[Catholic Caucus] Priest Blames Catholic Theology for Lack of Faith

Church Militant ^ | August 21, 2019 | David Nussman

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] Priest Blames Catholic Theology for Lack of Faith

h2 class="grey-subtitle" style="margin-bottom:12px;">Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese: 'Mass is not about adoring Jesus'

After a survey found that few U.S. Catholics believe in the Real Presence, a Jesuit priest says the Church's own theology is to blame.

Father Thomas Reese said in an Aug. 19 opinion piece, "The Mass is not about adoring Jesus or even praying to Jesus."

"Ultimately, the Mass is more about us becoming the body of Christ than it is about the bread becoming the body of Christ."

Father Reese's article was a response to recent survey results showing that only one-third of self-identified Catholics believe that the bread and wine at Mass truly change into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

It was followed up by the U.S. bishops asking Catholics for feedback on how to restore belief in Our eucharistic Lord. 

Multiple Catholics responded by calling for better catechesis, greater reverence for the Eucharist and reception of Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling.

Others called out the bishops for their hypocrisy, for giving Holy Communion to pro-abortion politicians — a sacrilege and a direct violation of canon law.

The bishops' response to restoring eucharistic belief? A series of booklets.

Critics say as long as the bishops refuse to defend Christ at the altar rail, their attempts to restore belief in the Eucharist through brochures and pamphlets will prove useless.

[ebb tide]

Father Thomas Reese said in an Aug. 19 opinion piece, "The Mass is not about adoring Jesus or even praying to Jesus."

"Ultimately, the Mass is more about us becoming the body of Christ than it is about the bread becoming the body of Christ."

[ebb tide]

Ping

[G Larry]

Try teaching John 6:26-63 to be clear on what Christ taught about the Eucharist.

And then on the institution of the Eucharist:

Matt. 26:26‑28

Mark 14:22‑24

Luke -22: 1920

I Corinthians 11: 23‑25

And then a warning on receiving the Eucharist unworthily (which would be meaningless if it were only symbolic):

1 Corinthians 11: 26‑30

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For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

[Mrs. Don-o]

YIKES.

Oops, I just mentioned Protestantism and thus broke the Caucus. Sorry.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima Culpa.

[G Larry]

LOL!

No worries.....I was still trying to figure out how Thomas Reese was your brother......

(does the modifier point forward or back?)

[amihow]

Just a peccadillo. Go in Peace.

[Marchmain]

Anyone remember this? We were taught in grade school that Mass has a four-fold purpose:

adoration
sanctification
thanksgiving
supplication

(if I’m remembering right)

[Mrs. Don-o]

Hmm..

Now, that's a puzzler....

[Mrs. Don-o]

I remember it as ACTS:

Adoration

Contrition

Thanksgiving

Supplication

As a catechist, I always take the opportuniy to say this is on an incomparably higher level --- different ballpark, actually--- to the way we venerate the saints, the angels, and God's Blessed Mother, in prayer. What they rate, as creatures, is on a level of (creaturely) equality, as in "HI!":

Honor

Intercession

`

...just as we ourselves as believers, share.

Hey, my good fellow. Pray for me?

[Marchmain]

Yes I will, please say a prayer for me too.

I forgot contrition. ACTS make sense because those are the things we bring to mass. Consciously doing these 4 ‘acts’ is what’s meant by ‘active participation’. The mass is prayer.

[Fedora]

Reese resigned after seven years as the editor of America due to pressure from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Vatican.[2][3] Over a period of five years, the congregation objected to various editorial decisions made by Reese concerning certain issues addressed in the magazine, including the use of condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS, religious pluralism, a lack of due process by CDF, homosexual priests, and Communion for pro-choice Catholic politicians. [2] On Reese's resignation, widespread media carried statements of regret that a voice from the loyal opposition to some current Church policy was leaving in silence.[4] In 2006 he returned as a fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center in Washington, D.C. Reese wrote for the National Catholic Reporter from 2013 to 2017, and was senior analyst there.[5] In 2017, he became senior analyst at Religion News Service. He was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2014 and in 2016 was elected chair of the commission.[6] His term as commissioner expired at the end of May 2018. He drew criticism for his remarks that the Church should abandon efforts to make abortion illegal, focusing on reducing the number of abortions. Cardinal Timothy Dolan stated that “As chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, I want to indicate my serious reservations about Reese’s strategy, considering it a capitulation to the abortion culture, and a grave weakening of the powerful pro-life witness."[7]: Thomas J. Reese

[Campion]

Critics say as long as the bishops refuse to defend Christ at the altar rail

They could start by defending altar rails.