Andrea Tornielli had this commentary in his blog on Sunday:
Theologians who bend with the wind
by Andrea Tornielli
Translated from
February 6, 2011
Listening to the Pope's words [in his Saturday homily at the ordination of five new bishops] about reeds that bend with the wind according to the spirit of the times, I could not help but think of the letter written by 143 professors of theology from Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
That letter, entitled "The Church in 2011: A necessary turning point", calls for 'profound' reforms, such as abolition of the celibacy requirement for priests of the Latin rite, and therefore the ordination of married men; adoption of 'more synodal' structures at all levels of the Church; participation of lay faithful in the process of selecting parish priests and bishops; opening 'the ministry of the Church' to women; welcoming same-sex unions and allowing communion for divorcees who have remarried (without annulment of their first marriage).
All proposals we have heard for decades sine Vatican II, that many theologians cyclically repeat, despite repeated pronouncements to the contrary by the Magisterium.
Tornielli chose to cite these excerpts from the Pope's homily:
Even if it may seem that large parts of the modern world, of men today, turn their back to God and consider faith a thing of the past, the yearning still exists that finally, justice, love and peace may be established, that poverty and suffering may be overcome, that man may find joy.
All this yearning is present in the world today, a yearning towards what is great, what is good. It is nostalgia for the Redeemer, for God himself, even where he is denied...
The pastor should not be a reed that bends as the wind blows, a servant to the spirit of the time. To be intrepid, to have the courage to oppose the currents of the moment, this is essential to a Pastor's task.
He should not be a marsh reed, but, to use the image of the first psalm - he must be like a tree that has deep roots with which it stays firmly planted. This has nothing to do with rigidity and inflexibility. But only where there is stability can there be growth as well...
Let us seek to celebrate the Eucharist with a dedication, a fervor that is ever more profound. Let us seek to plan our days to its measure, let us seek to have ourselves formed by it.
To break bread: This also expresses sharing, transmitting our love to others. The social dimension - sharing - is not a moral appendix to the Eucharist but part of it...
SOOOOO SORRY I placed the wrong tag (OR) earlier on this item from Tornielli's blog! I just noticed my mistake....
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 07/02/2011 14:58]