Abbey-Roads2

On the matter of denying the Eucharist to Catholic pro-choice politicians.

From Cardinal Dulles first:

“The imposition of penalties involves at least three risks. In the first place, the bishop may be accused, however unfairly, of trying to coerce the politician’s conscience. Secondly, people can easily accuse the Church of trying to meddle in the political process, which in this country depends on the free consent of the governed. And finally, the Church incurs a danger of alienating judges, legislators and public administrators whose good will is needed for other good programs, such as the support of Catholic education and the care of the poor. For all these reasons, the Church is reluctant to discipline politicians in a public way, even when it is clear that their positions are morally indefensible. The Church’s prime responsibility is to teach and to persuade. She tries to convince citizens to engage in the political process with a well-informed conscience.” - Cardinal Dulles 2004

And then Cardinal George:

Vox Nova has an interesting, if not controversial post on “Communion Politics” from which the above quotes were taken. 

Pope Pius XII

Tomorrow, October 9th is the anniversary of the death of Holy Father Pius XII, who died in 1958.  I was in grade school when the Holy Father died and remember significant news coverage in the newspapers and on television covering his life.  In those days, the Holy Father was widely acclaimed for all the good he accomplished during the war.

Go to Hallowed Ground for more photos.  (And please keep the webmaster Ken, who is having health problems, in your prayers.)

“Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus.” 

When I returned to the Church in 1972 I received some incredible graces.  The most impressive was the experience that Jesus is really, truly present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the holy Eucharist.  The experience was so intense and vivid, accompanied by such profound understanding of the truths of our faith, that I remained nearly oblivious to all the human mistakes of priests, religious, faithful, even the hierarchy, which were occuring in the Church after the Council.

Presentiments of troubles.

I remember two dreams I had, concerning persecution of the Church and Christians.  The first dream had me in a ‘refuge’, apparently in the mountains.  It was a sort of hermitage, though the building was more like a work shed.  Soldiers came with guns to arrest me; I was beaten, and then taken away.  That was all.

In the second dream I was in a lower church for Mass or some sort of devotion.  The church was filled.  Suddenly men broke in and began shooting.  I was hit in the neck, fell to the floor, and could hear my blood   pouring out like a faucet of running water.  I knew I was dying and began the Act of Contrition.  I later recognized that the church in my dream seemed to be the same as the lower church of St. Agnes in St. Paul.  (I had only attended St. Agnes once or twice at that time, and always in the upper church, therefore I had no idea what the lower church looked like.)  That was all.

“When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.”

For some reason, upon returning to the practice of my faith, I believed that the Church was living the dark night, literally following Christ on the way to Calvary.  I always believed the times of persecution were imminent, though priests and religious often told me they never believed it would happen in our lifetime.  (Interestingly enough, my thoughts paralleled the vision of the 3rd secret of Fatima.)  Today I believe most of them would say they were wrong.  Hatred for the faith is almost palpable in today’s culture.

Fr. Zuhlsdorf has a provocative post that seems  to follow along these lines, although he is only asking, “What would you take?” if you had to suddenly leave your house and belongings, and perhaps your livelihood, to flee…  In his post, Father isn’t making any statement about persecution, rather he is simply posing a question; “What if…”   It is a good question.

Oh.  What would I take?

My Rosary, my Bible, as many of my relics that I could carry, my cats with their food - cat food comes in small cans, and I’d pick up my best friend and we’d be off to that shed in the hills.

I must say, I was better off when I focused entirely upon Jesus and left the crises in the Church to Him.  I need to follow Father’s advice and “clarify my thinking”.