The Crucifixion is the Center of Christianity

Perhaps a more signifcant lacuna is the emphasis of the Trinity as the most important doctrine whereas the Crucifixion is the defining act of Christianity coupled with the Resurrection. A proof of how idiotic the hierarchy of East and West has been is shown how they divide over the "filioque" question. Like anyone really knows what that is or what it means. Yet heads have literally rolled over such idiocy. While we forget that we should only know Jesus Crucified as Paul exemplifie.

Likewise, the cacophony over religious freedom in the US today. The babel is all about the hierarchy's rights while there is a very low decibel defending the immigrants, the poor and women. All of which tells us that we have to clamor more for the Christian Way than for dogma. As we celebrate the central event of our lives, the Crucifixion, we might tell it like it is when giving a reason for our hope. Namely, contrary to the verbiage from the bishops and EWTN we might preach the gospel and, as Francis said, "sometimes use words."

Meet Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York’s Newest Comedian

Meet Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York’s Newest Comedian
By Vinnie Nauheimer

Speaking at a diocesan convocation on public policy last week, freshly minted cardinal Timothy Dolan made his New York debut as a comedian. The critics all agree that the funniest line of the night was, “If you want an authoritative voice, go to the bishops. They’re the ones that speak for the truths of the faith.” The line was uttered with such solemnity that one almost forgot it was a comedy sketch. It immediately brought the house down and left them rolling in the aisles from belly laughter. Which bishop should we go to for the truth, Timothy Dolan? Should we go to Bishop Keith Symons or Bishop Anthony J O’Connell both of who resigned because they themselves were sexual abusers? How about Bishop Raymond Lahey who was caught bringing child pornography into Canada on his computer? What about Bishop Patrick Ziemann who was caught, in his car, getting oral sex from a priest forced to wear a pager so he could be summoned when the bishop had an urge. Perhaps we should consult Bishop Roger Vangheluwe who sexually abused two of his nephews. Okay, enough with the bishops, this could turn into a litany.

Maybe Dolan meant that we go to a higher level of authoritative voice, like that of a cardinal. Edward Cardinal Egan appointed a known abuser in 2002 to St. Benedict’s, a parish with an elementary school; the priest was subsequently defrocked. According to the Bronx Press Review, a parishioner called Cardinal Egan insane; did Egan speak for truth? In Chicago we have Cardinal George whose faux pas’ are legendary. The most recent involved Fr. McCormack, a known abuser from his days in the seminary, but Cardinal George refused to remove him. This despite Cardinal George being a signatory to the Charter for Protection of Children produced in Dallas in 2002. I’m sure he speaks for the truth. Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles is another stellar truth teller who spent untold dollars fighting survivors with his adamant refusal to release records of sexually abusing priests. Who would look to anyone but him for the truth? Maybe we should ask for the truth from Philadelphia’s recently deceased Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua who ordered aides to shred a 1994 memo that identified 35 Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests suspected of sexually abusing children? Now there was an authoritative voice that speaks the truths of the faith!

Certainly, we can look to the infallible pope for the truth. The fact that none of the above were ever fired speaks volumes about the amount of truth the pope is willing to part with.

So let’s repeat that line. “If you want an authoritative voice, go to the bishops. They’re the ones that speak for the truths of the faith.” With lines like that, Dolan proved himself a first rate comic, but good comedians need more than one good line to make a performance, and Dolan met the call. The NY Times reported on March 4, this line from the same performance, “I don’t recall a right to marriage.” In his jocular fashion Cardinal Dolan went on to say that every day someone finds another right. Well he ought to know, the Roman Catholic Church leads the way in finding new rights. They have the right to hide sexually abusing priests, they have the right to destroy evidence, they have the right to shuffle sexually abusing priests from parish to parish, diocese to diocese and in some cases country to country; talk about inventing rights! But more than that, let’s talk about inventing the right to the wholesale destruction of the lives of children without the expectation of consequence.

On a roll, the newly minted prince of Catholic comedy was greeted with peals of laughter when, straight faced, he told the audience, “It’s not about contraception and it’s not about women’s health, it’s about an unwarranted, unprecedented intrusion into a church’s ability…” The audience didn’t know which part of that statement was funnier, the “it’s not about women” or it’s “all about government intrusion into church affairs.” Of course, his hilarious line about, “Fat, balding, Irish bishops,” was in reference to the unwarranted, unprecedented intrusion into Irish governance by the Vatican when it issued a memo to Irish bishops saying that they didn’t have to obey Irish law! Therefore, the fat, balding Irish bishops didn’t turn in criminal priests who were raping, sodomizing and molesting Irish children therefore allowing the abuse to continue. The discovery of this memo warranted an unprecedented public reprimand of the Vatican by Enda Kenny Prime Minister of Ireland. To emphasize the point, Dolan said, “I hate to tell you that the days of the fat, balding, Irish bishops are over,”

For the sake of our children let’s hope he’s right!

Archbishop Martin of Dublin sees hope and work in the future.

Here is a piece by the Archbishop of Dublin on rebuilding the church in Ireland.
http://dublindiocese.ie/content/reform-church-ireland-facing-future-hope
This is a very sincere honest approach which seems to greatly differ from that of the American bishops who are more into politicization than evangelization. Though they give evangelization lip service. While Archbishop of Martin realizes that there is much work, reparation and healing to do which will take time, Cardinal Egan withdraws his apology as if nothing ever happened. It is a prodigious difference. While former ambassadors to Rome from the US identify themselves as such in declaring for Romney, Ireland, that most Catholic of countries, has withdrawn its ambassador to Rome. Ireland has always been the leader in the American church. Seems that it remains so as it recovers from its own enormous problems in the church.

Also notable is Archbishop’s Martin embrace of optimism and rebuke of the prophets of doom. He quotes the words of John XXIII and assents: “We feel – Pope John said – we must disagree with those prophets of gloom, who are always forecasting disaster”

Hope and humility from our brethren in Ireland. Something lacking in the American bishops as they continue to parade around like dominators rather than to get on their knees to rebuild the church.

The ultimate distinctive feature of Christianity is Jesus Christ as the Crucified.

The argument for the Incarnation and/or Trinity as the most important Christian tenet has been part of the advocates of the Empire church which relegated the Crucifixion to the background while they prostituted themselves for money and power. This led to the formation of religious orders as a reaction to the secularization of Christianity by the bishops of the fourth century. Thus creating the dichotomy that only specific persons in a monastic way of life were “perfect” followers of Christ. The hierarchy went empire, some ordering the killing of other Christians, while others saw the need to preserve the Way. So went the kerigma of the Crucifixion as the hierarchy became the crucifiers. Especially of the Way of Christ. Following were the glory proclaimers who stressed the royalty of Christianity, explaining that this was shown in the Incarnation and Trinity. Origen gives tells us that the people were not buying insisting that “Christ Crucified” was the message.

One of the prophets of our time helps us understand the authentic message of Jesus Christ. He was duly ostracized for his efforts.

http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/challenge.html

Preach Christ Crucified.

The central mystery is neither the incarnation nor the Trinity. The Crucifixion is. Still a stumbling block and a scandal for those who don't get it. Paul said we preach Christ crucified. And rejoice always because he is risen. Even Peter got caught up in the church of glory which Jesus had to correct him about right away. Reconciliation is through the cross and nowhere else. One may respond that the Incarnation implies the Crucifixion. If so why do we fail to talk about it? The Crucifixion shows that the mustard seed dies before it become a marvelous structure. The Crucifixion reminds that one cannot rest until no women are raped, no children are abandoned and no one stands by idly while millions are killed in war and incinerators. Many theologians have written about this. No one more than, perhaps, the greatest one, Paul the Apostle. Preaching Christ Crucified produces a Paul and a Francis. Preaching the glories produces an empire church with papal legates. Building great basilicas, no matter how imposing, does not focus on the downtrodden. Preaching Christ Crucified, eo ipso, binds one with Christ's little ones. I maintain the difference in emphasis is the central problem.

We have less than 5% of the world's population but near a quarter of the prisoners.

Harry Belafonty, in his marvelous documentary of his civil rights activity "Sing your Song on HBO, said that the incarceration of blacks in this country is the last area of civil rights to be rectified. His point is that most of the inmates are black. The criticism is justified because blacks have fewer resources to fight for their rights and often succumb to a plea bargain foisted on them by a court appointed attorney who is trained to move cases rather than do justice to his constituents. As a result, the minority inmates who had few resources to fight for their rights to avoid imprisonment end up with fewer resources when their prison terms are over to effectively rehabilitate. On the racial equality level I can assure you that many white men deserve to be in prison but have not because of greater availability of resources. Consequently, the greatest presumption might be our denial in facing the civil rights issue in imprisonment.

Perhaps the budget cuts will aid minorities in lessening the prison population. It is a reality that cries to the heavens that we have less than 5% of the world's population but almost a quarter of the world's prisoners. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/americas/23iht-23prison.12253738.html?pagewanted=all

Something is truly rotten in the land of the free.

Remaining a Catholic despite corruption in the Bishops and Popes.

Jesus gave the answer about those who sit on the chair of Moses. That is, the bishops (pharisees and scribes). Do what they say but not as they do. Do what they say in that we need some unity in essentials while not accepting doctrinal conclusions which solidify power rather than service. The truth is that bishops and most popes have been generally obnoxious. Yet the church has managed to salvage a liturgy, scripture and communion, better than anyone. This does not mean that many of the Protestant practices are not better, but that the church has managed to keep it together better, despite the evil leaders in their midst. People who leave, in general, bought the concept of the clergy as God. So when it is seen that the emperor has no clothes everything else crumbles. When we see that the church must constantly reform itself we work with all sinners which includes the popes and bishops and constructively urge them to be better. That is what builds up the church. Not obsequious obedience or uncontructive criticism.