Collateral damage
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
By Bryan Cones
Comments (7)
The news after the rehabilitation of the Lefebrvites keeps getting worse: The chief rabbinate of Israel has broken off ties with the Vatican, despite Pope Benedict's protestations that he does not share Bishop Richard Williamson's denial of the Holocaust, according to the Jerusalem Post. Healing this new rift will indeed take time.
The pope is drawing fire from Catholics as well, notably in France, with essayist Matthieu Grimpret writing that the rehabilitation gives "the despicable impression that it's better for Catholics to be anti-Semitic than divorced." Italian historian of the church Alberto Melloni noted that Benedict's action is causing confusion among Catholics, writing, "the faithful, bishops and cardinals are wondering whether (the conclusions of) Vatican II have become optional," according to AFP.
I think Pope Benedict can be fairly criticized on both Catholic-Jewish grounds and on the grounds of preserving the integrity of Vatican II. Whether he intended to or not, he has spawned a new uproar that was utterly unnecessary. The fact that neither the pope nor the Catholic Church actually share Williamson's position is really beside the point.
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Vatican II and NOW
By Anonymous (not verified) on Wednesday, February 4, 2009I was a major part of Vatican II, having taken temporary vows with the Sisters of Providence. I see the same kind of upheaval going on now, but in a negative, not a positive way. Yes, there were a lot of people who weren't happy with the potential change and still aren't. In fact, we've regressed from John XXIII's vision. The present Vatican seems to only want a unity of conservative, pre-Vatican II Catholics. With all of the hypocrisy we have with pedophilia, church law (who deserves to be married by a Catholic priest, which holy days do we need to go to Mass for, if they fall on a weekend they can be part of the Sunday observance, birth control etc.).Do we wonder why our youth are not staying committed to the Church.
Really?
By Hans (really, who would make it up?) (not verified) on Wednesday, February 4, 2009Just how was a sister in Temporary Vows a "a major part of Vatican II"? It would seem that such a sister is not yet even a major part, though a hopeful part perhaps, of her order.
Moreover, IF "[t]he present Vatican seems to only want a unity of conservative, pre-Vatican II Catholics", then why hasn't it cast off the "Spirit of Vatican II" practitioners who have wrought so much damage and confusion within the Church, usually by doing or promoting things contrary to Vatican II. Maybe, just maybe, you're wrong?
Collateral damage entry
By Anonymous (not verified) on Tuesday, February 3, 2009To the editor--I think you need to proof read the first paragraph of the blog again. It's unclear because of the word "no"-- as in "no broken off ties" -- just thought you'd want to know about a typo --
Also, thanks Bryan, for continuing to express your views!
I'm puzzled as to how Pope
By Hans (not verified) on Thursday, January 29, 2009I'm puzzled as to how Pope Benedict could possibly to more harm to "the integrity of Vatican II" or be more likely to "caus[e] confusion among Catholics" than those so-called 'reformers' who followed the 'Spirit of Vatican II' (which had very little to do with Vatican II, actually) have already done. We have had at least forty years of their damage to Vatican II and the concomitant confusion.
Basta!
Let's try it the Pope's way.
As for those who are criticizing the Pope for something he has not done: let them get their facts straight. While these four bishops have been forgiven for their disobedience (and their just excommunications latae sententiae lifted), there is no indication that their suspensions have been lifted, or do they seem likely to be so soon.
Thank God For SSPX!
By Orestes (not verified) on Wednesday, January 28, 2009I am elated that the unjust excommunication of the Society of St. Pius X was lifted. You may consider them schismatic but they have never been heretical. They have been truly faithful to 2000 years of Catholic doctrine, history and teaching. Although you do not agree with their position doesnt mean that no one else does either. I have spoken to hundreds of Catholics over the years that feel that Vatican II went too far to the left and has lead this Church into grave error. Also, Bishop Williamson is not a Holocaust denier. He just believes that the extent of the victims is less than reported. It doesnt change the fact that the Holocaust was a horrific crime. But one does not have to agree with another on every aspect of secular history. He is still a Catholic.
150,000 souls
By Timothy+ (not verified) on Wednesday, January 28, 2009Greetings,
So you are denying 150,000 souls their rehabilitation due by RIGHT of God because of one man’s supposed sin and a reorientation by the Church towards the realization that organic development was in many ways ruptured by VII and that She must now address this fact from reordering the Novus Ordo to openly claiming that many of the ideals in Gaudium et Spes, for instance, are naïve.
Timothy+
If he believes the ideals of
By David (not verified) on Tuesday, February 3, 2009If he believes the ideals of Gaudium et Spes to be naive, I shudder to think what Timothy would say of the ideals of the Gospel.
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