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Article: Robert Blair Kaiser's letter from Rome.(Faith & Spirituality)
- Article from:
- Catholic New Times
- Article date:
- January 26, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Catholic New Times, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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I have been cranky ever since Dec. 15, 2002, when I read Frank Bruni's story in The New York Times about Cardinal Law's resignation. I do not blame Bruni, but praise him for capturing the Vatican party line. Here was Bruni, quoting George Weigel, the pope's almost-official biographer, who is not on the Vatican payroll, but ought to be:
"I don't think this was done in response to agitations of various sorts," said Weigel. "Authority in the Catholic Church is conferred by ordination. It's not given by the people." He was trying to say that public opinion had nothing to do with it. Sure.
I don't fault Weigel. He is only passing on the accepted opinion ...