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Catholic Social Teaching; Connecting with people
Topic Started: Saturday, 4. September 2010, 08:09 (886 Views)
Rose of York
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Gerard
Sunday, 5. September 2010, 19:33
Apologies for the diversion (But the Lord did say that only God is good [let alone sacred])
Gerry I did not see it as a diversion. Calling our priests sacred may indicate why some at higher levels seem so remote, and not exactly aware of the difficulties faced by the people in the pews.

As you say, Catholics do a lot in the field of social justice and welfare, but are the people who do it, as individuals or members or orders and societies, seen to be "good people" or as people who are doing good because their faith leads them on that path?
Keep the Faith!

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Mairtin
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Gerard
Sunday, 5. September 2010, 19:33
If we live it we will be noticed. And to some extent we do live it.
But I don't think we are living it in such a way that it is noted, at least not in a positive way.

The Epistle to Diognetus in the 2nd/3rd century said:

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For the Christians are distinguished from other people neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity ... and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking way of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners, As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners.

I some how doubt that we make that impression nowadays, at least not in a positive sense.
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
Rose of York
Sunday, 5. September 2010, 18:54
The pastor's ordination is sacred.
And it does something to the pastor. It imprints an indelible character on his soul.
S.A.G.

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Rose of York
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Gerard
Sunday, 5. September 2010, 19:33
Apologies for the diversion (But the Lord did say that only God is good [let alone sacred])

Mairtin,

Yes good point

PJD

Yes a much more down to earth and concrete example. If we live it we will be noticed. And to some extent we do live it. Religious orders are tending to change from running orphanages to running care homes for older people. I suspect Catholics are better at looking after their aged parents than society at large. But we could do more - more taking them into our own homes etc etc.

The clergy i know tend to be good at looking after theur parents (well no spouses to get in the way) and also good towards their elderly in the congregation.

Gerry

If we live it, we will be noticed as good neighbours or organisations. People either care or they don't. Christians should do better, but on the individual level I find an atheist is as likely as a church-goer to help out in crisis.

We have the same responsiblity to colleagues, neighbours where we live, as we have to fellow parishioners. It is a long time since I heard a homily or pastoral letter about the practical aspects of loving neighbour. If all of us do it, then people may notice and say "See how good those Catholics are, what makes them like that?"
Keep the Faith!

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PJD

"Gerry I did not see it as a diversion. Calling our priests sacred may indicate why some at higher levels seem so remote, and not exactly aware of the difficulties faced by the people in the pews."

For me Rose this is a good point and gets nearer to the nub of my connection with the 4th Commandment. You and others here have on not a few occasions mentioned difficulties in a congregation e.g. bossy people who try to arrange many things often unsuccessfully or cause occasion for resentment. In many case, and with all respect, they are probably on the most part younger in age. Your remarks (and others) coming from experience might well be rejected, despite the fact that seniority should lead those younger to have cause to listen more carefully to the advice of seniors. But they might not - they might if they were taking notice of their mother - but not because - even though they be more senior in age and more experienced, -they are not taking notice of their parents.. This to my mind is natural but not always logical. Thus I am referring not only to keeping to the 4th but actually breaking its principle.

PJD
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Gerard

In reference to another thread - I dont think stuffing Latin down peoples throats is a good way of connecting with them.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
Gerard
Tuesday, 7. September 2010, 09:01
In reference to another thread - I dont think stuffing Latin down peoples throats is a good way of connecting with them.
Here's a quote from (sorry about this) Archbishop Lefebvre, who did spend a fair bit of time in Africa:

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...when I was in Africa it was marvelous to see those crowds of Africans of different languages - we sometimes had five or six different tribes who did not understand one another - who could assist at Mass in our churches and sing the Latin chants with extraordinary fervor. Go and see them now: they quarrel in the churches because Mass is being said in a language other than theirs, so they are displeased and they want a Mass in their own language. The confusion is total, where before there was perfect unity.
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Gerard

I will be taking no lessons from that rebel.

I have actually been to Mass in Africa - it was in English :rofl: .

Also lots of :band:

and

:bliss: :mickey: :highland:

"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Clare
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Putting the "Fun Dame" into Fundamentalist
He was not a rebel when he was in Africa. He was in good standing in those days.

I suppose Hans Kung isn't a rebel.
S.A.G.

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Gerard

Good standing.

Then and now.

:grin:
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Rose of York
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Mairtin
Saturday, 4. September 2010, 08:09
At the end of the article there is a quote from a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference who said it was pleased the survey showed the majority of people agreed with Catholic social teaching. So why don't they get off their backsides and do more to publicise this teaching?

I've been convinced for a long time that the message of our Church is still the message that society at large wants to hear, not least in the times we have recently been through; I have been equally depressed at how desperately bad our Church has become at promoting that message.
:topicbaack:

If the Bishops want to spread the Church's social teaching, they would do well to use the people who are working in fields of economics, finance, politics and social welfare. We must have Catholic trade unionists, bankers, MPs, and Chief Executives of Social Services departments, who do their best to carry out their work in accordance with Christian teaching. It just may be that they could speak more effectively on these issues, than our bishops can. They have the personal experience. Bishops have the theory.
Keep the Faith!

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PJD

"They have the personal experience. Bishops have the theory."

Yes Rose. Just as Pope Benedict has personal experience of escaping from Germany and risking being shot if he was caught; and many of us who even as children have personal experience of bombs being dropped upon us in quantity. As you say it's the difference between experience and theory.

PJD
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Rose of York
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PJD Pope Benedict has his experiences and academic knowledge, about which I for one could teach him nothing.

The Body is made of many parts.

Who would be best fitted to connect with the British people, on Catholic Social teaching, regarding for instance employment - a trade union leader, a company chairman, or a bishop - or all three working as a team?
Keep the Faith!

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Gerard

PJD

Escaping from Germany? I thought he deserted from the German army as it was being defeated and was arrested in his native village and interned by allied forces within Germany.

Gerry
"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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PJD

"Escaping from Germany? I thought he deserted from the German army as it was being defeated and was arrested in his native village and interned by allied forces within Germany.
Gerry"


I didn't know that Gerry; thanks for the information.

PJD
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