Posted on 04/29/2012 12:40:51 PM PDT by marshmallow
Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino has moved to quell a backlash against a group of conservative priests in Platteville by warning parishioners they risk formal church censure unless they stop spreading "rumors and gossip."
The action by Morlino, which two Catholic scholars called highly unusual, appears to include the possibility of offenders being prohibited from taking part in church sacraments such as communion, confession and burial.
The warning came in a five-page letter Wednesday from Morlino to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Platteville. The congregation has been roiled by opposition to the traditionalist priests, who began serving the parish in June 2010.
Within months, church donations fell by more than half, and about 40 percent of the church’s 1,200 members signed a petition seeking the priests’ ouster. The church’s 77-year-old school is set to close June 1, a loss many parishioners tie directly to the collapse of donations.
The letter, in which Morlino raises the prospect of invoking the church’s Code of Canon Law against dissenters, has stunned many parishioners.
"There’s almost shock and awe," said Myron Tranel, a member of the church’s finance council. "But mostly, there’s a lot of disappointment that the bishop has decided to deal with it this way."
Others applaud the bishop’s move, saying decisive action was needed because criticism had gotten out of hand.
"This is a warning shot across the bow — you either want to be a Catholic or you don’t," said Gregory Merrick, a member of the church’s pastoral council.
Diocesan spokesman Brent King said Morlino’s main message is that this should be a time of "prayer, serious introspection and forgiveness." The specific texts from the church’s code of law were included precisely so that they may never be needed, King said.
"The bishop’s caution that ‘this cannot continue’ should......
(Excerpt) Read more at host.madison.com ...
—bflr-
Good news. Sloppy reporting.
There is no provision in canon law to deny confession to any baptized Catholic.
Not without excommunicating them, is that correct? I’m not Catholic.
That aside, I always compare these things to baseball. wWhoever heard of a ‘fundamentalist’ or ‘conservative’ baseball team? either you use a bat and hit the ball and run the bases according to the rules, or you’re not playing baseball and can go elsewhere.
Sounds like the priests admit they came on a bit strong. The onus is on them to gently explain and “sell” changes like eliminating altar girls.
The congregation for its part it missing a big opportunity to learn patience and humility.
Not to late for the Holy Spirit to heal things up, but the desire has to be there.
Thanks, Another good one, Show the battle that is brewing in our Church. Pray for us and we all know the end of the story works out well. The question is the journey.
Facebook, and sent to my Priest and Deacon. Will be sending to the Laymen soon.
Incorrect. If one is excommunicated the excommunication must be lifted prior to a return to the Sacraments.
TITLE IV: PENALTIES AND OTHER PUNISHMENTS (Cann. 1331 - 1340)
CHAPTER I : CENSURES
Can. 1331 §1 An excommunicated person is forbidden:
1° to have any ministerial part in the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Eucharist or in any other ceremonies of public worship;
2° to celebrate the sacraments or sacramentals and to receive the sacraments ;
Agree-
Enough of the hand-clapping; talking, hugging, irreverence, etc. Why can’t local parishes say Mass like they do at the Vatican? Those who cannot abide are free to leave.
“Sounds like the priests admit they came on a bit strong. The onus is on them to gently explain and “sell” changes like eliminating altar girls”
Uh, no it’s not. The libs and dissenters take that line. You really ought not fall for it. It’s called “blaming the victim.”
I think the priests probably explained and explained and explained. But this is the Wisconsin State Urinal writing. You cannot trust anything published in that rag.
I don’t the the problem was with the explainers but with the explainees. When a child is acting up and parents explain and explain and explain, it can happen that the child just doesn’t seem to be capable of getting it.
It’s called “My fingers are in my ears. Not listening. Not listening. Not listening.”
Typical 3-8 year-old behavior?? Just about the developmental level of libs.
imagine they did
I can see not allowing communion and burial not being allowed, but confession?
>The onus is on them to gently explain and “sell” changes like eliminating altar girls”<
.
What are altar girls? Is that a future female priest a.k.a a priestess?
Vatican II released a runnaway train that only B16 can put the brakes to.
I just had a hip replacement 3 days ago and the brain isn't working very well.
Thank you.
Excommunication typically requires one to formally repent of the offense before a cleric with the faculties to absolve for it. Until the excommunicated person does that, they cannot validly confess their other sins.
You would think that at least for the sacrement of confession, which involves repentence they would be allowed.
Can you help me on this one, would it be a formal public repentence ritual like it was in the early centuries of the Church?
But can any valid ordin priest do it? That is what they can do as priests.
Well is not serious sin is to be confessed to a priest, and that includes all valid ordained priests?
Re: Wisconsin State Journal Article by Doug Erickson
The source for this POK is hardly objective and reflects the attitude of Madison Wisconsin in general an anti-Catholis/ anti-religious// anti-cleric revisions going back to the French revolution.
One has to dig furthur into their article to figure out they are fronting for a disandent group or individual which their article names but briefly. This is about recent revisions of Vactican II
And the concern is the closure of the parish school. I think this is a key paragraph that I’m surprized MSJ even related
“Standing by the priests
The priests are from the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest, a group known for traditionalist liturgy and devotion to strict Catholic teaching. They do not allow girls to be altar servers or allow parishioners to assist in distributing communion. Critics say they emphasize doctrine over pastoral care and institute changes in a heavy-handed way.
Morlino has stood by them and did so again in the letter to parishioners, the primary purpose of which was to announce his decision to accept the parish’s recommendation to close the school. The priests have admitted “that they undertook some changes in a way that was abrupt for many people,” Morlino wrote, yet he said no one has provided concrete examples of the priests straying from church doctrine.
In the end, “the Catholic faith is being taught according to the proper understanding of the Second Vatican Council, and what remains are personal likes and dislikes, along with inflated rumors and gossip, some of which may even rise to the level of calumnious inciting of hatred of your priests, the faith and myself,” Morlino wrote.”
I wish a priest from that group was available for the parish I attend north of Plattville. Had I the opportunity I’d be attending mass there instead of where I’m at in the diocease of LaCrosse.. .
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Tom Barrett (D)
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