With the help of LifeSite we hear from the great Francis Card. Arinze, Cardinal Bishop of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Velletri-Segni, former Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop Emeritus of Onitsha, Nigeria. His Eminence was consecrated at 32 years of age in 1965 and he attended the final session of the Second Vatican Council.
Card. Arinze is well-known for his pithy statements of truth with clarity and charity.
Thus…
Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria strongly defended the Catholic faith against the proposal put forward by one influential Synod Father who said last week that it is “unrealistic” for the divorced-and-remarried to refrain from sexual activity – what the Church following Christ calls ‘adultery,’ that such activity should be judged according to “lived context,” and that such person should be able to receive Holy Communion.
“The Ten Commandments are given to us by God. Have we any authority to say it is ‘unrealistic’ to expect people to keep any of the Ten Commandments, not only number six and number nine, also number five – abortion, killing of innocent people, number seven – stealing, whether small sums of money or big,” said Arinze, who is the prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews on Saturday in Rome.
“We cannot go on the reasoning that it is ‘unrealistic,’ he added. “You can say it is not easy. I accept that. Christ never promised us that it is easy to follow him. He said those who want to be his disciples must ‘take up their cross daily and follow me.’”
On the note of “carrying our cross”, you might want to take a look at this:
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St. Pope John Paul II Holy Thursday Letter to Priests 2002
Likewise, a failure to speak the truth because of a misconceived sense of compassion should not be taken for love. We do not have a right to minimize matters of our own accord, even with the best of intentions. Our task is to be God’s witnesses, to be spokesmen of a mercy that saves even when it shows itself as judgment on man’s sin. “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21).
Archbishop Arinze always inspires me to want to be a better Catholic, much the same way that St. John Paul II does.
I have come to a place in life as I get a bit older, where I realize I am as guilty as anyone in my generation of fudging God’s commandments. I’m OK when teaching, getting them set out properly and without compromise; I’m OK in how I expect myself to live up to them (even when I fail–sigh); but faced with a hurting person, I struggle with the urge to tell them it is OK even when they are breaking the law of God. I am horrified at this in myself and struggle against it. It is a horrible thing to find oneself relativistic on that which one knows is NOT relative!
All I can say is I’d be hellhound without confession and good examples like this Archbishop and St. John Paul II, and the many other Saints. And a close to home example of a lady from our RCIA team, who defended orthodox teaching with passionate zeal (like a Saint Dominic)–and so much love it was a pleasure to be corrected by her– I want to be me but like her!
Cardinal Arinze. not archbishop! I need to drink more coffee before posting.
I can read this and hear his voice. So many times we were blessed to hear and listen to Cardinal Arinze. There was a program on EWTN in which he was a regular, I believe it was called the “Family Apostolate”. Anyway, what a joy to listen to him and the host on that program, just inspiring and edifying. Now THIS is a Cardinal. God grant him many years to bless us.
Habemus papum
“Cardinal Defends Catholic Doctrine.” How did we ever reach the point where that could actually be a headline?
It’s like members of the Curia, other than Arinze and other solid men, are tripping over themselves racing to the microphone and newspapers to win the pagan world popularity contest. They think they are reaching the “alternative society”, but what they are doing by not delivering the punchline for these groups is a sin to withhold the Truth about sin, self accountability, spiritual discipline, and eternal salvation. Their eager quest for popularity is leaving not only these individuals in the dark but sowing confusion and discord among the Faithful.
” I’m OK in how I expect myself to live up to them (even when I fail–sigh); but faced with a hurting person, I struggle with the urge to tell them it is OK even when they are breaking the law of God. I am horrified at this in myself and struggle against it. It is a horrible thing to find oneself relativistic on that which one knows is NOT relative! ”
This is where I wind up all too often. It’s difficult to think quickly of what is honest yet kind when confronted with these situations, particularly in one’s own family and friends.
Arinze for Pope!!!!! ;-) Otherwise Cardinal Burke or Bishop Athanasius Schneider or some other catholic Catholic this time. ;-)
I had hoped that Arinze would be elected in 2005, taking the name Pope John Paul III. Sadly, at this late date it is no longer likely that he would ever be elected.
Will someone please create an online “scorecard” for all the bishops and cardinals of the world recording their positions on AL?
I second Taylor Marshall’s recommendation above.
It’s a pleasure to hear that accent and not just the words spoken.
Perhaps someone here can shed light on this question I have been asking. Why did other good Cardinals like this one not sign their names to the dubia?
Father, that video appears to have been published on the 20th of October 2015. Unfortunately it isn’t new.
Christ’s “position” on Amortis Laetitia trumps all others. He told the adulterer, “Go, and sin no more.” No nonsense about “accompaniment”; just the unvarnished truth.
What? Commandants are like laws? You HAVE to follow them? Geez, here I thought they were moral suggestions for living a better life. Who knew, right?