tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post3255687200346017971..comments2024-03-28T16:23:19.433-04:00Comments on southern orders: IS POPE FRANCIS AND THUS THE CHURCH APPROACHING ANOTHER POPE PAUL VI HUMANAE VITAE MOMENT? Fr. Allan J. McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-50302558639946764712016-04-04T12:46:18.779-04:002016-04-04T12:46:18.779-04:00Doesn't it boil down to the difference between...Doesn't it boil down to the difference between a penitent and a non-penitent?<br /><br />I.e. if I've committed some random sexual sin - porn or masturbation (I suppose they go hand in hand...) but repent and seek confession, there's no built in guarantee that I'm going to return to the sinful ways. Normally the priest would (or should) suggest eliminating all porn from one's life, computer, etc. and if the sin is masturbation will counsel a dozen penitential practices to avoid the 'occasion of sin' (typically having to do with the famous HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired). <br /><br />But going to confession for a situation of on-going sin that I have no intention of stopping.... how does that make me a penitent? <br /><br />If one is living with one's concubine or frequenting prostitutes regularly and sees it as a good thing, one is not going to repent. Indeed the homosexual activists who join the choir or run some ministry insist that their live-in boyfriend or so-called "spouse" is perfectly just and good and holy so won't have any sin to beg pardon for! <br /><br />How can one reconcile someone who insists there's nothing wrong?<br /><br />I think much of our problem could be that Catholics have reduced the prayers in the liturgy to pro-forma, rote babblings - we acknowledge sinfulness in public but don't really mean it. It's just something we say of no deep conviction like the "Amen". But if we meant it, if we felt our shame for sin down to our toes, then we'd recall this at least the next time we're "in the zone" and tempted to abuse Our Lord's mercy with another fling of license. <br />Jusadbellumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-86048616454778602952016-04-03T14:30:49.857-04:002016-04-03T14:30:49.857-04:00This all sounds like the wrong way to get to the r...This all sounds like the wrong way to get to the right answer. The divorce was public, the adultery was public, but now the reconciliation is private? This sounds as if they presume on the mercy of Holy Spirit. That is very bad.rcghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00661998350597126663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-87103539882705097262016-04-03T09:59:30.751-04:002016-04-03T09:59:30.751-04:00In all honesty I can say I have always mistrusted ...In all honesty I can say I have always mistrusted Pope Francis. But for some unexplainable reason, after I left confession this Sunday (Divine Mercy) I am completely calm about this issue and I trust that Pope Francis will uphold Church/Christ's teaching while showing clearly that God is the Father waiting there for the prodigal to return. I can't explain this. Not that it means anything, it's just a feeling. But there you are. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com