Posted on 05/04/2005 8:48:33 PM PDT by Akron Al
Is it just me or does anyone else have a problem with "the Great" being appended to a Pope who appointed the likes of Bernardin and Mahoney, "taken in" by Pilla's promises or sanctioning (per "five-year plan") the likes of cultist secret societies like the Neo-Catechumenical way?
Link's busted.
It smacks of sentimentality and enthusiasm -- dangers even greater than secularism IMO, since they attack from inside.
I'm tempted to attend some meetings.
The claim to greatness comes from the length, penetration and scope of John Paul's pontificate, as he defeated communism, traveled the globe as a celebrity ecumenist, and left his mark on every stone in the edifice of the post-conciliar Church.
But there is a paradox that would probably prevent the epithet from taking hold. We are convinced, aren't we, that Pope Benedict was meant by John Paul to be his successor. Then John Paul's legacy is forever linked to Benedict's. If Pope Benedict succeeds in his mission to save the Western Civilization, then he, and not John Paul will be remembered as Great, even though John Paul's hesitation in confronting the faithless bishops will be thereby vindicated. And if Benedict fails, then John Paul's lasting legacy will be his indecision.
And that is why these contrived, on-the-spot acclamations are wrong. Chesterton has spoken of Tradition as the democracy of the dead. There's a democracy of the unborn as well: we have no right to pre-empt the judgments of history.
Taken in?
JPII was an enthusiastic supporter of such novelties. Why? Could it have been his attraction to theatrics? He was taken in by the allurement of stage presence? Is that what made him "great?"
The Great Performer, or, the Great Fan of Performances?
5 more years of +Pilarczyk
The link was not working at first, then it was, then it was not again. Here is the content for anyone who is likewise frustrated:
http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/2005/01/index.html
The Way?
The Neocatechumenal Way comes up here from time to time. It is popular here and there in the US - I understand that it has grown, in particular among Hispanics. The Pope has praised it, as he has many of the "New Movements" in the Church, but questions about it abound. The secrecy of its catechism and the shape of its liturgy being foremost.
An article from an Italian paper about the Way
The statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way were approved by the Holy See in 2002 on an "ad experimentum" basis for five years. The bishops are entrusted with the task of watching over their application.
Various bishops have expressed reservations, even recently: for example, that of Brescia, Giulio Sanguineti. In 2004, he wrote in a letter that "we must avoid that the eucharist celebrated in the Neocatechumenal communities be perceived as the 'true' eucharist in comparison with the one celebrated for all the faithful."
Other bishops are instead, and in growing numbers, enthusiasts of the Way. They admire its power of propagation and the flowering of vocations.
John Paul II is one of their most convicted admirers. In the Vatican, they receive strong support from Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
///end///
Note the line, "The bishops are entrusted with the task of watching over their application." The bishops, of course, would do a great job of keeping the Faith safe from any signs of corrosion? Would that be because they are so good at "pastoral care?" They would protect against dogmatic corruption by being good pastors instead??
The usual argument about Vatican II and its horrific aftermath is, that the council was pastoral rather than dogmatic. After 40 years of this delusion, however, one has to doubt whether the council was even pastoral! Its agents (of the "New Springtime," or whatever silly name they want to call it now) exhibit a decidedly anti-pastoral hatred toward traditional Catholics.
While such nonsense as "the Way" gets full backing inasmuch as it has no restrictions placed upon its operation, traditional Catholics have patiently looked toward Ecclesia Dei for scraps off the rich man's table like so many Lazaruses. And what good does Ecclesia Dei do?
At the Una Voce 1999 General Assembly in Rome, Msgr. Perl, Secretary of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, made a public speech denouncing traditional Catholics. When it came to question time, he refused to answer politely-formulated questions and just walked out in a huff. Michael Davies said that he once mentioned to Perl the distress Una Voce members felt at the fact that the Commission that is supposed to represent the interests of traditional Catholics did virtually nothing to help them. Perl's reply was that the Commission in no way represents traditional Catholics, but only the Conciliar Holy See (of Vatican II). Just goes to show who's side the Commission is really on!
Wait a minute. Did I really see that? Let me read it again: Perl's reply was that the Commission in no way represents traditional Catholics, but only the Conciliar Holy See. The Commission in no way represents traditional Catholics? Well, then what kind of Catholics ARE represented? Not the faithful but the Conciliar Holy See? Why, are the men who work in that office not Catholics?
This sort of thing was no "con job" on JPII. He saw it in all its glory. And he let it continue, even while he supported such termites as "the Way" and Focolore and Renew 2000. Who's conning who here??
Jadot sure did get some young "pastoral" bishops to take the helm- Pilla and Pilarczyk will be bishops for over 25 years. Not to mention Hubbard, Clark, Mahony- the list goes on.
Bishop Pilla: Nov 12, 2007
Thanks, I'll start planning the party.
Wow!!! Over 2,000 views of this thread. Someone has been looking at it. I'll be sure to get it up on the blog. Sorry for the delay, I was in Alaska for a couple of weeks.
From the Call to action website:
http://www.cta-usa.org/watch2004-06%20/boston.html
FutureChurch resists Cleveland diocese ban
Shortly before Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla’s ad limina visit to Rome, his diocese published a memo saying it is “inappropriate” for FutureChurch (FC) to continue having programs on church premises because the group is “promoting an agenda not consistent with Church teaching.” FC and its director, Chris Schenk, have been the target of escalating attacks by right-wing groups because of successful national programs in partnership with CTA, such as Optional Celibacy and Mary of Magdala celebrations. An article last fall by Donna Steichen in The Latin Mass magazine called FutureChurch part of “a pagan goddess movement.”
There is a silver lining. FC has lost no members, and even picked up a lot of new ones in Northeast Ohio. Several Catholic organizations offered to host FC programs. FC has about 800 members in the diocese and 5,000 nationally. Its leaders still hope to find a way to peacefully coexist in a diocese that until now has permitted a broad diversity of discussion on church premises.
word
Have you heard any rumors about Pilla's early retirement.
Check the last post on the thread. It mentions the Cleveland rumor.
Hey, that was me. But I really haven't heard anything since last spring. I am going to contact a few folks in the know to see if there was any truth to last year's speculation.
There were two widespread rumors last spring, both coming out of the diocese of Cleveland chancery. One was that Bishop Pilla had submitted his resignation early and that it had NOT been accepted, and the other rumor was that a coadjutor would soon be named in Cleveland.
If his resignation letter is sitting in Pope Benedict’s drawer, it would not be surprising if he pulled it back out and stamped it appoved.
Afterall Pilla, as President of the National Bishop’s Council, twice supressed letters from the Vatican - - once for 2 1/2 years. Pilla flies a rainbow gay pride banner on the diocesan website and the National headquarters for Futurechurch still resides on diocesan property.
And this is just the beginning of what is wrong in Cleveland - - Pilla also invented his own rite for the Mass and his diocese was perhaps the worst when it comes to priests homosexually assaulting teen age boys.
Pope Benedict XVI, if you by chance read Dom’s blog, PLEASE check the old papal files for Bishop Pilla’s resignation letter!!!
Oh great. I'm telling you about your rumors. lol.
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