Monday 1 February 2010

England & Wales Ad Limina Visit...

It seems that the Holy Father has been keeping an eye on the legislation being produced by our government... and he has told the Bishops, in no uncertain terms, to stand up for the Truth.

I think there was a little veiled criticism in there:

"I urge you as Pastors to ensure that the Church’s moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended."

Too often have our Bishops presented the Church's teaching as if it was something divorced from reality... or damned it with faint praise.

Given the stuff I've been posting here on Catholics for a Changing Church, I was particularly encouraged by this paragraph:

"In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free."


Mantilla-twitch to Fr. Ray Blake for both the video clip and the text of the Holy Father's address.

2 comments:

gemoftheocean said...

Actually, I thought there was a lot of veiled criticism!!! ;-D

What would have been fun would have been if he'd said "hey, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!"

George said...

'...it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate'.

Absolutely right and never was DISSENT more clearly demonstrated to be at barge-pole length distance from a Balanced Debate than at the Parish meeting at Blackfen last year when the Changeling Church Catholics (CCC)brigade decided they didn't like the Latin Mass, or the Priest with his back to the people, and no handshake or sign of pieces, with the mob yelling 'YOU LATIN LOVERS, YOU DIVISIVE SO and SO's - YAARGHHHHH>>>>!!!!' Yep - a really mature contribution that was for sure!

The memory now of that evening sounds incredible to contemplate - how could Catholics behave like this not just in front of their Bishop but in front of Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist in the Tabernacle.

The Holy Father has his finger firmly on the pulse -
E & W Bishops please LEAD your Church.

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