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Vatican investigates U.S. women religious leadership
'LCWR faces this process with confidence,' leadership state.
Apr. 14, 2009
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PDF versionThe Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has initiated a doctrinal investigation of the largest U.S. women’s religious leadership organization, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
The Vatican already announced a separate study last December to assess the “quality of life” in apostolic women’s religious communities throughout the United States.
The Vatican congregation informed the leadership conference officers of its new “doctrinal assessment” in a February 20 letter, which the officers received March 10. The letter came from Cardinal William Joseph Levada, the congregation’s prefect.
In his letter, Levada explained the congregation is undertaking its “assessment” of the women’s leadership conference after initial Vatican doctrinal concerns were expressed in 2001.
Levada, the former archbishop of San Francisco, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2005.
Officers at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious sent a letter to conference members April 2 telling them of the investigation. NCR obtained a copy of that letter.
The conference is an association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. It has more than 1,500 members, who represent about 95 percent of the 68,000 U.S. women religious.
Asked by NCR to respond to the Vatican initiative, the leadership conference issued a brief statement.
“The Leadership Conference of Women Religious received on March 10 a letter dated February 20, 2009 from Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The letter announces CDF’s decision to conduct a doctrinal assessment of LCWR’s activities and initiatives.
“At this time, LCWR knows neither the process nor timeline for completion of this assessment. As more information is made available to LCWR, the conference will take the appropriate steps to prepare for its participation in the assessment. LCWR faces this process with confidence, believing that the conference has remained faithful to its mission of service to leaders of congregations of women religious as they seek to further the mission of Christ in today’s world.”
The Vatican assessment has become necessary, according to Levada, because at the 2001 meeting between the women’s leadership conference and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which took place in Rome, the women were invited “to report on the initiatives taken or planned” to promote the reception of three areas of Vatican doctrinal concern: the 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis, the 2000 declaration Dominus Jesus from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and “the problem of homosexuality.”
Ordinatio sacerdotalis, Latin for “On the Ordination to the Priesthood,” was a Vatican document that reasserted that Catholic ordination to the priesthood is reserved for men alone and that the church “has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women.”
Dominus Jesus was a declaration that, in part, insisted that non-Catholic Christians are “in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the church, have the fullness of the means of salvation” and that non-Catholic Christian communities suffer “defects.” It was viewed at the time by some Catholic theologians and leaders of other religions as a major setback in interreligious dialogue.
In a 1986 letter written by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, to the world’s bishops, he wrote: “Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.”
Regarding the investigation of the women’s leadership conference, Levada informed conference leaders: “Given both the tenor and the doctrinal content of various addresses given at the annual assemblies of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the intervening years, this Dicastery can only conclude that the problems which had motivated its request in 2001 continue to be present.”
As a result, Levada said, the Vatican had decided “a doctrinal assessment” of the “activities and initiatives of the LCWR would be helpful.”
Levada added that the decision was reached while in communication with Cardinal Franc Rodé, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Under Rodé’s leadership, his congregation last December announced it had begun its own investigation of U.S. women’s religious communities with the expressed aim of assessing the “quality of life” among their members and to determine why numbers of women religious have fallen in recent decades.
The Rodé study is being conducted under the direction of the superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Clare Millea, whom Rodé appointed as apostolic visitator.
The new assessment of the women’s leadership conference, Levada stated in his letter, will be conducted by Leonard P. Blair, bishop of Toledo, Ohio, a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine.
Levada said Blair’s principal purpose is to “review the work of the LCWR in supporting its membership as communities of faith and witness to Christ in today’s church, and to offer any useful assistance.”
Officers at the Leadership Conference of Women Religious told their members that Blair had contacted them and they plan to meet later this spring. They also told members that they had asked for an appointment with Levada before the Vatican announcement that their conference was being investigated. The meeting with Levada is set for April 22.
The April 2 letter from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was signed by conference president J. Lora Dambroski, Sister of Saint Francis of the Providence of God; executive director Jane Burke, Sister of Notre Dame; Mary Whited, Sister of the Most Precious Blood and past president of the leadership conference; and president-elect Marlene Weisenbeck, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration.
Tom Fox is NCR editor and can be reached at tfox@ncronline.org.
And this, indeed, is the one
And this, indeed, is the one they want. They want to try to get those women back under control, even though they are not out of control. The whole point: yes. Men to be on top again, because they're not sure they are, even though they are...
Of course they are not out of
Of course they are not out of control. There aren't enough of them left to be in control. Their numbers and age profile let you know that.
Cardinal Prefect, William
Cardinal Prefect,
William Joseph Levada,
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Dear Cardinal Prefect Levada,
With profound feeling and anxiety I speak to a matter of great urgency and hurt, and that is, the necessity of mutuality and harmony between Faith (woman) and Reason (man).
The physical and psychical condition of Life on Earth is gravely imperiled because of cultural inauthenticity yet fomented by misinformed and misguided consciousness, whether civil or religious, whether secular or spiritual.
The distress between the civil/religious and the secular/spiritual is urgently signaled in the real and perceived animus of the Roman Catholic hierarchy toward Women Religious, which has sadly been aggravated by a long history of instinctual and political distrust.
Distrust and disharmony are two faces of the same coin — a state of affairs inimical to the Calling of Jesus to Church, and of Nature to all life.
In policy and practice, Church needs to "preach Jesus", the concordant Voice of Faith and Reason, with greater commitment to renewed harmony if the Mission of Jesus and the wellbeing of life are to be fully achieved. http://www.secondenlightenment.org/Preaching%20Jesus.pdf
With sentiments of esteem and worry, I am
Sylvester L. Steffen
cdf@cfaith.va
I have this Post Script to
I have this Post Script to add to my email to Cardinal Levada: "Because mutuality fails, so do, complementarity and subsidiarity; so do, hope and love; so do, communication, consciousness and conscience; and, so do, church, intentional symbiosis, and nature."
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?grpId=3659174697239231&articleId=2...
As Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory says: "Our faith must stand as a reasonable voice to promote a culture of life, which means every human being is recognized to have an innate and inalienable value." [and equivalence before God, I would add.]... The ultimate implementation of social change is going to come from laity and teachers." [Rebecca Rakoczy, "Church's death-penalty stand discussed," THE WITNESS, Archdiocese of Dubuque, IA, October 26, 2009, pg 1,5.]
I inadvertently included the
I inadvertently included the wrong link in the reply above; here's the correct link:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977542405&nav=MyGa...
Sorry for that.
Nuns are no saints. I was
Nuns are no saints. I was there for ten years. There were many women with wonderful jobs and ministries, especially the older ones, but the life inside the convent for the apostolic community I was in was very, very dysfunctional. Somewhere, many of the sisters lost their way. Doctrine aside, there was active alcoholism, trips around the world seeing Shamans and gurus, verbal abuse, undiagnosed personality disorders, and women who had little personal accountability. Many of the orders, and I know/knew a lot of women in religious life, have no superiors and the women do what they want. Psychologically, when you have no responsibility,or accountability, you do not grow, you do not deepen or develop. The reality is the women are part of the established Catholic church, and need to discern whether they want to remain or not. Many sisters do not have the life skills to make it outside in real life. I know many of the sisters I lived with could not financially live the same lifestyle they do as sisters(definitely upper class) on the salaries they make (for the ones who actually work). Interestingly, in the group in which I belonged, they treated some of the newer members the same way they have been treated by the Magisterium. Look out if you challenged one of the sisters in her sixties who went through Vatican II--she knows best; she is the spiritual giant. No wonder few women are entering those orders. Again, many of the older sisters were wonderful, and they have lived lives of fidelity and service. More of my peers not as much. There was one women who went through formation with me who watched 3 to 5 netflix movies each night. What's going on there? The orders bursting at the seams with younger women are the more traditional orders, and they are more appealing to the Vatican and younger generation than the older, apostolic orders whose lives are not differentiated. I live a more contemplative, responsible life of simplicity and accountability than I ever did with the sisters! Many of the sisters are not simple, they are just spoiled. While I root myself in Catholic ritual, my spirituality is much more broad and integrative than what Catholicism teaches, and I had to leave the order for my own integrity.
You seem very bitter to me.
You seem very bitter to me.
No my dear, It's all about
No my dear, It's all about the "Land O'Lakes Statemnet" and Pope Leo's Apostolic Letter, 1899. Finally, those Catholics who remained with the Magisterium for all these years are finally getting their Catholic Church back! The Catholic Modernists have pushed their agenda for their reforms! The Catholic Modernists never kept the Truths of the Faith! You are experiencing what is called "The rebirth of the Catholic Church" a "New Springtime of the Chuch" as Our Great Pope John Paul II coined the phrase. Suck it up buttercup!
Sounds like a "witch hunt" to
Sounds like a "witch hunt" to me. The Vatican sure knows how to spoil the Good News!
I don't think it's helpful,
I don't think it's helpful, to call nuns witches.
The nuns are NOT witches.
The nuns are NOT witches. However, the Vatican is reacting as if they are.
And they may find 'em, too.
And they may find 'em, too.
I guess this means that you
I guess this means that you are the problem. The those who make witch hunts effective.
The Good News of ...?? A)
The Good News of ...??
A) Yoga
B) Zen
C) New Age
D) Paganism
Good News of Jesus Christ who
Good News of Jesus Christ who came to tell us GOD LOVES US ALL and the GREATEST LAW OF ALL IS LOVE!- greater than all of the other laws that condemn anyone who isn't exactly how--someone else wants them to be.
Yeah, about that
Yeah, about that commandment...
He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 1:4-6)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
You cannot separate love of God from obedience to God!
Jeff Piyan - then go and sell
Jeff Piyan - then go and sell all that you own and give it to the poor and follow Him.
And the commandment is this:
And the commandment is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.
You cannot separate love of God from love of neighbor.
No Sr., he came to to save us
No Sr., he came to to save us only through faith in Jesus Christ sacrifice on the Cross for our sins. Your faith must be rooted in the Cross of Jesus Christ before you can know love.
Right on the money - women
Right on the money - women religious are into activism not evangelism. Save the earth --- never Save Souls. Bonne chance, Bishop Blair!
I get the feeling that Rome
I get the feeling that Rome is going to nail Christ to the cross all over again.
For some reason the phrase
For some reason the phrase "Cutting off the head ..." comes to mind.
It's hard to deal with an investigation where it looks like the decision has already been made.
Not necessarily... There are
Not necessarily...
There are a bunch of women's communities that have nothing to fear and no reason to be bitter or suspicious of the Vatican investigation.
Yes but they don't belong to
Yes but they don't belong to the LCWR, the communities that have nothing to fear belong to the CMSWR.
I'm not sure 'having nothing
I'm not sure 'having nothing to fear' is to anyone's credit? Priests who were pedophiles had nothing to fear for a very long time...
It's a witch hunt, pure and
It's a witch hunt, pure and simple.
In the true sense of the
In the true sense of the term. About time.
Ah yes, to have women think
Ah yes, to have women think and commit and act--these have always been the witches that get burned at the stake. Something to be proud of, I guess, if you really think you should be out looking and a-burnin'...doesn't sound like what Jesus would do though...........
Remember when the Taliban
Remember when the Taliban were destroying Buddhist shrines in Afghanistan? They probably had an "objective reason" --sort of like some kind of rationalized "assessment."
While I would like to grant the best of intentions to the Vatican on this "assessment," the experience of slash-and-burn dismantlings of Vatican II-focused programs in our Midwest diocese has left many of the most faithful Catholics with a sense that a very evil thing has occurred. The use of the word "assessment" turned out to be a smokescreen and a ruse in our case.
I pray that the same modus operandi is not what's happening in this LCWR case--but the personalities running this thing from the top seem to be the personality types that ran it here.
In our case they were neurotic priests who were black-and-white thinkers, women-should-be-submissive Catholic fundamentalists, Regnum Christi admirers. One was mild-mannered but swooned from the attention and responsibility given him by the powerful Bishop, and he did the most damage.
This personality type is definitely intent on putting thinking, self-defining, Jesus-following, discerning, world-embracing, God-loving women back in their place. Perhaps these most dedicated women are also the most threatening.
Let's pray for a miracle, with Mary of Magdala, first witness to the Resurrection, as our matron saint.
This personality type is
This personality type is definitely intent on putting thinking, self-defining, Jesus-following, discerning, world-embracing, God-loving women back in their place.
AMEN! if by "back in their place" you mean one of exhaltation, honour and respect as teachers, witnesses, paradigms and inheritors of the traditions and gospel handed down from Jesus. This is indeed the place of women in our church, as it has always been. But if you are championing some wayward new-age clap-trap equating women to "priestesses" as in the other sects, you are severely misguided. Women have an equal responsibility in our church to maintain and uphold the teachings, doctrines and traditions of our church in any and all capacity available to them. If ANY religious (male or female) strays outside the doctrine of Our church, then the church has a duty to correct them, as it is clearly written in the gospels.
Amen! I do hope a thourough
Amen! I do hope a thourough investigation is done and not to "slash and burn" as someone said. My cousin entered an order of Benedictines in the last two years. She was so happy. Then she just up and left after 15 months. I never could get her to tell me what happened, then she was able to finally tells us that she was apalled at the fact that two of the nuns had a homosexual relation and were living together and being paid by the order to have their own apartment together so they could have privacy. This was in order to allow them to be sexual. Sounds like there is definitely some problems here. God grant wisdom and courage to Cardinal Levada
Send Levada to the priest's
Send Levada to the priest's houses and check their computers for pornography of children while you are at it!! BTW Levada was accused of sexual molestation but because the woman was now "mentally ill" he was not prosecuted. Wonder why she is mentally ill now after being sexually abused by Levada. And Levada has friends who are pedophile priests and they are living like Kings at the expense of the Church. Investigate the pervert priests and those who condone their behavior like Levada.
Amazing how all you right wing conservative fundamentalist witch hunt nuts all come out of the woodwork to pick on women religious but we never heard a peep from any of you when the sexual abuse of children by priests was exposed. Not a peep from you hypocrites!
No, that was Roger Cardinal
No, that was Roger Cardinal Mahony, Lavada's benefactor.
As the priestly molestation cases were beginning to be reported in 2002, in what became a year-long media orgasm, the LA chancery office quickly trotted out this mentally ill woman who accused Roger Cardinal Mahony of molesting her when he was merely an auxiliary bishop in Fresno. The LA Times duly reported it and dropped it when it was shown to be baseless. The LA chancery office just as quickly removed her offstage, the woman having served her unconscious purpose of being Mahony's beard.
Levada is one of Mahony's creatures. The aging hippies calling themselves nuns, fearful of being returned to the actual work of saving souls instead of saving the environment, the whales, working for abortion "rights" and the "liberation" of women, have nothing to fear except old age and the end of the experiment in error that has so diminished the Church.
"Après moi, le deluge" as Louis XV told his mistress, Lady Pompadour. And, pray God, the convents will be washed clean afterward.
Interesting that you would
Interesting that you would use the term "self-defining" and "world-embracing" for women religious, who according to their vocation are called to surrender their will and to turn away from the world for the greater good of Christ and His Church (acoording to Theresa of Avila, Claire of Assisi, et al).
Assertion of one's will is the hallmark of Satanic influence, and it occurs everywhere, on all sides of an issue. Be watchful and alert! Satan is like a ravenous lion, prowling the world and seeking out souls to devour.
"Interesting that you would
"Interesting that you would use the term "self-defining" and "world-embracing" for women religious, who according to their vocation are called to surrender their will and to turn away from the world for the greater good of Christ and His Church (acoording to Theresa of Avila, Claire of Assisi, et al"
Ah hah, another EWTN watcher, yes it is very easy to preach to the Sisters that they are to 'surrender" their wills. But so are Bishops---who were called by Jesus (Jesus did not command women to do this), to wash the feet of the people that they serve. They are not to lord power over the people. But that is exactly what our Bishops today (and in the past) have done. It was/and is the Sisters, living on the edge of society, who are to provide the prophetic voice for the Church. The Sisters were NEVER supposed to be the slaves---drudging in schools, hospitals,etc. as they were used in America---called in by Bishops as cheap labor. A dollar a day---was what the Sisters were receiving as pay in the 1950's.
Go ahead and talk about Satan----St. Theresa, St. Clare knew who to approach in discussing the evils in the Church----the Bishops! St. Clare stuggled for years to be allowed to write her own rule for the Poor Ladies---rather than the Bishops---who had no clue what the life was even about.
And today, the Bishops still don't have a clue---they still want slaves---and they practice injustice, and violate the commands of Jesus.
Thanks for making the case
Thanks for making the case that this investigation is needed. These nuns are supposed to take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Obedience is to the Church of Christ not their new age baloney.
"It was/and is the Sisters, living on the edge of society, who are to provide the prophetic voice for the Church". Say what? The Pope and the bishops in communion with him are the voice of the Church not a bunch of feminist nuns who have lost their idea of Church.
Ah yes, we do get to the
Ah yes, we do get to the issue. Your anger at women who think.
I would hate to see you as
I would hate to see you as the Grand Inquisitor to such as St. Teresa of Avila or St. Catherine of Siena. The clergy of those times were not happy to be on the other end of some of their thoughts.
what about the "slashing and
what about the "slashing and burning" of the faith of an entire generation by these women? The complete destruction of our churches? They grieve over the loss of their "programs" but not over the loss of belief in the Cross of Christ.
Just another example of the
Just another example of the poor leadership in the present church. The old guys just keep trying to fight the spirit but me thinks they know she will win in the end
I agree, "and it seems that
I agree, "and it seems that the church leaders are ever on the wrong side of great moral questions and do not learn history's lesson that a prejudice once publicly exposed and challenged by a new consciousness is doomed to die."
Bsp JS
I believe that since Vatican
I believe that since Vatican Council 2 women religious, for the most part, have served our church as needed in a brave, compassionate and loving manner. I think they remain faithful to the documents of that council but Rome has gradually tried to destro the "spirit" which was unleashed at that time. Having been a religious for many years, I know first hand that the SPIRIT became more fully alive after the council and now, as a non-religious" I see the church "handcuffing" good priests and nuns and brothers who are reaching out to God's people as I believe Jesus would. They are the living embodiment of Jesus on earth, not those in Rome who continually choose "law" over "spirit". I could go on and on.
SSlater
Your "spirit" of Vatican II
Your "spirit" of Vatican II is merely a code word for "interpretation", most often wayward. There is a reason things are written down: to limmit the damage that such "spirit" can do. And unfortunatly too much abuse and indeed sacrilege has been done in the name of this "spirit" of Vatican II, which is why this free-for-all must finally be examined.
There is a very good reason why there are so many letters written by the apostles to the early church.
Let me guess - you're a
Let me guess - you're a member of Regnum Christi. What in the world happen to you people?
The WITCH HUNT begins! Just
The WITCH HUNT begins! Just as I predicted, the old boy's power network in Rome is demonstrating just how desperate they are as they see their credibility in ruins. Sad and pathetic. Another last gasp for power which they no longer have. Shameful that in a starving world, they choose to spend the Church's treasure and resources on such a tactic from another century. I offer the LCWR my full support. God and the good people of God are on their side in this episode of Church history. These women, who are truly great leaders, will prevail. The Vatican old boys will live to regret this immoral behavior.
This pope and these bishops
This pope and these bishops are clearly scared to death of women. They know that they can they continue the masculinist, narrow, destructive policies toward women only with the consent of the oppressed. Clearly, a 'Yes, Massa" would be sweet to pope's sensitive ears and bring joy to his minions.
Grow up, boys...
The women religious of the US
The women religious of the US are among the most vibrant, humble, compassionate and gospel-oriented people of God; they work for peace and justice, the poor, the sick, those who our culture throws away. I cannot understand why the Vatican would feel that they need to investigate them on "doctrinal" matters unless they are on a witch hunt--or unless they feel they have to put these women, and all women, in their place in the church, which is certainly subservient to the male clerical structures. May God be with these women as they navigate the tricky shoals of a Vatican investigation...
Marion: Give me a break. The
Marion:
Give me a break. The sisters of today are the reasons for this tension within the church. It was only a matter of time before the men and women they ostrisized from their bible studies, their confirmation classes, their RCIA programs, their retreats would become our future pastoral leaders, priests, theologians, teachers and bishops. And now, they have reaped what they have sown.
Yes, if the good sisters just
Yes, if the good sisters just knew their place....to be the unquestioning handmaidens of the hierarchy. They have caused so much trouble....now the priest who molested children didn't.....the seminaries that nurtured them didn't.....the Bishops who covered up didn't.....it was just those silly old nuns.
If they just knew their place....sort of like black folks before MLK wised them up.
Yes, if the good sisters just
Yes, if the good sisters just knew their place....to be the unquestioning handmaidens of the hierarchy. They have caused so much trouble....now the priest who molested children didn't.....the seminaries that nurtured them didn't.....the Bishops who covered up didn't.....it was just those silly old nuns.
If they just knew their place....sort of like black folks before MLK wised them up.
You have no idea what you are
You have no idea what you are talking about Mara. Shame on you. If it were not for women religious the Catholic Church would probably have folded a lont time ago. No matter what the Vatican does, it cannot control what women think, fell, and say. We will continue to live the gospel. You might want to read that gospel Mara.
Ostrisized? Why do you feel
Ostrisized? Why do you feel that you and those who share your views (I'm not certain what your views are so please don't be offended) were ostrisized from bible studies, confirmation classes and RCIA programs? Are you possibly referring to the Legionnaries and the fact that their activities in certain dioceses have been curtailed by some of the Bishops?
Mara, This is rather strange
Mara, This is rather strange content you've offered on here. Are you suggesting the younger priests etc. were thrown out of Bible studies, confirmation classes etc.? I would like to know your evidence. It is a real accusation you've made.
Beautifully expressed! I
Beautifully expressed! I have been educated by/affiliated with sisters of several orders since early childhood. Today's nuns are in the vanguard of social change and are doing God's work; often unseen, usually undervalued yet consistantly faithful and, most importantly, joyful!!!!
This is another exercise in
This is another exercise in silliness. It is about power, plain and simple. It becomes more and more difficult to take the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, both at home and abroad, seriously. What are we to do? Laugh at them perhaps. They won't notice, but we'll feel better.
Yes, Virginia, there is
Yes, Virginia, there is patriarchy...alive and well in Rome. Since Pope John Paul II appointed so many of his clones to bishoprics throughout the world, I see little hope for reform from collegiality. Oh yes, collegiality...so strongly emphasized by Vatican II and systematically ignored since. Yet, the Holy Spirit is among us. Let's hope in spite of it all.
Indeed, this whole initiative
Indeed, this whole initiative is laughable. "Assess" the "quality of life" of the religious?! Now, just who are the foolish virgins here?
Remember that Joseph
Remember that Joseph Ratzinger was The Grand Inquisitor before he was the Pope.
And a key writer of the
And a key writer of the documents of Vatican II. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Well THANK GOD, that's
Well THANK GOD, that's awesome and GREAT NEWS! Because he'll obviously have experience then at shutting some of you up. The Holy Spirit really knows what He's doing. God is good.
Sit back and watch as the Church finally - and I emphasize FINALLY - cleans herself up......just watch what happens - this should get real good and for those of us watching as you have tried to destroy her, there will be a sense of satisfaction at watching the Mystical Body of Christ relieved of the nightmare of dissidence and heresy that most surely pains it.
What are you even talking
What are you even talking about?
He hasn't been successful at
He hasn't been successful at shutting up lay people yet, since there isn't a way to actually do that. :-)
I think you need to re-read (read?) the Scriptures, which disallows the separation of the wheat from the chaff by any but [Him]self. You know neither which you will be considered nor do you have any authority to decide.
There really isn't much left
There really isn't much left to say, is there? So, what is the long term strategy in dealing with the retrenchment and repression? Sorry to say, Episcopalianism isn't much of an alternative for me. There is maybe a need for silence and thought, consultation, more thought, and then, what? That is what silence is for. Women religious are " big, big girls" now, and they will take care of themselves. It those they care for that might concern us most. And that remarkable reality, the American Catholic Church, she needs our real concern as she shrinks and collapses on herself.
There is no such entity as
There is no such entity as "the American Catholic Church." If there is such a construct in your mind, it needs to collapse, as it is patently false.
There is only the Roman Catholic Church, an Apostolic, hierarchical Church, as Christ intended.
Dominus vobiscum,
You need to study early
You need to study early Christianity and the life of Jesus. Jesus was a Jew arguing with other Jews. Apostolic succession and the hierarchy are all man-made constructs stemming from the adoption of the Greco-Roman household codes.
Deacons, priests/presbyters,
Deacons, priests/presbyters, bishops/overseers/elders are found in the New Testament. Apostolic Succession is found in Acts 1.
You need only watch EWTN to
You need only watch EWTN to understand why. The Catholic Church is America is portrayed as joyless, dictatorial, calamity-oriented. The arch-conservative speakers and guests make our faith look like a real bummer. I attended a confirmation a short time ago, and the ceremony was beautiful, happy, inspiring. The priest's sermon was touching, as his was at Christmas. There are still good priests and good services in the American Church, but the ultra-conservatives who insist that no one think, only believe blindly and never question have just about put the last nail in the coffin of American Christianity. Organisms and organizations either evolve and change or they die. Nothing stays exactly the same when the world is changing. Those who insist on ignoring that fact of life are killing my beautiful church.
It's not "your" Church. It's
It's not "your" Church. It's Christ's.
OK, agreed, it is Christ's
OK, agreed, it is Christ's church. Christ's church who's leaders want to turned it into a joyless place that demands blind capitulation to their limited egos and authority. Very sad.
Christ is the leader of the
Christ is the leader of the Church. He is prophet, priest, and KING. Kings aren't elected and don't depend on votes. You either obey your King or you face the consequences. As for me, I would rather blindly capitulate to God than knowingly submit to anyone else. How about you?
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