AmericanPapist Comments
Possibly part of that 'change' that Cardinal Mahoney said occurred in him during our Holy Father's visit? Oh, and by the way, Mr. Peters, you don't seem to sleep, considering that this post appeared at 2:01 AM EST. Tsk. Tsk. Not that I should be one to talk, I read it at 2:24 AM EST didn't I? Anyway, thanks for the update.
I really do hope Cardinal O'Malley doesn't fail to act in this situation. I've been dissapointed with him lately.... I'm not quite sure what to think of him, really. I don't want to criticize him - he's my bishop - but I want to know how I ought to think of him and I certainly want to see him leading the local Church well.
Give me a break.
I'm no fan of Cardinal Mahony. However, Bishop Robinson was a noted canonist in his diocese. He wrote a book to comment on the abuse scandal, which, if you had forgotten, has cost the Church in this country upwards of $2 billion.
I think the bishop's reflections on this topic are sorely needed today.
You and I might not agree with those reflections, but to bar him from discussing them is really reaching.
I suggest ulterior motives on the part of Cardinal Mahony, who didn't do a whole lot to prevent abuse. I dare say the Cardinal didn't want the topic brought up again in LA.
I'm stunned! Hopefully this change will stick. Let's keep praying!!
Great news about the cardinal Thomas -- he was also scheduled to speak in Montgomery County, Maryland last night. I wonder if this went off as planned?
May 19th Chevy Chase, MD
Sponsored by: VOTF at Holy Trinity & all Wash-DC area VOTF affiliates
Location: National 4-H Youth Conference Center
7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Time: 7:00 PM
Contact: Bob Stewart
email: grobertstewart@aol.com
source: http://reform-network.net/?p=1664
Laura,
Bishop Robinson can still speak in LA, he simply cannot speak at a Catholic Church in LA, if I understand this restriction correctly. Thus, for sure, he spoke last night in Maryland.
I forgot to add:
I note with amusement the title here: "Cardinal Mahony bars liberal Aussie bishop." Uh-oh. Liberal = bad thing, to be avoided like the plague.
This bishop was abused as a child. He obviously loves the Church. His ideas are somewhat wacky (e.g. getting rid of the mitre). However, perhaps a little compassion is needed here, instead of clubbing with canon law.
If you want to read more about his motivations: http://www.smh.com.au/news/
natio...ge#contentSwap1
"...Bishop Robinson 'obviously loves the Church'..." that he dissents from. Jesus said that the mark of His followers was obedience.
Should have added: "He who loves Me obeys my commandments."
"...a little compassion..."
Translation: Don't correct my errors.
Kudos Cardinal Mahony. As one of my commenters said this is proof that miracles can happen.
Too bad Bishop Robinson spoke in Washington D.C. last night to VOTF at an event published in a parish bulletin. Paging Archbishp Weurl.
I wonder what would've happened had the bishop asked Mahoney for permission first.
Uh-oh. Liberal = bad thing, to be avoided like the plague.
Correct, John. I knew you'd come around.
It isn't surprising that Mahony blocked him from speaking. The man is not teaching what the church teaches.
I wish he would do the same for the religious ed. conferences. Not all the speakers there are orthodox, but not all of them are actually speaking about church teaching but rather related issues in which they have expertise. We'll see what happens in the future.
Mahony's problem is that he is a big softie. He prefers to embrace everyone and everything rather than appear too doctrinal. That has the negative consequence of making everything out there look like he and the Church approve of it.
"It isn't surprising that Mahony blocked him from speaking."
Nope, it isn't. Especially since Cardinal Mahony was an enabler of the sexual abuse of minors. The Cardinal didn't want his dirty laundry to be exposed yet again.
I don't know what Cardinal Mahony was thinking, but for once, his actions were appropriate. I'm a bit surprised the Holy See has not taken corrective action with regard to Bishop Robinson. By the way, isn't Robinson the name of the gay Bishop in the Episcopal Church. They kind of look alike. Maybe they are twins separated at birth. Tom
Of course, Mahoney would ban this guy because this fellow is critical of the handling of sex abuse in the Catholic Church and of course Mahoney along with Law are the poster boys for covering sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Mahoney is just worried about how he will look, but he does not realize nearly everyone already sees him as a person who aids and abits child rapits.
In all things, charity.
Until he botches things (again), I'm going to presume that Mahony has found his spine.
Now, Your Eminence, while we're on the topic of Canon Law, let's discuss 915...
I am confused! When did Cardinal McNutly become the safe-guard of orthodoxy and of what is good for the People of his diocese?
Well, well, well. This is interesting. I hope this is reflective of that interview he gave to the LA Times about his impressions of the Pope's visit that left him "changed". I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, although your probably right about self-preservation, self-interest, let's pray that your not.
One suspects that the Cardinal would hardly have noticed any "heresies" nor have developed a vertebrae had not the prelate in question been an "activist" vis-a-vis sexual abuse scandals.
One hardly expects the Archbishop of Los Angeles suddenly to be reviewing faculty of Catholic colleges and seminaries for Orthodox teaching.
That being said, Robinson should be suppressed. His personal "story" does not justify doctrinal heterodoxy (nor does anyones - Mrs. Blair, are you reading this?).
For many months I have heard and read that CTA is a Catholic group with no agenda other than promoting a type of accountability and transparency that would prevent future child molestations. How, I ask, can this assertion be squared with the invitation in question?
"I'm a bit surprised the Holy See has not taken corrective action with regard to Bishop Robinson."
I'm more than a bit surprised the Holy See has not taken corrective action with regard to the bishops who enabled and encouraged the sexual abuse of minors for decades. Cardinals Law, Mahony, etc, etc.
That's what really makes my blood boil. Not some retired bishop who wrote a book.
"I'm a bit surprised the Holy See has not taken corrective action with regard to Bishop Robinson."
I'm more than a bit surprised the Holy See has not taken corrective action with regard to the countless bishops who enabled and encouraged the sexual abuse of minors for decades.
That's what really makes my blood boil. Not some retired bishop who wrote a book.
Doctrinal orthodoxy aside, omething tells me that Mr. Blair would rather his wife not talk so much to the press...
John,
At issue, for me, is whether or not the bishop deserved to be banned. I think he did. Cardinal Mahoney's motives are whatever they are. It must be remembered that Bishop Robinson was recently condemned for "doctrinal difficulties" by the Australian Bishops Conference.
Surely you don't think they have ulterior motives, do you?
Also, is the Bishop's decision to speak to VOTF defensible? I think not.
In re: headline: "Pigs fly..."
I understand the turn of a phrase.
However, the man is a Cardinal of the Roman Church; and no matter what one things of his governance, he is the rightful Archbishop of Los Angeles.
It is not proper for one who calls himself a "papist" to speak thus of a Prince of the Church.
While we might quibble over statutes and laws and all that business, what Cardinal Mahony did is by no means positive.
It is never a good thing to quash discussion or debate. And it is usually intellectually demeaning to tell people that they can not engage with certain materials or people. No one is benefiting from this other than Cardinal Mahony, who can now point to a shiny, newly-minted disagreement as proof that he's a good son of the Church.
Donald, the expression, "When pigs fly" is a conditional, not an analogical. No comparison is being made.
I am mystified that the Holy See allows this guy to continue to masquerade as a Catholic Bishop. One must have to commit murder to get defrocked. Tom
Sidonius Appollinaris, how does misrepresenting the Faith, by an alleged, Bishop, advance the Faith? What if he denied the Real Presence? Tom
I hope and pray His Eminence's recent action is a result of his post-papal-visit conversion. The real test will be the next religious education conference!
Mike - you're confusing Call-to-Action with Voice of the Faithful. CTA does indeed have an agenda, and so does VOTF. They aren't as "transparent" in their own designs, even as they call for diocesan transparency.
As to Cardinal Mahony - it's good to see him do the right thing. Now if he would only do something about that Education Conference....
Donald, he's not a cardinalist. He's a papist, i.e. zeal for the pope. Presumably, Thomas' opinion is that Cardinal Mahoney's valid governance goes against the model that the legislator intends.
Actually, I'm putting words in his mouth. Pardon me. But being a papist does not mean that one cannot use an expression meaning "whoa, who would have thought this would happen?" when describing the act of a cardinal.
I intended to write VOTF (whose invitation is at issue in this story), not CAT. Thanks LarryD for the catch.
Looks like a couple VOTF folks got into the comment box.
Donald, do you even know what the phrase means or what it is applying to in the headline?
Sidonius Apollinaris,
When a person is allowed, by a diocese, to teach others his incorrect teachings,
people will be confused as to what exactly is the Church's position. You don't invite you mother-in-law to speak at your birthday party. :-)
Donald,
Paul called out Peter for his hypocrisy.
Being surprised that a heretofore unorthodox Bishop seems to be doing to right thing is understandable and not, I think, disrespectful.
This action by the Cardinal is consistent with past behavior. He knows how to pull rank when he wants to.
Grace doesn't erase nature, just informs and aids it.
So we shouldn't expect overnight transformation.
Which is why I wasn't surprised -- just disappointed -- to see this in the Tidings this week.
Sorry, this link is more apropos to the ongoing situation in Los Angeles.
Cardinal aside, there's a whole machine of wackiness that the LA Synod put in place five years ago. Dismantling it will be a sizable job for Mahony's successor.
Good Gawd, haven't come across so many Kool-Aid drinkers in a long time. Defending the indefensible: Master Pedophile Pimp Mahoney.
His total corruptness has become so obvious, wealthy LA Catholics are no longer donating. Why do you think he's been reduced to squeezing the parishes? Those chickens are finally coming home to roost.
Bishop Robinson will go down in history as one of the great souls who lived the REAL Catholic faith. Rodger Dodger will go down in infamy.
hrh: Thank you for such a clear example of "defending the indefensible": the heresies of Bishop Robinson.
Wow, some people can't follow that when a Bishop, who has done much to harm his diocese, does what appears to be the right thing, that being glad that said right thing was done is not condoning past actions.
bill912:
What are the heresies of Bishop Robinson? Please be specific.
You HAVE read his book, haven't you? Or are you just yet another heavy-duty imbiber of the Bish Club Kool-Aid?
If any of my fellow heavy-duty kool-aid imbibers wish to familiarize themselves with Bishop Robinson's heretical beliefs regarding the Church's teachings on sexual morality, a male-only priesthood, and the teaching authority of Christ and His Church, they can follow several of the links AmP provided.
I am truly disheartened by the harshness of some of these comments. Cardinal Mahony is not denying his speaking because Bishop Robinson is overstepping authority. The Cardinal is doing what he sees fit to protect the faith of his people. ALL of us have made mistakes, ALL of us have sinned. What I read in these comments is a lack of compassion. Jesus' commandment to love one another is sorely needed.
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