David Ancell / Friday, July 19, 2002 / Comments(0)
Here we go with another article about lay people wanting to mobilize. In reading this, one could be forgiven for thinking that the entire body of laity in the Church is at the door of the bishops’ office demanding a voice in determining the Church’s teaching. Even such tactics as witholding donations are being discussed, as though are tithes are meant to be a reward for church leaders’ performance rather than an act of gratitude to God for his many gifts.
Look at this sentence from the article “. . . . fed-up parishioners are insisting that all issues regarding the priesthood — celibacy, homosexuality, marriage, female priests — be put on the table.” These people either misunderstand the Church, or they wish to remake her according to their own preferences. It’s as though they think that our bishops get together and think “I wonder what weird doctrine we can impose on the people.” The Pope and the bishops are not rulers but mere guarantors of the truth. They must submit themselves to that which God has revealed. If there is a God, and if he is greater than we are, then it is what he wants that counts, not what we want.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Thursday, July 18, 2002 / Comments(0)
Check out this article. Last Sunday, I went to a holy hour with benediction for an end to abortion. I hope that at least one woman received grace from our Lord and decided to keep her child. I hope that at least one person who has been involved in the abortion industry was converted by God’s grace. Further, I hope that someone out there who has already had an abortion will realize the sin and receive God’s love and forgiveness.
There cannot possibly be any greater evil in our society than the slaughter of the unborn. I find it hard to presume good will on the part of the pro-“choice” movement when I continue to see them oppose anything that would allow for any choice other than abortion. Let us pray for their conversion.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Tuesday, July 16, 2002 / Comments(0)
Yet another excellent article on Catholic Exchange. It seems funny to me that no one has ever asked me what I thought about these scandals. Almost everyone who knows me knows that I am Catholic. I know that what has happened is a very serious evil. Let me say that if every priest, bishop, and even the Pope were a dolt, liar, thief, adulterer, and child abuser, I would not leave the Church. This is far from the case despite what the media would have you think. The Church belongs to Jesus Christ, and she will belong to him regardless of whether the men to whom she is entrusted live according to her teachings.
With that being said, I await having the Final Communique of the meeting with the American cardinals in Rome realized. I don’t agree with the Bishops’ proposal, and I really hope that the Vatican bouces it back like a basketball. However, rather than engage in bishop-bashing, I will pray for bold leadership on their part that will enable them to bring about that reform which the Church most needs. And, by the way, that reform doesn’t include married priests, ordination of women, nor the change of any moral or doctrinal teaching of the Church. I am aware of some groups like “We are Church” or “Call to Action” who want the aforementioned type of reform. I agree that we are the Church, and that reform is needed. However, if I were not to accept any teaching of the Magisterium, I would know that I am the part of the Church who needs to reform.
Ok, I’m through now.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Monday, July 15, 2002 / Comments(0)
I have finally posted my new web page (http://www.cdavidancell.com/). True, it’s mostly plain text, but I will work on this. I just wanted to have the content ready. I’ll work on it more tonight, so I don’t know if I’ll blog any more.
By the way, the “c” at the beginning of the address stands for “Charles”. This is my first name. If you forget it, you’ll still get to the page since I also own davidancell.com and have a redirect in place. However, e-mail won’t reach me if the “c” is left out.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Saturday, July 13, 2002 / Comments(0)
I’ve just added a comments area to my Blog Spot, courtesy of Enetation. Now, anyone who wishes to praise (or blast) me can do so.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Saturday, July 13, 2002 / Comments(0)
I read a lot of Catholic books, and from time to time I’ll post what I’m reading. Last week, I finished an excellent book called The Everyday Apostle by Fr. Edward Garesch‚. I read this book because of my interest in everyday evangelization. My reading of the book can be summed up as follows: We need to know and live our faith, let it truly be the main part of our lives, and then speak of it as such to others. If you want learn to evangelize, I recommend reading this book along with Patrick Madrid’s Search and Rescue.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Saturday, July 13, 2002 / Comments(0)
For some reason, it appears that some Memphians have resorted to parking their for-sale vehicles on the side of a busy suburban six-lane. Judging from the big green stickers with pictures of tow trucks on them, the police do not appear to be impressed. Featured in this road-side dealership was (I kid you not!) a hearse!!!
Hmmmm . . . . I wonder how much they want for it . . . . I’ll bet if I drove that to work every day, I’d be known throughout the company. If I used that to pick up a date, I’ll bet she’d never forget me (or go out with me again, for that matter). What could someone possibly have been thinking?
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Friday, July 12, 2002 / Comments(0)
Anyone have a copy of Michael Rose’s GoodBye, Good Men? I have, but I’ve only read about two chapters. It’s interesting reading, but I’m a little suspicious of the sensational nature of the book. Here is a review from Culture Wars Magazine that seems to casts reasonable doubts on some aspects of the book. There is a selection of reviews that can be browsed from Catholic Exchange that seem to be more supportive of the book. Really, I don’t know what to think. I’m trying to get as many viewpoints as possible.
Don’t get me wrong, I strongly believe that the vast majority of problems in the Catholic Church in the United States today can be traced back to either a rejection of Church teachings (especially moral teachings) or a toleration of such rejection by people in leadership positions in the Church. It’s now part of my daily prayers that our bishops will exhibit bold leadership. However, I do not think that there is a need to sensationalize the problem to make a case. Let’s concede that there are bright spots when we see them.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Thursday, July 11, 2002 / Comments(0)
Given the scandals of this day, I wonder if we will see the end of face-to-face confession as we know it. I really couldn’t blame a priest for wanting to go back to the old way of doing things. In the old confessionals that I’ve seen, the priest isn’t really even in the same room with the penitent, which renders scandal highly unlikely. Anyway, it’s interesting to note that a priest has the right to request anonymous confession just as the penitent does.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized
David Ancell / Wednesday, July 10, 2002 / Comments(0)
I guess these women who didn’t want to put themselves outside the Church (see my July 8, 2002 blog) are about to have done so, if they don’t put on the sackcloth and ashes by July 22. Honestly, expecting this (the excommunication threat) not to happen would be just like driving your motorized vehicle into an oak tree at 80 mph and not expecting there to be any damage to it.
Seriously, though, please pray for the women involved. Even if they get excommunicated, keep praying for them. Remember that excommunication is a medicinal penalty, not just a punishment. There will be much rejoicing in Heaven if they repent of their deeds.
Category: Posts imported from Danger! Falling Brainwaves, Uncategorized