Franciscan Friars are Symptomatic

I feel this entire issue of the Vatican and the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate is really symptomatic of a much larger disease for the Catholic Church. 

 

I present this excerpt from Fr. John Zuhlsdorf's blog, posted on December 14, 2013.  The post was entitled, Fr. Z on Fr. Hunwicke on the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.  His insight, in just this one paragraph, is chilling to hear when you consider the subject matter in another context. 

"As you know, the Franciscan Friars have internal disputes.  Some faction within the group brought the Holy See’s Congregation for Religious into the picture.  Unless you are bent on destruction (or are simply kinda dumb) that’s rarely a good idea.  The Congregation conducted what seems very much like a hostile take-over of the whole institute.  A “commissar” was appointed with absolute power over the Friars.  He has used it.  Included in his absolute control includes what seems a violation of the Church’s universal legislation in Summorum Pontificum, which was deeply disturbing for many of the traditional bent.  I can’t help but think that a lot of the Friars’ problems were to a certain extent brought on themselves, with the help of a lot of zealous lay people."

To read the post in its entirety it may be found at, http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/12/fr-z-on-fr-hunwicke-on-the-franciscan-friars-of-the-immaculate/.

This sounds like the beginning of a conflict "anywhere around the world" with their internal disputes and factions within the group.  You can almost see a similarity of bringing the Holy See's Congregation for Religious into the picture as one faction in Egypt, Libya, or Syria bringing the Islamic Brotherhood into it.  "Unless you are hell bent on destruction (or simply kinda dumb) that's rarely a good idea."  To prove it, according to Fr. Zuhlsdorf, the Congregation conducts what is tantamount to a "hostile take-over," and inserts their own absolute dictatorship over the Friars.  Sounds like the Nazis and their Gestapo tactics.

I have read The Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI, July 7, 2007.  It is short enough that, for those who want more information, it is not a drudge to get through.  Not being an expert on Vatican writing style, I have been asked numerous times to look at contracts and legal documents for my input.  It would seem that Fr. Zuhlsdorf is right on target when he discusses this as being a seeming "violation of the Church's universal legislation..."

This drama and intrigue would be the beginning to any good novel or Hollywood movie.  The question I have to ask is, as always, "Why?"  Why does religion based on peace, love, and tolerance have to be so controlling?  Where is it written in any religion's scripture that control of the church and the faithful must be totalitarian?  I have visions of goose-stepping priests parading in St. Peter's Square, crosses emblazoned on their rich, red leather, battle dress jackets.  But, still, one has to ask, to what end?

The Franciscan Friars only want to preserve the old ways.  They prefer to worship in the Latin.  They see the traditional values as something they wish to continue to uphold.  So let them!  Who are they hurting in doing so?  No one I can see.  I would think the Vatican would be thrilled and supportive of a group that wishes to preserve these traditional values.  As I have said before, there is a balance that needs to be maintained in the universe.  The Friars are offering some of this balance.

I started this post by calling the Vatican's actions "chilling."  This is an example of the kind of prehistoric thinking Pope Francis is up against.  The Church needs to get back to spirituality and lose this desire to control.  Religion's business should be the spreading of love, understanding, peace and tolerance, not creating rules and regulations that prohibit the same.

 

"Sint ut sunt aut non sint" (Let them be as they are, or not at all).  These words were purportedly uttered by Lorenzo Ricci, General of the Jesuits, late in the 18th century "when faced with the plan of "reforming" the Company of Jesus, to adapt itself to the demands of the world."  Does this sound familiar?  History is again repeating itself, and the Vatican conveniently forgetting to learn.  This bit of history comes to us as excerpted from the Rorate Caeli blog site, www.rorate-caeli.BlogSpot.com.  In the introduction of another Rorate Caeli post, A passionate plea to Pope Francis for the Franciscan Friars, they state:

"Most conservative Catholic bloggers have either sided with the Fr. Volpi-driven interdiction or for the most part are now staying silent -- even now that the facts clearly show the harshness with which the Vatican is acting towards an order whose only crime was clinging to what was handed down to them."

I would challenge any religion that believes they must practice their faith through control and violence to show us the scripture.  Show us where Jesus said to run a totalitarian "prison" where free thinking and tradition are incompatible.  Show us where Muhammad says to kill all of the unbelievers and the "chosen people" of God, where it says the killing of innocence is appropriate.  Show us the scripture; don't send a self-proclaimed mouthpiece of the Prophet to spout their own interpretation of God's word.  Yet, this is the road the Vatican seems to be following Islam down.  The better option would be to let them be as they are.  The Vatican can support them, or not, as they so choose and the Friars have the option of accepting Vatican support, or not, as they so choose.  Personally, as much as I'd love to have Vatican approval and support, I don't see how it can trump the Friars' belief that they are doing the right thing in the eyes of God.  Of course, that's just my humble opinion.  I could be wrong. 

I would ask the Vatican to let the Friars of the Immaculate control their own lives; you have so many other, bigger, fish to fry.  Try working on how the world views the Vatican, instead of finding ways to alienate all of us through childish politics and infighting.  Be proud that they want to continue with tradition.  Heaven forbid, they could have wanted a nudist monastery.  In comparison, is tradition that hard to swallow?

How about we grow up, and let them be who they are.