Lord save us from your Church, part deux

[bigmacbear]

OK, so the Vatican has made yet another pronouncement. This time they really aren't saying anything new, just reminding people that those who divorce and remarry are to be denied the Sacraments and that Catholics aren't supposed to take communion in non-Catholic churches.

While the news media have jumped on this as though it were actually news, in my opinion most people (including most Catholics as far as I know) will quite simply ignore this reminder as being irrelevant. Individual priests are simply not expected to know the intimate details of every parishioner and visitor as they must to enforce these rules, and who really expects them to start now?

If the Church feels the need to get heavy-handed in this matter, it will only be harming itself. In many parts of the world, the hierarchy (or bureaucracy might be a better term for it) is treated more as a nuisance to be gotten around than any sort of governing body. In particular, the issue of intercommunion is part and parcel of the ecumenical movement, and it appears that will be an issue that will set back Christian unity by decades.

One wonders if the good folks at the Vatican realize that sort of intolerance and reactionary policy is causing people to flee the Church, and if they are therefore sacrificing ecumenism to try and force people to stay. If so, it won't work.

Comments

[redcub.livejournal.com]

"One wonders if the good folks at the Vatican realize that sort of intolerance and reactionary policy is causing people to flee the Church>"

Uh Mike, the Vatican CREATED intolerance and reactionary policy as a way of religious worship. I don't see them, as an institution, getting a clue anytime in our respective lifetimes. They heirarchy is too invested in keeping thing at status quo to maintain their power. No crime, no injustice, no pretty policy will stay their course.

I cheer though that the outer circles of such a place is also peopled by folks like yourself, who will not compromise what is decent for what is profitable.

[bigmacbear]

I cheer though that the outer circles of such a place is also peopled by folks like yourself, who will not compromise what is decent for what is profitable.

Thanks for the kind words, Alan.

I had the same discussion with one of the Bears at dinner this evening, one who is also a former member of D-I and who is in tune with all things political. He basically told me that the Opus Dei crew (the most reactionary of the many reactionaries in the Church) want to see people fleeing the Church. Among other things, it almost made me want to formally turn to the Integrity side of D-I and become an Episcopalian (despite the problems Anglicans worldwide are having over homosexuality, they seem much more able to listen to reason than the Romans).

Then I read your message, and I thought to myself that that is the reason Dignity exists -- to not give those Opus Dei bastards and their ilk the satisfaction of running us out of the Church.

Thanks again!