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| Cardinal Maradiaga: Francis 'feels called to construct' a Church |
The Honduran archbishop, who chairs the Council of Cardinals (C8) that advises the Pope, said Francis “feels called to construct” a Church that is, among other things: “At the service of this world by being faithful to Christ and his Gospel; free from all mundane spirituality; free from the risk of being concerned about itself, of becoming middle-class, of closing in on self, of being a clerical Church; able to offer itself as an open space in which all can meet and recognise each other because there is space for dialogue, diversity and welcome in it.”
For those who believe that the problems facing the Catholic Church in the 21st century are 'new' the book of Malachi was written at some point between the 200-500 years BC and its themes seem terribly 'modern'. This is, in the One True Church which compiled the Holy Bible, the last book of the Old Testament before the New Testament begins with the Gospel of St Matthew.
Firstly, there is an indictment of the priests of the time who...
'Hold the table of the Lord in contempt'.
Does that sound a little familiar? Secondly, there is a rebuke to priests who 'sniff disdainfully at me, says the Lord Sabaoth'. Quite simply, the priests of the time do not respect or reverence God - who do not fear God.
'For I am a great king, says the Lord Sabaoth, and my name is feared throughout the nations'.
A great king? Surely Thou art the Lord who enjoys the pottery chalice, make-it-up-as-you-go liturgy, some light liturgical dancing entertainment and a clown here and there?
'The lips of the priest ought to safeguard knowledge; his mouth is where instruction should be sought, since he is the messenger of the Lord Sabaoth. But you, you have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching.'
Instruction? Teaching? Sounds a bit trad to me! The priests of the time have clearly given up teaching people to sincerely fear, love, reverence and worship God, and nor do they do so themselves. Sound a little familiar?
Fourthly, the Lord makes known his hatred for mixed marriage and divorce. Yes, divorce! It's almost as if this book is for the 21st century or something. For his people, the Lord does not recommend mixed marriages.
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| He no likey. God hatey! |
God hates- read: hates, not 'does not particularly like or have much time for' - divorce!
'For I hate divorce, says the Lord the God of Israel, and I hate people to parade their sins on their cloaks, say the Lord Sabaoth. Respect your own life, therefore and do not break faith like this.'
The focus then shifts to the 'day of the Lord' which can equally be taken as the arrival of Our Lord Jesus Christ at his first coming, or the arrival of Our Lord Jesus Christ at His glorious Second Coming. Nothing else, it appears, is going to solve the moral and spiritual crisis of the 'particular' age whose sins we have outgrown.
You weary the Lord with your talk. You ask, 'How do we weary him? When you say, 'Any evil-doer is good as far as the Lord is concerned: indeed he likes them best.'
'I mean to visit you for the judgement and I am going to be a ready witness against sorcerer, adulterer and perjurer, against those who oppress the wage-earner, the widow and the orphan, and who rob the settler of his rights.'
Gosh, this really sounds like 'an open space in which all can meet and recognise each other because there is space for dialogue, diversity and welcome in it.' Let's face it, ultimately the new times call for a new way of 'being Church'. You know, because really, God's well, you know, chilled out. But wait...
'No; I, the Lord, do not change; and you, sons of Jacob, you are not ruined yet! Since the days of your ancestors you have evaded my statutes and not observed them. Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord Sabaoth.'
Okay, so the Lord is not best pleased. He doesn't change after all. He goes on...
You say, 'It is useless to serve God; what is the good of keeping his commands or of walking mournfully before the Lord Sabaoth? Now we have reached the point when we call the arrogant blessed; yes, they prosper, these evil-doers; they try God's patience and yet go free.'
'The day that is coming is going to burn them up, say the Lord Sabaoth, leaving them neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays; you will leap like calves going out to pasture. You will trample on the wicked, who will be like ashes under your feet on the day I am preparing, says the Lord Sabaoth.So, how will that new Church under construction fare on that great and terrible day?
'Let them build! I will pull down.' (Malachi, 1:4)
Good luck with that new construction, Your Eminence. No Bishop, Cardinal or Pope should feel called to 'construct' a Church since Our Lord Jesus said...
'Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church' (St Matthew, 16:18)
The Church belongs to Christ. It is He who builds and it is He who pulls down!
19 comments:
Excellent! Thank you, and Amen!
I'm not sure what you felt the significance was of including the photo of the Vatican lightening strike? But I think it's worth reminding ourselves that the event happened at the conclusion of Benedict's reign therefore if there is any super-natural meaning to it, it's an indictment of the Vatican and associated corruption at that time surely? Interestingly lightening also hit the dome of St Paul's not long ago so I think it more likely that its a natural phenomenon not uncommon to tall buildings which is why they all have lightening conductors!
Looks like, in the immortal lyrics of Jeff Lynne, "There's gonna be a showdown."
Props to ya, Bones.
The campaign to render the Church less middle class has been launched in "The Tablet"?
'An open space in which all can meet and recognise each other, blah, blah'. Sort of stuff I hoped I'd left behind when I retired from working for a Labour council. I suppose cardinals are just catching up on it: yesterday's ideology tomorrow to adapt Fr Z.
Great piece!
The arrogance of these people is astonishing. But they're typical revolutionaries, building their new Eden atop the Church they were entrusted to protect.
The opening comment is just hilarious. The Tablet trumpets it as if it's the home of diversity, free speech and anti-clericalism. The truth is:
(1) It's a white middle-class tabloid whose editor and deputy editor are both women. It has no writers who are black, working class or from ethnic minorities. Nor has it any writers who young. All of them are 50+ minimum. The Tablet trustees are from the same self-selecting group.
(2) It has written nothing defending the free speech of Deacon Nick and there's every reason to suppose behind the scenes they would have been tut-tutting and hoping he would get closed down by his Bishop. From their point of view it was 'mission accomplished'
(3) There has been no one more clerical than themselves always bringing forth comments and quotes from 'supportive' Cardinals, Bishops and priests to back up their ludicrous assertions about Catholic teaching. This article in itself is yet another example and they are up to the same trick, week-in week-out
Incidentally all of these points equally well apply to ACTA. How many black, working class or ethnic minorities do they have on the membership list? Where is their representation of the youth? I bet the answer to both those questions is zero.
Both ACTA and the Tablet are examples, par excellence, of groups 'closed in on themselves'.
Their campaign to render it devoid of the Deposit of Faith and morals started a long, long time ago.
How about the word "abhors"? I've read elsewhere that the Lord JesusChrist "ahbors" divorce. To me that's a bit "stronger" than the word "hates", although they both are perfectly descriptive of the emotion He feels about divorce.
"The Church belongs to Christ. It is He who builds and it is He who pulls down!"
Yes, Lawrence, but even the Lord needs hands and feet of others to work in and with him,
If the Honduran Cardinal has quoted
Pope Francis accurately, then it is something to be welcomed. If it is true I shall go my bed tonight with great joy.
I often remember the story of the Rabbi visiting the Catholic priest on a Monday morning as the latter was counting Sunday's collection. The Rabbi shook his head and sorrowfully said....."How did we lose the business?"
'He no likey, God hatey.'
Brilliant piece. You, see God, made sure that by the time a Frankie came along would could all read and know what a looney he is when it comes to Real things, like God and His Church.
eze.34.5 And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. eze.34.6 My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them. eze.34.7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: eze.34.8 As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks: eze.34.9 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: eze.34.10 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.eze.34.11 For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.
And somebody would like to prof that Maria Divine Mercy is not prophesying the TRUTH? Glory to God, WHO warns us on time: www.thewarningsecondcoming.com
I read your post and it contains very useful information. Thanks for this useful article.
Oh oh! a red flag! Francis “feels called to construct” a Church!
The real problem is Peter. Will he be THE ROCK? So far - in my view - the present ROCK is on slippery ground...yes I know I'm a nobody - who cares what I think anyway? NOBODY - how dare I make such a statement against the present Pontiff? - who am I to judge....? Etc.,
Well, I haven't switched my brain of just yet and can see what's happening and what's coming out of the Vatican has been disastrous since last March 2013...
And another thing: - the March for Life (yesterday) which included more than 40,000 people in Rome with a message from the Pope ...didn't even make ANY TV news that I could see....it was the same last year...
...and VENICE has just approved a"homosexual Parade" for June 28th - the city with a Church on every corner and which is one of the two in Italy consecrated to Our Lady!
What a horror! And from the Church authorities? Silence...NULLA
They can keep their new church - I want nothing to do with it...
Barbara
Is he talking of a physical or hypothetical church. Oh dear either way it sounds very UN catholic
According to the 'Association of Catholic (sic) Priests' website the Church is now living under a 'new dispensation'. Err..... Should somebody put them right?
A new dispensation? Who's doing the dispensing? Beelzebub? Baal?
Seattle kimmy
Of course not - that would be uncharitable and against the unity of the Church (!!!!). Please read Bishop Campbell's statement on his NOT (!!) closing Deacon Donnelly's blog - and heed the admonishment!
All the years of "sing a new church" has finally come to reality...God help us all
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