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.
, with the newly elected leadership team.
