I find the reasoning quesionable. Merton still remains the best known American Catholic.
Bernardin made the cut probably because other bishops were voting on it--but given some recent statements by Richard Sipe on his situation, he hardly seems like a good choice.
From Catholic bishops approve national adult catechism:
"However, the final draft removed the Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton, who was originally the opening story. Every bishop on the committee had read Merton's bestselling 1949 autobiography about his journey from atheism to faith and thought he was an excellent example of a young American searching for God. But Merton, who died in 1968, is rejected by conservative Catholics who believe his later interest in Buddhist forms of prayer compromised his faith.
The main reason Merton was removed was because 'the generation we were speaking to had no idea who he was,' Wuerl said. 'Only secondarily did we take into consideration that we don't know all the details of the searching at the end of his life.'"
Friday, November 19, 2004
Pope to Visit Northern Ireland Next Year...
From International News Article | Reuters.com:
"Pope John Paul's health has stabilized recently, so much so that the Pontiff has expressed a desire to make at least two major trips abroad next year, including one to Northern Ireland.
The 84-year-old Pope and his aides have come to terms with the rigors and limits of Parkinson's disease. Although it has taken its toll over the past 10 years, it seems to have steadied recently, making planning, albeit tentative, easier."
"Pope John Paul's health has stabilized recently, so much so that the Pontiff has expressed a desire to make at least two major trips abroad next year, including one to Northern Ireland.
The 84-year-old Pope and his aides have come to terms with the rigors and limits of Parkinson's disease. Although it has taken its toll over the past 10 years, it seems to have steadied recently, making planning, albeit tentative, easier."
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Spurrier headed to South Carolina...Maybe
From Spurrier headed to South Carolina, announcement next week - Thursday, 11/18/04:
"The ol' head ball coach is on his way back to the Southeastern Conference -- just not where everyone expected.
Steve Spurrier, who guided Florida to six SEC championships and a national championship in his 12 years in Gainesville, has agreed in principle to take over at South Carolina for Lou Holtz as the Gamecocks' head coach, a source close to the situation told The Tennessean last night.
One potential snag in the agreement could be if Holtz, 67, has a change of heart and decides at the last minute not to retire. Spurrier has also been known to change his mind, although he's made it clear to South Carolina that the Gamecocks' job is the one he wants."
"The ol' head ball coach is on his way back to the Southeastern Conference -- just not where everyone expected.
Steve Spurrier, who guided Florida to six SEC championships and a national championship in his 12 years in Gainesville, has agreed in principle to take over at South Carolina for Lou Holtz as the Gamecocks' head coach, a source close to the situation told The Tennessean last night.
One potential snag in the agreement could be if Holtz, 67, has a change of heart and decides at the last minute not to retire. Spurrier has also been known to change his mind, although he's made it clear to South Carolina that the Gamecocks' job is the one he wants."
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
US Bishops Shelve Statement Urging Greater Use of Bible
Interesting from the perspective of the North/South rift that exist within the Catholic Chuch in the U.S.
From Boston.com / News / Nation / Washington / US bishops shelve statement urging greater use of Bible:
"'I can imagine the headline tomorrow: 'Bishops, in attempt to cut expenses, do not encourage people to read the Bible,' ' said Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of Brooklyn.
Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb, of Mobile, Ala., said 'from my position, where the Bible is so much a part of any effort at evangelization, this would be a disaster public-relationswise.' And Bishop John W. Yanta, of Amarillo, Texas, said, 'Coming from a mission diocese, and also from the Bible Belt, I think it would be disastrous for us to vote against this, and I think it would be detrimental. The word of God is essential to evangelization.'
But opponents said that the catechism of the Catholic Church obviously encourages Catholics to read the Bible, and that a statement reiterating that support is unnecessary.
'All these arguments could be applied to just about every statement we make, but at some point we have to draw the line, as difficult as it might be,' said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of Youngstown, Ohio.
The bishops voted 137 to 102 not to pursue the statement until the conference can decide what its priorities are."
From Boston.com / News / Nation / Washington / US bishops shelve statement urging greater use of Bible:
"'I can imagine the headline tomorrow: 'Bishops, in attempt to cut expenses, do not encourage people to read the Bible,' ' said Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of Brooklyn.
Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb, of Mobile, Ala., said 'from my position, where the Bible is so much a part of any effort at evangelization, this would be a disaster public-relationswise.' And Bishop John W. Yanta, of Amarillo, Texas, said, 'Coming from a mission diocese, and also from the Bible Belt, I think it would be disastrous for us to vote against this, and I think it would be detrimental. The word of God is essential to evangelization.'
But opponents said that the catechism of the Catholic Church obviously encourages Catholics to read the Bible, and that a statement reiterating that support is unnecessary.
'All these arguments could be applied to just about every statement we make, but at some point we have to draw the line, as difficult as it might be,' said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of Youngstown, Ohio.
The bishops voted 137 to 102 not to pursue the statement until the conference can decide what its priorities are."
Monday, November 15, 2004
Pastor: Bishops Should be Jailed for 'Silence' on Abuse
From Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / Pastor says bishops should be jailed for 'silence' on abuse:
"The Rev. James J. Scahill, pastor of St. Michael's Parish in East Longmeadow, told 900 cheering members of Voice of the Faithful that parishioners nationwide are engaged in ''a struggle of truth against power' in their long effort to hold church leaders accountable for alleged abuse.
On the eve of a major bishops' conference in Washington, D.C., Scahill told a packed ballroom at the Worcester Centrum Centre that by refusing to speak out quickly and decisively and remove priests accused of abuse from the ministry, some church leaders had become mere ''readers of the Gospel instead of proponents of the Gospel.'"
"The Rev. James J. Scahill, pastor of St. Michael's Parish in East Longmeadow, told 900 cheering members of Voice of the Faithful that parishioners nationwide are engaged in ''a struggle of truth against power' in their long effort to hold church leaders accountable for alleged abuse.
On the eve of a major bishops' conference in Washington, D.C., Scahill told a packed ballroom at the Worcester Centrum Centre that by refusing to speak out quickly and decisively and remove priests accused of abuse from the ministry, some church leaders had become mere ''readers of the Gospel instead of proponents of the Gospel.'"
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Archbishop O'Malley Writes to Boston Parishes
Excerpts can be read atNews Read - TheDay.com:
"At times I ask God to call me home and let someone else finish this job"
"At times I ask God to call me home and let someone else finish this job"
Bishop Wenski Takes Over in Orlando
A month early...
From OrlandoSentinel.com: Orange County News:
"Pope John Paul II on Saturday named Bishop Thomas Wenski to succeed Bishop Norbert Dorsey as head of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, effective immediately.
In July 2003, Wenski was named bishop coadjutor, signifying he would automatically take over for Dorsey when he retired. The common practice under this pope is for bishops to submit letters of resignation as they near their 75th birthday. Sometime thereafter, at the Vatican's discretion, the resignation is accepted.
Dorsey will not be 75 until Dec. 14, but no reason was given for the early appointment. The incumbent had no complaint about the timing of the hand-over to Wenski.
'He's ready, and I'm ready,' Dorsey said in an interview.
Dorsey, who will continue to live in Orlando, said he now hopes to begin a fitness program and to learn how to use a computer. He would still like to do pastoral care at prisons and hospitals, and perhaps fill in for other parish priests.
'I'm still a priest and a bishop,' Dorsey said. He had more earthly matters in mind after Saturday's announcement, however. His first job after the news conference was to get a flu shot."
From OrlandoSentinel.com: Orange County News:
"Pope John Paul II on Saturday named Bishop Thomas Wenski to succeed Bishop Norbert Dorsey as head of the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, effective immediately.
In July 2003, Wenski was named bishop coadjutor, signifying he would automatically take over for Dorsey when he retired. The common practice under this pope is for bishops to submit letters of resignation as they near their 75th birthday. Sometime thereafter, at the Vatican's discretion, the resignation is accepted.
Dorsey will not be 75 until Dec. 14, but no reason was given for the early appointment. The incumbent had no complaint about the timing of the hand-over to Wenski.
'He's ready, and I'm ready,' Dorsey said in an interview.
Dorsey, who will continue to live in Orlando, said he now hopes to begin a fitness program and to learn how to use a computer. He would still like to do pastoral care at prisons and hospitals, and perhaps fill in for other parish priests.
'I'm still a priest and a bishop,' Dorsey said. He had more earthly matters in mind after Saturday's announcement, however. His first job after the news conference was to get a flu shot."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)