It's about corruption:
“Where there is deceit, the Holy Spirit is not present,” Pope Francis said. “This is the difference between a sinner and a man who is corrupt. One who leads a double life is corrupt, whereas one who sins would like not to sin, but he is weak or he finds himself in a condition he cannot resolve, and so he goes to the Lord and asks to be forgiven. The Lord loves such a person, he accompanies him, he remains with him. And we have to say, all of us who are here: sinner yes, corrupt no”.
Those who are corrupt, Pope Francis continued, do not know what humility is. Jesus likens them to whitewashed tombs: they appear beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of dead bones. “And a Christian who boasts of being a Christian but does not lead a Christian life is corrupt”. We all know such people, and we all know “how much harm corrupt Christians, and corrupt priests do to the Church. What harm they do to the Church! They do not live in the spirit of the Gospel, but in the spirit of worldliness. St Paul states it clearly to the Romans: Do not be conformed to this world (cf. Rom 12:2). However, it is even stronger in the original text: do not enter into this world’s schemes, into its framework, because this leads to a double life”.
Pope Francis concluded: “A varnished putrefaction: this is the life of someone who is corrupt. And Jesus does not call them simply sinners. He calls them hypocrites. And yet Jesus always forgives, he never tires of forgiving. The only thing he asks is that there be no desire to lead this double life. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to flee from every form of deceit and to see ourselves as sinners. Sinners yes, corrupt no”. - Pope Francis
I posted this late last night because of some junk I read on Facebook. People are making this into a political-ideological problem. It's a moral issue as I've been writing about - it's corruption - the Holy Father has been very clear about this all along. We will see how he handles it, agree or disagree. People are nevertheless blinded by their political bias and PC preferences. I actually thought this would be clear to so-called cultural warriors, but evidently not. Politics as usual.
There is a huge difference between a cleric, in a moment of weakness, going to a public park for anonymous sex, and a bishop having gay cocktail parties to show off his latest seminarian boy friend. "A varnished putrefaction: this is the life of someone who is corrupt."
This resonates on a lot of levels for me. At work, within our family, with friends (and obviously with our current crisis) it seems that intrigue and schemes.....covert dealings are everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI've been in the habit of saying that our church needs to be reformed, our government, our party, our bosses, our schools, our civil departments...my heart.
Only our Lord and Blessed Mother can clean this mess up....I can't do anything myself! I can't even keep my family pure. God help us......sinners all.
One of the diseases of our age is the tendency to look at everything in political terms. Evaluating what is right or wrong is alien to many people. I used to teach ethics. (Now retired, yes!) For many of my students it was a whole new way of thinking.
ReplyDeletePope Francis performs his first miracle.....Baby kissed by Pope overcomes brain tumor...
ReplyDeletePoor Papa Francis, he's got lots of kissing to do then because we need help! Holy miracle help!
DeleteI read that story on the baby too, a sweet break from all the ugliness that is raging at the moment on the Internet.
We need those miracles right now. There is little more that I can say on this subject. It is shaking the foundation of many people's faith. I read once again the most nasty hatefilled comments about our Church. There is no defense at this point. Many call for people to stop giving, to leave, to go to their Church. I agree there are two separate scandals here. The historical institutional handling and the possible gay lobby of today. We need to shine a bright light on both. At Mass this weekend I expected to hear something reassuring in the homily. Silence about this was defeating. Prayers were offered for "the victims in Pennsylvania." Thoughts and prayers. It was not enough for me. For one thing there are victims locally as well. I think the clerical thinking is it will just fade away again. I am more convinced then ever that a lay review board must take this out of the Bishop's hands. Ordination of married men and woman seems like it is now time. This is a problem created and sustained by men for men. As I wrote before, it is in my opinion, a systemic fault that cannot correct itself. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if anyone protested his being made a cardinal back in the day when Pope Benedict reigned. It was he who consecrated Wuerl a cardinal back in 2005.
DeleteWas he ever warned like many who are reported to have warned the Vatican about McCarrick?
The West won't ordain married men. Nor is that a magic bullet. In the East, there are families where the men become priests and the women marry men who are then ordained to the diaconate. Typically they raise their family while the man is a deacon, and he's ordained to the priesthood only after the kids are grown, although some are ordained to the priesthood with young children. If they divorce, the man has a year to decide whether to continue as a celibate priest or leave the priesthood so he can remarry.
DeleteSt John Paul already spoke about ordination of women. Not gonna happen. The harpies interested in the priesthood are power hungry and wouldn't make it through seminary.
Following tweeted by Hugh Hewitt. He is not the most credible source so time will tell.
ReplyDelete"Donald Wuerl has called a mandatory meeting of his “priest council” for tomorrow. Hoping that precedes a resignation. But @Pontifex should have already fired him."
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DeleteNo more "loud silence." I just read the letter Papa Francis has written to the "Holy people of God" on the Vatican website.
DeleteI pray this will be the beginning of complete restoration and credibility. As our Holy Father says it can only be accomplished if we all get involved beginning with fasting and prayer.
Amen
Yes Yaya let's hope. I feel like we are living in Nero's times and watching Rome burn. I read, do not remember where, a day or two ago about a Coptic Orthodox abbot in Egypt who was murdered outside his cell. Hit over the head with a blunt object. Two young monks are under suspicion. Motive? Exposure of their irregular relationship. So, looks like our problems are the tip of a very giant iceburg! I am trying to put a lot of this out of my mind by decreasing my internet reading. I have even resumed knitting to keep busy during down time. Mt grandkids could use some sweaters and that is a more productive use of my time and keeps my mind occupied with happier thoughts.
DeleteWuerl submitted a letter of resignation two years ago, when he turned 75, the mandatory retirement age. Let's pray that the resignation has finally been accepted.
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