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| Why does this reminds me of Cdl. Dolan? |
Cardinal Dolan and the Shameful NYC Gay Parade
I certainly have a lot more in common with the traditionalists who publish Catholic Family News than I have with Cardinal Dolan and his continuous congratulations of active sodomites.
Really, I have great sympathy for sinners. I know personally what it is to be one which is why I go to Confession regularly. But I don't expect people to congratulate me for my sins. And I certainly don't pat my children and grandchildren and say, "Don't worry about committing mortal sins, precious ones. Jesus would never be so mean as to send you to hell. You don't have to worry. He's the Candy Man and the Pillsbury Dough Boy all rolled into one and he's fixing you funnel cake for your funeral canonization. So don't worry about reforming your life, just go your way and sin some more."
Isn't it time for Cardinal Dolan to learn the spiritual work of mercy, "admonish the sinner," or does he care so little for sinners that he wants to be like the pharisees whom Jesus warned, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you frauds! You travel over sea and land to make a single convert, but once he is converted you make a devil of him twice as wicked as yourselves."
Did Cardinal Dolan's "bravo!" for Michael Sam encourage him to give up his sinful lifestyle or confirm him in it? Did his approbation of the homosexuals at St. Francis of Assisi encourage even one of them to repent? I seriously doubt it. (Michael Voris made that obvious when he interviewed homosexuals after the pre-pride Mass.) He's like parents who approve of a child's homosexual lifestyle or bless the cohabitation of a son or daughter with a lover, or celebrate a child marrying outside the Church. They fear the wrath of their children more than they care about loving God. ("If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15)
Cardinal Dolan is an irresponsible father to his spiritual children. That is simply the truth. If I acted like that with my own children, I would fear for my salvation. As it is, I fear for the "unity" of the Church. Cardinal Dolan always talks about unity when he is committing a scandal, but his actions threaten the unity of the Church. You cannot make whole cloth by uniting a dry-rotted fabric with a newly loomed piece, you cannot unite good and evil. Cardinal Dolan's actions rend the temple veil, and that sounds like schism to me!
The Dough Boy is a little cutie. Dolan, behind the jolly exterior is something else. I think the best we can hope for is that he is a company man. He will do whatever he thinks the boss would approve of and do a complete 180 if the boss changes.
ReplyDeleteBoy do I ever agree with this Mary Ann! I'm tired of reading the 'Anti-Trad' rantings about how set in our 'old fashioned Catholicism' we are, being totally rigid in our old fashioned Catholic views. I've even seen some posts that accuse all traditional Catholics of being sedevacantists (sp?)Hmmm.... I always thought old fashioned Catholicism was TRUE Catholicism, but who am I but an old fashioned 'Trad'?
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You have said it so well. Those of us who live in the Archdiocese of New Yorhave front-row seats to view the sad spectacle of Cardinal Dolan's duplicity and denial of the truths of the Faith.
ReplyDeleteGreat spiritual insight! The fact is WE ARE NOT is schism...it is THEY that are in schism. It's time to call them on it.
ReplyDeleteMuch of this anti-tradtionalist frenzy is whipped up by a certain "jolly" blogger on Patheos, and I think we all know who I'm talking about. They all follow his lead over there, pray for them and Card. Dolan.
ReplyDeletePlease don't turn this into an us versus them. The enemy is behind every division. I was part of a TLM parish and the behavior of the parishioners there drove us away. I never ranted and loved the beauty of 'old fashioned' Catholicism. I understand that many people are not fans of traditional Catholicism, but the answer is not to return the accusations. It is not saintly or holy behavior.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment, Lucy, but how does one avoid division? When people are being bullied and attacked, especially when they are the underdogs, they tend to be defensive. And from my perspective as an outsider (I've never belonged to a traditional parish.), the uncharitable assault seems relentless. I have many friends who are traditionalists and are committed Catholics. Some are indefatigable fighters against abortion and other moral evils. I admire them. There should be no division from my point of view; we are on the same side. But tell that to some of the bloggers who never stop attacking them. What's the answer?
ReplyDeleteWhen truth is opposed by falsehood, division cannot be avoided. In such circumstances, division better be present. The only way division will be eradicated is if the cause, that is, deviation from the Church's teachings come to an end.
ReplyDeleteI tire of the baseless accusations and false caricatures of traditional Catholics from people like Lucy. "Behaviour of parishioners there drove you away"????? Let's see, traditionally Catholics go to Holy Mass to pray...okay I can see how that might become an occasion of sin for somebody! Surely Lucy is not suggesting to us that she encountered "behavior" from fellow TLM parishioners that was contrary to Church teaching? I am a proud member of a parish were the TLM is celebrated and after 7 years I have come to know 3 or 4 families reasonably well - and I'm a social person. Forgive me for being skeptical of Lucy but I smell a red herring. I am amazed that such judgemental thinking is so often presented as he moral high ground by people like Lucy - who appears blissfully unaware of reality.
ReplyDeleteLucy, Our Lord brought division upon us for this reason:
ReplyDelete“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. -Matthew 10:34-39
I agree wholeheartedly, the natural inclination to be defensive. Think however how the saints responded. They prayed and waited patiently. They remember the words of our Lord - especially that the goats will be separated from the sheep at the end of time. We must respond with love, not defensiveness and fear. I saw too much of this in the TLM community. Those who have the 'anti-traditional' behavior are responsible to God for their conscience. We are responsible for our own.
ReplyDeleteIt is reprehensible what is happening with Churches such as Holy Innocents in NYC. But to accuse others of being in schism is inflammatory. God knows what is in the hearts of man. We know what we must do to follow Christ and we know that God will not fail us in giving us the graces we need as long as we pray.
I would say that the answer is to ignore such bloggers. They are accountable to God for themselves. God will bring justice for all. We need to pay attention to our own houses.
Hmmm...I agree we need to be charitable, Julie, but I can't agree with your opinion that we should be silence. As for talking about schism, I think we are in a de facto schism and Fr. Hardon often spoke about it. I did an article on it years ago in my newsletter. http://www.lesfemmes-thetruth.org/v92schism.htm
ReplyDeleteFr. Hardon is one of my role models and he urged Catholic laity to speak and write and defend the faith vigorously. I spoke to him twice about my Les Femmes newsletter and he encouraged me to continue. I seek his intercession often. Frankly, I don't see silence as an option because it leads so many astray. I thank God for Mike Voris. He reminds me of Mother Angelica who never minced words and courageously called out even cardinals and bishops.
Lucy. this is the classic difference between men and women. The early Church Fathers had to be firm in the defense of the faith to keep it. Much like it is today, Arius held sway and had more than 80% of the bishops denying Jesus was God. So pernicious was this heresy that it was the seedbed for Mohammed to give the world Islam (and you know how that went). St. Athanasius Of Alexandria and St. Nicholas of Myra were staunch defenders of the faith and they had a track record of being "inflammatory". By their approach, orthodoxy won the day and saved the Church. Pray, by all means. But sometimes you have to act and this is one of those times.
ReplyDeleteOk - I'm assuming you mean Lucy there not Julie so I'll reply. Absolutely we can call immoral behavior out and we should. It is charitable. But to say it is schismatic? That doesn't help. I've had too many TLM Catholics tell me that the NO Mass is not legitimate! We must be prudent with our words! I greatly admire Fr Hardon and too have prayed to him. He was an incredible man but what is happening in our Church now is getting worse. The rhetoric I am seeing in recent times has gotten out of hand! It is distressing to me. Please feel free to correct me if you see fit.
ReplyDeleteI apologize, Lucy. I was just commenting on Julie's blog, Connecticut Catholic. At my age, I make more and more goofs including what I call Archie Bunkerisms where I use a word that is close but completely off. LOL! It keeps me humble. Let us continue to argue. (In the Socratic sense.) I think it helps to keep each other honest and it also gives us the chance to practice charity.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I would proudly label myself a rad-trad. I am not in any way affiliated with the SSPX, but this post begs the question, How is it that they (the SSPX) are treated so badly, when we see no public condemnation AT ALL of the very public scandal going on in New York with this parade and those creating the scandal are still considered Catholic in good standing? (To name only one thing)
ReplyDeleteOne more thing... Thank you for your post. It is hard, sometimes to keep the virtue of hope alive, but it is still His Church and He is victorious.We simply need to be converted ourselves, pray always, and know the Truth. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteGood question, Anonymous. I thought that myself when the pope was apologizing (When will they tire of the endless apologies?) to the Protestants for the evil Catholics who fought their heresies. There seem to be endless benefits of the doubts for everyone (Protestants, Muslims, homosexuals, etc.) except orthodox Catholics. I often feel disinherited. It certainly is disheartening.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that Catholics have to label themselves as "traditional." The need to use term itself shows that there is something deficient and non-Catholic about the post-conciliar orientation and the New Mass. Most "traditionalists" already know about Archbishop Bugnini and his statements about "stripping from our Catholic prayers everything Catholic that would be a stumbling block for our separated brethren, the Protestants." Most of us know about Cardinal Ottaviani's "intervention," speaking of the New Mass as a "striking departure from Session 22 of the Council of Trent" ... that even the most liberal Protestant would have no objections with it.
ReplyDeleteI only want to be Catholic as Catholics have always been. If that means I am a "traditionalist," I think I'm in good company.
Even if the current Holy Father considers the Church before the Second Vatican Council and himself to be "neopelagian," "self-absorbed," and even seems to cast a shadow on "sound doctrine."
The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth, meaning it is the bulwark of sound doctrine--we are not some sect without Creed and doctrine. We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ, Who is Divine and is not subject to the whim of novelty and wind of change.
"...The other is the self-absorbed promethean neopelagianism of those who ultimately trust only in their own powers and feel superior to others because they observe certain rules or remain intransigently faithful to a particular Catholic style from the past. A supposed soundness of doctrine or discipline leads instead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism, whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyzes and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying."
May God be with us.
I've had too many TLM Catholics tell me that the NO Mass is not legitimate!
ReplyDeleteEven trads can be wrong. The NO is legitimate - it may not be conducive to worship, it may be more easily open to abuse, and it may downplay important aspects of the faith, but it is legitimate.
Well, you certainly can't be more Catholic than the Church. But the only ones I've heard that from are those who become sedevacantists. I was really sad when Tom Drolesky went that direction since I respect him, but that seems to me to be spiritual suicide. And Gerry Matatics --- well, too bad to convert and then fall off the cliff. But I keep praying for them. And I plan to read all that Dietrich Von Hildebrand said about the Mass and about Vatican II. He praised much of it.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary Ann - I am a convert to the Catholic Church and also a naturalized US citizen. I left so much behind to wholeheartedly embrace and pursue the truth of the Catholic Church and it seems that as time goes on, there is so much that distresses me that I see in the Church and in America in general. Now as a military family, we have lived in a lot of places and I currently I am in an amazing diocese. I attend a NO parish and it is absolutely beautiful and reverent and conducive to prayer and the spiritual life. I'm so grateful to be there. Unfortunately I've seen so much ugliness in other dioceses and sometimes I am led to hunker down in my own little world and stay safe where I am. In one way I must remember that there is a different side to every scandalous act I see happening. God knows the bigger picture and sees the hearts of everyone. My job is to do what is in front of me - taking care of my family, raising our boys. I don't want to engage in acts of curiosity and speculation which could lead potentially to calumny. Sometimes it is like the Church is being ripped apart at the seams by the people in it!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for this long comment but I'm trying to make sense of what I am meant to do or say in all of this! I guess I should talk to my spiritual director!
God bless you, Lucy. You sound like you have your priorities straight: God first, family and the duties of your state in life second. Other activities as time and energy permit. We live in strange and difficult times. I think we need saints like John the Baptist who was brutal in confronting Herod and his evil as well as the pharisees. We also need the prophet who will not break the bruised reed or quench the burning ember. May the Holy Spirit pour out his grace on all of us as we struggle to understand and do God's will.
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