Cardinal Law Tells New Priests That Scandal Has Helped Them Understand Duties

Tampa Bay Online ^ | May 25, 2002 | Robert O'Neill

[CoolH2OH]

Cardinal Law Tells New Priests That Scandal Has Helped Them Understand Duties By Robert O'neill Associated Press Writer Published: May 25, 2002

BOSTON (AP) - Cardinal Bernard Law spoke at an ordination of new priests Saturday, telling the men that the current abuse scandal has strated the church's acute need for godly priests. He asked them to be "holy men."

During his address to the five candidates at the annual ordination at Holy Cross Cathedral, Law cited a Biblical verse in James: "Count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial."

"It was as though James had us in mind," Law said.

"You and I and the whole church are suffering a severe trial," Law said. "No joy can be taken in from the terrible harm and betrayal at the root of this crisis, this trial. Yet out of this evil, you have the joy this morning of a much more vivid consciousness of what it means to be a priest."

Law said the call to serve as priests was ultimately God's choice, but he said that call must be received by a willing heart.

"The church needs above all else priests who are truly men of faith, who are truly men of church, men of prayer, holy men," he said. "May you be such men."

The Boston archdiocese has been under fire for months after it was learned that officials, including Law, knew some priests had ually abused children but that the officials still moved the priests from parish to parish. One former Boston-area priest, John J. Geoghan, was convicted in January of molesting one boy and has been accused of molesting dozens of others.

Saturday morning, about 50 protesters from the group Massachusetts Women Church marched outside the cathedral to advocate for the ordination of women.

Jeanne Martin, 37, of Medford said it's unlikely the current priest scandal would be as severe if women could serve as priests.

"If you ordained women the whole ure of the priesthood would change," she said.

AP-ES-05-25-02 1052EDT

[Siobhan]

Index

[maryz]

Saturday morning, about 50 protesters from the group Massachusetts Women Church marched outside the cathedral to advocate for the ordination of women.

Jeanne Martin, 37, of Medford said it's unlikely the current priest scandal would be as severe if women could serve as priests.

"If you ordained women the whole culture of the priesthood would change," she said.

Why do I think that something advocated by a group called "Massachusetts Women Church" (do they mean "WomanChurch" here?) would mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

[sockmonkey]

"You and I and the whole church are suffering a severe trial," Law said. "No joy can be taken in from the terrible harm and betrayal at the root of this crisis, this trial..."

This guy never ceases to make me want to hurl. The harm, and betrayal that he was complicit in. I am waiting for him to say he suffers from multiple personality disorder, and the Cardinal who aided and abetted was his alter-ego Bernardo or something, but he just keeps playing the game, like he's an upright man or something.

[yendu bwam]

"The church needs above all else priests who are truly men of faith, who are truly men of church, men of prayer, holy men," he said. "May you be such men."

He should have added: "And may you show me the way."

[Salvation]

five candidates

I pray that this number will increase exponentially. Priests are needed.

[ejo]

Ms,Martin quote: "If you ordained women the whole ure of the priesthood would change"

Really Ms. Martin, You've have got to be kidding! How many of the lesbians would we have to contend with, I'm quite sure their masculinity will replace our priests. Never in a million years would I or any common sense Catholic would approve of your suggestion...Even now as I attend church I cringe when the Eucharist is distributed by a female. Lord, I try to overcome the feeling but sometimes it is a bit hard to contend with.

[Cicero]

Actually, according to canon law and current guidelines, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist are not supposed to be used unless there is a genuine problem of too many people and not enough priests and deacons. That is very seldom the case in most parishes, where the use of extraordinary ministers probably saves about two minutes of time. It's simply another liberal abuse, which is taken for granted because people are used to it.

I don't think there's any point in complaining about it or raising a fuss in the parish, because it's a relatively minor abuse. But I usually try to join the line where the priest is giving communion.

[american colleen]

I don't think there's any point in complaining about it or raising a fuss in the parish, because it's a relatively minor abuse. But I usually try to join the line where the priest is giving communion.

I struggle with this every week. It is a matter of course that there are two Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers (almost always women) for each Mass even though we have two resident priests and one visiting one for the 11 AM (and only 3 Masses on Sunday Morning). I always go to the priest and have my kids do the same. Yes, it is a relatively minor abuse, but where do you draw the line? You either follow the rules, or you do not. Then you add up all the "relatively minor abuses" in the parish, and what do you have? There isn't ever any going back.

[saradippity]

In three parishes here,I have noticed that the priest will give communion to two or three communicants and then leave. One goes back to the altar and the other two change lines or lanes.

[marshmallow]

Jeanne Martin, 37, of Medford said it's unlikely the current priest scandal would be as severe if women could serve as priests.

Uh-huh. Like male homosexuals are going to be affected by the presence of women.

We already have women religious in the Church. That didn't stop the scandal. Let's try ordaining them. That might fix it.

Sure it will.

[Cicero]

Well, it's unfortunate. They shouldn't do it, but it's very difficult to tell them that without making more unpleasantness than it's worth.

[Cicero]

In our church in Vermont, the congregation remain standing after the acclamation that follows the consecration, which violates the guidelines. I asked someone about it, and apparently some liturgist about ten or twenty years ago told them that the church was "about to" change the Mass and stand during the canon of the Mass--which of course never happened. Now the new pastor, who seems to be fairly conservative, probably doesn't want to make an issue of it, rock the boat, and change it back. He already has other problems on his plate, and I can't say I blame him. I just kneel, myself, while everyone else stands, because it's the proper thing to do. But it means that I am pushed into a kind of silent discord with the spirit of community. As you say, all these "little" issues raise unfortunate problems.

[stripes1776]

This sounds like the vacuous thinking of a liberal. I remember when Clinton was impeached. A liberal woman I know said that this was just a learning experience for Clinton and it would make him grow into a better person.

It was then that I realized that liberals never do anything wrong. It's simply a learning experience, an opportunity for growth.

[EODGUY]

In our diocese, you have to look far and wide to find a church that has kneelers.

My wife and I are Eucharistic Ministers and have been for more than 15 years. In our parish, we have only our pastor, who officiates at all Masses (one on Saturday and three on Sunday, plus a wedding or two on Saturday.....all of the Masses are standing room only).

Assistance distributing the Body and Blood of our Lord is a necessity and we feel very honored to have been selected to participate.

God bless,

EODGUY

[american colleen]

It ain't easy being an ortho, is it?

I'd do the same as you, remain kneeling while the others are standing. If I were the priest in any parish that had "habits" not in the rubrics, I'd probably print out a sheet detailing the Mass and expected behaviour - and cite the Vatican teaching on it. I am not one to bash the "Novus Ordo" but I do think that there has been a lot lost, in that we cannot automatically assume the exact same actions/words during Mass in different parishes. IMO we lost some of the "communion" we used to have. Even I have noticed this, and I am a post-Vat 11 "kid".

Thank God for FR and the Catholics here - I used to think it was just me being weird (Shaking hands, Communion-in-the-hand, Tabernacles moved from the center of the Altar, "Eucharistic Ministers, etc., etc.)but now I know I am not alone - and that is a great thing!

[Bonaparte]

" This guy never ceases to make me want to hurl."

You 'n me both, sockareeno!

[Bonaparte]

"There isn't ever any going back."

That's true enough. You can't whistle back what's already done. But you can get back on the right path. Trouble is, it's painful and requires a purge. That's why so many will use one error to justify the next error and the downward spiral continues.

[Catholicguy]

I don't think there's any point in complaining about it or raising a fuss in the parish, because it's a relatively minor abuse. But I usually try to join the line where the priest is giving communion.

LOL Our Fam does the same thing. I have yet to see the priest who can select such a remote and difficult site to distribute Communion that me and my Fam can't chase him down. My wife and kids used to get upset at "priest chasing", but they are now resigned to an anfractous path to and from Communion.

I hold with Aquinas "only the hands of the Consecrated may touch the Sacred Species..."

[Catholicguy]

anfractuous