Catholic and Loving it!

                                         

 

“The deliberate misuse of Newman is a token of a crisis, unprecedented in the history of the Church. It has grown around the Catholic acceptance of a promotion of the counterfeit doctrine of conscience promoted by Mill and corrected by Newman. Among Catholics, that counterfeit was put in place by the opposition to Humanae Vitae. It was an opposition created by theologians, promoted in the Catholic press and transmitted by priests who urged the faithful to ‘follow your conscience’, without helping the faithful to form their conscience in the light of the teaching of the Church with the help of the sacraments, the gift of grace and presence of Christ.”

Extract from “Conscience, the Papacy and the State - a talk given at Birmingham Oratory” by Fr Dermot Fenlon on Saturday 1 March 2008.

The full text of the talk is available here and speaks for Fr Dermot Fenlon whilst he is unable to.

Br Lewis Berry’s statement of 30 August 2010 gives some pause for thought on the issue of the Birmingham Three.

In his article in the print edition of the Catholic Herald of 27 August 2010, Jack Valero stated it was time for the likes of this blog and others to “pack up shop” on the issue of the Birmingham Oratory. We would provide the link to the article but can't because the article is not available online. This is the best we can do just now. 

It has already been said in comments here and elsewhere (and, before anyone suggests it, no we did not post the particular comment in the link), that it is rumoured that Br Lewis was to be ordained to the priesthood in October of this year. How that is reconciled with the reason given for his going to South Africa for at least a year as being that his formation “will best be met in an Oratorian community that will afford him greater opportunities for a varied programme of pastoral work, as the Church requires of a deacon” remains to be seen. 

On the one hand ordination this year but on the other no reference to ordination any time soon?

When asked publicly to ‘pack up shop’ by a spokesman appointed by the Bishops Conference what is the correct response? Does one: 

• Shut up on the basis that an official spokesman has told one to?

Or

• Continue asking questions?
   

On balance we think the correct response is to continue asking questions. That answer then does raise the question of whether steps will be taken to "shut the shop". As with the truth of the Birmingham Oratory situation, only time will tell the answer to that question.

Statement aside, if Brother Lewis is so firmly opposed to the behaviour of "intemperate bloggers and journalists" (as referred to by Jack in the same Catholic Herald article) then why didn't he just say so in the first place? Also, if The Three are entirely happy with the way things are going, why a statement from only one? The younger one... the one most likely to cave in to pressure?

                          

Over at the Little Oratory's blog there has been an 'appeal for circumspection' in relation to the situation at the Birmingham Oratory.

The 'Long Suffering Rector' says:

"As we are all only too well aware, the situation in the Birmingham Oratory is far from happy, and has given rise to a great deal of comment and speculation in the press.

It would be most unhelpful were any Brother of the Little Oratory in London to be seen to be making public or semi-public statements on this matter.

We must refrain from any comment when asked by outsiders, other than to say that it is an internal matter for the Birmingham House, and must be careful not to discuss this situation amongst ourselves where there is the possibility of our being overheard. We must also refrain from entering the fray of comments in the blogosphere.

We should be praying - not indulging in conjecture and gossip."

 Let's see how long it takes for someone to mention Godwin's Law...

Use the tag cloud to the left of this post to help you make your mind up. Some tag words you might like to try are:

• Catholic Education Service
• Archbishop Vincent Nichols
• Catholic schools
• Humanae Vitae
• Connexions
• Marriage Care
• Contraception

You may also want to take a look at John Smeaton's postings on the subject.

We look forward to reading productive and relevant comments…...

 

 

Yesterday was the feast of St Monica and today is the feast of her son, St Augustine, two wonderful saints for all times.  Here is a short film about them:

: 

 

 

...not just a private preference for how to spend a Sunday morning...

 

This is Fr Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly, a Vietnamese Roman Catholic priest. 

 

 

In October 1977, an article in Công Giao va Dân Tôc (the official newspaper of the state-run Southern Catholic Liaison Committee) stated: "Faced with these activities threatening political security and the danger that they will lead to activities opposing the Revolution, the revolutionary authorities could not allow this to continue and were forced to arrest Nguyen Van Ly".

 

With Br Lewis Berry off to South Africa and Fr Philip Cleevely in communication with Jack Valero (according to Jack’s interview with William Crawley), when can we expect a statement from them?

A statement of some type must be in the offing, if only to quash speculation, and its contents will perhaps be along the following lines:

My decision to make this statement has not been influenced or swayed by any other party.

Whilst an Oratorian’s home is his home for life, I am delighted to announce that I shall be off for pastures new to pursue my vocation. This is notwithstanding my having rather liked being at the Birmingham Oratory and the Pope being about to visit. This decision has been mine alone and I have not been subjected to any pressure at all in reaching it.

I would like to thank Fr Felix Selden, Fr Ignatius Harrison, Fr Gareth Jones and Mr Jack Valero for having handled what have been difficult times at the Birmingham Oratory with such sensitivity, ability and pastoral care. Their control of the media in preventing speculation over absolutely nothing has been exemplary.

Whilst there may have been speculation by third parties that I have been subject to abuse of canon law process, I can state categorically that that has not been the case and that every care and attention was taken by Fr Felix Selden and others to ensure my physical and spiritual wellbeing at all times. 

Although I am grateful for people having taken such an interest in me, it was unnecessary. The theories of one type or another that I understand have been circulating have all been without truth and I ask that they cease as such speculation is damaging to the Church and hierarchy at this momentous time.

Any questions?

Er sorry……Sorry I don’t think I can answer that question.

Or that one.

Or that one.

Or that one. My, is that the time? How it passes. Anyway, thanks all for coming and what lovely weather we’re having. Got to go now……Bye…..

 

We still won’t believe it.

And what of Fr Dermot Fenlon? Will he make a statement confirming everything is absolutely ticketyboo and that all’s right with the world or will he be given the push into the Oratorian equivalent of outer space? Only time will tell….