tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post9034894809288321020..comments2024-01-17T03:08:25.317-06:00Comments on The Progressive Catholic Voice: A Letter to the Roman Catholic Church in the United StatesPCV Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519134580470262558noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-65431873821476057092015-10-07T00:13:15.401-05:002015-10-07T00:13:15.401-05:00This blog post is really great; the standard stuff...This blog post is really great; the standard stuff of the post is genuinely amazing.<a href="http://www.facebook.com/MacFarlaneGroup/posts/10150099786945516" rel="nofollow">MacFarlane Curry</a>Chris Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14411795684764081362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-45933890369930816482015-10-01T07:04:12.985-05:002015-10-01T07:04:12.985-05:00I have got the superb information from these blogs...I have got the superb information from these blogs finally.<a href="http://www.personalcashadvance.com/payday-loans.html" rel="nofollow">small payday loans</a>Steven Buttlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14614050233037843691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-91167321393450673662015-09-16T02:14:49.340-05:002015-09-16T02:14:49.340-05:00I really didn’t know all these things before which...I really didn’t know all these things before which you have informed us through your best writing. <a href="http://www.vividsmoke.com/accessories/tank-systems/aspire-triton-tank.html" rel="nofollow">triton tank</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234131747571172930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-13221805207281717362015-09-11T04:51:48.244-05:002015-09-11T04:51:48.244-05:00Keep on good working guys; you have done the great...Keep on good working guys; you have done the great job! <a href="http://mooreremodel.com/valley-brook/" rel="nofollow">kitchen designers Moore Oklahoma</a><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-39830332174274157202015-09-08T01:25:05.528-05:002015-09-08T01:25:05.528-05:00Fabulous ideas you have still provided to us, anyw...Fabulous ideas you have still provided to us, anyway this blog is really wonderful for all. <a href="http://overlandparkautopros.com/" rel="nofollow">Car repair Overland Park</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12480793315998590890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-84031539008544258342013-06-29T16:59:28.621-05:002013-06-29T16:59:28.621-05:00I agree with this essay. I too look at the Church ...I agree with this essay. I too look at the Church and see apparently well-meaning people who are blind to the realities in front of them. Eric lists treatment of LGBT persons and abuse scandals as key areas that must be reformed, which I applaud. I see a Church that risks dwindling into an increasingly irrelevant sect, at least in the West. To my way of thinking, the issue isn't secularization, but rather the body of leadership and laity who are unable to understand the world and see a need for progress. <br /><br />I have struggled greatly with how to approach a Church that has done so much for me, but nonetheless seems to stand for or otherwise is involved with so many things that I find to be, at the very least, troubling. <br /><br />I'd like to propose a further area of concern for the Church in the US specifically, but that also has great relevance around the world. I consider myself to be consistently pro-life, but I use my ability to think things through in determining how I approach the issue. In discussions of abortion, the socially conservative wing of the Church all too often refuses to look at the data, to see that the things the pro-choice movement stands for in the end prevent abortions from taking place. Many people have concluded that the pro-life movement, which the Catholic Church was in many ways responsible for forging in the first place, does more to control women than it does to save unborn children. Of course, to take such a stance in essence requires one to take the view that the Church's sexual teachings are of less importance than saving lives. For me, the key is that two different people could have strongly different views on the Church's sexual teachings, and yet still consider themselves to be Catholic, pro-life, etc. and ultimately both support contraception with the goal of preventing abortion. It should be clear that I'm presenting the 'pro-choice is pro-life' argument here, which can be divisive at the best of times. <br /><br />I don't mean to get into a political policy debate; rather, I'm just suggesting this as an example in what seems to be the same vein. The conservative wing of the Church seeks to resolutely advocate for what it sees as all the proper teachings, but fails to take a holistic assessment of how everything adds up in the real world. If I have misunderstood your point, Eric, I apologize. <br /><br />You seem to be making the case that progressive catholics are duty-bound to stay in the Catholic Church, striving to advocate for reform. This is very much in line with my own thinking. I would probably be very much at home, in say, the Episcopalian Church, which I understand to effectively be the Catholic Church minus the flaws of the Catholic Church rooted in social conservatism (ignoring a few theological differences ultimately rooted in the historical politics of the Anglican Church's origins). If I'm called to be a progressive catholic, then I suppose that's what I'd better go ahead and do, even if it means making a bit of noise. <br /><br />Thanks Eric. <br /><br />Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-76061843505660778012013-06-22T23:17:55.993-05:002013-06-22T23:17:55.993-05:00Thanks to Michael and everyone here at the Progres...Thanks to Michael and everyone here at the Progressive Catholic Voice for sharing my recent essay. And thank you all for your comments. I wanted to share a few thoughts in response. <br /><br />Carol (Anonymous #3): I am not in favor of a Third Vatican Council. I believe strongly that we must first ensure that the reforms outlined by the Second Vatican Council be enforced fully. <br /><br />Anonymous #2: I'm sorry you found the essay boring. However, it was not my intention to entertain. <br /><br />You write, "All Catholics should agree that the abomination of child abuse, a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance, needs to be stopped, and any cover up that has taken place needs to be mangled and buried." Agreed. But that agreement hasn't brought the crisis to a resolution. So, either not all Catholics agree or we have to do something differently. <br /><br />I'm very much aware of what the Catechism says about homosexuality. When the bishops and clergy begin to follow Church teaching in that regard, loving and respecting all people, we can stop asking them to. <br /><br />Finally, I do not challenge the fact that the Roman Catholic Church exists as a hierarchy led exclusively by celibate male leadership. However, there is no doubt that reform of some kind is necessary, as our Holy Father reminds us often. Clericalism and out-of-control corruption have led us to the problems we face as a Church today, not a hierarchical system. <br /><br />Peace and all good,<br /><br />Eric<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08565890794475951889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-5717619706676082342013-06-22T13:15:12.982-05:002013-06-22T13:15:12.982-05:00Anonymous #2 seems to be under the impression that...Anonymous #2 seems to be under the impression that 1) I'm the author of this well-written piece, and/or 2) I've used in some other actual writings of mine the term "biogolism." Neither are correct. Eric Fought is the author of this piece and I have never used the rather clanky term "biologism" in any of my own writings.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-40557415361404511072013-06-21T18:42:57.239-05:002013-06-21T18:42:57.239-05:00Where is the outcry for a third Vatican Council? ...Where is the outcry for a third Vatican Council? In these days of rapid change in every known field of endeavor, I believe that, to keep current, a Council should be held every 20 years. What do you think?<br />CarolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-76546015335244762282013-06-21T14:28:15.829-05:002013-06-21T14:28:15.829-05:00Because the author chooses to focus on 2 very pred...Because the author chooses to focus on 2 very predictable mantras of the liberal Christian wing, his well written letter sounds self-righteous and pious. What is more, it is boring. <br /><br />All Catholics should agree that the abomination of child abuse, a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance, needs to be stopped, and any cover up that has taken place needs to be mangled and buried. <br /> <br />But as for the Church's position on those with same-sex attraction, the author neglects to mention the Church's actual teaching on the matter, which is respect and love for all of God's people. NB - the Catechism of the Catholic Church <br />Of course, what many find so offensive about the Church's teaching on the matter is the claim the Church makes that sex actually has a nature which must be respected, lest the human person disintegrate and be torn apart by the power of sex. The nature of erotic love is essentially connected to pro-creation, what Bayly dismissively calls "biologism" or some such ism, yanked right from "1984." The idea that sex makes babies is a simple, yet radical thing. It has consequences, despite the moaning of modern man who wishes to have sex with whomever, and whatever, he wants, precisely because he wants to, with no consequences, especially not dirty diapers.<br /> <br />As for the neglect of "Vatican 2 principles," once again we witness the whitewashing and childish generalization of rich, powerful texts. Lumen Gentium says clearly that the Church is hierachical - is the author prepared to accept this? Sacrosanctum Concilium says that priests have no right to change the liturgy on their own initiative - does the author agree with this?<br /><br />The letter is boring because it says nothing new. <br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-77111025820171734572013-06-20T10:11:38.454-05:002013-06-20T10:11:38.454-05:00I am a cradle catholic and grew up in the pre-Vati...I am a cradle catholic and grew up in the pre-Vatican church. The concepts that filtered down to me at my lowly height as a child was that God was a vengeful God and all I heard was the "thou shalt not's". I am sure I was taught other concepts as I worked my way through my little blue catechism book and on to the Baltimore catechism, but this is what I internalized.<br />Then came Vatican II and I became a teacher in the Separate system and the new religion program was called " Come to the Father" and the Mass was in English and we were singing songs like "lord Of the Dance" and "Joy is like the Rain". JOY indeed- joy in community and joy in knowing and feeling and teaching that the Lord is a loving Father. <br />Where has that joy gone in today's Church?<br />Mary, CanadaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-32892555270184312392013-06-19T07:15:10.013-05:002013-06-19T07:15:10.013-05:00Namaste? Did you learn that in catechism class, ...Namaste? Did you learn that in catechism class, Dave?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332138030182107580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-39257561744998336142013-06-19T05:07:27.405-05:002013-06-19T05:07:27.405-05:00As Rome burned...Nero "the beast" played...As Rome burned...Nero "the beast" played his fiddle. Today, as the institutional Church circles the drain, the Bishops/Hierarchy, pay lip service to their misdeeds and failure as shepherds. Perhaps what we are witnessing is not tragic, but the act of the Holy Spirit, cleansing, with wind and flame, the Body of Christ. The Church of Christ...mystical Body of Christ in union with the Faithful, will survive. While we are obligated to speak out against the injustice, hard-heartedness of the Hierarchy, we must always remember that the Lord is in control. Namaste.dave446https://www.blogger.com/profile/17695131129065070310noreply@blogger.com