What compels me to believe that within the “places” of the Diocese of Amarillo—which, for me, embody the “Local Church in the one and unique Catholic Church”—I can truly #see the deception inherent in the following:
From Luke 21: 5-11
- A memorial remains standing, erected by a convicted pedophile priest for a bishop who made the “serious mistake” of granting that convict a second chance, leading to the destruction of the innocence of youth;
- A letter persists on the diocesan website, rebuking “a few” who reported abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral—casting them aside rather than seeking justice, healing and reconciliation;
- Daily Masses at St. Mary’s Cathedral are aborted, under the justification of fostering “an incredible sense of Reverence for the…Priests and especially for the Bishops“, thereby weaponizing the Eucharist as a tool of power and control;
- A new bishop’s residence is constructed, symbolically reinforcing hierarchical dominance by putting our next bishop “in his place” before his arrival❓
XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
How to be a missionary synodal Church
Instrumentum laboris
Part III – Places
Local Churches in the one and unique Catholic Church
91.
Bishop Zurek, for his part, called what Matthiesen did a ‘serious mistake,’ yet the memorial still remains.”
“As in the previous phases of the synodal process, so too in the consultation that preceded the drafting of this Instrumentum Laboris: many of the contributions received consider the different types of Councils Parish, deanery, Diocesan, or Eparchial as essential instruments for the planning, organization, execution, and evaluation of pastoral activities, and point to the need to enhance them.‘” Accordingly, do I see a memorial erected by a convicted pedophile priest for a bishop who made a “serious mistake” in a rural parish over a decade ago as the result of a Council’s faithful planning, organization, execution and evaluation of pastoral activities; or is it time for me to see that I’ve been deceived , for “the time to reap has come,”❓
“These structures are envisaged by existing canon law already in force. With the appropriate adaptations, they could prove to be even more suitable for giving a synodal approach a concrete form. These Councils can become subjects of ecclesial discernment and synodal decision-making and places for the practice of accountability and the evaluation of those in positions of authority, without forgetting that they, in turn, will have to account for how they perform their duties.” Subsequently, shouldn’t a letter that is truly “A Reflection on Christian Life,” have advocated for the use of a Parish Council to see whether those in positions of authority were being held accountable; instead, the letter wanted me to see “a few” who reported clergy abuse as accountable for the cause of the abuse, excluding them from living as “faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus desires.” Is this truly the way “The Lord comes to judge the earth.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia, “Therefore, this is one of the most promising areas on which to act for a swift implementation of the synodal proposals and orientations, leading to changes with an effective and rapid impact.” Consequently, if my questions regarding the decision to abort the daily Eucharist at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the sake of the priest’s health and spirituality were brought before the Parish Council, would I not see meaningful changes with an effective and rapid impact that would give me cause to recall Jesus’s words: “Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia
Finally, is this not the way I contrive to feed my self-destructive vices—by trying not to see them, refusing to acknowledge them, delaying the important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen by ignoring the “sins against synodality (the very sins that now place our new bishop in a position where he must “Just Say NO❣️” to being “put in his place.”) within the Diocese of Amarillo; furthermore, are these “places,” which for me, constitute the “Local Church in the one and unique Catholic Church” not where I been reminded:
“‘See that you not be deceived,‘”❓
This is the way human beings contrive to feed their self-destructive vices: trying not to see them, trying not to acknowledge them, delaying the important decisions and pretending that nothing will happen.
From paragraph 59 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
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