AND NOW…IDIOTS
With his usual class, Episcopalian priest Tom Ehrich weighs in on Benedict XVI:
I wish I could see Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise decision to resign on Feb. 28 as a mea culpa for having led the world’s largest Christian body backward for eight years.
And not into union with the Episcopalians which is where he should have led it.
Alas, he has made no apology for cementing Roman Catholicism’s reputation as male-centric, homophobic and uninterested in sex abuse scandals beyond their litigation costs.
coughBEDEPARRYcough. Glass houses and all that, Ehrich. But Tommy’s screed actually gets worse than this.
In an eerie tone-deafness, he announced his retirement in Latin and had it translated into seven languages of Europe, where the church is close to extinct, and not into any of the African, Asian or Middle Eastern languages spoken by emerging Catholics.
Way worse.
Rome’s obdurate stands against oppressed peoples are shameful. Its harsh treatment of women and gays are not only anachronistic but bad theology. Its institution-first responses to sex abuse by clergy are appalling.
“Obdurate stands against oppressed peoples.” “Harsh treatment of women and gays.” Yeah, Rome hates them oppressed people a whole bunch. And it is, in fact, funny to read an Episcopalian using the term, “bad theology,” thanks for asking.
That is a sad legacy. The world has needed more. Not just the insular world of the Roman Catholic Church has needed more, but the world itself, for the pope is the public face of global Christianity. With its largest force stuck in the 19th century, providing safe cover for oppression and intolerance, Christianity has a reputation that smaller denominations and individual congregations struggle to escape.
Basically, Tom wants his doctor to tell him that the hacking cough Tom’s had every day for the last three months is nothing to worry about.
When young American adults are asked what “church” means to them, they answer with words like “harsh, judgmental, intolerant, angry, old and dull.”
Must be nice to attend a “church” without sinners.
I doubt anyone expects an eruption of progressivism in the upcoming papal election. But a sign of moving forward would be welcome to many Catholics — and more than a few non-Catholics. Those crying for kindness and tolerance, justice and courage, aren’t just a ragged bunch of malcontents or anti-Catholics.
Yes they are.
These are the faithful — not all of the faithful, of course, for faith comes in many forms, some of them quite conservative — but large cadres of 21st century believers yearning for a 21st century church that’s capable of hearing their needs and proclaiming a gospel set free from the reactionary attitudes of self-preservation.
Episcopalians in search of apostolic legitimacy, in other words.
How will Benedict be remembered? It’s hard to say. My guess: as a placeholder. He tried to turn the tide of history because he disagreed with that tide and found it theologically dangerous. I hope the next pope does what Jesus did: hearing the beggar’s cries, against his disciples’ wishes, inviting the beggar closer and then healing him.
In the world and of the world. Certainly, Episcopalians are kicking ass and taking the names of empty pews with that approach.
I wish I could see Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise decision to resign on Feb. 28 as a mea culpa for having led the world’s largest Christian body backward for eight years.
And not into union with the Episcopalians which is where he should have led it.
Alas, he has made no apology for cementing Roman Catholicism’s reputation as male-centric, homophobic and uninterested in sex abuse scandals beyond their litigation costs.
coughBEDEPARRYcough. Glass houses and all that, Ehrich. But Tommy’s screed actually gets worse than this.
In an eerie tone-deafness, he announced his retirement in Latin and had it translated into seven languages of Europe, where the church is close to extinct, and not into any of the African, Asian or Middle Eastern languages spoken by emerging Catholics.
Way worse.
Rome’s obdurate stands against oppressed peoples are shameful. Its harsh treatment of women and gays are not only anachronistic but bad theology. Its institution-first responses to sex abuse by clergy are appalling.
“Obdurate stands against oppressed peoples.” “Harsh treatment of women and gays.” Yeah, Rome hates them oppressed people a whole bunch. And it is, in fact, funny to read an Episcopalian using the term, “bad theology,” thanks for asking.
That is a sad legacy. The world has needed more. Not just the insular world of the Roman Catholic Church has needed more, but the world itself, for the pope is the public face of global Christianity. With its largest force stuck in the 19th century, providing safe cover for oppression and intolerance, Christianity has a reputation that smaller denominations and individual congregations struggle to escape.
Basically, Tom wants his doctor to tell him that the hacking cough Tom’s had every day for the last three months is nothing to worry about.
When young American adults are asked what “church” means to them, they answer with words like “harsh, judgmental, intolerant, angry, old and dull.”
Must be nice to attend a “church” without sinners.
I doubt anyone expects an eruption of progressivism in the upcoming papal election. But a sign of moving forward would be welcome to many Catholics — and more than a few non-Catholics. Those crying for kindness and tolerance, justice and courage, aren’t just a ragged bunch of malcontents or anti-Catholics.
Yes they are.
These are the faithful — not all of the faithful, of course, for faith comes in many forms, some of them quite conservative — but large cadres of 21st century believers yearning for a 21st century church that’s capable of hearing their needs and proclaiming a gospel set free from the reactionary attitudes of self-preservation.
Episcopalians in search of apostolic legitimacy, in other words.
How will Benedict be remembered? It’s hard to say. My guess: as a placeholder. He tried to turn the tide of history because he disagreed with that tide and found it theologically dangerous. I hope the next pope does what Jesus did: hearing the beggar’s cries, against his disciples’ wishes, inviting the beggar closer and then healing him.
In the world and of the world. Certainly, Episcopalians are kicking ass and taking the names of empty pews with that approach.
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