GERMAN CARDINAL GERHARD Müller was not pushed out, despite international news reports.
The Associated Press said in a story I read July 2 that “Pope Francis on Saturday pushed out the Vatican’s conservative doctrine chief …”
What I found in my research was a little bit different. Müller is, or was, head of the CDF, the short version of the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is the body that oversees Catholic teaching throughout the world.
There are roughly 1.2 billion Catholics in the world so you could say that the head of the CDF might need to work weekends occasionally.
Müller was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in July of 2012 and his 5-year term had expired as of July 2. His service was up and Pope Francis decided to name someone else.
Although Müller said he didn’t like the way it was handled, he told a German newspaper: “There were no differences between me and Pope Francis.”
While speaking of truth, here is kind of a weird one, and this comes from the international front as well.
The demographics of Europe has been kind of a hot topic for many years now; who is having babies, who isn’t, and what this means overall for populations and the immediate and long-term future of countries.
The prime ministers or presidents of Europe’s largest economies, and all the European members of the G-7, which is kind of an exclusive global club, are without biological children — Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, and others.
When you consider that the late Konrad Adenauer, one of the founders of modern Europe was the father of 8, well, just think about that. Adoption doesn’t seem to have been an option with any of them either.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
The other morning, I woke up and was immediately aware of the day ahead, and I have to say, it wasn’t a great feeling.
My stomach churned before my feet hit the floor, and I thought, “This is not good.”
Awhile later, I was reading the daily Mass readings and the line above from Matthew didn’t quite hit me like a ton of bricks (because I wouldn’t be here if it had) but certainly rocked me.
What in the world is Jesus saying here?
Straightforward, you say, and really it is. I sometimes forget about God, and I know I’m not the only one on Earth with this problem.
Do you trust that God will help you? Do you trust that God cares about you? Do we trust that God gives us a lot on our plate, but not too much that we won’t have the strength and courage and fortitude to make something good out of a potential mess?
When God is a major player in our life — really the ultimate thought in our daily life — then truly, what do we have to worry about?
We have to remind ourselves often of this, simply that the key to rest is Jesus, though don’t think he will let you off easy.
It wouldn’t be a summer column without a thought about the Beach Boys.
Came across a movie called “Love and Mercy” out of Hollywood, which tells the tale of Brian Wilson, really the heart and soul of the Beach Boys.
The harmonies sound so simple, and maybe they are, but who can forget “Don’t Worry, Baby” or “God Only Knows” and realize that Brian Wilson was fighting mental illness, a genius even then?
One of their last hits, which ends the movie “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” captures the escapist sound of that era, and it’s not difficult to understand the meaning of the song.
OK, so it’s the Beach Boys and not too complicated. But “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and you can fill in the rest.
Have a blessed summer and don’t worry, baby. You know what to do.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by five religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Mike Acheson is director of religious education at Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church in Port Angeles and St. Joseph Parish in Sequim.
