Comments for Balloons That Launched 1000 Newsletters at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 15 out of 15 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:11:18 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12635 I attribute the saving of my faith to the Sisters too. Those early years are so important in a child's life. What you learn then stays with you for the rest of your life. By all means, dust off the tribute column!! I'd love to read it. We sound about the same age, and our experiences are probably very similar. I owe more than I could ever say to those Dominican Sisters. I called them up quite a few years ago and told them all they had done for me. God bless you! - Lorra Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:18:47 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12632 Lorra, I had eight good years of Catholic school education before disaster struck and I will always be thankful for that. I’m sure that is what helped save my faith. Three or four years ago I wrote a tribute column for a paper about the nuns who taught me during those years because they had become the butt of so many jokes and I wanted to show that there were people out there who appreciated and loved them. It never made it into print even though it was supposed to run during vocation week. Maybe I’ll dust it off and try again. - kristinajohannes Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:34:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12630 I am wondering what has taken them so long myself. Just think of all they could have avoided. Fortunately, I was taught the faith before the Dominican Sisters went kooky. They still haven't recovered. Nor do they think they have taken a wrong turn. Consequently, they are dying out. "I always have to recall that many (most?) of the readership at Catholic sites have never been catechized and as a result they would not recognize heresy when they encounter it." Manfred, too true. - Lorra Fri, 27 Jul 2012 07:47:51 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12627 Thanks to all for your kind words. Frank, your apology really touched a chord of my heart even though I know you weren’t at fault. We’ve all suffered but so many graces abound. Yes, there is nothing that can adequately replace the shepherds in God’s design for His Church. Carol, your comment reminded me of something G.K. Chesterton wrote in his book “Orthodoxy”. He described a nursery school on top of a mountain with sheer sides. At recess the children came out and huddled near the door of the school, afraid to venture any further for fear they would fall over the side. Then a large strong fence was erected around the playground. Now the children came out and played with abandon, even bouncing off the fence in their play. They could give full vent to their joy because they were protected from harm. This was his image for the protection that the rigid structures of doctrine give to us—they allow us to go through life like joyful children. I hope you will someday come to see this. - kristinajohannes Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:21:39 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12625 Unfortunately, there's still a need for "Christ Among Us" --more than ever before, actually. I treasure my copy -- it saved what was left of my own chilled Catholic heart from going over to some loving faith (or, before I'd had a chance as adult to realize most thankfully that the heart of the Church is not rigid Catholicism--It is the Eucharist). - Carol O. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:23:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12624 Manfred is quite the historian...and a faithful Catholic. I applaud his loyalty to the Church.I agree with DS that the use of Mr. was inappropriate but the way he recommends may be correct but not for common usage. After all, we read about and hear remarks from Archbishop Lori, Archbishop Chaput, Cardinal Dolan, etc. Back to the issue: I am amazed at the number of people who are supporting LCWR members. I saw a picture of the two "nuns" coming out the door from a meeting with the CDF. Who could tell they were nuns? Such a leveling of the playing field...and I don't mean dress alone... I was in the late 50's in a religious community which I loved, including the Superiors. I could see what was coming though, and knew it was going to be threatening to my fidelity to Christ. So I left. And I see now, how one of them is really in big with the President... My kids are products of the dumbing down of our faith..good, solid kids, themselves with children, but not connected to any Church, kids not baptized, etc. I am Mom...and to them, a hearkening to the good old days. I dearly and with all my heart would love them to be reading and following our Holy Faith now..I pray for them. But I myself, apart from reading, praying, the Eucharist, do thank Almighty God for EWTN which is a powerful, reverent Light in this darkness. And I thank you all for sharing TCT with me. - Naomi Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:29:54 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12623 Dear DS, I appreciate the spirit in which you wrote your comment, and there is truth in it. However, Catholicism at its best is when the hierarchy makes good prudential judgments and allows proper development of non-infallible doctrine--since the fullness of the means of salvation already objectively subsists in the Catholic Church. Next best is when the hierarchy accepts sound criticism of any bad prudential judgments it has made and any improper development of non-infallible doctrine it has allowed (and inevitably will do so this side of the Kingdom of God). Unfortunately these last 40-50 years, there have been all too many examples of members of the hierarchy not listening to fair and accurate criticisms made privately to them. 1,000 newsletters are sometimes necessary to serve Our Lord. It is not congregationalism to call the hierarchy to its responsibility to guard the Deposit of Faith. We can take as our guides Saint Catherine of Sienna and Blessed John Henry Newman, who were not "on self-anointed missions." - Jon S. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:44:30 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12622 Archbishop Emeritus Peter L. Gerety was co-sponsor of Call to Action in Detroit, 1976. At that meeting homosexuality, lesbianism and contraception for married couples were endorsed. Also, the ordination of women, female altar servers (unknown at the time) and married priests were also endorsed. It was also recommended an American Catholic Church separate from Rome be considered. Abp Bruskewitz, the Ordinary at Lincoln, Nebraska, stated emphatically that any member of his flock who joined Call to Action in any of its forms, would be excommunicated. On June 12, 1976, Abp. Gerety allowed John Shelby Spong, an Episcopalian priest, to be consecrated as an Episcopal bishop in the sanctuary of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic cathedral in Newark, N.J. I always have to recall that many (most?) of the readership at Catholic sites have never been catechized and as a result they would not recognize heresy when they encounter it. - Manfred Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:13:32 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12619 I would love to see a compilation of such stories in a book. I applaud your brave parents and others who fought the good fight in those dark years. - Ellen Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:46:26 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12618 God bless you, Mrs. Johannes; and God bless your parents, CREDO, and Edith Myers. May we all do our own part to help guard the Deposit of Faith. - Jon S. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:34:22 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12617 Mrs. Johannes' parents did their work faithfully and turned it over to the church authorities, trusting that the Holy Spirit would do the rest. That is Catholicism at its best. It's interesting to note how - in some of the comments - the faithfulness of the laity (and, apparently, deacons) can quickly become a de facto congregationalism: they become the ultimate arbiters of orthodoxy on self-annointed missions of enforcement, determining whether bishops are orthodox or heretical, or whether their testosterone count is high enough. In an election year, it's good to remember that Archbishop Gerety had the courage to take publicly take the Democrats to the woodshed in 1976 for their pro-abortion platform. And, for the record, the proper way to address him in the Roman Catholic Church is not "Mr.", but The Most Reverend Peter Gerety, Archbishop Emeritus of Newark. - DS Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:31:57 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12616 "On Teaching the Faith" by Thomas Dolan is also available on the used book site alibris. I have just purchased a copy. - Bangwell Putt Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:00:24 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12615 Bravo Kristina! Sorry for your having to suffer the abuse and you provide a perfect example of another form of abuse at the hands of others that is not sexual in nature. There are times I wonder which is worse. My daughter suffered a similar form of abuse at the hands of a Nun all in the name of "education." This Nun was no educator, she was just downright mean. We got my daughter out of that school and into another Catholic school where she did just fine. i'm not familiar with CREDO but I will look into it further. Thanks for the insight! - Frank Thu, 26 Jul 2012 03:41:05 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12614 The Church will be saved not by bishops but by courageous lay men and women who love Christ and His Church. The tide is now changing. To all bishops we say: "Lead, follow or get out of the way." - Deacon Ed Peitler Thu, 26 Jul 2012 03:10:02 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/balloons-that-launched-1000-newsletters.html#comment-12613 I am very familiar with CREDO as I used its materials to argue with the principal (Christian Brother) and the pastor of the "catholic" H.S. my seven children attended for the excellent Advanced Placement courses. Christ Among Us, which the auther cites, was written by Fr. Anthony Wilhelm and was given an Imprimatur by Peter L. Gerety, Abp of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. and from 1976 to 1986 (TEN YEARS!?), Abp Gerety and Cdl Ratzinger, Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, communicated by mail: Ratzinger asking that the imprimatur be removed, while Gerety responded "NO"! Finally, Gerety was invited to Rome and at age 74, one year before his mandatory retirement as a bishop, this heretic was removed from office by the man who is now our pope. Mr. Gerety just celebrated his 100th birthday. By the way, Christ Among Us is still published by Paulist Press sans imprimatur, even though the Vatican asked that it ceased to be printed. How to explain the Church over the last fifty years? George Weigel cites the Truce of 1968 when the Vatican, fearful of schisms, advised bishops around the world to "look the other way". When your leadership is comprised of low-testerone men, they respond as they always do, i.e., they wait for their enemies to die. In the meantime, the damage done is irreparable. Thank you for a great article! It brought back many memories. - Manfred Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:05:18 +0100