Here is the statement issued today by Joaquín Navarro Valls, director of the Vatican press office, in regard to the recent episcopal ordinations in China.

I can inform you of the position of the Holy See regarding the episcopal ordination of the priests Joseph Ma Yinglin and Joseph Liu Xinhong, which took place, respectively, last Sunday, April 30, in Kunming (province of Yunnan) and Wednesday, May 3, in Wuhu (province of Anhui).

The Holy Father has learned of the news with profound displeasure, since an act so relevant for the life of the Church, such as an episcopal ordination, has been carried out in both cases without respecting the requirements of communion with the Pope.

It is a grave wound to the unity of the Church, for which severe canonical sanctions, as it is known, are foreseen (cf. Canon 1382 from the Code of Canon Law).

According to the information received, bishops and priests have been subjected to — on the part of entities external to the Church — strong pressures and to threats, so that they would take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being without pontifical mandate, are illegitimate and, besides, contrary to their conscience.

Various prelates have refused to give in to similar pressures, while others were not able to do anything but submit with great interior suffering. Episodes of this kind produce lacerations not only in the Catholic community but also in the internal conscience itself.

We are therefore facing a grave violation of religious liberty, notwithstanding that it is sought to present the two episcopal ordinations as a proper act to provide the pastors for vacant dioceses.

The Holy See follows with attention the troubled path of the Catholic Church in China and, even aware of some particularities of such a path, believed and hoped that similar, deplorable episodes by now would belong to the past.

She considers that now it is her precise duty to give voice to the suffering of the entire Catholic Church, in particular to that of the Catholic community in China and especially to that of those bishops and priests who were seen obligated, against conscience, to take part or to participate in the episcopal ordination, which neither the candidates nor the consecrating bishops want to carry out without having received the pontifical mandate.

If the news is true that other episcopal ordinations are to take place in the same manner, the Holy See would like to underline the need for respect for the liberty of the Church and for the autonomy of its institutions from whatever external interference, and sincerely wishes that such unacceptable acts of violence and inadmissible constrictions are not repeated.

The Holy See has, on various occasions, stressed her willingness for honest and constructive dialogue with the competent Chinese authorities for the purpose of finding a solution that would satisfy the needs of both parties. Initiatives such as the above-mentioned do not favor such dialogue but instead create new obstacles against it.

Pray for the Church in China.

Here is the statement issued today by Joaquín Navarro Valls, director of the Vatican press office, in regard to the recent episcopal ordinations in China.

I can inform you of the position of the Holy See regarding the episcopal ordination of the priests Joseph Ma Yinglin and Joseph Liu Xinhong, which took place, respectively, last Sunday, April 30, in Kunming (province of Yunnan) and Wednesday, May 3, in Wuhu (province of Anhui).

The Holy Father has learned of the news with profound displeasure, since an act so relevant for the life of the Church, such as an episcopal ordination, has been carried out in both cases without respecting the requirements of communion with the Pope.

It is a grave wound to the unity of the Church, for which severe canonical sanctions, as it is known, are foreseen (cf. Canon 1382 from the Code of Canon Law).

According to the information received, bishops and priests have been subjected to — on the part of entities external to the Church — strong pressures and to threats, so that they would take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being without pontifical mandate, are illegitimate and, besides, contrary to their conscience.

Various prelates have refused to give in to similar pressures, while others were not able to do anything but submit with great interior suffering. Episodes of this kind produce lacerations not only in the Catholic community but also in the internal conscience itself.

We are therefore facing a grave violation of religious liberty, notwithstanding that it is sought to present the two episcopal ordinations as a proper act to provide the pastors for vacant dioceses.

The Holy See follows with attention the troubled path of the Catholic Church in China and, even aware of some particularities of such a path, believed and hoped that similar, deplorable episodes by now would belong to the past.

She considers that now it is her precise duty to give voice to the suffering of the entire Catholic Church, in particular to that of the Catholic community in China and especially to that of those bishops and priests who were seen obligated, against conscience, to take part or to participate in the episcopal ordination, which neither the candidates nor the consecrating bishops want to carry out without having received the pontifical mandate.

If the news is true that other episcopal ordinations are to take place in the same manner, the Holy See would like to underline the need for respect for the liberty of the Church and for the autonomy of its institutions from whatever external interference, and sincerely wishes that such unacceptable acts of violence and inadmissible constrictions are not repeated.

The Holy See has, on various occasions, stressed her willingness for honest and constructive dialogue with the competent Chinese authorities for the purpose of finding a solution that would satisfy the needs of both parties. Initiatives such as the above-mentioned do not favor such dialogue but instead create new obstacles against it.

Pray for the Church in China.

Here is the statement issued today by Joaquín Navarro Valls, director of the Vatican press office, in regard to the recent episcopal ordinations in China.

I can inform you of the position of the Holy See regarding the episcopal ordination of the priests Joseph Ma Yinglin and Joseph Liu Xinhong, which took place, respectively, last Sunday, April 30, in Kunming (province of Yunnan) and Wednesday, May 3, in Wuhu (province of Anhui).

The Holy Father has learned of the news with profound displeasure, since an act so relevant for the life of the Church, such as an episcopal ordination, has been carried out in both cases without respecting the requirements of communion with the Pope.

It is a grave wound to the unity of the Church, for which severe canonical sanctions, as it is known, are foreseen (cf. Canon 1382 from the Code of Canon Law).

According to the information received, bishops and priests have been subjected to — on the part of entities external to the Church — strong pressures and to threats, so that they would take part in the episcopal ordinations which, being without pontifical mandate, are illegitimate and, besides, contrary to their conscience.

Various prelates have refused to give in to similar pressures, while others were not able to do anything but submit with great interior suffering. Episodes of this kind produce lacerations not only in the Catholic community but also in the internal conscience itself.

We are therefore facing a grave violation of religious liberty, notwithstanding that it is sought to present the two episcopal ordinations as a proper act to provide the pastors for vacant dioceses.

The Holy See follows with attention the troubled path of the Catholic Church in China and, even aware of some particularities of such a path, believed and hoped that similar, deplorable episodes by now would belong to the past.

She considers that now it is her precise duty to give voice to the suffering of the entire Catholic Church, in particular to that of the Catholic community in China and especially to that of those bishops and priests who were seen obligated, against conscience, to take part or to participate in the episcopal ordination, which neither the candidates nor the consecrating bishops want to carry out without having received the pontifical mandate.

If the news is true that other episcopal ordinations are to take place in the same manner, the Holy See would like to underline the need for respect for the liberty of the Church and for the autonomy of its institutions from whatever external interference, and sincerely wishes that such unacceptable acts of violence and inadmissible constrictions are not repeated.

The Holy See has, on various occasions, stressed her willingness for honest and constructive dialogue with the competent Chinese authorities for the purpose of finding a solution that would satisfy the needs of both parties. Initiatives such as the above-mentioned do not favor such dialogue but instead create new obstacles against it.

Pray for the Church in China.

BC is “PC”

 

The ever enduring liberal principles of “tolerance” and “diversity” continue at Boston College.  This time the issue at hand is whether or not Condolezza Rice is an appropriate speaker for the “Catholic” university.  The univerisity has invited Dr. Rice as the commencement address speaker for 2006.  One would presume that any university would be honored to have such an esteemed speaker at its commencement, but that presumption would be incorrect at a most Catholic college such as BC.  One group of professors believe that Dr. Rice embraces sentiments inconsistent with Catholic social teaching.  Guess which department has arrived at this conclusion. The theology department of course.   We may never know, however, which of these courageous defenders of the Church objects, because they prefer anonymity.   

 

Nearly 100 faculty members have signed the letter, according to the theology department, which declined to release their names.   

 

Kenneth Himes, who apparently authored the letter sent to the college administration, is the head of the Department of Theology.  He states.   

 

”On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice’s approach to international affairs is in fundamental conflict with Boston College’s commitment to the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university’s work,” the letter said. It pointed out Pope John Paul II’s opposition to the war in Iraq.   

 

Let’s not loose sight of the fact that this department has done little to foster an authentic notion of Church’s teaching in most areas.  And perhaps they are apathetic to the Church’s magisterium.  This is the same Catholic university that once recruited an atheist to chair the theology department.   

 

There is no evidence that the local archdiocese was consulted on this matter, though Boston College officials deny that the post they say serves only in an “advisory” capacity comes under the encyclical’s umbrella. “Ex Corde Ecclesiae never said anything about non-Catholic professors,” asserted BC official spokesman John Dunn. 

Dunn, though, disputes the claim that Vanderhooft is what Schatkin termed a “functional atheist.” “He has informed me that he was baptized in the Christian Reformed Church and that he is still a member,” Dunn stated.       The facts, though, show otherwise, with Vanderhooft’s curriculum vitae being the first clue. Prominently displayed on the resume he submitted to the Theology Department faculty prior to their April 26, 2000 meeting to vote him in as Director of Undergraduate Studies was “Religious Education Instructor at Follen Community Church, Lexington for eighth grade biblical studies class (fall 1997, 1998; winter 1999-2000).” Follen Community Church is a Unitarian-Universalist church in Lexington, Massachusetts.       Dunn argued that simply teaching a course at a church doesn’t mean you are a member there. Nevertheless, a phone call to Follen Community Church proved that not only does Vanderhoft teach there, but he and his family are listed in the church directory as “part of the congregation” and he is considered a “friend of the church.” Furthermore, all Sunday School teachers there “must have approval of the director or minister of religious education,” the church receptionist told Campus Report, and they must subscribe to church doctrine.  

     Contrary to both the Reformed and Catholic creeds, Unitarian-Universalists are not trinitarians (i.e. they deny the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit), they deny the divine and infallible inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and they hold to universal salvation, that is, that anybody can go to heaven and that there are “many valid paths to spirituality.” Many same-sex “marriages” have been performed at Follen Community Church since Vanderhooft has been a part of the congregation. Members of the sect don’t necessarily believe in God.        Vanderhooft has allegedly trashed the Trinity at his first tenure review and characterized the Bible as a human document that had nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. He has refused to answer several calls asking for an explanation.   

 

So Rice is found unsuitable to speak and receive and honorary degree, but an atheist is suitable to chair the theology department.  Kind of puts things in perspective doen’t it?   I think that Rev McNellis said it best in responding to the letter from the theologians:   

 

”This is the only time these people have cited Pope John Paul II on anything,” said the Rev. Paul McNellis, who is an adjunct professor in the philosophy department. 

I’m sure that in the liberal mind, all this makes sense.