Cleansing Fire

Defending Truth and Tradition in the Roman Catholic Church

Signs of Hope

March 22nd, 2011, Promulgated by Dr. K

““I have seen a coming together of priests, deacons, and seminarians to support the teaching Magisterium of the Church. I am optimistic for the future, knowing that the Church is always in a state of being reformed, being ever purified, being ever perfected. True, there continue to be dissenting voices within the Church, but I see a number of those literally dying out…I believe the new ‘springtime’ predicted by the great Pope John Paul II can be seen on the horizon.””

— Archbishop John Nienstedt, St. Paul/Minneapolis

Read the entire article here.

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10 Responses to “Signs of Hope”

  1. John says:

    This quote hammers home something that is said and heard too frequently among the “new springtime” crowd, and usually with a triumphant note of victory and glee: the death, retirement, or disappearance of a “voice of dissent.” “Soon he/she will be gone and things will get better, or we’ll be free.” “but I see a number of those literally dying out.” How can any Christian rejoice or so pray for a brother or sister in Christ to be gone? It boggles the mind. Memento mori.

  2. Gretchen G says:

    “but I see a number of those literally dying out.” How can any Christian rejoice or so pray for a brother or sister in Christ to be gone?

    Wow, I didn’t read that as praying for the death of the brother or sister in Christ. Interesting take.

  3. Ben Anderson says:

    John,
    I see it more as a positive that the younger generation doesn’t tend towards the loosy-goosey, spirit of V2 theology like the children of the 60s did. I also see it as a statement of fact – not wishing death on anyone. It’s dying out (and not being replaced). The sad part about that is that their counterparts in the next generation are not Catholic or even Christian at all. That is sad, but looking on the positive that after years of progressives desecrating the Church with their irreverent worship styles and their illogical theology – the spring time is coming! A return to orthodoxy gives us a good shot at winning back many of those lost souls.

  4. A Catholic says:

    The Archbishop’s quote is wonderful- hopefully we’ll have a bishop here in Rochester in a few years who will say something similar. I agree with Ben and anon. that there isn’t anything unChristian about this quote. A peaceful retirement allows time to reconsider things for those who for many years led others astray by dissenting or underemphasing the basic teachings of the Faith that help us get to Heaven.

  5. Louis E. says:

    Retirement is not “literally dying out”.(See Bishop Gumbleton’s column in the Notionally Catholic Reporter).

  6. James says:

    I agree… ‘dying out’ is not retirement. This quote seems to convey a longing or a sense of relief being gained from the death of progressive catholics. How is that Christian… This is from an Archbishop?!?! I will give him the benefit of the doubt… I don’t think he meant to come accross in the way he has.. however, his words were not wise and were badly chosen.

    Christ’s peace!

  7. Abaccio says:

    Well, “dissenting voices within the church” lead souls away from Christ…Do I wish death on Fr McBrien and Hans Kung? Of course not! Will I rejoice when, for whatever reason, they stop leading souls away from Christ? I will. In the interim, we should pray for their conversion.

  8. Dr. K says:

    “Loosey-Goosey spirit of V2 theology” ?? Do you mean to say that the Second Vatican Council, called by a duly elected pope, attended by bishops, cardinals, and priests was “loosey-goosey”??

    Keywords here are “Spirit of.” What has been done in the name of the Council and what came officially from the Council documents are two different things.

  9. Choir says:

    A council is either pastoral or doctrinal. Vatican II was the first ever pastoral council.

  10. Abaccio says:

    My dear anon,

    “Loosey-Goosey spirit of V2 theology” ?? Do you mean to say that the Second Vatican Council, called by a duly elected pope, attended by bishops, cardinals, and priests was “loosey-goosey”??

    (NO. The “loosey-goosey spirit of V2 theology” has absolutely, positively NOTHING to do with the council. If you actually READ the council documents, YOU WILL NOT FIND WHAT YOU EXPECT. Do yourself a favor, and read Sacrosanctum Concilium. You can read it for free online. That’s what V2 said. You tell me if the things that are done “in the spirit of Vatican II” are actually done according to what was written at vatican ii.” I think you’d be surprised. )

    Our Church provides Church councils as a valid means of legitimately discussing and formulating theology / practices. To disrespect the council because you don’t happen to like the pastoral practices that came out of it is hardly in keeping with Catholic orthodoxy and tradition.

    (If your premise was correct, this would be a true statement. It’s not. The Liturgesy you commonly encounter at parishes that are obsessed with the “spirit of Vatican II” stands starkly against the council. Therefore, it should be opposed WITH THE BACKING OF Vatican II)

    Bishop McQuaid strenuously disagreed with the Papal Infallibility ruling that came out of Vat. I, but accepted it as a legitimate pronouncement from a legitimate council once it became fact. (RIGHT. Unfortunately, Bishop Clark refuses to accept legitimate teachings of the church with which he disagrees. See the difference?)

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