Clerical Whispers

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

1,300 clergy threaten to defect in the women bishops row

More than 1,300 clergy have written to the Archbishop of Canterbury saying they will defect from the Church of England if women are consecrated as bishops.

Members of the group, which includes 11 serving bishops, say they will take decisive action if two votes are passed this weekend to allow female bishops.

The move comes as the Anglican community is divided over the issue of homosexual clergy.

The letter, sent to Dr Rowan Williams and the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, comes before the meeting of the General Synod, the Church's governing body, in York on Friday.

They will make a landmark decision about the future of women in the Church.

The letter was signed by a total of 1,333 clergy and they have said they will only accept women bishops with legal safeguards so they can have a protected network of parishes.

This would mean people could worship under male clergy and bishops if they objected.

The two archbishops are thought to support the introduction of women bishops, but liberals within the Church are concerned that if safeguards are attached it would encourage discrimination by creating a 'church within a church'.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is being pressured by evangelicals opposed to gays, and traditionalists opposed to women's ordination.

The twin crisis is unprecedented since the Reformation devastated the Roman Catholic Church in England in the 16th century.

Most of the signatories come from the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Church.

Many will attempt to seek a ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. The church is short of priests and is expected to welcome them again, even if they are married with families, as it did when the Church of England ordained women priests.

Of the clergy who signed the protest letter, 60 per cent are still serving. Among the retired bishops is the former Bishop of Chichester, the Right Rev Eric Kemp. Some women deacons have also joined the protest.

The signatories to the letter represent 10 per cent of all practising clergy and hundreds of recently retired priests still active in the Church

At the same time 1,276 women clergy, 1,012 male clergy and 1,916 lay church members who support women bishops signed a statement objecting to the prospect of ' discriminatory' legislation to safeguard opponents.

Yesterday Dr Williams condemned a conservative breakaway that threatens to take 40million members from the Anglican Church worldwide.

He said a separate organisation for conservative Anglicans 'will not pass the test of legitimacy'. His intervention followed the decision of bishops opposed to gay rights to form their own group within the Anglican Communion, the 400-year-old network of sister churches of the Church of England.

Members of the new group would not recognise churches like the U.S. Episcopal Church which have gay bishops, and would distance themselves from the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

A majority of the leaders of the breakaway move-agreed at a conference in Jerusalem last week-are bishops from Africa and other Third World regions.

Some argue that the attempt by liberal clergy from Britain, America and Canada to alter traditional thinking on sexual morality and impose gay rights across the worldwide Church is a new form of colonialism.

Dr Williams warned African bishops, who intend to take over the leadership of conservative Anglicans in America and other liberal countries, of the 'obvious strain of responsibly exercising episcopal or primatial authority across enormous geographical and cultural divides'.

The Archbishop, who has condemned the 'abiding colonial shadow' left by the British Empire, rejected the idea that the spread of gay rights is a new form of colonial power play.
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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Claims alleging abuse by Colorado priests settled

The Archdiocese of Denver says it has agreed to pay $5.5 million to settle 18 claims by people who said Catholic priests sexually abused them when they were children.

Church officials said Tuesday that 16 of the cases were lawsuits and two were claims filed outside the court system.

Two law firms involved in the cases say 17 lawsuits were settled. The conflicting numbers couldn't immediately be reconciled.

The archdiocese says the claims involved three priests who have since died.

Archbishop Charles Chaput (SHAP'-yoo) says the archdiocese has now settled a total of 43 lawsuits or claims involving sexual abuse for a total of $8.2 million. Two lawsuits remain unresolved.

Chaput says the money is coming from what he called "archdiocesan assets" but no real estate has been sold to cover the expenses.
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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Catholic Church to fight equal rights for gays

RELIGIOUS groups such as the Catholic Church could be forced to employ openly gay and pro-abortion workers under a review of Victoria's equal opportunity laws.

The Brumby Government is considering dropping exemptions allowing religious groups to discriminate against people whose views and practices they find unacceptable.

The Catholic Church is concerned such a move could jeopardise its education, health, welfare and aged care services.

Melbourne archdiocese business manager Francis Moore said yesterday the church should not have to employ people who, for instance, were for abortion or euthanasia, or who had sexual relations outside of traditional marriage.

"If the church was put into a position where it was required to employ people who had beliefs or practices which were inconsistent with the church's view, then it would make it very difficult to continue to provide those services," he said.

"For that reason, we want those exceptions maintained."

The Catholic Church is among dozens of organisations and individuals who have made submissions to two reviews of equal opportunity laws ordered by Attorney-General Rob Hulls.

Some gay rights groups have called for the exemptions to be dumped, citing special concern about the employment of gay and lesbian teachers in religious schools.

"This exception is not appropriate, particularly given the fact that religious schools are involved in delivering a public service (education) using public funds," said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Health and Wellbeing.

The reviews may also lead to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission getting more power to investigate and act against discrimination.

It's proposed the discrimination watchdog gets the right to launch cases in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Recommendations from the reviews are due to go to Mr Hulls this month.
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Order of Canada to be awarded to abortionist

The Order of Canada Advisory Council has voted to award the Order of Canada to abortionist and militant atheist Dr. Henry Morgentaler.

Some Members of Parliament and others are reportedly moving to attempt to stop the bestowal of the award, calling the decision inappropriate and unpopular.

The award is scheduled to be bestowed on Morgentaler on July 1, Canada Day.

Morgentaler is sometimes referred to as “Canada's Father of Abortion” and “Canada’s Father of Secular Humanism,” according to LifeSiteNews.com. He is responsible for Canada’s elimination of laws restricting or regulating abortion.

In February LifeSiteNews.com reported that a group of abortion supporters were trying to force Dr. Morgentaler’s nomination for the award in a “last ditch effort.”

A public furore resulted, ending quickly when a February 20 press release from the office of the Governor General, who is responsible for the award, showed Morgentaler was not on 2008’s nominee list.

A June 28 e-mail from the organization 4MYCANADA reports that the normal Order of Canada award advisory process may have been changed. According to 4MYCANADA, the approval committee normally awards the honor by unanimous consent.

“From what we understand at this point,” 4MYCANADA says, “this committee, headed by Chief
Justice Beverly McLachlin, PC, decided to over-ride that protocol and take this one to a democratic vote on the committee. The majority of the committee voted in favor of Morgentaler's nominee and so, for (what we understand) may be the first time in history, the committee appointed someone without their normal unanimous consent - someone who millions of Canadians would not consider a hero in our nation."

Many pro-lifers have critically responded to the selection of Morgentaler for the award, the announcement of which comes over Canada’s major annual holiday weekend.

"It is dreadful that this honor should even be considered for a man who's only claim to fame is that he is a professional killer of defenseless babies in their mothers' wombs," said Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition. "Those who have received this prestigious medal should return it because it will have been devalued and disgraced.”

"If Morgentaler had any integrity he would refuse the medal", said Mary Ellen Douglas, National Organizer of CLC. "This presentation should be given to people who have made Canada a better place to live and the elimination of thousands of human beings who would have contributed to the future of Canada is a disgrace not an honor."

Columnist Douglas Farrow, in an article in the National Post, reports "the decision, which is to be announced in time for Canada Day, is clearly not driven by popular demand. For example, an online poll by the Globe and Mail, with over 300,000 respondents, went 92% to 8% against giving the award to Morgentaler."
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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Bishop Explains Priest Removal

The bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls says he and the Diocese have done everything they can to keep longtime priest Cathal Gallagher from being deported.

The bishop defended his actions on the eve of the installation of a new pastor.

Father Gallagher's congregations in DeSmet, Arlington and Iroquois first heard about his illegal status this May, even though immigration officials denied his application for permanent residency way back in February of 2006.

Now many are asking why more wasn't done during all that time in between.

After the last hymns were sung on Sunday, parishioners at St. Thomas Catholic Church let their frustrations ring out.

"At this point it appears the Bishop has abandoned Father's case," said Jay Slater, of DeSmet.S

later joined the church in 2005 and says he owes his Catholic faith to Father Gallagher. Now Slater says the Bishop owes everyone here some answers.

"We just feel that he needs to be speaking with us," Slater said. "He needs our input."

"Well this is of course something that none of us wanted to happen," said Bishop Paul Swain of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.

Bishop Swain began serving the Diocese after Father Gallagher was denied a Green Card, but the Bishop says they have done everything they can to appeal.

"Since that time our lawyers have continued to try and figure out a way, and they informed us a little earlier this year that there was no way that that decision was going to be reversed," Bishop Swain said.

The Bishop says it quickly became apparent that he would need to find a new priest or risk employing someone illegally.

Now that Father Gallagher's last mass is complete, the bishop says he doesn't know why the faithful in Kingsbury county were never told about the problem two years ago.

But the bishop admits that he too has not addressed the issue with the congregations.

"We've talked about it. Frankly some locally have advised me not to," Bishop Swain said. "It's just not the right time so just let it move to the completion and then we'll try to work on the healing."

Though sadness and goodbyes filled that void on Sunday, Father Gallagher said he is not angry. But he says he does understand why many are.

"I would be very angry if somebody else were treated this way," Father Gallagher said.

On Monday evening, those close to Father Gallagher said that he is not planning to leave the country immediately.

Instead, he is holding out hope that requests by South Dakota's congressional delegation will be heard by immigration officials and his case reopened.

Those requests were still unanswered on Monday night.
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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

South Korean Priests Lead Peaceful Anti-Government Beef Protest

South Korean Catholic priests led a peaceful protest against U.S. beef imports late yesterday after the authorities cracked down on recent demonstrations that turned violent.

About 200 priests with the Catholic Priests' Association for Justice held an ``emergency mass'' in the plaza in front of City Hall in the capital, Seoul.

It was attended by about 10,000 people, according to police estimates.

The clerics and protesters then held an hour-long parade, calling for the government to renegotiate its beef deal with the U.S.

Numbers grew to about 20,000 at the end of the march as people on the streets joined in, police said.

Clashes between police and demonstrators June 28 and 29 left more than 100 people injured on each side. President Lee Myung Bak has been trying to contain a backlash against his agreement in April to resume U.S. beef imports.

Protesters have staged daily demonstrations for the past two months to highlight the possibility of mad cow disease from imported U.S. beef.

Lee was forced to publicly apologize for his handling of the negotiations and fired all but one of his top aides.

`Stern Action'

The government promised ``stern action'' against violent protesters on June 29. South Korean police yesterday raided the offices of AntiMadCow, an umbrella group of South Korean consumer groups, food safety advocates and student activists.

Mad cow disease is a brain-wasting livestock illness that scientists say is spread in cattle by tainted animal feed. Eating contaminated meat from infected animals can cause a fatal human variant that has been blamed for the deaths of 151 people in the U.K., where it was first reported in the 1980s.

South Korea, once the third-largest importer of American beef, stopped accepting shipments in 2003 when the U.S. discovered its first mad cow case. Some beef was imported in 2006 and the ban was reinstated in October last year.

The priests yesterday called on protesters to continue peaceful rallies. They also began a fast over the resumption of U.S. beef imports and pledged to hold a mass at the City Hall Plaza every evening at 7 p.m. Seoul time, according to a statement distributed to the protesters.

The U.S. and South Korea agreed June 21 that South Korea will import beef only from animals younger than 30 months, which are thought to be at lower risk for mad cow disease.

The U.S. agreed to verify the age of its exports.
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Theft at archbishop's home nets Catholic treasures

An overnight burglary at the St. Paul residence of new Archbishop John Nienstedt netted the thief or thieves the gem- and precious-metal-laden rings and crosses worn by bishops throughout the 150-year-plus history of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, a church official said Monday.

"These things are historically and reverentially irreplaceable," said Dennis McGrath, spokesman for the archdiocese. "They're beyond value."

Believed to be missing, as well, are rosaries and a small safe. "It's like a historical treasure trove, if you will," McGrath said.

The burglary came on a weekend that was set to be a glorious one for Nienstedt, who was in Rome for a welcoming ceremony featuring Pope Benedict.

According to St. Paul police, the break-in occurred at the residence at 226 Summit Av. between 1:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday.

Whoever broke in climbed onto a first-floor roof and broke into a second-story window, police spokesman Peter Panos said.

About a week earlier, Nienstedt had set out for Rome with a group of about 100 church officials and worshipers, many of them acquaintances from his years as the bishop of the New Ulm Diocese, McGrath said.

On Sunday, they were witnesses to a ceremony in which Nienstedt received from the pope a pallium -- a garment presented to all archbishops. "It is an important event," McGrath said.

Along with Nienstedt's "former faithful from New Ulm," the archbishop then was to embark for Ulm, Germany, on a trip that had been delayed by his selection to his new post, McGrath said.

Early Monday, Panos, the police spokesman, said that it appeared that the stolen items might consist of a camera and personal jewelry, "but they're not sure," he added. But by afternoon, McGrath reported first the addition of the safe, then the rosaries and finally, after a church official reached Nienstedt overseas, the rings and pectoral crosses.

McGrath said there is no evidence that the burglary had political overtures against Nienstedt, whose orthodox style has been controversial with some Catholics in the archdiocese. The intruders were clearly bent on burglary, he said, adding that it appears that there were at least two people working in tandem and that they were familiar with the residence.

"These guys were pros," he said. "The glass they broke through is, like, three or four inches thick. They couldn't get through without a sledgehammer. They executed a well-thought-out plan. They knew exactly where to go in his bedroom."

Panos said that police, too, believe that more than one person might be involved. The weight of the safe alone, he said, suggests that teamwork was required.

McGrath, who said he did not know if the stolen items were insured, said he couldn't imagine someone wearing them. The crosses, for example, "are on a gold chain, very ornate," and drape over the chest, he said.

"I don't think 50 Cent would wear it," he said, referring to the rap star.

Looking back, McGrath said he could not think of another such incident in the archdiocese's history.

"It takes a lot of gall to rob an archbishop" across the street from the Cathedral of St. Paul, he said.
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Catholic Priest assassinated: the first in the history of Nepal

A Catholic priest, Salesian Fr. John Prakash, 62 years old was killed last night in Sirsiya (Morang district), in east Nepal. He is the first priest to be killed in the country.

Police have opened an inquest into his death, their suspicions falling on a terrorist group.

Fr. John Prakash, a native of Kerala India had worked in Nepal for over 10 years (see photo).

He was the principal of Don Bosco School and lived along with two other Salesians in their residence attached to the school.

Fr. George Kalangara, the parish vicar told AsiaNews that during the night a group of armed men broke into the priest’s residence and immobilised Fr. Mathew who had only just joined the community in Nepal. Another resident priest Fr. Lazarus Maradi was travelling abroad at the time. The group then turned on Fr. Prakash demanding money.

“Then we don’t know really what happened” – says Fr. Kalangara – “we only know that there was an explosion. When the police arrived there were signs of a struggle. On one side of the room the windows were smashed and broken glass was everywhere”.

Police have confirmed that the bomb ha sled to widespread damage of the buildings, opened just one year ago. At the scene of the crime the furnishings were completely destroyed.

The security forces suspect an underground terrorist group, the Terai Defence Army, of being behind the attack. A policeman confirmed to AsiaNews that leaflets belonging to the group were found in the complex. Twice in the past the group had demanded money from the school principal. Police reported that there were bills amounting to 600 US dollars as well as Indian Rupees and Nepalese coins littered on the ground at the scene of the crime.

Fr. Benjamin Pampackel, another Salesian speaking to AsiaNews, warns against hurried conclusions: “We can only say that Fr. John is no longer here. We will wait for the police inquiry to do its job, in order to understand what really happened and who were responsible”.

Msgr. Anthony Sharma, Nepal’s first bishop, has condemned the incident. He told AsiaNews that he had no knowledge of the group believed to be behind the attack.

The Private Boarding School Association of Nepal, Pabson, has also condemned the murder and has asked for urgent government action to bring those guilty to justice.

The Salesian fathers who work in Morang district, are not only committed to education projects but also to development of rural villages, healthcare for mothers and children, and training of healthcare professionals as well as pastoral work.

This assassination - performed by a terrorist group -is the first to mark the history of the Catholic Church in Nepal. In the past however, other priests and religious have been subjected to threats and robberies. In 1997 a Jesuit priest was killed in a robbery.

Nepal’s Catholics count 7 thousand out of a population of 25 million.
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“Combating poverty, building peace,” theme for 2009 World Day of Peace, says Pope

“Combating poverty, building peace” is the theme chosen by Benedict XVI for his message for the 42nd World Day of Peace, due to be celebrated on 1 January 2009.

In a statement released today, the Vatican said that by choosing the topic of “Combating poverty, building peace,” the Pope wants “to highlight the need for the human family to find an urgent response to the serious question of poverty, seen as a material problem but above all as a moral and spiritual one.”

More recently the Holy Father denounced the scandal of poverty in the world, wondering “how can one remain insensitive to the appeals of those who, on the various continents, are not able to feed themselves enough to live? Poverty and malnutrition are not a simple fatality, provoked by adverse environmental situations or by disastrous natural calamities. . . . Purely technical and economic considerations must not prevail over the duties of justice towards people suffering from hunger (Message addressed by His Holiness Benedict XVI to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation on 2 June).”

“The scandal of poverty reveals the inadequacy of current systems of human coexistence in promoting the realisation of the common good (cf Second Vatican Council, Past Constitution, Gaudium et spes, 69).

“This imposes the need for reflection on the deep roots of material poverty and, consequently, also on spiritual poverty which makes man indifferent to the suffering of others. The answer, then, is to be sought first and foremost in the conversion of the human heart to the God of charity (cf Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Deus Carits Est), so as to achieve poverty of spirit in the terms of the Message of salvation announced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ (cf, Mt 5:3).”
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Principals are split over role of religion in the classroom

SCHOOL principals are split down the middle over the role of religion in primary schools.

Some say it should be separate from the primary school completely or offered as an option at the end of the school day.

But others see religion as an integral part of the school day -- as it currently is, particularly in Catholic schools.

However, almost a quarter of principals say the enthusiasm, willingness, competency and suitability of teachers to undertake faith formation and religious instruction is decreasing. Other findings from the survey of 750 principals include:

*50pc say that the involvement of parents is decreasing.

* 40pc say the involvement of clergy is decreasing.

* 87pc say that the preparation for sacraments and other religious ceremonies takes some or a lot more additional time from other curriculum areas, mainly in second and sixth classes and seasonally throughout the year in other classes.

Two out of three who responded to the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) survey would prefer schools to be under the authority of the State with all religions given equal opportunity.

The proposed new VEC model of multi-faith schools, where the school is responsible for religious instruction and faith formation for each faith group, is considered difficult or impossible to implement by four out of five of those surveyed.

"A practical way to deal with this issue would be for schools to teach a general programme of faith and morals common to many religions while the parents and clergy of the parish of whatever denomination they are take care of the specific faith formation and ceremonies if they are genuinely interested in passing on their faith," one principal commented.

The latest survey follows a Red C poll of 327 parents, which indicated a preference for a state-run school with equality for all religions over a school promoting one particular religion. This contradicts a larger poll run for the Catholic Church and published in April.

"The debate about school governance must not be confined to matters of ethos and the teaching of religion. An effective governance model must provide a management capacity as well," said IPPN national director Sean Cottrell.

Danger

"Effective management is essential to the running of a successful school. There is a danger of being hung-up on the issue of religion in schools which, while important, is a subsidiary issue to a far greater need which is not being addressed.

"Primary school boards of management are left to operate without proper legal, financial, building and human resource supports.

"With increasing legislative responsibility and litigation, it is little wonder that volunteerism is declining and schools find it increasingly difficult to establish a board of management. Focussing exclusively on the place of religion in future schools is akin to rearranging the deckchairs on a ship," Mr Cottrell added.
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What a sister act! Tributes paid as three nuns hit 100 milestone

THREE Irish nuns have proven that a life's habit of devout worship can stand you well in the longevity stakes.

All three have reached the grand age of 100 with one of the venerable sisters celebrating her 100th birthday today.

Finance Minister Brian Cowen has paid special tribute to this long-standing holy trinity who all hail originally from his Co Offaly stomping ground.

Sr Brigid Hickey, Sr Anne Brennan and Sr Catherine Conroy each received a cheque for €2,540 recently from the President of Ireland to mark their 100th year.

The sister act, who are all currently resident in Australia, join an exclusive club of just 231 Irish people who have reached 100 and live outside the country.

All three have received special tributes from government officials and from family members back home as they celebrate three centuries between them.

Brian Cowen TD expressed the country's pride at their achievement and congratulated the trio on hitting the tonne.

"I am delighted to join with others in wishing Sr Catherine, Sr Brigid and Sr Anne my warmest wishes on reaching the great age of 100," said Mr Cowen.

"These three women have dedicated long lives to the service of others. We are enormously proud of them," he said.

"They left Ireland at a time when many of their friends and neighbours also left, some feeling that that they had no choice but to leave."

Not only do all three sisters share the honour of becoming Ireland's latest centenarians, but their 100th birthdays all fall within a few weeks of each other.

Two of these great ladies, Sr Hickey and Sr Conroy, left Ireland together for Australia in 1924, to return only occasionally down the years.

Sr Hickey, who turns 100 today, and Sr Conroy joined the Brisbane congregation of the Sisters of Mercy to work abroad 83 years ago. They are two of three surviving members of a group of 49 young Irish women who travelled to Australia with the congregation.

Opportunity

Sr Conroy, who was born March 4, 1907, still lives with Sr Hickey at the Sisters of Mercy Congregation's Aged Home in Brisbane. They share their space there with 102-year-old Sr Mary Browne, originally from Kerry who set out from Ireland with them so long ago.

"Our emigrant community pursued opportunities abroad at a time when there were scant opportunities at home, and they did so in a way that brings credit to them and to Ireland today," said Mr Cowen speaking of their achievement.

Sr Anne Brennan, who lives today in Sydney, celebrated her 100th birthday on March 9.

"Anne has always been very proud of her Irish tradition and of the impact that Ireland has had on Australia in the last century of so," said Brendan Brennan, a nephew of Sr Anne.

Sr Anne, who is originally from Birr, Co Offaly, travelled to Australia with the Sisters of St Joseph.

The three sisters were all eligible for the president's Centenarian Bounty Scheme, which was extended in 2006 to include Irish-born people living abroad.
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Year of Vocations Prayer

Prayer for Vocations

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart Your knowledge, understanding, and counsel to the faithful that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve God.

Give them courage and strength to follow God's holy will.

Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds, conquer their hearts, and lead them to the vineyards where they will labour in God's holy service.

Amen.

July - Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus

The month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of the Redeemer. Supreme homage is given to the Sacred Blood.

As we adore the Sacred Heart, because it is the Heart of Jesus, who is God, so we adore the Most Precious Blood.

The Blood of Jesus is the fountain of salvation. Each drop that flowed from the wounds of the Saviour is a pledge of man’s eternal salvation.

All races of the earth have been ransomed, and all individuals, who will allow the saving power of the Sacred Blood to be applied to their soul, are heirs of heaven.

St. John Chrysostom calls the Precious Blood “the saviour of souls”; St. Thomas Aquinas, “the key to heaven’s treasures”; St. Ambrose, “pure gold of ineffable worth”; St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, “a magnet of souls and pledge of eternal life”.

The sins of mankind, in their number, in their offense to the Supreme Being, in the effects on transgressors, are immense; yet, the Precious Blood of Jesus is not frightened by numbers, it has in Itself the power to appease an angered God and to heal wounded creatures.

The Precious Blood is a cleansing bath. Unlike all other blood, which stains, the Blood of Jesus washes clean and white.

According to the words of St. John, in the Apocalypse, the Angels wonder, and the question is asked: “These that are clothed in white robes, who are they?”

The Lord answers: “These are they that have washed their robes, and have made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

For no other reason did the Precious Blood flow but to regain for the souls of men the beautiful dress of innocence, and , once regained, to preserve it throughout life and into eternity.

The Blood of the Saviour is a well of consolation for troubled hearts. Can anyone, confidingly, look at the Sacred Blood trickling down from the Cross without taking courage to carry on, in spite of the difficulties which are the common lot of all?

One glance at the Cross must be able to drive away fear. And, another, must be able to instill trust in Him who did not rest until the last drop, mingled with water, flowed out of an opened Heart. He, who was willing to do so much for men, must be willing to overlook and forget the frailties which they deeply regret; He must be willing to come to their assistance when harassed, to defend them when tempted, to comfort them when afflicted.

The Blood of Jesus must be for Christians what the north-star is to sailors.

Would that men on earth honored the Precious Blood in the manner in which they who are in heaven give honor and praise and thanksgiving!

They proclaim that It purchased the glory which they enjoy. Without It, they would have remained slaves of Satan and outcasts from the eternal mansions of God.

Let us profess that we owe to the Sacred Blood of Jesus all that we have in this life, and that to It we shall owe all that we shall enjoy in a better and eternal life!
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St Oliver Plunkett (1625-81)

His uncle Patrick

Oliver was born into an aristocratic Norman family at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co Meath.

The first great formative influence on him was his uncle Patrick, a Cistercian monk, who was Abbot of St Mary's in Dublin and then became bishop of Ardagh and later still of Meath.

Oliver was sent to his uncle for his education and he always spoke of him with great respect and affection.

Career in Rome

In 1646 along with John Brennan from Kilkenny (a life-long friend and later archbishop of Cashel) he accompanied Father Peter Scarampi - who had been sent by the Pope as an envoy to the Confederation of Kilkenny - on his journey back to Rome.

It was a difficult journey that took almost a year, due to delays and robbery. Oliver grew to love Rome and by the time he was ordained priest in 1654 the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland was well under way and it would have been difficult for him to return.

Oliver requested to remain in Rome, becoming professor of theology at Propaganda Fide College (1657) and later agent of the Irish bishops in Rome. When in 1669 he was appointed archbishop of Armagh, his uncle Patrick Plunkett was the only active Catholic bishop in Ireland.

Strenuous pastoral efforts

Oliver's return was difficult. The people had faith but lacked instruction and organisation. The priests of Armagh diocese resented the imposition on them of an “outsider” from Meath.

In the absence of bishops, the priests had lost their discipline, and there were rivalries among religious and between them and the secular clergy.

There were divisions among Catholics - between native Irish and Anglo-Irish. And his flamboyant and touchy colleague archbishop of Dublin, Peter Talbot, contested Oliver’s precedence and the primacy of Armagh over Dublin.

In the first three years Oliver worked diligently to restore discipline, he established a school staffed by Jesuits in Drogheda for the education of young men and clergy, he pleaded for places in Rome for others, and travelled widely - often in disguise - confirming and instructing the people and promoting peace.

Choice to stay with his flock

But in 1673 the revelation that the Duke of York, the King's brother and heir to the throne, had been for years a Catholic caused a storm in parliament and forced the tightening of the penal laws against Catholics in England and Ireland.

This led to the closing down of the school at Drogheda. By law Oliver should have registered with the authorities and waited for a ship to deport him, but he took a decision not to desert his flock and went into hiding.

He weathered this crisis and continued his pastoral work as best he could, continually keeping in touch with Rome through letters to the Internuncio in Brussels.

The so-called “Popish Plot”

But in 1678 Titus Oates fabricated his infamous "plot" according to which the King (Charles) was to be murdered and his Catholic brother James was to be put on the throne; in Ireland a Catholic army supported by the Pope and France was alleged to be ready to rise in rebellion.

Oliver again had to go into hiding. In December 1679 he was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle - in the next cell to Archbishop Peter Talbot of Dublin who had also been implicated in the plot.

Talbot was quite ill and distressed and Plunkett forced his way in to him to console him and give him absolution before he died.

Gradual realisation

Only gradually did he realise that he was being framed as the prime mover of the Irish branch of the Popish plot and charged falsely with conspiring with other kingdoms to import troops through Irish ports.

Brought to Dundalk for trial, the prosecution witnesses failed to attend: no jury in Ireland could have convicted him on such trumped-up charges.

He was taken to London for trial, but was not allowed time to bring his own witnesses and documents. Here, with four renegade priests testifying against him, he was convicted.

His last week

In the process of facing these false allegations and then death by being hanged, drawn and quartered, Oliver prayed and fasted.

His servant and friend James McKenna and a fellow prisoner Fr Maurus Corker were the companions of his last days and he celebrated the Eucharist daily for the last week of his life.

When his moment came, he was calm and at peace.

At peace

In his speech from the gallows at Tyburn, he detailed the charges brought against him and declared himself innocent of them all.

He forgave those who brought him from Ireland to London for trial, his judges who did not allow him time to bring his records and witnesses from Ireland, and all who concurred directly and indirectly in taking away his life.

Finally, he asked forgiveness of all whom he ever offended. He was the last person to be martyred for the Catholic faith in England.
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Pope to stop in Darwin

Pope Benedict's plane will stop in Darwin for refuelling on the way to Sydney for World Youth Day and locals are hoping that the pontiff will step out to greet Territorians.

The Northern Territory News quotes World Youth Day sources as saying the pope plans to leave his plane briefly to meet people at Darwin's RAAF military base during a 75-minute refuelling stopover on July 13.

The Pope will be in Darwin from 9.15-10.30am on his way from Rome to Sydney.

Territorians will be the first Australians to see the Pontiff.

He will return to Darwin for a 75-minute refuelling stopover on his way home on July 21 but is not expected to leave his plane on the return journey.

World Youth Day spokeswoman Anita Sulentic said: ''His stopover in Darwin is for a refuelling stop - that's all that we know to date.''

The Catholic Church Diocesan office in Darwin did not know about Pope Benedict XVI's possible meet-the-people stopover.

Bishop Eugene Hurley said it would be a ''great thrill'' for Northern Territory Catholics if the Pope got out of his plane during the refuelling stop.

''That would be wonderful ,'' he said. ''It would be nice to think that we would be the first to say hello and the last to say goodbye to him."

But Bishop Hurley said he doubted the Pope would get off his plane because he was the Vatican City head of state and there were protocols about who he would meet upon first arriving.
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Psalm book found in bog is biggest find since Ardagh Chalice

The director of the national museum has described an ancient Christian psalm book which was discovered in a bog in County Offaly two years ago as the most important archaeological find in Ireland since the Ardagh Chalice.

Dr Pat Wallace said the Psalter – which was uncovered by Edward Fogarty while cutting turf in the Fadden More bog near Carrig – provided an intriguing insight into Ireland’s early Christian civilisation.

He told members of the Birr Archaeological Society that it was difficult to say precisely when the Psalter was written but its binding showed that it that it definitely dated from before 1200 AD.

The director said the nearest comparison was the Book of Dimma, another rare manuscript known to have been produced in Roscrea, and the proximity of the Fadden More bog to Roscrea and similar monastic sites at Lorrha, Terryglass, Seir Kieran and Kinnity suggested there was a high production of manuscripts in monks in communities in the Offaly region.

However, he said the book is difficult to work on because each page is a different state of legibility and a lot more conservation work was needed before the text can be fully assessed.

Dr Wallace praised Mr Fogarty and brothers Patrick and Kevin Leonard who owned the land for covering the Psalter in wet peat when they found it as this ensured it was not damaged by the sudden exposure to air.

The National Museum is continuing work on restoration of the manuscript and has sent a sample of vellum to Copenhagen for carbon dating analysis.

This should indicate when the Psalter was buried in the bog and may give pointers as to why it was hidden.

The Museum hopes to put the Fadden More Psalter on public display within two years.
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Nuncio Ordains 34 Legionaries to Diaconate

When one puts Christ at the center of his life, he thinks and speaks of nothing other than him and his Kingdom, the apostolic nuncio to Italy told 34 candidates to the diaconate of the Legionaries of Christ.

Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello said this Sunday before ordaining the deacons in a liturgy held at the Center of Higher Studies of the Legionaries of Christ in Rome.

The diaconate is the first of three ranks in the ordained ministry, and the last step for seminarians before being ordained to the priesthood.

"Jesus must be the center of our thoughts, the argument of our speech, and the model of our life," said Archbishop Bertello.

"If we truly have this contact with our Lord, we will think of nothing other than his Kingdom, we will speak of nothing other than him and his Kingdom, and we will make our life an apostolate, giving ourselves totally to God.

"I am sure that each one of you has in his heart a spirit, a missionary ardor that is proper to your congregation."

Ranging in age from 29 to 35, the deacons hail from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Mexico and Venezuela.

An additional 15 Legionaries were ordained over the past few weeks in Mexico, the United States and Germany.

Six more will be ordained in Medellin, Colombia; Milan, Italy and Dublin, Ireland.

In total, 56 Legionaries will be ordained to the diaconate during this period.

Sunday marked the 25th anniversary of the approval of the constitutions of the Legionaries of Christ.

The congregation, founded in 1941 by Father Marcial Maciel, has 760 priests and over 2,500 seminarians.
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The unsinkable Father Pfleger

Chicago's Father Michael Pfleger made a triumphant appearance not long ago at St. Sabina's Catholic Church.

Returning from a two-week suspension, the priest delivered his "Ain't nothing like a comeback" sermon to an adoring congregation.

He could as aptly have used "I will survive" as his theme. Like him or love him, Father Pfleger is the definitive survivor.

Cardinals come and cardinals go, but the activist pastor does as he pleases and prevails.

It's always been that way.

Declining enrollments forced some Chicago Catholic schools to close in the 1970s.

Pfleger, still a seminarian at the time, picketed then-Cardinal John Cody's home in protest.

After ordination, the man decided he wanted a family and initiated adopting a son.

Cardinal Cody threatened to remove Pfleger if the adoption took place.

It did and the cardinal didn't. Father Pfleger later adopted two other boys.

Destruction of private property isn't a skill set commonly associated with the priesthood. Father Mike, however, strenuously objects to billboards advertising cigarettes and alcohol. He charges that they're disproportionately placed in black neighborhoods and lure people into bad decisions.

In 1990, he took matters – and a paintbrush – into his own hands, defacing billboards he found objectionable.

Then-Cardinal Joseph Bernardin wrote Pfleger, who told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter the cardinal's letter "condemns - (that is) asks me not to endorse any activity that is illegal." The news article continued: "Asked if he would heed the cardinal's wishes, Pfleger vaguely replied, ‘I continue to advocate the removal of that kind of advertising from the African-American and Hispanic communities.'"

Father Pfleger stood trial the following year on criminal damage charges. An accommodating Cook County jury, apparently deciding citizens should obey only the laws they find congenial, acquitted him.

The priest maintained his abhorrence toward tobacco and alcohol companies. An Associated Press story after the verdict quoted him: "They hide behind this free speech thing and in the meantime are allowed to be immoral. . . When you saturate a community with two top killers . . . that's genocide."

Yet Father Pfleger eagerly embraces "this free speech thing" when it suits his purposes. He's invited Louis Farrakhan, a man he describes as a close friend, to speak at his parish multiple times. He may not agree with everything Farrakhan believes.

Still, according to a November, 1994 Sun-Times story, Pfleger said the Muslim minister "has raised serious questions regarding Jewish power, Jewish influence, that people do not want to ask or answer, in particular Jewish power in the media, and with racism and white people and what's been done."

Even with this history, Barack Obama included a testimonial from Pfleger on his campaign Web site until the mocking of Mrs. Clinton incident.

Then it disappeared.

The priest's relationship with Chicago's current prelate, Cardinal Francis George, is decidedly mixed.

The cardinal endorsed Father Pfleger's 2000 initiative in which parish members paid prostitutes to listen to the Gospel.

On another occasion, he described Pfleger as a "unique priest."

That's certainly accurate. Father Pfleger has pastored at the same church much, much longer than archdiocesan rules generally permit.

The standard is two six-year terms as pastor. Michael completed his third six-year term in 2001 and threatened to leave the priesthood if he weren't permitted to stay.

It was announced then that the cardinal had extended Pfleger's time at St. Sabina's indefinitely, allowing some time – possibly a couple of years – to name a replacement. The priest voiced his appreciation for the cardinal's decision.

That appreciation lasted about as long as a chocolate éclair does in my refrigerator. Within days, at a conference on the legacy of slavery, Pfleger dared the Catholic Church: "You are going to have to have the (crudity) to fire me. If you want to fire me, fire me." That's a fine way for a man of the cloth to talk.

A friend of Pfleger's, the shy and retiring Rev. Jeremiah Wright, wrote to his eminence urging his comrade stay put.

Months later, the cardinal publicly suggested that maybe it was time for Michael Pfleger to seek a new vocation.

That was six years ago. Father Pfleger is still the pastor. The cardinal told him last year he would remain at St. Sabina's.

Shortly after that reassurance, the cardinal might have had second thoughts. An anti-gun rally, one of the priest's enthusiasms, offered the chance for him to declare that he and his associates would "snuff out" a certain gun shop owner and any state legislators not voting the approved Pfleger way.

Cardinal George issued a statement: "Publicly delivering a threat against anyone's life betrays the civil order and is morally outrageous, especially if this threat came from a priest."

Father Pfleger claimed he didn't realize that "snuff out" meant to kill. A man who's spent years developing his all-important street cred simply hadn't ever heard that expression before.

One thing he knows for sure is how to tap into tax dollars.

His pal Obama greased the way for Pfleger's church to receive at least $225,000 when the messiah was doing his apprenticeship in Springfield.

Father Pfleger said Sunday that he'll not be silent.

Why should he?

Cardinals come and cardinals go, but the activist pastor does as he pleases and prevails.

No one is gonna steal his show.
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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Church of England faces split over women bishops

The Church of England faces a new split over the issue of women bishops after supporters of the plans vowed not to compromise ahead of a crucial vote on the issue at the General Synod in York next week.

Leading figures supporting the women's campaign from politics and the Church gathered at Westminster Abbey to warn legislators that the time has come to consecrate women as bishops, with no formal provision in law for traditonalists who object to the move on grounds of conscience.

More than 4,000 Anglicans have given their support to calls for the introduction of women bishops without special legislation to protect opponents of the move

This includes 1,276 women clergy, whose signatures have been gathered in support of a letter written by Canon Lucy Winkett, precentor of St Paul's Cathedral, Canon Jane Hedges, Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey, and the Rev Rosemary Lain-Priestley, secretary of the National Association of Diocesan Advisers in Women's Ministry.

"This is a very important moment for the Church. It is the logical, inevitable and right course," said Canon Winkett, who is widely tipped as an early candidate for consecration as bishop under the proposed new law. "It is right in principle and timing. But not at any cost. We would rather wait than see legislation [to provide for] those who in conscience can't accept women bishops."

An official Church report from a working group chaired by the Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, in April set out the options for the introduction of women bishops, including a separate "diocese" enshrined in law for those who could not accept a woman as their bishop. The House of Bishops has recommended that no such legal provision should be applied, but that a simple code of conduct should provide for dissenters, directing clergy to respect the consciences of traditionalists.

Rev Christina Rees, chair of Women And The Church (WATCH) read out messages of support from a Methodist, a Roman Catholic priest and Robert Key, Conservative MP for Salisbury, who said: "I cannot believe in the 21st century Jesus Christ would teach discrimination."

Ann Cryer, Labour MP for Keighley and Ilkley, who like Mr Key has laid down an early day motion in Parliament in support of women bishops, said that her step-daughter had been ordained: "I'm sure she's wonderful priest and would be a wonderful bishop. If she's not going to be a bishop, I can live with that. But what I can't live with is legislation that is against her being a bishop."

The Very Rev Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, said that "the majority of male ordained clergy support women bishops and senior clergy support a change of policy for reasons of consistency and theology." Some 40 per cent of all ordained clergy in the Diocese of Southwark are women.

Opponents of women bishops claim that they should have legal provision under a new regime and the women's lobby is anxious to make a code-of-conduct solution work, for fear of legislation that creates a two-tier episcopacy. Canon Peggy Jackson, Dean of Women's Ministry in Southwark Diocese, referred to those who cannot accept women bishops as "conscientious objectors" and said that there was a "moral obligation to provide for conscience."

Bishop McCulloch will lead discussions on the Manchester Report at Synod on Saturday, aimed at taking the sting out of the debate and vote on Monday. If the vote is carried, draft legislation will be considered at Synod in February next year.

A spokesman for the conservative Evangelical group, Reform, said: "Synod must decide. Does it want to keep conservatives, both evangelical and catholic, in or to exclude them? A refusal by Synod to provide legal provisions for those who disagree with women bishops is tantamount to a clear decision to exclude many faithful Anglicans from the Church of England. We want to urge Synod members to pull back from the brink, to recognise the deep division that will occur if no legislative provisions are made. The code of conduct proposed is not enough."
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Pope says Church Hierarchical but Familial

Pope Benedict XVI met with 40 Metropolitan Archbishops and their families Monday, the day after he had bestowed the Pallium upon them during mass in St Peter’s Basilica.

Communion and the order of president in the Church, symbolised by the Pallium, was the focus of Pope Benedict’s address to the Archbishops and their families as they gathered to meet with the Holy Father Monday.

Addressing the men first in Italian, the Pope underlined that while the structure of the Church temporal is hierarchical, it is at the same time familial.

He stressed that the “image of the organic body of the Church is one of the strongest characteristics of St Paul’s doctrine” urging these pastors to return to their home diocese and to carry the Apostle to the Gentiles teachings to their people, in celebrations to mark the jubilee year dedicated to St Paul.

Then turning to each language group the Pope named all 40 men, who this year have taken up the leadership of some of the main Metropolitan Archdiocese across the ecclesial world, starting with a greeting to the newly appointed Patriarch of Jerusalem, Palestinian Archbishop Faud Tawal.

In French the Pope addressed archbishops from Africa, the Caribbean and France before moving on to the group of English speaking Archbishops by far the most numerous group to receive the Pallium, Sunday.

Among the 14 prelates listening to the Pope’s words Monday were Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi one of two Prelates from Kenya; three Archbishop’s from the USA received the Pallium Sunday, among them Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore and two from Canada.

But there was also a large presence from the Asian and South Pacific region, including Archbishop John Hung Shan-Chuan of Taipei (Taiwan) as well as Africa and the English speaking Caribbean.

Pope Benedict reminded all of these men that their missionary mandate is not without self sacrifice:“The Pallium is worn by Metropolitan Archbishops as a symbol of their hierarchical communion with the Successor of Peter in the governance of God’s People. It is made of sheepswool, as a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and the Good Shepherd who keeps vigilant watch over his flock”.

“The Pallium reminds Bishops that, as vicars of Christ in their local Churches, they are called to be shepherds after the example of Jesus. As a symbol of the burden of the Episcopal office, it also reminds the faithful of their duty to support the Church’s Pastors by their prayers and to cooperate generously with them for the spread of the Gospel and the growth of Christ’s Church in holiness, unity and love”.

Concluding Pope Benedict told the men as they return home to never forget that “the service of every Pastor must always be conditioned by his love for Christ, nothing can ever come before this”.
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Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce

Archbishop of Canterbury says GAFCON declaration 'problematic'

The Archbishop of Canterbury has responded to the declaration made by Conservative Anglican leaders in Jerusalem Sunday, who propose forming a council of bishops to provide an alternative to churches they say are preaching a 'false gospel' concerning homosexuality.

In a statement Dr Rowan Williams said that the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) declaration was theologically and practically 'problematic' and it was wrong to assume that those outside the GAFCON network were 'proclaiming another gospel'.

"GAFCON's proposals for the way ahead are problematic in all sorts of ways" he said, "and I urge those who have outlined these to think very carefully about the risks entailed.

"A 'Primates' Council' which consists only of a self-selected group from among the Primates of the Communion will not pass the test of legitimacy for all in the Communion. And any claim to be free to operate across provincial boundaries is fraught with difficulties, both theological and practical - theological because of our historic commitments to mutual recognition of ministries in the Communion, practical because of the obvious strain of responsibly exercising episcopal or primatial authority across enormous geographical and cultural divides" he said.

"Two questions arise at once about what has been proposed. By what authority are Primates deemed acceptable or unacceptable members of any new primatial council? And how is effective discipline to be maintained in a situation of overlapping and competing jurisdictions?" the Archbishop continued.

"It is not enough to dismiss the existing structures of the Communion. If they are not working effectively, the challenge is to renew them rather than to improvise solutions that may seem to be effective for some in the short term but will continue to create more problems than they solve" he said.

"I believe that it is wrong to assume we are now so far apart that all those outside the GAFCON network are simply proclaiming another gospel.

"This is not the case; it is not the experience of millions of faithful and biblically focused Anglicans in every province. What is true is that, on all sides of our controversies, slogans, misrepresentations and caricatures abound. And they need to be challenged in the name of the respect and patience we owe to each other in Jesus Christ."
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Pope Benedict considering trip to Africa in 2009

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Avvenire, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, pointed out that Pope Benedict XVI would like to visit Africa in 2009, although his travel agenda for next year "has not yet been fixed."

After a report by the agency Apcom on June 21 that indicated that the Holy Father would visit Africa in 2009, Cardinal Bertone told the Italian newspaper that "The pope's travel agenda for 2009 has not yet been set. But it's true that this hypothesis is being worked on."

Cardinal Bertone also added that, "The Church in Africa deserves a trip by the Pope, who has already visited or is preparing to visit the other continents."

The specific African countries that the Pope will visit are not yet decided because "this is a very delicate choice, where the geopolitical balance should be considered along with the necessary safety requirements," the Secretary of State said.
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Celibate equals sexless equals an unholy mess (Contribution)

Barnstorming his way across America, the Sydney Bishop Geoffrey Robinson sounded at times like Martin Luther.

"Here I stand," he told an audience in Seattle.

"I can do no other."

He said he knew he was quoting Luther, then announced with a twinkle in his eye to the overflowing crowd, "I am no Martin Luther."

Indeed, in manner, he is no firebrand. In a 15-city speaking tour before audiences clamouring to hear more about his bestseller, Confronting Power And Sex In The Catholic Church, Robinson spoke in a soft Cambridge accent; a tall handsome man in a grey suit and a Roman collar who was often honest enough to answer questions with "I don't know".

But the change-oriented Catholics who crowded into Robinson's talks applauded him for his bluntness. Months ago, Robinson had told an audience in Australia, "John Paul II could have stopped this scandal, and he did nothing."

For this he was accused of heresy by a ranking cardinal in Rome and told to scrap his US tour.

He came anyway, with a speech in his pocket that blamed the last Pope for contributing to the sex scandal that has shaken the church as seismically as Luther shook it more than 500 years ago.

Robinson told his audiences he had great admiration for much of what John Paul II did during his 26-year papacy. "But before they make him a saint, they ought to ask what he did to correct this scandal."

He didn't know why the Pope was so silent about the scandal or why he failed to even ask questions about its cause and its cure. He explained, "It's very difficult - even for a Pope - to change the culture."

Robinson was talking about the aura of the sacred that surrounds the celibate priesthood, which Popes have encouraged for 1000 years by sticking with the celibacy rule, despite a good deal of evidence that mandatory celibacy creates what Robinson calls "unhealthy living conditions" in the priesthood. "Celibate" in this false equation means "sexless" and "sexless" means "holy".

Trouble is that the people have been programmed to believe in the aura, and the church's leaders use that belief to keep the people in their place.

Disaster comes when a few bad priest-seducers exploit their aura of holiness with vulnerable young people, even to the point of assuring them as they are played with that they are being played with by Jesus.

In his US talks, Robinson kept saying that "only the Pope" can change the cultural climate that nurtures such abuse, but he allowed that change could happen if the people could get to their bishops.

"Engage your bishops," he said, "with conversation rather than confrontation."

A retired missionary priest in Robinson's audience at Costa Mesa, California, said: "That's nonsense. The bishops know what needs to be done. Theoretically, they have the power to do a lot of things. They could ordain married men tomorrow. But they won't because they're afraid of Rome."

About the fear, Robinson agrees. "Rome keeps us on a very short leash." He confessed that he was afraid to begin writing his book until he had resigned his post as an auxiliary bishop in Sydney.

Insofar as bishops are content to remain on that short leash, they remain so excessively papal as to ignore the needs of their own people. That need not be, and Robinson knows it. In his book, almost in passing, he suggests that Catholics in every nation could survive and thrive with a measure of independence from Rome, modelling themselves on the ancient autochthonous churches of the Middle East, who have their own patriarchs, their own priests (some married, some not) and their own liturgies.

These "home-grown" churches are in communion with Rome (hence Catholic), but they have their own governance structures that tend to make for a church that is more accountable to its people.

Amazing how Vatican charges against Robinson mirror the church's case against Martin Luther almost 500 years ago.

In 1521, a cardinal from Rome denounced Luther as a heretic, and put his indictment before the Diet of Worms in what is now Germany.

After some debate and testimony by Luther himself, that body issued a decree that made Luther into an outlaw, banned the reading and the possession of his writings and permitted anyone to kill him without legal consequence.

We can draw a lesson here if we pay attention to the rest of the story: public opinion in Germany forced the Emperor Charles V to stop enforcement of the Edict of Worms.

Is it too much to hope that public opinion - around the world and in Australia itself - will stay the execution of Geoff Robinson?

It would help if a number of Australian bishops, taking another look at all those places in scripture where Jesus told the Apostles to fear not, were to tell Pope Benedict during his upcoming visit for World Youth Day to lay off Robinson.

He is not another Luther, and he is more loyal to the Pope than many of the Vatican functionaries I have known.
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The real story behind the gay pride issue at St. Joan (Contribution)

Last week, controversy erupted when Archbishop John Nienstedt informed St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Minneapolis that it could not hold a gay pride prayer service in its sanctuary.

The service -- held for several years in conjunction with the annual Twin Cities Gay Pride festival -- celebrates the gay identity.

In response, organizers moved the celebration outside the church. One gay activist attended in what must have struck him as a clown's outfit, given the occasion -- the robes of an archbishop, miter and all. David McCaffrey of the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM) condemned what he called Nienstedt's "reign of homophobic hatred."

In an e-mail to the group's members, he characterized the archbishop's decision as "yet another volley of dehumanizing spiritual violence directed at GLBT persons and their families."

Clearly, there is hatred here. But it is not coming from the Catholic Church. Rather, it's a tool of those who are trying to compel the church to conform to their personal demands with caricatures and public mockery.

Opponents charge that the church does not welcome gays. They point to the fact that the archdiocese won't sponsor a gay pride prayer service as evidence.

But the truth is different: The church welcomes everyone. Far from rejecting gays as sinners, Christianity teaches that all human beings are sinners. In fact, it maintains, it is precisely because we are sinners that we need the Christian message.

So Michael Bayly of CPCSM got it wrong when he told the Star Tribune that "the archdiocese is now dictating to people who they can and cannot pray for." The church advocates prayer for all, straight and gay alike, because it regards all as sinners.

But "gay pride" is a different matter.

Why? To answer, we must consider why we are called to go to church in the first place. We go to acknowledge our sins, to ask forgiveness and to seek redemption and a new life in conformance with God's will for us.

As a result, pride has no place in church. Indeed, Christianity views pride as a sin.

The theologian C.S. Lewis called pride "the great sin" -- the root of almost every other transgression. Pride, he wrote, "has been the chief cause of misery ... since the world began."

So "gay pride" is out of place in church. But so is straight pride, black pride, white pride -- or any kind of pride.

The organizers of St. Joan of Arc's gay pride service seem to think that if they complain shrilly enough, they can compel the Catholic Church -- by embarrassing and humiliating it -- to come around and embrace their enlightened views. This attitude should not surprise us, because it reflects the dominant cultural mood of our age.

Today, we want wardrobes, homes and vacations that "fit my lifestyle." We want a God who does the same. Transcendent truth? We prefer to believe there's no such thing. If 52 percent of Americans disagree with the church about something, we conclude it must be the church that's wrong.

Theology, cafeteria-style

But there is a religious vision that dissents from this cafeteria-style theology. In 2008, it often comes into conflict with trendier views on the flashpoint issue of sexuality -- perhaps the greatest preoccupation of our age.

For 2,000 years, Christianity has taught that God had a purpose in creating human beings as male and female. He gave the two sexes complementary bodies and natures so that they could become "one flesh," and in the process generate new life. The faithful, committed sexual love of man and woman holds a special dignity in Christian teaching, which sees it as mirroring God's love for humanity.

In recent years, however, a different vision of sexuality has grown fashionable. In this view, sex of all kinds -- whether straight, gay or otherwise -- is best understood as a vehicle for pleasure and self-expression. Today, this vision of sex dominates our entertainment industry, is taught in our schools and inspires events such as gay pride celebrations.

The controversy at St. Joan of Arc is part of a larger picture. When the gay rights movement emerged several decades ago, its leaders asked only for tolerance -- a live-and-let-live attitude on the part of the larger society. Today, the movement increasingly demands both approval of and conformity to its creed. More and more, it labels all dissent -- even that based on religious conviction -- as "hateful."

Secular institutions have largely acquiesced. The church alone perseveres in the conviction that human sexuality has a larger purpose. That is why it is now a central battlefront in this crusade.
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