NY Archdiocese paying for Health Plan that covers Birth Control

So what do you think?  This was in today's New York Times:

Archdiocese Pays for Health Plan That Covers Birth Control 

By SHARON OTTERMAN

Interesting article...  

“In many ways things have reverted to the authoritarian, hierarchical, institutional model. Things are much more top-down,” he explained. “Everything seems to come from Rome. Bishops are appointed without much consultation with bishops of the region. There is a kind of emphasis on orthodoxy and fidelity and the magisterium and loyalty to the Holy Father that is the same as before the council.”

There has been a return to “rigidity” and an emphasis on “people measuring up to the church rather than the church ministering to people,” said Lombardi, who headed the Santa Rosa diocese’s clergy education office for 16 years. “At times I have seen good people suffer because of that rigidity.”


Take time to read this fine article in the March 12th edition of the National Catholic Reporter:

"Vatican II priests still embrace Council's model despite reversals" by Dan Morris-Young.

It troubles me a lot that Church is again returning to its authoritarian rigidity as seen in the 1940's-195o's...

Take a look and respond... 

“In many ways things have reverted to the authoritarian, hierarchical, institutional model. Things are much more top-down,” he explained. “Everything seems to come from Rome. Bishops are appointed without much consultation with bishops of the region. There is a kind of emphasis on orthodoxy and fidelity and the magisterium and loyalty to the Holy Father that is the same as before the council.”

There has been a return to “rigidity” and an emphasis on “people measuring up to the church rather than the church ministering to people,” said Lombardi, who headed the Santa Rosa diocese’s clergy education office for 16 years. “At times I have seen good people suffer because of that rigidity.”

This quote comes from a fine article in the March 12th issue of the National Catholic Reporter:

Vatican II priests still embrace council's model despite reversals by Dan Morris-Young.

Take a look... I find this new "rigidity" in the Church very sad...

A Hot Button Issue

Anonymous has asked that this video be given a separate blog article. I am willing to do that, even though I feel the video presents a very one-sided view from the far right of the Catholic spectrum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP085f8iG6k&feature=player_embedded#at=199

Excellent Commentary on the John Jay Report

If you want to read an excellent commentary on the John Jay Report, take a look at this National Catholic Reporter article:


The John Jay Study: What it is and what it isn't

by Mary Gail Frawley O'Dea

Priests, Home Ownership and Life in the Rectory

I noticed that some folks made comments about priests owning their own homes so I thought to open this subject for discussion. I had read a blog article recently where a priest discussed whether it was a good thing or not, that a priest/pastor would buy a home and live there rather than live in the rectory provided for him.

Any thoughts?

Fr. Corapi and the future of his ministry

Anonymous left the following comment:

I heard that Fr. Corapi has quit the priesthood. Didn't he come to speak in the Richmond Diocese years ago?

Is the John Jay study reliable?

Here are some thoughts about it from the National Catholic Reporter:

Critics point to John Jay study's limitations

Any comments?

So, what's the rush? Sainthood for John Paul II

John L. Allen, Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter has an interesting article about the upcoming beatification of John Paul II. You can find the article here.

Is sainthood too politicized?

Any comments?

Collective Bargaining, Republicans and the American Bishops

Katie left an interesting question in the comment box of a different topic. I hope she doesn't mind that I open a new topic using her words.

"Not to change the topic; but what are U.S. Bishops doing regarding the assault on the working class by politicians? Should Republicans be given a free-pass to allow middle income workers to be stripped of collective bargaining in an economy that is already squeezing out the middle class? Just because the Republican Party pays lip service and throws an occasional bone to prolife causes, the U.S. bishops should still have enough zeal on economic justice and policy no matter how prolife the politicians assaulting the middle class are! "

Any comments?

SSPX vs The Vatican

So, what is your take on the talks between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X? Will anything come of those talks? Is each "side" coming to the talks from different angles; so never the twain shall meet?

CEOs rather than Priests

Under another topic, Anonymous made this interesting observation:

"The clergy is now riddled with many men who are more CEO then priests."

How could this happen? What is it about the priesthood nowadays that would draw CEO-type people rather than those with a more spiritual vocation?

Korean Catholic Rite?

Anonymous asks this question:

This more recent Virginian-Pilot article mentions a Korean Catholic Rite...is this a universal rite or just another example of Richmond Diocesan liturgical permissiveness?

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/01/korean-catholics-celebrate-lunar-new-year-hampton

Abortion Mill

Anonymous has asked this question:

*****************

Has anybody else read this article in the Virginian Pilot?

January 19, 2011 11:13 PM

Must Married Permanent Deacons abstain from having sex?

I came across this article on CatholicVote.org. An important issue. What do you think?

Church Law says Permanent Deacons, all clerics, are obliged to abstain from sex, notes Canonist Edward Peters

Condom use among (male) prostitutes... and others

The lesser of two evils? What about couples where one has HIV/AIDS and the other not? Can condom use be "responsible sex"? Will the Pope's remarks eventually open the door for contraceptive use in "other limited cases"?

"Fraternity of the disgraced keeps growing"

John Allen, senior correspondent of the National Catholic Reporter has written an interesting article about the Catholic prelates who have become members of the "fraternity of the disgraced." Please don't miss his analysis of this issue. Read here: "Fraternity of the disgraced keeps growing."

The paragraph that stopped me in my tracks was this one:

"Perhaps the most explosive question is whether that fraternity will eventually include the two popes whose reigns coincide with the sexual abuse crisis, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Probably neither pontiff's reputation will be helped, though defenders of both men also have cases to make."

No matter what you think about either of these popes, including them on the list would be as surprising to me as the accusations against Pius XII regarding his lack of action against the Nazis during WWII.

First Sunday of Advent 2011 - The New Roman Missal

Well, the word has come down that the use of the New Roman Missal translation will begin on that date. Whether you like it or not, we will soon have to begin to catechize our people. At least by the first of the year, 2011...

New Sacramentaries, new music, new prayerbooks, etc., etc.... A huge undertaking... And added expense for our smaller parishes...

Here's the link to the longer version of the story. Check the USCCB website.

Any comments?

Combier-Donovan to head Office of Worship ~ Catholic Review

And WHY hasn't this news been given to us through the Catholic Virginian??? I am amazed! Or maybe I shouldn't be... Nothing was even hinted at that she was leaving.

You can read of Catherine Combier-Donovan's new position here.

It begins:

Combier-Donovan to head Office of Worship

From the Catholic Review Staff
Archdiocese of Baltimore

Paulist Father John E. Hurley, executive director of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Department of Evangelization, announced the appointment of Catherine Combier-Donovan as the new director of the Office for Worship.

Combier-Donovan has held the same position in the Diocese of Richmond since 2006 and has over 10 years of liturgical experience, including parish positions in North and South Carolina and Virginia

Continued -

A Provocative Article about Priestly Celibacy

National Catholic Reporter's James Carroll, has written a comprehensive but provocative article in the June 9th issue which describes why progressives in the Church believe that priestly celibacy is a major reason why the Church is experiencing its present problems.

Please take the time to read this interesting article:

Mandatory Celibacy at the Heart of What's Wrong

I hope you will also take time to comment.