From Cardinal Dolan's website.
I did not oppose the former policy; nor did I push, condone, or oppose the new one. While the Parade committee was considerate in advising me of the change, they did not ask my approval, nor did they need to.
Thank you for letting me know of such concerns. I share some of them.
However, the most important question I had to ask myself was this: does the new policy violate Catholic faith or morals? If it does, then the Committee has compromised the integrity of the Parade, and I must object and refuse to participate or support it.
From my review, it does not. Catholic teaching is clear: “being Gay” is not a sin, nor contrary to God’s revealed morals. Homosexual actions are—as are any sexual relations outside of the lifelong, faithful, loving, lifegiving bond of a man and woman in marriage—a moral teaching grounded in the Bible, reflected in nature, and faithfully taught by the Church.
So, while actions are immoral, identity is not! In fact, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, people with same-sex attraction are God’s children, deserving dignity and respect, never to be treated with discrimination or injustice.
To the point: the committee’s decision allows a group to publicize its identity, not promote actions contrary to the values of the Church that are such an essential part of Irish culture. I have been assured that the new group marching is not promoting an agenda contrary to Church teaching, but simply identifying themselves as “Gay people of Irish ancestry.”
If the Parade Committee allowed a group to publicize its advocacy of any actions contrary to Church teaching, I’d object. As Cardinal John O’Connor remarked, we do not change the Creed—and I’d add, the Ten Commandments—to satisfy political correctness.
In fact, the leaders of the Parade Committee tried to be admirably sensitive to Church teaching. They worried that the former policy was being interpreted as bias, exclusion, and discrimination against a group in our city, which, if true, would also be contrary to Church teaching. While they were quick to acknowledge that, in reality, the policy was not unfair at all, they were also realistic in worrying that the public perception was the opposite, no matter how often they tried to explain its coherence and fairness.
I found their sensitivity wise, and publicly said so.
If, in doing so, I have shown an insensitivity to you, I apologize. - Cardinal Dolan
Works for me. Kinda.
Moving on...
Monsignor Pope has a great post today entitled: Homosexual Acts Cannot Be Approved or Celebrated By the Church and Here's Why. Monsignor's post is very good instruction BTW - it would be good to bookmark and keep for future reference - I think you're going to need it.
If I may, I'd like to suggest that a limited or incomplete emphasis on 'homosexual acts' alone leads to this: Gay in Christ: Dimensions in Fidelity. Not that that there is necessarily anything wrong with that...
It's just that fuzzy thinking can lead to fuzzy points of view - sort of like cataracts. A sort of spiritual macular degeneration can occur, frequently more common in the aging, but it can happen at any age - even after corrective
On the question of homosexual unions, legalized by the Brazilian Supreme Court in 2011, Cardinal Damasceno Assis is quoted as saying,
"It is a decision by the Supreme [Federal Court, the highest Constitutional Court in Brazil]. Of course, for the Church, it [homosexual union] cannot be equated to marriage, that is different. But, regarding respect for the stable union between these people, there is no doubt that the Church has always [sempre] been trying to do it this way", said Damasceno Assis - Rorate
Yeah. So otherwise I have nothing to say.
Trivia: Know how to say Dolan's name with a Boston accent? Cad-nel Dho-lun.
I never thought of gay as happy,
much less an identity.
Nope, doesn't work for me. They applied as a gay group and it's one that promotes the gay agenda. Not only that, but many psychologists say there is NO gay identity. A person may be a man with same sex attraction or a woman with alcohol attraction or a man or woman with a theft attraction. That is NOT a person's identity. We are more than our attractions. Cardinal Dolan can spin this any way he wants, but can you imagine Cardinal O'Connor agreeing? Cardinal Dolan always has a good reason: for committing a scandal whether it's feting pro-aborts, saying, "Bravo" to a man committed to sodomy or giving signs of approbation to a parish LGBT group (NOT Courage! - chastity is NOT part of the Francis Xavier package). So, nope, it doesn't work for me. But I'm offering my rosary for the man tonight because I can't imagine it works for the God-Man who said, "Zeal for your house consumes me."
ReplyDeleteIt really doesn't work for me either. I'm amazed how the churchmen are transforming doctrine right before our eyes.
DeleteWe seem to be returning to the times of the great heresies and persecutions. You know, the times you can read about in the Roman Martyrology. Who would have thought we might live through them? Bishop Athanasius Schneider absolutely nailed it: the fourth great crisis of the Church, and the enemy is anthropocentrism. I thought the Church had begun to right herself after the 60s and 70s, but the rot is deep. We're beginning to see more clearly just what poor Pope Benedict was up against. He had so few allies and so many--both high and low--sabotaging his work.
Delete"However, the most important question I had to ask myself was this: does the new policy violate Catholic faith or morals? If it does, then the Committee has compromised the integrity of the Parade, and I must object and refuse to participate or support it."
ReplyDeleteI am on the other side of the continent (California), so whatever Cardinal Dolan decides to do, its on him in the end. I can't be concerned about it anymore...quite frankly I don't care either.
So then, does his participation in the parade affect my Catholic faith and my desire to grow in my faith?
Nope, it does not.
In the meantime, my prayers for him and for all the bishops of these here United States. ^^
Holy Mary, Patroness of the Americas, lead your little sons along the path of truth and faith and love.
Amen!
I hope Our Lady finds a new Juan Diego to go speak for her to the bishops.
DeleteThat would be great but then again I'd like to think she will take matters into her own hands and speak to one lucky bishop directly or maybe to a few, all at the same time, while they are on some "inspection tour."
DeleteLet her scold them with great tenderness and wipe their tears as they realize why she is doing so. <3
But why make such a point of teh gay? If they're Irish, they can drink green beer without the rainbow sash.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Erin go gay.
DeleteI am very disappointed in Cardinal Dolan.
ReplyDeleteI am too but he's made up his mind and plans to "stand by his decision." So whatever heat he's willing to take on the matter, for whatever his reasons, I will respect him for that and refrain from being critical from here on out.
DeleteI hate to say it but I was disappointed with him since Milwaukee - when he appeared in the pulpit with a cheese head hat on.
DeleteReally? A cheese hat? How cheesy is that? Poor Cardinal Dolan, he just can't win, eh? And here the media portrayed him as the one darling American bishop of Papa Emerito.
DeleteI still like him. Besides, the parade is still several months away...anything can happen since after all, ISIS has threatened the U.S.A with all out Armageddon.
We better be well prepared come what may.
None other than Father Z defended Cardinal Dolan for wearing the "cheese hat" which, as Father Z pointed out, was worn only during the homily and not during the Mass itself.
Deletehttp://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/i-want-to-put-a-stop-to-something/
As Father Z points out, Archbishop Dolan was going into a very tense situation, having to follow Archbishop Weakland and his terrible scandal.
Also, I would like to point out a Mic'd Up episode that Michael Voris did with his friend, Dr. Gerard Nadal, in which they were discussing an interview Cardinal Dolan did on Meet the Press.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SGaQ0WwZ_0I
Dr. Nadal made it clear that he did not agree with the statements made by the Cardinal in this interview. However, at about 42 minutes into this program, he made the following statements about Cardinal Dolan:
"In the time remaining, I do want to say I have had some personal interactions with Cardinal Dolan, and I do want to put this on the record. He is fantastic in dealing with his priests. A guy we were in the seminary with - Steve - had open heart surgery a year ago at NYU. Cardinal Dolan went down three times - we almost lost Father Clark twice - Cardinal Dolan was down there three times to anoint him, bring him Eucharist, bring him consolation of the Sacraments, one of them on Easter Sunday morning at 8:30 in the morning. He is doing a communion call and he has to run back up to the Cathedral for the 10:00 Mass. So, he has got a very pastoral approach.
There were a couple of priests, one of whom ended up in a nursing home. He was living with the Christian Brothers, the community he started with before he became a diocesan, and he was in a deep depression, felt this was the end of the line. So I put in a call to the personnel director and said, can you have the Cardinal call him and ask him to accept this as an assignment to the old monks. And he did. And he spoke to the Father, and for the remaining years of Father's life, he was a changed man. He had purpose, he had vision, he went out and ministered to the monks.
These are just snippets of Cardinal Dolan, but this man is like this all of the time. So he has a deep, deep, deep orientation toward pastoral ministry. He is a very pastoral man. I think what the argument is here is how do you express that when it comes to this issue."
We need to be very careful when reacting to reports about Cardinal Dolan or any other hierarchy in the Church. No matter what the source, we are never getting the whole story, and are being presented only one side of these men.
I gave the wrong link for the youtube video. Here is the correct link:
Deletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=omDQvCkOowE
Sorry, it's very late when I am writing this and I am very tired.
This is off topic, but I would like to point out that Dr. Nadal has been friends with Michael Voris since they were in seminary together here in New York. He speaks very positively about Voris. However, even Dr. Nadal had to point out that Voris went way over the line when he (Voris) condemned Cardinal Dolan and said he was headed to hell.
ReplyDeletehttp://gerardnadal.com/2014/09/11/the-authentic-catholic-uprising-of-michael-voris/
From Dr. Nadal:
"Michael has crossed a line: A very dangerous line.
Calling for the abdication of Cardinal Dolan and many other non specified bishops, coupled with the stern admonition that the time has come for an, “authentic Catholic uprising,” has the potential to incite passions in those who might not be as stable as one would hope."
Dr. Nadal points out that Voris may very well be in direct disobedience of Canon 1373, which says:
"Can. 1373 A person who publicly incites his or her subjects to hatred or animosity against the Apostolic See or the Ordinary because of some act of ecclesiastical authority or ministry, or who provokes the subjects to disobedience against them, is to be punished by interdict or other just penalties."
Dr. Nadal then writes:
"Those of us who write or who have other platforms in media have a duty, in love, to offer commentary on our bishops when they cross a line. I have done so only a few times because a bishop’s authority comes down to him from Jesus, through the Apostles. That is a dread reality with which to contend. Authentic Catholic critique must always call the people to pray for the bishop, to mortify themselves if necessary for the bishop’s sake.
Calling the faithful to non-specified acts of uprising for the sake of a bishop’s soul places the souls of those engaging in uprising in danger: hence the reason for Canon 1373. It places Michael’s soul in equal peril."
I am certainly not saying that you are guilty of this, Terry, but it does place a grave responsibility on all of us who have chosen to publicly comment on the actions of the hierarchy. We need to keep this in mind at all times.
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ReplyDeleteOkay, so identifying your "inclination" is acceptable in the parade. How's this idea: Have everyone hold signs that acknowledge their own personal "inclination" - "Proud to be..." ...thief, liar, fornicator, etc.? Maybe that would put a different spin on this parade, and be all inclusive?
ReplyDelete