tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post4925849154202253263..comments2023-10-05T10:29:39.439+01:00Comments on Catholic Collar And Tie: A Pastoral Approach Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09049074568745678686noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-53964732779839527252015-03-16T08:21:11.818+00:002015-03-16T08:21:11.818+00:00Thank you, Lynda.
The abuse of the Annulment proce...Thank you, Lynda.<br />The abuse of the Annulment process by deceptive claims etc, as well as failing to take into account abandoned spouses and children when condoning civil 'remarriage' after divorce, is a real injustice and a deception of those involved, in that the 're-married' spouses are not at rights with God, even thought they appear to be by being admitted to Holy Communion.<br />God BlessFr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-23539228630611414012015-03-16T04:01:54.683+00:002015-03-16T04:01:54.683+00:00Yes, Karl, you describe a monumental scandal and i...Yes, Karl, you describe a monumental scandal and injustice, and cruel abuse of the abandoned spouse and wronged children, by habitual collusion by the Church in desertion and adultery. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-68993290232268839882015-03-13T10:34:56.206+00:002015-03-13T10:34:56.206+00:00Thank you, maria.
It is never unloving to speak th...Thank you, maria.<br />It is never unloving to speak the truth, for the Truth is Christ. Don't be discouraged; Christ has all things in His hand.<br />God BlessFr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-2276923208086050262015-03-13T10:33:37.198+00:002015-03-13T10:33:37.198+00:00Thank you.
I have to say it is Christ alone who sp...Thank you.<br />I have to say it is Christ alone who speaks the Truth. The Church and her ministers (such as myself) can only hand it on. That us what i try to do.<br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-61212530931023867612015-03-13T07:19:30.499+00:002015-03-13T07:19:30.499+00:00You speak the truth Father, thanks for this post.
...You speak the truth Father, thanks for this post.<br /> God bless you. Vestmenthttp://vestment.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-60885724764010303832015-03-12T21:58:12.726+00:002015-03-12T21:58:12.726+00:00I am glad to learn of your pastoral approach, when...I am glad to learn of your pastoral approach, when you encounter a person or couple living unchastely who are either unaware or unconcerned that this means they should refrain from receiving the Eucharist. When pastors don't step up and give guidance to the faithful (hard as it is to do that concerning sexual matters) so much confusion -- and yes, scandal, results. I always have the feeling at my parish Church that I am being unloving of others when I only want the moral teachings professed clearly. I'm so discouraged sometimes, for I think a lot of people have been misled over the years (by a lack of guidance like yours) to think that the Church will someday condone homosexual unions, for example. We have many gay couples in our Cathedral parish, all of whom receive communion and it's never suggested that they consider living chastely. It feels like a kind of hypocrisy to be Catholic and to dismiss -- tacitly or openly -- Church teaching. The suggestion is that the Church's teachings are not loving, or that we don't have enough love ourselves to accept the challenge they present to us. I'm just so discouraged sometimes with how little we trust in God's grace to transform our lives. Mariahttp://ajustmanishardtofind.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-22708053719074535172015-03-11T22:56:30.638+00:002015-03-11T22:56:30.638+00:00Thank you for commenting.
It may be lonely to try ...Thank you for commenting.<br />It may be lonely to try to do the right thing, but all least one knows one is is doing the best one can for God and for souls. <br />Your experience is appalling. Enforcing modern ways on Communicants is perhaps their way of trying to show people that God wants to be intimate with us, but this harsh approach does not speak of the love of God at all. I am sorry that you have had such an experience; I have others relate the same kind of thing to me. it is uncommon, but should really be absent, especially at the Communion rail. Strangely, it is traditional priests who are seen as being hard and unpastoral. yet I don't know any who would refuse Communion at the rail (though we might take the folk aside afterwards).. I don't think refusing folk communion in the way you were was in any way warm and pastoral, and though the intent may well have been good, its concrete act is questionable.<br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-59843535585356669422015-03-11T22:47:29.326+00:002015-03-11T22:47:29.326+00:00Thanks, Greg.
I think they are saying 'God lov...Thanks, Greg.<br />I think they are saying 'God loves us as we are' which, while i do not dispute it, is only half the story: 'and calls us on by grace to greater things because He loves us too much to leave us there' is the rest. I have to say that Vatican II's fundamental 'Universal call to holiness' is being discraed by many who want irregular lifestyles affirmed to as to express half the love of God as indicated above.<br />God Bless..Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-37474427375541210542015-03-11T19:45:03.505+00:002015-03-11T19:45:03.505+00:00This is heartbreaking, Father. I pray for priests...This is heartbreaking, Father. I pray for priests who are courageously doing the right thing but are getting almost no support from those who should be backing them up. It must be very lonely. Everything's upside down. My mother and I were refused communion twice in front of the whole congregation. We were Catholics in good standing, the priest knew us by sight after two years but knew nothing of our story. Couldn't understand what was going on. Finally, I stumbled on the answer on the internet, when I read of case after case of people being refused Communion because they were either genuflecting or kneeling to receive. That's what we were doing — a quick genuflection that wasn't holding anyone up, but we were the only ones doing it. So, people are refused Communion for adoring Our Lord, but not refused for living in sin. But in shaking the dust from our feet of that parish, we started on the journey that finally ended in finding the Traditional Latin Mass in another parish. The deepening of faith that has arisen from the TLM is such a pearl of great price — worth far more than what we paid in being scandalized and mortified in the former parish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-48724371538795719682015-03-10T13:26:42.941+00:002015-03-10T13:26:42.941+00:00What messages are bishops and priests sending to C...What messages are bishops and priests sending to Catholics, and the world indeed, about the living presence of Christ in his Church when they give Holy Communion to all and sundry? What are they doing to the Church's mission and her sacraments of initiation when they baptize without first evangelizing?Gregkangahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701337405994375544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-64527169268323398972015-03-10T09:47:12.616+00:002015-03-10T09:47:12.616+00:00Thank you, Father.
I do hope your health is holdin...Thank you, Father.<br />I do hope your health is holding out. Prayers offered.<br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-19436544019966080672015-03-10T08:42:32.211+00:002015-03-10T08:42:32.211+00:00Many thanks for this post. I hope it is heeded by ...Many thanks for this post. I hope it is heeded by those who need it, whether they know it or not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-59687133165798164732015-03-07T09:18:44.433+00:002015-03-07T09:18:44.433+00:00You speak the truth Father. I wish more Clergy wou...You speak the truth Father. I wish more Clergy would not be so afraid to say what is right - they would be supported<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-3949866324344542322015-03-06T12:24:23.613+00:002015-03-06T12:24:23.613+00:00Sorry about the spelling and grammatical errors, n...Sorry about the spelling and grammatical errors, not to mention the long windedness of the above comment Father. I'm no good under pressure. What I meant to say was that, if liberal bishops and priests find the 'Church of the past' with her priesthood and teaching onerous and burdensome, then the laity will do the same.Gregkangahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701337405994375544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-41938388493001938532015-03-06T10:15:31.459+00:002015-03-06T10:15:31.459+00:00Thank you, Ellen.
I truly want no one to be lost.
...Thank you, Ellen.<br />I truly want no one to be lost.<br />I would day I'm willing to suffer in my proclamation of the truth, but I wish I found it easy to live by ! We can all talk the talk but can we walk the walk/ I fall a lot (hopefully, not mortally!)<br />God BlessFr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-44323326192413591072015-03-06T10:14:03.497+00:002015-03-06T10:14:03.497+00:00Thank you karl.
If someone has defended the validi...Thank you karl.<br />If someone has defended the validity of their marriage successfully the priests ought to uphold it and call the unfaithful spouse out of any adulterous relationship. One can only presume that the priest does not know their marriage was decelerated valid if he is accepting the second relationship at Communion -which is, as you say, unjust toward the abandoned spouse. <br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-52450308300117761702015-03-06T10:09:36.603+00:002015-03-06T10:09:36.603+00:00Thank you, Jacobi.
"The sin not the sinner is...Thank you, Jacobi.<br />"The sin not the sinner is a principle that has worked for a long time and there is no reason to change it." Agreed.,This is the core of the matter.<br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-44538285283828500242015-03-06T10:08:28.323+00:002015-03-06T10:08:28.323+00:00Thank you, Andrew.
Oh yes, we ARE to judge the act...Thank you, Andrew.<br />Oh yes, we ARE to judge the actions of people when it relates to the truth of Christ. We are to judge actions, not people, means we must judge what they do by the truth of Christ, but we canot jusdge their state of soul, which only God can see. They may be 'in good faith' as we used to say. That said, if they are acting at odds with the Truth then we must put in place the disciplines of the Church not so as to punish but so as to bring them to a realisation of the gravity of their actions. Even excommunication is seen by the Church not as a punishment but as a remideal act designed to bring about repentance.<br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-66765497368229734392015-03-06T10:01:48.102+00:002015-03-06T10:01:48.102+00:00Thank you, JAMC,
Its because priests are good-hear...Thank you, JAMC,<br />Its because priests are good-hearted and don't want to hurt anyone that they don't put the Church's disciplines into practice, but it is not good, as you note.<br />God BlessFr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-41985534669493636882015-03-06T02:03:52.814+00:002015-03-06T02:03:52.814+00:00Father, all Catholics in whatever station of life ...Father, all Catholics in whatever station of life we find ourselves are called to be true and faithful to their baptismal vocation of being a holy, royal priesthood. Bishops and priests as pastors and leaders of Christ's Church, have publicly promised to be the principal living examples and witness of this vocation. For many years now I have witness the spirit of Vatican II hierarchy give the impression that their life and vocation, as a servant of the Church is one oppressive burden from which they need to free themselves. If some of your parishioners find your ministry, which is your vocation to holiness a burden rather than a blessing then it is because they have been influenced by these leaders. Not only has their leadership and ministry been detached from the Church's doctrines but from the living presence of Christ in his Church. These consecrated leaders no longer subscribe to the Church and her priesthood as Christ willed it, as the apostles hand it on, and their fruitlessness can be seen everywhere. They are incapable of passing on faith let alone evangelizing anyone.Gregkangahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701337405994375544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-59889753801458233492015-03-05T23:24:26.627+00:002015-03-05T23:24:26.627+00:00Why don't priests, especially when a spouse ha...Why don't priests, especially when a spouse has been through(unwillingly) the annulment process and successfully defended their marriage, face down adulterers with preauthorized formal excommunication(Papal, so it is universal), if repentance and restitution are refused by an abandoning, adulterous, spouse and their lover who claim to be Catholic? This is EASILY shown to be just or injust with the information that is learned in the annulment process, unless the process in incompetant. Responsibility for an unjust divorce and civil remarriage is certain in every case I have learned of where their has been strong opposition to a divorce and to a nullity process. I DO NOT agree with excommunication, as I mention above, when the circumstances are not clear. Injustice should NEVER be part of any pastoral action or canonical action.<br /><br />Instead, the "couple" are accepted in all but a Church wedding and this goes on as long as they want it to.<br /><br />I know this to be reality in many instances and it is the most painful violation the Catholic Church can allow to a faithful spouse with the exception of marrying the unrepentant adulterers. This is exponentially worse and malignantly perverse when the abandoning adulterous spouse is given custody of the children of the marriage they abandoned, as they cover up their abandonment(as occurred in our case) and this outrage is forced upon young children<br /><br />For this abandoned spouse it is little different than endless rape, that is medicated so the physical pain is subclinical but the mental pain NEVER stops! AND, it continues to haunt the children who know the circumstances.<br /><br />I cannot properly describe the depravity of the pastoral practices of the Catholic Church with sufficient outrage. <br /><br />Oh, how I wish I could address this upcoming synod and confront fake priests like Bergoglio and Kasper and their lot before the gathering of bishops. <br /><br />These men are diabolical monsters and that is not an adequately negative description, by FAR! They are facilitating crimes of monumental injustice and in reality are accomplices. I think, knowingly and willingly in adultery.<br /><br /><br />KarlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-28361827671518564892015-03-05T21:56:03.327+00:002015-03-05T21:56:03.327+00:00Father,
Different jobs require different skills a...Father,<br /><br />Different jobs require different skills and degrees of courage. I have always thought being a priest being prepared to act “in persona Christi” must require an exceptional amount of both.<br /><br />But it works both ways. Those are to be used. To tell someone they are in sin with the risk of driving them away must be difficult. But to do otherwise would be to create confusing example and could endanger other souls. There are limits to personal responsibility, even that of a priest. <br /><br />The sin not the sinner is a principle that has worked for a long time and there is no reason to change it.<br /><br />Your job as a priest, or a pope for that matter, should you ever get that far, is to judge the sin. <br /><br />More than ever Father I think this mess in the current Catholic Church comes back to the idea of routine reception of Holy Communion, regardless.<br /><br />In the pre-Vat II Mass, if I remember right, about 30% went to Communion, and the rest stayed in the pews, somewhat admiringly if I remember right, while matters were sorted out or maybe they just disagreed and drifted away - but at least we all knew where we stood.<br /><br />The quicker we get back to considering the reception of Holy Communion as exceptional and wondrous, to be done only if all is right - the better! <br /><br /><br />Jacobihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743062941733814176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-62493836900486655712015-03-05T16:17:32.944+00:002015-03-05T16:17:32.944+00:00We judge the actions of other people every day in ...We judge the actions of other people every day in our life, whether it may be at work or at home. However, we are never supposed to judge the actions of people when it relates to the truth of Jesus Christ? This is does not make any sense to me. As a former agnostic, we need the truth told to us directly. It was not a so-called pastoral approach which converted my heart, but the unashamed truth of Jesus Christ from evangelical preachers along with Mother Angelica. We use the "I will not judge" out of our own fear of proclaiming the truth. We are afraid of the possible outcomes of proclaiming this truth. When we are in sin, we will say "do not judge me" as a convenient cover for our sin. I am not saying pound people over the head, but we cannot be afraid as only the truth of Jesus Christ will convict our hearts and hopefully lead us to repentance. We cannot condemn, but we can surely judge the actions of people, again, it happens every day with each and every one of us.<br /><br />Andrew Nelson<br />USA<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-49458923201930359602015-03-05T15:30:55.340+00:002015-03-05T15:30:55.340+00:00Thank you for being honest and truthful with peopl...Thank you for being honest and truthful with people. You really love them and want their salvation. Showing them the Catechism allows them to see that you are not just giving your opinion but are giving them the truth as taught by the Church. God bless you. Obviously, you are willing to suffer for the truth and are willing to suffer for the souls in your care. ellennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641832955811669058.post-4447055758219849592015-03-05T13:47:05.232+00:002015-03-05T13:47:05.232+00:00Thank you, Deacon Augustine.
Indeed, As I pointed ...Thank you, Deacon Augustine.<br />Indeed, As I pointed out to someone the other day, it is not about me holding to my principles or even obeying the law of the Church, rather, if is about holding to Divine revelation which is applied and protected by the law of the Church for the good of the people and the safeguarding of their rights.<br />God Bless.Fr Dicksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11702725497183621855noreply@blogger.com