tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post113036995114068852..comments2023-10-09T07:56:32.564-05:00Comments on Sacramentum Vitae: The thin line dissolvesMike Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09060404905348849140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1130461864695062212005-10-27T20:11:00.000-05:002005-10-27T20:11:00.000-05:00island:I think lay people need to do two things.Th...island:<BR/><BR/>I think lay people need to do two things.<BR/><BR/>The first is the same as what the bishops need to do: be better disciples of Christ. We all are sinners; we need to make repentance and conversion daily and ongoing. Without personal holiness, railing against the sins of the clergy is hypocritical and will be ineffective.<BR/><BR/>Once that is a given reality, the second is to insist on the same from the clergy and help them do it in whatever ways one can. Do not settle for less; point out hypocrisy and denial in ways that will more likely be heard than defended against. The more we expect of ourselves, the more we may expect of our priests, who need our support. We get the priests, and bishops, we deserve.<BR/><BR/>You know, I am quite active in encouraging vocations among young and not-so-young men. Telling my own story, which is not entirely flattering to me by any means, helps them. This scandal in particular is a teaching moment, and I've been involved as both a victim and a critic. Although I have no vocation to the priesthood, much to my past disappointment, there are many guys out there who do but don't know it because they have nobody to encourage them. The only credible basis for such encouragement is to live one's own vocation joyfully and faithfully.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>MikeMike Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18100363229707213441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1130435368359377492005-10-27T12:49:00.000-05:002005-10-27T12:49:00.000-05:00island:"Repentance" and "conversion" are indeed ap...island:<BR/><BR/>"Repentance" and "conversion" are indeed apt words for what I'm advocating, but I don't agree with you that one rarely hears them in the Church. I for one hear them often; the problem is that they are usually meant for <I>other</I> people, and are too easily given a fuzzy sense that doesn't lance the boil of selfishness. That's true for most of us, including yours truly; but it's especially true of bishops. The fish rots from the head down; health must be restored similarly.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>MikeMike Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18100363229707213441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14300599.post-1130431282149993932005-10-27T11:41:00.000-05:002005-10-27T11:41:00.000-05:00Joe:The sluggishness of Rigali's response is unfor...Joe:<BR/><BR/>The sluggishness of Rigali's response is unfortunately characteristic of much that is wrong even with quite orthodox bishops. They do not grasp that we have entered a period in which only radical discipleship will be credible. There's too much "business as usual" in defense of the <I>status quo.</I><BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>MikeMike Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18100363229707213441noreply@blogger.com