THE VATICAN BATTLE OF BISHOPS: A VIEW FROM THE PEW There are two problems with the Catholic Church: the Hierarchy thinks they own the Church, and the pew-Catholic is too comfy in his cushioned pew. The Catholic Laity have been enablers of the Hierarchy. The basic and formal difference is that the Hierarchy sees they own the Holy Spirit. In general, the lay folks have had their voices ignored. The Bishops of Vatican II have decreed and Pope Francis has issued a formal invitation to the pews to present their thoughts. Invited to speak, the pew-Catholics voice their inspirations. The Hierarchy [most] disdain the Faithful’s inspirations. That suggests a Vatican Battle: Bishops defending the status quo versus Bishops defending the pews. Three factors explain why the Church Hierarchy does not listen to the Holy Spirit from the pews. The Hierarchy is not open to “becoming.” They view the status quo as sacred. Second, the Hierarchy is truly convinced they constitute the Church. The oils of Holy Orders mark the anointed with the special gifts needed to guide God’s society. Finally, the Hierarchy has traditionally been a caste of privilege. The Roman Emperor Constantine gave the clerics official Roman rank which in turn offered a paycheck. The clergy were no longer required to work for a living alongside the regular believers. They lost touch with all the other believers. In their minds, the ordained are above listening to the laity. In the pews, Catholics have long been second class citizens. They need question how did the Hierarchy arrive at their status. The Roman Emperor Constantine saw the community-minded Christians as a unifier for his empire, and made all clergy officials of the State. The clergy were the ones who had the time and leisure to make memorial meal arrangements. That’s when the clergy took on a culture of clericalism, i.e. The clergy own the Church and the Holy Spirit through ordination. That was Ancient Rome. Now priests are abusing the innocence of the youth. Pope Francis calls that Church “a bride caught in adultery.” In Biblical terms the use of “adultery” is reserved for the Jews when they went off to worship other gods, idolatry! Pope Francis asserts the Hierarchy worshipped a false god. They worshiped their “ordained-only-church,” a sham church, trying to keep the appearance of “Holy.” They were covering up the sin [also legal crime] of priests who abused children to fake holy. What about the People of God when all of this was going on? Did they just sit there? The answer is “yes” and “no.” Most pew-Catholics did nothing because most did not know what was really going on. Some heard but concluded it must be a lie from some disgruntled Catholic trying to make trouble for one of the priests. These Laity were true enablers of the Hierarchy to sin. But the Holy Spirit managed to alert some of the Catholics. They followed up on what they had heard: “Trust but verify.” When they learned of the abuse, they warned their pastors and Bishops about the problem priests. Their pastors and Bishops went numb, denied, hid the abuse, and some Bishops had their law team actually dishonor the victims in courts of law. Again, the Holy Spirit did not allow silence to cover the snub the Hierarchy had dealt the Spirit’s counsel. An offended Spirit counseled Pope Francis to call for a Synodal Process to allow the pew-Catholics voice. Because the pew-Catholics had listened to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete now favored them with the spiritual opportunity of a Synod. Thus, the pew-Catholic had a chance to speak. The agenda for the Bishops is out. The issues are clearly controversial, (women priests, optional priest celibacy, foundations of sexual morality, divorced-remarried catholics) for The Vatican Battle Of Bishops.

In his very personal account, Ed Koncel, a well read and thoughtful Catholic, shares his recollections of the church past, his frustrations with the church present and his hopes for Catholicism's more vibrant future. Robert McClory, author of As It Was in the Beginning Ed Koncel writes from the perspective of a faithful son of the Church--faithful over the course of his long life. He writes with both passion and compassion in regard to the people and the proceedings of the Second Vatican Council and the developments since the Council. Obviously well read and actively involved in various groups working to make real the words and spirit of the documents of the Vatican II, he speaks with the authority of knowledge and personal experience and integrity. I believe he also speaks as one whose love of the Church motivates him to keep working for its coming to accept the full participation of all in the liturgical and governmental life of its people. Mr. Koncel strikes me as a man of hope--an extraordinary virtue in our time! Denise Wilkinson, SP, General Superior of the Sisters of Providence

Healing His Wounded Church exposes the "roots" of the problems in the Catholic Church, and brings fresh thinking to bear for "laying the axe" to those "roots." It is plainspoken, authentically Catholic, and rich in content. Having a vision of healing come from the spiritual journey of a common layman provides new and innovative thinking. It serves a pressing need in today's Church. Couples have been led into sinful practices in their marriages. Two generations no longer know their Faith. Few understand the spiritual life and how to pray. This formation is presented with practical simplicity for clergy and "lay apostles", as well as for couples and families. It leans heavily on John Paul II's "Theology of The Body" and teachings on family and spiritual life. There are several deeply personal "surprises" included, which are an inspiration. According to the author, Catholic Culture has run aground and must rise from the ashes of Pagan Modernism spawned in a "camp of death." The book calls for fidelity to Christ and to the teachings of his Church. Only the salve of Truth will "Heal His Wounded Church" setting us free from sin and error."

One out of every six patients in the United States is treated in a Catholic hospital that follows the policies of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. These policies prohibit abortion, sterilization, contraception, some treatments for miscarriage and gender confirmation, and other reproductive care, undermining hard-won patients’ rights to bodily autonomy and informed decision-making. Drawing on rich interviews with patients and providers, this book reveals both how the bishops’ directives operate and how people inside Catholic hospitals navigate the resulting restrictions on medical practice. In doing so, Bishops and Bodies fleshes out a vivid picture of how The Church’s stance on sex, reproduction, and “life” itself manifests in institutions that affect us all.

The first systematic global study of how Christians respond to persecution, presenting new research by leading scholars of global Christianity.