The Christian rednecks of Vicco, Kentucky, epitomize the world's rapidly-developing sensus fidelium.
In the end, the sensus fidelium -- the "sense of the faithful" -- becomes the guiding light for the entire church while The Official Story either changes or gets moved to "the back burner." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usury
Please examine Margaret Nutting Ralph's "Why The Catholic Church Must Change: A Necessary Conversation." http://www.amazon.com/Why-Catholic-Church -Must-Change/dp/1442220783
One service rendered by Ms. Nutting's well-documented text is that The Church has "always" changed.
Every chapter begins with verbatim quotations made by different popes or excerpted from episcopal writings bearing "imprimaturs" and "nihil obstats."
These citations reveal such startling contrast to one another that readers come away with clear understanding of the metamorphosis that has always characterized papal and episcopal views, even on matters of "faith and morals."
Remarkably, these views are not only diametrically opposed to one another but express frank contradiction in remarkably brief spate.
It is true that 'the Catholic Church must change.'
It is also true that this book is "must reading" for anyone who wishes the church long life and godly practice.
(Stephen Colbert is a practicing Catholic who teaches Sunday School.)
It's being called "perhaps the single best segment" to ever air on The Colbert Report. And with good reason, because it probably is.
In the end, the sensus fidelium -- the "sense of the faithful" -- becomes the guiding light for the entire church while The Official Story either changes or gets moved to "the back burner." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usury
Please examine Margaret Nutting Ralph's "Why The Catholic Church Must Change: A Necessary Conversation." http://www.amazon.com/Why-Catholic-Church -Must-Change/dp/1442220783
One service rendered by Ms. Nutting's well-documented text is that The Church has "always" changed.
Every chapter begins with verbatim quotations made by different popes or excerpted from episcopal writings bearing "imprimaturs" and "nihil obstats."
These citations reveal such startling contrast to one another that readers come away with clear understanding of the metamorphosis that has always characterized papal and episcopal views, even on matters of "faith and morals."
Remarkably, these views are not only diametrically opposed to one another but express frank contradiction in remarkably brief spate.
It is true that 'the Catholic Church must change.'
It is also true that this book is "must reading" for anyone who wishes the church long life and godly practice.
(Stephen Colbert is a practicing Catholic who teaches Sunday School.)
***
In the latest installment of "People Who Are Destroying America," Stephen Colbert introduced his audience to Johnny Cummings, the openly gay mayor (and part-time hairdresser) of Vicco, Kentucky.
Both Cummings and Vicco were in the news earlier this year after passing a city-wide ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT residents, becoming the smallest city in America to do so.
In a piece that is heartwarming, hilarious, and hopeful all at once, the Report heads down to Vicco to see how the Appalachian town's "simple hillfolk" are reacting to Cummings' pro-gay policies.
Faith in humanity ensues.
[H/T: Uproxx, screengrab via The Colbert Report]