Powerful, thank you for being a good voice in all these articles. God be with you both in your important work. Let us all keep focus on the Lord whatever happens. God be with you all.
“Within the framework of the Council itself, the first to put forward “the idea of a ‘permanent synod of bishops’ surrounding the pope” was Melkite Patriarch Maximos IV... On 14 September 1965, at the opening of the fourth and final session of the Council, Pope Paul VI announced that on the following day he was to establish the Synod of Bishops in a form that “could hardly have been further from what Maximos had proposed in the previous year.””
Western and Eastern understandings of synodality have been very, very different for a very long time.
For what it’s worth, it sounds like the young Miss Condon might be a “Gestalt language processor,” which is a cool pathway for language acquisition! A child I love had this and her mom taught us all about it.
“Similarly, an invitation-only body convened by the pope can certainly offer him fruitful advice, but the conclusions of a private papal focus group do not amount to a revelation of the Holy Spirit or the expression of the sensus fidei — any more than my daughter is being “such a good girl” when she tries to chew on a bottle of bleach.”
☠️ You have me rolling over here, Ed. Great work as always.
I heard a podcast that described a recent presidential administration as malevolence tempered by incompetence. Regardless of the accuracy of that description, I immediately thought of secrecy tempered by incompetence regarding the Synod.
It might be a bridge to far to conclude that the Holy Spirit wanted a little less secrecy, but it certainly is suggestive.
"While that could be evidence of a new stability and consensus among the U.S. bishops, as JD says, it might more likely point to one side picking up their ball and going home — or at least moving the game to a different field."
Rather than going to play a game on another field they are running home to mom and convincing her to make the others change the rules and score to pander to the whiners. The Cardinals in retreat know they are favored by those in power in the Vatican, so they are doing an end run around the USCCB to get what they want. They are mommy's favorite and are having their wishes catered to by those prelates.
Don't like a document, statement, or election result? Instead of playing by the rules and accept that you are not on the winning side for this game, they run to mom and make everyone indulge in their wants. Not very synodal if you ask me.
edit: I really wish Substack had a way to post images and denote quotations apart from the commented text.
Nothing to do with this article, but I cannot respond to "Checking in about a change to our prices" and there doesn't seem to be any email or other contact for support, so I'm commenting here. I'd be happy to upgrade to $8/month. However, there is no subscription option available for $8/month or $96/year. The available subscription levels are $5, 12, 20, 84 or 200/month or $60, 150, 240, 1000 or 2400/year.
Good news -- The email is a notification that the price will raise to $8/month. You don't have to do anything at all -- the price will change, and subscribers will be charged accordingly.
I understand that, but for those of us who've paid by the year, like me, but were supposedly given the opportunity to "chip in" by upgrading - there is no way to do that.
One help to thinking this actually is the last chapter is trying to figure out what the ancients really saw, judging by their descriptions. For instance, they couldn't have seen the stars falling to earth because the stars are too far away and wouldn't end up here if they died. Satellites, on the other hand, might well look like stars falling if they were being shot down. When one starts reading ancient prophecies trying to figure out what in the modern world the prophets might have seen that fits what they wrote, it can make a person somewhat concerned, and more likely to start praying the rosary for the conversion of Russia and world peace like Our Lady of Fatima asked us to. Please do.
Today's Friday the 13th is also the 106th anniversary of the miracle of the sun 🌞 at Fatima last apparition of the blessed Virgin Mary to the 3 children
> trying to figure out what the ancients really saw
Such as a Lamb, with seven eyes, that was (at the same time) both standing and slain. I'm not sure how I would begin to guess where St. John the Evangelist is using symbolic language deliberately, and where he is attempting to communicate something in words that was not communicated to him in words or visually, and where he is attempting to describe something that was communicated to him visually... it is quite a book...
With Revelation I tend to think of the things that happen in heaven as symbolic and the things that happen on earth as something that might need to be recognized as actually happening.
My sense is most Christians worldwide believe Israel is morally justified in killing every living Hamas Terrorist.
Where there will be be widespread disagreement is how many innocent Palestinians are injured or killed in the process. If one does not believe in the doctrine of proportionality or believes it should be suspended in certain circumstances Israel will kill thousands. A disproportionate response will radicalize a new generation of terrorists. Which is another way of saying you can’t kill hate any more than you can kill love.
I guess I'm struggling with the concept of a proportionate response? What does that look like if your family and 1200 others were murdered by terrorists? I personally don't know a single Christian who believes Israel is morally justified in "killing every living Hamas Terrorist." I don't think the US was able to kill every single living Isis terrorist? Stopping them, yes. Does that mean killing them all? No. But your point about radicalization is well taken. The photo of even a single innocent Palestinian will (and has in the past) radicalized both terrorists and people around the world who like to talk about decolonization and apartheid. That was part of Ed's point. There is abject hatred on one side - the side that celebrates in the streets when Jews are killed, calls for Intifada, and says "Gas the Jews." I keep seeing this statement now and I love it: When people tell you who they are, believe them. When Hamas or others say they want to eradicate the Jews, and then take steps to do so, believe them. You might not be able to kill hate but you can isolate it, defund it, and give it no where to hide.
Thanks for sharing your memories of living in Israel 🇮🇱 😊 and your concerns about the increased anti Semitic events that occurred world 🌎 wide unfortunately. They are still the "original" people who God himself made his covenant with Abraham even though the descendants of Issac and Ismael still can't live together in peace. Let us all pray for end of senseless violence and killing of innocent people and children on both sides just trying to survive 🙏 😪.
Also appreciate your analogy of original speech not only for your daughter but for how it's applicable to the current Church Synod yearlong process 😀. May they all be as successful as possible at mastering the language of the Holy Spirit in applying it to the renewal and continuation of God's Church ⛪️ we ask in Jesus's name Amen 🙏 😀
In 2002 I was the superintendent constructing a Jewish high school in Orange County CA. There was a series of bombings in Israel including a suicide bombing killing 30 people. This was before Hamas existed. Israel launched a large scale military operation into the West Bank in an effort to end the carnage. I remember receiving an email from the FBI instructing me how to arrange a maze of concrete K rail in front of the adjoining Jewish elementary school to prevent a possible car bombing. The school I was constructing was designed with multiple exists from each classroom and escape routes in case of an attack. Full time guards, who were ex-Israeli military, were always on campus even before the outbreak of violence in Israel. This is what it is like live as a Jew. PS. My father liberated a German extermination camp during WWII and saw and recalled the atrocities he witnessed. Nothing has changed.
ED, love your leading essay on Israel. The best commentary on that dreadful topic so far imho! I thank God for such compassionate and articulate writers.
Powerful, thank you for being a good voice in all these articles. God be with you both in your important work. Let us all keep focus on the Lord whatever happens. God be with you all.
“Within the framework of the Council itself, the first to put forward “the idea of a ‘permanent synod of bishops’ surrounding the pope” was Melkite Patriarch Maximos IV... On 14 September 1965, at the opening of the fourth and final session of the Council, Pope Paul VI announced that on the following day he was to establish the Synod of Bishops in a form that “could hardly have been further from what Maximos had proposed in the previous year.””
Western and Eastern understandings of synodality have been very, very different for a very long time.
For what it’s worth, it sounds like the young Miss Condon might be a “Gestalt language processor,” which is a cool pathway for language acquisition! A child I love had this and her mom taught us all about it.
“Similarly, an invitation-only body convened by the pope can certainly offer him fruitful advice, but the conclusions of a private papal focus group do not amount to a revelation of the Holy Spirit or the expression of the sensus fidei — any more than my daughter is being “such a good girl” when she tries to chew on a bottle of bleach.”
☠️ You have me rolling over here, Ed. Great work as always.
And may she not succeed in getting to the bleach.
I heard a podcast that described a recent presidential administration as malevolence tempered by incompetence. Regardless of the accuracy of that description, I immediately thought of secrecy tempered by incompetence regarding the Synod.
It might be a bridge to far to conclude that the Holy Spirit wanted a little less secrecy, but it certainly is suggestive.
So well said. Thank you.
"While that could be evidence of a new stability and consensus among the U.S. bishops, as JD says, it might more likely point to one side picking up their ball and going home — or at least moving the game to a different field."
Rather than going to play a game on another field they are running home to mom and convincing her to make the others change the rules and score to pander to the whiners. The Cardinals in retreat know they are favored by those in power in the Vatican, so they are doing an end run around the USCCB to get what they want. They are mommy's favorite and are having their wishes catered to by those prelates.
Don't like a document, statement, or election result? Instead of playing by the rules and accept that you are not on the winning side for this game, they run to mom and make everyone indulge in their wants. Not very synodal if you ask me.
edit: I really wish Substack had a way to post images and denote quotations apart from the commented text.
Please correct the sentence that starts, "My views is..."
Nothing to do with this article, but I cannot respond to "Checking in about a change to our prices" and there doesn't seem to be any email or other contact for support, so I'm commenting here. I'd be happy to upgrade to $8/month. However, there is no subscription option available for $8/month or $96/year. The available subscription levels are $5, 12, 20, 84 or 200/month or $60, 150, 240, 1000 or 2400/year.
Good news -- The email is a notification that the price will raise to $8/month. You don't have to do anything at all -- the price will change, and subscribers will be charged accordingly.
I understand that, but for those of us who've paid by the year, like me, but were supposedly given the opportunity to "chip in" by upgrading - there is no way to do that.
One help to thinking this actually is the last chapter is trying to figure out what the ancients really saw, judging by their descriptions. For instance, they couldn't have seen the stars falling to earth because the stars are too far away and wouldn't end up here if they died. Satellites, on the other hand, might well look like stars falling if they were being shot down. When one starts reading ancient prophecies trying to figure out what in the modern world the prophets might have seen that fits what they wrote, it can make a person somewhat concerned, and more likely to start praying the rosary for the conversion of Russia and world peace like Our Lady of Fatima asked us to. Please do.
Today's Friday the 13th is also the 106th anniversary of the miracle of the sun 🌞 at Fatima last apparition of the blessed Virgin Mary to the 3 children
> trying to figure out what the ancients really saw
Such as a Lamb, with seven eyes, that was (at the same time) both standing and slain. I'm not sure how I would begin to guess where St. John the Evangelist is using symbolic language deliberately, and where he is attempting to communicate something in words that was not communicated to him in words or visually, and where he is attempting to describe something that was communicated to him visually... it is quite a book...
With Revelation I tend to think of the things that happen in heaven as symbolic and the things that happen on earth as something that might need to be recognized as actually happening.
So what they're saying is your daughter is communicating entirely in meme?
I hadn't considered that. And now I'm horrified.
My sense is most Christians worldwide believe Israel is morally justified in killing every living Hamas Terrorist.
Where there will be be widespread disagreement is how many innocent Palestinians are injured or killed in the process. If one does not believe in the doctrine of proportionality or believes it should be suspended in certain circumstances Israel will kill thousands. A disproportionate response will radicalize a new generation of terrorists. Which is another way of saying you can’t kill hate any more than you can kill love.
I guess I'm struggling with the concept of a proportionate response? What does that look like if your family and 1200 others were murdered by terrorists? I personally don't know a single Christian who believes Israel is morally justified in "killing every living Hamas Terrorist." I don't think the US was able to kill every single living Isis terrorist? Stopping them, yes. Does that mean killing them all? No. But your point about radicalization is well taken. The photo of even a single innocent Palestinian will (and has in the past) radicalized both terrorists and people around the world who like to talk about decolonization and apartheid. That was part of Ed's point. There is abject hatred on one side - the side that celebrates in the streets when Jews are killed, calls for Intifada, and says "Gas the Jews." I keep seeing this statement now and I love it: When people tell you who they are, believe them. When Hamas or others say they want to eradicate the Jews, and then take steps to do so, believe them. You might not be able to kill hate but you can isolate it, defund it, and give it no where to hide.
Thanks for sharing your memories of living in Israel 🇮🇱 😊 and your concerns about the increased anti Semitic events that occurred world 🌎 wide unfortunately. They are still the "original" people who God himself made his covenant with Abraham even though the descendants of Issac and Ismael still can't live together in peace. Let us all pray for end of senseless violence and killing of innocent people and children on both sides just trying to survive 🙏 😪.
Also appreciate your analogy of original speech not only for your daughter but for how it's applicable to the current Church Synod yearlong process 😀. May they all be as successful as possible at mastering the language of the Holy Spirit in applying it to the renewal and continuation of God's Church ⛪️ we ask in Jesus's name Amen 🙏 😀
Your comments about "normal" hatred were just so spot on.
In 2002 I was the superintendent constructing a Jewish high school in Orange County CA. There was a series of bombings in Israel including a suicide bombing killing 30 people. This was before Hamas existed. Israel launched a large scale military operation into the West Bank in an effort to end the carnage. I remember receiving an email from the FBI instructing me how to arrange a maze of concrete K rail in front of the adjoining Jewish elementary school to prevent a possible car bombing. The school I was constructing was designed with multiple exists from each classroom and escape routes in case of an attack. Full time guards, who were ex-Israeli military, were always on campus even before the outbreak of violence in Israel. This is what it is like live as a Jew. PS. My father liberated a German extermination camp during WWII and saw and recalled the atrocities he witnessed. Nothing has changed.
ED, love your leading essay on Israel. The best commentary on that dreadful topic so far imho! I thank God for such compassionate and articulate writers.