LifeSite News is running an interesting story about the Archbishop of Winnipeg, James Weisgerber and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (of which he is the president) and the controversy over their funding of Development & Peace, an agency that has been accused of funding abortions. Unhappy that this funding has been exposed and caused the bishops the CCCB embarrassment, the archbishop has attacked Catholic bloggers, by saying:
"These bloggers who claim to be more Catholic than anyone -- I think first of all they're not part of the church, they're not Catholic in the sense that they have no mandate, they have no authority, they have no accountability. And they speak very, very definitively about what it means to be Catholic, and they're followed by so many people."
I cannot speak for all Catholic bloggers, but I would like to address his accusations point by point, at least with regard to my own efforts at blogging:
"These bloggers who claim to be more Catholic than anyone..."
I've never made any such claim.
"I think first of all they're not part of the church..."
Would he like to see my baptismal certificate?
"they're not Catholic in the sense that they have no mandate..."
Perhaps he could re-read Vatican II's Decree on the Laity, APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM, specifically, this excerpt:
As sharers in the role of Christ as priest, prophet, and king, the laity have their work cut out for them in the life and activity of the Church. Their activity is so necessary within the Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is often unable to achieve its full effectiveness. In the manner of the men and women who helped Paul in spreading the Gospel (cf. Acts 18:18, 26; Rom. 16:3) the laity with the right apostolic attitude supply what is lacking to their brethren and refresh the spirit of pastors and of the rest of the faithful (cf. 1 Cor. 16:17-18).
I would add that every Catholic has a mandate to share and defend his faith.
"they have no authority..."
The sidebar of this blog makes it clear that this site is not an official site for any diocese or parish.
"they have no accountability..."
To a certain extent this is true. However, I am accountable in ways he seems to be overlooking. I am accountable to those who read this blog. I engage my readers and discuss topics with them in a way that many bishops shun. In fact, when many Catholics attempt to contact their bishop, they soon find many layers of bureaucracy protecting their bishop from ever facing anyone he doesn't wish to talk to. My name is on the line with every post on this blog.
"And they speak very, very definitively about what it means to be Catholic..."
If I make any definitive statements about being Catholic, I make it a point to back up my statement with Church documents. In fact, I would prefer to say that I present what The Church definitively says about being Catholic. There was a time when we could count on our priests and bishops to tell us but...oh, never mind.
"...and they're followed by so many people."
Take a look at the counter at the bottom of my sidebar. As Catholic blogs go, I'm pretty small-time. In fact, most Catholic blogs have relatively small followings, except for a few very popular ones.
The archbishop should admit what is REALLY bothering him:
With the internet, everyone is more accountable. Bishops are now accountable (well, at least a bit MORE accountable) about how they spend our money. Priests, bishops, nuns and catechists are now more accountable for what they say, teach and preach. One stupid remark from the pulpit on any given Sunday can be all over the blogosphere on Sunday night. This is one of the reasons that the rupturistas who have lied to us about Vatican II for the last 40 years aren't getting away with it any longer.
Part of the success of the Church's return to orthodoxy and tradition can certainly be attributed to Catholic bloggers who have held our priests' and bishops' feet to the fire. But first and foremost, we must thank the Holy Father, Pope Benedict for his courage and leadership. We bloggers are simply sticking to his orders, even when his own lieutenants are subverting him.
3 comments:
Excellently pointed out Robert! Bishops such as these, and the likes of Mahoney, Schonborn, Kung and other liberals would demand obedience to their teachings and practices but are very quick to denounce Rome's "imperialism" if their obedience to the Magisterium of the Church is called upon! They have their own view of what it is to be a Catholic Church. These people want to make our beloved Church like the Episcopalian Church, a DYI Christianity!
When someone accused me last month of "practicing Catholicism without a license," I pointed out that no where on my blog do I claim my blog is "Catholic"; neither in name nor in mission; other than my claim of defending "the Catholic Church," a task which even an atheist could, in principle, perform.
To be fair, it seems to me that his comment about "mandate" was poorly phrased and not what he intended. Given the context, I think he was speaking in terms of juridical status or persons under Canon Law. And to that end, he's right.
Of course, bloggers aren't claiming any such status. We really can't use the title "Catholic" (in the title of our blogs) without the express permission of our Bishop. Yet, as my prof pointed out...Canon Law hasn't yet caught up with the internet and social networking technology. As it is, I don't know of anyone who looks at we bloggers and sees us as Juridic Persons, just average every day Catholics living out our baptismal call to preach the gospel to all nations.
John ~ ROFL! Practicing Catholicism without a license????!! What do they call a baptismal certificate??
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