The Theology Of The (S)Lightly Slapped Wrist
Don't expect anything as Lefevbresque as excommunication
Helmet tip to that Wind Dummy over at Ignorant Redneck Rants

Two headlines jumped out at me this fine morning... first we have this gem of a story from LifeSiteNews.com. Here's just a taste; (emphasis mine)


Archbishop has Priest Remove Notice from Parish Website About Blessing Homosexual Couples

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, December 21, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has informed LifeSiteNews.com that after a meeting with Archbishop Harry J. Flynn, Father Leo Tibesar, of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish in Minneapolis has agreed to remove from the parish website "any language from the St. Frances Cabrini parish website that is in opposition to Roman Catholic Church doctrine."

Removed from the parish website was a page titled a "Statement of Reconciliation" which bemoaned Church teaching on sexual purity and married chastity and misrepresentied these teachings as a form of "oppression." The statement said the parish is committed to "Publicly bless the relationships of a same sex couple after the couple completes a process of discernment similar to that completed by heterosexual couples before marriage." The item had an asterisk referring to a note on the bottom reading "not being implemented at this time."

The news comes less than a month after LifeSiteNews.com published two separate articles on Father Tibesar and St. Frances Cabrini Parish:

One on the web page:
US Catholic Parish set to "Publicly Bless the Relationship of Same-Sex Couples"
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07112807.html

and another on a recorded homily of Fr. Tiebsar's:
ON TAPE: U.S. Priest Blasts Vatican Cardinal and Archbishop over Homosexuality During Homily
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07112602.html

The statement from the Archdiocese also notes that during his meeting with Archbishop Flynn and Auxiliary Bishop Richard Pates, Father Tibesar also agreed "to refrain from statements in any form that are contrary to Church teaching." The priest confirmed these commitments to Archbishop Flynn in a letter following their meeting.

Dennis McGrath, spokesman for the Archdiocese told LifeSiteNews.com that Fr. Tibesar claimed that he did not know the controversial statement was on his website.

Last year LifeSiteNews.com reported that the website of Dignity USA, the most prominent US lobby organization fighting Catholic teaching on human sexuality "from within" the Church, featured Fr. Tibesar as a member of the organization's National Leadership Team.

Fr. Tibesar is still the pastor of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish.Wow. After essentially raising a rather large middle finger to Catholicism in general, this guys fitting punishment is to take the notice of homo-blessings off the parish website, and to promise to "refrain" from ever doing it again. I'm underwhelmed.

Then we have this other bit of disconcerting news from Poland via Catholic World News;


Polish hierarchy too conservative, priest complains

Warsaw, Dec. 21, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A prominent Polish Catholic priest has complained that the country's hierarchy is leaving "no room for discussion and change" in the Church.

"John Paul II built such a conservative Church," complained Father Tadeusz Bartos, the Dominican founder of a private university. In an interview with Przekroj magazine, he charged that there is "no left wing in the Polish episcopate."

Father Bartos called particular attention to Archbishop Jozef Zycinski of Lublin, who is often cited as one of the more liberal prelates in Poland. In the Dominican priest's opinion the archbishop cannot be considered liberal in his outlook because he supports efforts to rehabilitate homosexuals by changing their orientation. His support for those efforts "causes doubts," Father Bartos said, insisting that homosexuality is not a condition that can be treated. "In medical matters," he said, "I trust doctors more than bishops."He arrogantly and openly challenges Church teaching on homosexuality. By the way, sodomy is a moral disorder that involves medical consiquences. Small things like anal cancer being 10 times greater in homosexuals than heterosexuals, to parasitic infections due to oral-anal contact, to the colon actually "falling out" of the rectum because it has been, in essence, turned inside-out.

How much you want to bet that absolutely nothing will happen to Bartos? But then again, he just might get the ever so slight tap on the wrist.