CGZ

I like the priests who do have their own cathedrals, or their own churches, or their own hospitals or schools or orphanages to tend. The ones who have nothing to tend but a computer, blogging half-truths and stirring the pot don’t seem to contribute very much….

I looked up the livestreams of the Institute’s Masses yesterday and nothing was said about this.

In fairness to Fr Z, he didn't leak the news and was very explicitly annoyed, even to the point of offering his apologies to the ICRSP… and he's in Rome, which is not exactly his diocese, but it's close enough for anyone who cares, considering that it's between him and his bishop.

Kenneth,

I appreciate that you didn't pour burning coals on my head.

Gamba,

Fr. Zuhlsdorf's work is not my work, nor mine his. In one thing, we have a common point, though, and that is that we've asked for prayers in this very trying situation. It's not a secret that Blase Cardinal Cupich favors those who want to harm the Church and weaken the faith, and strives to harm those who want only to be faithful. I do not wish him ill, only a conversion of heart.

Dear Chris:

You know those banners that appear about minding your tone of voice? Those appeared because of me. I used to regularly participate, but I quite innocently asked the question of what solos a cantor should know. It turns out the answer was "Something for weddings; something for funerals; something for absolute emergencies." I was however subjected to some pretty serious abuse even for asking such a question. I protested mightily to the administrator, who started putting those banners up, and I stopped participating. That was in 2013.

When I first heard the news, I might have posted what you did and then gone "oops." However, I will add that I think abusive comments directed towards our Cardinal here in DC are not helpful at all. He does not seem to be a mean man, and he is confronted with a difficult choice. Prayers, as you noted, are exactly the appropriate thing.

Blessings,

Kenneth

However, I will add that I think abusive comments directed towards our Cardinal here in DC are not helpful at all. He does not seem to be a mean man, and he is confronted with a difficult choice.

The kind of vitriol that pops up here, uncomfortably close in tone and purpose to that which emanates from the American political apparatus, is why I question my participation here in occasion.

When our shepherds our lacking in (christian) charity, what example does it set the sheep?
When our shepherds lack in holiness, what example does it set for the sheep?
When our shepherds behave like our politicians, are we surprised that the vitriol is the same?
@MatthewRoth suggests we need to pray for our bishops, some of them appear to be on a wide road, rather than the narrow difficult path.
@amindthatsuits everyday we all have difficult choices, we can choose to be good or choose to be bad. Hiding behind the letter of the law is not a good option, as it may be lacking in charity.
N.B. When our neighbour errs we are called to correct in in private, if he continues to err we must correct him in public as the sin may become our own. The saints have told us that this duty applies to all christians no matter how lowly.

Schönbergian, I could not agree more. From the time when I participated regularly, I see that some of the most acidic and ill-tempered have disappeared. I hope that means they reflected and reordered their lives. I also pretty much stopped participating in online forums because I find myself brooding and returning fire.

Peace,

Kenneth

You know, you don't have to continue to fund those shepherds, or sheep-fleecers as I would call some of them. Nothing gets their attention like taking away their piggy bank.

Good question, tomjaw. I was told that if I donated to the building fund, the diocese didn't get any of that. Then along came a spendthrift priest trying to build a monument to himself, so that went out the window. Now, I find charities that I know are doing good work and give money directly to those in genuine need.

Chris, please see my answer of July 20. In any case, since that was posted,there have been many indiscrete comments about His Eminence all over the place, but at this point we don't need to worry how that will affect his decision-making.

Kenneth

Chris:

I have to admit that I actually don't know what I was referring to in specific. It was all one discussion at that point, and maybe--maybe--I was just saying that I didn't think comments in any venue were going to help. In fact, one pastor said, as I quoted, "if you feel like blogging, don't." But now things are settled. And I don't remember what I was referring to. You can lay it down to my just having had my 65th.

I have seen two different phone snaps of a make-shift sign pasted on the front of the Shrine in Chicago, yet rather oddly see nothing even vaguely official. If anyone sees anything, I always like to see the original source.

Peace.

Kenneth

Which is very good advice when it's rumor, and I advocate the same thing, but a sign on the door (if it is not fake) is now a public event, so I was wondering if there was any kind of back up to it.

Peace,

Kenneth

Does that mean that the general public cannot go there for Mass?

This is true, except that the people in charge don't care about the law, and canonical niceties will lead to a Roman decree.

Matthew, Kenneth,

I have not spoken with any of the Canons in Chicago, but I'm sure that they don't want to do anything which might harm the faithful attached to the shrine. Prayers, therefore, are called for, so that their efforts to safeguard the faithful will not bring further punishment on these good people.

If you're trying, Kenneth, to make "private" mean "registered members of the Shrine congregation", you'll have to ask a canon lawyer. On the other hand, how telling is it that the era of dialogue and accompaniment, announced in advance, can lead to such brutality as what you describe, and much worse.

canonical niceties will lead to a Roman decree.

Exactly. Sometimes doing something is more damaging than doing "nothing".