Brendan Hoban in his Western People column questions if we’re ready to hear the message of our Papal visitor.
… “the sad and difficult truth is that we’re not ready in Ireland for the man from the pampas of Argentina or the message of mercy and compassion that reflects the gospel Jesus preached…”
“The terrible tragedy is that we won’t listen because we can’t hear what Pope Francis is saying or accept the direction in which he’s pointing the Church.
The sad truth is that while a defensive Church is up to its neck in denial, our people will have their tongues out for the message Francis brings and the promise he represents wishing it, willing it and wanting it.”
Songs at Mass (Suggestions) O Come O Come Emmanuel; The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor; The Lord Will Heal the Broken Heart; Christ be our Light. Opening Comment…
Michael Sean Winters writes in the National Catholic Reporter about the fact that “Cardinals Brandmüller, Burke, Caffarra and Meisner decided to publish their letter …….. openly challenging the pope to clarify parts of Amoris Laetitia that they find to be a source of confusion.”
He concludes with the strong opinion that ‘to publicly voice doubts about the magisterial teaching of the church is not something a cardinal should be doing or, if he does, he should have the decency to include his red hat with the submission of his dubia.”
Tony Flannery has published, on his own blog, a short correspondence that passed between himself and the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown following the appearance of The Nuncio on RTE’s “The Meaning of Life”.
Pádraig McCarthy directs our attention to a meeting held on 24 October between Pope Francis and Jesuits who had gathered in Rome for their 36th General Congregation. Pope Francis conducted a “cordial dialogue” with delegates who asked him questions which Francis did not want to see beforehand.
Sarah Mac Donald reports on our recent AGM in the National Catholic Reporter.
The stark, and all too real, picture painted by Brendan Hoban is extensively quoted. We can only hope that this article and other media coverage will encourage all to conduct ‘a reasonable conversation’ and consider the “right to consideration, acknowledgement, support, encouragement and, above all, respect,” that priests are entitled to.
Brendan is further quoted; “Priests who have served the church for so long deserve no less and it’s time to start a reasonable conversation about this.”
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