Father mentions the possibility of setting up something along the lines of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy which our Aussie brothers have run so successfully for many years. I know that there are plenty of priests who are interested. We really need someone who has the time and energy to get this going.
Here's the text of the letter but please do go over to the post at Fr Blake's blog to sign it.
We, priests of England and Wales, wish to express our joy at the forthcoming visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Britain.
We welcome the many wise things the Holy Father said to us through our Bishops on their ad limina visit earlier this year which are of particular significance to the health of the Church in England and Wales, such as "the Catholic community in your country needs to speak with a united voice" and the need "to be attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, who guides the whole Church into the truth, gathers her into unity and inspires her with missionary zeal".
More than ever, with the proximity of the Papal visit and anxious for its success we recognise especially the need "to draw on the considerable gifts of the lay faithful in England and Wales". Concerned for the Church's mission we to see a great need in England and Wales to ensure "that they [not only the lay faithful but we priests] are equipped to hand on the faith to new generations comprehensively, accurately, and with a keen awareness that in so doing they are playing their part in the Church’s mission". We also acknowledge the importance within our national context of what His Holiness said about the Magisterium, "In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free."
We wish to thank His Holiness for encouraging our Bishops to hold up to us "an example of dedication to prayer, pastoral sensitivity towards the needs of his flock, and passion for preaching the Gospel", and also for urging them encourage the faithful "to avoid any temptation to view the clergy as mere functionaries but rather to rejoice in the gift of priestly ministry".
17 comments:
A stupendous initiative by Fr Ray.
But I'm beginning to get really anxious about this visit and how it is being handled. The lady dealing with the applications for the Holy Father's visit in our parish told me that so far only two people had signed up for the Mass, and I am one of them. Thirteen places had been allocated. She's been told that names have to be in by Friday and said that there was no time to tell people, and in any case the parish priest is away.
I guess the early start is putting off the elderly, and people tend not to get their act together quickly anyway. But why does it have to be like this? Why do names have to be submitted nearly two months in advance? Is there anything that can be done, letters written, etc.? If things remain as they are, there are going to be an awful lot of empty seats and the media will have a field day.
What a wonderful letter!
Yes, I think that a confraternity would provide essential support and encouragement for our priests.
I met my old PP yesterday. I knew there was a problem back then, but didn't know what it was.
Whilst accepting my responsibility and fault for walking away from the church and into a more commited evangelical congregation, I believe that with proper catholic leadership and teaching I would never have left.
I was desperate for authenticity and orthodoxy.
Sometimes I wonder if I would ever have discovered authentic catholic teaching were it not for the internet.
We had a pleasant chat, my old PP and I. But without going into all the details, it was very obvious that he is actually a protestant.
He is contemptuous of what he called "the kingdom of the Vatican" and said several times that I need to think for myself and not be told how to live my life.
Abortion, IVF etc, these are all matters that you need to think about yourself. "Don't be lazy and let someone else do the thinking for you", he said.
I countered that as a mother of six in my forties, I haven't had enough lifetimes to figure out all this for myself, I NEED the church to help form my conscience. I know that I am unreliable if I am left to figure out these matters alone because I tend to diminish the significance of MY sins, and amplify the gravity of the sins of others.
We spoke about how a deepening in the spritual life often seems to come through struggling with ones own human nature and overcoming our weaknesses out of love of, and obedience to Christ. I need alot of encouragement to take up my cross daily, if I think it's pointless then why bother.
He strongly disagreed with this. He insisted that we are all ok and don't need to "work hard" or obey rules because the "kingdom of God is inside you".
Despite the gravity of much of the issues discussed, it was a good humoured conversation in which I laughingly pointed out that in that case, he was a protestant priest.
But despite the joshing I went away feeling sad and scared, for him, and for the many souls that he may lead astray.
I thank God that I have rediscovered the authentic catholic church which for so long had been hidden to me, obscured by priests who thought they knew better than the Pope.
Please say a prayer for him, and for the present PP, a wonderful, holy man who I sense has times of depression and feels isolated and unsupported by his brothers.
Hmm, something strange happened after I published that comment. It said it was too long. If my comment appears to end abruptly it may be because Blogger has truncated it!
Delia - take up in Blackfen was very brisk at the weekend so I think it depends rather on how much the visit is promoted. I get the feeling that the enthusiasm is building among the laity but that may just be here. I think I will be looking for unused places.
Clare - your comment seems to have got through OK. Sorry to hear about that unhelpful advice you received. There is no contradiction between thinking for yourself and following the teaching of the Church. We believe that the Church teaches the truth and therefore our search for the truth using evidence and reason should lead us to see the beauty of the Church's teaching.
Many priests were misled by the anti-authority euphoria of the 60s and 70s. Your new PP sounds like one of those who is genuinely thinking for himself. I will pray for both. Do encourage the new PP to get in touch as there are many like-minded and supportive priests and we need to give each other a bit of encouragement now and again.
Clare - BTW, I meant to add congratulations to you and your husband on your lovely family. Remembering my own dear mother and father, I know I can never thank them enough for all they did for me and I remember them every day at Mass.
As the Papal visit fast approaches and excitement increases, it would be nice to see an open letter from priests in support of their 3 banished brethren from Newman's Oratory!
The various conspiracy theories floating around about the Birmingham Oratory are not helpful to the Holy Father, the Birmingham Oratory, or the so-called "Birmingham Three".
As a long-time friend of the Fathers, I pray that they be allowed to settle their internal disputes in peace.
A great initiative and right to the point. Fantastic. Thank God for Priests who sign this kind of letter, for their fidelity and zeal.
I have some very exciting news and it's huge but not quite in the public domain yet. You might guess by the blog posts of recent days!
Best regards,
Robert
I can totally identify with Clare - there are far too many Catholic priests around like her old parish priest.
Thank God for those like yourself, Fr Ray, her new parish priest and the many other blogging priests who are helping us to keep on the straight and narrow.
Delia's comments resonate with me - they tell you you can only sign up for one or the other (Hyde Park or Cofton Park), hardly anyone signs, and then when you ask if you can go to the one you didn't sign for (because you didn't want to be too greedy), they tell you all the details have been sent off and it's too late...
Delia, our church has a huge list of people wanting to see the Holy Father. Apparently the ticket allocation is only 13 places, which for some, would be just one family.
We have put our names down for 8 tickets and I'm just hoping that our church will be given enough spares from other parishes with less demand. Our 12 year old son is apparently going to be singing at the beatification mass ( he attends the London Oratory school). To not be able to get there ourselves would be such a disappointment.
Fr Finegan
Thank you for your kind comment about our family. God willing, perhaps one day, like your parents, we too might have a son remembering us as he offers mass. What a beautiful way to honour your parents memory.
We no longer attend our old parish, when we came back to the church we felt in need of a bit of 'tender nursing care' so to speak, in order to fortify our Catholic identity. The church we attend now has been very helpful in that respect.
I still feel affection for our old parish though, and I am on good terms with the new priest. I will pass on your offer of fraternal support. Thank you.
As an aside, with regards to your comments about the Birmingham Oratory, I can only say "ditto".
Well, I fear Blackfen may be an exception. I was talking to a neighbour last night, who goes to a different parish, and she told me that the visit/forms hadn't even been mentioned by the priest on Sunday (and her PP was away as well); she had no idea that there was any deadline, and didn't even know that the papal visit had been confirmed.
There ought to be some kind of clearing system anyway.
"I have some very exciting news and it's huge but not quite in the public domain yet. You might guess by the blog posts of recent days!
"
No, I can't guess! C'mon Robert, tell us the news, don't keep us all in suspenders!
There's something wrong somewhere - Clare says they had only 13 places available, one church I went to had 70 available, 68 of which the priest had to work very hard to get filled!
A little off subject, but where did you get that awful picture of the Holy Father?
When I watched the Papal election, and saw His Holiness come out onto the balcony with a crucifix, I knew the Tridentine Mass would be back, people would commune kneeling, women would be feminine again, and men manly, Roman Catholic Catechism would replace the Novus Ordo touchy feely.
Years of seeing Pope John Paul II carry around the broken altar with Christ dead, and his knees opened for Freemasons to kick him, only brought misery and death to souls.
Imagery is important to us Catholics.
Is it too much to ask to portray Christ crucified, not murdered?
That stick is really offensive.
*
As I wrote in a comment to Fr Blake, this subject of having something like the ACCC came up at a meeting I had recently with some other priests. I would be grateful if you would contact me about this, so I can tell you more.
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