Comments for Catholic Teachers Refuse Profession of Faith at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 27 out of 20 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Thu, 23 May 2013 17:37:40 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12827 I never could understand people taking a job that they WILL be at odds with, almost makes me feel like they are "Looking For Trouble" - Jack,CT Fri, 10 Aug 2012 00:01:14 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12431 Matthew 5,34-37 (No Oaths) But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these comes from evil. - George Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:28:16 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12424 Make no mistake, I am a huge Loverde fan! And feel blessed to live in this diocese which is truly orthodox! - Austin Ruse Sat, 14 Jul 2012 07:24:38 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12417 I'm amazed at how often unfaithfulness among Catholics is attributed to bad teaching by teaching. "If only the catechesis were better! If only the priest spoke more about abortion!" Admittedly, catechesis and homiletics could be better, but Catholics, especially adult Catholics, have a responsibility to form their faith. Now adult Catholic can honestly be confused about the Church's teaching on abortion or contraception, for example. Both are spelled out clearly in the Catechism. Likewise, no Catholic child should be confused about such since the primary duty of educating them belongs to the parents not CCD volunteers. It's well past the time for Catholics to stop passing this particular buck. - Mark Sat, 14 Jul 2012 03:29:52 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12412 Bishop Loverde is my Bishop and I've heard a few of his homilies and of course I get the weekly diocesan newspaper. He's out front against the HHS mandate, he's sharp and crazy like a fox. Those who would underestimate Bishop Loverde should think twice. - Frank Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:52:11 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12411 Great column, Austin. But a quibble: Arlingtonians should have heard at least 1 contraception sermon, because a few years ago +Loverde ordered that on a particular Sunday every Mass have a sermon on the topic. - s. walter Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:38:10 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12410 Thank you, thank you, thank you, Austin!! I think that we can all take some enouragement in the fact that enough of us who read this are on the side of Holy Mother Chruch, even if we are not a scietific sample. I can breathe again, if only for a moment, before I must do combat with neo-Protestants who teach not only the young but RICA. I got roped into (Okay I'm gutless) filling a quote for one of those on-online courese froma Jebbie shcool, and I enouctered a CCD chap who "doesn't see eye to eye with the Church on"gay" marriage. They'll problem expel me for telling him that dissent on this is not optional for Catholics. Our RiCA lady thinks it's jsut fine that her niece, a Confirmed Catholic, is converting to Judaism to marry a Jewish man, since she might not have had "a mature personal relationship with Christ in the first place." So when I read that there people like all of you out there my spirits are lifted. Now, besides pray our heads off, what do we do next? Thanks again, Austin and everybody! - Thomas C. Coleman, Jr. Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:21:02 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12409 If Jay Akasie's editorial -- "What Ails Episcopalians" -- in Friday's WSJ is to be believed, for episcopal high-handedness nothing tops Presiding Bishop Kathleen Jefferts-Shori. At this year's General Convention, she and an elite with the House of Bishops and House of Deputies have highjacked everything from the church budget to the selling the New York headquarters to a legal black-budget for sueing "rogue" parishes. The current bicamerial governing body is being condensed to one house for budget reasons. Meanwhile the South Carolina delegation walked out. There will always be authority. The questions is on what it is based. Other item's on this convention's agenda: apologizing FOR Christianity and whether to condemn genetically modified foods. For those Catholics with chronic complaints about the liturgy, how would feel about a proposed Book of Common Prayer funeral rite for cats and dogs? But it does sound like a more congenial home for these Catholic school teachers who believe in everything but Jesus Christ. Maybe it isn't about ecclesiastical authority, maybe it's just about status and money... - Graham Combs Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:08:22 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12408 Now if we could just get every other bishop to get their catechists, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, RCIA leaders, Catholic school teachers, Catholic Charities employees, and nuns out of uniform to sign this or a similar statement we'd all be headed in the right direction. - Deacon Ed Peitler Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:49:06 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12407 To all and sundry: Lest I be misunderstood, I would have used a sarcastic font if I had one. - Grump Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:46:08 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12406 FWIW there's a priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Crystal City (Arlington) who seems to preach on contraception every single week. Austin, I actually have heard more preaching against abortion and birth control in the Arlington Diocese than in any other place I have lived (including Steubenville). Let's please not give non-Arlingtonians too bad an impression of the state of things in our Church. - petebrown Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:01:14 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12405 As to the anecdote about Fr. Nuzzi - if that's true - it's indicative of the type of wretched, adolescent self-flattery of the progressive AMCHURCH. "We in the faculty club, the diocesan bureacracy and the 'prophetic church' will believe and do as we please, and if anyone objects, they're just like Hitler." A mentality about as deep as the floor wax in the faculty cafeteria... - Chris in Maryland Fri, 13 Jul 2012 09:50:00 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12401 The decayed politics of sexual liberation is a diversion from a decisive moment for our youth for whom environmental issues testify to the need for a moral code. For those used to a world without moral absolutes this is new and should be welcome. Economic hard times underline the hard realities of saying "yes' to serving a higher good. Catechists who assent to a living tradition witness to power of the Church to serve every age. The profession of faith is a modest parameter in comparison the work of interpreting the mystery of the Risen Christ. - Fr. Andrew O'Connor Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:22:15 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12400 Re: the comment from 'Grump'. Episcopalian, or Eastern Orthodox: you can be even more 'Catholic' whilst just as thoroughly sidestepping the uncomfortable, unpopular bits of the Faith. There was a recent article in The Catholic Thing that dove-tails with this present one, entitled 'Can We Please Have Our Own Church?' by Robert Royal, editor-in-chief. That's the question: can we please have our own Church? Can we please be allowed to be Catholics? If you, in good conscience, cannot profess the Catholic Faith . . . what are you doing teaching it in the church propre? While I have all sympathy for those who were poorly catechised, if they (after careful reflection) cannot stomach the Church's teachings, it is better for their souls if they leave the Church for the time being until (and if) they can bend the knee (think: St. Paul's admonition for excommunication). This is an opportunity for careful reflection. - R. Childress Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:01:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12399 Well, there seems to be an Episcopalian Church about three blocks away.... Maybe they might feel more "welcomed" there.... - Ted Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:57:57 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12398 If you haven't read Bishop Loverde's pastoral letter, "Fountain of Life, Fire of Love", I urge you to do so. It is probably still available on the website of the Diocese of Arlington. Very inspiring. A wonderful piece. - the earlier Louise Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:05:26 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12397 Interesting. I taught an EPS course on the Gospel of John there not long ago and had no idea from the students that anyone considered the place a hotbed of dissent. EPS teaches what the Church does and so do I. Then again I can't vouch for the catechesis or the Sunday homilies. In fairness though, Austin, there is a little difference between being a parish being an "island of dissent" and not focusing "on such hot-button issues as abortion and same-sex relationships.” Lack of emphasis is different than active opposition and subversion. At any rate, this profession of faith for catechists is long overdue. Kudos to Bishop Loverde. Frankly, I don't see it as a bad sign that some catechists did not want to take the profession. At least they are being honest that their beliefs are A where the Church's teachings are B. Let them go the full distance then and leave RCIA until they can embrace the faith in its fullness! - petebrown Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:03:36 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12396 I have taught CCD classes for 16 years, many of these to my own children, although it was not possible to teach their classes each year, and let me tell you that in those years they were taught some crazy things by well-meaning but poorly catechized catechists. Luckily, I have taken the step of receiving an MA in theology so I was able to correct this teaching for my children. And so, I wholeheartedly support Bishop Loverde. Further, I think the Church (including those of us of the laity who are faithful) needs to embark on a program of adult catechesis to save the current generation. Some people may see the light if properly taught. Others won't, but it was no different in Jesus' time. Let's help the thoughtful and pray for the willful. - Athanasius Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:46:31 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12395 With sympathy for and understanding of Catholics who were denied their inheritance and either wrongly taught or incompletely taught the content of the Faith: "The attention which Mary gave to Jesus... was by no means ... a selective groping for those ideas which suited her, which she 'felt able' to translate into reality, let alone pass on to others as her ideas. It was an entirely open-ended readiness for the Word, a readiness to participate in it, without preferences, without picking and choosing, without a priori restrictions...." From "Prayer" - Father Hans Urs von Balthazar Mary, our model of discipleship. - Bangwell Putt Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:25:46 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholic-teachers-refuse-profession-of-faith.html#comment-12394 There is a persistent meme that says we are in some type of springtime of the Church and all we have to do is wait till those bad old baby boomer elders age out (a very ageist idea, btw). While there are definitely a few young and faithful Catholic orders (who don't presently have to worry about footing their members' old-age expenses, btw) - this shouldn't be interpreted as the norm amongst Catholic youth. "The youth" brought us Obama, remember? There are still millions of lost youth who don't have the faith and many blind-leading-the-blind catechists who don't have the faith. Until the faith (including abortion, homosexuality, contraception) is taught from the pulpits, how can we expect the catechists to really know it? Rebuking the LCWR, after Obamacare, is like shutting the barn door after the animals have already bolted. That passel of femi-nun-ists sold catechesis down the river long long ago. Reversing their effect will require clear punishment - akin to that which the SSPX felt - and also a massive re-education of the people via the pulpit. - Sue Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:25:29 +0100