"Fratricidal arguments"
"Will the real Vatican II please stand up?" is the title of Cardinal Francis George's column (click on this post's title) in the June 11 issue of his Chicago Archdiocesan newspaper.
Leaving aside everything else the Cardinal says, I can note that he writes, "Much that is positive and helpful in the Church today comes from the instructions of the Council. Much that is negative and destructive in the Church today comes, it seems to me, from fratricidal arguments about elements of the Church’s life and teachings, conflicts that distract Catholics from attending to the reason the Council was called: the conversion of the world."
As for "fratricidal arguments," we should note, just for the record, that all Catholics have a duty to defend Catholic truth when it is attacked, misrepresented, mocked, flouted or subverted. Defending the Faith is in no way engaging in "fratricidal conflict," contrary to what many "liberal" Catholics claim. Let us hope Cardinal George would acknowledge that.
As for conversion of the world, I can attest, and no doubt you can too, and so can countless L.A. Catholics all the way back to the 1960's, that many "liberal" priests spend less time in bringing people into Holy Mother Church than in criticizing everything orthodox and traditional about Her and thus driving people away from , not to mention out of, the Church. Why would anyone want to join or stay in a Church whose own priests are disloyal -- who act as if She was wrong about everything for 2,000 years and needs to be reinvented now?
Leaving aside everything else the Cardinal says, I can note that he writes, "Much that is positive and helpful in the Church today comes from the instructions of the Council. Much that is negative and destructive in the Church today comes, it seems to me, from fratricidal arguments about elements of the Church’s life and teachings, conflicts that distract Catholics from attending to the reason the Council was called: the conversion of the world."
As for "fratricidal arguments," we should note, just for the record, that all Catholics have a duty to defend Catholic truth when it is attacked, misrepresented, mocked, flouted or subverted. Defending the Faith is in no way engaging in "fratricidal conflict," contrary to what many "liberal" Catholics claim. Let us hope Cardinal George would acknowledge that.
As for conversion of the world, I can attest, and no doubt you can too, and so can countless L.A. Catholics all the way back to the 1960's, that many "liberal" priests spend less time in bringing people into Holy Mother Church than in criticizing everything orthodox and traditional about Her and thus driving people away from , not to mention out of, the Church. Why would anyone want to join or stay in a Church whose own priests are disloyal -- who act as if She was wrong about everything for 2,000 years and needs to be reinvented now?
posted by Quintero at 6:17 PM
2 Comments:
Amen brother!
I blogged about this very same topic myself.
http://custosfidei.blogspot.com/2006/06/vatican-ii-redux.html
I shake my head.
Time for some 'Millstone' awards!
JOSEPH D'HIPPOLITO SAYS...
Here's a translation of Cdl. George's patronizing comments about "fratricidal arguments":
Who the blazes are you dumb laity to be telling us bishops what the faith is? Don't you know how much smarter we are than you, how extensive our seminary training is? Granted, it doesn't include intense study of Scripture, Aquinas, Augustine or any of the other Church Doctors but that's irrelevant! We know better than you and always will! Just put your money in the collection plate and shut up, will you? After all, *somebody* has to pay for our exhorbitant lifestyles. And don't be callin' no police on our gay friends, neither!
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