Blog posts I wish I had written this week...

 

Source: BBC

   Good afternoon, everyone.  Been busy at the hideout this week and dealing with a temperamental Internet connection, so I haven't been able to post.  I have about three articles in various stages of development, but none ready to go right now... and then a bulletin article and homily reflection to offer as well.  Hopefully I'll get around to finishing all that off in the next couple of days.



   As you know, Holy Mother Church has been in the news a bit the last few days with the election of a new Holy Father, Francis.  Every time I have sat down to try to write even a little note, I find out that someone has already written an article that says what I wanted to say, and did it better than I could in the first place.  So, like the dreaded television clip-show, I offer my first "digest" article, regarding the news of the last few days.

   On Wednesday morning, before the white smoke came, I had read an article off of one of the major news services (I don't remember if it were AP or Reuters or someone else) that in the first paragraph said that the cardinals had failed to elect a pope, and then made it sound like not having a pope on the first ballot was a disaster, because there was, obviously so much disagreement among the electorate and that this was tragic because we are in such a time of CRISIS for the Church.   Crisis?  Really?

   In no way would I want to downplay the seriousness of some of the stuff the Church is facing, but this journalistic meme is not worthy of a high school rag-sheet.  Crisis?  Thomas L. McDonald over at God in the Machine points out that it took SEVEN journalistic geniuses to put this kitsch-ish article together, wringing their hands at the first ballot stalemate during one of the "most difficult periods in Church history".  McDonnald counters with a harrowing list of much worse times for the Church, starting with the execution of Jesus Christ himself, listing a couple dozen popes who had been executed or assassinated, reminding us of the early persecutions, the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Great Schism with the East, the Avignon (anti-)papacies, the three-year conclave to elect Gregory X, the Inquisition, the Reformation, the French Revolution, the anti-clerical movements of Mexico and other communist/socialist regimes, World War II and the holocaust, and much more.  Again, not to discount the challenges we face, but these crocodile tears from the media for the 'crisis' of the suffering Church shows ignorance, rather than sympathy.
   It was from Cardinal George's famous discussion about his successors dying in prison or the public square that an even more important and prophetic statement was made by the Archbishop of Chicago.  The successor of the martyr-bishop executed in the public square would be the one to "pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history."  That's the suffering Church of today--the Church guided and sustained by Christ.  No matter how badly the world would wish its collapse, we will be there.  It is that wounded Church that will ultimately be the salvation of human history and the world.  We are lucky to be living in these times of 'crisis'.  I welcome it!  If we Catholics used the courage and strength already in our hands by the power of the Holy Spirit, we could turn this world and perhaps not even have to lose our lives to do it.

   None other than Rush Limbaugh had a wonderful rant through several segments of his show yesterday, explaining that the media, while they love the idea of the South American, Jesuit pope are going to be horrified when they realize that he is CATHOLIC!  And not only that, but an orthodox, Culture-of-Life, friend-of-the-poor, personable fellow who rides the bus, who doesn't fit the media-villain meme like they would like to paint.  Not only is this an assertion of what the Church really is, an institution of FAITH, rather than POLITICS, but it shows how faith trumps politics for what is RIGHT, not what is politically expedient.  There are lessons for BOTH liberals AND conservatives as they watch the Church during these days.  It is easy to lambaste secular liberals who are unable to see that the Church can't and won't be popularly morphed into something she is not, but there is also an opportunity to remind secular conservatives the importance and security of standing for principles, rather than selling out for political expediency.

 

Speaking of "conservatives" having stuff to learn, there's a follow-up article from Thomas L. McDonald about the shameful response of some of the "rad-trads" which goes hand in hand with an earlier article from Acts of Apostasy.  Come on, people.  It has been 24... no 48 hours since he was presented on the loggia.    At this point, we still need to do a lot more listening before we do too much judging, talking, or comparing of papal pros and cons.  No pope is perfect.  No pope will satisfy all of our desires to see the Church become perfect... after all, he doesn't work for us... he works for God.  Let's welcome him and support him in assuming the awesome responsibility and influence as the leader of 1.2B Catholics and the heir to 2000 years of wisdom and history.  Let us also embrace him in his frail, broken humanity which reminds us of the struggles of Peter and others who have followed in the 'shoes of the fisherman' over those years.  (By the way, has anyone detected any "Shoes of the Fisherman" moments in the last few days?  I'm going to write a post on that soon, if I don't get beaten to it.)

 

Speaking of standing for our pope... here's a 'honeymoon' article from the BBC, followed by an article by R.R. Reno on the First Things site which shows what the Argentine media really think about the election of Francis.  Read and learn... this is where the talking points will come from in the next few days.  I'm serious, friends, Francis really does need our prayerful support.

 

Fr. Z over at WDTPRS had a poll on the major network coverage of the conclave/election.  While EWTN was not included on the list as a vote for a 'major network', the others were listed.  I was watching NBC with George Weigel and Fr. Robert Barron and Cardinal Egan and thought it was pretty good.  I heard afterwards from friends that EWTN was chattering inanely (and in some cases inaccurately) again during its broadcast coverage of the announcement of the new pope.  I really got mad about that during the funeral of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI... about half way through the funeral I turned off EWTN and tuned into CNN, which was broadcasting the events without all the play-by-play.  EWTN, I love you and what you do for the Church, but you really need to tell your people to shut up during these huge Catholic moments.  There are more than a few who watch EWTN who know Latin or can passably-interpret Italian at these big-time events.  Put the commentary on what color his shoes are on a SAP or provide a translation in the closed captions. 

 

Finally (for now), the Georgetowner speaks of the "Irony of a Jesuit Pope".  One should never take the holy event, such as the election of a pope by the guidance of the Holy Spirit as an opportunity for indulging in the fantasy of what 'scores' might be settled by the new management... lots of people were doing that when Papa Ratzinger came out on the loggia... we... will... resist... doing... that... now...  But as Francis steps out into the spotlight, and as Catholic institutions such as Georgetown hail the election of one of their brothers as the first Jesuit pope, one has to wonder how long that praise will echo...  ?  After all, an editorial back on February 27/28 reasoned that the "New pope must shepherd Church into modernity"... yeah, modernity... that has done the secular world loads of good:

"The Catholic Church has the potential to alter its stance on contraception, LGBT individuals, and women’s ordination within the next few decades, and this papal selection will be crucial in determining which course the Church will take. While a regionally or ethnically diverse pope could provide new opportunities for the Catholic Church to reevaluate its role in the world, perhaps these considerations should be forgone for a more progressive candidate, regardless of his origin. In order to remain relevant and maintain its scope of influence in an increasingly modern era..."  blah, blah, blah.

I suppose the real irony is that the selection of Bergoglio by the same newspaper was considered "implausible" just weeks ago.   (He seemed safely, 'too old', is my read of the editorial.)   Catholic Education at all levels is in desperate need of reform and re-visioning, that it may speak and teach clearly with the heart and mind of 2000 years of tradition and wisdom... will this Jesuit institution have the courage to lead the real reform which we need, renouncing the demonic Culture of Death in all its forms?  Will it accept the challenge of this pope not to be a milquetoast "compassionate NGO", but the Church, the Bride of Christ... after all, "when one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil."

'nuff said for today.  Enjoy all the chatter out there in net-land... there's some good and engaging stuff to wrap your minds around in these days.  BTW, I am welcoming (moderated) comments to my posts now.  Feel free to drop by and say 'hi'.