tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post3135808020690417277..comments2024-01-17T03:08:25.317-06:00Comments on The Progressive Catholic Voice: Church Turmoil in WisconsinPCV Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519134580470262558noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-57952845732881131742012-05-17T22:36:31.539-05:002012-05-17T22:36:31.539-05:00Amen to what Ben Yanke said. I am a Catholic in Ma...Amen to what Ben Yanke said. I am a Catholic in Madison, and I think Bishop Morlino has been so good on this. Archbishop Listecki of Milwaukee was at the diocesan center recently to give some talks and he told them Bp Morlino is a leader in the state, and joked that he is poaching vocations from other dioceses. Bp Morlino hasn't gone looking for that but it's actually true; he has a national reputation as a bishop who will back up his priests when they shepherd their parish faithfully. His diocese is benefiting from that from excellent priests and strengthened Catholic identity.<br /><br />A large minority of the parishioners at St Mary's signed a petition to "fire" their priest, which is something they had utterly no authority nor grounds for. The priests had done nothing contrary to the Catholic faith, but most astonishingly the parishioners' reasons for this rebellion, tearing their parish apart and shutting down the parish school by withholding donations, were so silly. They wanted altar girls, the use of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and they didn't want mention that some people are in danger of going to hell. In other words, some parishioners had some malformed expectations in regards to their parish life and priests. From an informed Catholic perspective, it just could not be any more obvious the priests are faithful and Bishop Morlino acted bravely and rightly.<br /><br />For those interested in more sources, background information, Catholic knowledge one needs for understanding the story, and various blog commentary on the St Mary's Platteville situation, I blogged this recently:<br />http://www.laetificatmadison.com/2012/05/roundup-of-st-marys-platteville-commentary-links-you-could-want/Elizabeth Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16888400643867182872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-70350181394354825892012-05-09T17:48:19.532-05:002012-05-09T17:48:19.532-05:00Michael, as usual you sound pretty protestant in y...Michael, as usual you sound pretty protestant in your opinions. <br /><br />You really don't get that if we followed your thoughts, in thirty years, there would be more than 30,000 "catholic churches."<br /><br />That's not what Jesus, who came to deliver the truth, would want.<br /><br />You might want to pray for some humility.<br /><br />It's not easy for us, either, but I spent half my life as a hedonist. And remnants still cling. But it is the Truth of Jesus Christ that gives me hope for His Divine Mercy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332138030182107580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-32653487924468504402012-05-09T10:08:50.472-05:002012-05-09T10:08:50.472-05:00The article inaccurately portrays those requesting...The article inaccurately portrays those requesting change as "adapting to the times." It is instead a conservative movement looking to the time of the early church when congregations co-celebrated the mass, men and women participated equally and members chose their presbyters based on their propensity to teach the message of Jesus and their ability to lead. It is a movement that seeks to undo the changes that occurred during the Dark and Medieval Ages. That being said, we give thanks to the Church that exists now and ask that a "synthesis" occur because there are many positive elements within the current Church.Joseph Guineynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-81606537322776159242012-05-09T07:43:06.834-05:002012-05-09T07:43:06.834-05:00Ben, is it really 'right' to drive away ha...Ben, is it really 'right' to drive away half the population of a parish so that one bishop and two priests can recreate that parish in their own liturgical preferences? Isn't that selfish, a form of cafeteria Catholicism? Or is selfish remaking of the Church in one's own desires only a problem for the left?colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-56647623292744460772012-05-08T22:45:35.781-05:002012-05-08T22:45:35.781-05:00"Classic liberal bullying"? What is that..."Classic liberal bullying"? What is that exactly? And is it what's really going on here?<br /><br />Our Catholic tradition clearly teaches that there is an important and valid role and place for the views and insights of the laity. I think it's tragic that so many of those in positions of church authority have forgotten this. Clerical authority must be balanced by (and open to being shaped by) the authority of the Spirit present and active in and through the people of God, the "sensus fidelium." As Cardinal Newman <a href="http://theprogressivecatholicvoice.blogspot.com/2011/03/consensus-of-faithful-as-voice-of.html" rel="nofollow">pointed out</a>, it is the consensus of the faithful that ultimately serves as the voice of the infallible Church. <br /><br />Clearly, on issues such as homosexuality and the role of women, we as a church are still journeying toward consensus. I find such a journey to be both a gift and, yes, at times a challenge. But I don't believe we should fear it or refuse to engage in it. Many in positions of authority, however, have done just that. As a result, the Spirit is speaking very forcefully and clearly through the people. I would not label such a gift "classic liberal bullying," and neither would the majority of Catholics.<br /><br />A teaching church must first be a listening church. I respectfully contend that it's time for the bishops to start listening with both an open mind and an open heart to the Spirit speaking in and through the experiences and insights of the people.Michael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-27525602068746577572012-05-08T20:04:46.619-05:002012-05-08T20:04:46.619-05:00God bless Bishop Morlino and these priests. They a...God bless Bishop Morlino and these priests. They are doing the right thing for this parish, and I congratulate them for not backing down in the face of the classic liberal bullying.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02627367486498378958noreply@blogger.com