|
 |
Why is this Man a Cardinal?
by Christopher A. Ferrara
 The
ever-loquacious Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini has offered yet another
proposal for the further demolition of the Church. This blatantly ultra-liberal
prelate, who should have been sent packing decades ago, now informs the world
that what the Church needs is “greater sharing of power among the bishops
of the Church.” [CWNews.com, Jan. 17, 2001]
What does
Martini mean? He means ‘a more universal instrument’ to express
collegiality within the Church.” Does he mean, then, a Third Vatican
Council? Martini is playing it coy: “I have never excluded the possibility
of a new council.” But then again, he seems to be suggesting something
entirely different: “Cardinal Martini suggested that it might be easier to
bring together ‘regional convocations’ prior to the ‘plenary
convocation’ of the world's bishops.” In other words, a kind of
super-synod of national synods, but not a council as such. One can just imagine
all of the wonderful benefits to the Church that would flow from such a
gathering. Just think of all the great liturgical and theological
accomplishments of the national synods created during the
“springtime” of Vatican II!
But it is worse
than this. Martini dares to suggest publicly that “Orthodox and Protestant
representatives should participate in such a council ‘in one way or
another.’” So, according to Martini, what the Church needs is to
stage a super-gathering of bishops with contingents of heretics and
schismatics. To do what, exactly? Perhaps to reopen and discuss the
question of women “priests,” which Martini continues to gnaw at like
a dog with a bone.
Maundering on in
the usual post-conciliar fashion, Martini declared that “the Church must
engage in ‘dialogue’ with scientists involved in genetic
manipulation, using ‘rational and convincing arguments’ rather than
issuing condemnations . . .” Let’s see, now. By what “rational
and convincing argument” can a scientist without faith in God be
“convinced” that his genetic manipulation of human beings is immoral
because they have souls and are made in God’s image? And if the scientist
does not believe in the soul, or the God who made it, then why would he see
genetic manipulation as anything other than a scientific experiment worth
attempting under the proper conditions and ‘controls’?
In all
seriousness, why is this man still a Cardinal? How did he manage to acquire the
title of Prince of the Church in the first place? And how much longer will we
have to suffer the spectacle of absurd public pronouncements by prelates like
these, while Father Gruner has to fight a threat of
“excommunication”? Only God knows. But we can pray that it will not
be much longer.
Previous Articles
|
|
 Printer friendly
|
|