tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post3334787725304536149..comments2024-03-28T05:17:04.006-04:00Comments on southern orders: Catholics Grapple With Divisions Over AbuseFr. Allan J. McDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16986575955114152639noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-13055213954892076852009-12-22T11:32:08.074-05:002009-12-22T11:32:08.074-05:00The book "Goodbye Good Men" came to pres...The book "Goodbye Good Men" came to press just as the abuse scandal in Boston was breaking, and as such was written almost entirely before any of it was common knowledge. It should be required reading for anyone hoping to come to terms with how, and why it came about. It is decidedly not about celibacy, but homosexuality, and the refusal of the Seminaries in the 60s and 70s to tackle head on, the nature of the disorder. In all too many cases it was not only ignored, but condoned and encouraged by some of the more heinous Seminaries.<br /><br />Today's Seminarians are of different breed, thanks to the reforms initiated under HH Pope John Paul II.Templarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18204866760862707908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-75719494785996835912009-12-22T10:50:21.568-05:002009-12-22T10:50:21.568-05:00I was not a Catholic during the height of the abus...I was not a Catholic during the height of the abuse scandals. However, as an onlooker and criminal defense attorney who has interacted with alleged and convicted sex offenders, it seems to me that there is a "chicken and egg" problem with the way most people look at these instances of abuse.<br /><br />It seems many argue that celibacy is the problem or that "gay" priests are the problem. They seem to argue that, after becoming priests, the priest is then so "starved" as to become a predator. <br /><br />I would think that, in many cases, many of these men became priests specifically (albeit subconsciously, perhaps) to be in a position to take advantage of their victims.<br /><br />The timing of many of these instances of alleged abuse is interesting considering that many reports came at the beginning of a decline in those responding to the call to the priestly vocation after Vatican II, which could have led some diocese to lessen their "screening" process.<br /><br />Coincidence? No: Satan really does despise the Caholic Church.Marcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846189835239594160.post-6806331713657545992009-12-22T09:28:33.799-05:002009-12-22T09:28:33.799-05:00Father:
Your summary at the top says it all: SAT...Father:<br /><br />Your summary at the top says it all: SATAN REALLY DESPISES US.<br /><br />The whole "Voice of the Faithless" crowd seems to have lost track of the Catechism and their craving to rewrite it is what keeps them on the fringe of the Church. How ANYONE can call themselves Catholic and not want Masses offered for another soul, especially one that they suspect may have committed serious sins, is beyond me. God's prescription for our sins is mercy. The Bible tells us that even when we are faithless, God is faithful. There is such a rank hypocrisy in the VOF obsession with "updating" the Church with "diversity" and "inclusiveness", yet they take it upon themselves to decide which priests have been dispatched to Hell! By all means, abusive priests should be removed, disciplined, and defrocked if necessary, BUT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, THEY NEED GOD'S MERCY TOO. <br /><br />Yes, Satan despises the Catholic Church. So many of us have forgotten that every day on this earth is a day of battle for our souls. And in the realm of spiritual warfare, you cannot fight hate with hate. You become what you hate. The only way to fight hate is with God's love and mercy. <br /><br />One final thought--one that we should think hard on. In the more extreme quarters of this country there are people who actually worship Satan. Do your readers know HOW they worship Satan? For the uninformed, they participate (and I mean "active participation") in a ritual called a Black Mass. The Black Mass is a blasphemous parody of Holy Mass. Why is that so significant? Because you will note that they do not perform a blasphemous parody of a Methodist service, Baptist service, Anglican service, Church of Christ service, Pentecostal service or any other Protestant style of worship. THEY ATTACK AND BLASPHEME THE CATHOLIC MASS AND THE SACRAMENTS.<br /><br />James 2:19 reads: "Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble." The devil knows where the power is. That is why he goes after the Church. That is why he sows divisions in the Church. That is why we have two generations of Catholics today who believe that Church law is "optional" and the Magisterium is an outdated "concept". That is why the devil's followers mock the Church. That is why the battle never ends.Robert Kumpelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567786012498143419noreply@blogger.com