More Trautman, Please
Well, it seemed that Bishop Trautman's intervention in America got a good bit of feed yesterday, and aroused strong passions in the combox. Here's another nugget from what he'd like to see the Synod do:
Hmmmmmm..... For the curious, Trautman is not a delegate of the USCCB to the Synod -- the elected members from the Conference are Rigali, Gregory, Wuerl and Skylstad. The bishop of Erie is, however, an alternate just in case one of the delegates becomes indisposed.
I'd love to see what he'd say on the floor.
-30-
To transform the world, Jesus gives us a twofold method: preach the word of God and celebrate the sacraments. “But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? How can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent?” (Rom 10:14-15). To answer St. Paul’s questions for our day and age, shouldn’t there be a synodal discussion about the decline of vocations to the priesthood? This does not necessarily entail a discussion of optional celibacy, but it does invite a broad conversation on why young men are not answering Christ’s call, why many are not coming to Eucharist, and what the church can do now to minister more effectively to youth.
Recognizing that the permanent diaconate is a distinctive vocation, shouldn’t some men, who have been called and commissioned through ordination to the permanent diaconate, once adequately prepared and qualified, be ordained to the priesthood? Shouldn’t the synod at least explore this as a response for those areas where the word of God is not being preached and the sacraments of Christ are not being expended? Shouldn’t the Synod of Bishops consider a pastoral plan for the more equitable distribution of priests?
The life of the sacramental church is at stake. God’s people have an absolute right to receive the word of God and the sacraments of Christ for their salvation.
A prime example of the poor quality of theological insight referenced in the instrumentum laboris is revealed in the following passage:An increasingly secularized society has caused a weakening in the sense of mystery. This is witnessed in misinterpretation and distorted ideas in the council’s liturgical renewal, which has led to rites superficial in nature and devoid of spiritual significance (No. 6).The instrumentum laboris does not specify if these distorted liturgical rites are widespread or isolated, approved or unapproved. If they are unauthorized, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal applies, and there is no need for a meeting of the World Synod of Bishops to discuss them. If the comments refer to approved liturgical rites of the church, then I find this an audacious and even alarming statement!
Hmmmmmm..... For the curious, Trautman is not a delegate of the USCCB to the Synod -- the elected members from the Conference are Rigali, Gregory, Wuerl and Skylstad. The bishop of Erie is, however, an alternate just in case one of the delegates becomes indisposed.
I'd love to see what he'd say on the floor.
-30-
posted by Rocco Palmo at 18:00
2 Comments:
Unlike Jeff, I didn't think much of a few comments above.
"The whole question of numbers of priests is, I think, a false one."
I'm rather mystified as to how a question can be false, though certainly an answer to a question might be.
Others have commented elsewhere about a "percentage of faithful, ardent, church-going, really believing Catholics," and all I'll say is that for the US the number of Catholics receiving Communion is about the same as it was fifty years ago. The percentage is way higher, of course. Are there graces attached to the Eucharist? Or not? Or is there some quality in the post-conciliar Church that frustrates God's grace?
I also find it amusing that someone considers hearsay regarding Trautman's personal opinions to have any relevance to the thread at all. I peeked at Trautman's piece, and it seemed on the surface to be sensible, calm, and measured.
My suggestion for his ideological opponents would be to stick to the issues he surfaces rather than dodge about with logical inconsistencies such as "false questions" or with appeals to warm-fuzzy emotionalism.
And if Trautman is the has-been people seem to suggest he is, the one good thing we can say (unlike some bishops) is that he has no oar in the ocean of ambition.
"Too many of the JPII bishops could regurgitate the party line but it never transferred into practice in dioceses."
In other words they talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Leadership inspires others by doing not gabbing. I'm not ready to concede the whole vocation event horizon to the neo-orthodox just yet. But an authentic practice of the faith will net the fence-sitters, introducing them to an attractive way of life of service.
I have my doubts about the staying power of the angry young men, though.
Post a Comment
<< Home