In a homily on the Feast of the Blessed Trinity at the National Marian Shrine in Knock, Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh recalled Francis’s first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”), which has often been described as the blueprint for his papacy.“Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way.’ It invites everyone to be bold and creative in the task of evangelization,” wrote Francis, in a passage cited by Martin on Sunday.
“The result of Friday’s referendum on the Eighth Amendment confirms that we are living in a new time and a changed culture for Ireland,” Martin said. “For the Church it is indeed a missionary time, a time for new evangelization.”
Read the entire Crux article on the Irish bishops here.The bishops of Ireland are lamenting the fact that their once faithful flock of clergy and laity have become apostates. But mind you, they aren't using that term. No they are using the term that they have created a Church that now needs to have missionaries reCatholicize it in a new evangelization.
What pious crap.
Wouldn't it be better to do an examination of conscience about what was called "renewal" after Vatican II touching every aspect of traditional Catholicism and changing it to something that was less than it was before.
Yes, the Church has to be concerned for human life from conception until natural death out of concern for those whose lives are cheapened by the choice of others to take it and sometimes in the most callous and selfish ways.
But to those who vote for abortion, euthanasia and the like, should not the Catholic Church through her bishops remind them that they are excommunicated and therefore are condemned to the everlasting fires of hell? When love of God fails, shouldn't fear of hell be a very motivating force in people. I know that I don't drive 100 mph, as much as I would like to do so, because I know that if I lose control of my car at that speed, I willl die or sustain handicapping injuries. Fear works!
Ireland is a lesson on the failure of the post-Vatican II Church to effect actual renewal. There as been no springtime of renewal in the Catholic Church since changes were implemented in a drunken way believing like Adam and Eve that the fruit of Vatican II would make Catholics gods.
11 comments:
Don't worry. Pope Francis seems unconcerned, so there's no problem.
Fr McD:
I agree with your last paragraph as would many others. But, then, was that not what Vatican II was about, to bring the Church into the modern world so as to have this new Pentecost and springtime? It seems to have passed unnoticed that this could not be done without compromising the truths of the Catholic Faith such as no salvation outside the Church. After all, everyone will be saved anyways because there is no hell, as the pope himself apparently thinks as he does not deny it, so why bother following the teachings of the Church? Just live it up and be a nice guy. So where is the source of the apostasy after Vatican II?
What astonishes me is that the result of this referendum was not already foreseen. Why raise the issue of the constitution if there was not a likelihood of changing it? Indeed, did not this St Gallen Pope himself criticise the pro-life movement in the Church soon after he was "elected"?
The Church in Ireland fell by the wayside soon after Vatican II like She did in most parts of the "modern" world, and was almost finished off when the New Mass was introduced. That is why Fr. Mark Kirby was sent to Ireland almost 10 years ago, that is, to convert the Irish back to the Faith with the help of the usus antiquior, which is exclusively used at their growing Silverstream Priory in county Meath.
The diocese I grew up in had a huge number of priests who were immigrants from Ireland. The priests I remember as a boy were largely good men of positive disposition and a strict sense of fidelity to the Church.
The Irish priests I remember as a young man were an entirely different species. Were my eyes opened? Maybe, but I also think that this later immigrating bunch reflected something of a change after the "old school" Irish priests died. The priests of my young adulthood were alcoholic (with rare exception) and willing to compromise just about anything to be liked by their parishioners. They were very easygoing in the doctrine department and they seemed to just be looking for an easy path to retirement. About the only thing that seemed to upset them was conservative or traditionalists questioning them. Some of them even mocked "preconciliar" Catholics from the pulpit.
To me, that reflects a serious decline that began at home...in Ireland. Ireland, like so many other former bastions of the faith, is Catholic in name only.
Pre-Vat2 or post-, Irish priests and the bottle have always gone together like loaves & fishes.
Do you know why they invented whiskey? To keep the Irish from ruling the world.
The collapse of Catholicism in Ireland should make it clear to all that the Church is being brought to her knees so that real reform can begin. As hard as it is to watch and endure the Church seems to be falling apart and the barque of Peter appears to be sinking. In a way it is and in a way it isn’t. This has been happening for decades but we have had popes who gave the appearance of trying to remain solid and preserve and teach the Faith. That of course is not longer the case. The elephant is the room is:
We have a pope who is most likely a heretic and is trying to transform the Catholic Church into some form of Lutheran model.
We have an almost total loss of supernatural Faith among bishops and priests which has resulted in worldwide liturgical abuse and loss of Faith among the laity.
We have error being presented as Truth.
We have shepherds in the Church abandoning the sheep to placate the wolves.
Divinely revealed truths (like the 10 Commandments) are either ignored or are blatantly ignored and those who live by them are called modern Pharisees.
Catholic education is spreading error and presenting immoral acts as something pleasing to God.
We have cardinals openly participating in blasphemous displays that attack Our Lady, the Eucharist, the priesthood, the papacy, the saints and we are told that this is a good thing and a way to spread the Gospel, and of course that Jesus would have done this.
That is just a very small list of what is and has been going on in the Church for decades. It appears as if God has abandoned the Church, which of course is NOT true. The Church is being purified and nothing that is hidden will remain hidden. God will not be mocked. Those who are laughing now will have much to answer for when they stand alone before the judgement seat of God. Our Lady will save the day like she always does. These are dark dark times and I really believe our Faith is being tested. Stay true to the Faith as it has always been taught and do not believe what any false prophet says no matter how merciful it sounds if it deviates in any way from what the Church has always taught. Just my 2 cents.
Well, should we surprised that a country a few years earlier which embraced same sex "marriage" now supports abortion on demand?
And what exactly is "real reform?"
Anonymous said..."These are dark dark times and I really believe our Faith is being tested."
On the personal level, my faith, Deo gratias, has not been tested. I am blessed as a Catholic to hold the True Faith. Although I don't deserve His friendship, God is with me.
Therefore, I don't have the slightest worries about this or that within and outside Holy Mother Church.
My parish is in communion with my bishop. My bishop is in communion with His Holiness Pope Francis. Jesus Christ speaks through Pope Francis.
The Apostolic See has preserved the Catholic Religion immaculate.
Why worry?
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Jesus Christ speaks through Pope Francis? LOL. Are you talking about papal infallibility? If you had a discerning nature you might be worried considering that PF's closest associates like Cardinal Marx are pushing positions that are borderline, if not, in fact, heretical
“Therefore, I don't have the slightest worries about this or that within and outside Holy Mother Church.
My parish is in communion with my bishop. My bishop is in communion with His Holiness Pope Francis. Jesus Christ speaks through Pope Francis.The Apostolic See has preserved the Catholic Religion immaculate.Why worry?”
Arrogance thy name is Mark Thomas. Never say never.
“The truth is that God is not afraid to test our faith and our love for Him. It is important to realize that the test flows from His love for us. God tests our faith sometimes for our good and the good of others. The test makes our faith real and personal. Love is not truly love until it has been tested in fire. Faith is not really faith until it has been tested as well. The test purifies our faith of selfishness and pride; it deepens our radical trust in His goodness and divine providence. The test prepares us for other crosses that we will face down the road in our roles as believer, parent, priest/consecrated or lay leader.” The Arlington Catholic Hearld, Fr. Jack Peterson
Anonymous said..."Arrogance thy name is Mark Thomas. Never say never."
Sorry, but my faith has not been tested. I submit to Pope Francis' God-given authority to teach, govern, and sanctify me. I don't have worries.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled."
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
The above works for me. Deo gratias.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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