A few suggestions for the New Year

May I offer a few more?

--Agree that for the entirety of 2009, no representative of the Church will so much as MENTION homosexuality. Leave it entirely alone,unless there's something new to say, or if required in judicial procedures. The clergy will spend the extra time actually learning about the (im?)probable association between homosexuality and pedophilia ( I thought that Benedict, whose enormous intelligence and omnivorous quest for expertise, would know that, per capita, pedophiles are found primarily among married males with children, who have normal relationships with adult women, and no interaction with older men); about the differing pathologies involved in pre-pubertal versus adolescent pedophilic propensities. As for the pulpit, how about rigid tirades about contraception, divorce and remarriage - no more cynical "annulment workshops" in the gymnasium - or helping and working with the poor and disabled ? Surely there's enough in the gospels ( wherein Jesus says absolutely NOTHING about sex or romantic love) to fire us up.

--Resolve that NO ONE will be ordained ( for the next 1 - 3 years, if need be ) until ALL ordinands have had more intensive psychological evaluations, and thorough examination of their pasts, including interviews with anyone who ever had significant interaction with them, and mandatory polygrams for all. Police the gay bars.

--Require that currently functioning ordained homosexual deacons and priests make their orientation public, under pain of de facto excommunication, so that, with their alleged twice-normal likelihood of child molesting, they may be embarrassed and supervised, or dismissed from ministry entirely.

--Convince those angry seminarians found chaste,at great effort, but so intrinsically disordered as to preclude ordination ipso facto, and those bitter "intrinsics" dismissed after ordination, though faithful to their vows, that they must REVEAL the identities and activities of still closeted seminarians, ordained ministers, and especially major prelates, since, under pain of grave sin, it is their moral obligation to disclose those names and events.

--Encourage trust among these groups, so that false or mistaken allegations, coercion, blackmail, and extortion would be inconceivable, giving any accusations so much more credibility once made.

I applaud A Few Suggestions for the New Year. In particular, I endorse your idea that those who failed to protect children facing abuse from priests and other representatives of the church should resign.These,of course, are mainly bishops.Let me add that once the resignations are accepted,the new bishops should be elected by the clergy and laity of each diocese according to traditional Catholic practice for over a thousand years.
In addition, married people of both sexes should be admitted to the priesthood.
Finally,a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the staff of NCR.God bless you.

Why is it that I always feel so soiled when I read Editorials on this website lately. I hope that management doesn't go the route of some larger newspapers. By this I mean, choosing controversy and radicality in order to establish a "nitch". Such a move would betray the Catholic founders. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

This list of resolutions is too long. Also, each resolution offered is, itself, too long. Why not pick, say, three brief resolutions that are both measurable and attainable in a 12-month period? Here's an example:

* Resolved, that those favoring a "reformed Catholicism" each identify and join a "reformed" Christianity to their liking in 2009.

Comment: For example, women who feel called to something like a ministerial priesthood could become ELCA pastors or Episcopal priests.

* That all Catholic entities - diocese, parishes, social service ministries, hospitals, schools, schools & colleges, religious orders, etc. - commit themselves to regular, public audits by independent public accounts.

Comment: Results and the underlying books open to public inspection each year divisible by 3.

* That anyone with something "original" to say on matters of sexual orientation, morals, ethics, especially birth control, abortion and sexual orientation, resolve to a thorough study of recent scientific literature, say no more than 20 years old, for the next 3 years, during which time NO ONE may write or speak on this topic.

Comment: Those earning advanced degrees in the biomedical sciences will receive extra credit.

Next year at this time let's see how we did. Repeat annually for a decade. Then pick ONE new topic to add to this list, and drop the one best achieved.

Can I add in addition that the term "transparency" in all sexual abuse matters actually include the curretn change in policy of silencing of Diocesan Review Boards from meeting with victims, the actual calling of police in sexual abuse matters by ALL members of church leadership,and that Ministerial Directors stop using priests that continue to excuse their abusive behaviors by blaming those terrible "consensual victims."

And for all of us, may Bishops turn closer to their advocate and teacher, Jesus Christ and be less dependent on Roman Canon.

Rejoice. Rejoice.

Peace to all.

For the most part, typical liberal laundry list. By the way, if women were "ordained". it would cause a great schism and destroy the Chuch. I suspect many of the NCR crowd might acutally have this a goal, that being, the destruction of the Church. If you want to protest, be a Protestant!

"The media, particularly the Catholic press, do their best to engage the controversies of the day with good reporting, solid analysis, thoughtful commentary and an occasional sense of humor."

Coming from this rag, the irony here is just diabolical. Pathetic.

Well spoken! A very political message; The world is changing and we can change with it, Or change it ourself'. Thank you for reminding us how we changed things in the last election.
And yes, the US is going through a difficult time, but nothing compared to what some other countries around the world are feeling.
Remember the old Greek mythology, the Greek considered hope to be as dangerous as all the world's evils.
But without hope to accompany all their troubles, humanity was filled with despair. Pandora let out hope to come out of her box as well, as hope was far more potent than any of the major evils.
Hope can be as passive as a wish or as active as in a plan or idea.
after All, one can always hope.

Thank you for your list, NCR. I second everyone of the items.
What a neat way for me to start the year!
Godde bless all in 2009.
May the Spirit of Christ guide us in our thoughts and actions.

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