tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post7340679684896451996..comments2023-09-26T00:42:29.508-07:00Comments on Caritas in Veritate: Bishops (and priests) - hear the voice of the laityFather John Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10581732723849634398noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-66386561120501214872010-05-28T06:18:59.963-07:002010-05-28T06:18:59.963-07:00One of the reasons that all in the church should d...One of the reasons that all in the church should do penance, is that child abuse in the Catholic Church is not restricted to the clergy. According to Government statistics, the highest percentage of abuse of minors occurs in the family (one in seven girls, one in twelve boys in Australia). It is just that the media focuses almost exclusively on the crime among the clergy.Fr Ronan Kilgannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206827426728095951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-55798792606969889182010-05-26T11:28:25.893-07:002010-05-26T11:28:25.893-07:00But it`s the Pope who has asked for the reparation...But it`s the Pope who has asked for the reparation and we MUST do it: for Jesus and for the wounded ones.<br /><br />Our bishops` seeming inaction can`t have another bad result: that we don`t pray when the Holy father asks us to and when the need is SO great. <br /><br />Come on chaps! We must pray MORE: for our Bishops. Our Lord won`t ask us wehther we moaned about them, but how much we prayed for them when we knew they needed it.Jessienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-43807322683416403692010-05-25T11:51:55.143-07:002010-05-25T11:51:55.143-07:00That is wonderful to hear about Archbishop Nichols...That is wonderful to hear about Archbishop Nichols. In 'exile' in France I don't get details like this. Thank you Clare. He would be my archbishop were I 'at home', and so I have a special soft spot for him. <br /><br />Anyone any news about our other E & W bishops, and the Irish bishops for that matter?Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00419516065899508757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-78394852979417921122010-05-25T07:02:18.542-07:002010-05-25T07:02:18.542-07:00I am very pleased to hear this. May the Lord bless...I am very pleased to hear this. May the Lord bless him.Father John Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10581732723849634398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-18582244188782385442010-05-25T05:47:25.596-07:002010-05-25T05:47:25.596-07:00It is only fair to point out that Archbishop Nicho...It is only fair to point out that Archbishop Nichols has spent the Holy Hour each Friday in May in the sanctuary of the High Altar at Westminster Cathedral.clare.lusby@btinternet.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-12149238835857926142010-05-24T12:46:42.736-07:002010-05-24T12:46:42.736-07:00Didn't the Irish bishops say they would be doi...Didn't the Irish bishops say they would be doing a joint public act of Penance? What has happened about that?<br /><br />I am as 'Catholic with Attitude' and doing my bit daily, but was very disappointed that the English and Welsh Conference, did not say what THEY were going to do.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00419516065899508757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-47698476623268936952010-05-24T12:20:20.103-07:002010-05-24T12:20:20.103-07:00"It is the filth in the ranks of the clergy, ..."It is the filth in the ranks of the clergy, the impurity within the sanctuary, that is the true threat to the Church."<br /><br /><br />In his book - 'The Priest Is Not His Own', Bishop Fulton Sheen said: <br />“The moral rot of the priesthood starts with a want of lively faith in the Divine presence, and the sanctity of the priesthood starts there too. Every sick call, every word of counsel in the parlour, every catechism lesson taught to children, every official act in the chancery, flows from the altar. All power resides there, and the more `short-cuts' we take from the tabernacle to our other priestly duties, the less spiritual strength we have for them. The pastor's primary concern should be the tabernacle, not the rectory, not the ego, but the Lord, not his comfort, but God's glory. Wall to wall carpeting in a rectory goes poorly with an altar and tabernacle looking like a house on stilts."<br /><br />It is long past the time when our sanctuaries should be restored to their former 'Catholicity' with east facing Mass, centrally placed tabernacles, and altar rails in place. This would be a start to concentrating the minds about why we are in Church for the Sacrifice of the Mass. When I was trained as an altar server was back in the 1950s I was instructed never to turn my back on the tabernacle unless it was unavoidable. And every passing required a genuflection so it became instilled in us young boys that it was the most important place on the sanctuary, and in the church. Nowadays, people - servers, ministers, priests, and uncle Tom Cobley and all - stroll around the flat sanctuary with careless abandon and occasionally give a peremptory nod towards the tabernacle as a gesture. Teams of lay people are taking Holy Communion to the sick; there are no 'catechism' lessons anymore but only young ladies (from my observations) taking the 'children's liturgy'. Everything now is a 'shortcut'. <br /><br />As you say, Father, the laity, and indeed the priests, are in desperate need of true leadership from our bishops but I can see no signs of it coming. I fear that they have no idea of how to improve matters and their only collective plan is to block any attempt to restore tradition.Discreet Observernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6845239886251312993.post-12196088958649977652010-05-24T10:52:43.335-07:002010-05-24T10:52:43.335-07:00I've got to say I agree with the laity you'...I've got to say I agree with the laity you've spoken to. Don't get me wrong, I am praying for this renewal in the Church but I think the 'higher ranks' should be doing something more visible or just something different. I don't know.....Fr Joseph OPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05509188380610230333noreply@blogger.com