I confess, right now, that I have not read your entire piece. I am sure it's good, but I do have a huge problem with the Bishops you interiviewed having to be anonymous. We only get the sense of the 'real man' when the man, the shepherd of the flock, won't be real enough use his real name??? That is very strange. We are to know who are shepherds are and everyone of them should have the courage to let us all know who they are. How can we get behind them and support them, if they're so good, and not know who they are?? This is seriously a tragic mistake for them to not give their names. That is the problem in the American Catholic Church! Too much 'anononymity' - too much hiding and too much covert goings on, even in a authentic Catholic article, we can't know who these 'good' shepherds are?! Maybe I'll get around to reading the whole thing, but right now, it is too perplexing that they had to refuse to let us know who they are or you did not insist. Where are the REAL MEN who don't care what happens to them or their 'position' in the Church or what this horrid pope might do to them?! Bishop Strickland took the hard knocks and he's still got his voice, using it to spread the TRUTH and not hiding in anonymity. *sigh!*
Ms. Melkus, the bishops did not decline to use their names; I -- not they -- insisted on that approach. I did so precisely because, having worked in and around the Church for 45 years, I know that whatever they say gets misread, misrepresented, or attacked by somebody. I've seen it happen again and again. Our bishops are overwhelmingly good men trying to do the best for their people. Exceptions always exist, but they're the exceptions not the rule. Our bishops deserve more respect than they too often get, and the discourtesy and impatience we show them blow back on the health of the whole Church. I understand your concern, but in this matter, it's misplaced.
Well, that is your opinion and I respectfully disagree with it . This is what happens when Shepherds keep their mouths shut and don't speak out, and keep the light under a bushel. Enough of silence. If those bishops were to speak with CLARITY as did Jesus, it would be hard for most to 'twist' them or misunderstand what they say. However, Jesus, with no guilie or lip stained with sin, He was hated, and his words were hated and that is on those who twist them and purposely misunderstand. It is time for every single one to SPEAK OUT against sacrilige and blasphemy and to not do so is complicity in the evil happening as did at St Patrick's in NYC. Listen to this and tell me why Cardina Dolan would 'whisper' to the woman who asked him directly when there were be a Mass of reparation. Silence in the face of evil is evil itself!
Btw, Bishops wear red for a reason. To be martyred for the true, Catholic Faith if necessary, and not hiding behind anonymity too afraid to speak out for fear of being misunderstood or that their words might be twisted is a cop out and cowardice. And my thoughts on this are not misplaced. The enemy is in our face, and Bishops and priests hide? They're too afraid to lose their positions in the Church, and that is not honorable. Bishop Strickland spoke truth to the USCCB some 6 years ago or so, and was not well received. But he has Truth on his side, and couarge that should give his brother priests encouragement to do the same. I guess too many want to hide out and keep their thoughts and words 'anonymous' - Jesus is not impressed. It's tragic.
This good bishop has no problem being known, and speaking out against the horrible goings on, and I commend him and it is good to know some are not afraid to be known and speak clearly the truth.
And this is also what we need from others and from our good, holy priests and bishops, Shepherds of the Flock of God. "Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good."
Pope Leo XIII
For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
I confess, right now, that I have not read your entire piece. I am sure it's good, but I do have a huge problem with the Bishops you interiviewed having to be anonymous. We only get the sense of the 'real man' when the man, the shepherd of the flock, won't be real enough use his real name??? That is very strange. We are to know who are shepherds are and everyone of them should have the courage to let us all know who they are. How can we get behind them and support them, if they're so good, and not know who they are?? This is seriously a tragic mistake for them to not give their names. That is the problem in the American Catholic Church! Too much 'anononymity' - too much hiding and too much covert goings on, even in a authentic Catholic article, we can't know who these 'good' shepherds are?! Maybe I'll get around to reading the whole thing, but right now, it is too perplexing that they had to refuse to let us know who they are or you did not insist. Where are the REAL MEN who don't care what happens to them or their 'position' in the Church or what this horrid pope might do to them?! Bishop Strickland took the hard knocks and he's still got his voice, using it to spread the TRUTH and not hiding in anonymity. *sigh!*
Ms. Melkus, the bishops did not decline to use their names; I -- not they -- insisted on that approach. I did so precisely because, having worked in and around the Church for 45 years, I know that whatever they say gets misread, misrepresented, or attacked by somebody. I've seen it happen again and again. Our bishops are overwhelmingly good men trying to do the best for their people. Exceptions always exist, but they're the exceptions not the rule. Our bishops deserve more respect than they too often get, and the discourtesy and impatience we show them blow back on the health of the whole Church. I understand your concern, but in this matter, it's misplaced.
Well, that is your opinion and I respectfully disagree with it . This is what happens when Shepherds keep their mouths shut and don't speak out, and keep the light under a bushel. Enough of silence. If those bishops were to speak with CLARITY as did Jesus, it would be hard for most to 'twist' them or misunderstand what they say. However, Jesus, with no guilie or lip stained with sin, He was hated, and his words were hated and that is on those who twist them and purposely misunderstand. It is time for every single one to SPEAK OUT against sacrilige and blasphemy and to not do so is complicity in the evil happening as did at St Patrick's in NYC. Listen to this and tell me why Cardina Dolan would 'whisper' to the woman who asked him directly when there were be a Mass of reparation. Silence in the face of evil is evil itself!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kt37LQrImY
Btw, Bishops wear red for a reason. To be martyred for the true, Catholic Faith if necessary, and not hiding behind anonymity too afraid to speak out for fear of being misunderstood or that their words might be twisted is a cop out and cowardice. And my thoughts on this are not misplaced. The enemy is in our face, and Bishops and priests hide? They're too afraid to lose their positions in the Church, and that is not honorable. Bishop Strickland spoke truth to the USCCB some 6 years ago or so, and was not well received. But he has Truth on his side, and couarge that should give his brother priests encouragement to do the same. I guess too many want to hide out and keep their thoughts and words 'anonymous' - Jesus is not impressed. It's tragic.
This good bishop has no problem being known, and speaking out against the horrible goings on, and I commend him and it is good to know some are not afraid to be known and speak clearly the truth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzvg47iXncw
And this is also what we need from others and from our good, holy priests and bishops, Shepherds of the Flock of God. "Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good."
Pope Leo XIII
For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
-Romans 1:16
https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/7057-the-abomination-of-desolation-standing-in-new-york-s-holy-place
Thank you for all these thoughts. Now I suggest you actually take the time to read the book.