I refer to the excuse for a crozier that the pope is carrying in this picture.
And no, it is not photoshopped; it comes straight from the Vatican's site. In the "photo" section, it's in the second row, third column. Moreover, the video shows him plainly carrying it. By the way, the video is one of the pope saying Mass before the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. At around the 49:30 mark is the consecration. Again we don't see the pope kneeling in adoration as instructed in the rubrics. The cameramen are careful to pan out during those moments, but they cannot disguise things. Because the pope has knelt while protestants "prayed over" him, we know it's not a question of handicap.
Between the refusal to kneel and the crozier that looks like a broken farming tool, we have to wonder about the level of reverence shown for Our Lord - if that reverence exists at all. Is this a harbinger of the output that we should expect from this synod?
Will this "youth synod" feed into the World Youth Day for 2019? Remember what that logo is? Why am I beginning to smell a sinister rat?
Within these past few days we have seen "synod fathers" acts as apologists for sodomy. ChurchMilitant.TV reports that an Austrialian archbishop favors "less condemnatory language" with regards to the mortal sins of sodomy and adultery. One wonders if he would like to edit several of the epistles of St Paul that are found in the Bible for they clearly state that those engaging in such sins will suffer hell fire if they die unrepentant.
LifeSiteNews published an article by Phil Lawler regarding the obvious attempt to rig the sin-nod, an attempt that many of us have noticed.. I urge you to read it. Note two things:
Much of this strong-arming is being done by Cardinal Baldiserri, secretary of the synod. Recall that there is a reason that I dubbed him "Book-Thief Baldi". Hold that thought as you ponder this revelation: that of homosexual propaganda being distributed at the sin-nod with authorization of higher-ups. (ht - Toronto Catholic Witness) This is confirmed by Archbishop Gadecki. So the sin-nod honchos (Baldiserri included) resort to theft to prevent circulation of Remaining In The Truth of Christ, a book authored by several prelates that champions the teaching of Jesus Christ, but they allow distribution of tripe that justifies homosexual conduct. Those engaging in such distribution find themselves in the unenviable position of cooperating with mortal sin and that is its own mortal sin, by the way.
In Lawler's last paragraph, we read, "The Pope ultimately controls the process. The Pope will ultimately control the product." True enough; he does. But considering what was revealed about the "shadow synod", along with all the other little meetings that have been occurring at the Vatican, might this rigging be part and parcel of an attempt to insinuate the proceeds of the "shadow synod" into Church life? The procedural changes that Lawler noted would make it difficult for faithful prelates to discern whether or not any final documents were truly representative of their deliberations.
I'm going to venture a guess and I think it's one shared by many. The so-called "synod reports" are already drafted, and they will "change pastoral practice" to allow for the admittance to Holy Communion those living in de facto adultery AND to "mainstream" sodomite shack-up situations into Church society. This sin-nod will only serve to lend an aura of legitimacy to the de facto heresy that probably has already been concocted by this "shadow synod", to be foisted on unsuspecting Catholics. Could that be why Cardinal Reinhard Marx appears to be a bundle of joy and giggles now (as reported by One Peter Five, despite past hints of going into schism? If that is the case - and I hope and pray that I'm incorrect - the Pope will fully own such a travesty.
In light of my hypothesis, other news makes sense as we consider the strategy of progressives to normalize homosexuality within the Church. Voice of the Family has informed us that gay-coddling Cardinal Vincent Nichols will be moderating one of the English-speaking small groups at the sin-nod. Of course he will have much discretion as to what is included in the report for that group. We also hear from Church Militant that a priest in the diocese of Oakland CA gave a homily at Mass telling his parishioners that "being gay is not sinful". To make matters even more scandalous, the homily was published in the official diocesan newspaper. Clearly these events are part of the #maturation process to brainwash us to submit to the gay agenda.
Let us continue to pray and to shine the light of truth on cockroaches.
Remember the incident during last October's sin-nod, when Cardinal Pell rebuked sin-nod leaders? Pounding the table with his hand, he demanded "you must stop manipulating this synod!" He said this after it was announced that the proceeds from the small group discussions would not be shared with the synod at large. After Pell and some others called out the skulduggery for what it was, the leaders and "editorial committee" relented and publicized those reports. In a subsequent interview with LifeSiteNews, Cardinal Pell made mention of a "radical cadre" working for a very progressive outcome to the sin-nod.
It seems that Cardinal Pell's theory regarding the existence of this cabal has very solid basis. A few months prior to the sin-nod, Cardinal Baldiserri, aka "Book-Thief Baldi", told Father Rosica that the Church needs to "update" and "be incarnate into time". He also stated that if the sin-nod reiterated the Church's teachings, the sin-nod would be "meaningless". I've no doubt he was thinking mainly of the Church's teachings on marriage, family, sexuality. He might as well have thrown into the mix the Church's teachings on the Seventh Commandment.
Edward Pentin is a journalist associated with the National Catholic Register. He covered the sin-nod and exposed much of the shenanigans there. He did such a good job that Cardinal Kasper attempted to ruin his career; Kasper wound up with major egg on his face for that. Two weeks ago he interviewed with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN and publicized his book, "The Rigging Of A Vatican Synod". In that book he lays out a good deal of evidence that points to manipulation of the last sin-nod and possible attempts to do the same at the one occurring next month. Now because this book is an e-book, it would seem safe from the clutches of "Book-Thief Baldi" - we hope!
UPDATE - We now provide an update from the Maturation Department. The German bishops published today an apologia for same-sex #mowwidge. Here is the news from LifeSiteNews. With just a few weeks until the next sin-nod, these progressives are putting their "maturation" efforts into overdrive!
Still reeling from the stench of Laudato Si, we are now confronted with the working document that will guide the Ordinary Synod on the Family next October. All reports so far confirm that the "Kasper proposal" regarding Holy Communion for those in adultery remains in place. According to Catholic News Agency, some synod fathers "have asked that each individual case be examined, and that couples in special circumstances be allowed to receive the Eucharist after completing a journey of penance and reconciliation guided by the local bishop."
Shall we unpack this glop? Firstly if one talks about "penance and reconciliation", there must be a cessation of the sinful situation; that is, the adulterers must separate. Else there is no real penance and/or reconciliation: just a cheap, sentimental facade that will garner no one any real spiritual benefit. In fact, those engaged in the fake "penance" while continuing in adultery will merely have their consciences numbed as they continue spiraling to eternal damnation.
From News.va we read, "the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops noted that it makes reference to the family and ecclesial accompaniment, the streamlining of procedures for causes for annulment, the integration of faithful in irregular situations, the eventual introduction of a penitential route, the pastoral problems regarding mixed marriages and disparities of worship, as well as questions related to responsible procreation, reduction of births, adoption and fostering, respect for life from conception to natural end, and education of future generations." The general secretary of the synod is Cardinal Baldisseri. But consider these phrases: responsible procreation? Reduction of births? What is that about? Do we hear echoes of Laudato Si here? Do we see the tentacles of the Sachs-Schnellnhuber squid insinuating themselves into this upcoming sin-nod?
When the English is online I'll post it. As it stands now, we already have harbingers of a mess to come this October.
Sandro Magister has done the Catholic world immense service by exposing the progressive machinations within the Vatican, particularly with its conduct during last October's sin-nod. Eponymous Flower has more detail on Magister's service to truth. Most recently he published a leaked version of the Laudato Sii encyclical, which is scheduled to be released tomorrow. Tancred also details how Magister's Vatican press credentials were immediately revoked. Dare we opine that Father Lombardi's outrage is rather biased?
Regretably Lombardi's alleged zeal for ethics seems to be a thin pretense for sacking Magister on the flimsiest of excuses. Such bias is evidence by the people who are allowed to remain at the Vatican. Who can forget the book theft engineered by Cardinal Baldiserri at the sin-nod? How about Father Rosica's spiteful conduct in filing suit against Vox Cantoris? So here we have a Prince of the Church engaged in mortal sin against the Seventh Commandment and a Vatican official engaged in unethical intimidation (fortunately for him his higher-ups yanked his leash). To the best of my knowledge, they still retain their high positions, despite their arguably serious sins. So yes, we do have a purging of the faithful from the Vatican.
Concurrent with this purging of the faithful is the placement of those whose public opinions are openly hostile to the Teachings of Jesus Christ. As mentioned before here, Hans Joachim (John) Schnellnhuber, population control afficiando, will be one of the four who will assist tomorrow in the roll-out of Laudato Sii. Schnellnhuber is on record as saying that the world's population should be reduced to under one billion people - a reduction of about six billion. So how, dare we ask, does Schnellnhuber propose to accomplish this massive reduction? We wait with bated breath for the answer to that question.
Perhaps the Vatican should have awaited the answer to that crucial question before they named him to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Yes, you read that correctly. A rabid population-control advocate, instead of receiving the boot on ass, is actually admitted to a Vatican position. If we know his wishes to reduce the earth's population, surely the Vatican does too - and I mean the pope!
As the saying goes, personnel is policy. I think we now have more than an inkling as to what Vatican policy is. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, with all due honor and respect to the office of the papacy, we cannot kid ourselves and pretend that the current occupant of Peter's chair is blithely unaware of these events. He is enabling them if not outright orchestrating them. Please pray for him and for Holy Mother Church.
Do you remember the book, "Remaining In The Truth Of Christ"? This was a book by five wise prelates defending the Church's timeless teachings on marriage. It caused many in the Vatican (perhaps the pope himself) to gnash their teeth. I believe it was the resultant vindictiveness of these officials that caused them to evict Cardinal Burke from his posts of influence. Comes now the news from Kathnet via Fr. Zuhlsdorf's blog that hatred of this book's truth occasioned yet more sin from these officials.
During the sin-nod, Cardinal Burke and his co-authors wanted to ensure that all the synod fathers had their own copies of the book to educate their deliberations. They sent each of them a copy of the book through the official Vatican mail system. Someone amongst the progressive elements got wind of the mailing of these copies - and stole the copies from the mailboxes of the sin-nod fathers! Yep! That's right! There are indications that this theft was ordered by none other than Cardinal Baldiserri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. One might hope that this is incorrect, but too much nonsense has emanated from this man to allow any reasonable doubt.
Is it really that outlandish to believe? Consider that during the sin-nod, they were chomping at the bit to tinker with God's laws concerning marriage. If they had so little regard for the Sixth Commandment, why should they uphold the Seventh Commandment? I might add there was sin against the Eighth Commandment as well, as they were trying to stifle the truth regarding God's intent for marriage and family.
We must pray, watch and speak out. As tumultuous as the last sin-nod was, I believe the next one will be far worse, if these revelations are any indication.
PS - I just checked out Mundabor's coverage of this and he reminded me of a less-than-stellar incident in which Pope Francis bragged and joked about stealing a Rosary from a corpse's hand. I did post about it at the time; see this. Can it be that Cdl Baldiserri was simply following his pontiff's precedent?
I came across a video of a talk given by Father Paul Scalia of the Diocese of Arlington. This is an expose of the heresy known as modernism. In it Father details why it is a heresy and what various popes, particularly Pope St Pius X, had to say about it. One of the links I'll give below gives the entire text of the Oath Against Modernism that the sainted pontiff ordered all clergy and seminary teachers to take. The context of the video itself makes plain that this talk occurred several years ago when Pope Benedict XVI was still the reigning pontiff so he could not have had any premonition of the events of the past year, particularly of the disastrous sin-nod of last October. One salient point came at the 25:57 mark, when Father said "once you have 'evolution of dogma' there's really no dogma whatsoever". Hold that truth in mind as we proceed through this post.
Two weeks ago, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri opened a three-day conference of lay and family movements. Aleteia has more coverage of that. The conference was called to reflect upon the preparatory document for next October's synod; encompassed in that was the final report from last October's sin-nod: the one that contained, by order of Pope Francis, the three morally questionable statements that had been voted down by the synod fathers.
The Cardinal took some questions. One of them was from an organization that expressed shock that Cardinal Kasper could suggest that those divorced and remarried Catholics who never had their first marriages declared null by the Church, should be able to receive Holy Communion while living in de facto adultery. (By the way - here's some more examples of the problems with Cardinal Kasper.) The Cardinal replied by saying "we shouldn't be shocked that there is a different position from the 'common doctrine'". Then he went on to say, "there’s no reason to be scandalized that there is a cardinal or a theologian saying something that’s different than the so-called ‘common doctrine.’ This doesn’t imply a going against. It means reflecting. Because dogma has its own evolution; that is a development, not a change." Emphasis mine, and for reasons stated in the first paragraph.
Edward Pentin has a brief commentary, but his includes the text of Pope Pius X's Oath Against Modernism. He too highlighted the relevant statements. If Cardinal Baldserri took that oath, he violated it. By the way - if the name "Edward Pentin" seems familiar, he's the British journalist whose career Cardinal Kasper tried to destroy after Pentin caught Kasper in a lie regarding his "african" quip - but I digress. A Blog for Dallas Area Catholics has some additional commentary.
Some may wonder why I harp on Cardinal Baldiserri since the sin-nod happened in last October. What happened last October was a preparation for the Ordinary Synod on the Family that will occur next October. Baldiserri, by the pope's designation, will have the same leadership role next October as he did last time. You must understand the minds and the errors that will pervade next year's meeting. Understand, too, that the pope said we have a "year to mature". It seems like one phase of this attempted "maturation" is to induce Catholics to swallow the heresy of modernism. Watch Father Scalia below to learn more of this threat.
Do you remember the disastrous Extraordinary Synod of the Family that was held last October? You might recall that in the middle of it, an interim report was issued regarding the proceedings up to that point. One would never know it was a Catholic document as it was full of heresy. This post of mine links to the English translation that's on the Vatican website. Here is some more immediate commentary. You might just take a look at my posts during October 2014 (and the linked sites) for more details.
There had always been some question as to how much Pope Francis knew about that interim report when it was released to the public. LifeSiteNews quotes from Aletia who was informed in an interview with Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri that the Pope knew the contents of the report and approved its publication. The Cardinal stated, "The documents were all seen and approved by the Pope, with the approval of his presence. Even the documents during the [Extraordinary] Synod, such as the Relatio ante disceptatationem [the preliminary report], the Relatio post disceptationem [interim report], and the [final report] were seen by him before they were published." (emphasis mine)
If that is the case, the Pope deliberately let heresy masquerade as a legitimate Church document. Recall that this interim sin-nod report:
talked of valuing homosexual orientation
advocated to allow those living in adultery to receive Holy Communion
blathered nonsense about the "positive aspects" of living in a homosexual relationship, i.e. mortal sin
Does this not put so many events of the past few months in a new light? Events such as:
Summary dismissal of Cardinal Burke, who spoke against the interim report and who had contributed to the book "Remaining In The Truth Of Christ"
The private audience with the lesbians last week
His "be like rabbits" crack
His rebuke of the soon-to-be mother of eight
We do have the promise from Our Lord that His Vicar will never solemnly promulgate error. However, there are many other ways that real harm can be done. You might recall that the lesbians were emboldened by his "who am I to judge" crack. And then there's the cop-out of "pastoral practice": the nonsense that dissident bishops use to disobey Canon 915, to neglect preaching on the evils of contraception. All these "maturation" efforts (and there will be more to follow!) seem to be calculated to brainwash Catholics into accepting the thinking behind the interim report. Even the way the report was released and the sin-nod conducted speak of a "ram-rod" effort to distort Church teaching in regards to marriage, sexuality and family.
I now link to a very worthwhile statement by the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. They state well Our Lord's teachings on these matters.
Let's start with Archbishop Nunzio Galantino, who was appointed by Pope Francis to be the Secretary General of the Italian Bishops' Conference. In an interview on May 12 he plopped quite a few stinkers. Let me start with the first, which I take rather personally. Be sitting down be prepared to calm yourself. Ready? Here we go!
"In the past we have concentrated too much on abortion and euthanasia. It mustn't be this way because in the middle there's real life which is constantly changing." Be patient. This mess will take a while to unpack.
We concentrate "too much" on abortion and euthanasia? When the archbishop is finally called before the Judgment Throne, I'd love to hear him explain that not only to Our Lord but to all the millions of babies, sick and elderly who have been wantonly murdered via abortion and euthanasia.
Does "real life" only occur "in the middle"? Is this a nod of approval to the murder of the elderly?
For all this over-concentration, how many Sunday homilies do we hear during the year on these intrinsic evils? We might hear one in October, the month designated by the USCCB as "right to life" month or around the January March for Life - but that's it.
When 3,500+ babies are butchered every day in the United States alone, how can one dream that we concentrate "too much" on these horrible crimes?
"I do not identify with the expressionless faces of those who recite the Rosary outside the clinics who practice interruption of pregnancy."
"Clinics who practice interruption of pregnancy"! Why does not His Excellency call them what they are? These are death mills where babies are brought to be systematically slaughtered. Only proponents of baby-murder try to couch their grisly business in this innocuous-sounding language. Is His Excellency a supporter of abortion?
"The expressionless faces of those who recite the Rosary outside the hell holes clinics.." Well I beg His Excellency's pardon! As one who has been praying the Rosary and counseling for approximately twenty years now, I take great umbrage at his gratuitous insult of those who do pray and work for an end to abortion - and who sometimes save some lives (I have been graced a few times with that privilege). We do so at no small cost and only wish many more would join us. He does not identify with us? That admission only solidifies my suspicion that he may well be an abortion supporter. Otherwise, with whom would he identify?
Now we'll examine some of the nonsense emanating from Cardinal Lorenzo Baldiserri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. I'll do this in "bullet format" as well.
He opined that "Familiaris Consortio" written by Saint John Paul II, needs to be "updated". Why? Because it's (gasp!) thirty-three years old! Eeeek! How ancient! How thoroughly unmodern! If he openly states that a thirty-three year old encyclical is outdated, one can only wonder what he thinks of solemn dogmas, etc written hundreds of years ago. Would he consign them to ash heaps of irrelevance? That seems highly likely.
He said "the Church is not timeless". Yes it is. It's true that the Church Militant and the Church Suffering will be subsumed into the Church Triumphant at the End of Time, but it's still the Mystical Body of Christ. More importantly, the Church's God is most timeless - and so are His laws. I daresay that Cdl Baldiserri is trying to undermine in the thinking of Catholics the immutability of God's Laws as manifested through the Church.
Both these men were appointed to their positions by Pope Francis. Why is he not demanding their immediate resignations?
