Tag: Roman Catholicism

Updated: Pope Francis on Marriage

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Pope Francis said Thursday that the great majority of sacramental marriages today are not valid, because couples do not enter into them with a proper understanding of permanence and commitment.

CHR Comment: I waited to collect this story because it seemed incredible when I first read about it. I was sure there would be a follow up story. Now it is available. Pope Francis initially said that “the great majority of our sacramental marriages are null.” He has officially changed the transcript of his comments to say that “a portion of our sacramental marriages are null.” The article includes further comments about waiting to get married until couples have matured. However, the practice he describes in Argentina seems to assume that pre-marital sex is a given and not much of an issue. So where do Roman Catholic Christians go from here?

The second link below is to commentary from an American professor of canon law. Stay tuned on this issue.

Source: Updated: Most marriages today are invalid, Pope Francis suggests :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2016/06/what-francis-forgets-about-marriage

Pan-Orthodox Synod Stalls over Disputes

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A historic attempt to bring together all leaders of the world’s Orthodox churches for the first time in more than a millennium has stalled after the powerful Russian church and three others pulled out at the last minute over disputes ranging from the seating plan to efforts to reconcile with the Vatican.

CHR Comment: This article provides more context over what is causing dispute. The issues are primarily about influence and authority, manifested by a dispute over seating at the council. The article confirms the greater size of the Russian Orthodox Church, which may have influenced the withdraw of some smaller churches. Another point of potential dispute may be a measure to foster reconciliation with Roman Catholicism, which would affect the authority and standing of the individual Orthodox church bodies.

Source: Attempt to hold pan-Orthodox synod stalls over disputes – The Washington Post

Two Cases: Allegations of Abuse and Conviction of Abuse

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Mother whose son died in 2005 decided she had to come forward with her son’s story about archbishop’s abuse because she knew the first victim.

CHR Comment: Normally I do not repost or comment on these stories with allegations against church officials. However, the release of this story alongside another case moved me to add something to the history log about these events. Sadly, such cases of abuse are all too real and destructive to the life of the church and to human beings generally. The problem of sinful abuse is ever present where corruption prevails.

The first story is about Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Guam who is relieved from his duties while under investigation after three allegations of abuse. The story explains that Apuron continues to hold the title of archbishop and that the Roman Catholic Church claims the sole right to investigate and judge their clergy, a matter that goes back to medieval distinctions between civil and canon law and the jurisdictions that applied with each. Although this case is still under investigation, recent history has included many examples of abusive clergy brought to justice.

The second story link below is about a “Christian” English teacher, Richard Huckle, who taught in Malasia for c. 9 years, repeatedly abused children, and even composed a manual on how to commit such sins and get away with them. A London court has given him 22 life sentences. His case perhaps presents the most compelling argument for the death penalty, given the callous, destructive nature of his crimes. Huckle is a most dangerous, predatory person who wants others to repeat his crimes. Keeping him alive seems exceptionally dangerous to the most vulnerable persons in society.

Source: Temp archbishop arrives to oversee Guam Catholics

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/06/world/britain-asia-child-abuse/index.html

Mother Teresa’s Hometown Prepares for Her Canonization

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The sleepy village of Letnica, Kosovo, is where Mother Teresa found her calling before going on to become one of the most famous figures in the Catholic Church.

CHR Comment: The canonization will take place on September 4 but Letnica expects increased attendance at their annual Black Madonna festival. The town is also the location of the monastery where Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (Mother Teresa) committed to becoming a missionary.

Source: Mother Teresa’s Hometown Prepares for Her Canonization – NBC News

Vatican Says Catholics Should Not Try to Convert Jews

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Catholics should not try to convert Jews and should work with them to fight anti-Semitism, the Vatican said on Thursday in a major document drawing the Church further away from the strained relations of the past.

CHR Comment: On the fiftieth anniversary of the papal document Nostra Aetate, which helped initiate Jewish-Catholic dialogues, this announcement is not too surprising. Catholic theologians hold that Jews and Christians worship the same God. They also teach that one does not have to be a Christian to receive salvation (doctrine of anonymous Christians).

Source: Vatican says Catholics should not try to convert Jews, should fight anti-semitism | Reuters

Religion in the American Culture Wars

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Muslims, like Catholics and Mormons, fall victim to our persistent fear of those who worship differently.

CHR Comment: Professor Stephen Prothero of Boston University gives his views on the role that religion has played in American life and politics. He mentions the suspicions Protestants had about Roman Catholics and Mormons as a lens through which to see how conservative Christians are speaking about Islam today.

Source: Trump’s religious bigotry is as American as apple pie: Column

Why Catholic Schools Are Reconsidering Common Core

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In light of recent backlash against implementation of the controversial learning standards in public schools, private Catholic schools around the country are reconsidering Common Core and how it may fit within the Catholic mission.

CHR Comment: Mission is the key element in these changes. Common Core is designed to prepare children for college, which is important. But Roman Catholic educators wish to reestablish the spiritual goals of their work: creating faithful believers who will go to heaven.

Source: Why Catholic schools are reconsidering Common Core – CSMonitor.com

Vatican Appoints PricewaterhouseCoopers to Audit Accounts

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For the first time the Vatican submits its finances to an external auditor as part of Pope Francis’ bid to bring greater transparency to the Catholic Church.

CHR Comment: To learn more about the financial controversy, visit the second link below.

Source: Vatican appoints PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit accounts – BBC News

https://churchhistoryreview.org/2015/11/03/vatican-arrests-2-accused-of-leaking-documents/

St. Nicholas for Nice Children; Krampus for Naughty

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The integration of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in rural Austria is facing a terrifying challenge this holiday season.

CHR Comment: Sometime in the medieval era the Christian feast for St. Nicholas, a historical fourth century bishop, was mixed with pagan folklore about a humanlike beast that punished naughty children. This is the Austrian version of the “naughty or nice” element in modern Christmas celebrations. This a good example of syncretism in European Christianity.

Source: Austrian Villagers to Refugees: Please Don’t Fear Krampus – NBC News

Immigration History and the Current Discussion of Syrian Refugees

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A wave of migrants from the Mediterranean meets a hostile reception from many Americans. The migrants are seen as alien in religion, culture, politics, law. So different in fact that some Americans argue that they can never be assimilated. They are the Italians, in the 1890s.

CHR Comment: The article uses the example of Italian Catholic immigration to predominantly Protestant America in the nineteenth century to argue for changes in attitude toward Syrian immigrants today. Americans at that time were afraid of Sicilians and mafia due to acts of violence. The comparison seems inexact since the Sicilians weren’t killing people for religious reasons.

Source: A brief history of America’s hostility to a previous generation of Mediterranean migrants — Italians | Public Radio International