Saturday, July 21, 2012

Peru: Vatican removes titles “Pontifical” and “Catholic” from university name


The Holy See’s decision to remove the titles have caused an uproar and will have repercussions that stretch further than Peru’s academic environment.
 
The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Lima (© PUCP)
The Pontifical Catholic University of
Peru in Lima (© PUCP)
The moment of truth has come. The Holy See is to remove the titles “Pontifical” and “Catholic” from the name of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). The controversial and unprecedented decision should be communicated Saturday 21 July if no last minute surprises. The Vatican had no other choice after years of disobedience from an institution which no longer seems to answer to the Holy See.
 
The affair is very delicate and this is why the two parties are trying to protect their own interests before the official announcement is made tomorrow. The decision has been made and will be communicated by means of a decree, accompanied by a letter addressed to the university rector Marcial Rubio. In these two texts the Holy See will declare that it no longer recognises the university’s current structure because it is failing to engage in the original mission. One thing will not change however: the Apostolic See will state that the university will retain its rights in relation to the structure.
 
This situation is the result of a 40 year old feud. Many years have passed since the former rector and Jesuit priest Felipe Max Gregor guaranteed, in 1968, that the university would never stop being Catholic. The following decades were decisive in turning it into the exact opposite: an institution that is independent from the Church and whose teachings go against the Magisterium of the Catholic Church for the sake of the university’s freedom.
 
This process led to a number of civil trials being held between the university and Archdiocese of Lima, the legitimate executor, because its heads had taken the liberty to act in areas they were not authorised to act in. A notable example is the case of the assets inherited by the scholar José de la Riva Agüero y Osma in the 1940’s. The PUCP suffered a number of defeats in this case. 
 
The directors never agreed to answer to the Archbishop of Lima Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, who according to the statute is the great chancellor. Not only did they rebel against the cardinal but ignored all warnings sent from Rome.

The Vatican asked, in all the ways it could, for the university’s internal statutes to be modified and brought in line with the Apostolic Constitution “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” written by John Paul II in 1990 and binding for all Catholic academic institutions in the world. But the response was always negative.

This is why the Roman Curia had to intervene through the Congregation for Catholic Education, which in 2011 sent a letter to rector Rubio, outlining all the modifications that needed to be made to the statutes. But the University Assembly refused to act on the Vatican exhortation. And so the Vatican Secretariat of State got involved in the affair via its office for internal and external policies. It ordered an apostolic visit, an audit and an effort to try to reach an agreement between all parties, with all actions carried forward by the Hungarian cardinal Peter Erdö. But without success.

The result was that the Holy See lost its patience and set a deadline for last 8 April. The university was required to hand over its new statutes by this date, but failed to do so. This act of rebellion will now end in the worst way possible: with the Holy See’s drastic but inevitable decision to cancel the university’s titles for the first time in history. 
 
The Apostolic See has the complete authority to do so because the Church has always considered the educational structure to be its property. Both canonical and Peruvian law recognises this fact. In order to ensure its decision is respected, Rome can appeal to the agreement in place between the Vatican and Peru. If it were to do so a never-ending conflict would break out. If the government does not recognise the prerogatives of this agreement, it could cause a serious diplomatic incident.
 
The situation has reached breaking point and students could bear the consequences. Because amongst other things, the Church hierarchy would ask the National Assembly of Rectors to forbid the PUCP from giving out degree titles in its name. In the meantime, the Archdiocese of Lima will have to found another university that really is Catholic.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Daily Sufferings and Trials are truly but a Momentary Affliction!

2 Corinthians 4: 6 - 11, 16, 17 
For it is God Who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the Face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.  
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  
For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison




Who of us today has a care free life? Even if you are a billionaire, are there not still problems? Whether emotional, physical, spiritual matters not. Truly today's troubles are enough for the day ... worry not for tomorrow and belabor not over those that were and cannot be changed. No matter what we're going through now, no matter what we're facing; medical issues, persecution, financial problems including jobs, housing, daily needs; we must remember that all this is TRULY a drop of water in all the oceans of the world compared to eternity. If we hold fast to Jesus & Mary, receive the graces and strengths of the Sacraments to sustain us, there's really nothing we can't face. And when troubles DO come our way, it's an opportunity to unite them to the sufferings of our dear Lord's Passion for the good of souls everywhere! What a noble joy! By themselves, our meager offerings do little if anything, but united to the Passion of Jesus and His True Presence in the Holy Eucharist, even the smallest effort of ours is MIGHTY! :)

We are one in the Body of Christ by virtue of our Baptism ... so this means ALL Christians, not just Catholics. True, by the grace of God, we Catholics count ourselves privileged (for lack of a better word) to have the fullness of Faith in all SEVEN Sacraments that Jesus instituted.  It boggles my mind why any Catholic wouldn't avail themselves of the graces of Confession and especially Holy Communion as frequently as possible. The strengths are truly supernatural and much needed in this world today! So, is the servant any better than the Master? Did Jesus suffer indignities? lies? slander? beatings? calumny? tortures? indifference? Yes, the Church (and its members) will follow the Master in His Passion and Crucifixion .. but oh the glorious Resurrection to come!

The ole boy likes to keep us preoccupied with events of daily living. The father of lies loves to have us entertain him by our worries, anguish, pain and justifications for our sins. He delights with much glee when he sees us vexed over our problems. Why? Because when we're upset and worried, confused and depressed ... it takes away our peace and we're likely not "in the mood" to PRAY. Prayer too gives us strength. The lifeline to the Trinity and our Lady. In today's world, every Christian needs to make time for a DAILY PRAYER ROUTINE that is WRITTEN IN STONE. Many folks go to the gym RELIGIOUSLY .... why not do the same thing for your prayer life? The gym will help keep your body healthy for as long as you have it ... but a real relationship with the Trinity and our Lady will keep your soul healthy for an ETERNITY!

So when troubles come your way, as they will more and more now because the devil's time is much shorter than it has ever been. If you cling to the TWO HEARTS in prayer .. the ROSARY, the DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET ... and the USA CHAPLET as well, perhaps satan will see that problems don't distract you from heaven, but rather make you RUN toward it in prayer and your offerings for souls will actually thwart his efforts while helping not just yourself, but souls everywhere. Never forget the souls in purgatory, especially those that have no one to pray for them!

So when troubles besiege you, take heart and know with confidence, that the TWO HEARTS are with you if you but cling to Them in thought, word and deed ... in season and out of season .... knowing that whatever hurts you here, united to Jesus and compassionated by Mary helps not only you, but the communion of saints for all eternity!
So BEG to stay in the Divine Will always ~ knowing that our glorious Triune God has everything in control, doesn't send you more than you can handle, bestows great graces to help sustain you, gives you opportunity after opportunity for you to do good for yourself and others, increasing all in sanctification as you near your final destination. 

Keep in mind always:
1 Corrinthians 2:9
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.”