From LifeSite News we see more of what is transpiring behind closed doors at the Spokane chancery. While it was announced (in a most wishy-washy fashion) that priests are permitted to pray at abortuaries, the bishop has privately reiterated suggestions that they not do so.
The LifeSite article gives contact information for Bishop Cupich. Please suggest to him that if he himself doesn't hold the pro-life cause as top priority, that he at least stop trying to muzzle his priests who are inclined to act as, well, priests.
Showing posts with label Spokane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spokane. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
This Is A "Clarification"??
Bishop Cupich "clarified" his position on his diocesan priests participating in 40 Days for Life. Well, kinda! I'm not sure how clear this "clarification" is. Read it from the diocesan website.
Here's the first paragraph; I'll interject my comments in red.
"Surveys show that Catholics by and large mirror the general population when it comes to attitudes and decisions made about life issues. That's because the clergy have failed abysmally in their God-given missions to teach Faith and Morals. The present political environment has become very toxic no more toxic than is abortion to babies and polarizing Truth by nature is polarizing, for truth and falsehood are polar opposites. Polarization is nothing to be avoided, to the point that people have become fixed in their positions the pro-life side SHOULD be "fixed in its position" because it is the truth, especially in regard to abortion, and are unwilling to talk to each other. The pastoral challenge is to get people to take a second look at the issue of abortion. Actually, the "challenge is to TEACH the truth of abortion clearly and courageously."
"While the 40 Days for Life program is not a Catholic initiative nor endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he concluded that participation in it and in vigils by individuals or associations of Catholics was possible My! Isn't it pecular how "ecumenism" can so easily be jettisoned, when the effort in question is pro-life! . At the same time, he indicated that he would not consider it under the umbrella of the respect life efforts of the Diocese. The Catholic Church is concerned about a broad range of respect life issues Sounds like the "seamless garment" hoax is again providing a cloak for inaction by the chancery and has a pastoral tradition which shapes its approach. It is critical that we rely on programs initiated by the Church, lest our concerns and our pastoral approach be defined too narrowly. I strongly suspect that the unborn babies would appreciate a narrow definition of approach here"
"When visiting with the presbyterate, the Bishop asked the priests to approach respect life issues as teachers, for that is what they are. Teachers create new openings for learning and reduce obstacles. They must boldly proclaim the truth unabashedly, vigorously and often. Their intense passion to share the truth leads them to greater patience and prudence and not frustration with and disdain for students who fail to respond appropriately. Their witness to the faith through teaching becomes all the more powerful when the presbyterate works together in unity and solidarity. They also must teach by example. That means going out to the abortuaries, where the crying need is. That is REAL solidarity."
"As for the specific question of the priests’ participation in the 40 Days for Life vigils, the Bishop recognizes that a given priest in good conscience may feel the need to participate in the vigils and he should never be forced to go against a good and informed conscience. The bishop sounds like he's giving a reluctant concession to his pro-life priests, instead of commending these priests for their concern and zeal! Sheesh!"
Talk about a namby-pamby back-peddling! In the bishop's meandering verbiage, we see reason why the Church has been so ineffectual in stopping abortion.
Here's the first paragraph; I'll interject my comments in red.
"Surveys show that Catholics by and large mirror the general population when it comes to attitudes and decisions made about life issues. That's because the clergy have failed abysmally in their God-given missions to teach Faith and Morals. The present political environment has become very toxic no more toxic than is abortion to babies and polarizing Truth by nature is polarizing, for truth and falsehood are polar opposites. Polarization is nothing to be avoided, to the point that people have become fixed in their positions the pro-life side SHOULD be "fixed in its position" because it is the truth, especially in regard to abortion, and are unwilling to talk to each other. The pastoral challenge is to get people to take a second look at the issue of abortion. Actually, the "challenge is to TEACH the truth of abortion clearly and courageously."
"While the 40 Days for Life program is not a Catholic initiative nor endorsed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he concluded that participation in it and in vigils by individuals or associations of Catholics was possible My! Isn't it pecular how "ecumenism" can so easily be jettisoned, when the effort in question is pro-life! . At the same time, he indicated that he would not consider it under the umbrella of the respect life efforts of the Diocese. The Catholic Church is concerned about a broad range of respect life issues Sounds like the "seamless garment" hoax is again providing a cloak for inaction by the chancery and has a pastoral tradition which shapes its approach. It is critical that we rely on programs initiated by the Church, lest our concerns and our pastoral approach be defined too narrowly. I strongly suspect that the unborn babies would appreciate a narrow definition of approach here"
"When visiting with the presbyterate, the Bishop asked the priests to approach respect life issues as teachers, for that is what they are. Teachers create new openings for learning and reduce obstacles. They must boldly proclaim the truth unabashedly, vigorously and often. Their intense passion to share the truth leads them to greater patience and prudence and not frustration with and disdain for students who fail to respond appropriately. Their witness to the faith through teaching becomes all the more powerful when the presbyterate works together in unity and solidarity. They also must teach by example. That means going out to the abortuaries, where the crying need is. That is REAL solidarity."
"As for the specific question of the priests’ participation in the 40 Days for Life vigils, the Bishop recognizes that a given priest in good conscience may feel the need to participate in the vigils and he should never be forced to go against a good and informed conscience. The bishop sounds like he's giving a reluctant concession to his pro-life priests, instead of commending these priests for their concern and zeal! Sheesh!"
Talk about a namby-pamby back-peddling! In the bishop's meandering verbiage, we see reason why the Church has been so ineffectual in stopping abortion.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Spokane Bishop Forbids His Priests From Engaging In Pro-Life Activism
Today, on this Solemnity of the Triumph of the Cross, comes the news that Bishop Blaise Cupich of the Diocese of Spokane (WA) has forbidden his priests and seminarians from engaging in pro-life activism. I suspect Peter Kreeft had him in mind when he made the statement featured in my post from yesterday.
They are forbidden from praying in front of Planned Parenthood or any other abortion mill. Moreover, they are forbidden to promote such activities. He went so far as to name the "40 Days for Life" effort as one of the forbidden activities. He went on to forbid the distribution of any pro-life materials on church grounds, save for those published by the Washington Catholic Conference. I suppose that means that advertisements for post-abortion healing are also forbidden? Such materials are allowed in my church; they fly off the literature racks. That should give us an idea of how many Catholics hurt from abortion. Is the bishop really cutting off that avenue of help for these poor people?
Now what are his reasons? He allegedly said that he doesn't want anyone who "represents him" to be associated with "extreme" pro-lifers who use graphic pictures of aborted babies. If this is true, this statement is an utter disgrace for a bishop.
It is supremely ironic that news of this is breaking on this Solemnity of the Triumph of the Cross. We celebrate the Cross today, with His Precious Blood shed for us. We do not flinch from the Cross, in all its raw pain and brutality, for such was the price paid for our redemption. How then does a bishop of Jesus Christ order his priests to turn from the babies who are being slaughtered in his diocese? He doesn't want his priests to be "extreme"? Does he not realize that Jesus seemed "extreme" to Caiaphis and the other religious leaders of Jerusalem? With whom does Bishop Cupich identify - Jesus or Caiaphis?
In all fairness to the bishop, there has been no public statement from his diocesan offices. However, it would be incumbent upon him to clarify any misunderstandings (if indeed this is merely a misunderstanding). To that effect, I urge all to contact him. The diocesan site is http://www.dioceseofspokane.org/; contact information is found therein. First let's ascertain the truth and then we'll go from there. More later.
They are forbidden from praying in front of Planned Parenthood or any other abortion mill. Moreover, they are forbidden to promote such activities. He went so far as to name the "40 Days for Life" effort as one of the forbidden activities. He went on to forbid the distribution of any pro-life materials on church grounds, save for those published by the Washington Catholic Conference. I suppose that means that advertisements for post-abortion healing are also forbidden? Such materials are allowed in my church; they fly off the literature racks. That should give us an idea of how many Catholics hurt from abortion. Is the bishop really cutting off that avenue of help for these poor people?
Now what are his reasons? He allegedly said that he doesn't want anyone who "represents him" to be associated with "extreme" pro-lifers who use graphic pictures of aborted babies. If this is true, this statement is an utter disgrace for a bishop.
It is supremely ironic that news of this is breaking on this Solemnity of the Triumph of the Cross. We celebrate the Cross today, with His Precious Blood shed for us. We do not flinch from the Cross, in all its raw pain and brutality, for such was the price paid for our redemption. How then does a bishop of Jesus Christ order his priests to turn from the babies who are being slaughtered in his diocese? He doesn't want his priests to be "extreme"? Does he not realize that Jesus seemed "extreme" to Caiaphis and the other religious leaders of Jerusalem? With whom does Bishop Cupich identify - Jesus or Caiaphis?
In all fairness to the bishop, there has been no public statement from his diocesan offices. However, it would be incumbent upon him to clarify any misunderstandings (if indeed this is merely a misunderstanding). To that effect, I urge all to contact him. The diocesan site is http://www.dioceseofspokane.org/; contact information is found therein. First let's ascertain the truth and then we'll go from there. More later.
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