We should have been warned what to expect ... (Main Forum)

by Francis , Kingsgrove, NSW, Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 17:42 (364 days ago) @ Brian Coyne

Brian and Other Friends, When John XIII began the Council (Vatican II)the windows of the Church were opened. The few who had never ventured their faith into the reality of the modern world, so different from the Middle Ages, could not take it. They are somewhat like (or really worse placed than) miners, trapped in the depths of the dark underground with no (or little through a narrow tube communication) knowledge of what the world above is. When they were released the light was so blinding they had to close thei vision off for a while. Fortunately for them none of them shut out the sunlight permanently from fear but gradually opened up the world they had been excluded from.

Steeped in their experience of all from which they were restricted in perception and knowledge, the Pope and the 'little ones', he was protecting from what they were not used to, saw the wide wide world the Council opened up to them as dangerous and closed themselves off from it. The 'little ones' were so afraid, and encouraged to be afraid by their 'shepherds' who could see only wolves and failed to lead their sheep to new pasture.

In my school in the villages of PNG I had taught all measurements and the pupils and students were skilled and comfortable in the use of Imperial measurements. Then one day I announced to the classes to forget what I had taught them. We started again with a new system, decimals. And we did. What would have happened if I, as a teacher they trusted, had said the change is frightening and maybe we should wait awhile and maybe the government would realize its mistake?

What a fate it would have been for the trapped miners to have become comfortable living in the darkness and remained fearful of what being above would do to them?

I feel a sadness for the lay faithful who have closed, and been encouraged and even taught, with devious means, to close their minds to the Church with open windows and prefer their church to be in the dark as it and they had always been. However I condemn the priests, afraid of Church policing, who failed their parishioners. If Vatican II, as promoted at Kingsgrove by Fr John McSweeney had not welcomed me I would not have felt at home.

Francis

My purpose is to remember the love that created me in God one with my brothers and sisters and with all life. My function is to extend that love and unity each moment to all.