{"id":1164,"date":"2012-09-25T22:06:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T22:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/cardinal-wuerl-recalls-churchs-unchanging-foundation-in-christ\/"},"modified":"2012-09-25T22:06:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-25T22:06:00","slug":"cardinal-wuerl-recalls-churchs-unchanging-foundation-in-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/cardinal-wuerl-recalls-churchs-unchanging-foundation-in-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardinal Wuerl recalls Church’s unchanging foundation in Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 \/ 04:06 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- With its identity firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel continues unchanged throughout time and place, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

\tCarrying out this mission requires the participation of all of the faithful, the cardinal said, adding that \u201cif we want a world that more clearly reflects the high ideals of the Gospel, all of us must be actively engaged in this transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe Catholic \u201cvision of life\u201d teaches us that rather than acting as mere spectators, we \u201care all called to be participants in the struggle to establish a truly good and just society,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tIn a new pastoral letter titled, \u201cThe Church, Our Spiritual Home,\u201d Cardinal Wuerl reflected on the unique identity and mission of the Catholic Church and its members.<\/p>\n

\tThe Catholic Church is not a club or a man-made organization resulting from the decision of people coming together, he said, but rather, the Body of Christ and the continuation of Jesus' teaching ministry here on earth.<\/p>\n

\tAnd while the faithful are also citizens in a political system, the Church itself is not a political party, he said. Therefore, while the Church speaks about morality and natural law, its teachings are not rooted in political alignment with a party, but from its mission and identity which come from Christ.<\/p>\n

\tAmid claims that \u201cthe Church needs to come into the 21st century,\u201d we must also remember that the Church \u201cis not an expression or manifestation of current popular or cultural conditioning,\u201d Cardinal Wuerl added.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe do not possess the power to change what we have received,\u201d he stressed. \u201cWe can only pass it on \u2013 or fail to pass it on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tNor is the Church a \u201cspecial interest group,\u201d he said, noting that although any individual or group can say they are Catholic, \u201conly the bishops as successors to the Apostles speak for the faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe authority of the bishops is rooted in Scripture, as Christ chose Apostles to continue his work, and they appointed their successors, who received the same Holy Spirit that is poured out in the sacrament of holy orders today, he said.<\/p>\n

\tWith this in mind, the cardinal explained, we can be confident that the Church is Christ\u2019s enduring, visible presence in the world and the beginning of the realization of God\u2019s kingdom, which will ultimately be fulfilled in eternity.<\/p>\n

\tWhile members of the Church \u2013 including those within the hierarchy \u2013 are capable of committing grave sins, he said, their failings do not detract from the truth of the message they proclaim, which the Holy Spirit continues to safeguard. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\tTherefore, he said, the sins of those in the Church \u201cmust not cloud our belief in the truth of Christ\u2019s teachings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAlthough the hierarchy play an important role in proclaiming the Gospel, the laity also share in this important duty, Cardinal Wuerl continued.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe hierarchical structure of the Church does not mean that the bishops and priests continue Christ's ministry all alone,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tRather, he explained, lay men and women \u201chave responsibility for the temporal order because it requires all knowledge, skills, talents and insights they acquire and exercise in their varied secular skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAs they work to apply the teaching of the Gospel within their own spheres, such as law, medicine and education, they must take care to properly form their consciences so that they can respond correctly to the complex challenges arising in the modern world, he said.<\/p>\n

\tThe cardinal warned of theologians, groups and individuals who claim the title Catholic while promoting teaching that does not adhere to the faith of the Church as expressed by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him.<\/p>\n

\tSuch ideas should not be accepted as valid, he said, encouraging the use of the Catechism to confirm the authenticity of questionable ideas.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe do not belong to the Church to set within it our own path to salvation,\u201d Cardinal Wuerl said. \u201cWe are members of the Church because we want to be shaped by its teaching and gift of grace. Christ founded the Church to be the gift to lead us to eternal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 \/ 04:06 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- With its identity firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel continues unchanged throughout time and place, said Cardinal Donald W. Wu…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nCardinal Wuerl recalls Church's unchanging foundation in Christ<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington D.C., Sep 25, 2012 \/ 04:06 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- With its identity firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel continues unchanged throughout time and place, said Cardinal Donald W. 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