The BBC: Can’t they get anything right?

I believe Bob Marley converted to Orthodoxy right before he died, because of Selassie.

Yes the poor BBC – but the tide of ignorance must one day turn thank heaven.

One suspects however that the OEcumenical Patriach of Constantinople Orthodox would prefer the use of Coptic Orthodox in this instance.

I speak as an apostate and under correction

A very good point, which is that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is not in communion with the See of Constantinople, since the Ethiopian Orthodox hold that Christ had a single nature, rather than the two natures taught by the churches in communion with Rome and Constantinople.

The Ethiopian Church was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when Cyril VI, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa granted it autocephalos status, under the Archbishop of Axum and Patriarch Catholicos of All Ethiopia (also known as the Abuna).

The BBC informed me the other day that we, as Catholics, have not prayed for the Jewish people since the Second Vatican Council.

The BBC writes,

“Concern is now focused on traditional rite’s Good Friday liturgy which contains a prayer “For the conversion of the Jews”.”

Now correct me if I nodded off, a month or so ago, but don’t we still do that? To quote me father,

“They open their mouths, let their bellies rumble and write an article which appears to look like last night’s dinner.”

I would love to know who their ‘researchers’ are.

Andrew,

don’t complain to us; complain to them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/

It pains me to say it, but the BBC has that point about praying for the conversion of the Jews right. The Church prays for the Jews on Good Friday, but not for their conversion (instead that they be faithful to their covenant). The Church has otherwise de facto stopped praying for their conversion at all. Cardinal Kasper once stated: “…the Church believes that Judaism, i.e., the faithful response of the Jewish people to God’s irrevocable covenant is salvific for them, because God is faithful to his promises.”

It would seem His Eminence has neglected to recall Christ’s words that this particular covenent has been fulfilled. What a pity.

Unorthodox Orthodox? Oh my!

Of course there is also the Ge’ez Ethiopian church, which is in communion with Rome. I wonder if there is an Ethiopian church in communion with Constantinople?

“It would seem His Eminence has neglected to recall Christ’s words that this particular covenent has been fulfilled. What a pity.”

So true. And what an odd way to honor our Hebrew brothers and sister, by denying the basis of our own faith!

Better to pray for the souls of those Jews who face the sword of Islam, and allow all to defend themselves in the face of Jihad, than this silly inter-religious groveling that waters down the one true Church.

While the description of him as head of the Rastafarian religious movement is certainly misleading, the business of his title is correct. Haile Selassie was deposed on September 12, 1974. He died almost a year later, in August, 1975. It’s accurate to call him the “former Ethiopian Emperor”.

Cardinal Kasper is not the only one who has forgotten Catholic teaching. The late Pope himself was, in a way, responsible for this. Wasn’t he the one who made Kasper a Cardinal? And did not he refer to the Jews as “older brothers in the faith?”

As far as the Catholic Church and history go, the modern Jews cannot be our brothers in the faith. There is no more Covenant (with them), there is no more valid faith – if it is based on their religion. The things that were required of Jews in ancient times cannot be done anymore (Sacrifices, same rituals, temple, priesthood, etc). The Jews rejected Christ (God), so they cannot be examples of (supernatural) Faith.

In a way we could say that Cardinal Kasper is just following the footsteps of the late Pope. Usually, he is blamed for being the way he is or saying the things he says, but he would not have as much influence and the media would not give him a lot of importance if he were not a Cardinal of the Roman Church.

Sadder still, we have a new Pope and Cardinal Kasper is still a fully functional Cardinal of the Roman Church.

By the way, I am far from being a sedevacantist. I just happen to believe that we have to see (and say) things are they are.

Thank you Andrew for that. I passed a Jamaican cafe yesterday and it was adorned with Haile Selassie pictures all over. I had always wondered why Rastafarians do this…