Karl Keating's E-Letter of May 17, 2005 - Page 2

SHEMP · #16 May 18, '05, 3:26 pm

Karl,

I'm suprised that you are already speculating about the next pope.

**Karl Keating** · #17 May 18, '05, 4:07 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEMP

Karl,

I'm suprised that you are already speculating about the next pope.

Actually, I'm speculating about the next eight popes. I know of a very bright ten-year-old who, if properly groomed, could make the list of papabile about fifty or sixty years out.

Alas, unless I beat Hope and Burns by a good decade, I won't be around to confirm my expectation.

gjbevil · #18 May 18, '05, 6:38 pm

I believe it was G.K. Chesterton who argued the truth of the church could be proved, in part, by the fact that its critics came from all sides. "The church is too lax on sexual matters." vs. "The church is too strict." "The church's history is replete with incidents of militarism." vs. "The church is too pacifisit." etc. Thus, the criticims of Pope Benedict from both the ultra liberal and ultra conservative camps is a testament to his authority.

AHapka · #19 May 18, '05, 9:39 pm

It's interesting the way Karl talks about a person needing to leave the Church in order to appreciate it.

Isn't that what Jesus meant when he talked about the prodigal son?

I know I didn't appreciate many things about my parents until after I had left.

Therefore, I think while we should allow people to leave, we still must treat them with Love in the hopes that they will one day return of their own free will on fire for the Church and our Lord.

Andy

mercy · #20 May 19, '05, 6:00 am

Tried this yesterday after reading your excellent letter as always but computer troubles left it hanging. I too become very upset with our Catholics that want to do things their way and try playing God. But then wasn't that Adam's problem and again Judas'. Meant well but could accept the Authority of The Lord.

Then there are the others that do not want to stop their comfortable ways (sin) and change and accept THE TRUTH. I wish they would just leave even though, like you, I am confused because I want ALL to enjoy the fullness of truth. But even Jesus didn't convert everyone so why ME. Seems our Free Will gift is only that if we allow The Master to show us how to use it properly and effectively. Also, what helps is the command "go into the towns and give peace and if accepted stay and convert if not shake the dust off your feet and move on" [paraphrase].

JamesMichael · #21 May 19, '05, 11:48 am

As stated above, wonderful letter! I too feel the same about those who find so much to complain about. I, however, do not have a problem with communion in the hand or "extraordinary" ministers. The closer we get to the early Church, the closer we are to the Church of Christ!

God bless Pope Benedict, all bishops, priests, deacons and religious!

miguel · #22 May 19, '05, 4:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Keating

...As for the absence of men at church, it's true. There IS a gender gap, but it's the reverse of what many people might think when they hear "gender gap." In most parishes, the only places you find men seem to be as celebrants (of course) and as ushers (but even this is changing).

When it comes to EMHCs, parish council members, adult ed teachers, and just about everything else--including altar servers--you find mainly or exclusively women and girls.

This tendency mirrors what is seen in the pews: Where are the guys?

Yes, I know that such imbalances are not found in all parishes, so please don't anyone write in and say "Hey, I don't see this where I live." But I've been to hundreds of parishes around the country, and most of them show the gender gap.

I remember hearing Alice von Hildebrand tell this story: Why are there so many more men than women in the prisons? Because there are so many more women than men in the churches. (I hope I didn't butcher that too much.)

Joseph3044 · #23 May 20, '05, 4:53 am

I stopped receiving by hand because I have seen a least a dozen instances when the host was dropped and that I almost dropped it once myself; I have yet to see this when receiving by tongue. I have also seen a few instances when someone walked off with the the host still in their hand, to whom knows where (to sell it on EBay?). Receiving on the tongue seems safer and it is less likely someone will walk off with it. Receiving by hand seems to facilitate abuse. John Paul II preferred receiving by tongue and I noticed, when watching all those Masses in Rome after John Paul's death, that about nine of of ten people in Europe still receive by tongue.

susie g. · #24 May 20, '05, 10:12 am

I have been Catholic for about 10 years now, (former die-hard evangelical) after going through RCIA (actually in spite of RCIA), and have just recently begun learning in earnest. My dear husband signed me up for Catechismclass.com for Christmas, and we receive the Karl Keating e-letter each week. I am learning so much, and have been challenged in many new ways.

I hope and pray that our Church continues to stand up for truth in the face of worldly opposition. Thank You, Father, for Pope Benedict and all the other faithful leaders of Your Church. And thank You for all the wonderful people on this forum who teach me so much. I can't wait to meet you all in heaven someday!

Cindy T · #25 May 20, '05, 1:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEMP

Karl,

I'm suprised that you are already speculating about the next pope.

**Karl Keating** · #26 May 20, '05, 1:29 pm

By the second week of November people already were speculating about the 2008 presidential election. Anything wrong with that? If not, what is wrong with giving some thought to future conclaves?

Besides, my discussion was chiefly about cardinals who won't be in the running. I didn't say anything about who might be elected; I talked about who almost surely would not be.

Of course, those who believe in the purported prophecy of St. Malachy may find all such speculation irrelevant, since the prophecy says (at least this is how many understand it) that the next pope will be the last one.

(I may write about the prophecy in an upcoming E-Letter.)

miguel · #27 May 20, '05, 1:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl Keating

(I may write about the prophecy in an upcoming E-Letter.)

Please do. I'd like to get your take on it. I have an evangelical friend who's very into "end times" issues. He seemed fascinated by the whole subject, and he'll be following it even more closely if the next Pope turns out to be Peter the Roman.

joe_gloor · #28 May 20, '05, 2:56 pm

I sure don't understand the "far right" position regarding whether or not Jesus' sacrifice was for everyone or not.
Unless my translation is bad it's pretty Biblical:
"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Tim 2:5-6

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." 1 Tim 4:10

Lux_et_veritas · #29 May 21, '05, 2:09 pm

Quote:

No matter who might have been elected, some Catholics would be disappointed. I can understand that, but something is amiss internally if a man such as Mr. Summit feels a need to march down to a cathedral and hold up a sign that calls into question the competence of the Third Person of the Trinity.

Unfortunately, the prayer of our wayward brothers and sisters goes something like this:

"Dear Holy Spirit,

Please influence the Cardinals to elect the new pope in accordance to the will of our Lord - so long as it is in compliance with my own will."

Pope Benedict stands for Truth and this means heading True North. People cannot travel in any direction they want, then bend the compass needle and call it True North. This is a fallacy.

We get the gifts of the Papacy and the Magisterium in order to prevent chaos - the same chaos that exists among a significant portion of the Catholic culture here in the US today. That chaos is based on an "anything goes" attitude, so long as it agrees with my conscience (which is ever shifting based on this excuse or that one).

Following Truth requires that we fixate ourselves on something static and unmoving - North. All too often, people are pulled to the complexity of situational morality where one could even justify killing, such as abortion or euthanasia.

God knew that a ship cannot be run by 10 captains without chaos. So, he gave us one - Peter, and his successors.

Lux_et_veritas · #30 May 21, '05, 2:23 pm

And, while I'm on the subject, I'll add to the list of clanging cymbals:

Trust in the Holy Spirit without obedience to the Papacy and Magisterium is a clanging cymbal.

When we run into a conflict with church teaching, who are we to question 2000 years of refined comprehension the Catholic Church has had?

I keep telling people that when you see yourself at odds with a Church teaching you should do these things, in this order:

Pray for understanding.
Obey the law, teaching, or doctrine (give the Church the benefit of the doubt)
Make sure you understand why the Church's teaching is the way it is to aid point-1.

In most cases, the Lord will oblige a humble and obedient heart. Obedience out of pure trust is even more great in the eyes of the Lord than obedience with knowledge.

It is simply an extension of this passage:

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)