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Trackback URL: http://www.wordonfire.org/trackback/cb916857-f387-486a-8cdd-837643c42384/Fr--Barron-comments-on-Anne-Rice-leaving-Christianity.aspx

Comments

Rob

Out of all the problems the Church has, and all the denominations have issues, the one thing I enjoy most, that keeps me returning, is those solemn moments I experience during the Eucharist. It is a very deep moving experssion of faith and oneness with Christ, one that I haven't really found in any other Christian denomination. It is a reason many people live one way but still try to attend Mass, because of that "calling" to be one with Christ during the Eucharist. May the Holy Spirit, by the will of the Father, remind Anne of this.

8/12/2010 3:30:31 PM

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Kell Brigan

Hm, yeah, but... Is it better to consider oneself a Catholic, but then to continually advocate for ideas directly contrary to Church teaching (i.e. Pelosi on abortion, Colbert on same-sex marriage), or to be an honest "heretic" and leave Catholicism specifically because one wants to do politics in opposition to the Magisterium. At least Rice is being honest, which is more than I can personally say for either Pelosi or Colbert, et al.

8/18/2010 3:12:21 PM

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Rob

Yes our faith is quite a mosaic isn't it, and I am sure that is the Father's will. From what I gather Stephen Colbert considers himself a devout Catholic who was raised to believe it is OK to be intelligent and to question even the Church, which it is. Wouldn't the Church be boring if we were all the same? Well I guess we are as sinners, coming up short. But what I feel is during the Liturgy and the Eucharist, we are all one saying "Lord I am not worthy but only say the word and I shall be healed". Isn't that the best we can ask for and for our neighbour?

8/19/2010 9:51:44 PM

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michael jaffray king

Dear Rob
Your first comment seems to say so much and almost says it all and then in your second comment you say it all.
Thanks for putting it so well and of course Father Bob explains that truthfully you cannot have one without the other.
Having wandered around in Protestantism for nearly 40 years it was so refreshing to arrive at the Rock that is so much higher than I. What a relief!
2000 years of experience!!!. Yes it is a mystical body and the Church is Christ. I throw out the Church and I throw away Jesus too. We must pray for Anne Rice and many others who think that they know better than our Church even though our Church is full of flawed people... me for one and maybe you too. With all the scandals I have to continually remind myself that Jesus is personally responsible for building and maintaining my Church, Our Church, right up to the end of time, in spite of all our problems and sins and let downs... Matthew Ch 16 v 18...

8/23/2010 10:54:21 AM

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Kell Brigan

"From what I gather Stephen Colbert considers himself a devout Catholic who was raised to believe it is OK to be intelligent and to question even the Church, which it is."

Colbert's doing far, far more than privately question or investigate; he's taken upon himself to re/establish Church doctrine according to his own preferences. I'll leave it up to his priest to decide whether or not to deny him Communion, but every Catholic is certainly called to call him out on his [deleted]. We all need to be saying to him and to Rice that the doctrine expressed in Catechism Sections 2357 and 2359 are NOT MISTAKES. They're rock solid Catholic doctrine and, even in secular terms, are reasonable biological and social truths. The Church's work to secure the right of children to know and live with their parents whenever possible, and of parents and Churches to raise their children with an understanding of normal biology and Natural Law is unique, irreplaceable, and targeted for destuction by mainstream society. Both Colbert and Rice have taken it upon themselves to give their own homilies, and to prescribe their own definition of "Catholic" behavior and doctrine. WHY WHY WHY are so many Catholics, lay and clergy, letting them get away with it? What aren't we identifying them as the schismatics and heretics that they are?

8/23/2010 11:54:03 AM

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Rob

Kell, I think what the Church is, and most importantly, is patient. As a Father myself I've learned it is not best to go off the handle just because my children are coming into their own, by constantly questioning EVERYTHING. What I am to them is an example, as Jesus, too, was an example to us all. A bit of wisdom I once got years ago is we cannot convert people, only the Holy Spirit can do that; we can only witness to the Glory of God. Times like this we must remember the parable of the Sower of the Seeds, that not everyone's faith is planted in good soil.

Michael thanks for the kind words. I only hope it is the Holy Spirit guiding my fingers over this keyboard.

8/29/2010 9:00:24 PM

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Kell Brigan

Colbert, Pelosi, et al. are not "questioning" or wrestling with "mistakes'in the Church, they're overtly advocating for actions and world views directly opposed to Church teaching. Both have far, far more media influence than any bishop and certainly more than any priest. There actually are people who think someone can be a pious Catholic and be in favor of abortion or same-sex "marriage." These beliefs are, obviously, absolutely untrue, and need to be called out as the hypocrisy, lies and scandal that they are. And, as I've said, at least Rice isn't doing that. Her "religious" devotion to homosexual mythology trumps her Catholicism. She's wrong, grieviously so, but at least she's clear on what Catholicism is or isn't, and what hypocrisy is or isn't.

9/2/2010 11:40:30 AM

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christy

Well said Father. Thank you for commenting on this. Praise be to God for your enlightenment through the Holy Spirit! Catholics come home!

9/25/2010 8:31:54 PM

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Nic Carvalho

Hahaha, "not so much wrong, as, impossible", that's awesome!

10/3/2010 9:54:54 PM

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Joanna

I haven't read all the comments BUT am seriously asking myself if Anne Rice was not OUT OF THE CHURCH before she decided to leave in an official way. I guess Father Barron has not consulted the entire list of her literature - otherwise he would have not only mentioned the "christian" contributions but also the SADOMASOCHISTIC LITERATURE that was indexed in Europe!!! I really don't think that this woman is what the church needs today - while undergoing it's crisis because of the various sex-scandals ...!!!! and the she STILL has the impertinence to a ACCUSE AS CHRISTIANS OF HATRED.

11/3/2010 8:43:51 AM

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Kell Brigan

I agree with Joanna. Rice's "conversion" was not accompanied by a promise to no longer profit from her pornography, or a call for repentence or healing for pornography users, or any warning about pornography's dangers.

11/3/2010 10:24:16 AM

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Felice

"come back...
because we need you."
--beautiful, Fr. Barron.

11/10/2010 10:23:56 AM

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Becky Z

I've read all of Ann Rice's book post conversion and love, love, love them. Her memoir, as Fr. Barron says, is beautiful. When I heard her proclaim the hurt she had experienced from members of our church, I was deeply saddened. I agree. Please Ann, come back. We do need you.

3/16/2011 4:19:30 PM

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David

But can she "come back" or "return" to the church if she believes in gay "marriage" or abortionism? That doesn't, really, even make sense, does it?

4/9/2011 5:18:45 PM

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Becky Z

The church is not for perfect people. It's for flawed, sinful people seeking a deeper understanding of our God.

4/18/2011 6:40:56 PM

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Mark

anyone at any time can come back.Our Father is always waiting to wellcome us back when we separate from him as we all have in the past and most of us will agian in the future.

5/13/2011 5:14:06 PM

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