I’d like to welcome a new addition to our staff, JBCatholic. I’m sure his posts will be very insightful, and will be yet another reason for your continued readership!
Just to let you know, many of us have been busy this summer, either on vacation, welcoming new members into families, etc. As we get back into the school year, things should become a bit more regular, and I’m sure we’ll be having several new and interesting posts. If there is anything you would like us to cover in a post or article, just leave a suggestion in the comment box, and we’ll add it to our to-do list.
Many thanks,
Gen
Tags: News and Media
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Welcome, JB. Good to have you on board.
What happened to Dr. K?
When will the CF staff start going to unorthodox churches. How can you report on vietnam if your not actually in the trenches with the foot soldiers? 😉
Well, most of us have done several tours of duty in ‘Nam, and we’re enjoying some much needed liturgical R&R.
If you’d like to be a field agent and do some recon for us, I’ll see if we can get a Huey with .50 cal’s to cover you.
Welcom, JBC — glad you are here! Many blessings on your work for the Lord.
Chris, I have retired.
Good luck to JB.
Thank you for your well wishes. Dr. K I am sorry to hear or your departure. Though I’m sure you will not leave our presence all together. I hope I can fill a small part of your shoes in the future.
Sentire Cum Ecclesia,
JBC
Unlike other mitered individuals, Dr. K decided not to serve out his full term, and thus make the progressives amongst us agonize over their own countdown. 😉
Jim M. here: Welcome aboard JBCatholic! I will miss you, Dr.K. and your discerning mind….you were able to keep your pulse on the goings on of our diocese very well …I do hope that you might guest contribute once in awhile…..God bless you for your past efforts!
Welcome JBCatholic!
However, I’m depressed over Dr. K’s retirement -depressed!
Amen to that! I’m not even sure what that would accomplish. We’ve already proven that we have a problem here in Rochester. That much is obvious even to the casual observer. How much value does continuing to report the same sad story over and over again have? “Some parish/priest/diocesan-leader just said/did/taught something heterodox.” I’m actually more surprised by the tag line “some priest/parish/diocesan-leader (other than the already priests/parishes with spines) who love Jesus and His Church did something orthodox”. We’ve established there is a deep, deep problem. That task is complete. Not that I think doing the watch-dog thing should ever cease – it will always be valuable, but at some point we also need to start working to build things back up (not that those involved here aren’t already actively doing that, but it’s exactly that effort that might be taking away from your desire for us to be in the trenches). Especially when the new bishop arrives and half the people in the diocese get pissed off and either leave the Church. It is our mission as lay people to do what we can to evangelize these people.
Dr. K: I am going to miss you. Thank you for all your hard work and many blessings to you in your retirement. As Jim M. has said, I hope you are able to guest contribute once in awhile.
JBCatholic: Welcome. I hope you enjoy your time with us and your blogging /moderator career is blessed, fruitful, and prosperous.
In regard to subject matter/posts: I would be grateful if you covered the closing of St. Andrew Church on Portland Avenue, in the city of Rochester.
I believe that shining spotlights on both the good and the bad is necessary. Jesus did that when, on the one hand, He threw over the tables of buyers and sellers in the temple or called the Pharisees “whitened sepulchres,” but He also gave parables to show much goodness, and lauded the persistent woman for her faith and humility who sought His healing of her daughter.
And we are, each of us, usually deserving of both sides — the chastisement to be better representatives of faith, and a pat on the back occasionally for standing up for the Lord (although we have only done what a good and faithful servant is expected to do, but we can encourage each other.)
So while both elements can be in each of us, sometimes it is hard to balance both in one person at the same time. Having a “staff” for Cleansing Fire enables balance to be achieved; maybe not every single day (just like our diets aren’t usually balanced at every single meal) but over time, may we try to shine both spotlights — to light the path for all. Some writers on staff lift our thoughts heaven-ward, especially Bernie in his pictures and explanations of worship space. For myself, I hope in some small way by focusing deeply on one particular situation, awareness can be built like an early warning system of how egregious are some of the operations and operatives in the local church.
There is a risk in just glossing with generalities; i.e. “things are bad in the Diocese of Rochester.” Yes, they are, but without detail it seems just an uncharitable claim. With detail, it builds understanding and strength to resist, knowing we are not each alone. The burden on each of us is, I think, the wisdom and courage to correct each other where needed, and the humility to accept correction, otherwise we would just be building our own kingdom. Some of the discussions among staff off the main page help to do just that.
I am reminded of Christ before the high priest when he was struck by the soldier and asked why, adding that if He had spoken wrongly to testify to the wrong. What we are giving in these individual situations that are reported is testifying to the wrong. Were such testimony to no longer be offered, there would be an unleasing, I fear, of even more un-orthodoxy. It is tiring, and we can get worn out just trying to run the race. Yet we are called to do so; i.e. to do spiritual aerobics for our soul.
I do agree that we can always do more, and helping to build up the kingdom, and to prepare spiritually for our next bishop, are important priorities.
well said, Diane. Thank you for that insight.
indeed.