POPE: PRAY FOR MORE MEN TO HAVE VOCATIONS

[emad]

POPE: PRAY FOR MORE MEN TO HAVE VOCATIONS
(AGI) - The Vatican, Jan 8 - Pope John Paul II has written a prayer that is part of his message for the World Day of Vocations. It reads, "Our Lord, who was sent by the Father as a sign of his most holy love, give your Church the gift of young men who are willing to take up the yoke, to be one of the brothers who are a demonstration of your presence of renewal and salvation. Instil in the hearts of these young men the desire to be testimony of your power and love in the world today. Fill them with your Spirit of strength and prudence, so that they are capable of discovering the whole truth about themselves and their own vocation".

In his message, the elderly pontiff recalled that in the Catholic church today, "we need holy priests, whose soul is completely devoted to serving God. There is an urgent need to build up a wide and far-reaching pastoral service of vocations, which will reach the parishes, education centres and families, inciting a greater reflection on the essential values in life, which find their resolution in the answer that each one is invited to give to God's call, especially when this requires the total commitment of oneself and one's own energies to the Heavenly Kingdom's call".

An appeal like this is addressed in particular to parents and teachers, so that they know, he explained in his message, "how to guide the youth on their path to holiness. Please set an example of generous faith in Christ for them," the Pope asked the adults. "Encourage them not to hesitate in taking up the staff, answering the Lord's call without hesitation, which for some will be to a family life, and for others a consecrated life or the priesthood. Help them to know how to tell which is the right path for them, and to become true friends of Christ and his genuine disciples". (AGI) -
http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200501081541-1090-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia

[NNN0LHI]

1. More vacations for men?

First sensible thing I have heard the old codger say in a decade,

Don

[emad]

7. "the gift of young men who are willing to take up the yoke"

- is the yoke on them?

[saltpoint]

37. : )

[Skittles]

2. WTF is he talking about now?

nt

[Sporadicus]

3. His Message Conveniently Neglects to Address

problems within the Church that give some REASONS why young men may be reluctant to enter into the priesthood. Of course, the problem lies with the youthful slackers; the Church must be without fault in every way :eyes:

[wellstone dem]

4. I will pray that all those who have vocations in the

church will be allowed to serve, including women.

[Zynx]

5. Indeed.

As a Catholic, I want women and married men and women to be able to serve. That is an archaic and useless rule.

[DrZeeLit]

18. I agree. Inclusivity is the only way to save the Catholic Church.

As a collapsed Catholic (that's beyond lapsed), I see this as the compassionate and Christ-like response.

While I was enrolled at a Catholic university, I once wrote a paper about how the Church could effectively work to end abortion -- by recognizing the rights of women, by celebrating them, moving them into positions that would show women to have worth. The worth of women to take care of their bodies, which includes birth control. The worth of women around the world - to be educated and make their own choices with regard to marriage and children. It is only when women feel worthless that they do not take precautions, or sell themselves cheaply.

It's not on a pedestal, but in honored places, like the priesthood and active membership in the running of the Catholic Church, that would show equality and give all women and men a sign, if that's what the Church needs.

And a married clergy would give a more cohesive meaning to family life. If it's marriage they want to "sanctify" as they say, then why not? Reading the early church history, priests did marry.

[Donailin]

29. Amen to that

[Deja Q]

6. I think we could all use better employment & employers in this country too

Destined or appropriate employment; calling; occupation; trade; business; profession.

[The Zanti Regent]

8. How about more vocations for women?

Well, once an old fart, always an old fart...

[MikeG]

9. Vow of poverty and no women. F that.

[Tanuki]

10. Dear Pope,

The day you open your eyes to the wisdom of allowing priests to marry, and allowing women to become priests, your prayer will be answered.
Love,
God

[emad]

13. Many RC priests, especially in Africa and those who have

converted from other faiths, have been allowed to keep their wives and serve in the RC.

[steve2470]

11. self-delete nt

[displacedtexan]

12. Pope: Help Wanted!

Reads like a glorified (pun intended!) want ad to me!

[emad]

15. Recruitment advisor?

http://prorev.com/!pope.jpg

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bronco69]

16. I was all excited about this post until I noticed it said

VOcations and not VAcations. :-(

[goforit]

27. Well, go ahead and chose vacations.....make it fun in this spinster world

[ElectroPrincess]

17. Sincere Question ... what is it with you (yes all who jump onto the

"Today's thread to bash Catholicism" seem to be either Non-Catholics or Non-Practicing Catholics?

Why do you feel the compulsion for catharsis by your loud protestations of the Pope which you quickly extrapolate to Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and all practicing Catholics.

I honestly don't think you realize how you are ostracizing the significant percentage of practicing LIBERAL Catholics. This daily, what can we trash about the Catholic faith is extremely disquieting for fellow Democrats who promote "tolerance" and hesitancy to "stereotype."

Now that I've spoke my peace, I'll let it go. However, please consider that the LIBERAL / Leftists Christians by our very nature are not politically powerful or dogmatic in our personal beliefs.

Thanks for letting me air my concerns above.

:grouphug:

[emad]

19. The continuing murder trial of "God's Banker" Roberto Calvi in

Rome raises important political issues for any serious Democrat who feels strongly about free speech issues and the right to voice views -however cynical or otherwise - about the state of the hierarchy in Rome today.

Given the turmoil in the US and elsewhere that million$$$$ law suit settlements have generated in recent sex abuse scandals, it is now surprising that news items about the Pope or the Vatican are met with skepticism.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rurallib]

21. Long lapsed catholic

I have many reasons, some very personal. I was a victim. But that is not my main reason.
Like many organizations that have power, the catholic church is more consumed with maintaining power than with doing what is right. So much like a current administration those in power do whatever they can to stay in power. This includes fear ( 'you'll go to hell if.....') and maintaining the power structure within a chosen group. (Gee why are there no female priests?). You can see these same traits in many such organizations some more vile, some not so vile. But for the most part very hypocritical.
Throughout the history of catholicism, when met with a crisis, the church's first reaction is preservation of the status quo only. Only when threatened with major upheaval is anything done.
It's the hypocracy that bothers me. Just as it does with the fundies and the RW muslims and the Republicans and with the Dinos.
It's a fight I know I'll never win. The catholic church and repubs and wahabis and fundies will exist long after I am gone. I just hope to open the eyes of those who are important to me, then let them make their own choices.

[VegasWolf]

32. Keep up the good fight. I wasn't a victim, I was actually a very

bad boy, and I agree with you 100%. I am a foot soldier
in that army also.

[phylny]

22. I appreciate and respect your position.

Having been born and raised a Catholic, I understand how you feel.

I left the Church, mainly because my beliefs didn't match up with what practicing Catholics are supposed to believe in. Namely:

1. I do not believe the Pope, or any man or woman other than Jesus Christ, is infallible.

2. I do not believe that birth control is a sin.

3. I do not believe we should pray to Mary or saints. I believe Mary is an example of obedience and faith, but we should only pray to God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit.

4. I do not believe that only men should be priests or ministers.

5. I do not believe priests or ministers should be forced to remain unmarried.

After years of holding these beliefs, I realized that it was unlikely that the Catholic Church was going to change, so I had to change.

I've attended Presbyterian (USA) or United Methodist churches ever since.

[Ilsa]

24. I love this...

"I've attended Presbyterian (USA) or United Methodist churches ever since."

I think it is great that the PCUSA'ers and UMC churches have done so well in attracting spiritual, thoughtful people who know what they believe, and aren't afraid to step away from what they are accustomed to in a church service. I know too many people who have nothing in common with their denomination, but refuse to attend another church because they can't get comfortable with the idea of worshipping and practicing the Eucharist a little differently. I really think this is a big hindrance to people, more than the politics or how a church is governed.

(I switched from Southern Baptist to PCUSA also back in the late 1980's.)

[Donailin]

30. I'm one of those;

the catholic Church or nothing. I believe doctrinally, they posess the fullness of the truth, but they have turned human precepts into dogma, and I can't buy that. They say, rather than complain, change from within. I tried that too, but I was forced out, discarded, marginalized and minimized.

The body of Christ does not mean only those who attend Church are a part, it means whoever spreads the good news and preaches the gospel, and to quote St. Francis, that radical Italian, "Preach the gospel daily, use words when necessary"

[Donailin]

33. adding on to that

I do not believe that if you fail to attend mass on a holy day obligation you are in a state of mortal sin and could go to hell if you should die before reconciliation with a priest.

I do not believe that Mary was bodily assumed into heaven just because the Holy See declared it in the 50's. If I fail to believe this, I'm in a state of sin? Don't think so.

I do not believe that calling a priest 'Father" is ok, despite the fact that Jesus said call no man "father"

I do not believe that women are to be subservient to men.

I do not believe that the Church is supposed to have this wealth, including their own bank. "Sell everything you own, give it to the poor, and follow me"

I do not believe that celibacy equals holiness. Paul's personal issues and mysogynistic attitudes corrupted the early father's thinking. "Be fruitful and multiply" and "It is not good for man to be alone"

and so much more.

But the truth the Church posesses, that humankind is fallen, that Christ exemplifies in human form the will of God, that we are spiritual beings with souls that don't die, that loving the unlovable is the only way to happiness, that serving is where we find our true vocation as Christians, that the death on the cross typified what lengths we are to go to when loving our enemies, that we have to forgive one another without condition -- all this is true for me.

[JerseygirlCT]

26. Raised a Catholic, left b/c I couldn't stand not allowing women's

ordination. It made me too angry to even attend mass anymore.

It's wrong, it needs to be changed, but the conservative old men in Rome will have none of it, instead clinging to their bigoted ideas of women (wrapped in flowery language of course about how "special" women are.)

I think the Pope's comments are public and there's nothing wrong with public reaction to them. I also do not think it's Catholic-bashing in any way to comment on this report. I know I for one do not extrapolate the Pope's comments to the many Catholics who do not agree with him on this or many other issues.

[VegasWolf]

34. Raised a Catholic and educated in Dominican schools. Left

because I was taught that unless one was a catholic one
had no chance of going to heaven. The whole concept of "ex cathedra"
seems like utter nonsense to me. The church at that time was
realizing that they had to say something about evolution and their
attempts to rationalize it away were pathetic. Not even beginning
to mention the insane popes that ruled, the popes whose son's
asumed the throne behind them, Constatine forming the religion
as a solice for the masses and refusing himself to be baptized
on his death bed, the narrow election that decided that Jesus
was divine, and the polytheistic belief in the father, son, and
holy spirit.

I think many of us are not bashing Catholics, we just find the whole thing to be absurd.

[davhill]

23. The priesthood use to be a means of social mobility

In stratified societies. A bright ambitious boy from a peasant family could get a free education, become a priest and maybe rise to be a Bishop, Cardinal or even Pope. Today, in most of the world there are other outlets for ambition. There is no shortage of vocations in Africa or East Asia, and Western countries are importing priests. Today if you go into a church in rural Italy you are as likely to see a Nigerian or Filipino priest as an Italian one.

[JerseygirlCT]

25. Pray for the bigoted old men in the vatican to realize that

there is another gender as capable and qualified to hold those positions...

[Chicago Democrat]

28. Amen!

Mary Magdeline was the most favored apostle

[Orsino]

31. Gee...

Since they can't reproduce, they have to recruit. :7

And if you squander your troops in a foreign war on civil liberties, yes, eventually you will fall short of your recruiting goals.

[Solly Mack]

35. "We need priests" would have saved the old a few breaths

and at his age...

[damntexdem]

36. How about this: let's pray for more people to have vacations?

Or for more women to have vocations -- yeah, how about that one?

[Vidar]

38. Drop celibacy, there's an idea. Doh.