LMS: On causing scandal and reporting scandal

After all the complaning and frustration over what Pope Francis said or continues to say, there are so few level heads out there, and so many panic'd souls. Joseph Shaw from the LMS is part of the few, and I think provides clarity for rash bloggers and ear tinglers out there.

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This is not the kind of blog which goes through people's bins - metaphorically speaking - looking for scandalous accusations to make against priests, bishops, and prominent lay Catholics. Nevertheless, I do from time to time talk about events which I would rather had not happened. Events which shed a poor light on the Church, which reveal problems. I do this because persistently to ignore the things which are causing pain, sometimes great spiritual suffering, to my fellow Catholics, where these are issues on which I would be expected to take an interest or have some light to shed, would be to a failure of charity.

That's right, a failure of charity.

Here is a parallel. Suppose that you know that a child, or indeed an adult, X, has suffered emotional or physical abuse at the hands of person Y. You meet X and say nothing about Y. Y comes into the room, you greet him warmly, show him respect and deference, shake his hand, smile, and so on. He goes off again, leaving you with X, and you say nothing about it. Or, you praise Y in X's presence, you talk about all his good qualities, you say loudly how lucky we all are to have Y among us.

Have you acted with charity? No.

This is the behaviour, of which the Church has seen far too much, of complicity. It is not just a matter of taking part in a cover-up, though that might be part of it. I want to focus on the effect on the victim. What you are saying, by implication, to the victim, is: I do not take your suffering seriously; I do not want to hear about it; your hurt and anger have no place in polite society; you, the victim, should deny your own feelings, if possible even to yourself.

These people who fall among thieves - how inconvenient they are! How embarassing! The only thing to do is to pass by on the other side. To stop would be an implicit criticism of the thieves, and that wouldn't be right.

Read the rest HERE

Its the difference between Ham and Shem

Source

A while ago I heard a sermon that was presented by the priest from Audio Sancto in the midst of the crazyness of the Popes multiple interviews that kicked off his pontificate.  I cant remember which it was, but if I ever find it again I will post it later.

The important point made was that no matter how frustrating things can seem in the Church, Christ is in charge.  The most Blessed Trinity both allows chastisements to the Church, and chastises her directly for Her own good.  Yet the way that we respond in such situations is important.

In Genesis we read about Noah as an old man, and how he would become drunk abusing his life and family in so much.  Yet his sons took different approaches to the matter.  Ham chastised his father with mockery and belittled him.  Shem, on the other-hand, recognized his Fathers state of nakedness and clothed him with gentleness and charity because he was a man under the authority of another (as the Gospels will later speak to).

Ham was thrown out of his Fathers house and cursed him. While Shem, as Jewish tradition says, was made king and reigned most likely till Abraham presented him with sacrificial gifts of bread and wine.

As Father Z says relax with the Holy Father (I am guilty as well). He is a man formed by and after the council and has some odd views.  Yet he holds authority justly.  Let us be calm with our critiques, yet firm when necessary; always recognizing that it is better to give as Shem did, than to take as Ham did.

+JMJ+

+Pray for Francis P.P.+

+Pray for Syria and Egypt+

Blogging for what its worth

Other then Adoration, Mass, family time and listening to the radio (because TVs are for the man :-P), I must say I enjoy reading blogs by people in the Catholic world, and once in a while the secular world.  Yet there has been a couple things that have popped up recently that has made me delve deeper into this notable enjoyment of my own, blogging that is.

After Fr. Blake spoke freely on the real trials of working with the poor and the down trotten, and was mocked and ridiculed as heartless for it, it seems like he is at least taking a break from the scene.  So too Terry Nelson over at Abby-Roads has made a point of saying that he is somewhat weary lately with the whole blogging game, and has considered setting it aside for good.  There are others that have brought up the subject, but I think these two test cases lend a look into the way we are all feeling right now.

Everything seems to be going against us.  We are hounded by the secularists as knuckle draggers, homosexual activists and their “allies” are plotting and putting forth plans that are ripping apart the very foundations of the family and who God is.  Even closer to home we have infighting among the Catholic media figures, and a Pope making statements that, although not unorthodox, require further context so that people are not left in confusion, and also that faithful Catholics are not scandalized.

I even feel like when I just wrote that last line that I could give scandal to someone about the Holy Fathers actions since his enthronement, yet if we are not honest about the problems we only fool ourselves into a false slumber. 

Comforts and frustrations seem to be driving us apart from responsibility.  Blogging isn’t a good in and of itself, but a tool that can be used for good or bad.  Critical thought, honest opinions, and straightforward corrections in charity seem to be the focus of Catholic blogging.  Each blogger, though fallible, provides their reader significant insight into things. 

Many of us will disagree with one another on how things are presented or even on what the faith is, but being silent on the matter does not help. 

I for one am grateful for all the different Catholic sources even the Reporter for darkness is exposed in the light.  So what im getting at is that being Catholic is going to be frustrating, and even more being open with the faith will place you in the middle of a fireline with others including the devil that will beat you down. 

Trust in the Lord, do your research, but most of all be a Catholic, and unashamed of being so!