Perhaps the Vatican's team of cardinals will also have a dove amongst them.
The fact is all the information that will be given in all the lecturing at the cardinals could be emailed, and the entire day devoted to cardinals talking with and debating about the topics to be covered. That's the way most modern institutions do things now. They don't waste expensive time, and this is an expensive proposition flying in all these cardinals, lecturing people about information that could be given beforehand. The value of these kinds of meetings is derived from the discussion about the topics. For some reason the Vatican is opting for a lecture hall format. I wonder what that reason could be.
In the comments section after the Kennedy article was one comment, that in it's sheer emotional truth, put all of this purposeful manipulation in perspective. It was written as a letter to Cardinal Schoenborn by a fellow priest:
Dear Cardinal
Submitted by Fr Anthony (not verified) on Nov. 11, 2010.
Dear Cardinal Schoenborn,
Fifteen years ago, I went public about having been abused by two priests at Junior Seminary. I was young, fearless and angry. At that time, I received an anonymous letter from " A priest." In it he thanked me for having the courage to speak out on behalf of people like him - people who "no longer have the strength to speak out anymore." The letter was heart breaking.
He had been abused as a child by a priest and it was obvious from his letter that this man was suffering, suffering to the point of suicide.
I never found out what became of that poor man, my brother priest. I had no way of contacting him. My way of supporting him from afar was to continue to speak out and to ask for a more honest and courageous Church.
Shortly afterwards - in the same year that he wrote to a French Bishop who had covered up for an abuser priest, and hailed the Bishop "a hero" - Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos wrote to my Bishop, ordering him to shut me up. I was appalled and confused..... and so naive!
Years later, I find myself in a position I never thought possible then. I could write the same letter I received from that priest. I am broken, worn out and my confidence is in shreds.
Things have changed. My heart used to miss a beat when I read Karl Rahner - "I envisage a courageous, new, world-wide theology.. a theology which doesn't shun conflict... which doesn't just flick through the pages of our familiar friend Denzinger... a theology which listens to the wisdom from the East, which hears the cries for freedom in Latin America, a theology which hears the sound of African drums beating." (So do I Father Tony, so do I.)
Things have indeed changed because it is now the Catholic people of Europe and America who desperately need to be listened to. They are speaking a profound truth and your colleagues are simply not listening.
Cardinal Schoenborn, I met you last year. I was so impressed. You have the wisdom, the humility, the compassion and the courage to make such a colossal change to our Church. Someone has to speak out. Someone in the College of Cardinals has to say, "Enough is enough!" I believe you are that man.
Words from this Sunday's Gospel - "You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives."
Please make your friend Benedict listen.
This is such a profound comment. Cardinal Schoenborn could make Benedict listen. He could start the process by standing up and insisting he not waste his time being lectured to like a college freshman. He could say, "Enough is Enough". He would only be voicing the truth for the majority of the People of God. We have had enough.
I suspect he would not find himself standing alone. I suspect a significant number of his fellow cardinals would stand with him--especially cardinals who had to fly in from distant points on the globe. Hopefully, these cardinals would be joined on their flight by a Dove. That would be something to see.
Fifteen years ago, I went public about having been abused by two priests at Junior Seminary. I was young, fearless and angry. At that time, I received an anonymous letter from " A priest." In it he thanked me for having the courage to speak out on behalf of people like him - people who "no longer have the strength to speak out anymore." The letter was heart breaking.
He had been abused as a child by a priest and it was obvious from his letter that this man was suffering, suffering to the point of suicide.
I never found out what became of that poor man, my brother priest. I had no way of contacting him. My way of supporting him from afar was to continue to speak out and to ask for a more honest and courageous Church.
Shortly afterwards - in the same year that he wrote to a French Bishop who had covered up for an abuser priest, and hailed the Bishop "a hero" - Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos wrote to my Bishop, ordering him to shut me up. I was appalled and confused..... and so naive!
Years later, I find myself in a position I never thought possible then. I could write the same letter I received from that priest. I am broken, worn out and my confidence is in shreds.
Things have changed. My heart used to miss a beat when I read Karl Rahner - "I envisage a courageous, new, world-wide theology.. a theology which doesn't shun conflict... which doesn't just flick through the pages of our familiar friend Denzinger... a theology which listens to the wisdom from the East, which hears the cries for freedom in Latin America, a theology which hears the sound of African drums beating." (So do I Father Tony, so do I.)
Things have indeed changed because it is now the Catholic people of Europe and America who desperately need to be listened to. They are speaking a profound truth and your colleagues are simply not listening.
Cardinal Schoenborn, I met you last year. I was so impressed. You have the wisdom, the humility, the compassion and the courage to make such a colossal change to our Church. Someone has to speak out. Someone in the College of Cardinals has to say, "Enough is enough!" I believe you are that man.
Words from this Sunday's Gospel - "You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives."
Please make your friend Benedict listen.
This is such a profound comment. Cardinal Schoenborn could make Benedict listen. He could start the process by standing up and insisting he not waste his time being lectured to like a college freshman. He could say, "Enough is Enough". He would only be voicing the truth for the majority of the People of God. We have had enough.
I suspect he would not find himself standing alone. I suspect a significant number of his fellow cardinals would stand with him--especially cardinals who had to fly in from distant points on the globe. Hopefully, these cardinals would be joined on their flight by a Dove. That would be something to see.
