V6M@PSUVM.BITNET (03/04/85)
<<>> Dear Steve, You asked me to comment on female priests so I did. I didnot side step your other examples since I didn't want to post a long article. Unfortunately I don't have a hard copy here either but I'll try to respond. Anyway... You make a valid point about Tradition. If there comes to pass a near consensus on the acceptability of women being ordained from the "rank and file" i.e. us rather than the hierarchy and it endures for VERY LONG period of time and it is not found in contradiction to dogma when examined by the then set of hierarchical officials (who by this time have been raised from the "rank and file") then INDEED it will come to pass (I think). Tell me :-) How are you so certain we will have women ordained? Have you been tapping Arndt's hot line? :-) The greatest effect of Vatican II was not the changes per se but the excesses of the implemtation of the changes and the erroneous extrapolations and liberties taken by the HIERARCHY. That's why the Pope has called the next SYNOD. BTW there was nothing in Vatican II that was in contradiction to Church dogma or the essentials of the Church. It will take MUCH deliberation to allow ordination of women and it may indeed have it's roots and largest support from them first. But I hasten to remind eveyone that the laity DONOT have any where near a consensus on this point now. We may never come to one either. There was much hoopla on liturgical renewal in the 6x's. It DIDNOT come from the R and F. It came from a segment of the clerical hierarchy and the officiating liturgical committes decided to implement them. BIG DEAL!!! The Church went from one set of DEFINED liturgical practices (Tridentine) which evolved slowly over the centuries to another DEFINED set of liturgical practices (post V II) which were supposed to be more "meaningful" to the rank and file. So instead of having a high, solemn commeration we have a low but just as rigid, socially concerned folk-fest. Palestrina was replaced by Peter,Paul and Mary (ironic even in the names). The folk idiom is NOT the idiom that is immeditely appreciated,understood or felt by the majority of Catholics since Catholicism in this country has its roots in the major immigration areas of the city and later the suburbs as we became assimilated (to our detriment). My friends and I are divided on this point too and I detect no consensus on the liturgy yet although there is much dissatisfaction even from the middle let alone the right. WE NEED laity involvement. There are so few formal vocations to the religious life that laity MUST take up the slack. This net group is a prime example of lay apologetics and ecumenical discourse (most of the time). The fact that we DO this without screaming at each other (too much) is atributable to Vatican II and the Spirit working in all Christians. (NO I DON'T HAVE AN EXPERIMENT TO PROVE IT!) We weren't doing too much of this before it and now after it we are aligned with Rev. Falwell on the abortion issue. When I was in 8th grade I would not have thought it possible. Yes I do have a great deal of faith in the Church, BUT I'm NOT stupid nor as naive as some of our own religious and priests. I do have a very simple outlook though. I try to do my best to fulfill my obligations to all. I don't have to like it, I just have to do it. OBVIOUSLY I'm not in a good mood..sorry if I upset any one. Vince Marchionni