Pope Benedict XVI on Monday appointed Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, previously the bishop of Regensburg, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, raising him to the dignity of Archbishop. By virtue of his office, he will also be the president of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and the International Theological Commission. The previous prefect, Cardinal William Joseph Levada, resigned from the position, having reached the age limit.
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Commentary: Unlike various strident voices populating the internet, and denouncing Bishop Muller as a "heretic", and Pope Benedict as a "modernist"; I believe that it is not too much to suggest that trusting in the Holy Father's decisions is incumbent on a Catholic. There was much similar clamor from the usual websites on the evils of the appointment of Cardinal Levada. Such is the state of the Church in this age of alleged individualism. "Traditional" or "conservative" Catholics have taken up with the "liberal" and the "modernist" to judge the Pope and the Magisterium. All of this reeks of pure protestantism. I say alleged individualism because this individualism has resulted in various sets of "group think"; many groups delving into classic "smear" campaigns that were so popular in the 30s, 40s and 50s on the hard left and right.
5 comments:
Let me get this straight... the Prefect of the Inquisition (oops, forgot the name change) is being subjected to an inquisition by self appointed heresy hunters? "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Monty Python. Really, this situation is getting silly. It brings to mind the quote from the frontispiece of The Screwtape Letters.
"The devil... the prowde sprite... cannot endure to be mocked." Thomas More
The attacks became so bad over at Rorate Caeli, that the blog administrator actually had to call an end to it and remind the readers that the layman cannot sit in judgement on a bishop.
I have to add that it all is a bit odd, as Rorate seems to goad these people on, and then, when they bite, to chid them.
I think it is a case similar to the appointment of Levada. I suspect Levada was appointed to deal with the abuse cases in the U.S. In Germany and Austria there is much of that, as well as the owning of a porn publisher, the refusal to implement "pro multis," the dissent of priests, the Cardinal of Vienna and so on. Perhaps it will take a German to communicate properlty the situation.
As for not standing in judgement, I dare say again, you are wrong.
I can clearly state that Thomas Cardinal Collins was wrong in his ban of Holy Communion on the tongue during the H1N1 lie which he fell for. How do you answer that?
How do you answer this?
Can. 212 §1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church.
§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.
§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.
Freyr,
If not for the laity and the Internet, would the bishop cavorting with a woman in a pool in Mexico last week been forced to resign?
When did you all become episopalaters?
Judgement is the evaluation of evidence in the making of a decision. It presupposes jurisdiction and is to be contrasted with expressing an opinion which does not. Therefore you may disagree with Archbishop Collins on any subject that is not de fide and you may express that opinion however you like. However, judgement of Archbishop Collins is a matter reserved to the Holy See. Pontificating is a privilege usually reserved to the Pope. As for accusation of idolatry... they are ad hominem.
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