Pope Francis welcomes Benedict XVI back to the Vatican

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican on Thursday (May 2), where he will live a few hundred meters from his successor, Pope Francis, in an arrangement that has no precedent in the history of the Catholic Church.

(Left) Pope Benedict photo by Gregory A. Shemitz, (right) Pope Francis photo by Andrea Sabbadini.

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This image available for Web publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.

Benedict, 86, flew by helicopter from the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, where he spent the past two months since his resignation on Feb. 28.

All the Vatican’s top officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, showed up at the Vatican’s helipad to welcome Benedict, while Francis chose to meet the the former pope in front of the Mater Ecclesiae convent where Benedict will live out his retirement.

Francis greeted his predecessor “with great and fraternal cordiality,” according to a Vatican statement, before the two men stopped briefly in the convent chapel to pray.

Benedict was accompanied by his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, who is also serving Francis as prefect of the papal household, charged with setting the new pope’s schedule and arranging his audiences.

According to the Vatican’s statement, the former pope is “happy to be back in the Vatican, where he intends to dedicate himself … to the service of the church primarily through prayer.”

Benedict’s return was a low-profile event; Vatican TV didn’t cover it and the Vatican’s semiofficial newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, didn’t mention the former pope’s return in its afternoon editions.

While some church observers worry that Benedict’s presence could overshadow Francis and his course of reforms, John Thavis, a former Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service and a frequent Vatican commentator, said the side-by-side popes shouldn’t cause a “crisis in the church.”

Thavis wrote in his blog that Benedict understands that “even an offhand remark by the retired pope … could echo within the hierarchy or across the blogosphere, and possibly be construed as criticism or divergence from the current pope.”

Before resigning, Benedict said he would “withdraw into prayer” and live his final years “hidden from the world.” He also pledged his “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor.

According to Rebecca Rist, a specialist in church history at the University of Reading in Britain, the two popes will have a “very cordial” relationship, unlike the 13th-century scuffles between Celestine V and his successor Boniface VIII.

Boniface persuaded Celestine that it was “in the best interests of the Vatican for him to resign,” Rist said. But Boniface, “fearing that enduring loyalties to the former pontiff could provoke a schism,” ordered Celestine imprisoned until his death.

In the small Mater Ecclesiae convent inside the Vatican walls, Benedict will be assisted by Gaenswein and four members of Memores Domini, the conservative lay group that staffed his apartment during his pontificate.

During the past two months, the convent was renovated to suit the needs of the former pope. His residence will include a guest room for his older brother Georg Ratzinger, who is also a priest.

KRE/AMB END SPECIALE

Pope Francis welcomes Benedict XVI back to the Vatican

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican on Thursday (May 2), where he will live a few hundred meters from his successor, Pope Francis, in an arrangement that has no precedent in the history of the Catholic Church.

Benedict, 86, flew by helicopter from the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, where he spent the past two months since his resignation on Feb. 28.

All the Vatican’s top officials, including Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, showed up at the Vatican’s helipad to welcome Benedict, while Francis chose to meet the the former pope in front of the Mater Ecclesiae convent where Benedict will live out his retirement.

Francis greeted his predecessor “with great and fraternal cordiality,” according to a Vatican statement, before the two men stopped briefly in the convent chapel to pray.

Benedict was accompanied by his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, who is also serving Francis as prefect of the papal household, charged with setting the new pope’s schedule and arranging his audiences.

According to the Vatican’s statement, the former pope is “happy to be back in the Vatican, where he intends to dedicate himself … to the service of the church primarily through prayer.”

Benedict’s return was a low-profile event; Vatican TV didn’t cover it and the Vatican’s semiofficial newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, didn’t mention the former pope’s return in its afternoon editions.

While some church observers worry that Benedict’s presence could overshadow Francis and his course of reforms, John Thavis, a former Rome bureau chief for Catholic News Service and a frequent Vatican commentator, said the side-by-side popes shouldn’t cause a “crisis in the church.”

Thavis wrote in his blog that Benedict understands that “even an offhand remark by the retired pope … could echo within the hierarchy or across the blogosphere, and possibly be construed as criticism or divergence from the current pope.”

Before resigning, Benedict said he would “withdraw into prayer” and live his final years “hidden from the world.” He also pledged his “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor.

According to Rebecca Rist, a specialist in church history at the University of Reading in Britain, the two popes will have a “very cordial” relationship, unlike the 13th-century scuffles between Celestine V and his successor Boniface VIII.

Boniface persuaded Celestine that it was “in the best interests of the Vatican for him to resign,” Rist said. But Boniface, “fearing that enduring loyalties to the former pontiff could provoke a schism,” ordered Celestine imprisoned until his death.

In the small Mater Ecclesiae convent inside the Vatican walls, Benedict will be assisted by Gaenswein and four members of Memores Domini, the conservative lay group that staffed his apartment during his pontificate.

During the past two months, the convent was renovated to suit the needs of the former pope. His residence will include a guest room for his older brother Georg Ratzinger, who is also a priest.

Francis, The Papal Foundation and Cardinal Roger Mahony: Money Talks

By Marielena Montesino de Stuart

ESPRESSO with Marielena…

Recommended roast level: VERY DARK.

Cardinal Roger Mahony does not need an introduction – but what is The Papal Foundation all about, from Francis’ perspective?

The Papal Foundation is based in Pennsylvania. This is an excerpt of their mission statement, as printed on their website [bold added for emphasis]:

“The Papal Foundation began in 1988 as a response to the desire of Catholic clergy and laity in the U.S. for a unique, sustainable way to support the Holy Father and his witness in the world.

The vision was to establish an endowment that would

- Provide an additional source of income for the Holy See

- Strengthen the Holy Father’s ability to fulfill the mission of Saint Peter

- Set the standard for other nations and challenge them to establish similar foundation.

Income generated from the investment of capital creates a perpetual source of revenue. The portfolio does not invest in any companies that engage in activities inconsistent with our faith.”

Here is a PDF file of The Papal Foundation Board of Trustees website page, captured on May 1, 2013:

http://romancatholicworld.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/papal-foundation-board-of-trustees.pdf

which indicates that “a three-tiered Board of Trustees manages Papal Foundation funds. American Cardinals who reside in the United States serve as ex-officio members of the Board. Archbishops, Bishops and elected laity from across the country serve as Trustees.”

This year The Papal Foundation delivered $8.6 million to Francis, “to support his witness in the world.”

Now, take another sip of your espresso and remember, its called The Papal Foundation.

A private audience with Francis

According to the Catholic News Service (CNS is the official news service of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) Francis met on April 11 during a private audience with “about 120 members of the [Papal] foundation and their families, including Cardinals Donald W. Wuerl of Washington; Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington; and Justin Rigali, retired archbishop of Philadelphia.” [Bold added for emphasis].

…about 120 members? How much money was spent on flights, food and accommodation for “about 120″ people, in order to conduct this private visit with Francis? Does The Papal Foundation need 120 people to deliver one check? As a fundraising institution… are they serious?

In light of Francis’ call for “decisive action” against sexual abuse by members of the clergy, let’s review a communiqué issued recently by the Vatican news service, and reflect on some of the records of the Cardinals mentioned in the CNS report:

April 5, 2013 Vatican communiqué :

EXCERPT: “The Holy Father today received in audience Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Mueller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. During the audience, various subjects pertaining to the Dicastery were discussed, the Holy Father recommended in particular that the Congregation, continue the line desired by Benedict XVI of decisive action regarding cases of sexual abuse, primarily by promoting measures for child protection; help for the many who in the past have suffered such violence; due process against those who are guilty; the commitment of Bishops’ Conferences in the formulation and implementation of the necessary directives in this area which is of great importance to the witness of the Church and its credibility.” [Bold added for emphasis].

The witness of the Church and its credibility?

Hmmm…

Let’s find out if Francis is serious about getting rid of pederasts, cowards, liars and thieves

Francis met with THIS Donald W. Wuerl

Francis met with THIS Theodore E. McCarrick and THIS Theodore E. McCarrick

AND Yes… Francis met with THIS Theodore E. McCarrick.

Yes… Francis met with THIS Justin Rigali and THIS Justin Rigali Pages 30-119 Grand Jury report .

I wonder if Francis met with another intriguing member of the The Papal Foundation Board of Trustees, Cardinal Egan? Do you know?

Yes, I’m talking about THIS Edward Egan and THIS Edward Egan and THIS Edward Egan.

Good vs. Evil

Once you have read the above links you will see that Father James Haley’s testimony about Theodore E. McCarrick is confirmed through the testimonies provided by the former Father Robert M. Hoatson and by psychotherapist Richard Sipe. Hoatson’s testimony, as set forth in Hoatson vs. New York Archdiocese, is considered among the most important, regarding McCarrick, Egan and others. It is not surprising, however, that Father Hoatson could not prevail in Hoatson vs. New York Archdiocese. Remember, the Catholic Church has very deep pockets and it can afford to hire some of the most powerful defense lawyers and public relations firms in the world.

While Hoatson and Sipe are not conservatives, NEITHER ARE THESE CARDINALS AND BISHOPS! This is a clarification for those cynics out there who enjoy diverting attention from the perpetrator of the crime, or the cover-up artist.

Informed Catholics are very much aware that there is a lot of inconsistency and political correctness coming from many individuals who speak out against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, while embracing a liberal social agenda. (Read more about this in the Brief Archive section, at the end of this article). But there is a type of individual who is particularly repugnant: the closet socialist and shameless opportunist, who claims to be a “conservative” – but looks the other way when his or her favorite prelate is immersed in filth.

Indeed, there is much work to be done in this battle between good and evil. But if we were to dismiss testimonies and records of the sexual abuse of children based on the accuser being a conservative or a liberal, then victims would never see justice served; therefore, the focus must remain on the truth – which is that individuals who are homosexuals have entered the priesthood in violation of Church laws.

These individuals have either remained as priests – or have moved up in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and have assumed positions of power. As such, they parade around as compromised Bishops and Cardinals who have destroyed their own moral authority – and are nothing more than charlatans with access to a lot of money.

I call them impostors.

The current panorama

But you say, “… this is old news.”

Precisely!

For a very long time these impostors have benefited from the support of their fellow LAY travelers – and their devoted uninformed and bewildered fans, who pounce (almost always anonymously) on anyone who dares to expose the cover-ups and activities of these prelates. But sometimes the pouncing and destructive tactics are orchestrated by the prelates themselves – as clearly outlined by the former Governor of Oklahoma, the Honorable Frank Keating, in The Last Straw: Quitting the Bishops’ Review Board.

In spite of Grand Jury Reports and public records, some of these supporters appear to have moved forward with their own agendas – while claiming to stand by their beloved favorite prelate – who is either a homosexual, a cover-up artist, or both.

But you say, “… maybe these supporters are trying to protect the Catholic Church from external attacks.”

That’s pure hypocrisy! If Catholics really wanted to protect the Catholic Church, they would begin by demanding the expulsion of the enemies within.

Remembering Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua… the former Chairman of The Papal Foundation

Remember how invaluable Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua was? Well, Grand Jury Reports and legal records have exposed him as one of the most horrific cover-up artists of pederasts in the history of the Catholic Church. Read about the Bevilacqua nightmare and his record at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, through the link in this paragraph – and in the Brief Archive section at the end of this article.

Significant sidebar: pederasty and cover-ups are widespread in the Catholic Church

The following are also examples of cases involving pederasty and cover-ups (not related to The Papal Foundation) but significant because of the tragic consequences and their scope:

Let Him Prey… and For He Has Sinned are a couple of bone-chilling articles that need your attention, involving well known Jesuit priests (you may even know some of these priests). This is the record that emerged from a motion filed on March 28, 2011. It is described as a record that “analyzes and documents in shocking detail the Jesuits’ 50-year history of concealing and enabling sexual abuse.”

Another absolute nightmare is the scandal that affected the Legionaries of Christ and the movement, Regnum Christi. A communiqué from the Vatican best describes their former leader, Father Maciel (now deceased):

EXCERPT OF COMMUNIQUÉ: “The very grave and objectively immoral actions of Father Maciel, confirmed by incontrovertible testimonies, in some cases constitute real crimes and manifest a life devoid of scruples and authentic religious meaning.” [Bold added for emphasis].

Details of Maciel’s life, his revolting crimes and the Vatican investigation, are copiously documented online by journalists and support groups.

What took you so long?

The grave situation of homosexuals and sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church has been outlined in a RECENT article by Fr. Dariusz Oko, Ph.D., a priest of the Archdiocese of Krakow and Assistant Professor at the John Paul II Pontifical University in Krakow.

I appreciate Father Oko’s efforts – but frankly and with all due respect, Father Oko reminds me of Captain Louis Renault in the film Casablanca, when he says: “I’m shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!”

Father Oko’s article is simply a synopsis – and a rather LATE reaffirmation by a member of the clergy, of Randy Engel’s The Rite of Sodomy – which is considered the magnus opus for those who conduct in-depth research around the world, about this dark and harrowing subject.

Welcome to reality, Father Oko. What took you so long?

Setting the record straight

It is important to remember that the overwhelming number of victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church are boys – and that their abuse has been committed by adult males. This should not be a surprise to anyone, given the presence and power of homosexuals in the Catholic Church, as described in the aforementioned research and records.

That being the case…

Cardinal Roger Mahony

The CNS report talks about Francis thanking The Papal Foundation for the money and the benefits drawn from it, but mentions nothing about the removal of Cardinal Roger Mahony from the Board of Trustees – another intriguing member of this powerful organization.

Yes… I’m talking about THIS Roger Mahony (Includes links to court documents released earlier this year. You’ll need several espressos after you read Mahony’s record of cover-ups).

A couple of questions come to mind:

Is Cardinal Mahony attracting donors to The Papal Foundation? Given Mahony’s record of despicable cover-ups of the sexual abuse of children – what kind of individuals could possibly provide their financial support, inspired by Mahony? This is a VERY DISTURBING scenario.

How many American Bishops and lay Catholics have said “no, thank you” to joining The Papal Foundation?

Records of letters that further expose Mahony’s modus operandi are now available as part of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke’s archives, at DePaul University in Chicago. Anne Burke was a Justice of the Illinois appellate court, at the time that she served as vice chairwoman of the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People, the church-appointed panel that sought to resolve the sexual abuse scandal involving priests and minors. Judge Burke later took over as interim chairwoman, when former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating resigned, having reached the end of his rope with Mahony and his cronies. Keating’s famous letter of resignation included the following statement:

”To resist grand jury subpoenas, to suppress the names of offending clerics, to deny, to obfuscate, to explain away; that is the model of a criminal organization, not my church.” Former Gov. Frank Keating. – New York Times, June 17, 2003.

If Francis is not willing to demand the immediate removal of someone like Mahony from The Papal Foundation Board of Trustees (as part of the new “decisive action” program) – how can anyone expect Francis to take any action against other Bishops and Cardinals, who are mired in cover-ups and scandals involving homosexuality and pederasty?

Putting on an act

What we are witnessing is the on-going hypocritical and dysfunctional stage production of modernist Bishops and Cardinals – who put on an act about changing the world by helping the poor, while covering up homosexuality in their midst – and the sexual abuse of innocent children behind the scenes.

CASE IN POINT: Cardinal Roger Mahony has nearly become the “patron saint” of undocumented aliens. His public militancy in support of undocumented aliens knows no bounds – including posts on his Twitter account and on his blog. Yet, court documents released earlier this year show how Cardinal Roger Mahony covered up the sexual abuse of undocumented children in predominantly Spanish-speaking parishes, at the hands of a monster known as Monsignor Peter Garcia, who even used threats of deportation as a means to continue his sexual abuse of young boys.

How in the world is someone like Cardinal Roger Mahony going to “set the standard for other nations...” as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Papal Foundation? Was it not Mahony who nearly destroyed the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, by spending millions of dollars on legal fees, in order to maneuver his cover-ups of homosexual priests and pederasts?

Given this scenario of tolerance by Francis, we should also NOT expect that he will take any action against another member of The Papal Foundation Board of Trustees, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan.

Yes… I’m talking about THIS Timothy M. Dolan.

I’m also talking about THE Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan who happily endorses Gay-friendly meetings and parish activities at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, in his Archdiocese of New York, in violation of the rules of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). But the CDF did not seem interested in enforcing the rules, either under the 24-year praefectura of Cardinal Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) or the six-year praefectura of Cardinal William Levada.

Here are the rules set forth by the former Cardinal Ratzinger, regarding the use of Church buildings and Church property by homosexual groups – calling it “misleading and often scandalous:”

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

“Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges. To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous.” – Signed in Rome by Joseph Ratzinger, on October 1, 1986, when he was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The entire text can be read HERE.

The current Prefect of the CDF is Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller (appointed by Benedict XVI in July, 2012). Will Archbishop Müller enforce these rules under Francis’ watch? As you will see below… he hasn’t so far!

Screen captions of St. Xavier Parish’s website, in Cardinal Dolan’s Archdiocese of New York:

A crash course on raising more money for the poor by auctioning off undesirable Cardinals and Bishops

Remember, the Catholic News Service report says that this year The Papal Foundation delivered $8.6 million. I say, imagine how much more they could deliver if Francis demands that Mahony be removed from the Board of Trustees! If Francis is really serious about raising money for the poor, he needs to start by auctioning off the undesirable Cardinals and Bishops. Now, that would be a real fundraiser!

Start the bidding process at $30 million and work your way up!

But with Mahony you can start the bidding at $100 million. He’ll be gone fast!

Of course, the best gift that Francis could offer to the poor is to let Holy Mother Church guide them by presenting her beauty, greatness and traditions. But that is not part of Francis’ modernist vision, which is rooted in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. Indeed, Francis will end up with his “poor Church for the poor.”

What about Francis’ concern for “the Church and its credibility?” Isn’t it reasonable to expect that Francis would at least care to deal with the removal of an undesirable element like Mahony, from an organization using the term “Papal”?

Oh… but wait, we have a problem!

Francis does not like to be “papal” – since he does not like to call himself Pope.

But now that The Papal Foundation has already delivered the money, will Francis turn around and give it to someone else?

Maybe Francis’ close friend, the liberal Rabbi Abraham Skorka, will manage the money – in order “to improve the world through a special leadership” that supports Francis “and his witness in the world” – which is centered, as I have said, on militant interfaith dialogue and ecumenism.

Money talks

Francis is making statements about the Church acting “decisively” against sexual abuse – but his lack of “decisive” action concerning Mahony (and others) staying on the Board of Trustees of The Papal Foundation, speaks louder than words.

This confirms what I have thought from the beginning: Francis may take action against some protectors of pederasts and others mired in scandals, as long as it doesn’t affect the bottom line for “works of charity.” This would be an act of treachery which will never end the cycle of corruption. The poor deserve better.

Such a materialistic approach completely delegitimizes any “decisive” program of action to clean up the Church of pederasts, cowards, liars and thieves.

Come back for another Espresso with Marielena… where the roast is very dark, the coffee is very sweet – and the words flow with tenacity.

LINK TO IMPORTANT BRIEF ARCHIVE: http://romancatholicworld.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/brief-archive-related-to-article-titled-francis-the-papal-foundation-and-cardinal-roger-mahony/

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

THURSDAY HOMILY: Living in Jesus Means Living in His Church

CHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic online) – Our gospel today is a short one. It continues the passage we heard proclaimed yesterday from the fifteenth chapter of the St. John which spoke of living or abiding in Jesus:

“Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (John 15)

Remaining, living, abiding in Jesus, calls us to find our home in His Church. The Church is meant to be the home of the whole human race. 

On the Feast of St George, Pope Francis gave a beautiful homily. The passage from the Acts of the Apostles told of the missionary efforts of the early Christians in proclaiming the Gospel and planting the Church.

The early Christians believed that to belong to Jesus was to belong to His Church. They believed that just as we were all born from our mother’s womb – so we are invited by God, in and through Jesus Christ, to be born again into the Church, the new humanity which is being re-created in Him. The Baptismal font was even spoken of as a second womb.

The process of redemption began when we passed through the Sacramental Waters of the font of Holy Baptism. It continues as we cooperate with the Grace given to us in our life within the Church. It will be fully completed when the Lord Returns and we are raised in Resurrected Bodies and live in a new heaven and a new earth!

This understanding of the Church as a participation in Christ and entry into the Trinitarian Communion runs throughout the writings of the early Church Fathers. Here two snippets.

First, from Origen: “Christ has flooded the universe with divine and sanctifying waves. For the thirsty he sends a spring of living water from the wound which the spear opened in His side. From the wound in Christ’s side has come forth the Church, and He has made her His bride”

Then, from Bishop Ireneaeus of Lyons, a disciple of Polycarp who was himself a disciple of the Apostle John: “We need to take refuge with the Church, to drink milk at her breast, to be fed with the scriptures of the Lord. For the Church has been planted in the world as a paradise”

Pope Francis, like the early fathers, speaks of the Church as mother: “And so the Church was a Mother, the Mother of more children, of many children. It became more and more of a Mother. A Mother who gives us the faith. A Mother who gives us an identity. But the Christian identity is not an identity card: Christian identity is belonging to the Church, because all of these belonged to the Church, the Mother Church.”

“Because – it is not possible to find Jesus outside the Church. The great Paul VI said: “Wanting to live with Jesus without the Church, following Jesus outside of the Church, loving Jesus without the Church is an absurd dichotomy.”

“And the Mother Church that gives us Jesus gives us our identity that is not only a seal, it is a belonging. Identity means belonging. This belonging to the Church is beautiful.” 

Pope Francis is standing on the shoulders of other great teachers in the history of the Catholic Church by reminding us it is not possible to live with Jesus without living in the Church. Here are a few more snippets:

“Let us love the Lord our God; let us love His Church. Let us love Him as our Father and her as our mother” (St. Augustine) “No one can have God as his Father who does not have the Church as his Mother” (St. Cyprian) “For where the Church is, there the Spirit of God is also; and where the Spirit of God is, there the Church is, and all grace. And the Spirit is truth.” (St. Irenaeus of Lyons)

Have we experienced this kind of communion with the Church? Do we view her as a mother? Do we understand that we live in the Church and go into the world? Have we come to perceive the Church as Some – One more than some-thing?

Or, is this all supposed to only be the experience of the mystics, the talk of the Saints and Fathers? The answer is clear. It is supposed to be the common experience of every Christian. By the power of the Holy Spirit, it can be. 

Catholic theology teaches what the early fathers, Saints and Councils throughout the ages have all affirmed; to belong to Jesus is to belong to His Body, the Church. Our membership in the Church is a participation in the life of God; what the Apostle Peter referred to as a “participation in the Divine nature”. (2 Peter 1:4)

The Church is not some – thing – outside of us, which we try to fix or have our issues with. Through our Baptism the Church becomes our home, our mother, the place in which we now live our lives in Christ. That is not to say we do not sometimes have struggles with our mother. However, she always remains our mother.

To live this understanding of life in the Church requires a continuing and dynamic conversion. We are sons and daughters of the Church. In living our lives in her we carry forward in time the continuing redemptive mission of Jesus Christ who is the Head of His Body. In its treatment of this mystery of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

“To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is “the world reconciled.”

“She is that bark which “in the full sail of the Lord’s cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world.” According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah’s ark, which alone saves from the flood.”(CCC #845)

We are all called to live in the heart of Church for the sake of the world. From there, we are sent on a rescue mission, to bring the whole world back home. When we begin to live this way, we will find the joy of which the Lord speaks in our Gospel.

Pope Emeritus Benedict joins Pope Francis in the Vatican

“He is happy to be back at the Vatican … where he intends to dedicate himself to the service of the Church, above all with prayer,” the Vatican said in a statement.

The Mater Ecclesiae convent, situated on a hill within the city state, commands views of St Peter’s Basilica, the Spanish Steps and other famous Rome monuments, and the distant Apennine mountains.

It is a 10 minute walk from Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where Pope Francis has chosen to live since his election, having rejected the option of living in the much larger and more sumptuous papal apartments.

Vatican analysts have speculated that the presence of a “shadow Pope” could cause difficulties for Francis, with the risk that Vatican insiders unhappy with the radically different style of the new Pope could look to the Pope Emeritus for guidance and even form a rebel faction.

“Benedict almost certainly will be a point of reference for critics of Francis, especially in conservative circles. You can easily imagine them saying, ‘Benedict wouldn’t have done it this way,’” John Allen, a Vatican analyst with the US-based National Catholic Reporter, told Reuters.

But Vatican officials insist that the Pope Emeritus intends to devote the rest of his life to study and prayer and will not be making public pronouncements which could contradict those of his successor.

When he announced his decision to step down, the Pope Emeritus said he would live out his remaining days “hidden from the world”.

The fact that the two Popes will share such a tiny territory will throw up some unusual scenarios, such as encounters in the Vatican gardens, chapels and libraries, although such meetings will take place hidden from the outside world.

The Pope Emeritus will live on the ground floor of the convent, which has undergone extensive renovations.

He will be aided by a small staff, including his personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, nicknamed “Gorgeous Georg” for his good looks.

The Vatican insists that the Pope Emeritus does not have a serious illness or medical condition, but is simply slowing down as a result of his advanced age.

Not since the 13th century has a Pope had the chance to meet, much less live cheek-by-jowl with, his still living predecessor.

In 1294, Pope Celestine V became one of the very few Popes to resign, complaining that he had never wanted the role in the first place.

The former mountain hermit held discussions about his decision to quit with Cardinal Benedetto Gaetani, who succeeded him and took the name Boniface VIII.

The ex-Pope then fled Rome as quick as he could, anxious to resume his life as a cave-dwelling ascetic in the Abruzzo region of central Italy.

Unfortunately for him, Boniface VIII saw him as a threat, fearing that enduring loyalties to the former pontiff could provoke a schism.

He had Celestine arrested, hauled him back to Rome and imprisoned him in a castle at Ferentino, about 40 miles south-east of the city. Celestine died there ten months later, in May 1296.

American Church: The Remarkable Rise, Meteoric Fall, and Uncertain Future of …

I am usually rather delighted whenever I find a book to review in my mailbox. When I received American Church: The Remarkable Rise, Meteoric Fall, and Uncertain Future of Catholicism in America I was certainly eager to read it. This new release by Russell Shaw is put out by Ignatius Press.

It seems book subtitles are becoming much like news headlines as a kind of summary meant to bring you in. Although news headlines often do not have much to do with the actual story. The subtitle in this case is actually quite indicative of the contents. Although the title “American Church” did not thrill me and when I discovered that the original title was “The Gibbons Legacy.” I prefer the original title.

There are a couple themes in this book regarding the history and the future of the Church in America. One is the contrast between the views of Orestes Augustus Brownson and his friend Isaac Thomas Hecker. Orestes Brownson a convert to the Church was rather pessimistic on future of the Catholic Church in America. Isaac Heckler was the founder of the Paulist Fathers and is now a Servant of God. Heckler had a very optimistic view of the Church in America and thought the two fit together perfectly. The other theme regards the 1950’s best selling book “The Cardinal” by Henry Morton Robinson which had a view much akin to Isaac Heckler’s. The book partly based on the career of Cardinal Spellman was also made into a movie directed by Otto Preminger.

These themes help in part to explore the history of the Catholic Church in America. Considering that while there were some prominent Catholics at the founding of this country such as Daniel Carroll, for the most part Catholics were a very small minority. It was only after later immigration that Catholics became a more sizable minority. An anti-Catholic bias was there from the beginning for a variety of reasons, but partly concerning the doubt that Catholics could be good Americans with their “allegiance” to Rome. The Know-Nothing Party was on the extreme side of this bias, but it was prevalent in a largely Protestant populace.

Cardinal James Gibbons (July 23, 1834 – March 24, 1921) who was the Archbishop of Baltimore was a pivotal figure for Catholics in America. He was also quite optimistic on the Church in America and that not only could Catholics be good Americans but that America was ideally suited for Catholicism. As an Americanizer his view, actions, and influence certainly shaped the Catholic Church here in some regards. His view was also not a minority opinion among Catholics and really exists to this day. That the Church fits hand in glove with America. Although really more common now is the false idea that the Catholic Church fits perfectly with one polical party or another.

With this basic setup Russell Shaw explores the history of the Church in America, where we are now, and what portends fo the future. There were so many things I found excellent about this book. I already knew Mr. Shaw was a fine writer and I was really liked the way he explored the history and raised questions. I think it was evident Mr. Shaw had the more skeptical view of a Orestes Brownson, but he also did not let that get in the way. I enjoyed the balance of looking at the various questions and putting forth how others have weighed in on both sides. He presented information without trying to move you into specific conclusions regarding it.

The history of the Church in America makes for a absorbing study and covers the growth of the Church and the prominent historical markers. The failed presidential candidacy of Al Smith and later the election of John F. Kennedy. The Catholic culture of the first half of the 20th century and the tumultuous years during and after the Second Vatican Council. He pulls out detailed information and my copy of the book is heavily highlighted as time and again I found much to think about and want to come back to. A good book of this type can present you with an array of information. This one goes beyond that and has filled my mind with much to reflect upon. I also really admired the way he brought the history alive and I could almost picture the reaction of Cardinal Gibbons when Pope Leo the XIII released Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae an encyclical condemning the heresy of Americanism.

The latter part of the book deals with many of the facts of American Catholic culture as it stands now. The collapse of recognizing vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The sad state of Catholic education. The fact that Catholics are pretty much identical in almost every statistic compared to other Americans regarding divorce, abortion, contraception, and the support of other grave evils. This is not presented as doom and gloom, but as a realistic assessment of the problems we face. He also does not make the mistake of presenting some kind of Catholic golden age in America and in fact shows how from the beginning there have been flaws that in part led to the current state. When I had found Ross Douthat’s Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics a fascinating look at the history of religion in America and Russell Shaw’s book gives a more in-depth look at the Catholic side of it.

I could really go on and on about this book. By nature I am a pessimistic-optimist and this book feed both sides of my own divide. I really need to write a separate blog post regarding some of my thoughts this book has sparked.

China: Secretary of State note on death of Bishop Jin Luxian – VATICAN RADIO

    
Home  Church   2013-04-30 12:53:21

(Vatican Radio) Below is Vatican Radio’s English translation of the note issued by the Vatican Secretary of State on the death of Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of the Diocese of Shanghai

On Saturday, April 27, His Excellency Mons. Aloysius Jin Luxian S.I., Coadjutor bishop of Shanghai (continental China), passed away at the age of 96.

The Prelate was born on June 20, 1916 in the Nanshi district in the city of Shanghai. In September 1926 he began his primary school studies at Saint Ignatius College; then, in 1932, he entered Sacred Heart of Jesus seminary, and later attended the Sacred Heart of Mary major seminary. Attracted to the spirituality and life of the Society of Jesus, in 1938 he began his novitiate, and on September 8, 1940 he made his first vows. Having concluded his studies in philosophy and theology at Xianxian (Hebei), he was ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 1945 in the cathedral of Shanghai.

Between 1947 and 1948 he completed his religious formation in Paris. Then, from 1948 to 1950, he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received a degree Theology. He spent his summer vacations in Germany, France, and England in order to learn the respective languages.

With the advent of the People’s Republic of China, he was called to return to his native country in 1950 and, following the political events at that time and the expulsion of foreign Jesuits, he was nominated the temporary rector of the regional seminary of Xuhui (Shanghai) in 1951.

Fr Jin Luxian was arrested the night of September 8, 1955 and was subject to a long interrogation, ending with a trial in 1960: he was sentenced to 18 years in prison, plus 9 years for rehabilitation. From 1963 to 1967 he was then detained at Qincheng (Pechino) prison where, by reason of his considerable knowledge of foreign languages, was made part of a group of inmate translators who worked for the State. In 1967 he was transferred to the rehabilitation centre in Fushun and in 1973 to another in Qincheng where he remained until 1975. He was then sent to a labour camp in Henan, and imprisoned again from 1979 to 1982: he was released after 27 years in prison.

In 1982 he received permission to reopen the seminary in Sheshan. In 1985 Fr Jin Luxian agreed to be consecrated bishop for the Diocese of Shanghai, but without papal approval. He obtained approval some 15 years later, becoming the coadjutor bishop of Shanghai, after having shown his fidelity to the pope and asking pardon for his illegitimate ordination.

The prelate was a key personality in the history of the Catholic Church in China over the last 50 years. He was a man of great culture. His preparation, his studies in Italy, his proficiency in various European languages and his human compassion allowed him to keep in contact with various personalities and enjoy the respect of many.

Under the leadership of Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian, the diocese of Shanghai developed a great deal. He had a powerful pastoral commitment, modernizing the dioceses in many ways and trying to ensure they remained under the leadership of the pastors, using also to this end the respect which the civil authorities had for him. He was particularly attentive to the preparation of new priests and religions, launching proper formation facilities, such as the Major Seminary, opened in 1985 in Sheshan (Shanghai), and giving back, at the same time, a greatly appreciated service not only to his dioceses, but also to China.
One of his final acts as bishop Jin wrote the pastoral letter on the occasion of the Chinese new year of the Dragon (January 23, 2012) with the title “Xu Guangqi: A Man for All Seasons.”

In it the Prelate invited the faithful to follow the example of Paul Xu Guangqi, the first high-ranking Catholic in the empire, friend of Fr. Matteo Ricci, by promoting the cause for his beatification.

There are 150,000 Catholics in the diocese of Shanghai, some one hundred priests, six deacons, 37 parishes, and 140 churches. In its territory is one of the Marian Shrine of Sheshan, a national pilgrimage site. The most important social institutions include the house for the elderly, a house for spiritual retreats, a soup kitchen, and the Typography of Qibao.

In 2012 he published the first volume of his memoirs, Learning and Re-learning 1916-1982, in which he recounts the most significant times in his life. A life in which he sought to keep the love of Christ and the Church alive, in loyalty to his country and culture.

Exhibit honors life of Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day

To extend the legacy of Dorothy Day on Marquette’s campus, the Raynor Library Archives is sponsoring an exhibit designed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the first publication of the Catholic Worker, the newspaper Day helped found.

The exhibit also celebrates the Catholic Worker Movement begun by Day and a French peasant philosopher Peter Maurin.

Day, a controversial figure in Catholic Church history, is best known for her work in New York with the Catholic Worker Movement, which focused on non-violence and hospitality to the poor. Pope John Paul II gave the Archdiocese of New York permission in 2000 to open the cause for her canonization in the Church, which allows her to be called a “Servant of God” by Catholics.

The Dorothy Day Exhibit was inspired by a documentary entitled “Dorothy Day: Don’t Call Me a Saint,” which was written, produced and directed by Claudia Larson. Larson, who also conceived and designed the exhibit, worked on the documentary for 15 years before its world premiere at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival in 2006.

“I often say that it’s as though Dorothy Day walked up my front steps, knocked on my door, I answered,” said Larson. “She’s been here pushin’ ‘n proddin’ me for over 22 years.”

Larson has been interested in Day her whole life, but was especially inspired by stories about Day at the Movement’s 60th anniversary celebration in New York in 1993, which was an opportunity to meet some of Day’s oldest friends from the Catholic Worker. There, she spent time with Phil Runkel, an archivist in Raynor Memorial Library who is responsible for the Catholic social action holdings at Marquette. She also said she is working on a book based on transcripts from her interviews about Day.

“It is a rare privilege to have this collection of documents at Marquette because they present a significant contribution to and perspective on the history of the Catholic Church in the United States,” said Susan Mountin, the director of Manresa for Faculty in the Center for Teaching and Learning and an adjunct assistant professor in the theology department.

The exhibit features many documents from Raynor Memorial Library’s archives as well as some of Day’s personal items. It is designed to give the Marquette community a chance to explore details about Day’s life and experiences, and to see the impact of the Catholic Worker.

“This exhibit is a great visual kick-start to further study of Dorothy Day,” Larson said.

Marquette also hosts a student program for sophomores called the Dorothy Day Social Justice Living Learning Community. Students participating in the program live on two floors of Straz Tower and do many things together such as take a class each semester (Philosophy 1001 and Philosophy 2310), a pair of retreats, and service learning.

Maddie Chouanard, a junior in the College of Arts Sciences, was in the program last semester and is an RA on the Dorothy Day floor. She said that being in the community forced her to re-evaluate her plans.

“It changed my perspective,” Chouanard said. “(The program) has become a large part of my life now.”

Chouanard said service learning allows the students to connect with the community. The students attend the same sites throughout the year.

Day, who underwent a major transformation during her conversion to Catholicism, is known for pushing for major reforms in the Church.

“Dorothy Day was inspired by the Gospel stories about Jesus and looked to what he said and did as the guide to her life,” Mountin said. “She had an incredibly deep love of the Catholic Church, but from that love she also critiqued the institution when it did not live up to the standards of Jesus.”

The exhibit will be on display through at least the end of the semester.

“The ease in which the exhibit is laid out makes for a casual, but profound, learning tool,” Larson said.

Mormon Church Approves of Boy Scouts’ New, Unimproved Gay Ban

The Mormon Church has given its seal of approval to the new Boy Scout proposal to allow gay scouts but continue to ban gay scout leaders, the L.A. Times reports:

In their statement Thursday, Mormon officials gave their OK to the compromise — without ever mentioning sexual orientation.

“While the church has not launched any campaign either to effect or prevent a policy change, we have followed the discussion and are satisfied that BSA has made a thoughtful, good-faith effort to address issues that, as they have said, remain ‘among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today,’ ” the statement said.

The statement, noting the strong ties the church has kept with the Scouts for the past century, added, “We appreciate the positive things contained in this current proposal that will help build and strengthen the moral character and leadership skills of youth as we work together in the future.”

Recently…
Eagle Scout Zach Wahls Speaks Out Against Boy Scout Gay Ban: VIDEO [tlrd]
The Boy Scouts Made it Worse [tlrd]

Royal Asiatic Society holds 168th Conference

Royal Asiatic Society holds 168th Conference

Bandu de Silva

Dignity and concord marked the inaugural ceremony of the Annual
Conference of the Royal Asiatic Society held on March 26, 2013 at the
Mahaweli Centre auditorium under outgoing President, Dr. Susantha
Goonatillake which preceded the Society’s 168th Annual General
Conference. What brought out this special feature this time was the
award of the prestigious Medal of the Royal Asiatic Society to Rev.
Father Dr. Vito Perniola for his scholarly contribution to academic
activities in History and Pali studies in Sri Lanka.

Rev. Father
Dr. Vito Perniola after receiving the gold medal

It was significant that Fr. Perniola’s name for the prestigious award
was proposed by Ven. Akuretiye Nanda Thera the former Vice Chancellor of
the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka and currently the
Editor-in-Chief of the Sinhala Dictionary. The nomination was
unanimously approved by the selection panel appointed by the Royal
Asiatic Society.

The Citation recalled Rev. Fr. Perniola’s many contributions to
research in Sri Lankan History and Pali studies and particularly to the
publication of the 19 volumes of the history of the Catholic Church in
Sri Lanka after much painstaking research in archives around the world
and which remains a veritable source of primary material brought to the
doorstep of the modern day researcher. Rev. Fr. Perniola’s dignified
gestures in acknowledging the prestigious award and the warmth of manner
seen when thanking the Venerable Bhikku for initiating the honour to him
enhanced the warmth of the occasion.

That was an auspicious beginning for the three day Academic
Conference which was to follow before the 168th session of the Annual
General Meeting where Dr. Susantha Goonatilake was re-elected President
for another term of office and a new Council was also elected without
contest. The three day Research Conference which was held from March 28
to 30 was the sixth in a series of such conferences held as an
innovation in recent years to coincide with the biennial general
meetings of the Society which is the oldest surviving society in the
island devoted to academic pursuits.

The success of the Academic Conference this year was demonstrated
from the responses received from researchers. As many as 327 research
papers were received, out of which 267 were selected through a strict
professional selection process. These were presented under 12 broad
categories which included Philosophy, Sinhala Studies, Aesthetics,
Irrigation, History of Science, Ayurveda, Library Science, Education,
History, Gender, Archaeology and Sociology.

The proceedings of the academic conferences was preceded on each day
with a special symposium, designated ‘Genetic Heritage of Sri Lanka’,
the ‘Promotion of Buddhist Cultural Tourism’ and ‘Street Artists: their
Styles and Clientile’ respectively.

The Symposium on ‘Genetic Heritage’ which was addressed by Dr. Nimal
Perera (Archeology Department), K.Chandimal (University of Kelaniya),
and Ruwan Illepperuma, Senior Scientist, Gene Tech, brought out
revealing information on the communities living in the island. The
Sinhalese, were found having the most mixed genetic ratios, with lesser
ratios for the Sri Lankan Tamils and Muslims. The Veddahs were
designated as having the lowest genetic mix.

The inclusion of the Theme ‘Promotion of Buddhist Cultural Tourism’
was found to be timely. The session was honoured by the presence of
Poldej Worachat, Ambassador of the Royal Embassy of Thailand, Dr. D.S.
Jayaweera, Director General, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority,
Prof. Gamini Adhikari, Director General CCF, officials of the Department
of Archaeology and Dr. Hema Goonatillake, who made presentations.

This symposium brought out the need to focus on certain critical
issues relating to cultural tourism on which the attention needs to be
drawn in the future. The present situation of the heritage sites in the
Cultural Triangle attracting only 25 per cent of visitors, now upped to
40 per cent, was seen as a matter for concern. That is that these sites
not having received the benefits of developments over thirty years under
the UNESCO sponsored International Programme of the Cultural Triangle
Project. Even the low percentage could be misleading if visitors to more
popular destinations of Kandy and Sigiriya are excluded.

The Symposium was seen as a good starting point for a public
discussion in this direction. In this regard, the prospects of the
Tourism authority working in co-operation with organisations and
societies like the Royal Asiatic Society was highlighted.

Another revelation was the very low tourist arrivals from other
Buddhist oriented countries. For example, Japan which is a very large
tourism generating market accounted for only 25,000 visitors to the
island each year.

The discussion pointed to lop-sided development and the need to have
more than a single template to attract Buddhist visitors from different
countries. It was also revealed that more Sri Lankan pilgrims were
visiting India than Indians coming here despite the Indians accounting
for about 20 per cent of arrivals.

The Symposium on ‘Street Artists’ was well received. Presentations
included the Origin and Development of the “Street Artists in Sri
Lanka,’ ‘Traditions and Styles’ and ‘Painters who have gone beyond
Street Art’.

The academic sessions of the Conference showed keen participation of
a large number of younger generation of researchers from Universities
and the pre-dominance of female participation was to be noted. It
requires much space to discuss the individual presentations made under
the twelve categories of subjects. Suffice it is to say that there was
much enthusiasm on gender studies in which some presentations were made
by Bhikku researchers on the Buddhist historical contribution.

The abstracts of presentations running into 263 pages have been
published in book form by the Royal Asiatic Society. This year another
achievement was the publication of the Society’s Journal in two parts
and distribution to members at the sessions held. Copies could be
purchased by non-members at the Library of the Society at Mahaweli
Centre.