Pope Francis: Merciful or Authoritarian?
My own research has shown that this incident occurred at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), and that it was Cardinal Gerhard Müller himself who now has to obey these peremptory new orders. Additionally, I was able to discover that the three priests involved are, respectively, of a Slovakian-American, French, and Mexican nationality. (One of my sources is a friend of one of these three theologians.) However, the last of these three might now, after all, be able to remain a little longer in his current position at the Congregation.
Let us now consider some of the specific details of what Marco Tosatti himself has perceptively gathered for us. He starts his article with a reference to Pope Francis’ usual rebuke of the Roman Curia at his Christmas address to the Curia and detects the pope’s obvious anger in his words and gestures. When looking over to the Curia itself, however, Tosatti perceives something else than a reciprocal anger to be present among the curial members: “It is not about their resistance, but about their fear, their discontent, and a kind of feeling that belongs to another context altogether.”
Tosatti then refers to a credible source who told him several recent episodes occurring at the Vatican. Two of them appear to be of great importance and might also give us some additional glimpses into Pope Francis’ own authoritarian methods as well as his somewhat indirect way of ruling the Church. But, we should now first concentrate on the new personnel matter at the Congregation for Doctrine, which Tosatti himself says is “decisively sadder.” Here is Tosatti’s report:
“The head of a dicastery has received the order to remove three of his employees (all of whom have worked there for a long time), and it was without any explanation. He [the Prefect] received these official letters: “….I request that you please dismiss ….” The order was: send him [each of them] back into his diocese of origin or to the Religious Family to which he belongs. He [the Prefect of the Congregation] was very perplexed because it was about three excellent priests who are among the most capable professionally. He first avoided obeying and several times asked for an audience with the pope. He had to wait because that meeting was postponed several times. Finally, he was received in an audience. And he said: “Your Holiness, I have received these letters, but I did not do anything because these persons are among the best of my dicastery… what did they do?” The answer was, as follows: “And I am the pope, I do not need to give reasons for any of my decisions. I have decided that they have to leave and they have to leave.” He got up and stretched out his hand in order to indicate that the audience was at an end. On 31 December, two of the three [men] will leave the dicastery in which they have worked for years, and without knowing the why. For the third, there seems to be a certain delay. But then, there is another implication which, if true, would be even more unpleasant. One of the two had freely spoken about certain decisions of the pope – perhaps a little bit too much. A certain person – a friend of a close collaborator of the pope – heard this disclosure and passed it on. The victim received then a very harsh telephone call from Number One [i.e., the pope]. And then soon came the dismissal.” [emphasis added]
In this passage, Tosatti piercingly speaks about an “autocratic fever that seems to have broken out in the Vatican.” [my emphasis] And he concludes his report with the following words:
“Thus it is not so astonishing when the atmosphere behind the walls and in the palaces is not really serene. And one may now ask oneself what kind of credit this fact gives altogether to all the elaborate and sustained fanfare about mercy.” [my emphasis]
Thus Tosatti adds another piece of the puzzle concerning Pope Francis’ manner and methods of governance through which he seemingly aims at removing – or marginalizing – orthodox prelates, priests, and laymen from positions of formative influence in the Vatican.
Moreover, with specific regard of the Congregation for Doctrine, another source had told me the following, more than a month ago:
“One source in Rome says that all those who work for the Holy See are afraid to talk about anything for fear of being chopped because of the presence of informants everywhere. He compared it to Stalinist Russia. He said two priest friends of his, good men, have been fired from the CDF because they were accused of being critical of Pope Francis.”
This same Rome source, who is personally very honest and well informed, reports that these two priests here mentioned (who do not seem to be the same ones who are involved in the recent three personnel cases) fear that they will not be the only ones to be removed. They see their own removal to be just the beginning of a “massive overhaul” [my emphasis] within the Doctrine Congregation, “not unlike what happened recently to Cardinal Sarah’s Divine Worship Congregation.” (Here we might be reminded of the fact that it was Marco Tosatti himself who had earlier called these recent changes at the Congregation for Divine Worship a “Purge.”)
We have also recently reported about the pope’s earlier decision to remove the members of the Pontifical Academy of Life, which is widely known for its strong stance in defense of human life. Here is what one well-informed source had reported to me then about this incident:
“At the end of 2016 the Pontifical Academy for Life was closed and all its members dismissed. The Academy will be reconstituted in 2017 with new statutes and the Academy will be repopulated. The process for naming new members of the Academy is not known.”
We also have repeatedly reported on the atmosphere of fear that now increasingly permeates the Vatican, as did a recent report from the co-founder of LifeSiteNews.
During this forthcoming year of 2017 – the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima – may the Blessed Mother increasingly be our help and our trustworthy refuge. May she help us with those graces we shall need to defend the truth more fully and to manifest Christ’s love, as well, even in the face of fear. Source
Comments invited…
Comments (73)
It was very interesting that the Pope wanted to set up a Commision to enquire into the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta. He was told in double quick time that the Sovereign Order is Sovereign and he has no jurisdiction over its affairs. It was quite a polite way of telling him to go away. I was delighted to read this. It couldn’t have happened to a more suitable person.
JohnR,
I didn’t know about the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta so I Googled and found this which confirms what you say and shows the Pope trying to get at Cardinal Burke.
https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2016/12/24/knights-malta-pope-stay-internal-affairs/
He really is vengeful person, as we already saw with the Franciscans of the Immaculate and there are other examples.
I voted “authoritarian” on the website poll. It’s getting clearer and clearer that he is a dictator and won’t allow anyone to disagree with him. When will he sack one of the liberals?
MM.
That is the key question – when will he sack a dissenter: Answer – he won’t. He thinks the rest of us are dissenters!
Keep voting in the poll!
John R,
Well said!
The Pope can’t win. Some people demand he reprimand, or sack, this cleric or Bishop, and then they protest, and malign him, when he seeks to tidy up The Congregation for The Defence of The Faith. God bless Our Pope. Pray for him.
ADC
Your argument might hold some water if it were not for the very well publicised fact that Pope Francis only ever exercises his wrath on the most orthodox of prelates, priests and religious. You clearly have not been following the Pope’s behaviour in any objective fashion these past three years when you could write what you did above.
And by the way, there is not one of us here who do not hope that God blesses the Holy Father, we all pray for him. Where we differ from you and other indifferent Catholics, however, is that we add to these sacred duties that of publicly resisting the Pope’s Modernist errors, possibly even heresies, which we are obliged to do out of fidelity to a greater authority than the Pontiff, that of Jesus Christ Himself, whose divinely revealed truths he is presently obscuring and undermining.
We Catholics are free children of God in the Church, not slaves to the theological and/or moral deviances of individual Popes. You need to learn your Church history, my friend.
If he’d “tidy up” the liberals in the CDF – starting with Cardinal Muller, LOL! that would be welcomed. It’s “tidying up” the good priests, the orthodox, those who recognise the damage he’s doing to the Church, that’s the problem.
Athanasius has said this much better than I could, but just making the point.
As others have said on here that’s the thing about Jorge he seems to go out of his way to change without authority. As Christ said to Pilot “you would have no authority unless it was given from you from above “. As a half decent Catholic I don’t want to see our Church become Lutheran. Now if Jorge wants to become Lutheran he’s free to leave tomorrow and join their sect . The thing about this narcissistic man is that he wants to take the rest of us with him . He’s certainly too Protestant for my liking.
I think his “extends” only to moral dissenters ! The man sounds like a dictator. I firmly believe Jacinta wept over Pope Francis when she lamented, “Poor Holy Father” and kept insisting that the Holy Father needed prayers.
Notice that Pope Francis only targets those who are orthodox. He tells journalists to go to the dissenting Cardinal Shonborn for answers on Amoris Laetitia, because Shonborn is already on record as being all for Communion for the divorced and remarried (he presided at the press conference at the time of its publication) but sacks everyone who is showing concern about his statements that contradict Catholic teaching.
He is showing his true colours with all the sackings of the orthodox and his attacks on the four Cardinals just because of their request for answers to their questions about Amoris Laetitia.
He’s a terrible, terrible pope, I’m really sad and sorry to say.
It seems clear, by all accounts, that Pope Francis is set on purging the higher offices of the Church of even the more conservative liberals, who are still too Traditional for his tastes. Sad to say, in the case of this Pontiff, all indicators point to one who abuses his authority.
Cardinal Muller had every right in charity and justice to an explanation from the Pope as to why he ordered the dismissal of those theologians. What he got instead was a response more commonly associated with dictators. If Pope Francis were not a Jesuit, which casts serious doubt on his ever having fully had the Catholic Faith to begin with, we would be forced to conclude that he is a Pontiff who uses mercy as a cloak for malice. The Church will formally decide these matters one day. In the meantime, it must be clear to every Catholic with even a modest grasp of the Church’s eternal teaching on faith and morals that this Pope is a real danger to the Church and to souls. The Church could not have faired worse if Stalin himself had been elected by the conclave 3 years ago.
Our Lord, however, is still in charge of His Church and so we have to pray for Francis in the hope that his eyes may be opened to the damage he is presently inflicting on the Mystical Body. The alternative for this Pope, should he not turn from his destructive revolutionary ways, is too supernaturally terrifying to contemplate.
But praying is one thing and acting is another. It is high time, and I have said this numerous times before, that these Vatican careerists and weak-spined bishops came out publicly en masse and said “Enough of this”! It is their duty to correct this Pope publicly and directly, not by veiled private remarks that only hint at their displeasure. The Catholic Church is noted for her saints and martyrs during times of heresy and persecution. Clerical diplomats with one eye always on their lofty office are of no use to anyone. They should learn from St. Thomas More!
Athanasius,
…we would be forced to conclude that he is a Pontiff who uses mercy as a cloak for malice.
That statement is so spot on I almost jumped out of my chair. Isn’t Francis, in fact, a typical Marxist/Communist revolutionary, who oozes benevolence (“mercy”) until he encounters resistance, and then tries to crush it with an iron fist? That tactic has been well and effectively used by the tools of the devil ever since the French Revolution.
(By the way, the fact that Cardinal Muller, a notorious liberal, has been treated this way is a telling sign of just how grave this situation is.)
As to this climate of fear, I think it exists because of cowardice, and I think it would not exist if, as you say, the hierarchy would find some spine and publicly resist en masse. If that were to happen, this fear would instead descend on Francis and his gang of clerical thugs and informants.
That said, my second Rosary intention for almost a year now has been “For the conversion of Pope Francis, and/or for his speedy removal from the Chair of Peter.” The first being for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart…
RCA Victor
Yes, I have to agree with you that Pope Francis’ every word and action seems to align in one way or another with the deadly Communist/Marxist ideology and method. The Pope has often had to defend himself against accusations of being a Communist sympathiser, but I’m afraid his own works betray a strong leaning for Liberation Theology, the Communist/Marxist wing that infiltrated the Church after Vatican II, primarily under the guidance of Jesuits.
We need to pray hard for this Pope for it will take a unique miracle of personal conversion if he is to consecrate Russia to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. In the meantime, the prelates need to put ambition and false obedience aside and finally do their duty by respectfully but firmly confronting the errors of Pope Francis. Indirect hints at their displeasure with this Pope is not going to get the Church back on track!
Indeed, I do not have much time to follow what Francis says, but it seems to me that his message of mercy is directed towards the poor and the economic migrants, but there is mercy for those who oppose him or are conservative. He would make a communist dictator proud. Unfortunately, indoctrination with the communist ideology, the scarlet beast of the apocalypse, is still well alive within the clergy in some regions of the world like Africa and South America.
Let’s pray that the next Pope will be a holy one. Maybe the highly positioned clergy does not see it, but many average Joes in the pews definitively have had enough. I heard so many times #notmypope since Francis attacked the elected POTUS while in Mexico.
SW,
I think we all pray that the next Pope will be a good pope. No disagreement there.
However, I think you’ve been on here before, and I think I expressed my concerns about the website to which you link in your username, at that time.
I don’t have time, nor the inclination, to study that site in detail but I wish to alert readers to it and to suggest you do not visit it, since it doesn’t strike me as sound at all – too many quotes and extensive statements from unapproved alleged apparitions. Dangerous stuff. This is the centenary of the Fatima apparitions. We need visit no other site but this one…
In the section on “Mary” the first picture to appear is the picture used by the Medjugorje people although I can’t see any mention of that false apparition at first skim. There is, however, a promotion of the “Lady of All Nations” (Amsterdam) – again dodgy, so I think we need to be on our guard if visiting that site.
Editor: no problem. I am not here to promote anything, except maybe for the joy of the Trump victory 🙂 The content is very specific for a couple of friends of mine who follow the work of Fr. Natanek in Poland, so just ignore it. I appreciate your concern, though. And I am not a fan of Medjugorie either.
“The joy of a Trump victory” – well said! LOL!
I’m glad you’re not a Medjugorje fan – it’s so obviously not true, it’s a wonder anyone bothers with it!
The 1P5 article really spells out how dictatorial this pope is. I can’t believe that another year will go by without some form of heavenly intervention to put things right, I really can’t believe that.
To say that he doesn’t need to explain himself because he’s pope is laughable given that he constantly undermines the papacy and encourages young people to revolt (“make a mess”) in their dioceses.
I’ve no time for him at all although I agree we ought to pray for his conversion, otherwise there’s a serious danger that there will be only one place he can go to spend eternity
I have independent verification of one of these dismissals from a contact in Rome. The cleric in question was eating in a cafe with a friend and discussing matters at hand. Unfortunately they were overheard by somebody who reported the conversation to “a friend of the Pope.” Next thing he knows is that a phonecall comes through with the Pope on the end of it saying that he had been critical of some of the Pope’s decisions and that he had to pack his bags.
Now, I have no knowledge of what he was being critical about. He might have disagreed with the Pope’s ban on admitting homosexual men to the seminary for all I know. However, even if it was a disgruntled liberal who was doing the complaining, this is no way to manage the affairs of the Holy See. This will not build trust and confidence among people who are supposed to be collaborating with him. At this rate the curia will be totally dysfunctional before long.
Deacon Augustine,
Goodness – if anyone relates what WE’RE saying about him, we’ll all be excommunicated… with bells on (so to speak!)
Thank you for that – it’s very interesting. I doubt if he would dismiss someone on the issue of admitting homosexuals to the seminary – but feel free to disagree with me. I won’t ban you from the blog (yet…!)
I very much doubt he would either – snowball’s chance in hell he would. But even if it were for something like that, it would still be high-handed and dictatorial – lacking in due process. There is still this little thing called Canon Law which is supposed to govern the life of the Church and prevent clerics from abusing their power over their subjects.
However, we know what he thinks about “law” generally, don’t we? Antinomianism seems to be a hallmark of this papacy.
Deacon Augustine, I had to look that one up, Antinomianism, and it means:
“A person who believes that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law.”
Spot on!
Crofterlady, it is one of the chief errors of Lutheranism…!!! What was Francis saying about Luther recently?
Deacon Augustine,
I always wanted to have an auntie, as well, but no such luck. Now I’m stuck with Antinomianism… There’s just no justice in this world…
Seriously, you are spot on, yet again. This pope and his supporters think they’ve found the secret ingredient for having their cake and eating it, but Our Lord has already covered the “Law doesn’t matter” bit. For, all the numpties who repeatedly tell us that Christ’s anger was reserved for the Pharisees, the experts in the Law, forget that his anger wasn’t directed at the Law, but at their hypocrisy for not keeping the Law and yet expecting others to observe every minute detail of it. Our Lord said clearly that he had not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfil it, and that “not one jot or tittle of the Law will pass away, until it is fulfilled”.
How can a pope – any pope – be so blind?
Editor,
How can a pope be so blind? St. Augustine’s comment about the invisible intoxication of pride comes to mind….
Deacon Augustine,
It seems that the hierarchs who have been in control of the Vatican since the death of Pius XII have had a lot of practice ignoring and abusing Canon Law – esp. with their persecution and “criminalization” of Archbishop Lefebvre!
RCA Victor,
Agreed. Canon Law has been ignored by all and sundry, not to mention every bishop and priest in living memory, for as long as I can, er… remember.
Anyway, in anticipation of Crofterlady’s next question (since she’s no doubt still recovering from imbibing the hard stuff over the New Year and probably thinks Canon Law is the name of the Parish Priest up the road)…
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6pVJcekdMkc/maxresdefault.jpg
Kidding, Crofterlady! Just couldn’t resist the pic – you look SOooooo young in that photo 😀 (It’s the way I tell ’em…)
RCA Victor, there is another topical example of this attitude which is about to hit the fan here:
http://theweek.com/articles/670249/child-abuse-scandal-coming-pope-francis
Deacon Augustine,
That’s very interesting indeed. The case of “Don Mercedes” alone, reveals that the Pope is not “just” dictatorial but utterly hypocritical.
Can’t wait to see how the papolatrists defend this re-instatement of a scandalous abuser. Talk about “don’t listen to what I say, watch what I do…”
Editor,
I am afraid that it is all of apiece with the rehabilitation of Danneels and then inviting him to contribute to the Synod on the family – note that “Don Mercedes” has also been chipping in on the family since his reinstatement.
These pervert abusers and those who facilitate, aid and abet them have no right to be let anywhere near anything to do with marriage and the family. One might as well take the advice of a prostitute on her experience of chastity.
No doubt the papolatrists will continue to tell us what a marvellous suit of new clothes that the Emperor Bergoglio is wearing. However, one unlooked-for benefit of the current regime is that papolatrists are increasingly likely to appear on the endangered species list. There is only so much irrational stupidity that a mind can tolerate before it goes into nervous breakdown.
Deacon Augustine
You’re absolutely right about the clerics you name; they should never be allowed near anything remotely connected with marriage and the family. Rather, they should be in a monastery doing penance for the rest of their lives for their part in scandalising children and robbing them of their innocence. In this respect, Daneels and “Don Mercedes” are less “rehabilitated” by Pope Francis than simply reinstated with impunity. There is a huge difference.
We saw the same thing happen with heretic theologians in the 1960s, those who were under censure during the reign of Pius XII yet reinstated and placed in influential poisitions during Vatican II by John XXIII and Paul VI. Different crimes of course but similar “liberal friends in high places” MO.
Nothing surprises me these days !
It is highly unlikely that a “source” in Rome could relate what flowed what a chance conversation in Rome, and how it reached the ears of The Pope, and it does not explain why three people have been asked to return to their proper work in whatever Diocese or Religious Order loaned them. The move is consistent with a view expressed by The Pope early in his Papacy that he did not want careerist clerics in The Vatican, and that many should return home.
However, maybe some may do better to reflect on the sin of calumny.
ADC
I see you reply to Deacon Augustine’s perceived speculation with some wild speculation of your own. I think on balance, though, that Deacon Augustine’s related events are more likely closer to the truth than your own novel idea. Pope Francis, after all, has made no secret of his method in relation to the more orthodox Catholic cleric, especially the outspoken one.
At any rate, whatever the true motive behind the Pope’s decision, his way of handling it has been nothing short dictatorial. Everyone has the right to know why they are being dismissed from their position, it’s basic justice even in secular affairs.
Athanasius
Forgive me for highlighting the fact that Deacon A states “Next thing he knows is that a phonecall comes through with the Pope on the end of it saying that he had been critical of some of the Pope’s decisions and that he had to pack his bags.”
However the article says “He [the Prefect] received these official letters: ,….I request that you please dismiss …., The order was: send him [each of them] back into his diocese of origin or to the Religious Family to which he belongs. He [the Prefect of the Congregation] was very perplexed because it was about three excellent priests who are among the most capable professionally. He first avoided obeying and several times asked for an audience with the pope. He had to wait because that meeting was postponed several times. Finally, he was received in an audience. And he said: “Your Holiness, I have received these letters, but I did not do anything because these persons are among the best of my dicastery… what did they do?”
The article suggests the Prefect didn’t get an appointment possible over days or weeks.
With such a time gap and no direct contact with the Pope then as I said it ” is highly unlikely that a ‘source’ in Rome could relate what flowed what a chance conversation in Rome, and how it reached the ears of The Pope”.
The article is posted an authorative source. No mention of one of the three receiving a call from The Pope.
Both versions cannot be true, and the article claims much.
ADC
Both versions could be true, they are not necessarilly contradictory. Perhaps the priest in question received a phone call from the Pope while his Prefect received the official notification by letter. That’s a perfectly reasonable assumption.
Anyway, what do you think of the shocking revelation of Pope Francis’ favouring of Daneels and “Don Mercedes”. Would you seek to defend the Pope in this matter also? I notice you have avoided commenting on it.
You speak of how business works in the secular world. A manager who can delegate hiring and firing doesn’t normally also get involved. It is unlikely in any scenario that a minor cog in the organisation would get a call, of such a nature, from The Managing Director.
Either Marco Tosatti is the esteemed source he is claimed to be or he is not.
Rather than offering a view on the people you mention above, I pray that whoever is the Ordinary for Deacon Augustine deals with him as did the Bishop who dealt with the Deacon who published the blog “Protect The Pope”, or better still Deacon A should resign, and, as the Pope encourages some to do, retreat from public life.
ADC
As you well know, It is not unusual for this Pope to call a “minor cog” on the telephone. Indeed it is well publicised that he has picked the phone up to ordinary members of the public on occasion. Yes, Pope Francis is renowned for this personal touch. So you’re argument doesn’t hold water.
More telling here and now, though, is you’re dancing around the scandal of Daneels and “Don Mercedes”. That tells me without question that you are not a person of genuine good will, you’re a troll. I will not therefore debate further with you.
I have not commented on the subject of Daneels, et al, as that is not the topic Deacon A addressed, and to which I responded. There is no reason why I should be forced to digress.
ADC,
I’d be very interested to learn what you think about the Daneels “Don Mercedes” case.
Laura
As I was commenting on The Pope wishing clergy to rediscover their missionary zeal outside the confines of The Vatican my views on Daneels, et al, is irrelevant, and, indeed, I do not have to have a position or seek to expound it. It is a bit like me asking you for your views on Chelsea FC having 13 wins in a row.
Editor: now we know for sure that you are the same old very boring troll who keeps returning here, to irritate us. What a nut. “I was answering a question about bread so I am not qualified to answer your question about cakes”. Gerralife! Why don’t you go away and stay away. You just can’t hide your MO. It’s the same old same old. You’re now consigned to the trash bin (yet again – you really don’t know how to take a hint, do you?) so don’t waste your time here any longer. You’re in the “shake the dust off” category – we really cannot help you. So, yet again, hear ye, hear ye… GO AWAY!
“Both versions could be true, they are not necessarilly contradictory. Perhaps the priest in question received a phone call from the Pope while his Prefect received the official notification by letter.”
Athanasius, that would certainly fit the MO, but it could also be the case that the incident I know of is different from the ones related by Tosatti. Apparently there are quite a lot of such dismissals going on at present as not only do “the walls have ears”, but phonecalls and e-mails are being monitored too.
Sadly this all adds to the atmosphere of distrust and paranoia which is prevalent in Rome at the moment. “Vaticanistas” are finding it harder to get people to go on record.
Deacon Augustine,
Yes, I see what you mean. Good God, it’s worse than the Kremlin under Stalin!
You’re so right, Editor, we’d be excommunicated en masse if he read this blog!
It’s all very sad but Pope Francis is definitely behaving like a dictatorial Marxist. I pray that Our Lord and Our Lady intervene before this year is out.
Crofterlady,
I agree. Anyone acting like a dictator will not be tolerated by the bloggers at CT, no matter who, well… except…maybe one person… in exceptional circumstances… Just to keep order, you know… guess who…
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b9/3d/a8/b93da8e8f324468bbfb37b5c35823025.jpg
Mmmmm……..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=smiley+faces&rlz=1C1VFKB_enGB690GB691&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=950&tbm=isch&imgil=FrVqDBo_giDlpM%253A%253BhDQP-52BAzAUfM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.symbols-n-emoticons.com%25252Fp%25252Ffacebook-smiley-faces-codes.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=FrVqDBo_giDlpM%253A%252ChDQP-52BAzAUfM%252C_&usg=__NjETbIerqcTQkLeduL7z_My9bQ0%3D
Crofterlady,
You’re still copying the whole page – if it is this picture you meant to paste
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e98D9RG3Gzs/U5XAgtaj9tI/AAAAAAAAIIo/hDPgyrWvxy0/s1600/shy-smiley.png
then, what you do is click on that picture, then you will see it in front of you and the words “View image” to the right. You click on “View image” and that takes you to a page with ONLY that picture. THAT is the link to copy from your browser.
What a wumminnnnnnnnn!
Why not do a couple of tests and I’ll delete them when I see them – tomorrow… Right now I’m heading for the pubs and clubs. Yes, I know it’s not the weekend but a gal needs to let her hair down midweek, now and then…
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/3a/29/7c/3a297cdb2b2cb81b8d28b5fe25b805b6.jpg
Thought I’d try producing a picture too, if it does not work properly, Editor, you might well need to remove whatever appears on screen.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4re1AOb5x0/U-WP0ppwr5I/AAAAAAAALhY/QgFS0Bmp6Ug/s1600/cute-wink-smiley.png
I agree with Crofterlady that the Pope is behaving like a dictatorial Marxist. Things are going from bad to worse and I do wonder that in this year whether our Lord will indeed intervene. Pray and makes sacrifices as Our Lady asked for the Pope Francis and every Cardinal, Bishop and Priest in these days.
10/10 Theresa Rose! Great pic!
And your observations are on the button, as ever. 2017 looks to be a very interesting year.
Without ascribing anything to any individual, I will merely point out that homosexuality is very often accompanied by petty vindictiveness, spitefulness and a hatred pf the manliness of the true Christian male.
Benedict,
That may well be true, but petty vindictiveness and spitefulness are not characteristics restricted to homosexuals; I’ve seen them in the married man as well, really nasty stuff, and of course I dare say the occasional single gal may be guilty of such bad behaviour as well. Gotta be at least one, somewhere around…
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/11/10/19/2E4D3EE800000578-0-Emojis_are_a_fun_way_to_communicate_with_friends_But_are_they_re-m-24_1447185576534.jpg
If this doesn’t work, I give up! It wouldn’t work as “copy image” so I’ve tried “copy image address” and here goes!
You can see it on his eyes, you can hear it in his talks abut rigidity, fundamentalism, those who do not show mercy, the Pope has failed to find any friends around him and is now suffering from paranoia. Unless he gets help he will withdraw further into himself and will have to be removed.
John Kearney,
Just to clarify, he will not have to be removed because he has withdrawn too far into himself. He will have to be removed if a Council of Cardinals and Bishops convenes and finds him guilty of the crime of heresy – and, if having been found guilty by the only body who can make that judgment, he still refuses to recant, then he will be deposed.
That is, unless God has other plans…
“And I am the pope, I do not need to give reasons for any of my decisions. I have decided that they have to leave and they have to leave.”
So much for humility huh?
This is essentially a purge, of the exact type Hitler or Stalin would engage in when wracked by paranoia*. Persons suddenly dismissed or “disappearing” without warning or explanation and with the clear message that questions are not welcome.
(*I hope that’s not too much of an extreme comparison: of course, Francis will not have anyone shot – I hope!).
It seems there is endless mercy for those who do not repent of sin, or who reject Church teaching, and yet nothing but the boot, mockery and insults for faithful Catholics.
The contrast with JP2 and Benedict is stark. These men (while no contenders for “Best Pope ever”, by any means) were head and shoulders above Francis and had seemingly endless patience with those who were not “on board” with their vision for the Church. Far too much patience, in fact. We again see how misguided this policy of patience was, now that the boot is on the other foot (for now).
Le Christ de Rio entre les nuages / Christ of Rio between the clouds
Christ opens his arms to us at the beginning of the year.
Please, let us see this beautiful panorama of Rio!
https://www.fichier-pps.fr/2015/03/05/jesus-entre-les-nuages-a-rio/
Beautiful, Lionel. Thank you very much for posting that link.
What I meant by he will not have to be removed is that he will eventually have a breakdown. the Vatian is now an appalling place with warring factions all around. the Pope has a need to be popular but to do so he must please everyone. It is in his nature. He now finds himself in a position where he is pleasing no one. Thus the emerging Hitler, Stalin attitudes. Believe me he is a very lonely man.
John Kearney,
In the article from One Peter Five that I just posted below, it finishes with a statement from a Cardinal saying the Pope only has a small group of supporters around him, so it’s not really warring factions – just him and his liberal friends and the rest of the curia!
Sorry, meant to say him and his liberal friends VERSUS the rest of the curia!
Here is a very interesting article from One Peter Five. This thread is about Pope Francis demanding the dismissal of the three priests at the CDF, but One Peter Five is reporting him being angry at Cardinal Burke for dismissing someone, LOL!
http://www.onepeterfive.com/pope-defends-dismissed-grand-chancellor-order-malta-perhaps-shows-bias/
“The Sound of Neo-Catholics: On Gathering Rites and Hippies” is the latest video from Remnant Underground, where Michael Matt recounts his experience at a recent Novus Ordo “Gathering Rite”.
“Gathering Rite?” Oh dear, Heaven help us in 2017.
http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2974-the-sound-of-neo-catholics-on-gathering-rites-and-hippies
Theresa Rose,
very interesting – the chaotic scenes in that church really do say it all.
I just saw this!
http://www.onepeterfive.com/cardinal-gerhard-muller-will-no-correction-pope-no-danger-faith/
Helen,
Thank you for posting that – incredible stuff. So much for the transformation into a “traditionalist” of the known “liberal” Cardinal Muller. Didn’t think so. Now we know for sure that a leopard really doesn’t change its spots!
Excellent interview and shows just how polarised this topic is now. There can be NO sitting on the fence with this topic. Where are the other Cardinals ?…..Dolan, Nichols et al ?
Lupine,
Dolan? Nichols? You kidding? They’re more enthusiastic about Amoris Laetita than Chairman Mao was about Communism. Puleeeeese!
Given the treatment meted out to His Eminence Cardinal Gerhard Muller,Prefect of the CDF, I wonder how Bishop Fellay would be so treated if under a Personal Prelature…would the SSPX be forced to accept AL and any other novelties coming down the line?
No. There will be no arrangement that does not protect the SSPX from such a fate.
Understood.
“They’re more enthusiastic about Amoris Laetita than Chairman Mao was about Communism.”
LOL!
Damian Thomson on Francis:
Why more and more priests can’t stand Pope Francis
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/01/why-more-and-more-priests-cant-stand-pope-francis/
The article notes his extreme authoritarianism, as well as his poor judgement.
I think its a good article, but it would even more powerful if it were about how (informed and faithful) lay people “can’t stand” Francis.
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