If I Was On The Outside Looking In
Put yourself there for just a sec or two...
As I cruised through the various Catholic news services I check every day, I noticed a few headlines that screamed out at me. Now before anyone lectures me about nit-picking and going out of my way to actually find horrible articles, just let me say this... that thought crossed my mind as well.
So in all sincerity and honesty, know that I really do see something horribly wrong here. For just a moment or two, place yourself on the outside of Catholicism and look in. What would YOU think?
The first offering, this tasty tid-bit from India concerning the Eastern Rite Syro-Malabar Catholics. One of the priests there is bemoaning how the outwardly devout Catholics of India have actually swallowed the government line that population control (abortion) is a virtue. I just have to ask... haven't the priests there been teaching any moral absolutes? When THIS MANY Catholics openly embrace abortion, I just have to wonder where the priests have been.
Then from the uber-liberal Archdiocese of Milan, Italy, we read all about the Church of the Future, complete with video installations, electronic music, and abstract art. With Lenten readings from Oscar Wilde and Jack Kerouac. With the pulpit given over to nonbelievers. All this in the great diocese whose patrons are Saint Ambrose and Saint Charles Borromeo. Say it with me everyone --- CULT OF MAN.
Then oddly enough, once again from Northern Italy, a none too subtle slap at the Traditional Latin Mass. These simpletons illuminate us with the following; Having the priest face east, usually away from the people, when celebrating Mass is not a magic way to ensure that both the priest and the congregation focus on Jesus, said participants at a conference in northern Italy. Whoever said that the priest facing east was "magic"? But silly me, the priest facing east (and not to mention God in the tabernacle) simply smacks of Pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Can't have any of that, now can we?
Oh, and these same individuals tell us "...and liturgical experts from Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches". Ummm, I hate to point out the obvious to these folks, but Anglicans ARE Protestants. The Church declared that, oh... a few hundred years ago, right?
Lastly, this wonderful tale from Spain. Turns out that Spain’s Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs has provided a subsidy of €17,000 for a conference organized by homosexual associations that will take place on the eve of Pope Benedict’s visit next month. What happened to The Church that was once ruled by 'Their Most Catholic Majesties, Ferdinan and Ysabella'?
OK, with all that said... if I was on the outside looking in, I'd say that I see many things. First off, the Catholic Church is it's own worst enemy. Where Catholicism was once a powerhouse, it's now a sick, irrelevant, doddering old man. I'd also get the distinct impression that the fox is in the hen house. And if'n someone doesn't do something... and damn quick... this thing called "The Catholic Church" will be dumped into the dust bin of long forgotten movements that imploded upon themselves.
I remember that I posted some info about a certain Anna Haycraft, may she rest in peace, a few months back. Her criticism of the Second Vatican Council and it's subsequent "fruits" are just as thought provoking (and hilarious) as anything that good ol' Gilbert ever wrote. Just a few examples:
She declared that the Second Vatican Council had unleashed a "tide of sewage", and lashed out at guitars and ecumenical priests - all the "Protestantised happy-clappy stuff" which would end in the "triumph of Chaos and old night".
"In place of the old rigours we have sentimentality, confusion, untruth, meaningless talk of renewal and improvement, and sharing and caring where once these were taken for granted and practised in a specifically and recognisably Catholic fashion."
"Now the Church has lost its head, priests feel free to say what they think themselves, and they don't have any thoughts at all except for some rubbish about the brotherhood of man. They seem to regard Our Lord as a sort of beaten egg to bind us all together."
On her on-going battle with ultra-liberal Liverpool Archbishop Derek Worlock (and this applies to every other cleric in Western Europe and North America) - "But look what he did for the ecumenical movement," his friends cry. "And look what he did to the Church," we respond....Ecumenism seems to mean taking something pure and strong, mixing it up with something weak and polluted, slashing it about, watching the churches empty and then congratulating yourself on your progress."
How she viewed The Church since Vatican II (and my personal favorite) - "It is as though one's revered, dignified and darling old mother had slapped on a mini-skirt and fishnet tights and started ogling strangers. A kind of menopausal madness, a sudden yearning to be attractive to all. It is tragic and hilarious and awfully embarrassing. And of course, those who knew her before feel a great sense of betrayal and can't bring themselves to go and see her any more."
Pray hard for us, Anna... we need all the help we can get.
Put yourself there for just a sec or two...
As I cruised through the various Catholic news services I check every day, I noticed a few headlines that screamed out at me. Now before anyone lectures me about nit-picking and going out of my way to actually find horrible articles, just let me say this... that thought crossed my mind as well.
So in all sincerity and honesty, know that I really do see something horribly wrong here. For just a moment or two, place yourself on the outside of Catholicism and look in. What would YOU think?
The first offering, this tasty tid-bit from India concerning the Eastern Rite Syro-Malabar Catholics. One of the priests there is bemoaning how the outwardly devout Catholics of India have actually swallowed the government line that population control (abortion) is a virtue. I just have to ask... haven't the priests there been teaching any moral absolutes? When THIS MANY Catholics openly embrace abortion, I just have to wonder where the priests have been.
Then from the uber-liberal Archdiocese of Milan, Italy, we read all about the Church of the Future, complete with video installations, electronic music, and abstract art. With Lenten readings from Oscar Wilde and Jack Kerouac. With the pulpit given over to nonbelievers. All this in the great diocese whose patrons are Saint Ambrose and Saint Charles Borromeo. Say it with me everyone --- CULT OF MAN.
Then oddly enough, once again from Northern Italy, a none too subtle slap at the Traditional Latin Mass. These simpletons illuminate us with the following; Having the priest face east, usually away from the people, when celebrating Mass is not a magic way to ensure that both the priest and the congregation focus on Jesus, said participants at a conference in northern Italy. Whoever said that the priest facing east was "magic"? But silly me, the priest facing east (and not to mention God in the tabernacle) simply smacks of Pre-Vatican II Catholicism. Can't have any of that, now can we?
Oh, and these same individuals tell us "...and liturgical experts from Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant churches". Ummm, I hate to point out the obvious to these folks, but Anglicans ARE Protestants. The Church declared that, oh... a few hundred years ago, right?
Lastly, this wonderful tale from Spain. Turns out that Spain’s Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs has provided a subsidy of €17,000 for a conference organized by homosexual associations that will take place on the eve of Pope Benedict’s visit next month. What happened to The Church that was once ruled by 'Their Most Catholic Majesties, Ferdinan and Ysabella'?
OK, with all that said... if I was on the outside looking in, I'd say that I see many things. First off, the Catholic Church is it's own worst enemy. Where Catholicism was once a powerhouse, it's now a sick, irrelevant, doddering old man. I'd also get the distinct impression that the fox is in the hen house. And if'n someone doesn't do something... and damn quick... this thing called "The Catholic Church" will be dumped into the dust bin of long forgotten movements that imploded upon themselves.
I remember that I posted some info about a certain Anna Haycraft, may she rest in peace, a few months back. Her criticism of the Second Vatican Council and it's subsequent "fruits" are just as thought provoking (and hilarious) as anything that good ol' Gilbert ever wrote. Just a few examples:
She declared that the Second Vatican Council had unleashed a "tide of sewage", and lashed out at guitars and ecumenical priests - all the "Protestantised happy-clappy stuff" which would end in the "triumph of Chaos and old night".
"In place of the old rigours we have sentimentality, confusion, untruth, meaningless talk of renewal and improvement, and sharing and caring where once these were taken for granted and practised in a specifically and recognisably Catholic fashion."
"Now the Church has lost its head, priests feel free to say what they think themselves, and they don't have any thoughts at all except for some rubbish about the brotherhood of man. They seem to regard Our Lord as a sort of beaten egg to bind us all together."
On her on-going battle with ultra-liberal Liverpool Archbishop Derek Worlock (and this applies to every other cleric in Western Europe and North America) - "But look what he did for the ecumenical movement," his friends cry. "And look what he did to the Church," we respond....Ecumenism seems to mean taking something pure and strong, mixing it up with something weak and polluted, slashing it about, watching the churches empty and then congratulating yourself on your progress."
How she viewed The Church since Vatican II (and my personal favorite) - "It is as though one's revered, dignified and darling old mother had slapped on a mini-skirt and fishnet tights and started ogling strangers. A kind of menopausal madness, a sudden yearning to be attractive to all. It is tragic and hilarious and awfully embarrassing. And of course, those who knew her before feel a great sense of betrayal and can't bring themselves to go and see her any more."
Pray hard for us, Anna... we need all the help we can get.
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
4:50 PM
3 Comments:
"The Catholic Church" will be dumped into the dust bin of long forgotten movements that imploded upon themselves."
-While your frusteration is understandable, lets not forget how many times the Church has been pronounced dead. You toss it into the dustbin of history and it leaps right out. Some of the greatest ages in Church history came on the heels of periods of decline. I bet we are on the verge of a Springtime in the Church. Give the JPII and BXVI generation Priests a little more time, you'll see!
FD,
To a very large degree, it was the JPII priests that are part of the problem... not the solution.
I just got Anna Haycroft's book God Has Not Changed and it's fantastic. She was a tough, fearless old girl.
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