Some recent news highlights...
* The Diocese of Spokane may be forced to sell churches to pay abuse victims if local parishes cannot raise enough funds to avoid foreclosure. The diocese previously declared bankruptcy and sold various properties, including the chancery and bishop's residence
* Catholics in Scotland are reportedly planning to welcome the Holy Father with a "grand Scottish spectacle" and will greet the Pope with their "world-renowned warm Scottish welcome." Planned festivities include a parade for St. Ninian's Day and musical entertainment
* The Diocese of Allentown has started the defrocking process against the priest who allegedly engaged in intimate relations with a teenaged girl. Reports indicate that the intimate acts were secretly videotaped by her parents who are suing the diocese
* Vandals have ransacked a parish in Modesto (CA), causing damage to 200 year-old statues and destroying stained glass windows. The pipe organ was also broken and furniture was left "overturned and broken." The perpetrators reportedly left a "trail of blood" throughout the church
* Despite various reports to the contrary, a female was not 'ordained' a priest in Arizona as it is impossible to ordain a woman (click here for more information). The pseudo-'ordination' ceremony was reportedly conducted - not by a Catholic bishop - but by a dissenting 'twice divorced prelate' who supports fornication, contraception, and homosexuality and operates out of a "cramped strip mall"
* Cardinal Bagnasco recently lamented Italy's population decline, calling Italian society "seriously mutilated and unable to function." The country now has a negative population growth rate of -0.047%
* The President of the State of Israel is scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict at Castelgandolfo later this week. Both parties reportedly seek "sincere dialogue"
* Where's that in the missal? To mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Archbishop of New Orleans held a "symbolic jazz funeral" to "bury Katrina"
* A Georgia priest has been cleared of abuse charges after two days of hearings. The judge dismissed the charges and the ruling "prevents the priest from being prosecuted on the same charges in the future"
* Heartwarming: The apparently lifeless body of a premature baby declared dead was given to his Australian parents to say goodbye. After two hours with the grieving parents, the infant 'miraculously returned to life.' The child's mother cuddled, hugged, touched, and spoke to infant, and the events have served to "highlight the importance of skin-on-skin care for sick babies" [Commentary: Not only was the earthly life of this baby spared, but the child will hopefully now have the chance to receive baptism. For a refresher on the necessity of infant baptism, try here (link goes to relevant quotations on the 'Other Thoughts Regarding Abortion' page)]
* Two unbecoming ways to raise money...
1-Some American nuns are reportedly hosting a "Beach Surf Invitational" in New Jersey as a fundraiser for their mother house. One of the elderly nuns herself "rides the waves" and was pictured on a surfboard in the New York Post. No word was found regarding modest dress requirements for either attendees or participants.
2-Two bishops plan to participate in the "Rock 'n' Roll* Denver Marathon" in October. One of the bishops - "a longtime marathon runner" - hopes to raise funds for a cathedral, while the other reportedly hopes to "increase prayers for and awareness of vocations to the priesthood and religious life." Initial coverage of the event included a photo of one of the shorts-clad bishops.
[* "a musical genre which has been described by the Pope as the work of the Devil"]
Commentary: Are we not looong overdue for reminders such as...?
"Let them, however, have it always present to their minds that the priest even in the midst of his people must preserve intact his august character as a minister of God, being as he is placed at the head of his brethren. Any manner whatever, in which he employs himself among the people, to the loss of the sacerdotal dignity, or with danger to the ecclesiastical duties and discipline, can only be warmly reproved." (Pope Leo XIII, "Fin Dal Principio", 1902 A.D.)
"Now, however, as you know, nothing instructs others more in piety and the service of God than the lives and example of those who have dedicated themselves to the divine ministry. Therefore labor so that all who are called to the vineyard of the Lord, mindful of their proper vocation and office, abstain entirely from things forbidden to clerics and from things that are not proper for them. Then they may be an example for the faithful in word, in their dealings with others, in love, in faith, and in chastity. They must wear a clerical habit appropriate to their order and dignity, and they must perform their ministry piously and reverently. Further they must administer to the faithful, with fitting piety and reverence, the holy sacrament of the Eucharist. With it all true justice begins; or if already begun, is increased; or if already lost, is recovered. They should be devoted to prayer and study, especially sacred studies, and under your guidance let them zealously serve the salvation of souls." (Bl. Pope Pius IX, "Nemo Certe Ignorat", 1852 A.D.)
"And forasmuch as, though the habit does not make the monk, it is nevertheless needful that clerics always wear a dress suitable to their proper order, that by the decency of their outward apparel they may show forth the inward correctness of their morals; but to such a pitch, in these days, have the contempt of religion and the rashness of some grown, as that, making but little account of their own dignity, and of the clerical honor, they even wear in public the dress of laymen - setting their feet in different paths, one of God, the other of the flesh; - for this cause, all ecclesiastical persons, howsoever exempted, who are either in sacred orders or in possession of any manner of dignities, personates, or other offices, or benefices ecclesiastical; if, after having been admonished by their own bishop, even by a public edict, they shall not wear a becoming clerical dress, suitable to their order and dignity, and in conformity with the ordinance and mandate of the said bishop, they may, and ought to be, compelled thereunto, by suspension from their orders, office, benefice, and from the fruits, revenues, and proceeds of the said benefices; and also, if, after having been once rebuked, they offend again herein, (they are to be coerced) even by deprivation of the said offices and benefices; pursuant to the constitution of Clement V published in the Council of Vienne, and beginning Quoniam, which is hereby renewed and enlarged." (Council of Trent)
"There is nothing that continually instructs others unto piety, and the service of God, more than the life and example of those who have dedicated themselves to the divine ministry. For as they are seen to be raised to a higher position, above the things of this world, others fix their eyes upon them as upon a mirror, and derive from them what they are to imitate. Wherefore clerics called to have the Lord for their portion, ought by all means so to regulate their whole life and conversation, as that in their dress, comportment, gait, discourse, and all things else, nothing appear but what is grave, regulated, and replete with religiousness; avoiding even slight faults, which in them would be most grievous; that so their actions may impress all with veneration. Whereas, therefore, the more useful and decorous these things are for the Church of God, the more carefully also are they to be attended to; the holy Synod ordains, that those things which have been heretofore copiously and wholesomely enacted by sovereign pontiffs and sacred councils - relative to the life, propriety of conduct, dress, and learning of clerics, and also touching the luxuriousness, feastings, dances, gambling, sports, and all sorts of crime whatever, as also the secular employments, to be by them shunned - the same shall be henceforth observed, under the same penalties, or greater, to be imposed at the discretion of the Ordinary; nor shall any appeal suspend the execution hereof, as relating to the correction of manners. But if anything of the above shall be found to have fallen into desuetude, they shall make it their care that it be brought again into use as soon as possible, and be accurately observed by all; any customs to the contrary notwithstanding; lest they themselves may have, God being the avenger, to pay the penalty deserved by their neglect of the correction of those subject to them." (Council of Trent)
[8/31]
Posts
