong, of men who want to control everything, men who will walk all over others to obtain power and fame, men who rage at those who disagree with them, men who want what they deny others, men who are completely self-centered, and men who have dead spirits while pretending holiness. (Also known as the seven deadly sins!)
Sorry for the rant, but I needed to get this off my chest, not to cut off real dialogue.
Very well said. You deserve
Very well said. You deserve an "huzzah, Brother!"
This is hardly a rant. Sound,
This is hardly a rant. Sound, mature, balanced and rational. What it makes me think of is hardly as rational as this, but here it is: if God is behind the disclosure of the corruption in the church (and I believe this to be true) then to ascribe God's work to the devil is akin to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is ascribing the work of the Spirit to the devil-the unforgivable sin.
I believe Rosemary Radford Reuther made a similar comparison in regard to infallibility during the reign (!) of John Paul II. I would not be held responsiblle for passing judgement on the Pope, or anyone else for that matter. However, the gravity of the issue remains staggering.
This is a second attempt to
This is a second attempt to post a reply here. If it is redundant I apologize. It appears that if God were behind the disclosure of the corruption of the church and the cover-up, that the Pope is claiming the work of the Holy Spirit to be the workof the devil, which in some contexts in Scripture is a sin against the Holy Spirit, the unforgiveable sin.
I would not pass judgement on anyone, let alone the Pope. However, I am not the first to suggest that this issue may be applied to Papal authority. Rosemary Radford Reuther described infallibility in this way, where one could not repent because one was gifted with immunity from error-and so one would have sinned against the Holy Spirit and have committed the unforgiveable sin.
Rather than assume this to be true, let me say that the gravity of the situation is enormous, and the moral implications staggering.
Other than the above, the post is an intelligent and well-thought out "rant". One could wish more of the same from NCR readers.
Thank you, Brother Thomas.
Thank you, Brother Thomas. Well said!
Hmmm...I think the timing had
Hmmm...I think the timing had more to do with the European Church leaders clinging to the notion that the abuse crisis was an "American problem" caused by our liberal and secular influences. They could have been proactive and cleaned their own houses years ago when the crisis erupted here. The timing is coincidental. Honestly, would there ever be a "good" time for this kind of scandal?
"The sins of the priests have
"The sins of the priests have come to light!"
Maybe it was the Holy Spirit who brought the truth to light! Why blame the devil! It is right and just that the sins of sexual abuse came to light.. during this year!
Just another cop-out...and
Just another cop-out...and one more way not to take any responsibility for the abuse of our children.
“In admitting men to priestly
“In admitting men to priestly ministry and in their formation, we will do everything we can to weigh the authenticity of their vocation and make every effort to accompany priests along their journey, so that the Lord will protect them and watch over them in troubled situations and amid life’s dangers,” he said.
So sexual abuse of children represents "trouble" and "danger" to PRIESTS? And the PRIESTS need to be protected and watched over? What about "making every effort to protect CHILDREN"?
Ewwww.
I believe that the Pope was
I believe that the Pope was there referring to situations in the lives of priests which lead to their choice to violate every God-given design for the priesthood through sexual abuse. By "accompanying priests along their journey", the Church will hopefully hold every priest to higher accountability, meaning that children will be much better protected.
The fault dear Benedict is
The fault dear Benedict is not within our devils, but within ourselves...
Yes, der Bill M, the fault is
Yes, der Bill M, the fault is within ourselves ... and that is how we become each other's 'enemies' ... or devils...
Totally!!
Totally!!
It was the devil who brought
It was the devil who brought to light the sexual abuse of children that had taken place for decades? So it is now the devil who brings to light that which was hidden? So who is the light and the truth?
I think this pope is too flustered to continue. As with all bishops after 80, he should submit his resignation.
This is very sad that the
This is very sad that the head of our church is so out of touch with reality.
Agreed! I also find it
Agreed!
I also find it somewhat amusing that the devil is blamed for "causing" the revelation of another layer of abuse and its coverup by hierarchy. Wasn't one aim for the Year of the Priest, albeit a silent one, to shore up PR in favor of the institution of male & celibate priesthood as presently understood? Frankly this is the only context in which I can understand this remark of Benedict. Think about it: the Vatican plans a Year of The Priest with all its global programs (intellectual, prayerful, gatherings, etc) and as much press attention as can be garnered - and then the whole plan gets blown up in their faces! Who else is there to be blamed except "the enemy"? They've already blamed "the media", anti-catholics and other scapegoats. Who else is there? To sum up: given the context of another Vatican restorationist attempt so that the "radiance of the priesthood" appear in all its early 2oth century glory the events of this past year added to those of the recent past needs a scapegoat beyond all scapegoats. The Devil is in the works.
Quote from article: It’s no
Quote from article: It’s no accident, the pope implied, that precisely as the Catholic church was celebrating a “Year for Priests” in 2009-2010, the sexual abuse crisis once again took on massive global proportions.
“It was to be expected that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the ‘enemy,’” Benedict XVI said. “He would have rather preferred to see it disappear, so that God would ultimately be driven out of the world.”
This is absolutely shocking. Benedict has twisted this around so completely. I am utterly dismayed by his statements.
Holy Spirit, help us.
So where's the Vatican
So where's the Vatican exorcist?
What medieval nonsense! This
What medieval nonsense!
This confirms that Pope Benedict XVI and all his advisers have really missed the plot. They have NOTHING to say to the world that they claim to be evangelising.
Bah humbug!
This is making me really
This is making me really mad!!!!! How dare the criminal action of some clergy be put in a more philosophical light...
The Devil? Really?????
The Devil? Really????? What a great way to project blame outside the institution rather than accepting responsibility for their own sins. Way to go Pope!
Yep, just like Killer always
Yep, just like Killer always said, "The devil made me do it!"
Let's not take responsibility but instead find another to blame. This time its the devil's fault - no not the bishops who aided and abetted the criminal acts of the sexual deviant behavior, not the pope who sided with the bishops, not the priests themselves (although they should have just been removed from service and been given the medical/psychological help they needed, hmm that would have been the merciful response).... yep, blame the devil.
Sorry, we don't buy it!
"It's No Accident!" I can say
"It's No Accident!" I can say a resounding, "Amen!" to the Pope's statement, but I think our reasons for saying that remark are polemically different. Rather than blaming Satan, I blame centuries of Vatican arrogance, intimidation and Clericalism, where the clergy has had unquestionable sway over the Laity's "worthless and powerless identity," and where we have been consistently treated like uneducated morons.
Revelations of centuries of clerical abuse, molestation, rape and sodomy had to come out sooner or later, but the simple fact is that the Church never thought that mere little people would ever challenge the Goliath called the Catholic Church and make Her accountable in the world press. The multitude of revelations of Pedophilia that have come out, worldwide, have been long overdue, and many believe that God was behind the revelations, which would make his children safer and the Hierarchy and Papacy accountable for their unconscionable and sinful COVERUPS!
I believe that Satan is on vacation and there have been lay-offs at "Gates of Hell, Inc." as the Hierarchy and Papacy of the Holy Roman Catholic Church is doing a great job destroying themselves!
It's not the mythical "devil"
It's not the mythical "devil" that's at fault. It's the individual members of the narcissistic clerical culture that are responsible for this atrocity, starting with Josef Ratzinger himself. We are not stupid.
If decades of sexual abuse
If decades of sexual abuse within the church had not been swept under the rug for so long, the "enemy" wouldn't have been handed this opportunity. The perpetrators and those who have conspired to protect and excuse them have done this to themselves.
You can "beg forgiveness" as "insistently" as you want - my young children certainly do - but as I tell them, the words ring hollow unless you back them up with actions to SHOW that you are sorry and actively try to make amends. You would think grown men, and particularly those in positions of authority, could figure that out. So either they are stupid (can't figure it out) or they still believe themselves to be above any kind of rules, and believe us, their subjects, to be stupid.
Yeah, and the devil made them
Yeah, and the devil made them hide the truth to protect the turf and perks of office. If this tragedy had not surfaced, the ordained ones would still be molesting children and their handlers would still be hiding the truth by denial, stealth, and secret re-location of the molesters. This is a world wide cancer in the heart of The Church.
Many in the church, ordained or not, are no different from ladder climbers in the corporate world. The game is to get to the top however you can to enjoy the perks, the power, and get to wear those gaudy vestments of office.
Benedict XVI said it was to be expected that this new radiance of the priesthood would not be pleasing to the ‘enemy’. What he should have said is that the actions of The Church leadership were not pleasing to God.
Just maybe this scandal being out in the open is Jesus once again chasing the predators and their handlers from the temple?
Clearly this man, the Pope,
Clearly this man, the Pope, doesn't get it. Also, stop glorifying priests and putting them out there as superhuman. Just show respect as you would for any other human being. This deification of the priest is the utmost in patriarchy. Benedict XVI wants to take the church in a direction that I do not want to go. The policies of this man and JP II are nothing more than a smokescreen for the real problems in the church.
Pope Benedict, how about
Pope Benedict, how about using the rod on Cardinal Law???? The abusive priests are in need of healing (away from anyone they an prey upon). The bishops and cardinals and the pope who were complacent and allowed the abuse to continue need the rod.
Again, the hierarchy, and especially the Pope, does have a clue.
Mark says it best. "Law
Mark says it best.
"Law cooperated with the civil investigation, but we (that is, we laypeople, who run all the courts, own all the guns, and staff all the jails) decided not to prosecute. Law is not on the lam from anything. One can (and I think, should) question the wisdom of putting him in charge of a basilica instead of putting him out to pasture for his atrocious decisions to reshuffle and cover up abuse. But nothing is served by regurgitating the
stupid claim that he is a fugitive from the law. He’s just not. At the end
of the day, the quarrel is not about civil justice, but about how the Church should deal with an internal bit of housekeeping: punish the miscreant by making him clean toilets in a monastery or leave him to pad around some Roman Church saying Mass and greeting visitors. It’s fine to be angry about John Paul for making the latter call. I think it was the wrong call too.
But it’s what experts in morality call
“lying” to say that Law is wanted
by the Boston cops."
BY MARK SHEA
To translate our Holy
To translate our Holy Father’s meaning of enemy as "the Devil" is a bit spineless if you excuse me for saying: it’s a bit like referring to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity as Indian Workers, or Opus Die as exercisers of religion.
This enemy by and large consist of: the secret forces behind the Masonic sects; those rich and powerful preparing the world for the coming of the Messiah; the power-houses defending and promoting Islam; and the powers promoting and establishing neo-communism in the form of global atheism and egalitarianism.
Is there any more with such influence?
Mr M Savage, have you ever
Mr M Savage, have you ever belonged to a Masonic organization? If you had, you would know that Masons don't sit around plotting the death of the RCC; they actually do more chumming around and social networking than anything else. That's the biggest "secret" about Masonic organizations, honey!
--Former member of Job's Daughters, the young women's branch of the Masons
Fair point Mr. Anonymous,
Fair point Mr. Anonymous, which is why I said "secret forces behind the Masonic sects".
Everyone accepts that the vast majority of 'brothers' are oblivious to core objectives of the higher 'degrees' within free-masonary, which is to establish a man-centred, supra-national, dominant world order.
A consequence of this, unfortunately, is the de-construction of any god-centered orders like Christianity, but especially the Catholic Church.
National Treasure was a
National Treasure was a pretty good movie, but I don't think it can be used as an explanation for the Church's problems in the real world.
How very convenient. If the
How very convenient. If the devil is to blame others are less responsable.
The Pope believes his words!
The Pope believes his words! I urge the Pope to see help!
I think that's the trick.
I think that's the trick. They really believe these words. At some point the Church was built up as actually holding the position in which the Church was to be respected and protected above all things,no matter what . We didn't know any better either. This view continued well into my college days. Nobody ever thought to look now and then to see if the Church really deserved that. When the sex abuse crisis blew up in the US, they always had the excuse that Americans are a little crazy, e.g., we think the Church should be a democracy! What would you expect?! It's almost not their fault, they're just going on assuming that things are as they were way back when, not noticing that the faithful around them have changed radically, progressing in wisdom and grace as well as age. It's lucky that people in Ireland took heart from the victims of abuse in the US and began to bare all the abuse that took place there as well, opening the gates for a flood of revelations of abuse all over Europe, some even in some way connected with the Pope himself. The Church is still in a state of shock at the claims, but if they have any good will at all, they will open their eyes and see the reality. I hoped that this could be the jumping off point for a huge reform in the Church. It's on the verge of being a very exciting time. But after this homily I see Rome isn't ready yet. I guess we'll have to keep up the battering rams a while longer.
It is in the hiding and
It is in the hiding and deceit used by the epsicopacy to protect those, usually clerics, where we can find the Devil dancing.
Another way of looking at The Crisis is to see that it is induced by men and women of goodwill who on learning of the great harm perpetrated by the episcopacy are demaning change and atonement. In this way, The Crisis is of Divine origin.
Is this guy for real?
Is this guy for real? Somebody needs to get him back on his meds.
The pope calls attention to
The pope calls attention to the "sins" of the priests, but says nothing of the "sins" of the bishops. He calls for moral purification with respect to a phenomenon that is a psychological deviance. He says that the church will do everything to make sure that such does not happen in the future, and yet, he leaves Cardinal Law in a place of honor. He widens the gap between authentic faith and corporate loyalty each time he speaks on this issue. He speaks of having the audacity of God. It is he who has the audacity to have Cardinal Sodano at his side. He makes it painfully clear that he is totally out of touch with what is happening to the Roman Catholic Church. It is strictly a strategic error on the part of the Church, and not any spiritual force at work in the world, that the sexual abuse by priests was brought to light at this time. This misstep happened because the Church had the "audacity" to proclaim a year celebrating the priesthood, despite the horrendous garbage that the priesthood, most especially through bishops, has foisted on the world. Only a fool would have tried to proclaim such a year. Dumping on the media has not worked. Now he is going to dump on Satan. Now there's a dumpee you can't argue with.
Great Observation, JB! Since
Great Observation, JB! Since 2002 and the Cardinal Law fiasco in Boston, I have genuinely longed for either JPII or Benedict XVI to scold and instruct the bishops, archbishops and cardinals, who made the coverups possible. If either Pope were to have done so, the comeback from the Hierarchy would have been, "We were just following the worldwide directions, as they were laid out by the Holy See in the famous, crypto directive, "Crimen Sollicitationis!" Should the Pope ever point a finger of reprimand at members of the exalted "Magisterium," he would have three fingers pointing back at himself; therefore, realistic Catholics and those, who have left the Church for more spiritual pastures, know that it will never happen!
In the gospels, the devil
In the gospels, the devil tempted Jesus with worldly kingdoms.
Does the "holy father" see any connection between that and the pompous, opulent, regal, lifestyle he and his fellow bishops wallow in?
Oh Sure. Blame it on that
Oh Sure. Blame it on that old SCAPEGOAT - the D E V I L ! !
"As priests we need to
"As priests we need to communicate to others our own joy at the fact that we have been shown the right way."
There are some who if they were shown the right way certainly didn't follow it, and I'm not just referring to the sexual abuse or minors. My other point being that priests are not the only ones who are being "shown the right way."
The Pope's remark that the "enemy" was manifesting his work at this time during the Year of the Priest, along with other of his comments quoted in this article, leaves me with serious doubts. I wonder if he has been "shown the right way". For someone who has been a priest for an entire life time, and who is the head of this flock of priests, he seems sadly unqualified.
The Holy Father is quite
The Holy Father is quite right in saying Holy Orders is a sacrament, and that the priesthood is more than just a job.
However, that does not mean priests who molest kids, rape adults or commit other crimes should be above the civil law.
We are long past the middle ages where university students, whether they were headed for the priesthood or not, were tonsured to make them clerics exempt from the civil law.
Oh, yes. The devil made them
Oh, yes. The devil made them do it. I wouldn't accept that excuse from one of my children. Not that they would even dare to think that irresponsibly. The Pope needs some time for discernment, I think....with a person who is kind and generous enough to respectfully inform him of how the members of the church at large are now thinking. And to help him realize what every father eventually does, that he cannot control his grown children with fear and punishment. He must collaborate with them and guide them. Punitive measures - now that burning at the stake is out...no longer work well.
NCR has already said it
NCR has already said it better:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/bulletins-human-side/preposterous-theology-re...
So let me get this straight:
So let me get this straight: the evil was in bringing the abuse to light, not in the abuse itself. The Catholic Church doesn't need the devil's help to be destroyed; it's doing a fine job all by itself.
No matter how many different
No matter how many different ways you name it............it's still and "egg". I am increasingly amazed at how the "spin" put on the abuse crisis by the church hierarchy had pointed a finger at everyone except itself! Look in the mirror!! I for one will not be satisfied or encouraged until they hierachy admits THEIR wrong doing in NOT handling these situations properly. The issue has NOT ONLY been that there is abuse of minors by priests, BUT, that the bishops and church hierarchy COVERED it up and NEVER did anything about it.
"The devil made me do it!"
"The devil made me do it!" No! Human beings masquerading as "other Christs" did it. Once an individual or an institution takes on the mindset of being god-like, then they can do nothing "wrong" because they are god-like. This is exactly the reason Jesus was against institutional religion; rather, he called for a personal relationship with each of his followers. When it is just you and the Christ, there is NO room for finger-pointing at an outside force. When one lives in a delusional world that one has created himself, then anything goes and you can believe "the devil made me do it"!
We have been educated to
We have been educated to recognize the inadequacy of the "God of the gaps" but how welcomed remains the "Devil of the gaps".
I am distressed that the Pope is not exhibiting a faith response which sees the work of the Spirit in the current crisis. I would have thought the Devil would have been well pleased with the longstanding hiddenness of the abuse scandal.
Is not the Spirit behind the truth that sets free ?
In my view this Papal analysis is very much a perpetuation of the problem
My thought througout this
My thought througout this Year of the Priests. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that has ruffled the feathers of these strange birds
So ... the devil made them do
So ... the devil made them do it? Sounds like a comedy routine to me. Flip Wilson poked fun of this simple-minded approach to faith years ago in his character Geraldine. Maybe the Pope should put out a comedy album...
This well written article
This well written article proves even the Pope and the Vatican is not above playing the blame game. The "enemy" is responsible is similar to Richard Pryor's line - "The devil made me do it!" Hello! Male hormones and the lack of a healthy outlet due to the man made rule of celibacy.
I have been giving B16 more
I have been giving B16 more credit than he deserves in all this mess. He's very close to: the Devil made us do it. When the world is hoping for some policy changes to better protect the vulnerable, instead he blames the devil? This is the Vatican being at its most ridiculous.
More smoke and mirrors, let's
More smoke and mirrors, let's not look at the real cause of this horrendous scandal. The oppression of women, the lack of a married clergy, absolute power that corrupts absolutely, Bishops and the Pope who pretend it's the 13th Century and the world is the center of the Universe.
Yes, it's the Devil and he is alive and well in the Vatican; blinding to Pope and Bishops from real reform to get us back to following Jesus. Benedict deludes himself into a fantasy world that has not existed for some time and to priesthood devoid of any human qualities and the corresponding need for meaningful personal relationships for our priests. He could benefit from a course of human development and sexuality that most college freshmen and sophomores take.
It has been stated that Benedict has never been a pastoral priest but rather a professor who has no experience of the real world and how most of us live. He is frightened of the 21st Century and anything that is modern and progressive. He would take us all back to being serfs in the age of Kings.
May the Holy Spirit guide the church and the people of God from this wandering in desert. For we are a people who have hardened our hearts to the Lord and have replaced the teaching s of Jesus with the laws of men; the Pharisees of this age who oppress My People with endless cold hearted rules, that have little compassion or love.
God's loving concern never
God's loving concern never gets "in the way". The problem is that the Churches hierarchy gets in the way of Gods's loving concern. Do you see how quickly, in a few words, God's loving concern was magically transformed into; "These rules from God...."
It is here that the authority of the Church tries to become Christ. This from a flawed hypocrite who leads a group of flawed hypocrites who claim to have God's ear. Just another consolidation of power, just another company strategy meeting. Just more blather.
Hmmm...it's the old "the
Hmmm...it's the old "the devil made me do it defense." How sad.
It would be funny if it
It would be funny if it weren't so serious. So, let's play with the humour, the ridiculous for a bit, before I begin to cry then get angry, very angry....
That devil, she is very smart, no? Right at the moment of radiance, bang....the devil she tells everybody that the bulb she is broken. Not frikken fair. At least she could have waited till after the "radiance", maybe even the "brilliance". But...but, since it is only "petty gossip" as buddy Sodano so radiantly noted, so what, and besides it's an "American problem" anyhoo. Tomorrow they will be blaming the nuns.Hey, that's an idea....
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