More Thoughts on The Synod | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Taking points in order - consumerism is good - without it output would be down and workers would be much less comfortable - it is the one thing that keeps workers from a Marxian revolution. Materialism is the opposite of spirituality and religiosity. Materialism looks for all truth in this life, not in metaphysics. This may or may not deny faith, but it assumes that the two reflect each other and that material evidence is sufficient - say in believing that life begins at gastrulation. Spirituality relies on the beneficence of God - it is a personal philosophy, even for those who are spiritual but not religious (a reference to AA members who practice the 12th step but have not defined a higher power for themselves). Religious is finding truth in the group dynamics of the human organization and its processes in determining truth - often in a hierarchical setting. It also has very good music.
Second, he talks about marriage and the reaction of a priest to his proposal to separate conversations on the civil and religious components. I think that what is needed is a longer term analysis of how these two factors relate - including the fact that marriage was entirely civil and then followed by a blessing - and the ridiculous request that the marriage not be compensated until three days after the blessing. In my view, not MSW's (his reflects current, albeit flawed, teaching in the Church) the Church is wrong now as well - because everything I was taught about the couple ministering the Sacrament to each other (not the priest, he is a witness) and that procreation is not a requirement, only functionality - applies equally to gays. That some find the functionality sinful in all cases is simply bigotry based on the insane belief that gays are not compelled to be that way. The spiritual answer to that is that all things are accomplished by God, including people being born gay. The word for today is Epigenetics. Its how it happens in the material reality. There is nothing spiritual about ignoring that, only religious and that ignorance discredits religion.Because of that religiosity, the Church won't support ENDA or allow gay civil marriage (although the latter is a predictable strategy, because the way marriage works traditionally, civil society acts and the Church conforms. The homophobes know this and don't want to conforms - as it will have the gay seminaries marry each other and the number of priests will seriously diminish (and families of gay marrieds will demand that blessing - and some priests will quietly grant it). As I've said before, Catholic Hospitals ignoring long time companions as next of kin, deferring instead to families of origin, is why this issue came to the fore in the first place.
Third, the example of the out of town priest is an interesting one. If he was also out of state, the marriage is illicit (and never invalid - the couple makes it valid) in both canon and civil law. Fixing the root is OK for the Church, but unless he obtained local credentials, there may need to be a city hall redo. As for the point about the procedure (whether the pastor can do it with paperwork or a tribunal must review) - its the wrong question. The question is whether we should not be treating the spouses differently in divorce - with the victim of bad conduct having an easy time remarrying due to such things as adultery, abuse, unrecovered alcoholism or addiction or abandonment (why is it always the As), while the other party must be forgiven by the wronged party to marry again (confession alone just does not cut it without the Penance). Jesus created an immorality exception, perhaps we should use it. The problem is religiosity again. We fought wars with the Anglicans over this issue and I expect that the wars with the Lutherans had marriage as part of it too. Hierarchies hate to admit wrong.
It also seems that a Jesuit named Father Joseph Fessio has gotten a number of Cardinals (probably their staffs) to write chapters countering Cardinal Kasper's book setting the stage for the Synod. Cardinal Pell wrote the introduction and validated what I said about materialism v. spirituality v. religiosity. He sees these attempts to modernize as loosing the battle between Catholicism and some kind of neo-paganism, which he attributes the desire to change to come from. Paganism is a loaded word - it is associated with the persecutions of the early Church - which desired offerings to the emperor as a god - which is more despotism than anything else. Paganism is actually the practice of setting up divine arch-types to better understand human nature. In essence, its materialism. Outside of Hinduism and Astrology, there is little practice of arch-types, outside the cult of the Saints, which is new compared to the other two. Still, if you are writing about how to conform marriage to newer understandings of natural law, a little materialism (looking at what is actually happening) is essential. I think the Jesus of the Gospel would agree and the bishops who do not think so would best hold their tongues. The issue is not whether the Church can maintain control of old doctrine, but whether anyone will ever care to follow it. God promised that people will - but only because the Church will do what it always - change and then deny that it has not always been the new way.
From what I understand from comments by folks from Spokane, Bishop Cupich is indeed a culture warrior, at least on gay marriage. At least, that is the face he showed. If he had not been, I suspect he would not be going to Chicago. Still, defends Francis and the One who sent him (the last being most important), even if he does not do the last part perfectly. He calls these and some others Churchman as if it is a good thing. It can be, I suppose, if it is a reference to spirituality rather than religiosity. They are so different. Those who have religiosity feel that they must defend the Church. The spiritual don't really feel they have to - that God will and that God can act through them - but in a way that will not stop listening to the promptings of the Spirit.
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