Please see Church Militant : http://www.churchmilitant.tv/platform/?today=2015-02-24 regarding a very disrespectful response to Cardinal Burke by a Basilian priest, Fr. Timothy Scott, in Canada. That Basilian has now been relieved of his duties as spokesman for the Basilians, but many questions remain, including about finances and whether or not there is pressure to adversely affect the outcome of the Synod later this year by trying to silence Cardinal Burke and his heroic defense of Church Teaching. More information can be found here: http://theradicalcatholic.blogspot.com/2015/02/fr-timothy-scott-removed-as-basilian.html?spref=bl
There ought to be far more transparency about financial matters in the Church than many parishes and dioceses seem willing to do. Adding to the mix is Fr. Rosica’s threatened lawsuit against a Canadian blogger, which also looks like an attempt to silence criticism. Read more here: http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/02/20/vatican-spokesman-threatens-to-sue-catholic-blogger/ One of the laity’s Canon Law rights allows us to express our opinions to each other. Lawsuits against those who do express their opinions seem oriented to stopping the lay discussion, and preventing communications. The defendant in this case has seemed to imply that the first he knew of a lawsuit was when he opened the envelope. But why is Fr. Rosica threatening a lawsuit? Hasn’t he read Matthew 18: 15-17?
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” |
What about what St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6: 1-8?
“When one of you has a grievance against a brother, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life. If then you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who are least esteemed by the church? I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no man among; you wise enough to decide between members of the brotherhood, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren.”
For someone of Fr. Rosica’s stature in Rome, it is surprising that he would risk so much to go after one Catholic blogger, and set this kind of example to the wider Church.
Salt and Light TV Network in Canada, owned or run by Fr. Rosica, seems to have taken a particularly bitter attitude toward Cardinal Burke. You can read more of the attach here: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2014/10/salt-and-light-attacks-card-burke-sticking-to-the-ideal-instead-of-ministering-to-people/
And please keep praying for Cardinal Burke.
Tags: Basilians, Synod 2014-15, Vaticanisti
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I have wondered on this site about the propriety of Cardinal Burke’s comments, which are of course fair game to analyze, but I can’t imagine in a trillion years saying (or “tweeting”) to a prince of the Church, “STFU.” Wow.
Yes, pray for Cardinal Burke. But pray also for the Congregation of St. Basil. They seem to be suffering from the same malady that has struck so many orders of women religious – liberal politics – and hence, a dearth of vocations.
Father Rosica, native Rochesterian (from what is now Peace of Christ parish, I believe), is renowned as a brilliant man, but as happens with so many brilliant men (and with all of us), seems to suffer seriously a lack of humility. Father Scott must have caught the same bug.
It is by no means news (Church Militant ran the story) that Fr. Rosica several years ago gave a platform to a former priest who was already defrocked because of his sexual pursuits. Fr. Rosica himself, on his TV program, did a one-on-one interview with the man in a manner totally understanding and sympathetic to the man’s homosexual life style and gushed at something or other that the man had written. IMO, being sympathetic to a person’s predilections is one thing; giving him a platform and a pat on the head is quite another. I had no idea Fr. Rosica is “renowned as a brilliat man”; but I am aware, via that TV program, that he is not what I would call a priest dedicated to our Faith as taught and should be lived. Hence I was aghast at the position accorded him at the Vatican: very disappointing. +JMJ
Agree wholeheartedly, JLo. Apparently, language skills are prized above orthodoxy at the Holy See these days.
I am freaked out by Fr. Rosica’s Salt and Life TV Network’s attack on Cardinal Burke. The notorious Basilian who is now removed from his post for a tweet is maybe not as damaging as his brother Basilian, Fr. Rosica, who uses his media clout to attack the noble Cardinal Burke. If Salt and Light loses subscribers, it will most likely be because of Fr. Rosica’s allowing his minions to attack a Prince of the Church. Shame!
See what I mean: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/fr.-rosicas-salt-and-light-tv-slams-cardinal-burke-as-ivory-tower?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=50e1be8ee4-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines_06_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0caba610ac-50e1be8ee4-326215702
The Basilians have now said they did not fire the disrespectful priest. Rather he had finished his term last July. Apparently he has not been disciplined at all, which says a lot about an order which would permit this kind of behavior without accountability.
I have heard that Father Scott is the Order’s Superior General, not a mere spokesperson. If true, one would think his fellow Basilians might be looking for a more, how shall I say it, respectful and tactful, leader. Perhaps someone in the know can confirm or refute this.
The answer to my own question – the Basilian Superior General is Father George Smith CSB 95 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3C2
annonymouse – I agree with your view & comment “I can’t imagine in a trillion years saying (or “tweeting”) to a prince of the Church, “STFU.” Wow.”
I’ll go further. I can’t imagine a priest saying or tweeting that, to anyone. One expects better conduct from “a man of the cloth.”
I don’t think that type of tweet should be used by any Christian.
Catholic World Report: The Priest vs. The Blogger: A Case in Canadian Conflict
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/3751/the_priest_vs_the_blogger_a_case_in_canadian_conflict.aspx