Some Wisdom Regarding Elections

I'm going to pause my series on the Baltimore meeting to present a politically-oriented video from Michael Matt.  Notice a theme running through it: that the Church, largely because of this dubious papacy, has frittered away its moral credibility.  No decent candidate can rely on the Church to support him or her as they try to stop the train wreck that is now happening in the US and western society.  The Archdiocese of Baltimore Social Ministry Debacle is a prime example; at least two of its workshops were addressed by perverts.  I'll have more details in a day or so.  As the Church goes, so goes the world.

Archbishop Vigano's End-Of-Year Message To Us All

Words of truth from the good archbishop, courtesy of the Remnant.  Please read and pass on.

Michael Matt On The Movement For The Traditional Latin Mass

Ever since progressives used Vatican II in their attempts to suppress the Mass of the Ages, faithful Catholics have been resisting them.  Some even hosted underground Masses in their homes, as did Walter Matt, first publisher of the Remnant and Michael's father.  Michael Matt now gives a brief synopsis of that history.  We can expect to endure some similar hardships; these must be embraced and not avoided.

Enough Of The Covid Cowardice!

I'm going to post this with just a bit of commentary, most of it directed towards Catholics who have glommed onto the "we gotta get with the shut-down and if you don't you're a murderer" gobblygoop.  Of course we will exercise reasonable precautions, such as washing our hands and staying home if we feel unwell.  However, if you think that we must close our chuirches and do without Sacraments, you have partaken of some strange kool-aid.  We need the Sacraments - real Saccraments and not some virtual counterfeit.  Babies wallowing in original sin, dying people without Extreme Unction - the depths of sacerdotal irresponsibility and yes, cowardice.  Enough!  Let's everyone man up (or woman up) and demand that our churches and our country get back on track.

The Scandal Of Katy Perry At The Vatican

Remnant On Young People's Synod

While Michael Matt states that Pope Francis et al are trying to take their lead from these young people, I don't think that's the case.  I think the next Amoralis Lamentia is already written.  They are simply going to use these poor kids as props that they can use to trot out their latest heretical poison.

Remnant On The Scalfari Hell Interview

A few days ago, another conversation between Pope Francis and Eugenio Scalfari happened.  As happened several times before, heretical statements were ascribed to the pope: statements that to date have not been specifically repudiated by either the pope or the Vatican Communications Office.  When Scalfari asked about the punishment of souls who die in mortal sin, the pope allegedly said that they aren't punished and they simply cease to exist.  Right there you have heresies against the existence of hell and the immortality of souls.

This conversation is all over mainstream media.  The pope needs to clarify his statements immediately if he never uttered those heresies.  If he did make those statements as reported, we will need to come to grips with the possibility that our pope has uttered heresies.

Debate Over. Amoris Laetitia Is Heresy

Below what I now write is a video from the Remnant's Michael Matt, commenting on the Profession Of The Immutable Truths About Sacramental Marriage.  When I first posted about this on January 2, only the three bishops from Kazakhstan, the authors, had signed it.  Now the number of signers is seven, including one cardinal.

Matt points out that this statement is not one asking for "clarification", as was the dubia.  Rather, this statement directly contradicts and rebukes the errors of Amoris Laetitia.  Some ambiguity remains, though.  Pope Francis is not merely erroneous in how he interpreted Amoris Laetitia, but the pope's more egregious error lies in how he wrote Amoris Laetitia.  His interpretation is not erroneous; it's the document itself that is inherently heretical.

The dubia have been answered.  They may not have been answered according to protocol, but let's be real.  If the pope holds God's immutable truths in disdain (and he does!), why on earth would we think that he'd give a rat's ass about the protocols of the dubia?  We have the answers; we have the clarity.  It's just not a clear answer that we might wish, but it is what it is.  The progressives who wrote Amoris Laetitia (that includes the pope!) will not stop with Communion for unrepentant adulterers.  They seek to undermine Humanae Vitae and other cornerstones of Catholic moral teaching.

So what are we faithful Catholics going to do about it?  As Matt says, we must resist.  No one gets to sit quietly on the sidelines.  We are all members of the Church Militant and we must pray and act like it.

Remnant On Vatican Nativity-Porn Display And Other Matters

What is the "nativity-porn" from the Vatican?  Simply put, it is this.  The Vatican decided to adulterate it with one of the "corporal works of mercy".  Obviously it got a bit "overly corporal".  The nude guy is supposedly homeless, but he looks quite frankly more like a porn star than some destitute homeless man.  Facebook disallowed it from its site for being "sexually suggestive".  They are correct; it is.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think Facebook would have more moral sense than the Vatican.

Michael Matt from the Remnant comments on this Vatican-sponsored pornography, the tinkering with the Our Father, and the Pledge of Fidelity to the Catholic Faith.

Another Reminder Of Why The Seamless Garbage Ideology Must Be Repudiated

Yesterday the Remnant provided a much-needed reminder of why Catholic pro-lifers must not allow themselves to be seduced and waylaid by proponents of the seamless-garbage ideology.  These proponents include Rehumanize International and "The New Pro-Life Movement".  Please read this article and my previous blog pieces.

The Little Things Matter A Lot In The Spiritual And Cultural War

Today in Crisis Magazine appeared an article entitled "Can The Church Recover Its Fighting Spirit?" by William Kilpatrick.  In his piece, the author focuses on how Catholic leadership, beginning with the pope, are surrendering themselves and the Church to Islam.  He rightly points out that in past generations, Catholics fought against Islamic encroachment and prevailed.  The Catholic in the pew indeed is receiving little guidance from his/her leaders.  In fact, if such a Catholic displays any wariness regarding Muslims, his/her bishop will chide him/her for being "rigid" and "xenophobic" or other such slurs.

While I think everything that Kilpatrick says is true, I don't think he quite gets to the root of the problem.  Many Catholics don't know who they are, as the bride of Christ.  They don't know their faith, they don't know their doctrine, they don't know their God.  Without these, there can be no "fighting spirit".

Below is a video by Michael Matt of the Remnant.  He touches upon cultural issues.  He too understands that as late as 80 years ago, Catholics were firm in their faith.  Consequently they had the respect of the culture at large, even if that respect was given grudgingly.



Matt discusses the fact that this culture has infected all of us to varying degrees; none are unscathed although we may not be aware of the damage wrought upon us.  I certainly don't consider myself exempted.  I saw a rather telling example of that last week, particularly in reaction to this video that was posted to my facebook wall.  A number of us took exception to the mother's behavior (not the baby's) in: 1) not restraining her child from distracting others about to receive Holy Communion and 2) proceeding to post it and (it appears) license it out for some sort of gain.  We were taken aback by the commenters on the video and my post who excoriated us for being "heartless".  In a word, they were letting their feelings trump intellect and will.

Now why do I bring this up, one might ask.  "It's just a small aberration, quite harmless", they say.  Dear readers, it is precisely in these "small matters" that our awareness of God and our Catholic culture is whittled away, minuscule piece by minuscule piece.  Each time we capitulate in these little matters (and we've all done it) we make it easier to capitulate in more little - and no so little - matters.  This is one way we weaken our faith and the fighting spirit of which Kilpatrick writes.  Lex orandi, lex credendi lex vivendi.

Remnant's Michael Matt Interviews Bishop Athanasius Schneider

I'll let this one speak for itself.  Please listen to the whole thing.

Why We Blog - From The Remnant

Coming from the Remnant, this is good to know.  It helps reassure us that we aren't speaking into a vacuum.

"Apparently, traditional Catholic bloggers have gotten under Francis’ thin skin. The underlying cause of the Pope’s angst is that the conservative Catholic bloggers and websites are making their voice heard by daring to promote the Catholic faith and exposing the papal plots and diabolical alliances."

I commend the entire article to your reading.  If you feel called to join us with your own blog or other writing apostolate, please do so.  There never will be too many of us.  Thank you.

Some Pro-Life Organizations Are Jumping The Rails Regarding Maddi Runkles

I was hoping that some common sense had again taken root among some pro-life folks with regard to the situation at Heritage Academy and the animosity being ginned up against it by Students For Life.  I have two posts on it already (here and here).  While I'm seeing most of the flap in Facebook, I do see other articles being published outside; the New York Times article was already mentioned and I'll return to that one soon.

Students For Life is quite pleased with the online and network interviews that have drawn attention to this matter - and to them too.  Of course the school administration, themselves Christian, are being portrayed as "Simon Legree" hypocrites: that is to say, they are being slandered.  I just saw that Father Pavone of Priests for Life has unfortunately wafted from the kool-aid dispenser so now I'm going to attempt to bring some balance to the picture.  While there are plenty of common-sense comments on the various Facebook posts, I don't see other blogs taking issue with Runkles and SFL save for this one and the Remnant.  If I've missed any, please advise.

The SFL-led cabal seems to have two main objections:

1. The shame induced may lead to abortion.
2. Others in the school undoubtedly committed fornication yet they are participating in the commencement exercises.

Let's address these, dealing with the shame.  As mentioned before, Runkles and SFL have granted interviews with Fox News, New York Times, heaven knows who else.  Who, beset with shame, deliberately makes their plight a national gazing stock?

Speaking of shame, take a look at Runkles' picture in the NYT article.  What do you make of that facial expression, with hands on hips?  It certainly isn't that of shame.  In fact, a reasonable person might call that arrogant.  Now scroll to the very bottom of the article, for a quote from her that will, at the very least, have you scratching your head: "Some pro-life people are against the killing of unborn babies, but they won’t speak out in support of the girl who chooses to keep her baby.  Honestly, that makes me feel like maybe the abortion would have been better. Then they would have just forgiven me, rather than deal with this visible consequence."  I truly hope, for her own sake, that this is just a NYT misquote.  Else, I might have to conclude that this is a cheap attempt to instill guilt trips on those of us who don't fall lock-step in with her badgering of her school.  The fact that she speaks in the present tense of preferring abortion is really quite reprehensible - assuming that is an accurate rendition of something she said.

As for the second objection, whether or not others committed fornication is conjecture.  It may well be very reasonable conjecture, but it's conjecture nonetheless.  My blogging colleague, Steve Skojec who runs the blog One Peter Five, has some very good points about the added element of scandal that would be presented, had Runkles been allowed to walk.  We have to understand "scandal" to mean the enticement of others to sin by example.  I thought of paraphrasing Steve's facebook comments but I think instead that I'll just post the screen shots.  I did get Steve's permission to quote him, but not that of the other people, so I'll redact their names.  I'll also post these after the jump break since this will be a long post.

Are Some Traditional Catholics Becoming Wimpy And Sappy?

The Remnant is known as a bastion for faithful traditional Catholics and generally brooks no nonsense from clergy who shirk their sacerdotal duties.  Last week I came across this article in the electronic edition of the Remnant, and it has me scratching my head.  I link to it now and ask you to read it - and the comments.

In a nutshell, a priest in Brazil regularly offers the Traditional Mass.  In keeping with those rubrics, Holy Communion is offered to the faithful on their tongues as they kneel.  On Ash Wednesday an unruly man entered the church during Mass.  He was disruptive throughout.  The ushers did nothing and let him continue.

When the time came for Holy Communion, the man refused to receive on the tongue.  Father ended up acquiescing to his demand for Communion in the hand.  He refused to consume the Host and began to shout and act out more.  At this point the congregation restrained him; in the meantime the man crumbled the Host, with Fragments of Our Lord's Body strewn on the floor.  It appears in the article that Father was mortified and I trust that means he learned from his errors.

I wish I could say the same for the discussion moderator (employed by Remnant, I assume) and some of the commentors.  They were all too ready to excuse the dereliction of duty on the part of both the ushers and the priest.  Judging from the language that the moderator used, I believe the moderator is a woman.  I cannot imagine a man engaging in a "poor Father!" type of pity party. It's bad enough when women get caught up in such emotions that they won't deal with the root issues (and I'm a woman, by the way) but it's downright disgusting when men engage in such maudlin talk.

Below the jump break I'll give you some snippets from the comments: things you can find for yourselves.

Open Letter To Pope Francis - Part 2 Of 3

It can be found here.  The third and final installment will be posted tomorrow Sept 23rd.

Open Letter To Pope Francis From Remnant And Catholic Family News

This letter is penned by the Remnant and Catholic Family News.  It is entitled: "With Burning Concern: We Accuse Pope Francis".  I just linked to the first of three installments.  Please read it, along with the Liber of Accusation that is at the bottom of that post.

At this time, I can only reply "AMEN".  I will post these as they are published and ask that my readers circulate these.

Please offer your Masses and Rosary for Our Church, Pope and all clergy.

Thoughts On Why Amoris Laetitia Undermines The Faith

Not being one to "reinvent the wheel" I'm going to link to some excellent commentaries on Amoris Laetitia and post an interview conducted by Raymond Arroyo of EWTN.  Here they are.

• This is an analysis of Chapter 8 found in Catholic World Report by Eduardo Echeverria, comparing it with Veritatis Splendor by Pope Saint John Paul II.
• Christopher Ferrera wrote "Amoris Laetitia: Anatomy Of A Pontifical Debacle".  It is a thorough analysis of AL.  Because AL is long, this is fairly long too, but well worth the read.
• LifeSiteNews reports that Pope Francis doesn't remember Footnote 351.  However, his remarks during that plane ride from Greece indicate that he was at least aware of the controversy contained therein.  Does he suffer from "Clinton Amnesia Syndrome"?  At any rate, the buck stops at his desk.  He owns it.  It is his responsibility, not that of some Vatican bureaucrat.

Before I post the Arroyo interview, I'll urge everyone again to read Amoris Laetitia for themselves.  Educate yourselves as to what is proceeding from this pontificate.  If you care about your loved ones and their souls, it is your responsibility to educate yourselves.  I realize the tone of my suggestion may seem rather strong, but I've been reading/hearing too many suggestions that "the ordinary Catholic" need not read AL.  Such suggestions are both irresponsible and condescending and should be utterly rejected outright.

Petition To Pope Francis - Please Uphold Traditional Faith Or Resign

On December 8, 2015,  a group of faithful Catholics associated with The Remnant newspaper put forth a petition to Pope Francis.  In effect, it asks him to either start to assume the real duties of the Vicar of Christ or resign his office.  As evidence to corroborate the necessity for such a change, the petition lists some of the most egregious offenses against the One True Faith that had been perpetrated by the pope at the time of the petition.  It is a long list, and we have witnessed these atrocities being committed.

To those of my readers who insist that the pope is "being misrepresented, etc", I adjure you to immediately remove the happy-clappy rose-colored glasses.  Your attempts at self-deception simply cannot withstand the evidence, and such attempts may be inherently sinful.  It's time to grow up and face reality as it presents itself, not as we might wish it to be.  I too am pained to see this, but face it we must.  Else, how on earth can we pray for our Church in an intelligent fashion?

As I said, the petition was promulgated last December.  It predates the horrific heresy that the pope uttered during his most recent flight between Mexico and Rome regarding the allowance of contraception to prevent zika-infected children from coming into being.  That heresy only adds to the necessity of asking the pope to change course: either by upholding Church Tradition or resigning.

For close to 30 years I have been involved in pro-life activism as well as pursuing a faithful Catholic life.  To be frank, we must admit that the culture of death is advancing.  We will never have a snowball's chance in hell of reversing that trend unless and until the slime and corruption is removed from the One True Church.  We must be resolute in our efforts to do so, even if that corruption is to be found with the reigning pontiff.

Thanks to Thinking Catholic Blog, I have just become aware of this petition.  Already it has gone to Rome but we can still add our names to this.  I myself have done so.  I link to it now for your prayer and consideration.