For my UD readers March 10, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in Admin, Dallas Diocese.comments closed
A reporter from the National Catholic Register is trying to get in touch with UD students. You can reach him at the info below:
Im a freelance reporter for the National Catholic Register seeking comment from students who supported Dr.Fagan’s letter. Could any such contact me at steve.weatherbe@gmail.com to arrange telephone interview, using names or anonymously–your choice.
Pope says Christians should not try to convert Jews March 10, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in Basics, Dallas Diocese, Ecumenism, General Catholic, silliness, Society.comments closed
Wow. Sorry for the Distorter link, it’s the only place I’ve seen this story, so far:
After excerpts from the second volume of the pope’s book on Jesus made the rounds last week, featuring his rejection of the idea that “the Jews” killed Christ, the full text adds another point with important implications for Christian/Jewish relations — in effect, that Christianity “must not concern herself with the conversion of the Jews.”
The comment comes in Benedict XVI’s book Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, the full text of which was released today.
While the pope does not affirm a theory propounded by some theologians holding that the Jews will be saved independently of Christ, experts say, he does clearly suggest the church should not be targeting Jews for conversion efforts.“Israel is in the hands of God, who will save it ‘as a whole’ at the proper time, when the number of Gentiles is full,” the pope writes. The historical duration of this “proper time,” Benedict says, cannot be calculated.
In terms of the proper Christian attitude in the meantime, Benedict approvingly quotes Cistercian abbess and Biblical writer Hildegard Brem: “The church must not concern herself with the conversion of the Jews, since she must wait for the time fixed for this by God.”
Although Benedict XVI stipulated in the first volume of his book that he writes as a private theologian rather than authoritatively as head of the Catholic church, his comments inevitably carry weight as indications of the way Benedict is likely to approach these questions as pope………..
As a way of a rebuttal, the article by John Allen quotes Cardinal Dulles:
Almost ten years ago, the late Cardinal Avery Dulles was critical of a joint statement from the National Council of Synagogues and the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference to the effect that “targeting Jews for conversion to Christianity” is “no longer theologically acceptable in the Catholic Church.”
Dulles replied that the church cannot curtail the scope of the gospel without betraying itself: “Once we grant that there are some persons for whom it is not important to acknowledge Christ, to be baptized and to receive the sacraments, we raise questions about our own religious life,” he wrote.
Subsequently, the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine issued a clarification in 2009 that most experts regarded as largely upholding the position taken by Dulles. Its conclusion was, “The fulfillment of the covenants, indeed, of all God’s promises to Israel, is found only in Jesus Christ.”
This is the view I have held, that ALL people must hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified for our salvation and reborn, constantly offering to the Father the ONLY Sacrifice acceptable to Him for atonement for our sins and as the vehicle of Grace for our salvation. The Pope may only be trying to say that the Church should not institute a program specifically targeting the conversion of Jews (although, I don’t know why the Church should not do this, unless Jesus Christ is only intended for some people), but that’s frankly a stretch. It certainly runs counter to what my sensus fidei tells me, and what I have read throughout Scripture and Tradition.
So, Mrs. Baker, what do you make of this? This Pope is lately making me do mental gymnastics.
Anglicans mull ‘communion for all’ March 10, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Dallas Diocese, Ecumenism, General Catholic, North Deanery, silliness, Society.comments closed
There’s a bunch of sturm and drang about the Canadian Anglicans considering opening up communion to all, not just baptized Christians. This rings kind of hollow for me, because from my days as an episcopal/Anglican I don’t recall there being any limits regarding reception of Anglican communion, certainly that I heard or read or saw. I can’t recall any prohibition on receiving communion, and when I first started going to Mass, I could not understand the fuss about Communion and who could receive it. In fact, I received unworthily many times when accompanying my wife, for which I am sorry, but I was in total ignorance of what the Eucharist is, coming from a protestant background.
I guess the Anglicans have felt that communion could be had by all baptized Christians, but the new deal is that absolutely anyone can walk in and receive. Why not? It’s just bread and wine. There is no Anglican doctrine belief teaching kinda halfway shared opinion, so long as it offends no one! on the Real Presence, so what does it matter who receives? Catholics worry about who receives the Blessed Sacrament because we have valid orders and apostolic succession straight back to the original 12 apostles, and so our priests confect the Body and Blood of the Lord on the altar, whereas the last Anglican to possibly do so died almost five centuries ago.
But, for those Anglicans who would like the Eucharist treated more reverently and truly desire to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, this further retreat from tradition will likely drive even more into the arms of the Ordinariate. And that will be a great, immense positive for those souls, and is good for Christ’s Church.
One final note – you’ve got to love the reasoning for this purported change from Rev. Feelgood:
Rev. Gary Nicolosi said that if Jesus did not discriminate about who he invited to his table, then the Church should follow his lead.
“How, in our multicultural and pluralistic society, can our churches be places of hospitality if we exclude table fellowship with the non-baptized? This is not an academic question,” wrote Rev. Nicolosi, the pastor at St. James Westminster Anglican Church in London, Ont., and an official Church consultant on how to build membership.
The thing is, Jesus DID discriminate. Sure, he invited tax collectors and harlots and Pharisees to dinners all the time, but when it came to the institution of the Eucharist, there were only the Twelve, those who belonged, who believed in Him and His Word and who would be His apostles. Jesus did not give His body to women that night, nor did He give it to whoever was passing by – He gave it only to those who were called, just as only those who are called and become part of the Church can receive the Eucharist today. I cannot believe how sophomoric such reasoning is – literally, my 9 y/0 could outwit this guy if that’s the best he has.
Start St. Joseph Novena today March 10, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Dallas Diocese, General Catholic, Good St. Joseph, Interior Life.comments closed
The Feast of St. Joseph is March 19th. Start your novena today:
Here is a loooong set of novena prayers at EWTN.
Glorious St. Joseph, patron Saint of fathers, pray for us constantly, please!
Franciscans of the Immaculate in Africa March 10, 2011
Posted by Tantumblogo in awesomeness, Basics, Ecumenism, General Catholic, religious.comments closed
Some shots of the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Africa. The post didn’t say where!
This pic –
The bars are not to keep out burglars – they ARE FOR LIONS! So I’m thinking this place is in southern Africa, somewhere between Kenya and South Africa.
Go see the rest – whole bunch of very good pics.
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