Blessed Newman Movie: Can't Wait To See This

Fr. Barron comments of The Vatican and The New Media

RIP Jare Rhea Whitmore Born 12 October 1944 died 23 November 2010

I am very sad to write that my mother-in-law, Jare Rhea Whitmore, passed away this morning at around 8:00 am UK time. I was in Mass at the time actually praying that God would be merciful to not let her suffer and to take her into his loving care. She died of ovarian cancer. My wife Rhea is leaving for America tomorrow out of London to attend the funeral Mass that I believe may be this Saturday. I will be remaining in London taking care of our six children while she is away and sad that I am not able to make the funeral. She was more than a mother-in-law to me but was a friend and a mom. I cherish every conversation we have ever had and am thankful for her life and love for Christ. She received Last Rites last evening and we are told had a peaceful death for which we are thankful. We will miss her very much knowing that love never ends.

Please pray for Rhea, Henry (her husband), and the family during this time. Any Masses would be greatly appreciated.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Ierusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

The Pope and Condoms: The Catholic Herald Reporting With Integrity

If Catholics in the England and Wales want to know what the Pope says and means about the issue of condoms, I believe I would trust the Catholic Herald for my information before any news source whose headline might be the recipe to help sooth ones conscience. To know what the Holy Father means one needs to read his response and example through the eyes of common sense and an understanding of the Catholic Church's unchanged teaching on sex and sexuality. It is important for us to remember that we do not get the Church's teaching or the Holy Father's statements from secular news headlines. The Herald reports:

“As a matter of fact, you know, people can get condoms when they want them anyway. But this just goes to show that condoms alone do not resolve the question itself. More needs to happen.

“Meanwhile, the secular realm itself has developed the so-called ABC Theory: Abstinence-Be Faithful-Condom, where the condom is understood only as a last resort, when the other two points fail to work. This means that the sheer fixation on the condom implies a banalisation of sexuality, which, after all, is precisely the dangerous source of the attitude of no longer seeing sexuality as the expression of love, but only a sort of drug that people administer to themselves.

“This is why the fight against the banalisation of sexuality is also a part of the struggle to ensure that sexuality is treated as a positive value and to enable it to have a positive effect on the whole of man’s being.”

He added: “There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralisation, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanisation of sexuality.”

Mr Seewald then asks the Pope whether he is saying that the Church is not opposed in principle to condoms.

The Pope answers: “She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.”

Dr Janet Smith, a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family, said: “[The pope] says that the Church does not find condoms to be a ‘real or moral solution.’ That means the Church does not find condoms either to be moral or an effective way of fighting the transmission of HIV.

“As the Holy Father indicates in his fuller answer, the most effective portion of programmes designed to reduce the transmission of HIV are calls to abstinence and fidelity.

“The Holy Father, again, is saying that the intention to reduce the transmission of any infection is a ‘first step’ in a movement towards a more human way of living sexuality.”

Fr Joseph Fessio SJ, editor-in-chief of Ignatius Press and a former student of Benedict XVI, said: “It would be wrong to say, ‘Pope Approves Condoms’. He’s saying it’s immoral but in an individual case the use of a condom could be an awakening to someone that he’s got to be more conscious of his actions.”

Leading Vatican commentator John Allen said: “Pope Benedict XVI has signaled that in some limited cases, where the intent is to prevent the transmission of disease rather than to prevent pregnancy, the use of condoms might be morally justified.

“While that position is hardly new, in the sense that a large number of Catholic theologians and even a special Vatican commission requested by Benedict XVI have endorsed it, this is the first time the Pope himself has publicly espoused such a view.

“The comments do not yet rise to the level of official church teaching, but they do suggest that Benedict might be open to such a development.”

John Thavis, another distinguished Vatican commentator, said: “These are nuanced comments, and one should read the passage in full to gauge the Pope’s position. The Pope’s answer seems to invite follow-up questions.

“Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that the Vatican has never proclaimed a ‘ban’ on condom use in Aids prevention; on the contrary, some Vatican theologians and officials have argued that for married couples in which one partner is HIV-infected, use of condoms would be a moral responsibility.”

He added that “despite journalistic hyperventilation” the Pope’s comments do not signal a major shift in Vatican thinking on condoms.

“What the Pope has done is to raise the issue publicly,” he said, “making clear that the Church’s teaching against condoms as a form of birth control is different from its position on condom use in disease prevention.”

Statement on the Establishment of Anglicanorum Coetibus in England and Wales

The Establishment of a Personal Ordinariate in England and Wales

Much has been achieved over many years as a result of the dialogue and the fruitful ecumenical relations which have developed between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Obedient to the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Heavenly Father, the unity of the Church remains a constant desire in the vision and life of Anglicans and Catholics. The prayer for Christian Unity is the prayer for the gift of full communion with each other. We must never tire of praying and working for this goal.

During his visit to the United Kingdom in September, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was therefore keen to stress that the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus: "…should be seen as a prophetic gesture that can contribute positively to the developing relations between Anglicans and Catholics. It helps us to set our sights on the ultimate goal of all ecumenical activity: the restoration of full ecclesial communion in the context of which the mutual exchange of gifts from our respective spiritual patrimonies serves as an enrichment to us all."i
It is now just over one year since the Apostolic Constitution was published. The Pope’s initiative provided for the establishment of personal Ordinariates as one of the ways in which members of the Anglican tradition may seek to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. As the Holy Father stated at that time, he was responding to petitions received "repeatedly and insistently"ii by him from groups of Anglicans wishing "to be received into full communion individually as well as corporately."iii Since then, it has become clear that a number of Anglican clergy and their faithful do indeed wish to bring their desire for full ecclesial communion with the Catholic Church to realisation within an Ordinariate structure.

In collaboration with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome, the Bishops of England and Wales have been preparing for the establishment of an Ordinariate early in January 2011. Although there may be practical difficulties in the months ahead, the Bishops are working to address these at a national and local level.

Five Anglican Bishops who currently intend to enter the Ordinariate have already announced their decision to resign from pastoral ministry in the Church of England with effect from 31 December 2010. They will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church early in January 2011. During the same month, it is expected that the Decree establishing the Ordinariate will be issued and the name of the Ordinary to be appointed announced. Soon afterwards, those non-retired former Anglican Bishops whose petitions to be ordained are accepted by the CDF, will be ordained to the Catholic Diaconate and Priesthood for service in the Ordinariate.

It is expected that the retired former Anglican Bishops whose petitions to be ordained are accepted by the CDF, will be ordained to the Catholic Diaconate and Priesthood prior to Lent. This will enable them, together with the Ordinary and the other former Anglican Bishops, to assist with the preparation and reception of former Anglican clergy and their faithful into full communion with the Catholic Church during Holy Week.

Before the beginning of Lent, those Anglican clergy with groups of faithful who have decided to enter the Ordinariate will then begin a period of intense formation for ordination as Catholic priests.

At the beginning of Lent, the groups of faithful together with their pastors will be enrolled as candidates for the Ordinariate. Then, at a date to be agreed between the Ordinary and the local diocesan Bishop, they will be received into the Catholic Church and confirmed. This will probably take place either during Holy Week, at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday or during the Easter Vigil. The period of formation for the faithful and their pastors will continue to Pentecost. Until then, these communities will be cared for sacramentally by local clergy as arranged by the diocesan Bishop and the Ordinary.

Around Pentecost, those former Anglican priests whose petitions for ordination have been accepted by the CDF will be ordained to the Catholic Priesthood. Ordination to the Diaconate will precede this at some point during Eastertide. Formation in Catholic theology and pastoral practice will continue for an appropriate amount of time after ordination.

In responding generously and offering a warm welcome to those seeking full ecclesial communion with the Catholic Church within the Ordinariate, the Bishops know that the clergy and faithful who are on that journey of faith will bring their own spiritual treasures which will further enrich the spiritual life of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Bishops will do all they can to ensure that there is effective and close collaboration with the Ordinariate both at diocesan and parish levels.

Finally, with the blessings and encouragement they have received from Pope Benedict’s recent Visit, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales are resolved to continue their dialogue with other Christian Churches and Ecclesial Communities on that journey towards the communion in faith and the fullness of unity for which Christ prayed.

Catholics Helping Convert Anglican Priests: Please Help!

I am writing to make an appeal to all readers of this blog and hopefully reaching many more Catholics around the Internet. I an aware that the St Barnabas Society is in great need of financial support from all of us at this time. As we all know, there are numerous Anglican priests who have recently become Catholics and have come by way of a solo swim.

There are also numerous Anglican Bishops and priests about to make the same journey in the Ordinariate. Everyone has different needs facing them. Can I ask every reader to consider being very generous to the St Barnabas Society and offering a gift to them for clergy who are leaving their livings and taking the step of faith and becoming Catholic?

Please consider giving to the Society that does so much to help families and individuals out. They are so generous and we need this society to flourish during this time. At this time of the year, the Society regularly gives gifts to families to help with added Christmas expenses as well. We need to support this society as it does a tremendous job and is a very worthy cause that deserves full support from the Catholic/Anglican communities.

Would all readers tweet this, forward this via email, and blog it on their blogs today as well. The newspapers are reporting that there will be a press conference today regarding the Ordinariate from Archbishop Nichols. We shall wait to see what comes of that. In the meantime, let us get busy promoting the St Barnabas Society! Go visit the website and make an offering as we follow the generosity of our Holy Father towards convert Anglican clergy in the same spirit.

The St Barnabas Society, a registered charity, operates in Great Britain and Ireland and exists to provide pastoral and financial help on behalf of the whole Catholic community to former clergy ministers and religious from other churches, who live in Great Britain and Ireland, and who have been led by faith and conscience to come into full communion with the Catholic Church.

St Barnabas was chosen as its patron because it was he who befriended Paul after his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and encouraged him to begin a new life in the apostolic church with St Peter at its head.

Those who have been ministers, clergy or religious of other churches lose not only their jobs but also often their homes. Many are not qualified, trained or experienced in any other work and find it very difficult to obtain another job.

Thanks to the generosity of the Catholic community the St. Barnabas Society is able to help these people with friendship, advice, and where necessary financial support.
Those who have been religious may have no money or possesions of any kind.

The monetary grants we make may range from a one-off amount; to meet a particular need such as for clothes, to a regular monthly grant to help with living and housing costs. The Trustees decide the size and frequency of the discretionary grants on the basis of the needs of the applicant. Monthly grants are reviewed at regular intervals in the light of the applicant's current position.

The St Barnabas Society continues the work, begun over a century ago, of welcoming and helping clergy and religious of other churches. It cooperates with the Bishops and Parish Priests to provide support until the individuals have been integrated into the Catholic community and established in a new life.

Registered with the Charity
Commission No. 1009910A Company Limited by guaranteeRegistered in England No.
2645233

Blessed Cardinal Newman on Reason and Faith

Over at the Westminster Diocese website is the latest video of Faith Matters. I have embed it here for easy viewing. Do take the time to listen to this excellent lecture.

Cardinal Newman: Reason and Faith from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.

The Catholic Church and Reality: Revisiting A Prior Post

Within postmodern thinking there is no unified whole in which we can call 'reality' and the result is that people come to give up on looking for a universal truth; for at the end of the day there is nothing more than two people holding a host of conflicting interpretations created by the postmodern linguistic world. Therefore, this means there is no final criterion by which to evaluate reality and behaviour because all interpretations are equally valid.

What Newman seemed to come to terms with is what I came to understand as I considered the question of authority in my journey of being received into full communion with See of St. Peter. What is interesting for my understanding was my coming to see that in actuality the absence of the objective truth of the church backed by a principled authority loses the centre the Via Media claims to want to hold. The Catholic faith is the grand narrative of God's activity in human history. But, what Newman also came to realise was that universal truth is not discovered by reason alone. All interpretations are not equally valid. What does one do? Newman is helping in showing the problem here.

And now you will ask me, what it is I saw in the history of primitive controversies and Councils which was so fatal to the pretensions of the Anglican Church? I saw that the general theory and position of Anglicanism was no novelty in ancient history, but had a distinct place in it, and a series of prototypes, and that these prototypes had ever been heretics or the patrons of heresy. The very badge of Anglicanism, as a system, is that it is a Via Media; this is its life; it is this, or it is nothing; deny this, and it forthwith dissolves into Catholicism or Protestantism. This constitutes its only claim to be recognized as a distinct form of Christianity; it is its recommendation to the world at large, and its simple measuring-line for the whole field of theology. The Via Media appeals to the good sense of mankind; it says that the human mind is naturally prone to excess, and that theological combatants in particular are certain to run into extremes. Truth, as virtue, lies in a mean; whatever, then, is true, whatever is not true, {375} extremes certainly are false. And, whereas truth is in a mean, for that very reason it is very moderate and liberal; it can tolerate either extreme with great patience because it views neither with that keenness of contrariety with which one extreme regards the other. For the same reason, it is comprehensive; because, being in a certain sense in the centre of all errors, though having no part in any of them, it may be said to rule and to temper them, to bring them together, and to make them, as it were, converge and conspire together in one under its own meek and gracious sway. Dispassionateness, forbearance, indulgence, toleration, and comprehension are thus all of them attributes of the Via Media. It is obvious, moreover, that a doctrine like this will find especial acceptance with the civil magistrate. Religion he needs as an instrument of government; yet in religious opinion he sees nothing else but the fertile cause of discord and confusion. Joyfully then does he welcome a form of theology, whose very mission it is to temper the violence of polemics, to soften and to accommodate differences, and to direct the energies of churchmen to the attainment of tangible good instead of the discussion of mysteries...

At the same time, though it may be unwilling to allow it, it is, from the nature of the case, but a particular form of Protestantism. I do not say that in secondary principles it may not agree with the Catholic Church; but, its essential idea being that she has gone into error, whereas the essential idea of Catholicism is the Church's infallibility, the Via Media is really nothing else than Protestant. Not to submit to the Church is to oppose her, and to side with the heretical party; for medium there is none. The Via Media assumes that Protestantism is right in its protest against Catholic doctrine, only that that protest needs correcting, limiting, perfecting. This surely is but a matter of fact; for the Via Media has adopted all the great Protestant doctrines, as its most strenuous upholder and the highest of Anglo-Catholics will be obliged to allow; the mutilated canon, the defective Rule of Faith, justification by faith only, putative righteousness, the infection of nature in the regenerate, the denial of the five Sacraments, the relation of faith to the Sacramental Presence, and the like; its aim being nothing else than to moderate, with Melancthon, the extreme statements of Luther, to keep them from shocking the feelings of human nature, to protect them from the criticism of common sense, and from the {378} pressure and urgency of controversial attack. Thus we have three parties on the historical stage; the See and Communion of Rome; the original pure Protestant, violent, daring, offensive, fanatical in his doctrines; and a cautious middle party, quite as heretical in principle and in doctrinal elements as Protestantism itself, but having an eye to the necessities of controversy, sensible in its ideas, sober in its tastes, safe in its statements, conservative in its aims, and practical in its measures.

Schism in the Catholic Wing of the Church of England

Now, I am not an Anglican and have not been for 18 months or so but I found this video interesting and thought I would post it for discussion and to hear other's thoughts. I realise people are in different places and after all that I used to hear at the FiF meetings, I find numerous remarks difficult to comprehend. Your thoughts? Remember all things here are in charity or comments will not be published.

Thoughts on the New Look of the Blog and Following

I would really like to read your comments on the new look of the blog. There is quite a bit more that needs to be transferred from the old template but any thoughts would be appreciated. I am very grateful to my friend Joel Garver in the States who has done so much to help me customize the template to help make things easier for me as I build the blog's new look and step up on its content. Thanks for reading and please pass this on to others and link as a follower if you are not presently...Much thanks!

Updating Blog and Template

This is just a note to say that the blog is going to be getting a bit of a new and updated look over the weekend. I planned on doing some writing, but it is way past due for an update and a bit of a new face. It will be similar to the previous template but I am going through and updating and adding the latest gadgets and the template look will change a bit. Thanks for your patience.

Verbum Domini: The Church as the Setting for Hermeneutics

This evening I printed off the Holy Father's work titled Verbum Domini and am finding it such enjoyable reading. Our present Holy Father is a man who lives sacred scripture and finds within it the living authority of the Church. The reason we see this so clearly in him is because he has realised and lives by the principle that "the sacred scriptures must be interpreted in light of the same Spirit through whom it was written." The Holy Father displays this ecclesial experience of examining sacred scripture in every area of his life and ministry. So, the reading of sacred scripture should be leading us to an increase of ecclesial awareness and ecclesial communion as we walk by faith.

The Holy Father makes clear the underlying hermeneutical authority of sacred scripture when he writes, "The intrinsic link between the word and faith makes clear that authentic biblical hermeneutics can only be had within the faith of the Church, which has its paradigm in Mary's fiat." Quoting from St Bonaventure, the Holy Father reminds us that without faith there is no key to throw open the sacred text. Therefore it is the life of the Church that is the primary setting for interpreting sacred scripture. The absence of this hermeneutical key is the primary problem in Protestantism where reading scripture on one's own has allowed so many errors to easily slip through the closed doors of the authoritative Church's hermeneutical guide. This is why the only authentic reading of sacred scripture is firmly rooted in the tradition of the Church that is in harmony with the Catholic Church's doctrine.

There is much more that I will be reading over the next few days as I work through this text but I look forward to more blog posts on this document in the near future.

Pope Benedict XVI: What Does It Mean to Be A Catholic Educator

"Being an educator means having joy in one’s heart and communicating it to everyone so as to make life good and beautiful; it means providing reasons and goals for life’s journey, presenting the beauty of the person of Jesus and making people love Him, His lifestyle, His freedom. … Above all it means holding up the goal of … that ‘extra’ that comes to us from God.

This requires personal knowledge of Jesus, a personal, daily and loving contact with Him in prayer, meditation on the Word of God, faithfulness to the Sacraments, the Eucharist, Confession; it means communicating the joy of being part of the Church, of having friends with whom to share, not only the difficulties but also the beauties and surprises of a life of faith. “You will be good educators if you are able to involve everyone in the good of the young.

You cannot be self-sufficient but must make the vital importance of educating the young generations felt at all levels. Without the presence of the family, for example, you risk building on sand; without a collaboration with schools it is not possible to create a profound knowledge of the faith; without the involvement of the those who work in the sector of leisure and communication your patient efforts risk being unproductive and ineffective in daily life.”

Five Anglican Bishops Resign to Come Home to Rome: Welcome!!!!

Well, the news is spreading and I find this news especially joyful but not surprised knowing two of the five well. If they read this, please be assured of our prayers and "warm welcome" as you make the journey that so many have made in the past and continue to do so. I remain convinced that the Protestant Reformation is and will be coming to an end as the Catholic Church begins her realignment in pursuit of her being faithful to our Lord's prayer that we may all be one. God bless you five bishops and those who follow your faithful lead!

Here is their statement found at the FiF site.

LIKE MANY in the catholic tradition of Anglicanism, we have followed the dialogue between Anglicans and Catholics, the ARCIC process, with prayer and longing. We have been dismayed, over the last thirty years, to see Anglicans and Catholics move further apart on some of the issues of the day, and particularly we have been distressed by developments in Faith and Order in Anglicanism which we believe to be incompatible with the historic vocation of Anglicanism and the tradition of the Church for nearly two thousand years.

The Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum cœtibus, given in Rome on 4th November 2009, was a response to Anglicans seeking unity with the Holy See. With the Ordinariates, canonical structures are being established through which we will bring our own experience of Christian discipleship into full communion with the Catholic Church throughout the world and throughout the ages. This is both a generous response to various approaches to the Holy See for help and a bold, new ecumenical instrument in the search for the unity of Christians, the unity for which Christ himself prayed before his Passion and Death. It is a unity, we believe, which is possible only in eucharistic communion with the successor of St Peter.

As bishops, we have even-handedly cared for those who have shared our understanding and those who have taken a different view. We have now reached the point, however, where we must formally declare our position and invite others who share it to join us on our journey. We shall be ceasing, therefore, from public episcopal ministry forthwith, resigning from our pastoral responsibilities in the Church of England with effect from 31st December 2010, and seeking to join an Ordinariate once one is created.

We remain very grateful for all that the Church of England has meant for us and given to us all these years and we hope to maintain close and warm relationships, praying and working together for the coming of God’s Kingdom.

We are deeply appreciative of the support we have received at this difficult time from a whole variety of people: archbishops and bishops, clergy and laity, Anglican and Catholics, those who agree with our views and those who passionately disagree, those who have encouraged us in this step and those who have urged us not to take this step.

The Right Revd Andrew Burnham
The Right Revd Keith Newton
The Right Revd John Broadhurst
The Right Revd Edwin Barnes
The Right Revd David Silk

Getting My Feet Back On The Ground

I know it has been a while since I last posted anything. I returned last Friday from the States and have been trying to catch up with work and readjusting to the time difference from the US back to our clocks in England. Trips like that do seem to take it out of you more, especially as age increases.

One of the things about being away for some time and not having access to my computer and the Internet in general, is trying to catch up with the happenings once one does regain access to the I-Net world. I am hoping to get a post or two up later today.