What have you seen and heard at "Congress?"
Hope you will check in here tonight, tomorrow or in the next few days with a comment or two on what you saw and heard at this year's Religious Education Congress. We will all be interested in any report you have on the good and the bad.
From late morning until mid-afternoon today (Saturday), about 15 picketers were out, and they were handing out "informative literature" to lots of attendees. Their signs ranged from the pithy ("Beware! Dissent Inside" and "Question Mahony, Not the Faith") to the extra-pithy ("Arrest Mahony" and "Jail Time for Mahony").
It really is a shame that "Congress" is not a showcase for liturgical abuse-less Masses, unanimous and unqualified support for the Magisterium and for orthodoxy in catechetics, and zeal for making our parishes actively and publicly anti-abortion.
Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, Help of Christians and Refuge of Sinners, pray for us sinners who have recourse to Thee! Amen.
From late morning until mid-afternoon today (Saturday), about 15 picketers were out, and they were handing out "informative literature" to lots of attendees. Their signs ranged from the pithy ("Beware! Dissent Inside" and "Question Mahony, Not the Faith") to the extra-pithy ("Arrest Mahony" and "Jail Time for Mahony").
It really is a shame that "Congress" is not a showcase for liturgical abuse-less Masses, unanimous and unqualified support for the Magisterium and for orthodoxy in catechetics, and zeal for making our parishes actively and publicly anti-abortion.
Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, Help of Christians and Refuge of Sinners, pray for us sinners who have recourse to Thee! Amen.
posted by Quintero at 7:41 PM
17 Comments:
I attended the religious congress on friday. The first session I attended was a talk given by Bishop Trautman, he is head of the US Bishops on the liturgy ICEL commission. Well Bishop Trautman basically during his Hour speech and 30 minute Q and A is fighting against scared language used in The Liturgy like Precious Chalice what the The Vatican wants. Instead Bishop Trautman wants the word cup. (I think he wants cup because then using glass and pottery would be "offical") He dosen't want used took in His (Jesus Christ) venerable hands. He laughed at The Vatican wanting this language, he says that thelaity can't relate to this sort a language. Bishop Trautman thinks we laity are incapable of learning new words (that is my opinion.) Bishop Trautman also as no real respect for Redemptonis Sacramentum ( document directive on the Liturgy from The Holy See) He looks at it then says we got to do what we gota do to push for our agenda to The Vatican because the right wingers are getting heard at The Vatican. Bishop Trautman has a clear agenda and it is not for what The Holy See wants. Bishop Trautman also said eucharist instead of saying The Eucharist( this talk kind of talk always drives me nuts). The second talk I attended was Fr. Thomas Reese S.J. former editor of "America" magazine. Fr. Reese hour talk and 30 minute Q and A was on "Thinking Catholics" basically he said you are not a thinking Catholic unless you use modern theology and question authority of The Church. Fr. Reese also critized Our late Holy Father John Paul II especially last year when the Holy Father gave a speech near the time of his death on ethunasia, Fr. Reese said who writes the speeches for the Pope he was old and sickly he couldn't have written anything especially a speech. Fr. Reese said this speech The Pope gave was not in line with the Church's teaching on end of life issues Fr. Reese laughs at the Holy Father. (Now this is my opinion) What I got out of that statement from Fr. Reese was that he agreed with the Florida courts to kill Terri Shiavo. I was so angered by Fr. Reese comments that my guardian angel had to hold me back from going up to him and slapping him in the face. Fr. Reese also told the several hundered people that attended his talk that you push for women deacons priests etc., he also told them that when in teaching positions give the church's teaching but don't be afraid to give yours to the students even if it goes against the church's teachings. Fr. Reese being a Jesuit and all also seems to find sacred language and terminology rather hard to understand and explain to people. He dosen't really care for Pope John Paul II writings , he actually made fun of them. He also told the crowd to stay and fight for the "liberal agenda" but he didn't call it that he called them the middle ground type catholic. Fr. Reese alluded to that he was fired from "america " magazine after Pope BenedictXVI took office. The third and final talk I attended was given by ex priest Thomas Groome from Boston College. He was pushing for women deacons and if this happens he said this is a first step to the priesthood. Thomas groome also called us "right wing" catholics Donatist. (Well this is me thinking to myself) I haven't seen any "right wing "catholics going around killing "left wing" catholics" He gave a lecture type talk which almost put me to sleep. Well, that was my experience on friday at Cardinal Roger Mahony's religious ed congress. Saturday however according to Fr. Groome oops ex Fr. Groome I became a donatist. I protested outside the Religious congress with about fifteen other people. Fr. Michael Crosby Fransican I believe from Chicago came up to us several times ,the first time wondering if he "made our list" again of dissenting speakers. I said oh! yes we will never leave you out of our list unless you change your teachings and return to what The Church teaches. The other time he came by he talked to gentleman, but I didn't hear that conversation. I pray for Fr. Crosby something must be bothering him that he feels the need to talk to us "donatists" Laugh! Bishop Tod Brown of the Orange diocese took part in a "prayer service" to end the death penalty this service was outside on a grassy little hill outside the arena area. There were about 40 people there. A couple of people who were protesting the congress stood there on the hill and held up a sign that calls on to teach Church teachings not heresy. The sign I know was not meant to represent that to be against the death penalty is heresy. It was the only big sign with a long stick the person from our group had to hold so Bishop Tod Brown could read while standing there amoung the small crowd. After the service was over a young woman shouted out " Bishop Brown secret oaths to hide evil are invalid." Bishop Brown look sorta startled by the tall sign and shout of that girl. while I was there for for six hours praying and protesting the dissent taking place inside, several people came up to me and thanked me for being there. They said they were forced to come here because they are Catholic school teachers. One of them said to me during the Keynote speech this morning Fr. Timothy Radcliff O.P. told crowd of 20,000 plus people to go see "Brokeback Mountain". If God willing or if I can make it to an early moring mass I will be out there praying and protesting. The layfaithfull need to say enough is enough and fight back against the heretical speakers at Cardinal Mahony's religious ed congress. Try if you can to show up tommorow from 9am -2pm. It is time to stand up for Holy Mother The Church. God Bless!
I love what Bishop Aquila and Cardinal George had to say in response to Bishop Trautman at last November's conference.
Dear Clayton,
Thank you for supplying this valuable resource from www.adoremus.org
A punster might say there is something "fishy" with Bishop Traut-person's outlook.
Dear Quo Vadis,
Excellent point about "inclusive" language!
It has been long decades now for so many older Catholics who have had to suffer -- and "suffer" is the word -- through false translations at Mass. This wrong is now made worse by "inclusive" language, which is not even a translation, just a person-made* rewriting of Sacred Scritpture.
*We wouldn't want to say "man"-made, now, would we? Must be "inclusive" at all times!
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for picketing and for your perspective. Glad your guardian angel was on the job -- although I know you were just exaggerating for emphasis, about your reaction to that one talk.
May the memory of Terri Schiavo always inspire each of us as we work to restore respect for the sanctity of every human life.
I notice they have not published the transcript of the chat with the Cardinal on the REC website. I participated in the chat and there were a lot of tough questions and it also didn’t last as long as the schedule said it would. I asked if we could expect to see wider use of the Traditional Latin Mass and he basically gave a no. There was question asking why he moved the tabernacle from its rightful place in the center of the sanctuary. Roger replied that he didn't understand the comment. The last question was regarding liturgical abuses and that's when the chat abruptly ended. There were a few other good ones but I can’t remember.
I notice that they have the transcript of some chat with school children. It appears that it was more to the Cardinal's liking.
I was at the conference on Friday and made two talks, both of which were excellent. The morning session was a "teaching chastity" talk given by Pam Stenzel. Excellent delivery (except for the volume at certain points... Mrs. Stenzel can really belt it out), solid theology and even a few very direct criticisms of the failure to mention sin from th pulpit as well as the "Good Touch - Bad Touch" Program. You know, apart from the problems with "Good Touch - Bad Touch", who they hell thought of the name? It sounds like a damn Barney song about pedophiles.
I missed John Allen's talk due to a long lunch, but made the late afternoon session with Fr. Spitzer, President of Gonzaga University on the Philosophy of the Pro-Life movement, which was also excellent. Fr. Spitzer has a tough job as the president of a Jesuit University (I graduated from USF... Ugghhhhhh...) and we should all be praying that he receive the graces to act courageously in defense of the Church in his current role.
I remember another question during Cardinal Mahony's Chat.. A woman asked if there is a possibility in the future to have deaconesses. Mahony replied that this issue has been studied and that the role of the deaconess in the early Church is unlike the role of deacons today and that it wouldn't be possible.
I wish I had copied my computer screen during the chat. At the time I thought the transcript would be posted on the REC web site.
Joe
The Religious Education Congress provides for a very few orthodox speakers like Pam Stenzl and Fr. Spitzer. I would like to know how many people attended Fr. Spitzers talk compared to Fr. Thomas Reese S. J. former editor of America Magazine. I was at Fr. Reese's talk and at least several hundered attended. They also have several booths inside the conference area that sell good solid books or pieces of art. However the majority of the Congress is filled with dissent. Just go to the Cardinals Mass on Sunday check out the dancing men and women with incence bowls parading all over during the Mass! Several years ago I was told by a young gentleman that in order to get orthodox speakers at the Religious Ed congress you have to do alot of negotating with the people in charge. Again they only allow a token of solid catholic speakers.I believe just to look good to catholics who may have doubts about the congress being not orthodox. This is Deception. Guess who pays for this Congress? We the laity! It is so much easy to sit in front of the computer and blog about all of the corruption in your diocese but it is another thing to stand up publically against the dissent. I am not saying don't blog do that! but get out there next time, when there is a prayer picket! show with your body you have had enough of the nonsense and dissent. The more people who publically display this, well it just might be a start of a counter revoultion against what was forced on us by these dissenting theologians, Bishops,priests and nuns! God Blees and fight the good fight!
Sorry mispelled Bless Well God Bless you all!
Dear Anonymous 3:08 p.m.,
Thank you for reporting about the chat. You were not afraid to ask the Cardinal a tough question, and that is great. Glad to know other people did the same.
Dear Howdy,
That is a good handle you have there. Thank for reporting about Pam Stenzel and Father Spitzer. You are so right about us needing to pray for him.
It's great that you withstood your time at USF. Congrats!
Dear Joe,
Thanks for reporting. Glad to know the Cardinal had to admit the impossibility of female deacons.
Dear Michael,
Thanks for writing. Your points are really good -- that "Congress" throws in a few good speakers to camouflage all the baddies, and that more people end up hearing the many baddies.
Glad to hear you encouraging everyone to get out in public and give witness on the front lines.
Every bit of communicating we each do pays off. Letters to the editor are a super way to reach thousands of people, and blogging also reaches thousands. I agree with you, though, that going out in public can inspire people.
Let's all do what we can, and that usually is more than we think we can. Especially with Rosary in hand!
God bless you, too, and don't ever worry about typos -- we all make them!
If the 'anonymous' who posted first would kindly contact me, there is a writer that is interested in this testimony to help put together a witness on this 'education congress'.
Please e-mail me at canventin@msn.com and I will put you in touch with the writer. Thanks.
By the way, the parish I had to leave last year has sent the staff to this congress and is getting ready to implement the 'youth mass'; I guess I should say 'youth liturgy'. There were still looking for a drummer, the last I heard. I had to leave that place...
Dear whom it may concern, I have been trying to email you my info, but it always fails to go through. Well here email actionem@yahoo.com if I recognize the writers name and organization they write for I will even be intrested in talking on the phone with them. God Bless.
Have really enjoyed the reading. Thank God for all of you out there. Do any of you log on to catholic answers? Lots of stuff going on there.
Post a Comment
<< Home