tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post113411126275928003..comments2023-10-30T07:45:43.656-04:00Comments on Thoughts and Ideas: Benedict Defends the Virtuous Life!A Wiser Man Than Ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405864709965908573noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1134513731827097962005-12-13T17:42:00.000-05:002005-12-13T17:42:00.000-05:00At first, that seems like a good idea. A big tent...At first, that seems like a good idea. A big tent has the tendency to collapse. The Church has gone out of its way to include people who do not espouse Catholic Christian teaching. <BR/><BR/>The problem comes in deciding who gets the boot when it comes to Communion. With only 4% of American Catholic couples practicing NFP--that is, not using birth control--the pews could soon be empty. This would cut tithes drastically, although I think that's one way to take care of the priest shortage. <BR/><BR/>In summation, Benedict is brave, but he's not that brave. He's not going to kick out more than half of the Church. We're still trying to shake the negative image from the Spanish Inquisition, and I don't think refusing most everyone Communion would be the best PR move of all time.A Wiser Man Than Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405864709965908573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1134493060670617662005-12-13T11:57:00.000-05:002005-12-13T11:57:00.000-05:00At the level of politics, it just seems like a que...At the level of politics, it just seems like a question of balancing priorities.If the Church comes out and says it cannot give communion to someone who supports abortion rights, it needs to come out much more forcefully and deny communion to those who support an unjust war.Or those who do not share enough of their wealth with the poor, etc..troutskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16020298501632120830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1134238693643873232005-12-10T13:18:00.000-05:002005-12-10T13:18:00.000-05:00It's possible. We've already got Rerum Novarum, b...It's possible. We've already got Rerum Novarum, but I think a clarification may be in order. There are a lot of Catholic publications in this country that are of a decidedly neo-con bend. The Church seems to be both liberal and conservative in some senses, but it is assuredly non neo-conservative. The last Pope opposed the war after all, and there doesn't seem to be much more to a neo-con than that.<BR/><BR/>Showing him dancing would probably do a bit of good. What is interesting about the Church is how they present themselves. Our time is marked by frivolity, and incessant fun-seeking. Thus, the Church reminds people to be solemn by being unusually solemn. Still, a little dancing never hurt.A Wiser Man Than Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405864709965908573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10835776.post-1134228044174938952005-12-10T10:20:00.000-05:002005-12-10T10:20:00.000-05:00If they were to just show him dancing it would dis...If they were to just show him dancing it would dispel many of these false perceptions.Actually ,I think he should concentrate on more pressing issues than reforming the publics perception,as a recruitment tool, some words on predatory capitalism, or the inherant problems of vast wealth, power and war might work wonders,eh?troutskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16020298501632120830noreply@blogger.com