On May 13, Dr. Mary Grassa O'Neill, Secretary for Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese, released a statement that condemned the decision of the staff at St. Paul's. "We believe," says O'Neill, "that every parent who wishes to send their child to a Catholic school should have the opportunity to pursue that dream." Dr. O'Neill also indicated that she will work to prevent "misunderstandings" like this in the future, and explicitly states, "The Archdiocese does not prohibit children of same-sex parents from attending Catholic schools."...
So I'm pretty surprised to see a representative of a Catholic body make an "our bad" statement in an official capacity. Dr. O'Neill even went so far as to offer to help the lesbian moms find another Catholic school in the area that will accept and embrace their son. Now, did Dr. O'Neill say (like she should have) that true Christianity means embracing all people, including their sexual orientation and not in spite of it? No, of course not. But I think her statement is kind of a big deal.
My favorite part of this story is that, when Dr. O'Neill's "mea culpa" was reported on the National Catholic Reporter website, a majority of the comments in response were from pro-gay Catholics. In fact, the first comment from someone writing under the screen name Mary 9999 said, "Like it or not, this is the pain we apparently have to suffer as a church before we finally reach the right and just conclusion that homosexuality is not a sin." Another commenter added, "[N]either is homosexuality a moral failing, or intrinsically evil. ... Hopefully the church will speak with one voice that children of all parents be allowed to attend parochial schools."
So remember this when you feel that there's no hope for reconciliation between Catholics and queers, because it looks like, even if it's just baby steps, maybe some progress is being made.
I believe the Cardinal is a fraud and a thug. He's got one hell of an act going but his jig is up with anyone who thought he came to Boston to pass our faith onto the next generation of Catholic children.
"The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives ..."
Imprimi Potest Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger 1994
They're born that way, Carol. O'Neill is just doing her Catholic best! (/sarc)
You could be right...however From my perspective I think he seems to see his role as more "symbolic." As a great peace maker is a hostile world. The trouble is, his leadership is symbolic as well. Some of us hesitate to be critical of the man simply because of the office. Cardinals are mortal, The Church and the order it brings to the world is not.
Families pass the faith on, clerics offer the sacraments. My hope when the-blogging-cardinal came was that he would simply caste out a few of the more notorious demons in the diocese. Instead he plays nice nice.
"He's a worse threat to Catholicism than Barack Obama and his administration." No doubt.
But be careful. He'll be at the next conclave, and you never know ... maybe, just maybe ... Pope Sean-Paul I !! (Or would it be III? But I digress). Then you'll be branded as a pope basher, and nobody will talk to you!
My precious John Paul II appointed him. Nobody could ever question my love for Pope John Paul II. Yet, there are some things he did I'm not particularly thrilled about. Like, when he had a public meeting with Maciel in the midst of all the controversy, which we all took as a sign that the rumors circulating were not true. That was a mistake. Pope's make mistakes. This appointment of this Bishop has not gone well. He is more suited for a mission in foreign country.
Not every moment of my own vocation as a mother has been perfection. I've made mistakes. Sometimes my children called me on those mistakes. This is righteousness.
LCIB,
I guess like the rest of sinners, our reconciliation is about the Sacraments and a state of Grace and about Christ. I try to reconcile myself every day, more than once a day and I hope and pray my children, friends, colleagues, strangers and every sinner gets to that place in their life.
The reason why I posted this story is because it is painfully obvious that Cardinal Sean, Grassa O'Neil, Reardon and Hehir are not taking to that path. They are simply confirming people in their obstinacy and this is the antithesis of the salvation of souls.
I know this is going to sound a little hypocritical from somebody who will occasionally use "whores houses" in her posts, but I'm not going to be publishing posts with terms that cross my boundaries.
11 comments:
LCIB,
I believe the Cardinal is a fraud and a thug. He's got one hell of an act going but his jig is up with anyone who thought he came to Boston to pass our faith onto the next generation of Catholic children.
I am sick unto death of Catholics who don't have the backbone to say it out loud.
He's a worse threat to Catholicism than Barack Obama and his administration.
CCC no. 2358:
"The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives ..."
Imprimi Potest
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
1994
They're born that way, Carol. O'Neill is just doing her Catholic best! (/sarc)
Carol
Who appointed him?
Veronica
You could be right...however
From my perspective I think he seems to see his role as more "symbolic." As a great peace maker is a hostile world. The trouble is, his leadership is symbolic as well.
Some of us hesitate to be critical of the man simply because of the office. Cardinals are mortal, The Church and the order it brings to the world is not.
Families pass the faith on, clerics offer the sacraments.
My hope when the-blogging-cardinal came was that he would simply caste out a few of the more notorious demons in the diocese. Instead he plays nice nice.
"He's a worse threat to Catholicism than Barack Obama and his administration." No doubt.
But be careful. He'll be at the next conclave, and you never know ... maybe, just maybe ... Pope Sean-Paul I !! (Or would it be III? But I digress). Then you'll be branded as a pope basher, and nobody will talk to you!
Veronica,
My precious John Paul II appointed him. Nobody could ever question my love for Pope John Paul II. Yet, there are some things he did I'm not particularly thrilled about. Like, when he had a public meeting with Maciel in the midst of all the controversy, which we all took as a sign that the rumors circulating were not true. That was a mistake. Pope's make mistakes. This appointment of this Bishop has not gone well. He is more suited for a mission in foreign country.
Not every moment of my own vocation as a mother has been perfection. I've made mistakes. Sometimes my children called me on those mistakes. This is righteousness.
LCIB,
I guess like the rest of sinners, our reconciliation is about the Sacraments and a state of Grace and about Christ. I try to reconcile myself every day, more than once a day and I hope and pray my children, friends, colleagues, strangers and every sinner gets to that place in their life.
The reason why I posted this story is because it is painfully obvious that Cardinal Sean, Grassa O'Neil, Reardon and Hehir are not taking to that path. They are simply confirming people in their obstinacy and this is the antithesis of the salvation of souls.
Jerry,
I was born like me too. Thankfully a few good nuns, priests, friends, family have been there all my life to slap me out of it.
If I get tossed out on my ear, I guess I'll finally make my way over to TLR?
Yes, popes make mistakes.
Maciel - mistake.
O'Malley - mistake.
Law - mistake.
Mahoney - mistake.
Bernardin - mistake.
Wuerl - mistake.
McCarrick - mistake.
Schonborn - mistake.
Kasper - mistake.
de Lubac - mistake.
Stuff happens, Carol. Why be so tough on O'Malley??
yowza. That's a hefty list. I actually think you're being kind.
How about Clark in Rochester?
The one in Florida who just had the stretch your mind with pornography priest..what's his name...LYNCH!
Let us not pretend the dung smells like roses.
Kiddies,
I know this is going to sound a little hypocritical from somebody who will occasionally use "whores houses" in her posts, but I'm not going to be publishing posts with terms that cross my boundaries.
Post a Comment