AUTHOR: Robin Dugall DATE: 1:23:00 PM ----- BODY:

Today is a day to keep our brothers and sisters in the Catholic tradition in prayer. For many of them who look to the Pope for inspiration, guidance and stability, this is not only a sad day but a day that brings with it some fear. I'm sure that there are people within the Catholic tradition that fear that the strength of the Pope's convictions will be watered down by relativism and political correctedness. Let's keep the Catholic fellowship in prayer...they need to have a leader that will be even more courageous and outspoken as this Pope was over the years. Pope John Paul was a brother to be admired! Yet, he has been criticized as being too conservative and traditional...basically words that demonstrate that there are those out in our world that want to see Christianity leave its roots and adherence to the truth. When someone accuses someone of being conservative and traditional they are essentially saying that they are not relevant, up-to-date, hip, or culturally acceptable. To be specific, this Pope did not license permissiveness or moral lenience. He was stubbornly biblical. You might not agree with everything he stood for but you can't help but admire his tenacity and single-mindedness when it came to issues of justice, peace and purity. Put it quickly this way...Jesus does not call us to be relevant, up-to-date or culturally acceptable. He does call us to be faithful! If our methodologies are relevant, praise God. But our ethics, foundational beliefs, theology and praxis needs to be subversively faithful! Join me in praying!

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