Vatican City, Apr 10, 2019 / 04:10 pm (CNA).-
In an essay published Thursday at CNA, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI offered his thoughts about the sex abuse crisis facing the Church. Benedict reviewed the sexual revolution of the 1960s, and examined its effects on priestly formation and life, before suggesting the Church's proper response.
“Today, the accusation against God is, above all, about characterizing His Church as entirely bad, and thus dissuading us from it. The idea of a better Church, created by ourselves, is in fact a proposal of the devil, with which he wants to lead us away from the living God, through a deceitful logic by which we are too easily duped,†Benedict wrote in “The Church and the Scandal of sexual abuse,†published April 11.
“No, even today the Church is not just made up of bad fish and weeds. The Church of God also exists today, and today it is the very instrument through which God saves us.â€
The emeritus pope's essay was published simultaneously in German at Klerusblatt, in Italian at Corriere della Sera, and in English at Catholic News Agency and the National Catholic Register.
The former pope said the sex abuse crisis cannot be understood apart from its wider social context, noting that “in the 1960s an egregious event occurred … the previously normative standards regarding sexuality collapsed entirely, and a new normalcy arose.â€
“This was in many ways a very difficult time … the extensive collapse of the next generation of priests in those years and the very high number of laicizations were a consequence of all these developments.â€
Concurrently but independently, “Catholic moral theology suffered a collapse that rendered the Church defenseless against these changes in society,†he wrote.
The crisis of moral theology led to an abandonment of the idea of intrinsic evil, and a rejection of the role of the Magisterium by some theologians, to which the 1993 encyclical Veritatis splendor was, in part, a response.
Benedict wrote: “There are values which must never be abandoned for a greater value and even surpass the preservation of physical life,†calling martyrdom “a basic category of Christian existence.â€
“There is a minimum set of morals which is indissolubly linked to the foundational principle of faith and which must be defended if faith is not to be reduced to a theory but rather to be recognized in its claim to concrete life,†the emeritus pope reflected.
He also discussed the ecclesial reaction to pedophilia, noting that the 1983 Code of Canon Law “did not seem sufficient for taking the necessary measures,†and that over time “a renewal and deepening of the deliberately loosely constructed criminal law of the new Code began to take shape.â€
Benedict reflected on Christ's saying that “ Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.â€
“The phrase 'the little ones' in the language of Jesus means the common believers who can be confounded in their faith by the intellectual arrogance of those who think they are clever. So here Jesus protects the deposit of the faith with an emphatic threat of punishment to those who do it harm,†he explained.
“The modern use of the sentence is not in itself wrong, but it must not obscure the original meaning,†in which it is clear “that it is not only the right of the accused that is important and requires a guarantee. Great goods such as the Faith are equally important.â€
“A balanced canon law that corresponds to the whole of Jesus' message must therefore not only provide a guarantee for the accused, the respect for whom is a legal good. It must also protect the Faith … A properly formed canon law must therefore contain a double guarantee - legal protection of the accused, legal protection of the good at stake. If today one puts forward this inherently clear conception, one generally falls on deaf ears when it comes to the question of the protection of the Faith as a legal good. In the general awareness of the law, the Faith no longer appears to have the rank of a good requiring protection. This is an alarming situation which must be considered and taken seriously by the pastors of the Church.â€
He said the decision to give competence for cases of clerical pedophilia to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, rather than the Congregation for the Clergy “is a consequence of the importance of the Faith for the Church. In fact, it is important to see that such misconduct by clerics ultimately damages the Faith.â€
Benedict finally turned to what ought to be done: “Only obedience and love for our Lord Jesus Christ can point the way.â€
“The Lord has initiated a narrative of love with us and wants to subsume all creation in it. The counterforce against evil, which threatens us and the whole world, can ultimately only consist in our entering into this love. It is the real counterforce against evil. The power of evil arises from our refusal to love God. He who entrusts himself to the love of God is redeemed. Our being not redeemed is a consequence of our inability to love God. Learning to love God is therefore the path of human redemption.â€
“A paramount task, which must result from the moral upheavals of our time, is that we ourselves once again begin to live by God and unto Him. Above all, we ourselves must learn again to recognize God as the foundation of our life instead of leaving Him aside,†Benedict stated.
The emeritus pope also said there must be a profound appreciation of the astoundingness of the Incarnation, and, through it, Christ's presence in the Eucharist.
“The Second Vatican Council was rightly focused on returning this sacrament of the Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ … to the center of Christian life and the very existence of the Church. In part, this really has come about, and we should be most grateful to the Lord for it.â€
But “a rather different attitude is prevalent,†he said. “What predominates is not a new reverence for the presence of Christ's death and resurrection, but a way of dealing with Him that destroys the greatness of the Mystery,†citing declining participation in Sunday Mass and treatment of the Eucharist as “a mere ceremonial gesture.â€
“We do not need another Church of our own design. Rather, what is required first and foremost is the renewal of the Faith in the Reality of Jesus Christ given to us in the Blessed Sacrament.â€
While “there is sin in the Church and evil … even today there is the Holy Church, which is indestructible. Today there are many people who humbly believe, suffer and love, in whom the real God, the loving God, shows Himself to us.â€
“In the trial against the devil, Jesus Christ is the first and actual witness for God, the first martyr, who has since been followed by countless others.â€
Witnesses can be found today “who stand up for God with their life and suffering. It is an inertia of the heart that leads us to not wish to recognize them. One of the great and essential tasks of our evangelization is, as far as we can, to establish habitats of Faith and, above all, to find and recognize them,†Benedict concluded.
Benedict XVI addresses sex abuse scandal
Moderators:Johnna, MarieT, Denise
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Full text.
https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/t ... xual-abuse
This letter could be read as a scathing critique of the priorities and the principles of the Francis Pontificate. It paints a picture of indulgence, dismissive of moral theology in the overarching interests of ‘mercy’ rather than rigour and integrity. It sees moral theology as replaced by ‘pastoralism’, 'diversity', ‘inclusion’ and ‘tolerance’ that has lost all sense of balance with personal responsibility and potential.
Benedict put a good deal of the blame on the culture of hedonism and moral disorder of the 60s that infected the Church and seminaries and continues to this day. I would argue that this is important but only part of the root.
The other lies with the Church itself and the implementation of Vatican 2. A Council that produced a great amount of abstract theological idealism and a dearth of practical, concrete theology. The implementation was done in an atmosphere that has devalued a primacy on moral theology led to a culture that has led to a form of trivial pastoralism.
personal aside
[rant] Part of that was the reform of the Mass to the vernacular Novus Ordo. Essentially this reoriented the Mass from its focus on Christ to some oblique point in the space between the Priest and the Congregation. It has Protestanized the Mass from one of intensive communion to one of extensive community.
It has robbed nave of the aural sacralized space provided by the ancient Latin Language, a universal attribute of the Latin Church, that provided a direct lineage to its origins. I don’t think you can overstate the effect of deforming the Church’s central liturgical instrument had on the integrity of the entire structure.
It has lost its liturgical anchor and is now adrift in the secular zeitgeist. I usually come out my local N/O feeling frustrated, exhausted, discombobulated. I leave the TLM run by the FSSP feeling inspired, uplifted and conformed. But that’s just my experience. [/rant]
https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/t ... xual-abuse
This letter could be read as a scathing critique of the priorities and the principles of the Francis Pontificate. It paints a picture of indulgence, dismissive of moral theology in the overarching interests of ‘mercy’ rather than rigour and integrity. It sees moral theology as replaced by ‘pastoralism’, 'diversity', ‘inclusion’ and ‘tolerance’ that has lost all sense of balance with personal responsibility and potential.
Benedict put a good deal of the blame on the culture of hedonism and moral disorder of the 60s that infected the Church and seminaries and continues to this day. I would argue that this is important but only part of the root.
The other lies with the Church itself and the implementation of Vatican 2. A Council that produced a great amount of abstract theological idealism and a dearth of practical, concrete theology. The implementation was done in an atmosphere that has devalued a primacy on moral theology led to a culture that has led to a form of trivial pastoralism.
personal aside
[rant] Part of that was the reform of the Mass to the vernacular Novus Ordo. Essentially this reoriented the Mass from its focus on Christ to some oblique point in the space between the Priest and the Congregation. It has Protestanized the Mass from one of intensive communion to one of extensive community.
It has robbed nave of the aural sacralized space provided by the ancient Latin Language, a universal attribute of the Latin Church, that provided a direct lineage to its origins. I don’t think you can overstate the effect of deforming the Church’s central liturgical instrument had on the integrity of the entire structure.
It has lost its liturgical anchor and is now adrift in the secular zeitgeist. I usually come out my local N/O feeling frustrated, exhausted, discombobulated. I leave the TLM run by the FSSP feeling inspired, uplifted and conformed. But that’s just my experience. [/rant]
Last edited by KarlB on Mon Apr 15, 2019 12:22 pm, edited 3 times in total.
pax lux,
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
unbelievable....check this out....do they really have to question why?....its obvious ~
theologians question pope emeritus benedict's speaking out about the issues affecting the Church
theologians question pope emeritus benedict's speaking out about the issues affecting the Church
"He who followeth Me, walketh not in darkness." sayeth the Lord
Oh well, what can we expect form the people Fr. Z calls fish wrap or the National Schismatic Reporter. They are for everything that God is against.
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
Never forget that a certain cardinal, Karol Vojtyla had a big hand in Vatican II. As Pope John Paul II, he promoted the reading of its documents and what they really mean. It is because of this that I don't want Vatican II to totally leave.
(although, admittedly I converted from protestantism in 1998 and don't fully appreciate the before and after of the changes that Vatican II made)
(although, admittedly I converted from protestantism in 1998 and don't fully appreciate the before and after of the changes that Vatican II made)
Domine Non Sum Dignus!
Holiness is not for wimps and the cross is not negotiable, sweetheart, it's a requirement.
~ Mother Angelica
Holiness is not for wimps and the cross is not negotiable, sweetheart, it's a requirement.
~ Mother Angelica
Benedict was also a major contributor to Vatican 2 as a theological advisor. But something went off the rails in the implementation. I think the Church will ultimately have to call a Vatican 3 to sort out the practical, concrete aspects of all of its abstract idealism once all this fascination and submission to the secular zeitgeist works its way through the Magisterium.
That will take a very strong, orthodox Pontiff. And i think it will have to be done with a clear vision of the outcome, as opposed the open, collegial forum of V2. V3 would be a major doctrinal council, the likes of the Council of Trent, as compared the modest pastoral council (Benedict's description) pf B2.
My main interest would be in seeing the original TLM (and other Latin sacraments), in all of aspects, become available to all who want to attend the old Latin Mass as Benedict's Motu Proprio envisioned.
That will take a very strong, orthodox Pontiff. And i think it will have to be done with a clear vision of the outcome, as opposed the open, collegial forum of V2. V3 would be a major doctrinal council, the likes of the Council of Trent, as compared the modest pastoral council (Benedict's description) pf B2.
My main interest would be in seeing the original TLM (and other Latin sacraments), in all of aspects, become available to all who want to attend the old Latin Mass as Benedict's Motu Proprio envisioned.
Last edited by KarlB on Wed Apr 17, 2019 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
pax lux,
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
It seems to be Francis' modus operendi, to send those in disfavour, into some kind of Coventry of official silence. Card. Burke, Card. Mueller, PapaB. Don't know if its a very constructive way of healing rifts.. or simply an acknowledgement that he doesn't really have a response.
Certainly if we know anything of Francis' temperament, it is that he is very stubborn in his opinions and not given to much reflection on opposing views. He simply ignores them.
Certainly if we know anything of Francis' temperament, it is that he is very stubborn in his opinions and not given to much reflection on opposing views. He simply ignores them.
pax lux,
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9