I hope the papal preacher doesn’t think the Irish bishops are being scapegoated for the grave transgressions of their clergy.
(T)he preacher of the papal household told (Pope Benedict) and other Vatican officials that as a matter of justice the church must publicly admit the weakness of some of its priests. But more is needed to renew the priesthood, said Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, giving his weekly Advent meditation Dec. 11.
It’s a good thought: renewal of the priesthood. That includes bishops, of course. If Rome were a bit more forthright on that point, it would be a good thing. THE USCCB, largely, remains silent on the matter of misbehaving bishops.
CNS has a lengthy piece today on the meeting of Irish bishops with the pope and a few curia heads. Pope Benedict is penning a pastoral letter specifically to the Catholics of Ireland. It will be an interesting read. I know I’ll be watching it for the tone taken toward bishops. Cardinal Sean Brady:
I asked (the pope), in my opening remarks, to teach us, to help us be better shepherds of the people, to lead us on the way of repentance and so, therefore, there will be suggestions about celebrations of lament and repentance involving, first of all, us bishops and priests.
What do you think might be included in such a letter? What should be included? Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin said there needs to be greater involvement of laypeople in all areas of church life. Do you think that will be swallowed well?
Catholic Sensibility 
I confess that I no longer care much. The time for the bishops and the pope to have any impact beyond the negative is long over.
Michael is never too late, I think this dark chapter in the history of the church will pass and G-d will renew his church.
I no longer believe that it’s God’s church.
“(T)he preacher of the papal household told (Pope Benedict) and other Vatican officials that as a matter of justice the church must publicly admit the weakness of some of its priests.”
This is so very typical!
Rather than apologize for what the Catholic Church itself has done, the pope (or some delegated flunky) invariably apologizes for the sins of the “children” of the Church who went astray. This language of distance can appear so carefully parsed and diplomatic that it fuels the very resentments that it thinks it can mollify.
This Church has to learn that it is not coterminous with Jesus Christ! Pope and clerics in general can say what they want, but just because they say it doesn’t mean that what they say speaks to the truth.
This Church has to learn that it is not coterminous with Jesus Christ! Pope and clerics in general can say what they want, but just because they say it doesn’t mean that what they say speaks to the truth.
“coterminous”? Interesting word choice.
However, I think it was Christ who established “This Church”… or are we past believing that now…because if that’s the case, I wonder why this whole issue would even concern you.
However, I think it was Christ who established “This Church”… or are we past believing that now…because if that’s the case, I wonder why this whole issue would even concern you.
Perhaps He did. Too bad “This Church” decided to stop concerning itself with Him.
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Coterminous: “Linked or related and expiring together; Having matching boundaries; or, adjoining and sharing a boundary; Having the same scope, range of meaning, or extent in time; Meeting end to end or at the ends.”