Is Dogma Important? Part II

Is Dogma Important? Part II - Kinda

JMJ

As a follow up to part 1 and the theme of hybridization of Catholics, the following appeared on the Catholic Diocese Pittsburgh in January 2014.

Bishop David A. Zubik
Bishop of Pittsburgh
An ecumenical group of pastors and laity has been preparing for the Three Rivers Festival of Hope, sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on Aug. 15-17, 2014, at the Consol Energy Center. The three-day event will include stirring music from Christian artists and personal testimonies of people from various walks of life who are dedicated to following Jesus Christ.
I have appointed Father David Poecking, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carnegie, and Helene Paharik, associate general secretary of the diocese, to serve as my representatives on the festival committee.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association isn't a Catholic organization. But we do share a common hope of helping Christians return to the practice of their faith and of bringing the Gospel to every person in our city, nation and world. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has a record of working cooperatively with Catholic dioceses. If there are folks at the Three Rivers Festival of Hope who want to return to the Catholic Church, we surely want to be there to welcome them back with open arms.
For that reason I appreciate this opportunity for the Diocese of Pittsburgh to participate in this work of evangelization. As I stated in my pastoral letter, "The Church Alive!," I can remember as a youngster watching on television the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham. I marveled at the way he was able to touch people's hearts.
May the Three Rivers Festival of Hope so touch people's hearts with the love of God that they are fired up to follow his Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. May our prayerful presence at the festival enable former Catholics to come home. May the experience of Christian unity at the festival inspire our region to continue to build bridges of reconciliation in service to the common good.

The confusing part is the "... share a common hope of helping Christians return to the practice of their faith ...".

The non-hybridized version would read: '... the practice of the Catholic faith ...' because there is only one Church of Christ and frankly Billy Graham's church isn't it!

P^3
Prayer
Penance
Patience

Comments

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too thin

Communique about Avrille Dominicans - SSPX.org

+ JMJ Having completed the review of the 'Avrille' perspective, this communique from the French District Superior is perfectly timed. I believe that the 'resistance' has lost rationality and further argumentation simply results in their holding on to their false ideal all the more firmly. Pray much ... First, for them to acquiesce to the grace of humility in order to obtain a clear perspective on the principles involved. Second, that we may remain faithful to the Church, and Her Dogmas, Doctrines and Principles. Lest we become that which against we strove ... P^3 Courtesy of SSPX.org

Cathinfo and the 'resistance' perspective (updated with response to comment)

+ JMJ Matthew, the owner of Cathinfo - a resistance forum has posted a response to a person that indicated his reasons for continuing to go to the SSPX.

Fr. Burfitt on Fr. Pfeiffer's Attempted Consecration

+ JMJ Amidst the shadows cast by the publication of Traditionis Custodes, I am working on a map of the 'resistance' splinters to put their reaction in contrast with that of the SSPX. In the midst of this, I just came across Fr. Burfitt letter on the attempted consecration. Breaking it down (see below) items 2 and 3 are key. Just as the consecrating bishop is 'doubtful', even if he hadn't muffed the first attempt, Fr. Pfeiffer remain doubtful and therefore this impacts those men is attempts to 'ordain'. There were rumours that Fr. Pfeiffer was seeking episcopal consecration for years as he cast about for various bishops (also doubtful) to help him achieve this goal. I wonder how he convinced the 'doubtful' bishop to provide (twice) the doubtful consecration. What a mess! This creates a danger to the souls of his followers and wonder where it will end. Will he go full sede and have himself 'elected' pontiff as others have done before him

Yes Sally, Pope Francis IS the Pope and is in great need of our prayers!

+ JMJ The Church of Christ is Apostolic and this is also a 'Mark' of the Church. Specifically it means: The true Church is also to be recognised from her origin, which can be traced back under the law of grace to the Apostles; for her doctrine is the truth not recently given, nor now first heard of, but delivered of old by the Apostles, and disseminated throughout the entire world. ... That all, therefore, might know which was the Catholic Church, the Fathers, guided by the Spirit of God, added to the Creed the word Apostolic. For the Holy Ghost, who presides over the Church, governs her by no other ministers than those of Apostolic succession. ( Tradicat: Marks of the Church Apostolic - Catechism of Trent ) The consequence of this is Dogma is that if there are no longer any Bishops, then the promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ that the Church would stand to the end of the world, was false. A secondary consequence of this would be the eradication of the priesthoo

Tradicat

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