Wednesday 13 April 2016

A Wise and Prudent Father



On social media and even some blogs, there are some quite wild and fantastical things being said of Cardinal Raymond Burke's 'intervention' including talk of 'betrayal'. What madness. Nobody's asked me for my thoughts, so I thought I'd give them to you anyway...

Precisely because faithful Catholics - especially in the blogosphere, yep, me too -are engaged in the painful realisation that their worst fears have largely been confirmed by the tone and noted passages within Amoris Laetitia, and because we are either involved in or are witnessing something akin to a mass public meltdown, it is probably a very good thing that Cardinal Burke has stepped forward with a calm and measured response to the document. Indeed, precisely because unfaithful Catholics - especially in the blogosphere - are engaged in the jubilant realisation that their dreams are made true by this document, is it important that Cardinal Burke has said what he has said. He has said, 'You are still living in dreamland.'

We can easily get into a frame of mind in which because we are angry at the injustice that we have seen, that we are entirely justified, in every sense, in how we respond to that wrong. Cardinal Burke's approach to the document is distinctly different to the lay, angry Catholic blogger. He is being criticised, may I suggest, because his response is humble, measured, deferential, meek, legal, proportioned, Christian and, for a man in his particular rank, very prudent. He is not pouring petrol onto the fire. He is pouring water.

Nowhere in the article he has penned for the National Catholic Register can it be inferred, that Cardinal Burke believes Amoris Laetitia to have added anything of great value or weight to the Church's proclamation of the Gospel. It can almost certainly be inferred that it adds nothing to the Church's teachings. Cardinal Burke is looking at Amoris Laetitia from a legal perspective. He is, after all, the former Apostolic Signatura. He knows his canon law. His assessment is that the Pope's exhortation is, as a leading Prelate, important and worthy of note. His assessment is that, 'There is nothing to see here.' Cardinal Burke is saying that, in terms of the Church's teachings and in terms of the Church's pastoral practise, Amoris Laetitia is 260 pages of irrelevant.

For full post click here.


13 comments:

Lepanto said...

According to Fr.Timothy Radcliffe (letter in The Times 13 April 2016), the Pope has "done something far bolder than changing the rules, he invites us to go beyond understanding the moral life primarily as obedience to rules." All things to all men.

Not That Guy said...

No.

This is wise, rather: http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2016/04/amoris-laetitia-is-non-magisterial-not.html

Unknown said...

Whatever. If he didn't refute the document's erroneous teachings, he's just as bad as the rest of the cardinals who support it because as a shepherd it is his job to guide the sheep toward heaven. He failed, big time. Who knows, maybe they threatened him or his family.

But you know, Bonester, I'm already personally done with the whole Vatican 2 church which has become to me nothing more than an NGO with a steeple on top.

Kim, Seattle Sedevacantist

Unknown said...

Borrowing this from poster TKGS at Te Deum forum:

"How can it be possible that an official document promulgated by the "pope", in full consultation with the bishops sitting in synod for two years, and will be implemented by every diocesan bishop in the world in the administration of their dioceses in the matters in which it pertains is not Magisterial? The only way is if the authority that promulgated it doesn't have the authority to promulgate it. That is, he isn't really the pope.

The anti-sedevacantist defenders of Bergoglio have, I think, stretched their supreme dogma of anti-sedevacantism too thinly. This document is clearly intended to teach the faithful and to serve as a foundation for the bishops in shepherding their flocks. And a man, who has been stripped of all authority other than a title, is merely declaring it "inoperative"? "

Seattle kim

Unknown said...

The Revolution has begun to spread in earnest. The Philippines Bishops Conference issued a statement on Amoris Laetitia: "... O wonderful reality that the poor, the slave and the lowly should partake of the Lord. This is a disposition of mercy, an openness of heart and of spirit that needs no law, awaits no guideline, nor bides on prompting. It can and should happen immediately.”

It is a great relief to know that every faithful, stalwart and prudent prelate has heard (discerned) the urgent call to arms, taking the lead. These true "soldiers for Christ" are ready to leave all, suffer all, die to every personal consideration and delicacy in order to protect the Church and the souls under their care. Thank God that we can depend on our leadership to "man up" and fulfill their promises to lead the "resistance" against this real and very grave threat to the Faith. The Lord admished us to "turn the other cheek" personally not to turn the other way when the Truth and praxis are under attack. 

WhatYouWill said...

Unfortunately, as many "bishops" have said, it's ALREADY happening (just like washing women's feet). For Burke to say nothing has changed is ridiculous (and for you also)--because now these bishops have papal authority to do what they are ALREADY doing. The SCANDAL is in front of all our faces and is affecting many of our families and now will affect more, i.e. MORE will be led to hell by the vehicle of their salvation (Christ's Church). [BTW that is an oxymoron, which should tell you & burke something about the church you are claiming membership in.]

"Happily, the kind of pastoral discernment called for in Amoris Laetitia is already happening in many of our parish communities, and the Holy Father’s encouragement, coming just months after the World Meeting of Families, is a great gift." Chaput

http://catholicphilly.com/2016/04/news/local-news/archbishop-chaput-thankful-for-popes-thoughts-on-marriage-family/

"We all know MANY priests”, he (Cardinal Schoenborn) said, who admit remarried divorcees to Holy Communion “without discussing or asking, and that’s a fact.” He added that it is “difficult to handle for the bishop,” and said he was “very happy” that the Pope in the document takes up the controversial approach he has adopted in Vienna.
This involves what he called “five attentions” made to remarried divorcees: a series of five questions the priest must ask to see how merciful and correctly they have behaved before, it can be inferred, they are able to receive Holy Communion. They include how they treat the children of their first marriages, how they treated their abandoned spouse, and how they dealt with unresolved hatred.
With this approach, the sacraments “come into another light,” he said. “It’s about the way of conversion.”

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/video-cardinal-schoenborn-amoris-laetitia-needs-serious-theological-discuss/#ixzz45ir4l92E

My own niece is divorced & "remarried" and she has been receiving communion for over 5 years across three parishes--although since she was raised to "not believe in" confession anyway (or the real presence) not sure how it matters except she calls herself and her family "Catholic".

What constantly amazes me is the ability of you self-called faithful Catholics to constantly fool yourselves that something that ALREADY happened has not happened quite yet. Guess you will believe when you wake up in hell.

Anonymous said...

Cardinal Burke’s response was classical Roman Catholicism. Measured, logical, compassionate. He emphasises that this document is pastoral, the personal reflections of Jorge Bergoglio on the work of the Synod; and not a solemn act of the Magisterium. He connects the repeated use of the word “ideal” (of Christian marriage) with Vatican II where this “ideal” is expressly taught as being within the reach of all of us. And the Pope’s exhortation does not propose doctrine, the Cardinal confirms.

Instead, it addresses the messy day-to-day of our pluralistic society. He concludes with his own rather moving personal reminiscences, as a layman and as a priest, of those he has encountered who find themselves in challenging family situations in our increasingly pluralistic society. These reminiscences make it clear that he applauds Pope Francis’ attempts to grapple with these difficulties. But the indissolubility of marriage, he says, one man and one woman, has not changed.

As you and others have said, there are commentators who have totally misrepresented the document – and Cardinal Burke’s robust defence of it. Let’s be clear, these people were always going to do that, because it fits their ongoing agenda. Your own post seems a bit schizophrenic but ultimately you have lapsed into default conspiracy-theory mode. The document will be a new Vatican II, you suggest, a commie plot. You see a red under every bed. Well, fifty years down the road, flower-power and communism have come and gone but the Church is still standing, nothing has changed. Keep calm and keep prayin’.

Jacobi said...

Cardinal Burke comes into the ”don't panic“ category. The issues at stake here are too important and he realises that. He is not only being all the good things you things you have said about him, he is also being Catholic.

A.L., is not a fallible document. It should be treated with respect and consideration, but informed Catholics are free to disagree with it privately and publicly

The issue of canon law has been discussed recently. Related to it, I saw an article in the press last week which pointed out that in the UK, the law of Parliament is our defence against arbitrary and misguided government. I suggest canon law plays a similar part in Catholicism.

Francis, whatever ones' opinion of him is, has come and will go. He is after all but one of 266+ Popes, who have varied somewhat.

In two or three, “Pope times”, if I may use that expression, we will have another Council to sort out the present complete and utter shambolic mess, and then we can look amidst the wreckage for the Catholic Church and carry on again. Steady the Buffs!

c matt said...

The problem is, it seems Cdl Burke sees AL as 0, nada, rien, nothing. As you say, it adds nothing. But if that were the problem, there would be no issue with it. But it is not 0, nothing. It is -100, it detracts. Not officially of course. Heck, Francis himself says as much - he never claimed to change "official magisterial teaching." Rather, he simply is changing practice, of course. That's all. Nothing to see. Like the speed limit that's never enforced, or the tax that has so many loopholes no one has to pay it, it's still "on the books" but applies to no one.

c matt said...

A.L., is not a fallible document.

You mean, not "infallible"?

c matt said...

Those commenters, always misrepresenting PF's documents by quoting their language! How nefarious!

Unknown said...

Always remember, and make no bones about it, "the devil is in the details" when analyzing AL.

MAYDAY said...

"Simple Fairy Wand: The document will be a new Vatican II, you suggest, a commie plot. You see a red under every bed. Well, fifty years down the road, flower-power and communism have come and gone but the Church is still standing, nothing has changed. Keep calm and keep prayin’."

Excuse me? Maybe you didn't see the francis mess w/Che, Raoul & the cuban commies. Maybe you missed the fence mass, or the shoutout to the Italian Abortionist Communist, or Bernie Sanders, commie, being invited to the Vatican. Maybe you missed the eco encyclical worship flower mother earth. If you don't see the sodomites, pedophiles, baby murderers and adulterers receiving communion at mass--and if you do see them and think that is "nothing's changed" maybe you should join cardinal burke in stormin heavin w/prayer by saying your rosary once a month--next date is MAYDAY.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-is-still-hoping-for-an-audience-with-pope-francis-on-vatican-trip/2016/04/13/dc717c48-00ff-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/world/americas/pope-francis-donald-trump-christian.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/pope-celebrates-mass-under-the-eyes-of-che-guevara-during-historic-trip-to-cuba-10510411.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/reverend-jim-wallis-pope-francis-radical-communist/

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pope-calls-italys-foremost-abortion-promoter-one-of-nations-forgotten-great

http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2345-the-pope-and-the-baby-killer

http://www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/news/40-second-video-head-of-the-vaticans-pontifical-council-for-culture-cardinal-ravasi-participates-in-worshipping-an-andean-pagan-deity-known-as-pachamama/#.Vw7zQvkrJUQ

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/11/30/pope-francis-the-world-is-near-suicide-on-climate-change-its-now-or-never/

Everything's the same as before vc2. Church is still standing (according to you). But most everyone who belongs to it is going to hell. 3,000 babies are murdered every day in the U.S. Now we are "harvesting" organs from live people and selling aborted baby parts. We are 'assisting' suicide and distributing condoms in Kindergarten. Francis declares parents have to let his sick pervert sodomite pedophiles teach sex to their children (but not Christianity). Sodomites are buying babies and "baptizing" them in Catholic Churches -- sure same as before VC2. It's hard to deal with liars; but that's what happens in the church that's "still standing": liars who kill steal and destroy say they are "praying" and serving Christ. No wonder 2 Thes 2:8 states that Christ will destroy the anti-christ w/his breath (house of cards will collapse). And then that wicked one shall be revealed whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth; and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming,

http://www.out.com/news-opinion/2016/1/11/watch-inside-lgbt-friendly-catholic-church

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/03/us/ohio-seminary-student-joel-wright-sexual-assault.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mo-rocca-francis-mass_us_5606d8eee4b0768126fdc46a

http://www.latintimes.com/carlo-maria-vigano-fired-pope-francis-replace-us-vatican-ambassador-who-set-kim-davis-375137

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/21/they-had-to-call-out-the-riot-police-to-protect-this-man-who-was-just-ordained-a-catholic-bishop-because-hes-accused-of-a-disgusting-crime/

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