Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Church and the Episcopacy Cannot Be Politicized

Archbishop Joseph Naumann
[He's an excellent bishop,
he once rebuked VP Biden as well.]


That's corrupt.

Crux reported on the election of Archbishop Naumann as chairman of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities for the USCCB as if it was a race for political office.

Yesterday’s big Catholic news in the States was the election of Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, over Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago as chair of the Committee for Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. bishops’ fall meeting.
It was the tightest vote of the six races for committee chairs at the 2017 meeting, with Naumann prevailing 96-82. Going in the thought was that Cupich might have the edge, in part because of the bishops’ tendency to choose cardinals to lead the committee to give it a higher profile. - Crux

While posting a disclaimer, and doing a good job explaining the election process,  the tone is decidedly partisan, political and all about competition.  Why are these things represented in partisan-political terms? Why is this considered a 'race' for committee chairs?  A competition to gain control?  That's totally inappropriate language and terminology for ecclesial affairs.  It feeds into the clericalist culture everyone likes to condemn.   Furthermore, it feeds into liberal/conservative anti-papist politics and propaganda circulated online.  Catholic journalists, pundits, and commentators share responsibility with right-wing-nuts for the divisiveness in the Church.  

I'm against it.

9 comments:

  1. I liked George Weigel's commentary best. I read it yesterday after reading that Archbishop Naumann had been elected.

    http://www.nationalreview.com/article/453728/united-states-conference-catholic-bishops-pro-life-committee-pope-francis-synodality-archbishop-joseph-naumann

    I read too that there were 34 who abstained from voting. Interesting ...

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    Replies
    1. Thanks very much - I had not seen that - it is an excellent take down. It's encouraging to read.

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  2. http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/15/europe/pope-new-car-for-charity-trnd/index.html

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  3. Proof ... "allah" doesn't exist ... so of course there is no reason for "muslims" to kill for the non-existent "allah"
    www.Gods-Catholic-Dogma.com/section_113.html

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  4. not to derail - but please give your thoughts on Fr Z's latest

    Firearms at Mass, laity and priests – UPDATED

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    Replies
    1. What a bunch of self-righteous sickos. On the Last Day, guns will not protect them from the wrath to come. "Do not fear those who can kill the body..."

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  5. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/arts/design/leonardo-da-vinci-salvator-mundi-christies-auction.html

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    Replies
    1. Salvator Mundi Belongs in A Catholic Church not is some Billionaires Basement!

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  6. I liked Weigel's commentary too. What makes me slap myself upside the head is the "my team/your team...we win/you lose" attitude seen in such sites as BOTH National Catholic Register (claiming an astounding upset victory) and National Catholic Reporter (who said the vote was giving Pope Francis the "middle finger")...

    NOW HERE'S THE THING: How can a vote close as 96-82 be in any way considered an astounding victory for one side OR a flipping of "the finger" for the other side?????? Plus let's not forget the 34 abstentions. It seems to me all this says is that the USCCB is a pro-life organization with members who see various ways to seek the same end. DUH!

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