The following was a comment from my last post. To the commenter who made this comment under my last post, thank you. Although it is a long comment, but well worth the read. Those who oppose the Archbishop claim that THEIR Church is being taken over by the Way. In the first place, it was never "their" Church. The Church belongs to Christ. Furthermore, how can they believe that the Catholic Church would be taken over? She has stood for over 2000 years, and suddenly...they believe that she would be taken over? Where is their faith in Christ who promised to be with her until the end of time? I like these words spoken by Cardinal Consalvi (bold is mine):
"As his armies were swallowing up the countries of Europe, French emperor Napoleon is reported to have said to Church officials, "Je détruirai votre église" ("I will destroy your Church")." Wen informed of the emperor's words, Ercole Cardinal Consalvi, one of the great statesmen of the papal court, replied, "He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!" If bad popes, immoral priests, and countless sinners in the Church hadn't succeeded in destroying the Church from within, Cardinal Consalvi was saying, how did Napoleon think he was going to do it from without?"
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Hafa Adai Diana - I discovered a post written by a Father Landry back in 2002. While he was writing about the sex scandal in the church, I have attached a section of it because it relates to this "scandal" occurring today here in Guam. Because of its length, I have to send it in two parts.
Part 1:
"The Church will never fail
For almost three years of my life in the early 1990s, while in my car I listened to nothing but tapes by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, one of the greatest Catholic preachers in American history. On a couple of his tapes for priests' retreats, Bishop Sheen said that he preferred to live in times when the Church has suffered rather than thrived, when the Church had to struggle, when the Church had to go against the culture. It was a time for real men and real women to stand up and be counted. "Even dead bodies can float downstream," he said, pointing that many people can coast when the Church is respected, "but it takes a real man, a real woman, to swim against the current."
How true that is. It takes a real man or a real woman to stand up against the current that is flowing against the Church. It takes a real man or a real woman to recognize that when you are resisting the flood of criticism, you are safest when you stay attached to the Rock on whom Christ built his Church. This is one of those times. It's a great time to be a Christian.
Some people are predicting that the Church is in for a rough time, and maybe it is. But the Church will survive because the Lord will make sure it survives. One of the greatest comeback lines in history was uttered two hundred years ago. As his armies were swallowing up the countries of Europe, French emperor Napoleon is reported to have said to Church officials, "Je détruirai votre église" ("I will destroy your Church")." Wen informed of the emperor's words, Ercole Cardinal Consalvi, one of the great statesmen of the papal court, replied, "He will never succeed. We have not managed to do it ourselves!" If bad popes, immoral priests, and countless sinners in the Church hadn't succeeded in destroying the Church from within, Cardinal Consalvi was saying, how did Napoleon think he was going to do it from without?
The Cardinal was pointing to a crucial truth: Christ will never allow his Church to fail. He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church (Matt. 16:18); that the barque of Peter, the Church sailing through time to its eternal port in heaven, will never capsize-not because those in the boat won't do everything sinfully possible to overturn it but because Christ, who is captain of the boat, will never allow it to happen.
Part 2.
The magnitude of the current scandal might be such that some will find it difficult to trust priests in the same way as in the past. That is regrettable, though it might not be a completely bad thing. Yet you must never lose trust in Christ! It is his Church. After Judas's death the eleven apostles convened; the Holy Spirit chose Matthias to take Judas's place, and he proclaimed the gospel faithfully until he was martyred for it. In the same way today, even if some of those the Lord chose have betrayed him, he will call others who will be faithful, who will serve you with the love with which you deserve to be served.
This is a time in which all of us need to focus ever more on holiness. We are called to be saints, and how much our society needs to see this beautiful, radiant face of the Church! You are part of the solution-a crucial part. And as you go forward in Mass to receive from the priest's anointed hands the sacred body of your Lord, ask Christ to fill you with a real desire for sanctity, a real desire to show his true face.
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Maybe this scandal can kindle in you the same thing. If you choose, this scandal can lead you down to the path of spiritual suicide. But it should inspire you to say finally to God, "I want to become a saint so that I and the Church can give your name the glory it deserves, so that others might find in you the love and the salvation that I have found."
Jesus is with us, as he promised, until the end of time. He is still in the boat. Just as out of Judas's betrayal he achieved the greatest victory in the universe-our salvation through his passion, death and resurrection-so out of this new scandal he may bring, wants to bring, a new rebirth of holiness, a new Acts of the Apostles for the twenty-first century, with each of us-and that includes you-playing a starring role. Now is the time for real men and women of the Church to stand up. Now is the time for saints. How will you respond?"
It is unfortunate that Mr. Rohr is insisting that all the faithful do not contribute to the charities appeal. It is unfortunate that he feels money will hurt the church. Jesus Christ was clear ... You cannot serve God and money. I hope that in the midst of all this, every catholic faithful will ask, "what would Christ do?" and then respond accordingly.
In the world of business, this type of corrupt behavior will be dealt with in a court of law.
ReplyDeleteIn the confessional it will be dealt with according to the mercy and justice of god.
In the public eye, this is a scandal that affects everybody.
In the heart of the priest, what can and should he do? What are his options?
Father Benavente.....Father Gofigan....the rogue Deacon deserves our prayers. Although I cannot forgive them for sins.....I will do what God ask me.....tells me to do
DeleteJSB
Dear JSB,
DeleteWe can forgive them. When one person sin, the entire Body of Christ suffers with the sinner because sin affects everyone. We need to pray for all our priests because the devil goes after them the most. When a priest falls as Monsignor Benavente did, Satan celebrates. However, there is always the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which brings one back to God and His Church. I hope that Monsignor Benavente confesses and reconciles with the Archbishop.
In truth....their sins have lead others to sin. In order for them to reconcile...they would have to admit their wrong doing.
DeleteIts like our Mother Mary who stood at the foot of the cross; unafraid...her son on the cross.
as far as I am concerned; these men cannot stand in front of their cross. I can pray but I myself need the grace to forgive. I have a human nature too.
JSB
Hafa Adai Diana - a piece fro Father Joh Hardon regarding Obedience of Priests - sent in 2 parts.
DeletePart 1
Obedience of priests
How does the priest cultivate this indispensable humility? The simple answer would be, as everyone else cultivates humility: by humble prayer; by daily reflection on his failings and sins; by humbly performing the menial duties and not looking for positions or places where he can shine. In the case of a priest there is, I believe, one distinctive path to humility, one specially his own, and this is not seeking to please; and when duty requires it, and it often will, being willing to displease. It is impossible for a priest to remain humble if he is always trying just to please people.
There is a long passage in the Second Vatican Council's Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests that deals with the subject of their obedience, and it intertwines the practice of obedience with the virtue of charity. Certain key passages in that Decree bring to the surface important implications for priestly obedience.
Priests are told that, "The priestly ministry, being the ministry of the Church itself, can only be fulfilled in the hierarchical union of the whole body of the Church." Consequently, a priest is obedient and obediently working with and under and through the hierarchy, or his work will not be blessed by God. There is no such thing as a priest going off on his own, independent of ecclesiastical obedience, and expecting God to grace his labors. A priest is not ordained for himself; he is ordained as the Vulgate has it "ad alios", for others. But being a priest, he is not only ordained for others; he must also work with others, "cum allis", and those others are his fellow priests united under the hierarchy.
Second, priests are told by the Second Vatican Council that by obedience they dedicate their own wills to God. Obedience is the sacrifice of the human will to God. The dignity of any sacrifice is measured by the sublimity of that which is offered. There is nothing that man possesses that is more precious to him than his own will. This is the heart of the priest as sacrificer, because standing at the altar, though he does indeed offer the Holy Sacrifice, yet there he is only the instrument of the great High Priest Jesus Christ who is the principal priest sacrificer at Mass. But the one thing which the priest can most call his own, his own free will, is what he surrenders when he obeys. It is that surrender that is so pleasing to God and so demanded by God of the priest.
Obedience of Priests - Part 2
DeleteThird, priests are told to carry out obediently the commands and suggestions of the Pope, their bishop and their superiors. There are two profound insights here. The first is that perfect obedience in anyone, here in a priest, does not wait to be commanded. In fact, by the time a person has to be commanded, he or she may still obey of course, but that is not the main function of obedience, to give solemn commands. True obedience responds even to the suggestions or intimations of ecclesiastical authority.
How is a priest to cultivate this priestly obedience which the Church tells him is so needed in his sacerdotal ministry? He must of course pray, especially when either the directives are hard or, what may be harder today, when he sees his fellow priests disobedient. He must pray and ask his Lord,"Help me; keep me straight".
But especially, he needs to meditate, first of all on the blessings that God will give him if he is obedient. We do nothing without our reason. Being obedient has cost the priest much these days. He needs to be strongly motivated. But meditation shows the priest that obedience will give him power and influence over souls and absolutely nothing else can substitute for it. His meditation will also show him that if he wants people to listen to him, he must listen to those to whom he owes obedience.
Benavente can confess to a priest, but not to archbishop.
DeleteDear Anonymous at 9:56 pm,
DeleteMonsignor Benavente needs to reconcile with the Archbishop because he holds a judgment against him. He also owes the Church an apology for the crime he committed against her.
Should he be laicized because of crimes?
DeleteDear Anonymous at 10:57 pm,
DeleteI cannot answer that. That decision is up to the Archbishop.
What crime Diana? The report is too vague, and sadly AAA has not given Msngr Benevent the opportunity to respond to these allegations. Why should we believe a report written by Neos, their lies have been documented? And what about all the documented crimes against the church committed by the people you promote?
DeleteDear Anonymous at 2:55 am,
DeleteMonsignor James can go to the media and tell them what a horrible "calumny" it is.
Is that your only reply to my comment @ 2:55.
DeleteAnon 2:55, Benavente needs to explain all the abuses of church money. Don't try to escape from the issue. Where there's smoke there fire, let's see the source of the smoke.
DeleteI believe the rohr is within his God given rights not to give.....he has the personal freedom to give or not to give.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe rohr has the spiritual right to advocate unto others.......his own reasoning not to give.
It is God who speaks to the heart of man.....to do was is right in his own life.
Does rohr now think he is God to say to another man what is right for his life?
In giving her last two pennies, the old lady in scriptures received a blessing that can only be given by God.
What kind of blessing does rohr gives to another by influencing them not to give?
Because rohr thinks his words are now inflatable by going against the Archibishop and by creating a hate blog. He thinks he has millions of followers. Hope he is not so delusional
ReplyDeleteTim rohr should try to run as a senator and will see how many votes will he get. He would probably not win as mayor, he is so delusional.
ReplyDeleteSee it for yourself in jungle watch. Now who is going to the media? Eat it. Can't wait to see how you deflect and spin it.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous at 7:44 am,
DeletePut it this way.......you wanted transparency? Now, you got it. :) So, be happy and do not complain. You got what you asked for.
Transparency is delightful when viewed from the outside, but when one's deeds are exposed, then transparency becomes a bothersome and irritating truth.
DeleteI'm not complaining, just pointing out the truth. So funny how the issue of " going to the media" is of little importance to you when it suites you best. You continue to expose your hipocracey.
Delete