Dr. Taylor Marshall 5 Question Survey

Casual Discussion
1

Taylor Marshall posted the following questions on Twitter:

Lay Catholics, what do you think will happen (5 questions):

  1. Will the next Pope:
  • Continue Francis Agenda
  • Reverse Francis Agenda
  • NOTA
0 voters
  1. Are you Praying yet for the Cardinals and the Papal Conclave?
  • Yes
  • No
  • NOTA
0 voters
  1. Is Cardinal Sarah Too Old to be Pope?
  • Yes
  • No
  • NOTA
0 voters
  1. Does a Bad Pope Change Your Salvation?
  • Yes
  • No
  • NOTA
0 voters
  1. What if the new Pope asked the Franciscans and Dominicans to return to traditional tonsured haircuts?
  • A step in the right direction
  • Like Moe from “The Three Stooges”?
  • NOTA
0 voters

The answers to this last question did not come form Dr. Marshall (that was me just playing around, though the question was posed by Taylor in the form of What are your thoughts…

2

My first question was “What is he a doctor of?” Answer: philosophy (I had to look it up.) “Acquire a remarkable name in one branch of human knowledge, and presto! you are infallible in all,” wrote Jules Verne in All Around the Moon. Remember Linus Pauling? He was a Nobel Prize–winning chemist, but when Doctor Pauling said he thought that drinking orange juice could prevent the common cold, a lot of people took it seriously (and some still do) because he was a doctor. In my journalistic training, I was taught that if someone is a doctor but not a medical doctor, psychiatrist, dentist or other kind of physician, the writer must specify what the person is a doctor of. So, doctor of philosophy, doctor of theology, doctor of medicine—it signifies expertise but not in all branches of human knowledge. I also think that “NOTA” (I had to look that up too; nota bene) doesn’t allow enough of an answer; what will the next pope’s agenda be? How in the world should I have a worthwhile opinion about what will happen? Is Cardinal Sarah too old? It depends. 79 is pretty old. I’m 71. Somebody today said that any Catholic man could be elected; I could be elected. I hope the Cardinals don’t vote for me, but I think that Bishop Burbidge would make a great pope. Bishop Barron too.

3

Peace to all,

True, Literalman,

I wonder if Bishop Burbidge understands the Two Natures becoming again promised from the God of Abraham? And Bishop Burbidge is from Philadelphia. Great candidate.

In Tongues All Can Hear: Communicating the Hope of Christ in Times of Trial

A Pastoral Letter
Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge
September 2020

The Church was born with the “strong driving wind” of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2), and the first manifestation of the Spirit’s gift was the ability to “speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim” (Acts 2:4). The disciples immediately went out and began to tell the assembled peoples the Good News, and they were enabled to speak to each person in a language they could understand.

These tools were remarkably democratic, giving anyone with a computer or, later, a cell phone the means to communicate worldwide. Because these tools were widely accessible and relatively inexpensive, it meant that the majority of people could report, evangelize, or bear witness on matters of faith. With the press of the but- ton, one could potentially have an audience larger than any St. Paul could have reached in his day.

“The ability to communicate over vast distances and almost instantaneously gives every communicator the potential reach and audience of which St. Paul could only have dreamed.”

The first followers of Christ communicated by deeds as well as by words. Their example of care for one another, their joy and sincerity of heart marked their witness. Yet always they bore witness with their words as well, inviting the people and challenging the leaders, even at risk of persecution. When threatened by authorities to cease preaching in public about the Good News of the Lord, the response of St. Peter and St. John was that to stop communicating was not an option. “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). “They were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language … ‘We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God’” (Acts 2:5, 11). Bishop Burbidge

Peace always,
Stephen

4

I didn’t live in the Philadelphia Archdiocese when Bishop Burbidge was here, but I lived in the Arlington, Virginia, Diocese for about 25 years. There, Bishop Burbidge joined us in praying outside abortion clinics (three times while I was there) and afterwards thanked each of us who were present. He also came to one of the Encourage meetings for family members and friends of people who have same-sex attractions (the meeting is to encourage us to stay faithful and be loving while not agreeing that same-sex behavior is OK). Bishop Burbidge impressed me as a man of true faith and strong principles. I suspect that he would not like to be pope, which is good, I think.

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5

This came up a lot during President Biden’s term as President. His wife had a Doctorate, but was not a Dictator in the true sense of the word. In 2020 I voted for Dr. Jo Jorgensen for President and she too was not a medical doctor, but has a Ph. D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Clemson University.

I am a delegate for the National Libertarian Party and it is tradition to always include NOTA, which means “None of The Above.”

Dr. Marshall nor Gordan included NOTA in their Twitter polls, but I did include them here, because the way in which they frame some of their questions is somewhat slanted and I disagree with both answers. This is true of when I talk political polls during election years. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat, but the questions want to put me in either box. I wish these polling companies would hire a Libertarian to ask their questions. Because often there is a third option or fourth option.

So, I included NOTA if neither of the two options fit how you would answer the question. NOTA can mean “neither” or it can mean “other” and then you can comment how your answer does not apply to either forced binaries. It allows for nuance.

I answered “No” for this question, because Cardinal Sarah would make an amazing Pope, though I don’t think he will be elected unless a miracle happens. I love Cardinal Robert Sarah and it would be an answer to my Prayers if he were to become our next Pope.

As far as age goes, my Grandpa, before He passed, had a perfect mind. It was his body that was failing.

President Biden had the opposite problem. His mind was failing during his term, but his body was still in decent condition.

Age is subjective and everyone ages differently.

Yes, this is true, though highly unlikely ; )

I am not familiar with Bishop Burbidge.

I like Bishop Barron, however he admires Hans Urs von Balthasar, a modern theologian, a lot. I don’t know a lot about Balthasar, other than some have misinterpreted one of his thoughts in particular, regarding “all souls going to Heaven,” which is contrary to what the Bible describes and what Christ taught the Apostles.

From what I’ve heard the likelihood of an American Pope is highly unlikely. Some people like Cardinal Burke, but I do not see that happening.

All we can do is Pray for these individuals who have to make this important decision and sit back and enjoy the ride.

6

I have heard good things about Cardinal Pizzaballa. He is a Franciscan and is The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who serves Latin Rite Catholics in Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.

7

I would vote for anybody named Pizza (good thing I don’t get to vote for pope). And I remembered that on my Editor’s Companion blog I wrote a post “Who Gets to Be Called ‘Doctor’ in the News?”

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