To read ($(#@&%(!@&#%$ like that is reason to beg the Holy Spirit for a quick conclave.

There is also heartily wishing one could punch someone in the nose. Hard.

Any adverse comment would construed as anti-Semitic and therefore hate speech.

This another example of an atheist “Bright” who thinks he is being “oh so original” piercing in his analysis. Instead what he is confirming is that there a talking points script somewhere which is in the hands of every atheist or non Catholic self appointed “Pundit on Catholicism and the Papacy”, which forms the basis of every commentary on the Papacy and the papal election. Such “pundits” think that if one takes this script and changes a few words here and there and/or changes the order in which the talking points are presented, makes their regurgitation somehow original instead of embarrassingly repetitive and even worse boringly so. It is no more clever than painting by numbers. Since it says more about the author than the target, its intended effect is no more than water off a ducks back. WE have heard it so often we are inured to it, hatred, vitriol and all..

Celibate does not equal gay and does not equal homosexual abuser.It is merely a discipline.I don’t think it is a good idea as it has narrowed the field of priestly candidates.That is my opinion.I also doubt that the RC is a homosexual cabal. We will see.

And The Washington Times asks the burning question: is “bad Catholic the new Catholic. The good time just keep rollin’.

http://c.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/holy-heck/2013/feb/23/bad-catholic-new-catholic/

To think I considered giving up the internet for Lent.

FW Ken, at least that’s labeled “Community Voices” and not an editorial. Sheesh, at the Washington Times! None of them can resist giving the ignorant space.

“There is more to life than sex!” says columnist, after writing three-quarters of a page complaining that the Catholic Church won’t let him have sex.

Um, how is it that we’re stopping you, Herb? Leaping out of the wardrobe just when you’re about to get lucky? Nobody expects the Spanish Interruption!

Fuinseoig,

Yes, but he doesn’t feel affirmed in the afterglow, so… “help, help, I’m being oppressed!”

You’re harshing his mellow.

What’s next? The Comfy Chair?

Rather amusing that a “Jewish atheist” (whatever that is) would have the crust to offer advice to a church which does not even share his fundamental worldview and (God willing) never will.
He has one thing right though: The requirement for Celibacy in holy orders, while beneficial in some ways, has had the unfortunate consequence of making the priesthood more attractive to those whose sexual orientation is confused at best. Not to say that this is the case with most priests, but even a few bad eggs cause problems far out of proportion to their numbers.
This is an excellent argument AGAINST condoning homosexuality among clergy, bur of course the libs fob it off by calling it “pedophilia”, when in fact it is not. Ah well. Mustn’t let the truth stand in the way of your beliefs.

Last public appearance today. You guys mind if I come over here and bawl my eyes out on your shoulders?

I want to share this excerpt from his address:

“Here allow me to return once again to April 19, 2005. The gravity of the decision was precisely in the fact that from that moment on I was committed always and forever by the Lord. Always – he, who assumes the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and totally to everyone, to the whole Church. His life is, so to speak, totally deprived of the private sphere. I have felt, and I feel even in this very moment, that one receives one’s life precisely when he offers it as a gift. I said before that many people who love the Lord also love the Successor of Saint Peter and are fond of him, that the Pope has truly brothers and sisters, sons and daughters all over the world, and that he feels safe in the embrace of their communion, because he no longer belongs to himself, but he belongs to all and all are truly his own.

The “always” is also a “forever” – there is no returning to private life. My decision to forgo the exercise of active ministry, does not revoke this. I do not return to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences and so on. I do not abandon the cross, but remain in a new way near to the Crucified Lord. I no longer wield the power of the office for the government of the Church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, within St. Peter’s bounds. St. Benedict, whose name I bear as Pope, shall be a great example in this for me. He showed us the way to a life which, active or passive, belongs wholly to the work of God.”

I am particularly struck by the “no travel and conferences and gallivanting” part. He’s not kicking back and enjoying himself. He’s not – like so many former politicians and others – topping up his public salary and pensions by speaking fees and lectures to the movers and shakers. He won’t even be retiring to academia to finish his books and engage in intellectual discussion with his peers. He will be continuing to labour in the vineyards of the Lord, this time in the monastic life of prayer. All for our benefit and on our behalf.

I’ll just be over here, sniffling and wiping my eyes, okay? Dangit, we never appreciated him enough when we had him.

It has all been said before, by better writers.

Re: Bad Catholic/Good Catholic -

if the Catholic Church wants to keep us around, then it needs to acknowledge we exist.

Well it does acknowledge your existence. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes that there are sinners everywhere. Some of them even claim to be Roman Catholics!

As to the original reason for this post, I would say the author is definitely not Catholic friendly.

“Bad Catholic/Good Catholic -

if the Catholic Church wants to keep us around, then it needs to acknowledge we exist.”

…….and therefore it has no choice but to “ACCEPT and AFFIRM” us by changing its teaching and polity according to our diktats. If they ever go to church I am sure their favourite hymn is “Come as you are!!!

By the way what is the difference between this demand and the demands of the “gay mafia” on society as a whole? It has become the cry of the “selfish me” and forget anybody else. You must bend to our will, otherwise you are a bigot.

“if the Catholic Church wants to keep us around, then it needs to acknowledge we exist.”

And if you want to be saved, you need to acknowledge that you are a sinner, and repent. Doesn’t matter what your sin is. You are not your sin. You are a moral agent who is never so free as when you are free not to sin.

His only concerns about the Catholic Church are sex-related? Odd how with some people their man/lady parts trump truth, tradition, forgiveness, salvation, prayer, doctrine, etc.

And the “condoms prevent AIDS” nonsense again. Abstinence works even better. But..but..but..that would be against their sexual rights.

Such loathsome foolishness.

Another counterpoint to all the foolish blather:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godandthemachine/2013/02/night-papa/

When you’ve had your cry, Fuinseoig, continue praying hard for a successor who has his faith and more energy. And I can understand his not going back to a round of conferences and travel, but I am hoping that his retreat will allow him another book or two. That’s between him, God, and some publishing types. Surely God would allow him that much contact?