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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: Apr 2009
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This discussion brings to mind some points from the Founding Statement of the Lutheran clergy oratory the Society of the Holy Trinity http;//www.societyholytrinity.orgConcerning the Mission of the Church: When church and world are confused one with the other, then the Gospel is reduced to a program of social renewal, historical transformation, or personal/political empowerment. Pastors become absorbed in a worldly activism. The Church is defined as the instrument of worldly ideologies or righteous causes. Law is confused with Gospel. Human effort is confused the saving work accomplished by God alone, and the work of evangelization suffers. Against such confusion. we affirm the unique identity and call of the Church, living under the Gospel as sign and herald of God's eschatological Salvation.
Concerning the Ordained Ministry: When the distinctiveness of the Ministry of the Word and the Sacraments is obscured by a culture-bound egalitarianism, by anti-clericalism, or by pastoral loss of nerve, then the training and work of pastors loses its focus and center. The ordained Ministry becomes a "helping profession," or pastors become mere denominational shopkeepers. Amid such confusion, we affirm the God-given distinctiveness of the pastors call and state of life.
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Joined: Nov 2002
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There is a new wrinkle in our diocesan life. It was announced on the local TV station that the federal government will launch an investigation of the diocese under the RICO statute for the sex abuse uncovered by the state Attorney General. It will be the first time that a religious organization has been investigated as a corrupt organization. I don't know where this may lead or what the consequences could be, given what has happened to other businesses and organizations in the past under the same statute.
Bob
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Bob,
We are of such vintage that the lesson of Watergate was well instilled: The coverup is worse then the crime.
Unfortunately that lesson seems to have escaped some hierarchs, and, since they chose to cover up, the RICO prosecution seems entirely appropriate.
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Joined: Nov 2002
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RICO provides for the seizure of assets used by the racketeer so that there can be a liquidation if a guilty verdict comes to pass against individuals who controlled those assets. I wonder if that means that parish churches could be up for sale if it is determined that there was a RICO pattern by bishops.
Bob
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Parish churches are considered property of the Diocese, correct?
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Joined: Nov 2002
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If I'm not mistaken, the diocese had each parish church incorporated separately after the first priest payout happened--the Luddy case--over a decade ago. So the diocese may actually have no assets of its own. We'll see what happens as this moves forward.
Bob
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Joined: Oct 2013
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A hotline has been set up and the media report that it has been ringing off he hook.
Unfortunately, there seems to be very little that has changed. The only real change is that it took me SIX clearances to teach religious education and there are no substitutes in case one gets sick or needs to take off for family needs. The only reason they prevailed one me is that i needed half of those clearances for my professional license due to the Sandusky case. The state made funeral directors mandated reporters of child abuse, too.
The annual diocesan appeal for funds just started. Would anyone be surprised if they came up far short?
This problem reminds me of an exchange we had a few years back on this forum when our previous bishop silenced a priest who had been my former pastor--with the threat of excommunication and being defrocked if he spoke out again as he had at the trial of Fr. Luddy, our first abuse case. Seems he was called to testify before the Grand Jury this time as he was before.
Bob Would that be education classes during the week or just on Sundays?
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