Pope Francis Doesn’t DO Catholicism
Christopher Ferrara, Fatima Center, writes:
As the homosexual priest scandal once again erupts around the world (including the revelation that fully half of the cardinals and bishops of the Netherlands are implicated in the cover-up of sexual abuse), the ex-President of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera, was interviewed by La Fede Quotidiana concerning Pope Francis’ continuing silence in the face of Archbishop Viganò’s historic indictment of the Pope’s own role in the cover-up of homosexual corruption at the highest levels of the Church.
“It seems to me that the Pope does not intend to give a response, or perhaps thinks that others will respond, a dilatory tactic that, instead of promoting serenity and clarity contributes to general disconcert and confusion,” said Pera. “[I]t seems to be the same thing that happened with the Dubia of the cardinals,” Pera continued.
Respecting the attempts to demonize Viganò, Pera observes that he has “the sensation that the Pope trusts in that wing of the press that is always and everywhere favorable. He knew that he would be defended a priori by certain important journalists” who would be willing to shoot the messenger by way of character assassination. But, Pera rightly observes, “I am not interested in the motives that have driven Viganò but only in whether his allegations are true or not.”
Pera is also a renowned philosopher whose work focuses on the problems of cultural relativism, the post-modern denial of objective reality and “deconstructionism,” which reduces all truth claims to mere interpretations rather than statements of objective fact. Hence Pera knows whereof he speaks when he says that in his view Francis is symptomatic of the crisis of a “tragic and alarming diminution of the Christian conscience in Europe. Bergoglio substitutes for catholicity a secular humanism. From this step a schism can arise.”
Asked whether he knows the “Pope Emeritus” well, Pera replied that he does but that “I have not spoken to him in a long time.” As to whether he thinks Benedict is worried about the state of the Church under this pontificate, Pera answered simply: “I imagine so.”
Last July, Pera voiced even stronger criticism of the current occupant of the Chair of Peter. Concerning Francis’ insistence on “welcoming” unlimited numbers of Muslim immigrants into Italy, most of them military age males not helpless “refugees,” Pera told Il Mattino: “I do not understand this Pope. What he says is beyond all rational comprehension. Why does he insist on total acceptance? The Pope does it because he detests the West, aspires to destroy it and does everything to achieve this end…”
What Francis preaches, says Pera, “is not the Gospel but only politics. Francis is little or not at all interested in Christianity as a doctrine, on the theological aspect. […] His statements seem based on Scripture, in reality they are strongly secularist.” It is hard to dispute that opinion given the many indications that we have a Pope who doesn’t “do” Catholicism. As for example his recent refusal to give an Apostolic Benediction to a crowd of young people in Palermo because their number included “other Christians and religious traditions and even some agnostics.” Instead, the Vicar of Christ, refusing to mention Christ, invoked a generic “Lord God” for the intention of “blessing the seeds of disquiet in their souls” because “they want to make a better world” as “searchers for goodness and happiness” and travelers on “the road to dialogue and encounter with the other.”
A Vicar of Christ who studiously refrains from mentioning the light of Christ to those in need of it for their salvation, lest anyone in the audience be offended. What sort of Pope is this? One the likes of which the Church has never seen before, not even in the midst of the ecclesial tumult of the past 50 years. Source
Comments invited…
Comments (27)
A pope who doesn’t “DO” Catholicism? Whatever next – a leader of the SNP who doesn’t “DO” independence?
Wacky
It seems to me the Marcelo Pera has it spot-on with regard to [Pope Francis] Nothing to argue with there. The current Pope is simply not Catholic. I suppose it has happened in the past: bishops, cardinals and popes have lost the faith and have simply retired to lives of luxury and debauchery
[Ed: don’t bother “supposing” on here. We like evidence for such claims.]
The current Pope has the misfortune to live in the internet age: in the past popes came and went and the Catholic-in-the-pew would hardly be able to name him, but all that changed with [recent popes] currying public favour, travelling all over the shop, a photo op here, a photo op there, kissing tarmac and so on.
A bit like a Z-list celebrity from TOWIE or Chelsea or Geordie Shore (Please don’t ask!), the current Pope loves the limelight, loves kissing people and things, loves the display of humility. But when things go wrong, when his actions (or lack thereof) are put under the microscope, they hit out, like Billy Connolly punching a photographer at Heathrow or the current Pope calling his opponents [uncouth names] [Sarto ducks to avoid the Dear Leaderess’s handbag – Ed: some “dear Leaderess” – you have insulted me by the stuff I’m having to correct so far and you are taking up my time with this unnecessary editing. Be warned, any more posts containing EVEN ONE such uncouth and sedevacantist type rubbish, and your post will NOT be released. If you think I’m devoting an hour to this sort of junk, think again. I’m already going to delete chunks, so don’t waste your time).
I genuinely think that if the intelligent Catholic blogosphere had been around fifty years ago, the scandal of the Second Vatican Council would never have happened.
Please don’t let them get away with it. Please! It is probably too late for me. I attend Mass miles from where I live, have found an orthodox priest in a poor area of a big city, a priest who respects the Tradition of the Church, who clearly loves the Latin Mass and who loves his flock. I am not saying I haven’t flirted with sedevacanism … I have … but, Reader, not yet. [Ed: you could have fooled me. I have had to cut out chunks from this post where you refer to popes and cardinals by their secular names or by some sort of fictional name. Outrageous. Not remotely entertaining, if that was your intent, so I have no qualms about denying the rest of the bloggers the experience. Gerrablinkinggrip.]
As a postscript, despite the Dear Leader’s imprecations, I refuse to honour any of the above-mentioned gentlemen [sic] with their un-earned titles and honorifics.
[Ed: then you may as well post elsewhere. I am not going through every post from you to correct your nonsense, to type Pope a dozen times where you have typed something crude. As you will see, I decided not to type all the names of cardinals and bishops, giving them their titles where you had written “Mr” blah blah. All of those paragraphs have been deleted. One final word: you ought to look seriously at the bitterness that causes you to behave like this, write such trash, because it does NOT come from God. We, on this blog, DETEST what Pope Francis is doing to the Church but we never lash out childishly, using uncouth language and daft made-up names. Grow up. You are now in moderation so no point posting here again unless you conform to our House Rules. ]
Sorry. I’m so annoyed. I will continue to read avidly but will keep my thoughts and posts to myself!
Ed: I feel your pain, as they say in all the best psychiatric sessions! I really do! But it doesn’t help at all to name-call etc. We need LOADS of plain speaking, that’s for sure, but it only distracts from the real issues when we indulge in personal attacks. Feel free to submit posts in accordance with our (very basic) House Rules – you will then be greeted in line with the very best Prodigal Son practice! In other words, Sarto, we love you, really!
Editor,
I’m sorry but i don’t know what else to say about Pope Francis. I really dont.
Well Petrus, in a sense, that says it all!
Am with you as I think any Catholics who were at that meeting when he refused to give a Blessing in case he Offends. Who does he think he offends certainly not Muslims. Hindus. Jews . Protestants or Atheists . Its Catholics who you Offend Francis. Catholics of whom lots of us from your first appearance to now who have been deeply offended by your actions,saying, and inactions . O how lots of us wished you would join a silent order for a month now even a day would suffice. I keep thinking as do most of us it cannot get any worse then yesterday Bono was invited to the Vatican. A man who was a leading figure in the Pro Abortion campaign in Ireland . A man who only last week appeared on stage in His Devil role to mock the Swedes on Immigration. Still that tops your list much more than does Catholicism.
Is The Pope a Catholic now it’s not a Joke .
Petrus,
Maybe, as a parent, you’ll find something to say about this latest development on the Youth Synod (see below) – I sincerely hope you do, because I’m lost for words!
“As regards the upcoming Synod itself, there’s not even an attempt anymore at hiding (as had been the case with the two synods on marriage and family) the papal strategy for manipulating its outcome. Now it is in broad daylight. On September 17, Pope Francis released a new document, an Apostolic Constitution Episcopalis Communio governing the structure of the Synod of Bishops, which turns the Synod into a permanent body, somewhat like a parliamentary form of government, and, more worrisomely, amplifies the “magisterial” force of the final document produced by a Synod. In other words, the process by which synodal progressivism will be able to modernize Catholic dogma and morals has been accelerated. One wonders if Pope Francis is worried about how many years he’s got left, and wants to make sure that he changes as much as he can, as quickly as possible.
We already know, from events held in advance of the Youth Synod, that it will represent a one-sided view of youth and what they need and what the Church should give them. Even George Weigel, who has been an outstanding proponent of papal authority over the years, has criticized the upcoming Synod on Youth, saying that there’s likely to be nothing to it but conventional sociology and that the Church seems to be apologizing for her challenging moral teachings.
What is most obvious is that the new traditional voice among practicing Catholic youth will be utterly ignored and stifled, treated as if it does not exist. This is because Francis and his allies would strongly prefer that it not exist.” Source – Lifesitenews
Editor,
Maybe this naked power play will turn around and bite Francis in the _______. Now, after all, a group of bishops who agree with Abp. Vigano’s allegations can call a Synod and conduct a Magisterial trial of this disgrace of a Pope.
It seems clear, if we apply St. John Eudes’ rule of thumb, that this nightmarish Pontificate is our chastisement…in spades. I wish I knew how to react, other than to keep the Faith, support good priests and bishops, and resist errors and corruption.
But what am I supposed to be learning from this? How to be angry without resorting to personal attacks? To be humble in the face of God’s wrath and justice? Or does how I react even matter, as long as God’s justice is satisfied?
RCA Victor,
I kinda thought somebody would focus on the concluding words of the Ferrara article:
“…the Vicar of Christ, refusing to mention Christ, invoked a generic “Lord God” for the intention of “blessing the seeds of disquiet in their souls” because “they want to make a better world” as “searchers for goodness and happiness” and travelers on “the road to dialogue and encounter with the other.”
A Vicar of Christ who studiously refrains from mentioning the light of Christ to those in need of it for their salvation, lest anyone in the audience be offended. What sort of Pope is this? One the likes of which the Church has never seen before, not even in the midst of the ecclesial tumult of the past 50 years.”
There, if ever we read one, is a summary of what we are witnessing – the shocking sight of a pontiff who apparently does not believe in the Divinity of Christ.
Your description of how to react is spot on – to which I would add “alert other Catholics, seek to bring modern(ist) priests to see the truth.”
Other than that, I’m fresh out of ideas. For now. Tomorrow, as whatshername said in Gone With The Wind, is another day!
Here is yet another example of Pope Francis caving in to the world, on this occasion betraying the persecuted Chinese Catholic faithful. The first link describes the sell out. The second link informs us of the gravity of the betrayal. So much for Pius XII admonishing that no Catholic can ever do deals with Communists, who are notorious deceivers.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/09/22/vatican-announces-deal-with-china-on-bishop-appointments.html
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/09/11/china-to-regulate-online-religious-activity-amid-crackdown.html
I see the news has broken that Francis stopped a CDF investigation into Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, who was accused of abusing a teenage girl.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/source-pope-blocked-investigation-of-abuse-allegations-against-cardinal-who
This is what was behind the famous incident when Francis interrupted a mass said by Cardinal Mueller, in order to speak to him in the sacristy. It was to tell him to stop the investigation.
Apparently the English Bishops released a hurried statement about an investigation just prior to the news, trying to stay ahead of the curve.
So, as well as being credibly accused of being an enabler of abuse personally, it seems that all of Francis’ main supporters from around the globe – Daneels, McCarrick, Wuerl, Cupich, Murphy-O’Connor, Maradiaga – are all either abusers themselves, or protectors / enablers of abuse.
What a despicable and loathsome cabal of criminals currently dominates the governance of the Church. So much for the idea of the ‘cream rising to the top’, more like the precise opposite here, the Church is like a dirty swimming pool with scum floating on the top.
This infamous St Gallen group is much more of an sex abuse ring, than a group for liberal reform. I bet if they dug into the history of, say, Cardinal Martini, I wonder what they would find?
The leadership of the Church is not just comfortable with sin, but positively intimate and friendly with it. They have a complete lack of credibility.
I have grown very weary of the Church in recent months and it seems it represents nothing but never ending scandal, factionalism and partisan politics. That word, ‘politics’, is really more apt than is ‘Christianity’ for the Church of today.
Here’s a very revealing quote from Antonio Spadaro, SJ, one of the Pope’s yes-men:
“The Pope draws energy from the conflict,” Fr. Spadaro wrote on Facebook, “and sees it as a sign that his action riles. The driving force of the pontificate of #PapaFrancesco manifests itself precisely in the paroxysm of the backlash that generates and that are thrown at him.”
https://www.lifesitenews.com//opinion/we-cant-count-on-pope-francis-to-assist-the-us-bishops
Perhaps the Pope should sign up for a tour of duty in the Italian Army, since he gets such a conflict buzz….
Another direct hit by Archbishop Vigano: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-vigano-releases-new-testimony-responding-to-popes-silence-on-mccar
RCA Victor,
Our French blogger, Lionel, sent me that Vigano link by email yesterday, and I’d planned to post it here this morning, so thank you for that.
RCA Victor,
I’ve read that whole article but I can’t see anything new from Archbishop Vigano.. Can you point to something that I must have missed?
Margaret Mary,
Just off the top:
1.++Vigano points out the contradiction between Francis’ policy of “silence,” and his subsequent smear campaign against ++V.
2. He calls on Prefect Cardinal Ouellet as follows:
“and says it was Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, who told him of Pope Benedict’s sanctions against McCarrick. Addressing the Cardinal, he writes: “You have at your complete disposal key documents incriminating McCarrick and many in the curia for their cover-ups. Your Eminence, I urge you to bear witness to the truth…”
The whole paragraph addressed to the Cardinal, in fact, is very telling.
Margaret Mary, I clicked on it and the new report of 27th September came up. Just in case, herewith again:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-vigano-releases-new-testimony-responding-to-popes-silence-on-mccar
It begins: “Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has today issued a new extraordinary testimony, responding to Pope Francis’ refusal to answer the charge that he knew of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s sexual abuse, yet made McCarrick “one of his principal agents in governing the Church.”
Here’s a start to the fight-back against Archbishop Viganò’s revelations…
https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-ouellet-responds-to-recent-accusations-against-holy-see/
Oof.
Great comment, Sarto. Brilliant 😀
Eh? No comprendo???
Crofterlady,
If you scroll up to the top and read the couple of comments from Sarto2010 and my responses, you will get my sarcasm/joke.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/10/04/archbishop-criticizes-pro-abortion-presentation-at-catholic-university/
Sorry to be off-topic-ish, but …
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/source-vatican-cardinal-was-at-drug-fueled-homosexual-party-and-pope-knows
I, for once, am silenced. And sad. And …
Sarto2010,
I hope you were going to add “And livid” to your previously understandable and very charitable reaction to that horrendous scandal.
Yes, we’re all, I’m sure, sad at these sickening scandals and fast running out of printable vocabulary to describe our disgust, so well done for containing your perfectly legitimate righteous anger.
Five minutes. That’s all I ask. Five minutes alone in a room (or on the top of a very high mountain, near the edge) with Papa Francis.
Not much to ask, is it?
Comments are closed.