Rogue Catholic bishops plan to grow schismatic challenge to Rome - Yahoo News

 

NOVA FRIBURGO, Brazil (Reuters) - Two renegade Catholic bishops plan to consecrate a new generation of bishops to spread their ultra-traditionalist movement called "The Resistance" in defiance of the Vatican, one of them said at a remote monastery in Brazil.

French Bishop Jean-Michel Faure, himself consecrated only two weeks ago by the Holocaust-denying British Bishop Richard Williamson, said the new group rejected Pope Francis and what it called his "new religion" and would not engage in a dialogue with Rome until the Vatican turned back the clock.

Williamson and Faure, who were both excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church when the former made the latter a bishop without Vatican approval, are ex-members of a larger dissenting group that has been a thorn in Rome's side for years.

Their splinter movement is tiny - Faure did not give an estimate of followers - but the fact they plan to consecrate bishops is important because it means their schism can continue as a rebel form of Catholicism.

"We follow the popes of the past, not the current one," Faure, 73, told reporters on Saturday at Santa Cruz Monastery in Nova Friburgo, in the mountain jungle 140 km (87 miles) inland from Rio de Janeiro.

French Bishop Jean-Michel Faure (2nd R) gives holy communions during a mass in Nova Friburgo near Ri …

"It is likely that in maybe one or two years we will have more consecrations," he said, adding there were already two candidates to be promoted to bishop's rank.

The monastery had said Williamson would ordain a priest there at the weekend but he was not seen by reporters, and clergy said it was impossible to talk to him. Faure ordained the priest himself.

Asked what the new group called itself, Faure said: "I think we can call ourselves Roman Catholic first, secondly St Pius X, and now ... the Resistance."

SPLINTER OFF THE SSPX

The Society of St Pius X (SSPX) is a larger ultra-traditionalist group that was excommunicated in 1988 when its founder consecrated four new bishops, including Williamson, despite warnings from the Vatican not to do so.

It rejected the modernizing reforms of the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council and stuck with Catholicism's old Latin Mass after the Church switched to simpler liturgy in local languages.

Former Pope Benedict readmitted the four SSPX bishops to the Catholic fold in 2009, but the SSPX soon expelled Williamson because of an uproar over his Holocaust denial.

In contrast to Benedict, Pope Francis pays little attention to the SSPX ultra-traditionalists, who claim to have a million followers around the world and a growing number of new priests at a time that Rome faces priest shortages. Their remaining three bishops have no official status in the Catholic Church.

Faure said the Resistance group would not engage in dialogue with Rome, as the SSPX has done. "We resist capitulation, we resist conciliation of St Pius X with Rome," he said.

Faure said he was not sure what it would take for Rome to return to its old traditions but conflict could be a catalyst.

 

French Bishop Jean-Michel Faure (C) attends a mass in Nova Friburgo near Rio de Janeiro March 28, 20 …

"If there is another World War ... maybe the Church will go back to the way it was before," he said.

The prior of the monastery, Thomas Aquinas, explained the split simply: "The Pope is less Catholic than us."

Under Catholic law, Williamson and Faure are excommunicated from the Church but remain validly consecrated bishops. That means they can ordain priests into their schismatic group and claim to be Catholic, albeit without Vatican approval.

By contrast, women supposedly made priests by dissident Catholic bishops are not validly ordained because Catholic law reserves the priesthood only for men.

(Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer; Editing by Tom Heneghan and Richard Chang)

Rogue Catholic bishops plan to grow schismatic challenge to Rome - Yahoo News

Looking Past Cardinal Dolan's Hearty Smile | Michael D'Antonio

 

In Rome, Vatican watchers like to say that the institutional Catholic Church measures time not with a clock, but with a calendar, and that its memory is as durable as the records in its archives, where Galileo's signature, preserved in the documents from his famous trial, looks like it was penned yesterday. In America the one institution that might match the Vatican when it comes to memory and deliberative care is our system of justice where, according to the reliable cliché, the wheels grind slowly. But grind they do and they are gradually revealing the character behind the façade of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan's hearty smile and twinkling eyes.
In the most recent turn in the struggle for justice by victims of clergy sexual abuse, a federal judge found that the Archdiocese of Milwaukee cannot stash $55 million in a trust devoted to cemeteries and deny litigants access to the money as they sue for compensation. Victims of predator priests have used the courts to seek both the documented truth and financial compensation for more than a decade.

The architect of the trust fund idea was then Archbishop of Milwaukee Dolan, who was subsequently made cardinal of New York by Pope Benedict XVI.

Before he shocked the Church by resigning, Benedict stood as the symbol of the Vatican's immoral and schizophrenic response to abuse as he spoke empathetically but acted to shield both clergy and the Catholic treasury. Dolan practiced the same duality, posing as a Christ-like figure of compassion in meetings with victims but acting as if he never heard the admonition to the greedy contained in the gospel of Luke. Indeed, after establishing the trust he then sought the protection of the bankruptcy court for the rest of the assets of the archdiocese. This strategy was replicated elsewhere in the country as bishops, who understood that victims had won billions of dollars in compensation, recognized in Dolan's example a way to evade claims.

Created just as the state of Wisconsin was moving to permit victim lawsuits against the official church, Dolan's enormous trust fund was described by the archdiocese as a vehicle for the care of eight burying grounds. For the care of clergy victims Milwaukee church officials proposed $4 million, less than 10 percent of the sum earmarked for the dead, to be split by 128 claimants. An additional 450 people who came forward to accuse priests of sexual abuse would have been given nothing because they failed to meet certain legal, not moral, criteria.

Although it was explained in straight-faced seriousness, the notion that this much money would be required for a cemetery trust is hard to square with the experience of leaders at local churches who manage to cut the grass and plow pathways at their cemeteries with the aid of volunteers and revenues from the sale of plots. Court documents show that indeed, the cemeteries of the archdiocese actually operated at a profit of roughly $500,000 per year and the trust gave almost four times as much -- $1.95 million annually -- to headquarters in downtown Milwaukee.

So far, the archdiocese has spent more than $11 million in legal fees to wage its battle with victims in bankruptcy court. The cemetery excesses, since the trust was established, have totaled almost $8 million. Add these moneys to the $55 million secreted away by Dolan and you get an amount -- $74 million -- that would approach a reasonable settlement figure. These facts, revealed by the grinding wheel of American justice, represent the truth behind the hail-fellow-well-met image Dolan has cultivated. Although he has seemed a bit out of step since his sponsor, Benedict, was replaced by the more humble Francis I, Dolan has insisted that he has made no effort to change his style or practice. In view of how this vicar of Christ chose to represent Jesus when he managed the money in Milwaukee, that's too bad for New Yorkers.

Looking Past Cardinal Dolan's Hearty Smile | Michael D'Antonio

Cardinal Raymond Burke: Gays, Remarried Catholics Are Just As Sinful As Murderers

 

When Pope Francis last year effectively demoted U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke by moving him out of a senior post in the Vatican to a largely ceremonial role as head of a Rome-based Catholic charity, it was viewed as a way to sideline one of the pontiff’s most outspoken critics on the right.

But the move seems to have left Burke free to air his conservative — and pointed — views on efforts to change church practices, not that he was ever terribly hesitant about speaking his mind.

Now the American churchman has spoken out again, telling an interviewer that gay couples and divorced and remarried Catholics who are trying to live good and faithful lives are still like “the person who murders someone and yet is kind to other people.”

“If you are living publicly in a state of mortal sin there isn’t any good act that you can perform that justifies that situation: the person remains in grave sin,” Burke said in an interview with LifeSiteNews, a U.S.-based web service focused on battling abortion and promoting other conservative causes.

“And to give the impression that somehow there’s something good about living in a state of grave sin is simply contrary to what the (Catholic) Church has always and everywhere taught,” said Burke, who spoke to LifeSiteNews in Rome.

Asked if being “kind” and “generous” and “dedicated” is enough, Burke replied: “Of course it’s not. It’s like the person who murders someone and yet is kind to other people.”

The lengthy interview was published on Tuesday (March 24).

On the surface, Burke’s comments break little theological ground; the church has always taught that sin is sin, and some sins are especially serious. For example, cohabitation, homosexual relations and adultery (which is how the Catholic Church views the relations of a couple who are divorced and remarried without annulling the first marriage) are viewed as mortal sins, as is murder.

But comparing those situations in any context is unusual, and certainly out of step with the pastoral tone that Francis has set in his papacy. Moreover, reformers argue that a murderer — or almost any other sinner — can go to confession, receive absolution, and take Communion in a state of grace. But there is no such option for a gay person or those who are divorced and remarried, except permanent celibacy.

The cardinal’s comments take on added weight in the context of the increasingly heated debate that Francis opened over how the church should respond to rapid changes in family life in the modern world.

The issues were heatedly debated at a global summit of bishops and cardinals at the Vatican last October, and the debates have continued as both sides jockey for position ahead of a follow-up synod this October. Those who back reforms in church practices and attitudes — especially toward gay couples and those who are divorced or cohabiting — are opposed by those who see any changes as tantamount to undermining doctrine.

During last fall’s synod, several high-ranking churchmen spoke about the lives of unmarried or remarried couples as having value that the church should recognize.

Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, for example, repeatedly stressed that the church should “look at the person and not the sexual orientation.” He cited the case of a gay couple he knew in which one partner cared for the other through a long-term illness in a way that was “exemplary. Full stop.”

Similarly, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich, a senior adviser to Francis, said that “one simply cannot say that a faithful homosexual relationship that has held for decades is nothing.”

“We just mustn’t lump things together and measure everything with the same yardstick, but must differentiate and take a closer look, which doesn’t mean that I endorse homosexuality as a whole,” he said.

But such language sounded alarm bells for traditionalists like Burke, who after the synod was named to the largely ceremonial post of patron of the Order of the Knights of Malta. In his earlier post in the Roman Curia, Burke was automatically included in the synod discussions; he will probably not take part in this fall’s meeting.

In this latest interview, he repeated his earlier claims that reformers were manipulating the synod discussions and waging a media campaign “to justify extra-marital sexual relations and sexual acts between persons of the same sex” that would undermine church teaching.

Burke, 66, has raised eyebrows, and made headlines, with previous comments. Earlier this year, he argued that the church has become too “feminized” and he blamed the introduction of altar girls more than 20 years ago for the decline in vocations to the church’s all-male priesthood.

The cardinal also blamed gay clergy for the church’s sexual abuse crisis, saying priests “who were feminized and confused about their own sexual identity” were the ones who molested children.

Cardinal Raymond Burke: Gays, Remarried Catholics Are Just As Sinful As Murderers

Catholic priests’ group won’t take stance on referendum

In Ireland the bishops oppose same sex marriages and Association of Priests say nothing.

Association of Catholic Priests has decided not to take a position on the same-sex marriage referendum on May 22nd, and has urged priests not to direct parishioners to vote either Yes or No.

In a statement the group, which has a membership of more than 1,000 priests in Ireland, said: “After a consultation with our members, the results of which indicated clearly a wide range of views, the Association of Catholic Priests has decided not to adopt a position in favour or against the marriage equality referendum.”

The association appealed for “a respectful and civilised debate in which the issues involved can be discussed in a calm and reasonable manner”.

“Sexual orientation does not debar anyone from God’s love. If as priests we are speaking on this matter, we need to remember that the use of intemperate language can cause deep hurt among gay people and their families, as well as doing further damage to an already ailing church.”

The association said priests had a “particular responsibility” to measure their words carefully, and “not to direct their parishioners to vote Yes or No”.

“We look forward to a debate that will be characterised by freedom of speech and respectful listening so that the best result for the Irish people might be reached.”

Position of Christians

Meanwhile, the archdiocese of Dublin has issued a transcript of what Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said in response to a question on the position of Christians who did not agree with same-sex marriage, should the referendum be passed.

Archbishop Martin was speaking following a talk he delivered on “The Teaching of the Church on Marriage Today” at an Iona Institute gathering on Thursday night.

The transcript was issued by the archdiocese in response to what it described as “commentary, some inaccurate, in mainstream and social media in recent days concerning responses given by Archbishop Martin to a question at a public meeting which he addressed in Dublin last week, in particular in relation to freedom of conscience”.

The archdiocese said that at the event “the archbishop limited his comments to the broad issue of freedom of conscience, without making any specific proposals in the context of the upcoming referendum”.

It had been reported that Archbishop Martin had called on the Government to insert a “conscience clause” in the legislation to accommodate troubled Christians should the referendum be passed.

‘Brutal persecution’

On a more global scale, the Irish Catholic Bishops have joined with Pope Francis in calling for an end to the “brutal persecution” of minorities in the name of religion. They prayed for “a renewed global commitment to respect freedom of conscience and religion”.

The bishops said that “across the world the denial of the freedom of conscience and religion is closely connected to other human rights abuses”.

“The consequences include violent conflict, loss of life, forced displacement of populations, and the abduction and exploitation of women and children. This is a truly global crisis, but it is the poorest communities that remain most at risk.”

Catholic priests’ group won’t take stance on referendum

Church of England to have first bishop couple - Yahoo News

 

London (AFP) - The Church of England will have its first husband and wife bishops after nominating Alison White to be the next bishop of Hull on Wednesday.

"This is an adventure I had never imagined setting out on," White said in a statement.

"You may have noticed that I am married to a bishop. This may seem excessive! You would think that one in a family is more than enough.

"Believe me, this has crossed our minds."

Her husband, Frank White, is a deputy bishop in Newcastle in northern England although in effect he has the same status as a bishop.

The Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who made the announcement, said it was "a joyous day".

"Alison is a person of real godliness and wisdom -- it is fantastic that she has accepted God's call," he said.

The Church of England consecrated its first female bishop, Libby Lane, in January.

The general synod of the Church of England last year gave final approval to a historic reform allowing female bishops.

Women have been able to be ordained as priests in England since 1992 and now make up a third of the clergy.



View Comments (125)

Church of England to have first bishop couple - Yahoo News

Weekly Collection for the weekend of March 22, 2015

 

Three additional pledges;  $1,800 additional pledged.

19th Century Church In Northeast Philadelphia To Be Demolished « CBS Philly

 

By Molly Daly

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced its plan to demolish the city’s oldest Polish Roman Catholic church. The archdiocese acted last fall to de-consecrate St. Laurentius, a church that dates back to the late 19th century. It’s a move that a group of parishioners have appealed to the Vatican to overturn.

St. Laurentius church was erected in the late 1880s. In 2013, it merged with Holy Name of Jesus parish. That’s where the demolition plan was announced over the weekend. Patricia Kinsman, with the group Save St. Laurentius, says the archdiocese is moving without waiting for a decision from the Vatican.

“The archdiocese contacted Holy Name on Wednesday and said they could move forward to get their permits for demolition,” she says. “But our appeal never came back. It’s sitting at the Vatican waiting to be reviewed, and they just jumped the gun.”

In a statement, the archdiocese put the cost of repairing St. Laurentius at $3.5 million, a cost it says would “seriously jeopardize the fiscal welfare of the parish as well as its future existence.” Officials say demolishing the structure would cost about $1 million. But Kinsman says an engineer her group retained put the tab for repair at $650,000. And she says the archbishop is required to repair a building that’s fixable.

“They are violating canon law,” Kinsman says. “And, unfortunately, legally, they own the building. In the court of law, of American law, there’s nothing we can do.”

Except hope the Vatican answers their prayers.

19th Century Church In Northeast Philadelphia To Be Demolished « CBS Philly