ARCC SPOT LIGHTs

ARCC spot LIGHT EXTRA - Bishops Against the Healthcare Bill

Fri Sep 4, 2009 5:55 pm

Bishops on Healthcare

 

As Roman Catholics we applaud the efforts of our Bishops to:

1. Uphold the value of human life from conception through to natural death. 

2. Support pregnant women, enabling them to carry their pregnancies through to term, then continuing to support the resulting family. 

3. Establish health care for all, to ensure that the least among us have the health care which our Church states is a right, not a privilege.

 

But we are very discouraged by some bishop's statements that are long on rhetoric but short on facts and tie abortion into the health care debate, especially as they argue that funds for health care for the poor are essentially funds freed for abortion.  Such flawed logic is beneath them and reflects a political partisanship.  We only need to point out that by this same logic each and every dollar of government funding, be it Federal or State, can be directly used, or frees up other funds, to procure abortions.  By this same logic, are not dollars contributed in the Sunday collection supporting pedophile priests? 

 

If Bishops want to speak against a healthcare bill under consideration, they are free to do so, but we call on them to leave their partisan political rhetoric and their inconsistencies out of it.  We encourage them instead to enter the debate by pointing out the right to healthcare for all US citizens in spite of the difficulties involved and not be a stumbling block for the poor in this matter.  They must give us credit for listening to their teaching but also for being quite capable of discernment and following our own God-given conscience.  They must not use their spiritual office to support their political biases nor to deny the right of healthcare for all.  

 

If you agree, pass it on.

 

ARCC is a co-sponsor of THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL (ACC)   Please consider joining this effort to bring about much-needed organizational restructuring in the Church

 

Feel free to reprint and distribute this article without any change. 

Thank you for support of ARCC.

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).

ARCC Spot LIGHT EXTRA - Hurray for Subsidiarity!

Tue Sep 8, 2009 7:50 pm

ARCC spot LIGHT (analysis of Church issues offered by the ARCC Publications Committee, R. Schutzius, ed.)

 

Hurray for Subsidiarity!

 

Doesn't it touch your heart to read about how many Catholic bishops are advocating the principle of subsidiarity in their opposition to a government coordinated healthcare plan?  Subsidiarity means:

"Just as it is wrong to withdraw from the individual and commit to the community at large what private enterprise and endeavor can accomplish, so it is likewise unjust and a gravely harmful disturbance of right order to turn over to a greater society of higher rank functions and services which can be performed by lesser bodies on a lower plane." Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno (1931)

Apparently the bishops believe that "private enterprise and endeavor" has provided adequate healthcare for all even though 50 million poor are without it here in the good old U.S. of A. which ranks 37th among nations in healthcare.  Are these bishops out-of-touch?  

 

More striking is their blindness to the lack of subsidiarity in their own back yard.  Do they truly believe that it is "unjust and a gravely harmful disturbance of right order to turn over to a greater society of higher rank functions and services which can be performed by lesser bodies on a lower plane," when it comes to their own governance, i.e. parish closings, openness and accountability, etc.?  Are they not controlled by the Vatican ("a greater society of higher rank") on all matters liturgical, secrecy and rules of administration?  Is a parish allowed to deviate from chancery mandates?

 

Subsidiarity is a truly Christian principle.  We call upon our good and well-meaning Catholic bishops to check out the beam in their own eye before trying to help with the healthcare speck in our country's.

 

ARCC is a co-sponsor of THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL (ACC)   Please consider joining this effort to bring about much-needed organizational restructuring in the Church

 

Feel free to pass this on without change. 

Thank you for support of ARCC.. 

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).

ARCC spot LIGHT - About Face!

Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:28 am

To the Rear - March!

When praying facing east, we pray towards Rome and Mecca. That is a fairly good reason for Christians to re-think praying facing east.  In an attempt to divert attention from far more serious issues in the Church today, various prelates, (including Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa, OK and even Pope Benedict) are agitating with a retro-liturgy by celebrating Mass facing the (preferably east) wall and away from the worshiping community.  One wonders if these pious folks are aware of the symbolism of turning ones back to another.   Such are clerics whose hard drive was programmed before Vatican II and has not been upgraded since.  Worse still, they are selling this antiquated program to seminarians.  

 

Consider some reasons NOT TO FACE THE WALL when the community celebrates:

1.  Fr. has no need to turn around praying "The Lord be with you" to see if anyone is out there.  

2.  Hiding from people can imply shame or guilt (as do those accused of a crime).

3.  Jesus spoke directly to his friends when he said,"Do this in memory of me".

4.  High Church Christians will rejoice that we finally got it right again after 50 years.

5.  We face the wall only when we eat alone.

6.  Turning away is a universal sign of rejection.  

7.  God is in the community, not in a wall, statue or cross. 

8.  God hears our prayers no matter which way we face. 

9.  The Mass is a participatory act of worship, not a private one.

10. More importantly, it is against common politeness and offensive to the sensus fidelium

You probably can think of a few more. 

 

If your Sunday Mass is a parade following the back of a priest marching "about face" to Vatican II, look around for a community that prays with a more Christ-like celebration. 

 

Remembering the Women Sunday Readings  

9/20/09, 25th Sunday, Proverbs 31:10-31 and James 3:13 & 4:3,7-8

9/27/09, 26th Sunday,  Ester 7:1-8 & 9:20-23

 

ARCC is a co-sponsor of THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL (ACC)   Please consider joining this effort to bring about much-needed organizational restructuring in the Church

 

Please pass this on after 9/30/09.  Past Spot Lights are found at:

http://arcc-catholic-rights.net/arcc_spot_light.htm.. 

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).

ARCC spot LIGHT - Isolated Teachers

Thu Oct 1, 2009 10:10 am

Insular Teachers?

Officers of the Church have the right to teach on matters both of private and public morality only after wide consultation with the faithful prior to the formulation of the teaching.  (C. 212, C. 747, C. 749, C. 752, C. 774.1)  Charter of Rights of Catholic in the Church,  Right No 2. When the Pope speaks, does he express the faith of the Church, the baptized members of the Catholic Faith?  Well, maybe!  He also teaches the faithful ("Go forth and teach all nations").  But before teaching, like any good teacher, he needs to know what his people believe and need.  Who teaches/informs him?  The Vatican has a wide network of informants including first and foremost (but not exclusively) the bishops.  Asking the choir if they like to sing gets one answer, but asking the folks in the pews if the singing is good, or if the songs are well-chosen, might get a different answer. If the Pope relies on a wide variety of bishops to teach/inform him, can he be sure that he is getting not only an accurate reading, but also a sense of what and how the issue affects Catholic people?  It requires bishops to consult with their people in order to convey solid information to the Pope and be well-informed teachers themselves.  The Pope's recent (but most likely temporary) backing away from his retro-liturgical reforms suggests that he just might be listening to the sensus fidelium.  "As a teacher, by your pupils you'll be taught", says Anna. (The King and I).

We all tend to associate most with those who agree with us.  We enjoy the company of like-minded folks, share thoughts and problems, and seek their advice.  This risks reinforcement of our own opinions or simply hearing what we want to hear.  Honest "second-opinions" give a better picture of reality.   Bishops may consult their pastors who in turn seek the views of diverse and informed folks of the parish.  This circle of consultation can broaden the views on any issue.   

Even Jesus consulted his followers on many occasions.  Do your bishop and pastor consult widely?  On the unlikelihood of being asked, would you be willing to be a consultant?  The "wide consultation" process includes you, invited/welcomed or not.  The insulation of our spiritual teachers results in their insulated teaching.  We have a right to well-taught, well-informed teachers and a corresponding responsibility to help make it so.  Church professionals know theology and Church law, but they depend on us to stay informed as to what we, the so-called sensus fidelium of the Church, believe and think.  A most blatant offense against this Right are some ecclesiastics (maybe even the Pope) who tout their own personal beliefs and interpretations as "the teaching of the Church" on such issues as healthcare and/or liturgical reform.  It appears obvious that some may not have "consulted widely" with the faithful.  Their teachings should be carefully evaluated as to if it is truly informed or a personal opinion.  Personal authoritarianism has limited authenticity and should be ignored as any teacher who claims to teach truth but who lacks responsible study and research on the subject.  It goes without saying as a consultant (a right and responsibility of your baptismal heritage), you too must to be well-informed. 

All Catholics have the right to a voice in all decisions that affect them, including the  choosing of their leaders. (C. 212.3)  Charter of Rights of Catholics in the Church, Right No. 5

Consider it a gift to share your honest and thoughtful insights and judgments.

Remembering the Women Sunday Readings  

10/4/09, 27th Sunday, Genesis 2:18-24 & Job 1:1, 2:1-10

10/11/09, 28th Sunday, Wisdom of Solomon 7:7-11

 

ARCC is a co-sponsor of THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC COUNCIL (ACC)  Consider joining this effort to bring about much-needed organizational restructuring in the Church

 

Please pass this on after Oct 15th.  Past Spot Lights are found at:

http://arcc-catholic-rights.net/arcc_spot_light.htm

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).

ARCC Spot LIGHT - Don't Miss the Main Act!

Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:59 am

THE MAIN ACT

Being the offering Himself, Jesus taught us how to worship God.  He arranged a meal in community, with bread and wine transformed into his own body and blood, and bid us participate in this as the only adequate act of worship we could offer to our loving and infinite Creator, God. 

Yes, we do this in community.  Yes, we share a meal.  Yes, the words are said by a leader and we partake of his body and blood as he commanded (Do this in memory of me).   But it is the totality of these actions, not any individual component, that constitutes our WORSHIP in behalf of all creation. 

All of these elements combined serve to bring about a befitting act of worship. Focusing on any one of these sacred and essential elements may cause us to miss their real purpose.  

As you know, the liturgy begins with confession, pardon, thanksgiving, and instruction.   The gifts of bread and wine are prepared and presented.  But it is when we begin speaking directly to God in remembrance that we offer Jesus' great act of love and sacrifice on behalf of the human family. 

Carefully listen to the words of the Eucharistic prayers!  We collectively pray them directly to God, culminating in the great proclamation, "THROUGH HIM, WITH HIM AND IN HIM IN UNITY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL HONOR AND GLORY IS YOURS ALMIGHTY GOD FOR EVER AND EVER AMEN." 

What we do is join in offering to God that which Jesus offered.  We are commanded by him to repeat it in memory of him.  In the Eucharist we join Jesus, flesh and blood, in living his life and offering his great sacrificial act of WORSHIP.

How is it that any part, any prayer, any devotion, can distract us from the primary purpose of this act of ADORATION AND WORSHIP?  Resist the temptation to be distracted from the main act, the purpose of it all, the only WORSHIP befitting and acceptable to God taking place before our very eyes.  This is the cumulative enactment of Christ's life.  This unity, as individuals in community, is what makes us Christians!  This is what we as humans do with all the worship and acclaim we can muster.  United with Christ we worship as he did, receive him in return.  In receiving, we are changed, then sent to live in the world as he did.

On Sunday, don't be distracted and miss the Main Act!

Remembering the Women Sunday Readings

10/18/09, 29th Sunday, Job 42:10-17

10/25/09, 30th Sunday, Song of Solomon 8:1-5

 

SEARCHING THE WEB?  -  Use GoodSearch!  It helps. 

 

Please pass this on after Nov. 1.   Past Spot Lights are found at:

http://arcc-catholic-rights.net/arcc_spot_light.htm. 

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).

ARCC spot LIGHT - Perfection is the Enemy of the Good

Sun Nov 1, 2009 12:56 pm

Perfection - The Enemy of the Good

 

You may have heard the US Conference of Catholic Bishop's (USCCB) message today at Mass (if not today then in the near future) urging Catholics to lobby for the rejection of the Health Care bill now in Congress. 
 
First, we applaud the bishops' defense of freedom of conscience and concern that health care be provided for all.  Who can question the work that Catholics have done over the years to aid the sick? 
 
But this Sunday's message and forum for delivery are problematic.  Setting aside the very questionable use of the liturgy of the Mass for politicizing, are the bishops attacking the good in favor of the perfect?   They are concerned that the bill enables a relatively small amount of taxes to be used to provide for abortions -- in spite of fact that there is a huge benefit from this Health Care bill which would allow adequate health care for all Americans.
 
It is especially ironic because even though a very small amount of our Sunday contribution is used to pay legal fees for cover-up, support of admitted pedophile priests, life-style of bishops and the Vatican, and other questionable expenditures by Church leaders, Bishops  continue to seek and get our generous support of time, talent and resources for the good works of Catholic programs. 
 
As cumbersome, objectionable, and wasteful as our tax system is, we at least are aware of it and can influence it by electing responsible politicians.  We can at least try to vote political leaders out of office if we feel that they are squandering our resources.
 
When we gain the same right to have some say in how our leaders are chosen and how our contributions are used in the Church, bishops will have more creditability when using the Church pulpit to dictate how our taxes should be used. 

 

Amazing how easy it is to overlook the beam in our own eye, when seeking and pointing out the problem spec in the eyes of others.   Perfection alludes us all, even bishops, but in this case they just might do us all in.

 

Remembering the Women Sunday Readings 

11/8,  32nd Sunday, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Ruth 3:1-6, 4:13-17, Mark 12:38-44 

11/15, 33rd Sunday, 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Canticle of Samuel 2:1-10

 

SEARCHING THE WEB?  -  Use GoodSearch !  A good tool, and helps us. 

 

Please pass this on.  Earlier Spot Lights are at:

http://arcc-catholic-rights.net/arcc_spot_light.htm

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy.net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).