Is the pope Catholic?
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Written by Tony Woodlief
December 22, 9:49 AM
John Allen, senior correspondent for The National Catholic Reporter, offered in Friday's New York Times a moderating interpretation of the Vatican's recent statement, "Dignity of a Person." Allen's concern is that conservative Catholics will view the statement, which condemns embryonic stem cell research among other scientific tinkerings with human life, as a call to arms against a decidedly pro-abortion incoming American president.
"Call to arms" is hyperbole, but it pales in comparison to Allen's rhetoric, which claims that Pope Benedict XVI's latest document on life "risks being read as encouragement for the most ardent pro-life forces in America to let slip the dogs of war." He also frets that the pope's document "may be the political equivalent of shouting 'Fire!' in a crowded theater."
To counteract all this dog unleashing and theater shouting, Allen counsels the pope to find some way to "mobilize those Catholics who hope to build bridges." He doesn't want "strategic silence" on abortion, he says, but this rings a bit hollow after extended hand-wringing at the damage done by vocally Catholic pro-life leaders. Perhaps Allen isn't advocating strategic silence, but he does seem to call for less forceful talk. After all, if the pope says something that convinces Catholics that abortion is truly evil, we might "unleash the dogs of war." By all means, Pope Benedict, don't be strategically silent, but on the other hand, would you mind toning it down a bit? It's the kind of false verbal parsing one expects out of a congressional office.
In effect, what Allen is asking is for the pope not to be Catholic. Or at least that he be less conspicuously so out of consideration for the tender American situation, which is fascinating insofar as Allen begins his essay by noting that Americans comprise only 6 percent of the global Catholic populat
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: The firstborn... That is, first begotten; as the Evangelist declares, the only begotten of his Father: hence, St. Chrysostom explains firstborn, not first created, as he was not created at all, but born of his Father before all ages; that is, coeval with the Father and with the Holy Ghost. 16 For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him. 17 And he is before all: and by him all things consist.
http://www.newadvent.org/bible/col001.htm
Sue,
Did the search and the first one on the list was this one:
http://www.maria-valtorta.net/mitch_response1.html
You will note at the end a few highlighted texts.
One of most importance. Fr. Gabriel Roschini's comments. He was Pontifical Theologian to Pie XII.
BTW, Maria Valtorta's writings have never been officially condemned by the Church.
Sue,
I wanted to apologize for an incorrect statement on my behalf.
Yes, Valtorta's writings were set to the "index" at one time but that is no longer an issue.
In fact, you no longer need an "imprimatur" to publish any writing.
Valtorta's writings do not contradict or take away anything from the "official" versions of Holy Scriptures. Much like Agreda and Catherine Emmerich's.
BTW, Saint Faustina's writings were on that "index" list at one time too.
Pope John Paul's canonization made it "okay" once and for all i guess.
Many thanks, Dan.
It would be very helpful if we could receive a clear declaration from the Church about Maria's writings. I do recall reading that early on, St. Faustina's writings were on "the list." I'm hesitant to rad anything by Maria or encourage others to do so until the matter is cleared up.
abundant blessings,
sue
Pope John Paul II beatified a biblical the scholar (apparently the only one), Father Gabriel Allegra who was into Valtorta's writings. If this Pope's canonization of Sister Faustina is intented as an implicit approval of her writings then we should be not be able to apply the same principle to Father Gabriel's recent beatification?
http://www.bardstown.com/~brchrys/Gablegra/Alegintr.html
Dan,
I can't offer an opinion on this that would have any merit. I'm not a theological scholar - simply an apostolate administrator. Having said that, it seems to me that a determination on this matter would be a bit more involved than that.
Blessings,
Sue