Good news roundup

Two big news items from Rome this week.  The first being that the SSPX has agreed to a crucial step in the reconciliation process with Rome.  Although it would seem there is still some things to be worked out, it would seem that the normalization of the SSPX is a real possibility(dare I say probable..).  Rorate has great coverage over there.  To quote Padre; "The Pope of Christian Unity."

In addition, the USCCB announced a reform of the Leadership Council of Women Religious.  

The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has called for reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and named Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle as its Archbishop Delegate for the initiative.Bishop Leonard Blair and Bishop Thomas John Paprocki also were also named to assist in this effort.

The CDF outlined the call in a “Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious” (HERE), released April 18. The document outlines findings of the 2008 CDF-initiated doctrinal assessment of LCWR, conducted by Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio, which included his findings and an LCWR response submitted at the end of 2009, as well as a subsequent report from Bishop Blair in 2010.

A statement by Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is also available at HERE.

The previous president of the LCWR was one Marlene Weisenbeck, FSPA of La Crosse who was rewarded by President Obama with a prestigious position in his administration for assistance in thwarting the USCCB efforts to ensure no taxpayer funded abortions.  One thing Father Z noted was this:

CDF said Pope Benedict XVI approved CDF’s taking action January 14, 2011, [A YEAR AGO?]

It would seem someone was dragging their feet along the way.  The usual suspects are up in arms.  Fr. Z made rabbit!  A good day for Christianity(minus the 3,000 abortions in the US yesterday). 

Just a taste of what is in here.

Radical Feminism.
The Cardinal noted a prevalence of certain radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith in some of the programs and presentations sponsored by the LCWR, including theological interpretations that risk distorting faith in Jesus and his loving Father who sent his Son for the salvation of the world. Moreover, some commentaries on “patriarchy” distort the way in which Jesus has structured sacramental life in the Church; others even undermine the revealed doctrines of the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and the inspiration of Sacred Scripture.

Addresses at the LCWR Assemblies.
Addresses given during LCWR annual Assemblies manifest problematic statements and serious theological, even doctrinal errors. The Cardinal offered as an example specific passages of Sr. Laurie Brink’s address about some Religious “moving beyond the Church” or even beyond Jesus. This is a challenge not only to core Catholic beliefs; such a rejection of faith is also a serious source of scandal and is incompatible with religious life. Such unacceptable positions routinely go unchallenged by the LCWR, which should provide resources for member Congregations to foster an ecclesial vision of religious life, thus helping to correct an erroneous vision of the Catholic faith as an important exercise of charity. Some might see in Sr. Brink’s analysis a phenomenological snapshot of religious life today. But Pastors of the Church should also see in it a cry for help.

Policies of Corporate Dissent.
The Cardinal spoke of this issue in reference to letters the CDF received from “Leadership Teams” of various Congregations, among them LCWR Officers, protesting the Holy See’s actions regarding the question of women’s ordination and of a correct pastoral approach to ministry to homosexual persons, e.g. letters about New Ways Ministry’s conferences. The terms of the letters suggest that these sisters collectively take a position not in agreement with the Church’s teaching on human sexuality. It is a serious matter when these Leadership Teams are not providing effective leadership and example to their communities, but place themselves outside the Church’s teaching.

It reminds me of when I was a prayer partner at the FSPA in town and they had several prayer books that I used, but all of the prayers were feminized, some more so and some less apparent.  Praying a feminized Magnificat is awkward. 

If you didn't see the call to arms by Peoria, IL's Bp. Jenky, check it out. 

“We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead [must] be Catholics by conviction. In our own families, in our parishes, where we live and where we work--like that very first apostolic generation--we must be bold witnesses to the Lordship of Jesus Christ,” he preached. “We must be a fearless army of Catholic men, ready to give everything we have for the Lord, who gave everything for our salvation.”

In other news, I attended a Confirmation last night at my home parish.  It was a Guitar Mass.  I felt compelled to walk out... is that wrong?  Do I just need to offer it up?  I didn't walk out.  I figured if Jesus has to listen, I guess I should as well.  Bishop Quinn was there, but I didn't get a chance to talk to him and thank him for the laundry list of good he has been doing for the Church. 

There is a strange man living in my basement.  My children named him Diemisch.   Maybe he's Dutch, I'm not really sure. 

Did you see LarryD's post on Patheos.  I tend to agree with him I think, I'm not sure.  What I do know is that his older Star Trek post on the matter has to be in the top 10 all time posts in the Catholic blogosphere.  It is epic.