tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post5347760380185921206..comments2024-01-17T03:08:25.317-06:00Comments on The Progressive Catholic Voice: Belgium Catholics Issue Reform ManifestoPCV Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519134580470262558noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-10559589949406952792012-02-01T20:57:51.084-06:002012-02-01T20:57:51.084-06:00Ray, I'm thrilled. I've known for a long ...Ray, I'm thrilled. I've known for a long time that you know the Catholic Church because you tell PCV readers that you do. I'd like to know the Catholic Church as well as you do. Should I get a copy of the Baltimore Catechism for my kindle?<br /><br />Now, I discover that you know Belgium, too. I'm planning a three week tour of Belgium and would like to visit as many empty Catholic Churches as I can while I'm there. Have you any suggestions about where to go? Should I stick to the big cities or go to rural areas? If there are that many empty Catholic Churches, there are surely empty rectories, too. They'd probably be much more comfortable to stay in that a hostel, youth or elder, and a lot cheaper than any hotel. I'll pack bed linens just in case. The only drawback is that I might not get through customs in Belgium. I'm morally unstable, you know. Oh, of course you know! You're the one who gave me my diagnosis. I feel so secure when you share a small portion of your vast knowledge. I'll send you a postcard from Bruges if I can get by security. NanookMNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-20631707542692514642011-12-04T11:13:00.567-06:002011-12-04T11:13:00.567-06:00Ray, it's too bad you can't see how much d...Ray, it's too bad you can't see how much damage has been done to Body of Christ because of the cancer of hanging on to the all male celibate priesthood. Please explain to me how shrinking the Church to fit the size of it's dwindling priesthood mirrors the thinking of Jesus? I can certainly see where this strokes the elitist egos of some True Believers, but I don't see any love or compassion or concern for the flock at all.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-90238042398460821602011-12-03T18:50:07.128-06:002011-12-03T18:50:07.128-06:00Ray, your comment reminds me of Michele Bachmann&#...Ray, your comment reminds me of Michele Bachmann's recent statement that gay people can get married -- but just to people of the opposite sex. As with her statement, I find yours both ignorant and insensitive.<br /><br />I prefer to go with the spirit of hope and renewal that is inspiring the thousands of Belgium Catholics to sign the manifesto in question (including the hundreds of priests, educators, and academics), than with whatever it is that fuels your angry, fearful and mean-spirited outbursts on this blog. <br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelPCV Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519134580470262558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-17167151054851138422011-12-03T14:19:06.315-06:002011-12-03T14:19:06.315-06:00Mr. Dick doesn't seem to know very much about ...Mr. Dick doesn't seem to know very much about the Catholic Church. He obviously has spent too much time away from the U.S. Church in Belgium, a country where virtually nobody goes to church anymore. It is also a country on the verge of splitting in two. Belgians can't agree with all their current countrymen. It's not surprising that they don't agree with the Church when they know so little about it because they are hardly ever there to learn.<br /><br />• Parish leadership be entrusted to trained laypeople;<br /><br />One would hope that all employees and member of church councils and committees would be trained lay leaders. Otherwise, why would they be hired or appointed.<br /><br />• Communion services be held even if no priest is available.<br /><br />That is the policy now in many small parishes<br /><br />• Laypeople be allowed to preach;<br />Laypeople can preach now, before or after the Mass. They may not give the homily during the Mass. Would it be too much to ask the congregation to stay 15 minutes longer? <br /><br />• Divorced people be allowed to receive Communion;<br /><br />Divorce is not a sin. Divorced people may receive Communion now. But not if they have remarried without having received an annulment from the Church.<br /><br />• "As quickly as possible, both married men and women be admitted to the priesthood.<br /><br />That won't happen. If 70% of Catholics already aren't going to Mass, why do we need married man and women as priests? That number might grow. Jesus said He would be with us until the end of time. He didn't say that the Church would always grow.<br /><br />Four out of five are already allowed. So what is the problem?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332138030182107580noreply@blogger.com