Archive for the ‘catholic’ Category

Fr Baron makes the Priestly Celibacy Point.

Posted: May 16, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: ,

Not the one about vows but the one about priorities:

This distinction between God and the world is the ground for the anti-idolatry principle that is reiterated from the beginning to the end of the Bible: Do not turn something less than God into God.

Isaiah the prophet put it thus: “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my thoughts above your thoughts and my ways above your ways, says the Lord.” And it is at the heart of the First Commandment: “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods besides me.” The Bible thus holds off all the attempts of human beings to divinize or render ultimate some worldly reality. The doctrine of creation, in a word, involves both a great “yes” and a great “no” to the universe.

Now there is a behavioral concomitant to the anti-idolatry principle, and it is called detachment. Detachment is the refusal to make anything less than God the organizing principle or center of one’s life.

His argument is a more doctrinal argument than a practical one. It will convince no non catholic and the subtitles will not impress non practicing Catholics.

…this makes it the perfect argument for CNN to present in the pro side on their debate in commentary.

St. Paul talks about being all things to all people, I’m afraid Fr. Baron’s heart is in the right place but his argument serves nothing but to give CNN a fig leaf of balance.

Listening to the ASU speech I see big trouble…

Posted: May 14, 2009 by datechguy in catholic, opinion/news
Tags: , , ,

…for those of us who think it is a disgrace that he (the President) is invited to Notre Dame to receive a degree and give the commencement speech.

He is likely going to give a very good speech and maybe an uplifting one. We are going to look very foolish when he does…

…however you know what: Let us look foolish!

We don’t dispute that the president can make a good speech or give a good message. Since Fr. Jenkins is not going to retreat I hope that the president does give a good speech and an inspiring one. That is the task that he has been given.

We say and we affirm that we are Catholics. We say and affirm the Nicene Creed every week. We affirm our loyalty to the Holy Roman Catholic Church. We affirm that the foremost Catholic University in the United States has a moral obligation to stand up for those Catholic values that we embrace. We affirm and support the message of the Bishops of the church that we don’t honor those who stand against our deepest beliefs and aid an intrinsic evil.

We take this stand even if it is unpopular, in fact especially if it is unpopular. St. Peter’s greatness didn’t come when he took the popular and safe decision to deny Jesus when he was clearly going down. He built a church by defying the leaders of his own Jewish faith (Don’t forget Jesus and all of the early disciples were Jews.) and the greatest military power in the world. He died defying that power but he died with the keys to heaven in his hands and when those who killed him came to the gates who was standing there with the keys?

I am an American Catholic of Italian/Sicilian stock. My grandparents came to this country over 100 years ago and built a life. I would not trade my worst time in America for the citizenship of any other nation and I thank God and my parents and grandparents that I and my children are Americans, however at best I will live in America for 120 years more likely with my waistline closer to 60-70 years if I’m lucky. Eternity is a whole lot longer. If I have to choose between America and the kingdom of heaven that is no choice at all:

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the learned I will set aside.”

Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith.

For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:18-31

We will look foolish in the eyes of many but eternity is a long time and when we get to the gates we know who will be holding the keys.

One more thing about the Cutie…

Posted: May 13, 2009 by datechguy in catholic

I have a pet peeve about people making the argument about priestly celibacy.

About 20 years ago I knew a this girl she was very good looking and everyone married or not (including me) noticed her and she liked being noticed. One day to my surprise she approached me asking my opinion about a married man she was interested in.

When someone asks you advice about dating a married man by definition the argument “He’s a married man!” isn’t going to cut it. So I pointed out that if he was willing to be disloyal to the mother of his kids with her, what will stop him from being disloyal to you once he finds someone he finds hotter? That was an argument she understood. So lets ask the question:

If a priest is ready to break his vows on one thing what makes anyone think that he won’t be willing to break them on another?

As for married priests I actually don’t care which way the church goes on it. We currently have some married priests due to protest conversions It’s not a piece of unchanging dogma but as the father of a family the clash between family and church would be huge and I haven’t figured out how priests managed to do everything they need to already.

It’s a phony argument

Posted: May 13, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: ,

The Orthometer via the Curt Jester cuts though the nonsense concerning the Fr. Cutie scandal:

He is unapologetic about it. He only regrets causing people pain, not violating his promises, not committing the mortal sin of adultery (the woman is evidently a divorcee). He is so unrepentant that he went on national TV where he said that celibacy is good, but it should be optional for priest. (And the man caught in adultery said, “Marital fidelity is a beautiful thing, but it should be optional.”)

Fr. Richtsteig then hits another 3:

If you want to know what I think about priests “falling in love” and leaving, read this. Said briefly, it is the equivalent of a married man falling in lust with another woman and leaving his family because he can’t control his hormones. Human beings are rational animals not just animals. Yes, we have feelings, but we use our mind and will to discern which are in accord with God’s will and should be acted upon.

I am also not much interested in ‘dialoguing’ with those include Cutie who want to use this challenge the Church’s apostolic teaching on celibacy. One does not need to be sexually active and/or married to lead a normal life or be free from loneliness. No one ever died or became ill from not having sex. If you think optional celibacy is the or a panacea for problem clergy, take a long hard look at Orthodox, Protestant, or Jewish clergy.

We all struggle with our own temptations, I know I do and the Curt Jester has solid advice on it:

He said that he had been under spiritual direction since he was tempted against celibacy and that this is something he struggled with. Too bad he did not take this temptation more seriously and worked to avoid situations where he would be tempted. Becoming a minor celebrity and media personality and being nicknamed “Father Oprah” was probably not the most prudent course if you are particularly tempted in this manner. We should flee from those situations where we know we are easily tempted.(emphasis mine)

Not doing so is like eating food that you know you are allergic to.

Older Entries
Newer Entries