Received by email from our friend Bob Schutzius of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC).

Thanks, Bob, for this lesson in explaining part of the dysfunction in the the Church.

* * *

ARCC spot LIGHT   (timeless issues in real time by the ARCC,   R. Schutzius, ed.)

Oath of Office

On occasions we take oaths.  Marriage vows, testimony in court, and oaths of office are examples.  In doing so we ask God to witness our sincere intention to remain faithful to the promises we make.  While binding, these oaths/promises are made to others and we bring God in to reinforce our serious intention to be faithful.  They are not promises made directly to God.

Our baptismal promises are the first and most fundamental promises we make directly to God and bind throughout life.  Subsequent vows/oaths are just that, “sub-sequent” (following after  and under) our Baptismal promises:

Do you renounce Satan? We do!

And all his works? We do!

And all his allurements?  We do!

These promises take precedent and prevail over all human oaths that may follow.

Now study carefully an oath of office that bishops and cardinals take:

“I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church;* to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law. So help me Almighty God.” 

In light of current revelations, the consensus (sensus fidelium) would judge that this oath in part attempts to prevail over the promises made directly to God at baptism.  Covering up clergy sexual abuse by bishops is one example of this.  There may be others.  What other secrets might be involved “that may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church” and dishonor and shame to the people of God, but also require setting aside the Baptismal promises made directly to God? 

Baptismal promises are not displaced by oaths made to the Church, to humans, or human authority, nor do they permit mental reservation or hypocritical evasive tactics.   

1/17/10,  2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time -  Isaiah 62:1-5,  John 2:1-11

1/24/10,  3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time  – I Samuel 28:1-14, 20-25

SEARCHING THE WEB?  -  Try GoodSearch!  It is good and helps financially.

http://www.goodsear ch.com/?charityi d=834763

For past Spot Lights -  http://arcc- catholic- rights.net/ arcc_spot_ light.htm.. 

Send comments to  rschutz1@prodigy. net  or  1-877-700-ARCC (2722).

“The issue that emerges as central when the prophetic charism conflicts with institutional authority is precisely the one operative in much of the current struggle between the institutional church and religious, namely, obedience. Can we equate obedience to God with doing what we are told by people who hold office? And can we submissively abstain from interpreting the present situation in light of the Gospel and responding to the present needs of real people, because those who hold office require that we do so?”  (What Jesus taught us about his prophetic ministry Part three in a five-part essay on “Religious Life as Prophetic Life Form” Jan. 06, 2010 ) by Sr. Sandra Schneiders.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 2:47 pm and is filed under Abuse and Cover Up, Church Culture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.