You may have heard in the news that the B.C. government is struggling with the polygamy issue. Years ago, when same-sex marriage was being debated, pro-life leaders warned that polygamy would be the next can of worms to be opened. Liberal-leaning Canadians scoffed. But it turns out we were right.
But the liberal-leaning Canadians don't seem to care. They should, especially the feminists. Polygamy is based on the idea that a man cannot be satisfied by just one woman. That's very demeaning to the dignity of women. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says it quite plainly
2387 The predicament of a man who, desiring to convert to the Gospel, is obliged to repudiate one or more wives with whom he has shared years of conjugal life, is understandable. However polygamy is not in accord with the moral law." [Conjugal] communion is radically contradicted by polygamy; this, in fact, directly negates the plan of God which was revealed from the beginning, because it is contrary to the equal personal dignity of men and women who in matrimony give themselves with a love that is total and therefore unique and exclusive." The Christian who has previously lived in polygamy has a grave duty in justice to honor the obligations contracted in regard to his former wives and his children.
Like so many teachings of the Church, they are logical. An atheist should be able to see this logic. Why is it, then, that we don't hear feminists being outraged by polygamy? Doesn't polygamy seem like a direct attack to the gains that feminists have made over the years?
I think part of the answer is that lefties don't tend to fight each other. They have a code of silence whereby they overlook each others' sins. But I wonder how much longer that can last on polygamy.
It's quite ironic that the Church, which some people consider to be discriminatory towards women, is more vocal in opposing polygamy that feminists!
LifeSiteNews.com interviewed Archbishop Martin Currie of St. John's, Newfoundland, regarding the Development and Peace (D&P) scandal. Archbishop Currie was listed as a co-author of the June 2009 report of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) that whitewashed the D&P scandal. Look what happened during the interview:
The June report sparked controversy as it stated: "we believe the allegations by Lifesite News … are not founded on the facts." In the interview however, LSN was able to demonstrate directly to the archbishop that the allegations were indeed founded on facts. After seeing the evidence first hand, the bishop stated apologetically, "I just should have followed up more."
Hold on a sec. The whole purpose of the CCCB's so-called investigation into D&P was to "follow up more" on the allegations. It seems that the archbishop was grossly negligent in how he conducted his "investigation". Negligent probably isn't strong enough of a word. After all, John Pacheco mailed the evidence directly to each bishop in the country. All they had to do was open the envelope and read the contents. It was served to them on a silver platter. Hand-fed into their mouths with a spoon.
It makes my blood boil. We're talking about abortion! This isn't some trivial theologian debate about how many angels can stand on the head of a needle. Lives are at stake! What does it take to get a bishop to bounce out of his chair in outrage?
Let's read more:
He explained that the investigation was limited to the first five groups in Mexico that LSN had
The Church's teaching on women's ordination is unquestionably an infallible teaching of the Church. If one reads the words used by John Paul II in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, you can see that he used very heavy and deliberate language to authoritatively define this teaching.
In the following months, the Church realized that this document was not accepted by everybody and that some controversy remained. After all, in such a large Church, it is not surprising that a variety of interpretations could emerge for Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, despite the very definitive language used. So like a good Mother, the Church wished to reassure her children by repeating this teaching in a very explicit matter with the firm intention of dispelling any controversy that may have remained.
This document, called the Responsum ad dubium Concerning the Teaching Contained in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis was issued less than 18 months after Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. It’s quite unusual for the Vatican to repeat itself so soon. It also contains the key word “infallible”. Let’s read a juicy quote:
“This teaching requires definitive assent, since, founded on the written Word of God, and from the beginning constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church, it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium”
That's very strong language! How much more needs to be said? But there is something else that you probably didn't notice. All three sources of divine revelation are mentioned in that one sentence:
-Word of God
-Tradition (capital T)
-Magisterium
The three sources of divine revelation are invoked in the same sentence as “requires definitive assent” and “infallible”. The Vatican is telling us something profound: they didn't make this up, it is divinely revealed. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!!
It doesn't matter how definitive you or I think that this teaching is. All that matters is that the Vatican intended for it to be definitive and infallible. At that point, debate and discussion must cease and gave way to humble obedience.
Now someone could argue that we don't really know how definitive the Vatican meant to be on this matter. All we have is a written document, and like any document, it is subject to diverse interpretations. So how do we really know that the Vatican meant to teach infallibly? This is essentially the position that Mr. Gaillardetz is taking. This is a very dangerous course because it would essentially nullify the wonderful gift of the Magisterium. We could never really know what the Vatican teaches and we would be open to our own personal interpretations on everything. In such a world, theologians would become the official interpreters of magisterial teaching. Even more, individual Catholics could also become their own interpreters of magisterial teaching and hence be allowed to contracept “in good conscience” despite what the church has taught for 2,000 years, and even before that going back to the earliest Old Testament texts.
Have you ever seen the skit called "Who's on first?" It's a classic by Abbott and Costello. Similarly, imagine if you're trying to explain something to a friend and he just doesn't get it. No matter how many times you say it and how many different ways your word it, he still doesn't understand. Wouldn't that be annoying? That's exactly what Mr. Gaillardetz does with regards to the Vatican and women's ordination. How many times does the Vatican have to say “definitive” and “infallible” before he finally accepts the teaching?
Do you see how all the pieces are coming together now? Once trust in magisterial teaching breaks down, everything else falls apart. Gaillardetz has made a living by playing on nuances and by instilling doubts about the infallibility of various Church teaching. This gives them free reign to put forward his own interpretations.
Two of Canada's strongest Archbishops, Terrence Prendergast (Ottawa) and Thomas Collins (Toronto), started the work of undoing some of the damage done by more liberal bishops on the Development and Peace (D&P) scandal. The manner in which they intervened is a HUGE development, unprecedented in the recent history of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
First let me summarize the facts (h/t LifeSiteNews.com), then I'll tell why this is so significant.
On October 20th, an initial report on the D&P scandal was presented at the Plenary of the CCCB by the bishop of Charlottetown, Richard Grecco.
Among other things, the report said that D&P "came under a concerted Internet-based media attack by certain militant advocacy groups and individuals, alleging that DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE was financing and promoting abortion programs and advocacy through our partner network."
According to the agenda, no discussion was scheduled to take place among the bishops at that time. Debate was to occur later in the week.
Nevertheless, Archbishop Prendergast and Archbishop Collins both raised objections at the conclusion of the presentation of the report.
Initially, the CCCB President Archbishop Weisgerber (Winnipeg), who chaired the meeting, attempted to stop any public debate.
Archbishop Prendergast still spoke up and said that the bishops of Ontario were very concerned with the situation. He referred to a letter circulated to bishops from D&P, saying that he felt that here the bishops were being asked to continue with "business as usual" with D&P. The Ottawa Archbishop added: "I'm not sure we can accept that."
Again Archbishop Weisgerber interjected to note that they were only to be discussing the current report.
Then Archbishop Collins spoke up. He said that there were problems with the report as presented because it misrepresented or misunderstood the criticisms of D&P by claiming that they were accused of "financing and promoting abortion programs and advocacy." He pointed out that D&P was "not accused of that," thus suggesting revising the report. "It is important," he said, "to be accurate." He continued: "When one is criticized it is important to either admit when the criticism is just or prove that it's not." He concluded, "It's important to I think listen to what the criticism is."
Archbishop Weisgerber had a very brief exchange with Bishop Grecco acknowledging they would reconsider the wording in the report.
What exactly happened here?
Most obviously, the events show that there are bishops in the CCCB who are very unhappy with D&P. We already knew this, so that's not a big revelation. But it's comforting to get a reminder. ;-)
The biggest lesson of this incident is that these two Archbishops weresoupset about the scandal caused among the faithful that they felt the need to publicly break ranks with the other bishops and go on record, publicly, as disapproving of how this scandal is being managed. This has not been witnessed in the CCCB in a long time.
Think about it: they could have waited until the private discussion to raise their objections. They could have settled the issues behind closed doors. But they felt compelled to cause a scene before the reporters so that the faithful could have a public and visible witness to the effect that some bishops are not swallowing this. This is clearly a wink and a nudge to those faithful Catholics out there who've been floored by the CCCB's handling of the scandal so far. The two Archbishops are essentially saying: "My dear flock, we have not abandoned you. Your angst has not gone unnoticed. We're going to fight this alongside you."
Trust had been broken, so the trust had to be rebuilt. Archbishops Prendergast and Collins took a major step in that direction and they should be praised for their courage.
ROME (Catholic Online) - In an absolutely stunning announcement on the morning of October 20, 2009, the Holy See has, by Apostolic Constitution, provided the canonical vehicle for Anglican Christians to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. Throughout the evening expectations rose throughout the world along with the fervent prayers of millions who have longed to see this day. Many Catholics have watched in prayer with hopeful, heartfelt longing for their Christian brethren in the Anglican Communion. Many Anglican Christians have suffered from the ravages of their community from within brought about by moves away from Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Now,there is a way to the safe harbor of the Catholic Church.
This morning the Vatican offered a lifeline into the Ark of Peter for Anglican Christians who wish to avail themselves of the invitation.
Read the rest here. This is a historic day! Let us rejoice and praise the Lord!
(LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), a group co-founded by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus, sent an open letter yesterday to all of Canada's MPs, urging them to vote against Bill C-384. The private members bill, brought by Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde (La Pointe-de-l'Ile), seeks to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide.
This is definitely good news. COLF has done excellent work over the years. But the bishops cannot delegate their responsibility to teach about life issues to COLF. They need to teach it themselves by their words AND ESPECIALLY by their actions. So far, most of them aren't doing too well, judging by their handing of the Development and Peace scandal and their invitation of a dissenter to speak at their Plenary, not to mention the abortions taking place at St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital in London under the supervision and approval of a Catholic priest.
One of Canada's Human Rights Commissions has decided to play God again. This time it's the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC). It seems that nothing is beyond the reach of these kangaroo kourts. Nothing is too sacred or too logical to be questioned by these arbitrary commissions.
The latest incident involves a Catholic school teacher in Alberta that claims that she's suffering from "gender identity disorder" and that she must undergo a sex-change operation. Of course, such a rejection of the gender granted by God is a violation of Church teaching. From a purely secular standpoint, it's also a violation of plain common sense. When you have a problem of any kind, the only lasting solution comes from addressing the root of that problem. In this case, the teacher has a mental illness of some kind. Therefore, the logical and loving solution is to address the mental problem, not mutilate her body by making it look like a man.
As a result of her planned sex change, the teacher has been dismissed from the Catholic school board where she taught. She considers this to be a violation of her rights, and has filed a complaint against the school board. Unfortunately, the AHRC has accepted this complaint and will therefore hear arguments about it. The fact that they didn't reject this ridiculous complaint from the outset is very disturbing. It shows just how willing these commissions are to interfere in Church affairs.
I feel sorry for the teacher. I really do. Mental illness is not something that we should treat lightly or that we should scoff at. I have witnessed many people struggle with mental illness. It is extremely difficult to bear. Fortunately, it appears that the school board treated her kindly and respectfully when they let her go. The school board is well within its rights to decide who to employ.
The fact that the State is even considering the possibility of imposing its beliefs on the Church is extremely disturbing and intolerant. Canada is a diverse nation. It is not merely inhabited by the left wing extremists that run these commissions. These kangoroo kourts need to get in touch with reality and start being more tolerant of other peoples beliefs.
As for us Catholics, we better start moving our butts and make sure that our politicians understand that these commissions are unacceptable and violating the human rights they are supposedly intended to protect. If you don't act now, you're going to wake up someday and find out you're slave to the government's whims and fancies.
This incident also highlights the crucial fact that the true challenge for the Church in this day is to convert her own members. More damage is being inflicted on the Church in Canada today by Catholics than by any outsiders.
So before you go to bed tonight, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself: "What concrete action will I take to propagate the true Faith within the Church?" Don't go to bed until you've made a firm commitment.
Some people would call me a "Magisterial Catholic," which means that I accept all the teachings of the Catholic Church and I look to the Pope for my marching orders. I am actively involved in pro-life activities.
