Crossed The Tiber

An Evangelical Converts to Catholicism

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Location: Pennsylvania, United States

I was born into the Catholic faith. At 14, I was "born again" and found Jesus personally but lost His Church. After thirty years as an evangelical protestant, I have come full circle to find that He has been there all the time, in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I wish others to find the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith as I have found.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Our Bishop Joins the Chorus!


I am very pleased that our bishop of Allentown Diocese has added his voice to the 61 other bishops that have spoken out against Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama. It is important because it sends a message to those inside and outside of the Church regarding the correct view of the sacredness of life. It will allow Catholics no wiggle room to claim to be fully Catholic and yet not supportive of the teachings of the Church.

Some feel this whole scandal is yet another stain against the Church. I see it as an opportunity to further promote the moral teachings of the Church to a country that has lost its moral compass. Again it is sad that our Catholic learning institutions have deviated so far from the Barc of Peter and the Church's distinctive teachings, but God has a way of "writing straight with crooked lines." I keep thinking of then Cardinal Ratzinger's statement just before his election that the Church may have to get smaller. I suspect that may include some Catholic institutions deciding they no longer want to remain within the fold.

"When there is a doubt about the meaning of a document of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where does one find an authentic interpretation? A fundamental, canonical and theological principle states that it is found in the local bishop, who is the teacher and law-giver in his diocese."

"I stand in solidarity with my brother bishop and share the sentiments that he expressed in his letter," wrote Bishop Cullen. "As does he, I regret that this situation has taken place and call on the leadership at Notre Dame to face the issue squarely."

6 Comments:

Blogger George Weis said...

WooHoo! I am hoping and praying for the best result! Yes, I think this is a moment to show the world, that deviation from truth and moral standing will not be had.

Blessings,
-g-

May 06, 2009 7:13 AM  
Anonymous Potamiaena said...

Thanks for your positive outlook. I am very depressed that Notre Dame would do such an un-Catholic act, and be permitted to!

Being Catholic used to mean something. No more.

May 06, 2009 8:39 AM  
Blogger Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

Dear Potamiaena:
take heart in the fact that the Church has been through much worse and came out stronger for it.
Consider the early fourth century when almost a third to a half of Catholic bishops were siding with the heretic Arius believing Jesus was not equal with God! (arianism)
This led to such a political disturbance in the Roman empire that Constantine "made" the Church convene a council to "decide" if Jesus was indeed God or not. He was like "look, you Christians are causing a lot of trouble with your doctrinal issues, so I am forcing you to figure it out once and for all!"
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit's guiding hand, the result was the Nicene Creed of 325 AD that spoke the definitive word on who Jesus was in relation to the Father and the Holy Spirit. All this even before the NT as we now know it was canonized!
So now we look around us and see the notre dame scandal, priest scandals etc and can get down, but ultimately the Church will prevail as it always has.
Let us take heart!!

May 06, 2009 6:25 PM  
Blogger Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

George-thanks for praying along with us!

May 06, 2009 6:28 PM  
Blogger NCSue said...

I really wonder why Notre Dame refuses to back down on this issue. Is it a matter of demonstrating "intellectual freedom"? And if so, why is it a mark of intelligence to defy the Church one is supposed to represent?

How sad.

NCSue
http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/

May 06, 2009 8:17 PM  
Blogger Russ Rentler, M.D. said...

Intellectual bondage I suspect Sue. Thanks for visiting over here at Tiber land.

May 07, 2009 10:17 PM  

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