Considering recent events, it seems opportune for Catholics to refresh their memories on facts regarding priestly celibacy, apparitions, and homosexual 'marriage'...
* Priestly celibacy: In a recent clarification, a Vatican spokesman has denied that the hold up in publishing the Apostolic Constitution regarding Anglicans entering the Catholic Church concerns the issue of celibacy. The clarification says that the delay in publishing the document is "purely technical in the sense of ensuring consistency in canonical language and references" and anticipates the document will be completed "by the end of the first week of November." The clarification reaffirmed earlier statements that ordination of Anglicans who are married will be a special - but not unprecedented - exception to the rule of celibacy and that this would occur on a case by case basis. According to the clarification, the ordination of seminarians who had converted from Anglicanism is "purely speculative." In all cases, married Anglicans who receive a special exception to the rule of celibacy and are ordained as priests would be prohibited from serving as bishops. Some faithful Catholics fear the arrangement may threaten the rule of priestly celibacy, but Vatican statements have affirmed that celibacy will be the norm in the Church even for converted Anglicans. It is important for today's Catholics to keep in mind the very important & weighty reasons for priestly celibacy, reasons which are summed up here in the article 'Why Priestly Celibacy?' (click above link to view)
* Marian Apparitions: Once again alleged visions are causing controversy in the Church. The most recent example is occurring in Knock where a "Dublin-based clairvoyant" has been predicting 'repeat apparitions' of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the historic shrine. The Archbishop has condemned the alleged apparitions and warned his flock about them, but thousands of people have disobeyed him. Disobedience is also rampant in other alleged apparition sites (e.g. Medjugorje). Therefore, it seems a fitting time to remind Catholics of some basic facts such as: (1) Most alleged apparitions are false, (2) Alleged apparitions may be more likely to be false than true, (3) Misplaced belief in false apparitions may be dangerous, (4) Apparitions may not add to the deposit of the faith, which was completed with the apostles, (5) Information from apparitions is not required for salvation, (6) Persons should not propagate or promote unapproved apparitions (including "reading, publishing, possessing, translating, and distributing literature which treat of unapproved apparitions"), (7) Unexplained "phenomena" do not guarantee authenticity of an apparition, and (8) Persons should not center their faith around an apparition. For additional reminders, please click here.
* Homosexual 'marriage': Sadly, a group of Catholics in Maine is working against the Church in an effort to keep 'legalized' homosexual 'marriage' in the state. Some of their comments suggest that these poorly formed Catholics feel it's somehow "charitable" to offend God if it makes a group of sinners happy. During this confused age, it is especially important that Catholics know how to counteract such misguided reasoning with facts such as those in the earlier news brief entitled "The End of Freedom in America?" (click here to view)
"[L]et all be warned and strengthened with special care against wrong principles and false teaching" (Pope Leo XIII, "Rerum Novarum", 1891 A.D.)
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