Ed Peters has suggestions for Synod on Family

Posted on 10 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Ed Peters, distinguished canonist, posted at his blog, In The Light Of The Law, about the upcoming autumn Synod on the family.  He has no combox over there, but you should visit his place.

I suggest a careful reading of what follows.   My usual emphases and comments.

Three topics for the 2014 Synod on Marriage

The project to justify holy Communion for divorced-and-remarried Catholics seems to be losing steam. That’s good. [It would be good, were it true.  I don’t think it is losing steam.  I think the valve was closed and the steam is building for the fall meeting.] As I have said many times, unless one is willing to countenance the administration of the Eucharist to those obstinately persisting in manifest grave sin (pace Canon 915), or is willing to say that typical remarriage after divorce is not the grave sin of adultery (pace CCC 2384), or is willing to say that Christ was wrong about marriage lasting till death and about remarriage after divorce being adultery (pace the New Testament!), then that project was doomed from the start. It’s now time to consider ideas that would strengthen the Church’s witness to marriage, not weaken it.  [I don’t think that the advocates of Communion for the divorced/remarried will frame it in terms of changing doctrine.  They know that if they do, they will be shut down immediately.  They will try to stretch doctrine, maybe even suggest that this represents development of doctrine.  Then they will play the pastoral card as a trump to doctrinal purity or rigid legalism.  They will stress mercy over and against rules.  Then they will play the fear card.  They will shout that the sky is falling when it comes to practice of the faith by the rank and file. “People are leaving the Church!”, they will cry.  In short, they will be sly and manipulative.]

Leaving aside some important (but not urgent) ecclesiological questions about the ultimate future of the Synod of Bishops, the assembly convoked for October 2014 will not be legislative in nature and it will not make policies; instead the synod will be tasked with discussing, in an informed manner, natural and Christian marriage from pastoral and canonical perspectives. That sort of discussion requires study (general impressions and opinions about marriage are no longer adequate bases from which to respond to the crisis in marriage), and real study is hard work. [But the Synod could be a rally point for the agenda of the Kasperites.]

May I suggest (or re-suggest as the case may be) three marriage-related topics that need significant advance prepping if they are to be competently treated by the synodal Fathers.

1. Canonical Form for Marriage. The requirement that Catholics wed before clergy has always been an imposition on the natural and sacramental reality of marriage, and the societal conditions that supported its imposition a few centuries ago have all but disappeared today. [Have they?] Instead of defending marriage, the requirement of form now permits tens of thousands of Catholics annually to walk away from marital unions that we demand all others honor, deprives Catholics in such unions the graces specific to Matrimony, and relegates such unions to the status of concubinage. Further, the pastoral need to blunt the ecclesial consequences for disregarding canonical form has led to the elaboration and/or invocation of several juridically dubious “work-arounds” in such areas as jurisdiction, dispensation, and sanation. The question is: does the requirement of canonical form do more harm than good to the Church’s proclamation of marriage today?

2. The Annulment Process. In the popular mind (including many bishops’), the annulment process is a pastoral mechanism that “works” when it allows Catholics in failed marriages the chance to marry someone else. Correcting this massive misunderstanding about the vital juridic nature of the annulment process is of the utmost importance. [Do I hear an “Amen!”?] Beyond that, however, the annulment process, being established and administered by human beings, is in need of reform especially regarding: (a) appreciating the canonical impact of widespread societal and familial dysfunction on young persons attempting to enter marriage as Christ and his Church proclaim it; (b) the actual or perceived disconnect between the interpretation accorded norms on consent as given in Rome versus that in many other tribunals around the world; (c) the real burdens and benefits associated with mandatory appeal; and (d) the feasibility of allowing third instance tribunals to function in nations that actually need them.

3. Same-sex unions vs. ‘same-sex marriage’. If there is a philosophically, juridically, and pastorally defensible distinction between same-sex unions and ‘same-sex marriage’, the time to articulate that distinction is now. Earlier ecclesiastical documents on this issue, striving (correctly!) to avoid any semblance of support for the idea of ‘same-sex marriage’, rejected same-sex unions in terms that admit of no toleration in the secular arena and indeed, if taken literally, demand sacrifices by Catholics that the Church should, in any age, be loathe to impose. [?] Besides this important clarification of categories, the practical issues occasioned by having faithful in same-sex unions or ‘marriages’ (chiefly in regard to their admission to the sacraments and participation in Catholic public affairs) need systematic elucidation. [Does this take scandal into adequate consideration?]

[…]

Final thoughts over at Peters’ place.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , ,
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Fishwrap spirituality: a sampling

Posted on 9 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

A jaunt through a few of the things posted today at Fishwrap (aka The National Schismatic Reporter) gives you a sense of their … “spirituality”.  They’re spiritual over there.

For example, we learn from a Franciscan, Michael Crosby, more about “conscious evolution”.

Evolutionary consciousness points to a Trinitarian cosmic order

[…]

Although I am a male religious, I must admit that I too have focused (a lot but not intensely) on “conscious evolution.” The more I’ve investigated its premises, the more I find it helpful, especially as I engage the many questions about faith that science raises. It also has helped me as I seek credibility (and believability) as a Catholic religious and priest called to proclaim our faith in a world rapidly being defined by new insights arising from physics, neuroscience and cosmology.

When I tell other religious and priests that my exploration of these ideas have made me more conscious of how the Trinity and Christ constitute the source and summit of everything in creation, I sometimes find their first reaction is skepticism or fear. However, when they truly examine the idea for themselves, their resistance turns to enthusiastic acceptance. One example might show what I mean. It involves a group of women religious, a U.S. province of an international congregation whose leadership belongs to LCWR.

[…]

There’s some stuff about sharing in there, too, if you can make it that far.

And what to make of this?

Dominican brother sees prayer dances as an avenue to other faiths

[…]

A significant part of Kilikevice’s ministry has been bringing the Aramaic language to people through dance. He draws upon the Aramaic Jesus work of Neil Douglas-Klotz, a Chicago-born journalist-turned spiritual teacher and co-founder of the International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace, a venue for peacemaking through the arts.

On the Shem Center’s website, Kilikevice explains that the peace dances are a form of prayer “that creates community, while inviting participants to experience with breath, voice and body the spiritual wisdom found in ancient sacred phrases and their meanings.”

Kilikevice has been dancing in these circles since 1968. He discovered them during a retreat in San Jose, Calif., when someone suggested they go Sufi dancing. Not having a clue what it entailed, he went and ended up loving it. He told NCR he later learned that chant and dance can “awaken a powerful, experiential response that takes people beyond what a verbal recitation does.”

[…]

A significant part of Kilikevice’s ministry has been bringing the Aramaic language to people through dance. He draws upon the Aramaic Jesus work of Neil Douglas-Klotz, a Chicago-born journalist-turned spiritual teacher and co-founder of the International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace, a venue for peacemaking through the arts.

On the Shem Center’s website, Kilikevice explains that the peace dances are a form of prayer “that creates community, while inviting participants to experience with breath, voice and body the spiritual wisdom found in ancient sacred phrases and their meanings.”

Kilikevice has been dancing in these circles since 1968. He discovered them during a retreat in San Jose, Calif., when someone suggested they go Sufi dancing. Not having a clue what it entailed, he went and ended up loving it. He told NCR he later learned that chant and dance can “awaken a powerful, experiential response that takes people beyond what a verbal recitation does.”

[…]

Two years later, when the student conferences were expanded into Dominican colleges, Kilikevice became a regular presenter there, too. In 2011 he received the Sister Pat Brady award, with Brady crediting him for encouraging the Dominican order to realize “dance and music as a medium of peace and harmony.

[…]

Holy cow! The coveted Sr. Pat Brady Award! One can only aspire.

A jaunt through Fishwrap is … interesting.

And don’t forget… former-Father Greg Reynolds is still excommunicated.

Posted in Liberals, Lighter fare |
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WDTPRS (1962MR) Pentecost: understanding rightly

Posted on 8 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Let’s look at the Collect for Pentecost as it appears in the Missale Romanum of St. John XXIII. You will recognize it as the prayer after the Veni, Sancte Spiritus:

Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de eius semper consolatione gaudere.

This ancient  from at least the time of the Liber sacramentorum Gellonensis and probably older.  It survived the Consilium’s scalpels to live in the Novus Ordo only as the Collect for a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, though it was shoved to the back of the bus in favor of two Collects from the Gelasian Sacramentary, also existing in the Hadrianum version of the Gregorian Sacramentary.

There is nothing especially challenging in the Latin vocabulary. Our source of Latin consolation and wisdom, Messrs. Lewis & Short’s dictionary, says that sapio (infinitive  sapere) means first of all “to taste, savor; … to have a taste or flavor of a thing”. Logically it is extended to “to know, understand a thing”.  It is often paired in literature with the adverb recte, “rightly”, when wisdom is indicated.  Think of the English word “insipid” (the sap- shifts to sip-) for something without flavor and also a person without taste or wisdom.  We might think of homo sapiens as being one of “good taste”, who knows the savor of life, as it were.  Sapiens is thus connected with Greek sophos, or “wise”, or “sage” (also a savory herb!).  Sapientia, “Wisdom”, is a figure for the Holy Spirit as well as one of His Gifts.  The Holy Spirit, Parácletus, is our Counselor, leading us rightly, and Comforter, bringing us consolation.

LITERAL TRANSLATION:

O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant to us, in the same Spirit, to know the things that are right, and to rejoice always in His consolation.

What leaps to my mind, steeped in the literature of late antiquity, is the connection of wisdom, inherent in the phrase recta sapere, with consolation.

There was a genre of consolation literature in classical times and late antiquity into the medieval period.  This was part of the province of philosophy (“love of wisdom”).  This literature was used as a moral medication for the soul.  In the famous work of the imprisoned Boethius (+525), the Consolation of Philosophy, Lady Wisdom, Philosophy, comes to the author in his cell before his execution and diagnoses the true nature of his sickness of sadness.  She does this in a dialogue, so that Boethius can understand things rightly (like our recta sapere), and therefore be consoled. Lady Wisdom descended so as to raise Boethius up to God.  This is our pattern too, both in creation and in our renewal when we have sinned. I have mentioned before when pulling these prayers apart how many collects show the influence of the ancient philosophical concept of that all creation proceeds from God (exitus) in and then turns about (conversio), thus to take determinate form and return again to God (reditus). The prayers we have that result from late antiquity often ancient philosophical concepts.  We can’t discern what they really say without knowing these ancient rhetoric and philosophy.

Think now of our prayer and also the Veni Sancte Spiritus with which it is connected:

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts (corda) of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.”

In the Holy Spirit, who breathed life into the Body of Holy Church on Pentecost, may we all be renewed.  May He help us to return to God when we have strayed, and to return to each other in the embrace of our Holy Catholic Church when we have parted from clear unity.

Posted in EASTER, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, WDTPRS | Tagged , , , ,
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ANOTHER UPDATE: Feedback from the troops and thanks for the socks!

Posted on 7 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Remember our Fox River Socks project for the troops in Afghanistan?  I posted the link to a wishlist created by a Catholic chaplain.  As you know, socks are really important for soldiers.  The wishlist was created for some 1800 pairs of socks and YOU, dear readers, helped to bring it to 100% fulfillment.  HERE

Today I had a little feedback which I am happy to share:

Father,

Just got your box of socks and they have been well received. I handed some of them out personally and gave a majority of them to our Chaplain to give during moral calls. All of the Soldiers would like to thank you and your parishioners for taking the time to remember us in your thoughts and prayers. Your actions remind Soldiers that their conflict is remembered and that the nation cares about them. Finally I would like to personally say thank you and hope that you will continue to keep all men and women in uniform in your thoughts and prayers.

Most Sincerely,
Daniel R. Beatty
1LT, TC
S4 OIC 548th CSSB

You are welcome!  I am sure I speak for all the readers who participated that helping out was out pleasure.

UPDATE 7 June:

I had a nice note from Fr. Hesseling, who started the socks project for his troops:

Fr. Z,

100% fulfillment!!!  Holy cow!  I never expected to have such support, I’m so thankful to you and your readers.

Here’s a couple more pictures from happy soldiers who have new socks to be thankful for…

Fr. Jason

He also sent photos!

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US District Judge strikes down WI constitution’s marriage amendment. Bp. Morlino responds.

Posted on 7 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Legislatures don’t make the laws in these USA anymore. Judges nobody elected have taken over.  They do whatever the hell they want in this new kritarchy.

A case in point. A US District Court, Judge Barbara Crabb, struck down as unconstitutional Article XIII, Section 13 of Wisconsin’s state constitution, which reads: “Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state.”  The people of Wisconsin voted in a referendum to amend the constitution with that article in November 2006.

The Attorney General of Wisconsin, J.B. Van Hollen, says that the law remains in force and will appeal. Meanwhile some county clerks are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The situation is dreadful and disappointing.

Here is the public response from His Excellency Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison (aka The Extraordinary Ordinary). HERE

Statement from Bishop Robert C. Morlino, regarding a federal judge’s ruling on marriage /Article XIII, Section 13 of Wisconsin’s Constitution:

First, it bears repeating that, we must respect, love, and care for every individual we encounter, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they define themselves. This will never change. It is at the core of who we are as members of Christ’s Church. Christ, Himself, invites each individual to know and love Him and live a life in response to His love. His love and mercy can heal all divisions that separate us; however, we must acknowledge the divisions that exist — notably those we choose through our actions. All are invited to this love and these graces offered by Christ, through His Church. This applies to all who sincerely seek the Truth.

Marriage is, and can only ever be, a unique relationship solely between one man and one woman, regardless of the decision of a judge or any vote. This is not based on any private sectarian viewpoint, but on the natural moral law that is universally binding on all peoples, at all times, and inscribed into our human nature, as man and woman from the beginning of creation. It behooves us to safeguard the sacred ecology of all nature, especially of our human nature.

In striking down the constitutional amendment in our state which protects marriage, the court has, once again, shaken one of the most precious and essential building blocks of our civilization. There can be no question that the best formation for children is in the home of their biological mother and father, generally speaking, and we should always have a greater concern for future generations than we do for ourselves.

Marriage, between one man and one women with openness to children, is an element of the veryfirst “domino” of civilization. The very nature of marriage naturally generates life. When that first “domino” falls, everything that is good, true, and beautiful, which is rooted on the natural family, is seriously threatened. If the “domino” of true marriage falls, then fall all subsequent “dominos.” This is demonstrated, too often, in a culture that increasingly chooses death over life.

And so, I cannot find myself otherwise than deeply saddened. We trust that every avenue of just recourse will be examined and pursued by competent authorities, including the state attorney general. The Diocese of Madison will participate in the way that seems most prudent. For my own part, I will continue to speak strongly about the truth and beauty of marriage and encourage my brother priests and deacons, and all the lay faithful, to do the same.

Let our fervent prayers not be lacking in the days ahead.

Thus endeth the statement.

Yesterday was a very bad day for Wisconsin.

Sin is a fact we deal with in this vale of tears. There will always be sinners.

We, however, must defend truth and the Church’s doctrine.

UPDATE:

I received this email:

Father Z,

There is a website for rating and calling for the removal of judges from the bench. Here is the page for Barbara Crabb:  HERE

 

Posted in One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Sin That Cries To Heaven, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
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ASK FATHER: Use of the word “Catholic” in a title

Posted on 7 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

From a reader…

QUAERITUR:

I am planning on doing a web series on YouTube about the Faith. It is my understanding that the Catechism would forbid my using the name “Catholic” as part of the title of this series. If so, is “Christian” an acceptable alternative; or is this also not allowed.

The Code of Canon law prohibits associations from using the name “Catholic” unless that association has the approval of ecclesiastical authority, which usually means the local bishop.

That does not mean that I can’t call myself Catholic unless I check with the bishop each and every time. Nor does it require episcopal approval for one to describe one’s activities as Catholic.

If one is Catholic, presumably one does Catholic things. The Church restricts this title out of concern for the faithful, and for those outside of the Church who are being prompted by the Holy Spirit to enter.

It would scandalize the faithful if one were to open a sordid business and call it the “Catholic Dirty Book Store”, or start up an association of “Catholic Lawyers for Redefining Marriage”, or publish a newspaper filled with heretical and nonsensical opinions and call it the “National Catholic Reporter”.

The internet is, to a large extent, ground not yet covered by canonical legislation. Are blogs associations? Do they fall under the canonical legislation? What about YouTube channels? We are in unchartered waters.

When one is in uncharted waters one has two options. You can go ahead, full steam, and risk the chance of major problems in an attempt to reach the destination.  You can go slowly and carefully.

If you are intend to start up a YouTube channel to explain the Faith, first make sure you have the credentials and the ability to do so. With respect to some very earnest people, engaging in internet evangelization or catechesis requires more than a sincere desire to share the Faith. Some poor attempts do more harm than good if they open up the Faith to ridicule for poor presentation, or if they even unwittingly lead people toward error. You should have the technical skills to put together a quality presentation, as well as the theological acumen to navigate these unchartered waters.

Are you working with your pastor? A trusted priest?

As far as the name of your initiative is concerned, there are alternatives to using the word Catholic.  There are, for example, the names of many great saints. Depending on the specific areas you want to cover, a scriptural phrase or a line from the liturgy could be appropriate.  Make sure that if you use some Latin, that you get it right.

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Our Catholic Identity | Tagged ,
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Ignatius Press’ goof up with the new “Joseph Ratzinger-Collected Works: Theology of the Liturgy”

Posted on 6 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Massively screwed up page numbering.

For your Caveat Emptor file.

Some time back I advertised that Ignatius Press was about to release Joseph Ratzinger-Collected Works: Theology of the Liturgy and that it was available for pre-order.

Lots of you… lots… pre-ordered it.

I regret to say now that the edition I received, and I’ll bet a lot of you received, is massively screwed up.  The pagination is fouled up in the last part of the book, from about pp. 528 ff.

Apparently, it was an error by the printer.  Who else?

I wrote to Ignatius and got back this response:

The new printing will be ready in about a week – at that time everyone who bought a book from us will be receiving a corrected version.  If you bought it elsewhere, please contact them for a replacement.

Thank you,

[name edited]

Really helpful, I’d say.

I received mine as a gift, so I am out of luck.  No customer support.

So, folks, keep this in mind.

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Google doodle for D-Day…. Zip, Zilch, Niente, Rien, Nichts, Nichivo, Nada, Nihil, NOTHING

Posted on 6 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

You know that Google on its main page changes its graphic “doodle” when important days or anniversaries come along, right?  When it is “National Vegan Soy Milk Drinker Day”, they honor … you know.

Today, the 70th anniversary of one of the most important days in Western Civilization, D-Day, what do they have?

“But Father! But Father!”, some of you are saying, little frowns sloooowly appearing, “I don’t see any ‘doodle’.  Is that a pre-Conciliar thing?  We all know you hate Vatican II!”

Nothing. Is. The. Point.

The last time I saw this… I think the only time I say this… was last Memorial Day.

I think that even SkyNet would have changed the doodle today.

Posted in Liberals, You must be joking! | Tagged , ,
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70 years ago – D-Day

Posted on 6 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

UPDATE:

Some British actors are rereading BBC news announcements from D-Day itself, at the same time of the day as they were originally broadcast. HERE  Patrick Stewart, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones.  The original “D-Day has come” HERE.

___

D-Day

24000 men from these USA, Britain and Canada landed in France in Operation Neptune and the began the beginning of the end, Operation Overlord.

How I honor them.

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I recently watched again the series Band of Brothers, which can only in a pale way bring some of the events to the minds eye of one who was not there.  It is based on Stephen Ambrose’s book.

UPDATE:

The Great Roman Fabrizio sent along this photo of Mass being celebrated on the beach after D-Day.  I think the organ is a nice touch:

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Two interesting facts about the late Maya Angelou.

Posted on 5 June 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

At Fishwrap, Michael Sean Winters has reminded us that the late writer Maya Angelou once recounted to Family Circle Magazine that, as a pregnant teen, she chose to keep her baby instead of opting for abortion. HERE  Kudos to MSW for that link to the moving account.

Later in life, Maya Angelou defend life again when she used her gun to fend off a home invasion.

She recounted to TIME  that she likes “to have guns around”. HERE

In response to a question about whether she “inherited” her “mother’s fondness for guns,” Angelou replied, “Well, I do like to have guns around, I don’t like to carry them. But I like — if somebody is going to come into my house and I have not put out the welcome mat, I want to stop them.”

Maya’s mom also had a fondness for guns, it seems.

“I was in my house… in North Carolina. It was fall…I heard the rhythm of someone walking on the leaves and they came to my door. And somebody actually turned the knob. So I said, “Stand back! Stand four feet back because I’m going to shoot now!” Boom! Boom! The police came by and said, ‘Ms. Angelou, the shots came from inside the house.’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know how that happened.’”

There is a video of the interview. HERE  The remarks occur about about 3:00.  The interviewer is pretty shocked, and the video was edited a bit.

I don’t care for her poetry very much, but what a great voice and laugh that woman had.  Fantastic.  I’ll bet having a meal with her would have been a tremendous experience.

In any event, I am so glad that Maya Angelou had an equalizer and was able to avoid being harmed in a home invasion.  She was a defender of life, that of her baby and her own as well.

I hope that all my readers here of the fairer sex can defend themselves, prudently but decisively if – quod Deus avertat – necessary.

Posted in Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm | Tagged , ,
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