'Cause Old White Male Celibates Know Best

[filkertom]

I literally just heard this on Air America Radio, and Googled it up at Wired:

Cardinal: No Communion For Pro-Abortion Politicians

In remarks that could influence the U.S. presidential race, a top Vatican cardinal said on Friday that a Catholic politician who unambiguously supports abortion should be denied communion at Mass.

Anyone else ever going to invoke the doctrine of Free Will again?

Comments

schism?

[popefelix.livejournal.com]

does anyone think this, and/or the gay marriage issue, will cause a schism (like a whole 'nother denomination) within the RC church?

Re: schism?

[djonn]

does anyone think this, and/or the gay marriage issue, will cause a schism (like a whole 'nother denomination) within the RC church?

Doubtful. Too much of rank-and-file Catholicism already ignores the Vatican in real life.

Re: schism?

[poltr1]

I'd like to see it happen, and if it does, it will probably happen soon. The number of men entering the priesthood is dwindling. I'd also love to see married priests and priestesses.

But to be realistic, I really doubt that it will happen. In my opinion, too many Catholics have bought into the belief that they should be meek and submissive, and to follow what the Vatican says, without question. In other words, they've become sheep. Those who dare speak out risk getting shunned or excommunicated. THankfully, that's starting to change, with the sexual abuse scandal.

The Vatican is the oldest of old-boy networks. They won't change what they're doing, or how they're doing it. Their philosophy is "99% loyal is 100% disloyal", and "Protect the hierarchy, the structure, and the establishment at all costs". It's almost cult-like, if you think about it in those terms. There's the charismatic leader (the Pope), and the psychological operations (guilt and manipulation) that they employ.

But I do love the sense of history, and ritual, and some of the music is quite moving for me....even though I left the Church behind to follow a more Pagan spiritual path.

I think it's time for St. Francis of Assisi to come back down and rebuild the Church, as he did nearly 1000 years ago.