tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307560128789606491.post8819968572113469033..comments2023-12-27T10:01:36.848-05:00Comments on Not Strictly Spiritual: Being catholic with both a big and small "c"Mary DeTurris Pousthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06681978685726230673noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307560128789606491.post-29724654666270649892010-09-22T11:45:01.787-04:002010-09-22T11:45:01.787-04:00Already in the early 1980's, the renowned Bibl...Already in the early 1980's, the renowned Biblical scholar, the late Fr. Raymond E. Brown, lamented the "disappearance of the middle" in our Church. Here was a man appointed by two different popes to the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and yet was criticized as too conservative by the Left and hounded by right-wing Catholics at many of his public lectures because they perceived him as too liberal. (As a church official who deals with the gamut of Catholic opinion on a daily basis, I am continually surprised at how it is usually the most outwardly pious, "Church-loving" Catholics who are the nastiest and most judgmental when criticizing bishops and priests.) <br /><br />So much of the rhetoric on the extreme Right and Left strikes me as being about straining out the gnat while missing (and swallowing) the camel (Mt 23:24). The extremes get so caught up in what is more often than not Church minutiae (Right) or in what feels warm and trendy (Left) that what goes missing is the message and example of Jesus Christ -- a rather pastoral Messiah, who had strong and clear convictions, but also a great appreciation for the human condition and a great compassion for those who struggle because of that condition. <br /><br />Providential that the experiences that led to your post comes days after Pope Benedict XVI personally beatified Cardinal Newman, a great advocate for the "via media."Msgr. William Benwellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307560128789606491.post-90558947169501832922010-09-22T10:33:59.163-04:002010-09-22T10:33:59.163-04:00I am at work so I can't go into a long ramble ...I am at work so I can't go into a long ramble here- just want to laud you on all of these posts. We are a pilgrim church, a pilgrim people and your words so beautifully discuss the journey... not the destination alone. <br /><br />Thank you. I will be back later.<br /><br />FranAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com