The Bitter Pill has really outdone itself. It published a letter, I assume without editorial correction (I refuse to buy it in order to check) which started off with the following jaw-dropping statement:
"It was interesting to read about the new Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in the British Province of Pope St Gregory the Great (News from Britain and Ireland, 2 April). The theologically dubious description of the priest as being an image of Christ, acting in the person of Christ, and possessing an “active instrumental power” all in a way in which the layman respectively is not, cannot, and does not, betrays a clericalist and power-based notion of priesthood at odds with any notion of service."Theologically dubious? It would appear that the letter-writer (and presumably the editor of The Bitter Pill who allowed it to pass unchallenged) is unacquainted with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The Catechism states:
1592 The ministerial priesthood differs in essence from the common priesthood of the faithful because it confers a sacred power for the service of the faithful. the ordained ministers exercise their service for the People of God by teaching (munus docendi), divine worship (munus liturgicum) and pastoral governance (munus regendi).and earlier:
1581 This sacrament configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ's instrument for his Church. By ordination one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple office of priest, prophet, and king.Tabletistas are rather keen on quoting the spirit of Vatican II. I, on the other hand, prefer the actual documents, so that there is no chance that I reinterpret things to fit in with my personal viewpoint... So, how about one of the Decrees produced by the Council? The Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis, states quite clearly:
Wherefore the priesthood, while indeed it presupposes the sacraments of Christian initiation, is conferred by that special sacrament; through it priests, by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are signed with a special character and are conformed to Christ the Priest in such a way that they can act in the person of Christ the Head. (n2)And if you're not happy with a mere Decree, what about a full-blown Dogmatic Constitution? Lumen Gentium, anyone?
The ministerial priest, by the sacred power he enjoys, teaches and rules the priestly people; acting in the person of Christ, he makes present the Eucharistic sacrifice, and offers it to God in the name of all the people. (n10)It really isn't rocket science. No ministerial priesthood = no Sacraments = no Church.
Lay people can become friends of the Confraternity and offer prayers, financial and practical support to priests. Check out the membership page of the website.
Twitch of the mantilla to the inimitable Father Z, who deserves an bravery award for reading through such tripe and having the patience to explain why it's so completely wrong. I,on the other hand, just want to slap someone...
UPDATE: To be honest, I didn't realise that the letter was actually published in 2011 (as was Fr. Z's article) as it only came to my attention on Wednesday. However, even though it's an old letter, my point still stands: it should never have been published in a Catholic newspaper without some sort of correction or editorial comment...
5 comments:
Mgr Furetti knows how to deal with this- I've seen the pictures!
I'm sure The Pill will be able and willing
to state how correct their statement is.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Still Waiting.
Still Waiting.
Still Waiting . . .
Open mouthed in disbelief. I long ago repented of my reading of the Tablet, and I am too frequently reminded of my one misguided written contribution, many moons ago... But a howler like this makes you wonder how anyone can take this rag seriously.
Those statements contain latin and words like ministerial, sacramental and Eucharistic which have 3 or more syllables and therefore can't be understood by poor laypeople like myself so we are hardly going to be able to get our heads round such concepts as ontological changes. (I'm sorry, the combination of Shine, Jesus, Shine, and enforced hand-holding in the Our Father last Sunday has left me feeling less than charitable.)
"However, even though it's an old letter, my point still stands: it should never have been published in a Catholic newspaper without some sort of correction or editorial comment..."
But it wasn't published in a Catholic newspaper!
Confronted with dreadful thoughts about the Tabletistas, their God aka Hans Küng and his "Spirit of Vatican II" I always calm my nerves by re-reading the article written about Küng by the Most Rev Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath who was one of the group of twelve young priests who were especially trained to act as stenographers throughout all 160 days of sittings of Vatican II. The money quote is a gem: "A clear conclusion, for me at least, is that Dr Küng is less qualified than most of those present to interpret that ephemeral concept which he constantly evokes – “the spirit of the Vatican Council”."
The full text of the article is available at
http://www.irishsalem.com/international-controversies/The%20Vatican/kung-invokes-spirit-14sep10.php
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