Church worker’s firing sparks protest
JANESVILLE — Forces advocating change in the Catholic Church clashed with the church establishment Saturday at St. John Vianney Church.
The issue was the firing last week of Ruth Kolpack from her job as pastoral associate of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Beloit.
The firing came in a meeting with Bishop Robert Morlino. Kolpack said Morlino asked her to renounce her master’s thesis, make a profession of faith and take a loyalty oath.
“She could not refute her thesis, as it would be dishonest, not true to her work, and risk her reputation as a scholar and academician,” according to a news release from Call to Action—Madison Area, which is supporting Kolpack.
A diocesan spokesman would not discuss the firing. He said it is diocese policy not to discuss personnel matters, out of respect for everyone involved.
Morlino was in Janesville on Saturday for an unrelated meeting. About 45 people came to meet him to protest the firing.
The protesters held placards that said “Hear Ruth out!” and “Who would Jesus fire?”
Morlino walked up to the group and offered to talk to them later in the day.
“You don’t know the whole story,” Morlino said.
“I’m certainly sorry we have division in the church, but there it is,” the bishop said. “… If anyone is willing to talk respectfully at 3:30, I’ll be there.”
Several people interrupted Morlino as he spoke, although there was no shouting.
“You weren’t respectful to her,” someone called out.
Kolpack was present but did not participate in the protest.
Later, she told supporters: “It’s really important not to heckle. It’s important to be respectful.”
Spokesman Brent King said that Catholics owe obedience to their pastor, bishop and the pope, because they represent Jesus.
Kolpack said she has worked with St. Thomas Parish in various capacities for 35 years. She was appointed pastoral associate in 1995.
“I feel confident in saying that my actions as an employee of St. Thomas have been consistently prudent and in good faith in relation to the teachings of the church,” Kolpack said in the news release. “I have never used my position to promote issues contrary to church teaching. This has never been my intention.”
Cynthia Salvador, St. Thomas Parish member said she was outraged. She said Kolpack has worked tirelessly for the church.
“It’s not only St. Thomas that’s hurting. It’s all the associations she has built in the southern Wisconsin area,” Salvador said, mentioning Kolpack's involvement in Justice Overcoming Borders and a Hispanic ministry.
Kolpack said her thesis discussed the evil that can come of blind obedience. She said she can understand how that could be a red flag for the bishop.
“But if he would’ve read the whole paper, he would’ve understood it... he didn’t give it a chance,” she said.
The thesis also criticizes the church’s language of worship, which refers to God with words such as “he” or “Father.”
Kolpack said that’s harmful.
“I’m concerned about women, about young girls, who grow up in a patriarchal, male-dominated society. What does it do to their self-esteem?” she said.
Kolpack said she came to these beliefs as she studied feminist and liberation theology at St. Francis Seminary, where she earned her master’s degree in divinity in 2003. She said that 2003 thesis was never a problem, until now.
When asked about inclusive language, diocese spokesman Brent King said no one has the right to change the words of the liturgy.
“It’s not a teaching that God is a man. It’s an understanding of how God has revealed himself through history,” through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, King said.
The Holy Spirit protects the church from error, King said.
Kolpack responded: “The pope speaks infallibly in matters of faith and morals. Bishop Morlino is not infallible. … The Holy Spirit speaks through everyone.”
As a representative of the church, if he would publicly display disregard for church teachings, that would be grounds for dismissal, King said.
Morlino did meet with protesters for about 15 minutes but said he could not get into personnel matters, protester Jim Andrews said.
Morlino said the issue was less about the thesis and more about “a certain mentality in the way of teaching,” Andrews said.
Morlino did agree to meet with St. Thomas parishioners at some future date, Andrews said.
What’s next
Supporters of fired church worker Ruth Kolpack plan an informational march before the 11 a.m. Mass today at St. Thomas Church, 822 E. Grand Ave., Beloit.
Bishop Robert Morlino apparently has agreed to discuss the matter with St. Thomas parishioners on an unspecified date.
Mar 26, 2009 at 11:10 a.m.
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++++++++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! ++++++++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 23, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
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The absence of the Catholic Church would improve the quality of human life immeasurably -it's just a matter of time. The monetary settlements resulting from the Catholic Church's institutionalized rape of children will bankrupt and therefore destroy the Church.
Mar 23, 2009 at 8:47 a.m.
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I would rag on the Catholic church right now, but it seems they have it under control. I was born Catholic, at age six or seven I realized what a bunch of guilt inducing fear laced leaders they have. I met some great people, including the priest who served the church, but the Catholic church is hanging itself.
Between raping boys, secretive out of touch leadership, science bashing, and generally outdated thought processes are doing the Catholics in. It is just a matter of time before the flock does not goith.
Mar 22, 2009 at 10:29 p.m.
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Over analyzers. Believe in your own faith and live it. There is judgement for all of us.
Mar 22, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.
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More proof that the Catholic Church desires to be Ruthless.
Mar 22, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.
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Del speaks the truth on March 17 post.
Ms. Kolpack should pack it in. It's time. I've never seen the saintly side of her she's credited with; she's all for Ruth and it's coming to light via this personal campaign and that of her dupes.
So the Bishop didn't read her entire thesis: so what? Someone wrote earlier that you don't have to drink the whole gallon of milk to know it's sour. And the thesis is only a part of the problem, if any.
Personnel issues are private; how can the Bishop possibly defend his actions as he's being asked to by those with a lynch mob mentality? He has spoken and I trust his judgement.
Mar 22, 2009 at 6:35 a.m.
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BeloitParishMember is like those zombized nuns on ETWN.
Mar 22, 2009 at 6:07 a.m.
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"Beloit Parish Member" is just exhibiting the attributes of a true cult member...repeating the same nonsense over and over and over until it has been repeated so often, it simply must be true. Or as the religious types call it..."Church".
Mar 20, 2009 at 4:15 p.m.
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Beloit Parish Repeater...WE GET IT!! How about offering something else up?
Mar 20, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.
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++++++++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! ++++++++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 19, 2009 at 12:49 p.m.
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Morlino ends the career of a dedicated, Godly servant of the church after a 10 minute conversation over a 6 year old thesis he admits he didn't even bother to read? What a compassionate, Christ-like leader. A McDonald's worker would get more consideration if his/her suitability for the job were being questioned.
You can bet with Morlino it is all about politics. His team lost last November, now it is retaliation time.
This is the same guy who sits on the board of a school for Latin American right-wing goon squads, lies about survey results being confidential and then spends our money to sue to get the results, politicizes the pulpit, and generally treats priests and laity in the diocese like crap. How he gets anyone to work for him is a mystery.
How timely it is that he intends to make a direct appeal to fund diocesan services this year! I suggest a boycott.
Maybe someone will have a 10 minute conversation with him someday and tell him his services are no longer desired.
Mar 18, 2009 at 7:02 p.m.
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++++++++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! ++++++++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 18, 2009 at 5:44 p.m.
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I can't go back and respond to every point and question point-for-point. But I can say this:
All of billnewbie's spiel here, including 'grace' and the 'sovereign god', is just a bunch of made up stuff. It doesn't apply to the real world. It's only a way for him and others to separate themselves from everybody else. It's primitive tribalism.
It's their own tribalism and all their other primal instincts that they can't face and come to terms with. They live with that inability to face the truth by projecting their darkness onto non-believers. Non-believers have come to terms with the full nature of their existence and have the intelligence to reject the childish but dangerous fantasies of judeo-christian-islamic belief.
Believers allow this stuff to stunt their intelligence. They reject the science of evolution and then attempt to counter and destroy that science with junk-science. This is barbaric. Believers have continually stood in the way of scientific and medical advancements and in so doing have delayed those advancements by centuries. Whenever they belatedly accept advancements they claim those advancements are a gift of god.
They are taking a free ride on the backs of all humans who are intelligent and courageous. Shame on them!
Mar 17, 2009 at 2:23 p.m.
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I'm sorry for Ms. Kolpack losing her job , I wish things work out better for her, but the same time I agree 100% with Del.
Mar 17, 2009 at 2:03 p.m.
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Lots of dumb comments in this thread.
For example, one poster thinks that Bishop Morlino is ambitious, desiring to be a Cardinal. If you've ever listened to Bishop Morlino speak, you will quickly know that his highest aspiration was to be a seminary professor. Our bishop is courageous; don't confuse that virtue with "ambition."
The silliest notion of all is one that says the Church is a patriarchal institution, somehow harmful to women. People -- OUR PARISHES ARE RUN BY WOMEN. Virtually every paid and volunteer chairmanship is filled by a woman. If the modern Church has any sort of problem, it's too feminine! (Catholic Men, it's time to man-up and do our part. We need to do more than drink beer at the parish picnic.)
It would have been much easier (and more politic) to allow Ms. Kolpack to continue. But she has posted her Name (and the Parish's Name) as a donor to pro-abortion groups, she's intimately involved with CALL TO ACTION and its feminist agenda, and she has a long history of speaking against the Church, the Pope, and the Bishop at any convenient venue.
Ms. Kolpack's pastor should have applied some discipline several years ago. Now that the Bishop finally has to make a decision, people are writing "suddenly" and "autocratic" and so many rude words. Is anyone really surprised by this?
We've been asleep. Waking up is painful. Don't complain about our bishop for doing his job.
Mar 17, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.
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++++++++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! ++++++++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 17, 2009 at 11:40 a.m.
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I have never seen such racist and hateful comments on this board until now. The people who spew hateful comments toward Catholics, their leaders and their beliefs should be ashamed of themselves. The prejudice of Janesville residents is disgusting!
I am done with you folks. No wonder many companies and employers are as well!!
Mar 17, 2009 at 10:28 a.m.
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Testeriffic,
Your racist comments insult both Italians and Catholics.
Mar 17, 2009 at 8:49 a.m.
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AMEN hockeyjockey and happypants!!
I never have been catholic but from what I have heard of the catholic faith I don't think I want to. I do not put people down for believing that way but I think that the catholic church tries to take the place of Jesus which is not coming from the bible that I read. I probably could say more but I better not. God bless everyone. (yes you too gazettefan, we all need God even if we don't realize it at the time)
Mar 16, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
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++++++++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! ++++++++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:57 p.m.
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Don_Diego- I agree... "Imagine no religion." Religion is man's attempt to reach God. Rather, I encourage you to have faith. Faith is different than religion. If you cannot see this than you have been mislead. It takes just as much faith to not believe as it does to believe... and maybe even more!
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:54 p.m.
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The Catholic religion carries the belief that the Priests, Bishops,, Pope, etc... all speak for and represent God. This is a tenant of the Catholic faith. I see a lot of posts out there that seem to be unable to accept this. But this is core to the Catholic religion. It sounds to me like so many of you think you are Catholics but are not. You are more Evangelical. Go check out an non-denominational. I used to be a Catholic and while I have a place for the Catholic church in my heart (it is a part of my Spiritual Heritage) I choose to follow Biblical teachings and not the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Mar 16, 2009 at 1:20 p.m.
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Spokesman Brent King said that Catholics owe obedience to their pastor, bishop and the pope, because they represent Jesus."
**************************
don't we all represent jesus is some way shape or form in our lives especially people who are very active in the church in any religion?
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:29 p.m.
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"Spokesman Brent King said that Catholics owe obedience to their pastor, bishop and the pope, because they represent Jesus."
This is why, despite being Catholic, I'm not as much of one as I used to be. I owe obedience to my Lord, not another human. And by the way, does this statement mean that if my child is a church server and the priest touches him in an inappropriate manner and tells him not to tell anyone that my child should be obedient and do so. Sorry, obedience is for dogs. Understanding, leadership and the ability to rationally explain things is for humans. Until the church goes back to that way of thinking, I'll continue my relationship with God on my own.
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.
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This Bishop divides and conquers with little interest in Catholics but pushing forth his own ambition to a cardinal. I wish he would move a little faster so he can go to the Vatican and be out of this diocese. I know that some will fight tooth and nail in supporting the Bishop. Scripture will be quoted, images of Jesus (who hung around the poor and prostitutes -not the almighty likes of Bishop Morlino)and what he would do thrown around carelessly, and Bishop Morlino showing little interest in any other issue but abortion and how he can divide and pursuade his own political opinion (while sidestepping the constitution - unless it protects his freedom of speech and the right to worship as one wishes, unless he doesn't feel your worthy to do so).
I have been attempting to hang onto my faith and continue to worship my conscience, but the hypocritical and lack of christian display is getting to be too much.
I have a supportive family, send my children to a catholic school, volunteer hundreds of hours each year to my church, and give cash to support my parish. To view oneself as being superior and demanding blind obedience is not the message of Christianality..it is the free will to believe in a God and Jesus Christ. To live ones life with a sense of purpose and to help those who are poor, criminal, or lost their spirutual way. With Bishop Morlino, a continued slide and continued questions of the Catholic faith will continue.
I do much praying, and I pray Catholics wake up realize that God gave us free will and our religious leaders should allow us to use it.
Mar 16, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.
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Bishop Morlino has done nothing what preach to those who follow blindly and tend to spread hateful comments versus any constructive commentary on the catholic faith. Morlino has alienated many Catholics by his sheer self rightousness and ability to spend church money by flying all over the world over and over at the church's expense (pushing for a cardinal job). We have the whole cluster parish idea which strips the individuality of each parish. Talk of closing and consolidating schools reflect little interest in finding new priests for the future of the church.
Bishop Morlino has always played the sympathy card on how he is attacked by the extremist Catholics. Bishop Morlino has brought nothing but the questioning of many who have already left the Catholic faith with more to come.
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.
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She as a right to say whatever she wants However, she needs to understand that she is a representative of the Catholic church and she should not be there to challenge that religion. She sounds more evangelistic than Catholic. Perhaps she needs to examine her own faith...
I don't understand why people want to join a group because they believe what that group stands for and then THEIR beliefs change and then they expect the group they joined to follow???
Mar 16, 2009 at 10:31 a.m.
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BEWARE OF DOGMA!!!!
IMAGINE NO RELIGION!!!
It is such a ridiculous thing. Join me and thousands of others in saying ENOUGH!
ffrf.org
Mar 16, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.
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Belloc, and to the degree that Madoff and I are not in the same club, Mahoney and Morlino are inversely and proportionally in the same club.
You should check to see if there are any newly transferred priests in this area from the Los Angeles area -it's possible- those LA priests had to end up somewhere.
And god bless yourself, I don't need it.
Mar 16, 2009 at 10:06 a.m.
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what a horrible situation.
Mar 16, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.
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Gazettefan,
Bishop Morlino is not Cardinal Mahoney anymore than you're Bernie Madoff.
God Bless,
Belloc
Mar 16, 2009 at 7:41 a.m.
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+++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! +++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 16, 2009 at 6:56 a.m.
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Cardinal Morlino's fellow Cardinal in Los Angeles is being investigated by the FBI for transferring pedophile and pederast priests to to new parishes. The parents and children of the new parishes are not told that the new priests are pedophiles and pederasts. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association have determined that pedophilia and pederasty is incurable. Therefore new victims are made available to the transferred priests.
Mar 15, 2009 at 11:25 p.m.
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Hi Purrmaid,
Your statement makes no sense. Ruth was there for upteen years ... my guess is this was done way too slow.
As for sex predators, if you catch Bishop Morlino moving slow on a sex predator, your accusation might have some merit. As it stands, it doesn't. I suggest you avoid false accusation, especially against the vicar of Christ in your diocese.
Prayers,
Belloc
Mar 15, 2009 at 10:52 p.m.
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They move snail slow when dealing with sexual predators, yet dispatch a Bishop to denounce someone who has conducted herself with amazing integrity, loyalty and faith in her quest to empower women and girls in believing they have worth. The mendacity of Catholic leadership is off the charts.
Mar 15, 2009 at 10:43 p.m.
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It's sad that this is happening, but her comments are not in line with Catholic teaching. She's an ultraliberal member of the Catholic community---and she has every right to be, but that doesn't mean she has the right to be in a leadership role and on the payroll of the Church. It's pretty simple.
Mar 15, 2009 at 6:46 p.m.
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+++ THANK YOU, Bishop Morlino! +++
We love you! Stay strong!
Mar 15, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.
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I am SO glad I bailed from the Roman Catholic Church. It's nice to be able to speak to Christ directly, the way He intended.
I'd love to be excommunicated, to make the break complete.
Mar 15, 2009 at 5:12 p.m.
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Belloc, not to start anything, but Abraham made a ONE time gift of 10% of the spoils of war, which he did not even own ! He donated OTHERS goods, not his . Only the Levites( descendants of Aaron) were supposed to be tithed to because of all the tribes of Israel they were without lands. They were the " civil servants" of their time.
Mar 15, 2009 at 1:59 p.m.
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Hi Momo,
Sorry, I will definitely pray for you. And please pray for me as well ... especially since you are such an advocate of charity.
Second, this is erroneous: "Catholicism states that one shall only partake in sex with one's married spouse for the purpose of procreation." Married couple have to open to life, but sexuality has a unitive purpose as well communicating total self-gift and reception between the spouses (as an image of Our Creator, the Holy Trinity). This is one reason contraception is a lie. When it is used to mutilates this generous body language to one of each person being selfish, thus encouraging mutual disrespect instead of mutual love. This also helps explain how the divorce rate climbed in proportion to the distribution and use of contraception in the culture for the last few decades.
Third, though you state, "I also hope you are donating 20% of your income to the Church," tradition, based on Abraham giving 10% of all he had to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:20), proposes we should give 10% to the Church and / or charity as well. I would say half of this could be used for the Catholic education of one's children as well.
God Bless and prayers for you ... please pray for me as well. I am in need much conversion.
Belloc
Mar 15, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.
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Instead of trading barbs back and forth over thesis this and thesis that and doctrines up the wazoo, read this article: http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/mar/15/...
A 92 year-old woman is being much more loving and living a life full of Christianity than you Sunday preachers are on here!
And, if anyone wants to call another person a hypocrite, look no further than your own mirror. Catholicism states that one shall only partake in sex with one's married spouse for the purpose of procreation. I also hope you are donating 20% of your income to the Church.
Don't pray for me, Belloc. Save that for your own redemption.
Mar 15, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
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Look everyone, the fact that Call to Action is defending her indicates she is one of their champions.
The Call to Action organization publically rejects the Church’s teaching regarding the doctrine that priestly ordination being reserved to men alone. This teaching has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Church (http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFADT..., CDF, Doctrinal Commentary, 11). It thus belongs to that category of teaching which is “divinely proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals” (http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/cdfoat..., Professio Fidei). “Every believer, therefore, is required to give firm and definitive assent to these truths,” (http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFADT..., Commentary,6-7).
Thus, in formally and publically rejecting this teaching regarding priestly ordination being reserved to men alone, the members of Call to Action are dissenters who reject an infallible truth of Catholic doctrine and are therefore no longer in full communion with the Catholic Church (Commentary, 6). In addition, they are subject to ecclesiastical penalty, not excluding excommunication, when after being warned by their Ordinary they do not retract (Canon 1371).
Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, NE, formally excommunicated members of Call to Action in his diocese, for such membership, he stated, “is totally incompatible with the Catholic faith.” After Call to Action appealed the excommunication to Rome, it was upheld by the Vatican.
Therefore, any persons charged with teaching the Catholic Faith, who is a member or has an affinity toward Call to Action, indicating and sharing their dissent on this teaching regarding Holy Orders, are dissenters who reject an infallible truth of Catholic doctrine and are therefore no longer in full communion with the Catholic Church (Commentary, 6).
And thus, it would make perfect sense, that a Bishop would terminate the service of a person who, with this point of view, was teaching in one of his parishes. Fair enough?
Mar 15, 2009 at 12:25 p.m.
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This is why the Catholic Church is losing some people. I am Catholic, and I always will be. But you deal with hypocrites, even at the top level of our Churches.
Mar 15, 2009 at 11:22 a.m.
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Lifeisastage: The bishop even admitted that he'd only read sections of the thesis. I would say that you are correct in stating, "He seems to be one to react without having all the facts." My family attends St. Thomas the Apostle Church and we are supporting Ruth Kolpack. One more note, the church's priest has also come out in support of her.
Mar 15, 2009 at 10:56 a.m.
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My main question is: The thesis was written & published in 2003. It is now 2009. It took 6 years before this became a problem? What else has happened to bring this to light? I left the Catholic Church a few years ago because of the changes brought on by the Bishop. He seems to be one to react before having all the facts. Bishop Marlino,please, please, please try to get all the facts first.
Mar 15, 2009 at 9:14 a.m.
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power plays.
Mar 15, 2009 at 8:48 a.m.
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O.K., I don't get the fuss here. It seems like a no-brainer. If she's speaking out against the official beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, and using her position in the RCC as a platform for this, she shouldn't continue to be employed by them. Would GM have retained a spokesperson who told everybody that Japanese cars were better quality and that they should buy Toyotas? If she's not in agreement with the mission of the organization, which she's apparently not, she shouldn't have accepted and retained a job in the organization. This is a basic ethical principle, not just a religious one. (And, btw, I'm not RC.)
Mar 15, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
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Testerrific - Do you think you could get your point across without your Italian references? I understand you are trying to attack the Catholic Church(which is fine if you keep it in the confines of what the article is reporting). You have no grounds to attack Italians with your stereotyped ridden rant about how you think the Catholic Church works.
Mar 15, 2009 at 6:07 a.m.
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HOW DARE Ruth Kolpack question questionable silliness of Christian doctrine...while also remaining faithful to the overall silliness of Christian doctrine!! "Sonny Corleone" Morlino is right to smash her head with a trash can lid to teach her a lesson, because "Don Vito Corleone" Pope would have no less. This quote from the article says it best..."Spokesman Brent King said that Catholics owe obedience to their pastor, bishop and the pope, because they represent Jesus." LOLOLOL. And if the priest performs an "accidental ministry" into the private parts of an altar boy...HE is just shifted to another parish, with no penalty whatsoever. But this "Christian broad" DARES to make a statement that is completely relavent in the year 2009, and she is fired???? Sorry, but situations like this make Baby Jesus cry....
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