FWIW - Thoughts On 2016 And 2017

In a few hours 2016 will end and 2017 will begin.  On a personal note 2016 has been somewhat difficult owing to two family deaths, one of them immediate.   With regards to Catholic and national life, it's a mixed bag from my perspective.

Of course Our Lord has promised that the gates of hell will never prevail against the Church.  But think about the words of that promise, for Our Lord chooses His words precisely and words have precise meanings.  When we talk about the gates of any institution not prevailing, doesn't that refer to that institution being under seige?  In this case, wouldn't the Church then be the attacking army?  Let's be very blunt about this, shall we?  At this time, the Church is taking no proactive stand against any real evil whatsoever.  I'm speaking primarily of the institutional Church, starting with Pope Francis himself for he constantly displays his divergence from the true mission of the Church to save souls.  Instead of having the salvation of souls and fidelity to the magisterium at the forefront of its actions and very existence, the institutional church, under the deliberate impetus from this pope, not only cowers before the gates of hell but in some cases (Amoris Laetitia being only the latest example) seems to be reinforcing the gates of hell.

There are pockets of faithful Catholics who are striving to keep the faith alive.  By God's grace we are finding each other and are learning to work together to counteract at least some of the mischief that emanates from the Vatican.  Within the past few weeks four faithful prelates promulgated the dubia to correct errors being caused by Amoris Laetitia, and more are rallying with them.   Unless the pope issues an appropriate response to the dubia, a formal correction to the errors of Amoris Laetitia will be issued.  In that we rejoice and pray for while correction seems to be forthcoming, it won't come without considerable angst.  In the meantime we bloggers will keep writing in the hopes of waking up fellow Catholics.  In the midst of this travail, I'm stunned by how many Catholics are oblivious to the sorry state of the Church at large.  While some of the blame can be laid at the feet of the official Catholic news outlets, the great bulk of it lies with the Catholics in the pews themselves.  Most have internet access.  With real information just a few mouse clicks away, there's simply no excuse for ignorance.

On the national front, 2017 promises to be much better than the past eight years.  During the first few days of November there was much apprehension regarding the real possibility of a Hillary presidency.  Many prayers, many rosaries were offered for the outcome of the election.  God displayed His mercy in sparing us the scourge of four more years of a quasi-socialistic dictatorship.  That's not to say that Trump will be perfect, but let's face it; Bozo the Clown would have been preferred over Hillary.  Trump's election is not so much a cure as it is a reprieve.  We now have some breathing room, some time, in which to work.  We must pray, fast, work, educate our fellow Americans regarding our heritage.  Catholics in particular must work to learn the Faith ourselves and to bring Christ's teachings into the public square.

2017 can be an opportunity to bring western civilization back from the precipace.  The question now is whether or not we will avail ourselves properly of that opportunity or squander it.

In The Wake Of Celebrity Deaths, Some Catholics Forget The Faith

At this time of the year (end) we start seeing litanies of well-known personalities who have passed to their eternal rewards.  This year is no different.  What truly befuddles me, though, is how otherwise intelligent Catholics join in on the wailing and gnashing of teeth.  It is one thing to pray for their eternal repose, as we would pray for the souls of all who departed this life in 2016 (and earlier).  But why is more attention paid to these "famous" people that others - including those who were part of our own lives?

Even more baffling is the tone taken by otherwise faithful Catholics as they join in this caterwalling.  Take, for example, the recent deaths of George Michael and Carrie Fisher.  When these Catholics mourn the passing of the musician Michael but don't utter a prayer that he repented of his sodomy before his end (he was gay, and died of AIDS), one can wonder what really occupies the minds of these Catholics.  In a facebook page I broached that topic and was mocked as being judgmental for doing so.  I could understand such a reaction from the page of a non-Christian, but find it troubling from a page of someone who is ostenstibly aiming for heaven and God.

Then, as a form of tribute to Carrie Fisher, other Catholics, instead of praying for her soul, type "may the force be with you"!   What??!?!  Since when do faithful Catholics ever let new age garbage out of their mouths - or keyboards as the case may be?  Are these Catholics suffering from a weird kind of schizophrenia?  Do they not allow Jesus Christ to guide how they view the "famous" as opposed to the "ordinary"?  Perhaps they should study closely the Letter of James; he had some things to say about toadying to the worldly well-placed.

Does anyone else find all this kvetching over these deaths bizarre?

Pope Francis Demonizing Faithful Catholics During His Christmas Address To The Curia

The pope's Christmas Greeting to the Roman Curia this year was singularly lacking of any semblance of Christmas cheer.  National Catholic Register has some commentary on the address, but at the bottom of that article is the full text of the pope's address.  He speaks of the "reform of the curia" and making it "conform to the signs of our time".  Shouldn't it be conforming to God's immutable will?

We then see how he talks of "malicious resistance" to this reform, and how he says this resistance "takes refuge in traditions, appearances, formalities".  He's taking pot-shots at those faithful Catholics who adhere to God's teachings, particularly on marriage and family, and I believe he's taking deliberate aim at the four cardinals who promulgated the dubia.  Then he calls for "unconditioned obedience" to this "reform".  Where is his call for unconditional obedience to Christ's teachings regarding marriage and worthiness to receive Holy Communion?

Perhaps his ire against the dubia cardinals, particularly Cardinal Burke, may be a motivation behind another recent action of the pope's.  Recall that Pope Francis named Cardinal Burke as patron of the Order of Malta after he ejected Burke from some Vatican posts.  It seems that a senior official of the Knights of Malta was involved in the distribution of condoms.  For that he was ejected from the order.  Lepanto Institute did a very thorough investigation into the matter and found ample evidence that this official was indeed involved in that very anti-life activity.  His ouster was entirely justified.

Now why, oh why, does Pope Francis find it necessary to create an entire commission to investigate the matter?  It seems rather simple to me; an official in a Catholic organization was caught in activities not becoming a Catholic.  He was ejected from his post as a result.  Granted, when other such scandals have been unearthed, it's only when public scrutiny occurs that the offending party is disciplined (and sometimes the offender is retained).  But Cardinal Burke is at the helm of the Order of Malta, and I think it's likely that he took immediate and proper action.  So why does the pope seek to meddle after the fact?  Is he that much of a micro-manager or is this just an excuse to take out some long knives against Cardinal Burke?

In an interview with Catholic World Report, Cardinal Burke pointed out that any pope who professes formal heresy would automatically cease to be pope.  In that article, Burke goes into the provisions in canon law for such a scenario.  He also voiced hope that the pope will answer the dubia, to allay possible schism.

Cardinal Walter Brandmuller, another of the four dubia cardinals, granted an interview to Der Spiegel.  He too was questioned about the dubia and its implications.  Brandmuller pointed out that "whoever thinks that persistent adultery and the reception of Holy Communion are compatible is a heretic and promotes schism.”  As we read the article, we are reminded that Pope Francis, in his letter to the Argentinian bishops, did make allowance for unrepentant adulterers to receive Holy Communion; in other words, Pope Francis gave approval for sins of sacrilege to occur.

Now consider both these interviews together.  On the one hand, Cardinal Brandmuller states that someone allowing for Holy Communion to be given to unrepentant adulterers is a heretic and promotes schism.  In that same article, Pope Francis is fulfilling that definition of "heretic" in his letter to the Argentinian bishops.  On the other hand, Cardinal Burke points out that a pope formally professes heresy automatically ceases to be pope.

Faithful Catholics, do we understand the gravity of the situation?  Depending on how Pope Francis treats the dubia, the Catholic Church might well find itself in schism.  If he states formally the heresy that those in public mortal sin can receive Holy Communion, it seems that he will have ejected himself from Peter's chair.  The Church might well find herself in schism.  As hard as it is to admit, schism would be far preferable than the Church being led into error.  As you read further down the LifeSiteNews piece, Pope Francis himself seems to understand that he could well divide the Church.

Vatican Vibrations?

Remember Father Lefty Goodvibes from almost seven years ago?  I'm wondering if he was called to the Vatican to offer his services there - perhaps as a shaman.  Now calm down!  Of course "Goodvibes" is a fictitious character.  I only wish some of the slop coming from the pope's mouth were just as imaginary.  Papolaters, if you think the term "slop" is overly harsh, what would you prefer I call the unabashed indifferentism and New Age glop that he uttered a few days ago?  Bovine excrement?

I'm referring to his recent letter to the mayor of Paris, who happens to be an atheist.  He asked her prayers, but if she is not inclined, to send him "positive waves".  Is this an example of the "new evangelism"?  To affirm someone in their sin against the First Commandment?  To appeal to New Age idolatry?

This serious lapse is not the first such episode. In June 2015 he asked a group of reporters to "send him good vibrations" if the "cannot pray because they aren't believers".   Why didn't he urge them to pray?  Did he have any concern for their souls?  Is he not the chief shepherd?  Our Lord had something to say about true shepherds versus hirelings.

Will prayerful Catholic songs soon be replaced by the following?  I regret that in this clip seems to sum up the pseudo-spirituality evinced by the pope's letter to the mayor.  Let's continue to pray our rosaries that Our Lord will once again be honored at the Vatican.

A Little Comedy In Light Of The Electoral Vote

Events Of Today Dec 19 2016

St. Januarius was a bishop who was martyred under the Roman emperor Diocletian.  Read here for the story of his martyrdom and the miracle that has been occurring with respect to his blood that was preserved as a relic.  The blood liquefies three times a year and has been doing so all along.  Only three times has it failed to liquefy and each of those times has been a foreboding of disaster.  One of the days the blood liquefies is December 19th.  Today it failed to do so.

Also of significance today is the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey.  The assassination was done quite openly by an off-duty Turkish police officer.  Obviously we don't know what the response of Putin will be.

We also heard today that Cardinal Burke and the other Cardinals will issue a formal correction of Amoris Laetitia soon after the completion of the Christmas season.  It makes sense to wait till then as to not distract from the truth of the Incarnation of Jesus.  His Eminence discussed this in an interview with LifeSiteNews.

Last but not least, today the Electoral College formally elected Donald Trump as the next President of the United States.  It will be a relief to have an adult in charge of the White House once again.  I suppose we'll next be hearing, from college towns where progressives reign, that there is a run on vital supplies such as diaper pins, crayons and play-dough.

Now consider that next October will be the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions.  Many things do seem to be converging.  We must continue to pray for that all will repent and beg God for His mercy.

Papolatry - Deadly To The Church

Papolatry isn't a new word.  It has a formal definition; see the Oxford Dictionary.  The definition is "excessive reverence for the pope".  Our Lord promised one thing regarding the pope: that he would never solemnly proclaim error, that is, anything that contradicts the Deposit of Faith.  That's it.  As we all know, such a solemn proclamation must meet a stringent set of conditions.  The pope has free will.  Apart from such solemn declarations, he can wreak all kinds of havoc if he is so inclined.  A number of examples can be found in Church history.

This blog, and others, have been shining the light on various errors being promulgated by the Vatican and yes, by Pope Francis.  Others in high places share our concerns: hence the issuance of the dubia.  We have been pilloried and criticized for so doing; that reaction is certainly not unexpected.  Now some in the Vatican are enraged because they know the light is shining on their schemes, threatening their outcome.  The preceding post gives us a glimpse into the halls of the Vatican.

Others, though, particularly among faithful Catholics in the pews, are likewise outraged that their illusions of the papacy are being challenged.  Many hold to a dangerously simplistic concept of the papacy, believing that every utterance and deed of the sitting pope is beyond question.  They too rail against us, accusing us of "pope-bashing" and "causing division".  On Friday, I posted Cardinal Burke's latest interview where he answered that criticism as it was leveled at him and the other authors of the dubia.

I believe these Catholics, holding that the pope cannot be questioned, are falling into the error of papolatry.  That itself is its own sin, as the one guilty of it ascribes to the pope authority and power that never was granted to him by Jesus Christ and His Church.  Only Jesus (and His Mother) can be held to be completely free of error.   Not even the sainted popes were completely free of error.  Recall that the now-sainted John Paul II kissed a Koran.  Of course we read in Galatians how the first pope himself fell into such a grievous error that Paul had to publicly rebuke him.

A year or two ago, social media was full of these papolatrous individuals.  Their numbers have dropped as the accounts of this pope's verbal gafffes and misdeeds increase at an alarming rate.  I think many of them find that they cannot deny the incontrovertible truth that slaps us all in the face continually.

To those who persist, I beg you to wake up and remove the blinders from your eyes.  For all your accusations of us regarding "pope bashing" or even "not being true Catholics", I fear it is you who are falling into papolatry, a sin against the First Commandment.  You are placing yourselves in grave dangers; one of these dangers is that of being seriously disilusioned to the point of despair when the evidence becomes too great for even you to ignore.  Yes, the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church, but all must know and acknowledge where the problems are within the Church lest they become part of the problem.  Some of you papolaters are already part of the problem.  For your good and that of the Church, please cease and desist.

Reign Of Terror In The Vatican

Steve Jalsevac, one of the founders of LifeSiteNews, published yesterday a piece in which he details the horror that the Vatican has become under this pontificate.   He quotes from first-hand sources who must remain anonymous for obvious reasons.  I've heard similar stories about the climate at the DC chancery; as the case with Jalsevac, I'm not at liberty to divulge my sources.  I link to the article now and urge you to read it.  How anyone can continue to pretend that all is sweetness and light with this pontificate is beyond the comprehension of any sane person.

Cardinal Burke On EWTN Dec 15

In this interview with Raymond Arroyo that was released yesterday. Cardinal Burke answers his critics and restates the need for the dubia and for fidelity to the timeless teachings of Jesus Christ.

Priestly Formation Document - Its Sinister Context

With this post I'd like to delve more into the problematic guidelines for priestly formation that were recently released; see yesterday's post.  Some good people don't see the harm in what was said in the guidelines per se about concern for the environment.  As I said yesterday, I think it's necessary to look at them in the context of other proceedings from this papacy to date.  Together they paint a very ominous picture.

In addition to Laudato Si, many questionable statements were issued and deeds committed by the Vatican, many with the cooperation of anti-life forces.  Recall that last month the pope addressed the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, calling for the creation of "a regulatory system that included inviolable limits and ensure the protection of ecosystems".  Will seminarians be brainwashed taught to shill for these "regulatory systems"?  Also recall how the pope waxed lyrical about the UN summit on climate change last year.  He, the Vicar of Christ, stated that the summit was "humanity's last chance to thwart climate disaster" and that the world is at "the limits of suicide".  Will seminarians be forced to parrot that crap?  Will they be forced to teach that "global warming is a sin" that must be "atoned" by recycling and carpooling?

Will they be forced to promote the Catholic Climate Covenant?  That was a bit of a fad a little while ago and may well make a comeback.  Let's look at the Catholic Climate Covenant in light of some very troubling facts unearthed and exposed by Michael Hichborn of Lepanto Institute.  Sarah Spengeman, Program Director of CCC, is a member of Emily's List.  That organization exists for the sole purpose of helping elect pro-abortion women to political offices.  The Lepanto page shows the online evidence.  Additionally, Spengeman's social sites show her to be sympathetic to women's ordination and homosexual perversity.

I bring up the matter of Sarah Spengeman for she is only one of the anti-God activists that new priests, thanks to that ill-considered "gift of the priestly vocation" thing, will be forced to promote (even if only indirectly).  They will also be forced to portray "climate change" as sin, thus obfuscating the true serious nature of sin.  In fact, the very acceptance of the notion of "climate change" as fact may be its own sin against honesty, for by no means is "climate change" settled science and it is outside the competency of Church hierarchy to pronounce it settled.  So it seems that our seminarians will be coerced into preaching a progressive agenda that has nothing to do with scientific truth, let alone the salvation of souls.