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Current Events, Perspective, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia,

…and lead us not into temptation

I never liked lustration, the process of outing former collaborators in formerly communist countries. I actually much prefer the South African truth and reconciliation process. This gets to the heart of the matter and if handled according to Christian ethics, is the best choice for moving forward. As a matter of fact, in some sense the Bush administration is going to have to backtrack on its de-Baathification process and get to truth and reconciliation in Iraq.

In Poland not a small number of clergy cooperated with the U.B. and S.B. (Communist secret police) To a certain extent the outing of their personal sins was perceived to be worse than cooperating with the communist devils. Men entering seminaries were often presented with dossiers on their ‘activities’. Afraid of embarrassment? Do as we say.

What sins? Sexual relationships with women or other men. Priests having ‘secret’ wives and children is quite rampant in Polish society. It is a frequent source of gossip and salon talk. While there were certainly homosexuals among the clergy, heterosexual scandal was the order of the day, going back 1,000 years. As to homosexuality, there hasn’t been much of a homosexual subculture in Polish seminaries until quite recently. The trend in Poland, according to my sources, has been the appointment of homosexual rectors in seminaries. This trend, and the results it produces, will probably save the Church from having to support women who have been, for all intents and purposes, victimized, and from supporting their children. There will be other problems of course.

The recent scandal involving Bishop Wielgus, soon to be installed Archbishop of Warsaw (and that which flows from it, the red hat, the title of Primate of Poland) is a case in point (see the NY Times article Ties to Secret Police Snare Polish Bishop).

Are we to believe that the communist secret police were able to turn him, all for the ‘advantage’ of studying in Germany? The Jagellonian University or KUL (Catholic University of Lublin) have excellent faculties. No need to go to Germany to study. What could have forced a Hobson’s choice on the young priest? I have friends who refused to turn when threatened with rape and death.

The problem is twofold.

The Church imposes a standard that many men cannot endure. The resulting personal and public scandal that results from breaking your ‘commitment’ and choosing God plus God in a personal relationship is too much for some men to bear. This is of course for those who accept personal responsibility. For some, their girlfriend is no more than a convenience and a prospective source for scandal, they are no more than users. I give a ton of credit to priests who seek out the PNCC because they want to lead honest and open lives, with their wives and children. The stories of women and children, victimized and scandalized by absentee priest-fathers and priest-husbands (common law) are many fold.

The other problem is that the deals made with the secret police will be a generational defect. Is revenge and punishment worth the cost to society? I can’t imagine it is. There are those who will bear ill will toward their victimizers forever. We should pray for their healing. Above that, I would hope that a society, with a concordat, that is supposed to be 98% Roman Catholic, get its perspective on repentance and forgiveness in proper order.

The title for this post is lead us not into temptation. The bureaucracy of the R.C. Church and the weakness of men, as well as of those seeking vengeance, are sources of temptation. The best thing to do is to find God’s way in accordance with the Catholic faith once practiced and believed by all. Set aside vengeance and live honestly and justly.

Christian Witness, Current Events,

The blood of martyrs

From various news sources: Priest and three children burnt alive

A RUSSIAN Orthodox priest and his three children were burnt alive in their home in what could be a case of arson to stop his efforts to combat alcohol abuse.

Police have opened an investigation into the death of Andrei Nikolayev and his children at his home on Saturday in a village outside Moscow.

“At the time of the fire, presumably, Andrei Nikolayev himself, his wife Oksana and three young children were in the house,” prosecutors were quoted as saying.

Police found the remains of the priest and his children but the fate of his wife remained unknown.

Village residents and church representatives were quoted as saying Mr Nikolayev may have been killed for trying to stop alcohol abuse in the village.

Some said alcoholics have stolen icons and other religious objects from Mr Nikolayev’s church and then sold them to buy drink.

Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon them.

May the blood of martyrs be the seed of the Church. May the Lord have mercy on us.

Everything Else, ,

Tackling the gift of celibacy

Fr. Dennis Tamburello, a Franciscan priest and Professor of Religious Studies at Siena College in Loudonville NY writes a blog, Friar at large, for the Albany Times Union (by the way, they use Word Press).

In today’s post, Take celibacy . . . please! he tackles the issue of celibacy as understood by the R.C. Church in a very even handed way. He completely avoids posturing on the issue. His thoughts are worth a read.

As a PNCC member and clergyman I agree with him.

Celibacy is a grace that is given, but not one that can be demanded. The R.C. Church cannot demand that God bestow that grace on an individual.

Father Tamburello’s points regarding issues of cost and dealing with some of the problems inherent in marriages are worth noting, but it is also worth noting that the PNCC and Orthodoxy have worked through these issues quite well. The R.C. Church is working through them in its dealings with married deacons. They are not show stoppers.

As previously noted in the blog, the PNCC studied and debated the issue of celibacy over the course of at least three synods. The exact issues discussed in Fr. Tamburello’s post were debated and resolved. As the Young Fogey points out from time to time and as I will apply to celibacy: All can, some should, none must.

Also notice the two comments immediately following the post. Typical absolutism of the extremes.

The first response is typical R.C. triumphalism; the we’re always right point of view. The commentator refuses to acknowledge the fact that Jesus, the Apostles, and the Fathers chose married men. Did Jesus make a mistake? Hmmm.

The second response tries to combine Biblical inerrancy with a political agenda. The writer misses the fact that the Catholic Church (The R.C., Orthodox, Oriental, and PNCC Churches) base their beliefs on Scripture and Tradition. Perhaps the commentator works for the IRS? As an accountant/auditor I know very well that unless an item is specifically excluded from income it is income. In the same vein perhaps the commentator believes that unless it is specifically mentioned in the Bible as right or wrong, it’s OK.

All that being said, abrogating mandatory celibacy is not the magic fix some envision. Ask your local old school protestant clergy person – they have a dearth of vocations as well. For an extreme example look at the Episcopal Church – you can be and do anything, and belief in Jesus is optional (they tend to like Gaia). They are dying off faster than the Dodo.

On the same topic, Catholic Online has a reprint of a story from CISA about African priests and seminarians who are being encouraged to join a Church (looks like vagantes) based on their take on celibacy. See: Anti-celibacy sect wooing Kenyan Catholic priests, ex-seminarians.

Christian Witness, Perspective

Righteous suffering

Peter of The Age to Come comments on the Prayer of Jabez and on our false notions of who and what God is. In pointing to this post the Young Fogey states, —God is not a vending machine.— Exactly right, God is not a slot machine dispensing happiness because we deserve it or ask for it.

I’ve reflected on this line of thinking from the perspective of the disaffected person seeking Christ, the person disaffected by our definition of them.

You know who ‘they’ are, the homosexual, the liberal, the conservative, the widow, the orphan, the aged, the poor, the Arab, the ‘free choice’ supporter, the person seeking cures through embryonic stem cell research.

It is our obligation as Christians to witness to these people, to acknowledge their pain and suffering, to lighten their load by our humanity and support, and in the end to show them that the world’s concept of an entitlement to happiness is a straw man.

We need to get away from hellfire condemnation (you have no right to suffer because your suffering is pure selfishness) and move to truthful charity.

This is not calling an evil good – we cannot veer from, or change God’s message. It is rather an act of catechetical guidance, helping them along the path to regeneration and from there on the road to Theosis. We need to assist them, and the world, in understanding that suffering is an on-going act of righteousness. Righteous suffering being suffering with purpose, and that purpose having true affect.

Christian Witness,

Calling out Hans Kueng

From Reuters: Pope tells overworked priests even he can’t do all:

Prominent dissident theologian Hans Kueng told German broadcaster NDR he had not altogether given up hope of reforms under Benedict.

“With time, he must see that if he constantly disappoints people he will land himself in difficulty,” Kueng said. “His predecessor made parishes desolate and just asked and prayed for more priests for 27 years with no success.”

In a later interview

Prominent God, God told the world that he had not altogether given up hope for reform and conversion in Hans Kueng’s heart.

“With time, he must see that if he constantly disappoints Me he will land himself in difficulty,” God said. “He’s made parishes desolate by a lack of faith and prayer and just asked for his personal wishes to be fulfilled, with no success.”

In a related note, Marketplace had a report this morning on the lack of people in the engineering field in Germany. They noted that engineering is only the 7th most sought after profession and is behind pastors and teachers as an ideal profession.

Pastors, in Germany!?! Let’s see: not much work, a cool gothic building, and a government stipend. Mmmmm, ok.

Christian Witness, Political

On the right to work

Father Martin Fox writes on Lifting up the Right to Work lightning rod…

He beings with:

Another Labor Day; another opportunity to offer some clarity about what the rights of working people and the dignity of work entail, but which our laws don’t provide for:

And ends with:

* The logic of the “coercion is for their own good” mentality is, ultimately, hostile to self-government. If workers need to be coerced, why stop there? Why shouldn’t people be coerced into religion, for their own good? Why shouldn’t they be subject to a fascist political system, “for their own good?” Where does it end.

These are some of the reasons I am for Right to Work.

I highly recommend that you check out his posting and the comments attached to it. Fr. Fox is not just blowing smoke; he has the facts to back up his assertions.

As a past victim of union coercion I am in total agreement.

Media,

Where charity and love prevail

The Buffalo News reports: Humble grocer quietly gave away millions: Waldemar Kaminski’s death unlocks his story by Owen Hearey.

Waldemar Kaminski, who quietly ran a food stand in Broadway Market for more than 50 years, has been revealed to be a self-made millionaire and philanthropist who anonymously gave millions to Buffalo charities and neighbors in need.

He died at home Wednesday night from complications of a long illness. He was 88.

…

Kaminski gave so much to so many that it’s difficult to quantify just how much he’s given.

He donated millions to Roswell Park – including $1 million for an endowed chair in pediatrics and $1 million to build a two-acre park on the institute’s campus.

He gave handsomely to other groups as well, including the Father Baker Home, the Salvation Army, Hilbert College and Camp Good Days and Special Times. He even helped neighboring families with mortgage payments, college tuition and lines of credit at his stand.

…

Those who knew Kaminski said he felt most fulfilled when he was giving back to society. “He didn’t need the material things for happiness. He enjoyed just being with people and doing what he could for them,” Marsha Kaminski said.

And a quote from Mr. Kaminski: “Sometimes I feel so guilty that there’s so much, and it’s just me.”

Eternal rest grant unto him o Lord and may the perpetual light shine upon him.

Everything Else

Fostering Vocations

From Sacramentum Vitae via the Young Fogey: Vocations: stop the insanity!

To which I would only add prayer. How many parishes pray for vocations at each Holy Mass?

My Pastor recalled a visit from a German Bishop to a Polish Diocese. When the German Bishop heard of the number of seminarians he assumed it was for the entire country. When he heard it was only for one diocese he was flabbergasted. He asked how it was possible. He was simply told that —we pray for vocations.—

The article could just as easily apply to Western Europe. The priests and bishops live a solitary, yet comfortable —“ on the government dole —“ life.

That’s what I’d want, a steady stream of income, little work, no intimacy, and doing it all for no purpose —“ because you’ve lost any shred of faith.

If you are going to exist as a business then there are many other business models, even in the human services field, that can provide a better life (in this world).

It all starts with faith. If I didn’t believe that Jesus was present in the Church in a unique, special, and extraordinary way —“ in both Word and Eucharist, then why would I want to stand there in layers of hot vestments or sit in an uncomfortable pew? Since I acknowledge the truth of Christ’s presence, my standing there only reminds me of my unworthiness and His great love and mercy.

Lord, Jesus, the fields are ripe for the harvest. Call men to reap the harvest for Your kingdom and glory. Amen.

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