Two Events in Boston:
Lets
all take one deep breath and blow some smoke of Satan out of the Sanctuary.
By
Carol McKinley 26 NOV 02
The
idea that the crisis in the Roman Catholic Faith began in Boston ten months ago
is absurd to the spiritual refugees of our religion. Jim Post, spokesman and
leader for VOTF, is most correct when he states that "Voice of the
Faithful" are CCD teachers, on RCIAs , as Extraordinary Ministers of the
Eucharist, Lectors, on Pastoral Council, in Youth Ministry. We have entrusted
the care of our Faith to those whom do not believe in Her Teachings. Laboring
in the vineyard beside these ministers has been staggering as we were slowly
and cleverly silenced, oppressed and exiled. During that time Christ's Church
evolved from sinners who recognized their sins through the "grace provided
by pastoral care" of Her Sacred Pastors, a refuge & Sanctuary of
Sacramental Penance, Reconciliation and Eucharistic Communion - to a place
where our purpose became acts of pleasantries, niceties, amusements and social
justice programs.
Two
events happened here in Boston, nearly simultaneously this week. One was the
long awaited meeting between the Cardinal and Voice of the Faithful and the
other was a meeting of those who unambiguously advocate fidelity to Church
teaching, held in the nucleus of the storm with Deal Hudson and Fr. Robert
Carr.
The
meeting between the Cardinal and VOTF was the lead story. We now know that Jim
Post went in asking for four things:
1.
Removal of all bans of VOTF meeting on church property.
2.
Ask the Cardinal to send a letter to Pastors to say that VOTF is welcome in
parishes.
3.
VOTF will be part of the solution.
4.
There must be financial transparency and accountability from the diocese.
The
meeting did not go as expected for Jim Post. The VOTF representatives reported
that the Cardinal had apparently carefully read the group's published
materials. How disarming for them as this made it infeasible to focus his
attention on their new "Statement of Beliefs", i.e., "We believe
what the Church believes" and then demand their authority. It is absurd
given the documents and evidence of record.
Groping
for the facts beneath the VOTF spin, it is impossible not to see what happened
in the meeting. They were confronted with the ideas of Massimini, and Swidler's
Constitution of Laity.
''It's an issue - how will
Voice of the Faithful relate to the archbishop of Boston and the Church, and
there is a big question about whether Voice of the Faithful would want to be
formed under the oversight of the bishop,'' Post said. ''There's a question
about how to understand authority.''
Well
then, lets
all take one deep breath and blow some smoke of Satan out of the Sanctuary: YOU ARE NOT IT.
The
following official statement was released from the Cardinal:
''While
the emergence of new groups is a constant in the history of the Church, a
proper discernment must always take place to ensure their compatibility with the
faith, discipline and mission of the Church.''
The
job of pointing out the dichotomy between the public image of VOTF being
purported in the media, to the Bishops, to the priests, to the faithful and
what is really happening in their councils and meetings has been an ugly job,
but a job that some of us have been called to. Deal has been working that field
nationally. He read about our work at FaithfulVoice.com
, the challenges we continually face and battle, and we have been
corresponding. We share the common vision of fidelity, holiness, return to
mystical and Sacramental mission of Christ's Church. He came up to support us
and help us find remedies and put them into motion. The gathering with Deal was
uplifting, enlightening and solidified our short terms goals.
Dr.
Hudson is clearly dedicated in helping us move the mission of Christ's Church
back on track. Fidelity. He outlined the problems as we know them and gave us
his commitment in the remedies that were discussed.
Fr.
Robert Carr was, as always, a witness to the commitment of his vocation to
priesthood. He spoke with zeal and passion. He witnessed to his own commitment
to his vow of celibacy. He reminded us that Christ asked Peter to walk on
water, which to the mind without faith would be impossible ~ and challenged us
to the reach for the same depth of faith. He has put together a four-part
series of "Where Do We Go From Here" which he will make available on
his website, the Middle of the Storm, one a week during Advent. I urge all of
you reading to visit his site and be fed with the solid food of truth.
So
~ what are some of the things we are going to do?
The
Sacraments. Holy Hours. Rosary. Prayer. Scripture, Mass, Fasting. Finding
speakers willing to keep us fed. Fr. Robert Carr and others. Also, Deal
promised to return and to bring others with him. He recommended some local
people to contact. Build upon the momentum we have going. We talked about the
clever language that is being used and specifically addressed how to defend
against it with Truth. The need to educate ourselves in defense of Faith is
crucial. Develop a database and internet connection and information highway
with each other. We signed up for Deals e-letter. Anyone not on the list
can add their name through the Crisis Magazine website. Read and keep abreast
through orthodox periodicals. Catholic World Report, Crisis
Magazine...etc. Also through our favorite websites.
All
are welcome. Please contact me at
mckinley4@faithful-voice.com
.
After
the meeting with Cardinal Law, Post said. ''There was a recognition that Voice
of the Faithful is not going to go away.''
He
is right. Power, greed, corruption, confusion, deception, lies and bondage will
never go away - it will only take on a different name and a different face.The
Pharoah, Herod, Nero, Free Masons, Call to Action, We Are Church, Voice of the
Faithful - - WHATEVER name and face the opposition to Christ's Church has taken
through history....God's faithful protected the Presence of Christ in the
Eucharist. They can take our buildings, they can have our money, they can have
our reputations, our possessions and every drop of blood that flows through our
veins - - but they will never take our heritage.
Let
Christ's people go.
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