Posted on 05/01/2002 1:47:24 PM PDT by ThomasMore
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:07:45 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
ELLESLEY - In the basement of a parish school at Saint John the Evangelist Church, a quiet revolution is brewing.
A group that started three months ago as a listening session for parishioners upset about clergy sexual abuse has grown explosively in the past few weeks, drawing about 4,200 supporters from 36 states and 19 countries.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
That's what I'm afraid of. And it is really picking up steam as the bishops procrastinate. I know several GOOD Catholics who are not savy about the liberal agenda groups you metioned, who are being attracted to this new group.
The group is determined, at this stage, to avoid taking positions on controversial questions such as the ordination of women. The group is consciously trying to distance itself from a raft of liberal reform groups that have sprung up over the years and have little influence in the church, and from the handful of protest groups that have been formed in the last few months to stage demonstrations against Law.(emphasis added)
One hopes that this group remains focused on cleaning up the Archdiocese of Boston and doesn't get hijacked by Frances Kissling types in sheeps clothing. Until they make their positions known on ordination of women, celibacy of the priesthood, rejection of homosexuals for the priesthood, etc., I would proceed with caution. If they are orthodox in their beliefs then more power to them.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Me too. I grew up in the town next door. Wellesley used to be a town of blue blood Republicans. But they've been invaded by the Newton-style yuppies. The town is becoming more and more PC. Kind of like a wealthier Brookline.
The group's weekly gatherings have taken on the tone of revival meetings, with a charismatic emcee, Mary Scanlon Calcaterra, who is prone to shouting things like ''Praise the Lord'' after someone gets up to give personal testimony.
This week, the group heard from a nun, Sister John Julie of the Sisters of Notre Dame, who told the group she was tired of seeing photos only of men in the Boston Catholic Directory.
I can tell already I don't like it. What was the old Chinese curse? "May you live in interesting times."
Check them out here: Voice of the Faithful
Look at their motto: "Keep the Faith, Change the Church" - they are trying to form groups nationwide. I was really annoyed at Cardinal Law last week when he gave the directive to priests to not support the newly forming lay groups - I think this is the group he was most concerned with, and when I realized this, I supported the Cardinal. Say what you will about Cardinal Law (and I probably agree) but he has been helpful over the years in not supporting (on church property) any group that does not adhere to church teaching.
Catholics are mad and hurting at the moment and I think a lot of us want to do something to help but joining in groups like this one will only damage the church, IMO.
Our charitable donations have increased, but the pool of charities we support has diminished significantly.
Thank you for the Ping.
EODGUY
Our Goals
1. Support those who have been abused
2. Support priests of integrity
3. Shape structural change within Church
#3 is the one that sends up red flags with me. What exactly does "Shape structual change within Church" mean?
I'd be happy to stage a Catholic Freep with catachism in hand if it gets to that point. I live about an hour south of Wellesley.
tin foil..... I know.....
Watch, listen and learn!
contact me if you're interested.
contact me if you're interested.
If an orthodox celibate priest knew about pederasts and said nothing about them, he was not, and is not, a man of integrity.
Groups like this are rising up because American Catholics are sick and tired of forking over hard earned money and seeing it used as hush money, or seeing it wasted on things like that monstrosity of a Cathedral in Los Angeles.
Make no mistake about it: the Bishops Conference, and, by extension, the Vatican, are going to have to figure out a way to give lay Catholics more of a voice or at least the illusion that they have a voice (which is what I think will be the preferred course).
The man in the pew is tired of being played for a chump.
In the absence of some ACTION by the American bishops or the Vatican, Americans, being people of action, rush to fill the void.
This is better than another reaction of Americans when they're filled with disgust, which is to just silently walk away.
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