Comment

Overnight Hope-a-Dope

578
Spare O'Lake1/25/2009 5:25:28 am PST

re: #553 nonic

OK, I think I get it now. I accept that the Pope lifted the ex-communications in order to heal a rift in the Church. I even get the part about not ex-communicating anti-Semites and holocaust deniers.

But what IMHO has not been well-communicated by the Pope is the clarification that the “Bishop” is actually not a Bishop at all because his appointment was not approved by the Church in the first place, and that the lifting of his ex-communication does not validate his appointment as a Bishop but only restores his right to receive Communion.
It seems to me, with all due respect, that a simple statement to this effect from the Pope would put this issue to rest. If the Pope chooses not to clarify this issue, then it begs the question of why not.

Finally, a general comment. I am not a Catholic but I think everyone would recognize that the Pope’s statements and actions are very important and have very serious consequences far beyond the boundaries of the Church itself. As such, the wider implications of the Pope’s pronouncements and actions should be fair game for discussion. I know I certainly learn from discussing these issues - this present discussion is an excellent example.