Fr Stephen Smuts

In France, an elderly man is fighting to make a formal break with the Catholic Church. He’s taken the church to court over its refusal to let him nullify his baptism, in a case that could have far-reaching effects.

Seventy-one-year-old Rene LeBouvier’s parents and his brother are buried in a churchyard in the tiny village of Fleury in northwest France. He himself was baptized in the Romanesque stone church and attended mass here as a boy.

LeBouvier says this rural area is still conservative and very Catholic, but nothing like it used to be. Back then, he says, you couldn’t even get credit at the bakery if you didn’t go to mass every Sunday.

LeBouvier grew up in that world and says his mother once hoped he’d become a priest. But his views began to change in the 1970s, when he was introduced to free thinkers. As he didn’t believe in God anymore, he thought it would be more honest to leave the church. So he wrote to his diocese and asked to be un-baptized.

“They sent me a copy of my records, and in the margins next to my name, they wrote that I had chosen to leave the church,” he says.

That was in the year 2000. A decade later, LeBouvier wanted to go further. In between were the pedophile scandals and the pope preaching against condoms in AIDS-racked Africa, a position that LeBouvier calls “criminal.” Again, he asked the church to strike him from baptismal records. When the priest told him it wasn’t possible, he took the church to court.

Last October, a judge in Normandy ruled in his favor. The diocese has since appealed, and the case is pending.

“One can’t be de-baptized,” says Rev. Robert Kaslyn, dean of the School of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America.

Kaslyn says baptism changes one permanently before the church and God.

“One could refuse the grace offered by God, the grace offered by the sacrament, refuse to participate,” he says, “but we would believe the individual has still been marked for God through the sacrament, and that individual at any point could return to the church.”

French law states that citizens have the right to leave organizations if they wish…

The above and rest here.

HT

‘Is Christ divided?’ (1 Cor 1:13) – But then don’t bother looking for the Name of Christ in this post, for you’ll not find it. How it saddens the heart to see a brother priest contemplating (‘offer ideas’ about) further division in an already uncertain and difficult time, instead of working for and pushing towards unity with all that lies within (Eph 4:13).

While in the TAC, there are clearly two ‘groupings’: Those who are Ordinariate bound, or who are waiting to become members of the Roman Catholic Church, and the remaining Anglicans – members of the TAC who are left to continue with the worship of God, the proclamation of His Word, to pray, to love and help one another, and to spread the Gospel while building the Church – and this sadly without the former ‘grouping’.

To the above, Fr Anthony Chadwick lamentably now adds a third ‘grouping’, a so-called ‘pro-Catholic’ group. Its affiliates are identified as the incumbent Primate ‘Archbishop Hepworth as Bishop of Australia and perhaps most of his present clergy’, ‘Bishop Botterill and his group in Canada’, two or three English priests’ and ‘the Torres Strait group (unless Bishop Elliott makes them an offer they can’t refuse), maybe twenty or so American priests and a couple of bishops and perhaps a couple of Indian bishops if they don’t agree with Archbishop Prakash’. The tone is clear. And the ‘we’, one must assume, includes the author of the post, Fr Anthony.

Now what I fail to understand is why this further division? It is unwarranted with the view or goal being unity in the Body of Christ. While Fr Anthony would have us believe that the ‘future of the TAC depends on whether the “sedevacantist-conclavist” continuing Anglican model or the “pro-Catholic” model will be adopted’, the Affirmation of St Louis, to which the TAC subscribes, clearly states that we ‘continue in the Catholic Faith’. That has not changed (at least not that I know of).

We have the TAC and we have the Ordinariate. Each one of us, of free will and conscience, chooses one or the other. The problem is that the Ordinariate will not have all of those who wished to be a part of it – or at least, not on the level of expectation they held. May I be as bold as to suggest that this is where Fr Anthony’s ‘third grouping’ fits? Exactly. Men with impediments or who (for whatever reason), cannot be part of an Ordinariate (like that there are no Ordinariates on offer). So instead, they now turn around and ask: ‘Is there anything of the TAC worth saving?’

From the comments already coming in, you’ll see that it is actually schism that is being planned. Further division. Suggesting PNCC/NCC oversight while the TAC has competent, godly Bishops who can and are more than willing to provide Episcopal oversight? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!  And yet these are the same said individuals who have the gall to go around frightening others with the use of anarchist words like ‘coup d’etats’, when all those TAC Bishops who thus far have had the courage to speak up, have done so in order to protect the integrity of the TAC and of her members who are not Ordinariate bound?

Which brings me to another point: Playing the victim card. It is not the fault of the continuing TAC that not all those who indicated that they wanted to go to the Ordinariate cannot (again, I emphasise, for whatever reason that may be). But your willingness (indicated in writing to Rome) to go, should be amended, and asking you to indicate (in writing) your intention of now not going and/or staying in the TAC is not wrong. The TAC has every right (just like the Roman Catholic Church exacts) to demand allegiance and loyalty from its Clergy. And I have yet to hear of any such request to continue functioning as a TAC Clergy being rejected all because an individual felt at some point that the Ordinariate was going to be home. Reconciliation above all must be the goal. That is the Christian way. Every proactive step towards the Ordinariate was done with little consideration of those who would be left behind. Pro-dioceses established at will. There Bishop Mercer is gone without as much as a goodbye. So stop perpetuating this view. You are not victims. There is no ‘enemy’, there is no ‘fire and flames’ and ‘bloody nose dripping on the carpet’. Deborah Gyapong, I’m looking at you. I can tell you that I have had some of the most nasty comments from Ordinariate ‘pro-Catholic model’ persons on this blog. Even though they are filtered off by the comments moderator, I can tell you that they still make for shocking reading.

What we need now, most, is peace and unity. Put all this talk of division away and go before the altar, which is our common bond of charity in anticipation of eternal life, and seek unity. Sacrifice self. It is not about what we want, or what we can get out of it. It’s about Jesus. Bickering, gossiping and disunity amongst Christians is a sin. I simply cannot believe that joining hands in the love of God is something too hard to be asked for? Please.

‘And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.’ (Rom 16:17)

‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!’ (Psalm 133:1)

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ (Acts 2:42)

Here is nice blog to spend some time on: Jerusalem Experience.com.

If for you, like me, the ancient Holy City of Jerusalem is near and dear to the heart, then check the site out.

There’s plenty to see.

[The lessons are here]

Every Sunday, it is the responsibility of the priest to offer the Mass for his people. People who come burdened, people who come wounded, people who come longing for hope, people in need. In the Mass we find the greatest central act of Sacrifice. And it is God who acts as He invites us to quietly listen, and to bring before the feet of Jesus, all our burdens, all our wounds, all our hopes, and all our needs.

For it is in the Person of Jesus that we find wholeness and healing.

In the Gospel today, we find Him teaching in the synagogue of Capernaum. Nestled along the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum during the time was a prosperous fishing village, the commercial and social hub of the area. It lay on a trading highway that ran from the Mediterranean in south all the way through to Damascus and beyond in the north. And it is the place that Jesus chose to make His headquarters after leaving His home town of Nazareth, taking up residence in the home of St Peter. The archaeological remains of that home can be seen still today.

The Bible recalls that, ‘Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee’ -  (Mark 1:23-28)

Jesus, teaching, is interrupted. A man with an ‘impure spirit’ who is in the synagogue starts screaming and his voice is directed towards Jesus. Now I wonder, how would we react if that was to happen today, here in Church? For one, we would probably have the sidesman springing into action and removing the lunatic from the Church. He is exactly the sort of bloke most of us would avoid: Dirty, out of his mind, and bothering everyone who gets a little too close; living on the margins of sanity and living on the margins of society. But even in his demonic madness, he knows exactly who and what Jesus is: ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, ‘the Holy One of God’.

The pericope of the Gospel lesson is: ‘Jesus teaches with authority’. And it is His power over demons that serves to reinforce that, His authority. ‘“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed…’

Now I realise that a lot of people today would look at this account and endeavour to dismiss the demon-possession as a primitive way of describing what we might call a psychiatric illness, or a mental disorder of some kind. In other words, the ancients never really knew enough about medicine to make a positive diagnosis of a mental or psychological disturbance, and instead attributed such disorders to the realm of evil spiritual influence or demon possession. Advocates of such a position are therefore quick to ‘demythologise’ the Biblical accounts of demon possession. The problem with this kind of thinking is Jesus, being who He is, the Holy Son of God, was not limited by a lack of scientific knowledge or understanding. He knew exactly who and what He was dealing with, just as the demons clearly knew exactly who they were dealing with, and exorcism was manifestly a part of Jesus’ salvic mission here on earth (cf. Lk 13:32).

We’ve come a long way and the positions, if you will, are almost reversed, so much so that demons are either neglected or discounted entirely with psychiatric, psychological or sociological causes being the stock standard diagnosis for those who are mentally ill today.

One of our younger parishioners asked me the following question just this week as we passed by the graveyard: ‘Father, would you spend a night here’. I smiled. For a moment, I fondly remembered being that age and also, so fascinated by similar things. Another piped up, pointing a finger accusingly at the inquirer, ‘he says there are ghosts here!’ It seems as if it’s only the kids, who still believe in ghosts and demons and the spiritual realm… And Hollywood of course, where the themes of horror, and demons, and evil, have long been popular productions.

Which brings me to a fine warning by C.S. Lewis: ‘There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors…’

The spiritual realm is real. Very real. Just ask a Sangoma. The Bible says, ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Eph 6:12). Those who are not ‘flesh and blood’ are demons and the Evil One has control over such. Their mission is to oppose and wage war against that which is of Christ and His Church. And every one of us, who belongs to Him, is a direct, legitimate target of their attacks. The goal? To get you away from Jesus; to have you live your life in bondage and fear.

You don’t need to come into Church screaming like a demoniac to fall foul of evil. The dangers of evil and the occult are all around. And most often Satan and his demons exercise a subtle influence over the world. For example, how many people rather run first thing to the horoscopes in the morning to see how the day is going to be, than to turn to God in prayer.

Because we as Christians have trusted in Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Saviour, and we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within, demons simply cannot occupy our heart, soul and mind – the Holy Spirit has full reign. But while they cannot live within, they certainly can whisper in the ear. And they look specifically for weaknesses and vices. Those, they will exploit. Give the Devil and his demons a half-a-chance, and they will wreck your life. Again, the goal is to get you away from Jesus and have you live your life in bondage and fear.

So it may be that they collude with the alcohol, or the chemical dependence, or with the spirit of jealousy, greed, gluttony, envy, gossiping, ignorance, hatred, stress, a fear of loneliness; together, they will destroys everything they touch. Working with an unprotected individual, i.e. a non-believer, the results are even more horrific: People die, families are torn apart, false gods are worshipped as societies and even whole nations are reduced to nothingness. It’s then that they really rejoice. Remember, man by nature is fallen and given to sin, so it is not a very hard thing to do.

And this is exactly why you and I as believers are called ‘to put on the whole armor of God’ (Eph 6:11) and preach deliverance in Jesus. For He is the One who is strong enough to defeat Satan, demons and the prisons they hold men to. He is more than able to set us free. And He shed His blood for our freedom from all manner of sin.

So ask Him to come, to come and set you free. Renounce the sin that has been holding you back. In the name of Jesus, command demons to flee. Put sin to death. Take back your thought life. Start again. And trust in the infinite mercy of the Deliverer, who said to the demons tormenting a man in Capernaum over two thousand years ago:  ‘“Be quiet!’… ‘Come out of him!”’

Then you too will know the peace of mind, the ‘quiet’, that state of right-thinking that come from God alone.

To save it from demolition:

Babylonia Aivaz’s love knows no bounds – that’s why she will marry a 107-year-old doomed warehouse in Seattle tomorrow.

The Seattle activist has planned the weekend ceremony because she is head over heels in love, and she also wants to make a statement against the warehouse’s slated demolition.

A luxury apartment complex will be built in its place, and Aivaz is mourning the loss of a place she and other protesters have inhabited for more than a month…

Aivaz says she fell head over heels in love with the building after joining a 200-strong Occupy Seattle protest inside the building last month…

She is calling the upcoming ceremony a ‘gay union’…

Enough said!

The rest of this madness can be read here.