Rorate reproduces a superbly savage piece by Cardinal Cordes smashing a great big hole through all the twaddle we hear from some leading members of the German hierarchy. Read it not only for its truth but for its wonderful rhetoric!
AND The Hermeneutic of Continuity contains an important letter signed by a very large number of British priests on the same subject of Marriage and the Synod. When Vatican II was happening and in the era of Humanae vitae, orthodox presbyters were largely quiescent. It is very good news that so many are resolved not to make the same mistake this time round. Apparently there have been some signs of pressure and intimidation to discourage clergy from signing. I have not been aware of any in the Ordinariate or in the Diocese of Portsmouth. Had I experienced such, I suspect I would have responded with brisk decisiveness, possibly citing the teaching of Dignitatis humanae on Conscience.
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8 comments:
Cardinal Cordes is 'astonished that the German Church supposedly enjoys such great respect within Catholicism.' I suspect the enduring clout of the German Church has more to do with its immense wealth. (According to the 'Catholic Herald' the Church in Germany in 2013 received an astonishing €5.5bn via the church tax.) Money talks, unfortunately.
Recall which Apostle it was who looked after the common purse...
I would like to know the names of those "senior clergy" who have been attempting to intimidate people for believing the Catholic faith.
Their names should be held up for public censure as enemies of the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Yes Father, the letter of the priests is good news and very welcome today.
However, I would take issue with your description of orthodox presbyters being ‘quiescent’ at the time of Humane Vitae. Rather I would say ‘cowed’, ‘drowned out’ or even ‘ostracized’…
It was a time when Cardinals, Bishops, theologians – yes, and even National Episcopal Conferences – publicly criticized Pope Paul VI and condemned the Encyclical. When such hierarchical heavyweights were openly opposed, what was a young newly ordained orthodox priest to do?
When one’s bishop and the Vicar General of one’s diocese ridiculed the Pope and counseled priests to be silent about the teaching, where could one go? It was a lonely
time for young priests who had little fraternal support from others of a like mind – or even knew that they existed.
Thank God that today there are the means for publicizing and sharing support for orthodoxy. They didn’t exist back then.
Speaking of public censure, I was staggered to read that Cardinal O'Brien is still a Cardinal, but has merely resigned his rights while retaining that title! Surely such a disgrace to the cloth should have been stripped of the scarlet, if not further degraded?
I note from the Catholic Herald that Cardinal Nichols has been critical of the letter from
the almost 500 priests asking for a clear reiteration of Church Doctrine on marriage and the family. He appears to consider that the priests’ action was unnecessary - that existing intra diocesan dialogue is sufficient.
Were priests on the front line assured of the orthodoxy of all members of the hierarchy, the letter might not have been necessary. Sad to say, given the machinations during the Synod of last October, the doubts and confusion being sowed by some members of the hierarchy, many priests have no such assurance today.
Priests in the trenches were let down by many in the hierarchy who failed to provide orthodox support and guidance in the years following Humanae Vitaein 1968. There will not be a repeat.
“Fool me once, shame on you…”
Yes,remember Henry and the Catholic bishops who did not stand upto his agenda.By the time of hs daughter ,when they tried to resist,it was too late.As Blessed John said....the hierarchy did not save the Church from Arianism!
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