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An open letter to Pope Benedict XVI
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(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
An international controversy has erupted following Pope Benedict's decision to lift the excommunications (initiated in 1988) of four bishops of the Traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, one of whom, Bishop Williamson, has made bizarre, false statements about the Nazi-run holocaust. Many have asked the Pope to re-think his decision, most have called for him to apologize, some have called for him to resign, and too many have used it as an excuse to attack the Church for political purposes.
Particularly bizarre are those outside the Church who mistakingly believe they have a say in the internal affairs of the Catholic Church. My fellow examiner, Rabbi Ben Kamin, has writen two columns on this story, and I can't help but wonder how he is qualified to critique Pope Benedict or reflect on the feelings of Catholics. (For another typical example of the coverage, read Atheistic Christopher Hitchens' take.)
Below is my open letter to Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of the faithful Catholics around the world who support the Holy Father and his decision:
Most Holy Father,
It's been a tough couple of weeks. You did what you thought was the right thing in reaching out another helping hand to fellow Christians who have left the Church. Then, detractors within seized the opportunity to accuse you of abandoning the teachings of the Council, critics without called you an anti-Semite, and many asked that you step down as Pope.
There was no doubt in our mind that you disagreed with Bishop Williamson's comments. We, too, found them reprehensible. To be sure, we're angry at him for all the trouble and grief he has caused for you and the Church. We're angry at his arrogance and ignorance. We have witnessed the furor caused by his remarks and we've felt the tremors as old, anti-Catholic fault lines quaked.
But we want to make one thing clear. We support you, we appreciate your efforts in bringing about unity, and we hope you won't be fazed by those who are angry at you. Who are we?
We're the millions of faithful Catholics who fill the pews at Mass every Saturday evening and Sunday morning. We're the Catholic families who send our children to parochial schools, who follow the Church's teaching on contraception, and who continue to support the Church financially during this difficult time.
We're the young people who give up promising secular careers to enter a life of service to our Holy Mother Church. We're the sinners who go to the confessionals seeking God's forgiveness. We're the Church Militant who seek the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the Church Triumphant. Most importantly, we are the people who pray for you, our Holy Father, every day.
The enemies of the Church, both within and without, don't speak for us. We embrace a return to Tradition. We want to be part of a counter-cultural movement that affirms life and love in a world set on death and utility. We welcome a return to Catholic culture and identity. We appreciate the "hermeneutic of continuity."
While others hurl insults at you because you challenge them, we will cling to our lifeboat, the unsinkable Bark of Peter and continue to pray for your health and ministry.
Respectfully yours,
Faithful Catholics around the world
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