"It is...Our will that Catholics should abstain from certain appellations which have recently been brought into use to distinguish one group of Catholics from another. They are to be avoided not only as 'profane novelties of words,' out of harmony with both truth and justice, but also because they give rise to great trouble and confusion among Catholics. Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole or as a whole rejected: 'This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly; he cannot be saved' (Athanasian Creed). There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism: it is quite enough for each one to proclaim 'Christian is my name and Catholic my surname,' only let him endeavour to be in reality what he calls himself." -- Pope Benedict XV, Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum 24 (1914)

Monday, September 17, 2012

Top Vatican Cardinal to bishops: correct yourselves when validly criticized, be firm in fidelity


BY KATHLEEN GILBERT

Thu Sep 13, 2012 13:17 EST


Cardinal Bertone

ROME, September 13, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Vatican’s Secretary of State told a group of new bishops Wednesday they must be ready to eschew the “fashion of the moment” in favor of authentic Church teaching - even when unpopular.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was preaching a homily focused on the Gospel reading of the beatitudes during a 10-day seminar for 95 new bishops, including 17 from America and eight from Canada, according to the Catholic News Service.

In the beatitudes, Jesus emphasizes that those who are persecuted for His sake are blessed - a possibility still very much alive for Church leaders today, the cardinal said.

“If people criticize us because we are not faithfully living our vocation and our mission, certainly we must examine ourselves and change,” said Bertone.

“But if we are criticized because we aren’t living according to the criteria of the world and the fashion of the moment, we must remain firm in our fidelity to the Gospel and to the authentic teaching of the church.”
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