Back to Catholic Basics
Principles of Modernity: What a powerful article for all Catholics to read. I must admit that I was left wondering how you could avoid more than simple insinuation of eternal judgment for these wicked men. I also found somewhat suspect the comment regarding John Paul II as "homophobic." This is perhaps the most liberal pope in our 2,000-year history. Many blame his acceptance of the principles of "modernity" in the church for the ensuing scandals.
Jim Cox
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Blind eye to pedophilia: I enjoyed reading your article "The Divine Sociopath." I want to give you a little perspective about how I feel about this issue. I am a "traditional" Roman Catholic. This means that I am one of those who abandoned the church after Vatican II. We recognize that after the council, the faith took a nose dive, and in fact, this new religion has taken over the Roman Catholic Church.
The actions of Bishop O'Brien come as no surprise to me. The conciliar church at best turns a blind eye to pedophilia, and, at worst, actively promotes it by its "ministries" to homosexuals, which is no more than active participation in sin.
Sean Murray
Lancaster, Ohio
Skulls of rotten bishops: I have posted Michael Lacey's article on Bishop Thomas O'Brien in our April 20 edition of The Daily Catholic, an online daily magazine at www.DailyCatholic.org. I have placed it in one of our features called "Deprogramming Diabolical Disorientation," for truly what O'Brien has wrought is exactly that: diabolical.
In these times, were it not for the secular media, the sins and scandals of so many ecclesiastics would still be hidden under the rocks of cover-up, denial and intimidation -- a total misuse of the divine charge they were given through their sacred vows and Sacrament of Holy Orders. The first official doctor of the church wrote of the bishops of his day during the devastating Arian Heresy of the fourth and fifth centuries that "the floor of hell is paved with the skulls of rotten bishops." We would have to wonder today how high that floor will go to accommodate the charlatans who have abdicated their apostolic authority. I fear O'Brien and the disgraced resignations of Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston and Archbishop Rembert Weakland in Milwaukee are only the tip of the iceberg in uncovering the rot that has infested the church Christ founded. He has promised in Matthew 16:18 that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," but he did not say the devil would not give it his best shot.
There are still good and loyal priests who will tend to souls and nourish them with the infallible truths the Catholic Church has always taught. That would be those who are not affiliated with modernist bishops like O'Brien, Cardinal Roger Mahony in Los Angeles, Cardinal Francis George in Chicago, Cardinal Edward Egan in New York and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in Washington, D.C., to name but a few. The good priests refuse to obey unlawful ways. These good priests have remained loyal and true to all the church taught and upheld from St. Peter through Pope Pius XII.
To Catholics in Phoenix, look to the Society of St. Pius X's Our Lady of Sorrows Church at 750 East Baseline Road. It is truly Catholic, and no one can refute that. Those who have been away, come back home. At Our Lady of Sorrows, you will find that nothing has changed from the Catholic character that was so prevalent and trusted before the revolution of Vatican II.
Michael Cain, editor
The Daily Catholic
Kimberling City, Missouri
Rage against the machine: I picked up the link to your O'Brien story from the Abuse Tracker, which is a digest of links supplied by the National Catholic Reporter. I have to admit that irony and satire are descriptive ways to help capture my imagination, and the opening words of your article caused me to reflect on what a bedside visit would be like, and if I would avail myself of that "service."
Yet what I found more compelling is that at the end of the day, you helped describe my faith. I do believe in communion. Yet I do wish to possess the rage Jesus felt at the Pharisees.
Thank you for helping us to realize that this rage is a good thing!
Phil Leonard
Cudahy, Wisconsin
