If you see something, say something.

Some good reading over at Fr. Z's on the laity's war on the lavender mafia.

There's some discussion of Zmirak's suggestion we withhold money (again), but I agree with Frank Keating's assessment that the lavender mafia isn't going to stop the sexual debauchery and corruption because the money is drying up.      Rapists rape even whether their wallets are empty or full.

There is some merit to the idea that the Romans care about the money, and withholding it could cause them to clean the Birdcage.   But Pope Francis doesn't strike me as caring about the money.  I think he is on a mission and he knows he has a limited amount of time to get the job done.

The most effective thing we can do is tar and feather them.    Louder than we ever have before.      This isn't the time to 'calm down'.   It's the time for deafening criticism of their treachery.  Boston Catholics have tried every strategy in the book.  Ad nauseum.     Tar and feathers is the only thing that stops corruption.


One of the most articulate assessments of the situation is from CJ Doyle:

The McCarrick revelations not only exemplify the toxic and deforming influence of homosexuality in the higher echelons of the Church, but expose the mournful reality that the American Catholic hierarchy is institutionally corrupt," C.J. Doyle, head of Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, told Church Militant.

Michael Hichborn is suggesting Catholic laity use the new motto for the episcopal terrorism: "If you see something, say something" I couldn't agree more.

Cardinal O'Malley's Pants are on Fire

This blows the lid off the lies.

It All Blowed Up Real Good

Cardinal Maradiaga's Lavender Mafia is unraveling. Nearly 50 seminarians in Honduras have protested against what they say is a widespread and entrenched pattern of homosexual practice in Tegucigalpa’s major seminary. 

In a letter written to the seminary’s formators that was subsequently circulated in June to the country’s Catholic bishops, the seminarians asserted “irrefutable evidence” exists that a homosexual network pervades the institution and is being protected by its rector.

“Heterosexual seminarians are scandalized and really depressed,” one of the seminarians who drafted the letter told the Register.

“Many are thinking about leaving the seminary,” the seminarian said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of a fear of reprisals. “I fear that many will leave.”  

The disturbing Honduran allegations have particular resonance in the United States because they echo some key aspects of the current scandal in the Church in the United States, surrounding alleged sexual abuse by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the archbishop emeritus of Washington.

This is a significant development.  In the past, heterosexual seminarians and priests have been terrified of having their vocations destroyed by the Lavender Mafia.   The game of dominoes has commenced.

After McCarrick, its going to get real ugly fast if the Holy Father continues the 'procedure' of enabling abusers by not acting upon it.   Every day that goes by is a scandal.

I wonder if he senses the fury in the pews?    He certainly has been sensitive to the concerns of those turned off by cassocks, mystical prayer and offering the finest unblemished gifts to God in the Sacred Liturgy.   He's rushed in like a raging bull to shut down the offending seminaries who took shelter from seminaries with a pervasive culture of homosexual sexual debauchery.  He's gone to great lengths to describe the pursuit of sanctification as antiquated bitter intolerant joyless Catholics who don't like to have a good time.

I wonder if we'll hear a string of homilies and Angelus reflections about pervert bishops who've led generations into diabolical disorientation?    Maybe we'll hear homilies about how the culture of homosexual brothels at seminaries and advancement based upon homosexual lust, intolerance to teachings of the Church has kept heterosexual men looking to live the pursuit of holiness from vocations to priesthood for decades.    

That would be a refreshing change, wouldn't it?

I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the Holy Father is going to do.

WaPo smells the blood in the water.   They've dug up the old chestnut that McCarrick's abuse of power and debauchery are caused by the Catholic Church's emphasis on the Commandments. Their spin is Cardinal McCarrick was trapped.  The poor guy.

WaPo seems to be drawing the conclusion that homosexuals who don't have a partner turn to molesting people.    That's a pretty startling (untrue)accusation.

Rick Fitzgibbons has written an excellent article describing his medical observations and reasons he recommends that Cardinal McCarrick be laicized and his enablers resign. Pope Francis implications in the enabling of sexual predators didn't escape his observation:

Cardinal McCarrick and other cardinals and bishops, some of whom who have been appointed by Pope Francis, support books that undermine the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. This behavior lends support to evidence of a strong influence of sexual heresy in high levels of the Church. Similarly, another bishop appointed by Pope Francis has recommended that parishes make their own decisions about their approach to homosexuality.  

At the Vatican, an Archbishop who led the Pontifical Council of the Family was responsible for the release of an online sexual education program for adolescents that initially contained the same type of pornography used by homosexual priest predators of adolescent males in their grooming behaviors. Later, he was appointed to lead the John Paul II Institutes, in spite of the revelation of the massive blasphemous homosexual mural he commissioned for his Cathedral of those engaging in sinful sexual behaviors being taken into heaven. The image of the Lord in this mural revealed his genitalia. 

These appointments are positively monstrous.

 If we're going to talk about enablers, we've got to face the truth.   Prelates with long public histories of mental, sexual and spiritual illness have been Pope Francis preferred choice in guiding the spiritual formation of Catholics.  

This is actually the most disturbing development in the history of the Church.   Certainly in our lifetime.  But it will not stand.   

With all due respect, the Hierarchy must be protected from priests who have same-sex attractions and who have never preached the Church’s truth on sexual morality. If a candidate for the episcopacy has such conflicts, he should not be considered for the Office of Bishop.

And much more importantly, our children need to be protected from them.

Rick also makes the excellent recommendation that a major shift needs to take place in Catechesis.

Bishops and priests should initiate a major catechesis on the Church’s teaching on sexual morality, marriage and the human person, all of which are found in St. John Paul II’s outstanding writing including Vertitatis Splendor, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, and Theology of the Body, in addition to The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality published by the Pontifical Council on the Family during John Paul II’s pontificate.

Around the time of the screwball synod, Pope Francis said the apostates he surrounded himself with who were helping him plot the trajectory of his papacy were aware that they would face resistance, but they had every intention of carrying out the plan in spite of it.

I don't think they planned on this kind of insurrection.

One thing they can all take to their corrupt bank:  Game On.

The fix is in: The Bishops Need...Wait for It...a Procedure.

Cardinal McCarrick's case is really opening up the floodgates of coverup, lies and corruption in the episcopal see.

Pope Francis is known for running into the public square and without thinking things through, sharing the undisciplined thoughts swirling in his head about everything under the sun. Several weeks have passed since Cardinal McCarrick lost his faculties for decades of predatory sexual misconduct. And just like that, the crickets can be heard in St. Peter's Square.

Maybe he's waiting for all the trial balloons to fly.

Our good Bishop Tobin's balloon never got off the ground.

I was sorry to see Bishop Tobin leave twitter, but this was definitely not the time to dismiss the exposure of corruption by raising a glass of cheer to toast the USCCB. This is the time for lavender mafia to be outed, overthrown and defrocked.

One hardly knows what to say, but people are upset because packing up your toys and getting out of the sandbox after exercising a bad strategy is just another form of enabling.

The bishops in the US have been leading Catholics into temptation and sin for decades.    Millions have died in that state.    Catechesis is a trainwreck.  They promote politicians who ethnically cleanse children of the poor.  The genocide is meaningless to them.   Our people have gone mad from diabolical disorientation.    There is absolutely NOTHING to congratulate them about.    And I do mean nothing.

Earlier this week, Cardinal O'Malley gushed over Boston's Catholic Mayor Marty Walsh 'leadership':

"We are blessed by the wisdom and vision of the Mayor’s leadership."

The wisdom and vision of a senior bachelor living with his girlfriend crusading for gay marriage and abortion. A real 'blessing' for a Catholic Cardinal in the US.

Cardinal O'Malley issued another doozy yesterday on the reasons Cardinal McCarrick was allowed to harvest victims for four decades.  This gives us a glimpse to the endemic lies and excuses that have to come to an end:

Statement of Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap Archbishop of Boston 

 Tuesday, July 24, 2018 

"For the past several days, articles in the national media have reported accusations of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s sexual improprieties with several adults and his criminal violations of the sexual abuse of minors. These alleged actions, when committed by any person, are morally unacceptable and incompatible with the role of a priest, bishop or cardinal. 

I am deeply troubled by these reports that have traumatized many Catholics and members of the wider community. In one case involving a minor the Archdiocese of New York, after investigation, has found the accusation to be credible and substantiated. While another accusation concerning a minor is yet to be investigated, the reports are devastating for the victims, their families and for the Church itself. Each new report of clerical abuse at any level creates doubt in the minds of many that we are effectively addressing this catastrophe in the Church. 

These cases and others require more than apologies. They raise up the fact that when charges are brought regarding a bishop or a cardinal, a major gap still exists in the Church’s policies on sexual conduct and sexual abuse. While the Church in the United States has adopted a zero tolerance policy regarding the sexual abuse of minors by priests we must have clearer procedures for cases involving bishops. Transparent and consistent protocols are needed to provide justice for the victims and to adequately respond to the legitimate indignation of the community. The Church needs a strong and comprehensive policy to address bishops’ violations of the vows of celibacy in cases of the criminal abuse of minors and in cases involving adults. 

My experience in several dioceses and my work with the members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors have brought me to this conclusion. The Church needs to swiftly and decisively take action regarding these matters of critical importance. In every instance of claims made by victims of sexual abuse, whether criminal violations or the abuse of power, the primary concern must be for the victim, their family and their loved ones. The victims are to be commended for bringing to light their tragic experience and must be treated with respect and dignity. Recent media reports also have referenced a letter sent to me from Rev. Boniface Ramsey, O.P. in June of 2015, which I did not personally receive. In keeping with the practice for matters concerning the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, at the staff level the letter was reviewed and determined that the matters presented did not fall under the purview of the Commission or the Archdiocese of Boston, which was shared with Fr. Ramsey in reply. 

These accusations are understandably a source of great disappointment and anger for many. These cases, involving a cardinal, must be viewed in light of the last two decades of the Church’s experience with clerical sexual abuse. It is my conviction that three specific actions are required at this time. First, a fair and rapid adjudication of these accusations; second, an assessment of the adequacy of our standards and policies in the Church at every level, and especially in the case of bishops; and third, communicating more clearly to the Catholic faithful and to all victims the process for reporting allegations against bishops and cardinals. Failure to take these actions will threaten and endanger the already weakened moral authority of the Church and can destroy the trust required for the Church to minister to Catholics and have a meaningful role in the wider civil society. In this moment there is no greater imperative for the Church than to hold itself accountable to address these matters, which I will bring to my upcoming meetings with the Holy See with great urgency and concern."

 ###

A procedure? They need a procedure?

I've repeatedly voiced my exasperation over the current 'procedure' of chanceries responding to misconduct by sending letters to complainants filled with meaningless drivel and platitudes.

I believe this Press Release says Fr. Kickham received Fr. Ramsey's letter, made an independent judgement and decided the proper course of action was to send a response to the complainant that his gripes had nothing to do with the Archdiocese of Boston or Cardinal O'Malley's position on the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors. And that was the end of that.

I find it really hard to believe that Fr. Kickham didn't bother to bring the letter to the Cardinal's attention and say "You have no episcopal authority over this turd, but it needs to be brought to your attention because we now own it and you need to give me the instructions on how you wish me to respond to the complainant, what is the name of the person responsible to investigate and act upon it and how you wish me to forward it. "

Wouldn't that be the response of any reasonably-prudent person?

I don't blame Fr. Kickham. The real problem is much bigger. Cardinal O'Malley and the Bishops in the USCCB didn't need Fr. Kickham to forward a letter telling them what they already know.   Whether or not Cardinal McCarrick's conduct involved minors, his behavior was predatory and abusive and he should have been taken out of commission long before Fr. Kickham received the letter.

Truth be told, the above is not the most disturbing thing about this press release.

The most disturbing thing is, the very bishop who explains he screwed this up to a fare-the-well because he is incapable of coming up with procedures in his office on when to pull a trigger on information and when to send a corny letter and file it in the recycling bin, is now telling us he intends to be the heroic champion to keep us safe from predator bishops.   It's all so duplicitous.

And of course, they will need to assemble a committee of luminaries to "study" and develop the procedures. It will take years to produce a document that says "Send the complaint to the superior of the accused, notify appropriate legal authorities and fax a copy to the nuncio and pope at the following numbers.  And for the love of our Blessed Lord, stop ordaining and elevating them."

What they'll never do is come up with a list of sexually active homosexual priests and bishops and defrock them instead of promoting them.  

The only thing more frustrating than corny letters coming out of chanceries, are the press releases filled with this kind of nonsense.

UPDATE:    The National Catholic Register ran a puff piece on Cardinal O'Malley's statement.    The comments section unanimously indicts the Cardinal's statement of intellectual dishonesty.   People are furious.

He Was Moved With Pity for Them

This weekend's woe to the shepherds readings are timely.

As the tip of McCarrick's sexual crimes continues to see the light of day, the spotlight has begun to close in on Maradiaga.

Journalists are claiming that  'revelations' of McCarrick's sexual assault 'will force the Pope's hand'.

But the evidence of record suggests the exact opposite.

Though the same underground stories of sexual debauchery that followed McCarrick's career also follow Cardinal Coccopalmerio, and though police raided a drug-fueled homosexual orgy at his apartment,  these revelations actually have helped Coccopalmerio (and others like him) further rise in Pope Francis hierarchal advisory roles.

Isn't this what is so disturbing about this papacy?

Those who have long histories of revealing disordered thoughts on sexual moral theology are being praised and appointed to the spiritual formation of our people.  

Pope Francis can't take all the blame for this decades-old problem.  It long preceded him.    But, the corrupt seem to be the sole appointees under Pope Francis.  Combined with purging the hierarchy of faithful prelates, he's responsible for a disturbing escalation of a long-standing problem.

In the upcoming world meeting on family formation, Pope Francis found Fr. James Martin's long history of encouraging mortal sin among homosexual Catholics so compelling, Martin was appointed the keynote tenor for the formation of Catholic families.      

But let us face it.   Long before Pope Francis, when the sexual debauchery of priests was being exposed in the US,  Cardinal McCarrick was responsible for coming up with solutions for the protection of children in the henhouse of Catholic bishops.

Every person who ever came into contact with Cardinal McCarrick knew something was wrong. You couldn't be in the same room with him without feeling the presence of the devil around him.   The same was true for Wilton Gregory.    Just as a heterosexual man with a sexual addiction acts in ways that reveal a problem, the homosexual seduction vibes they throw off are positively intoxicating.  

This is not the same experience one has with homosexuals or heterosexuals with sexual addictions who have their libido in check with Sanctifying Grace.

Cardinal McCarrick, like many others in the episcopal see - and priesthood for that matter - wear their sexual addictions on their sleeves or speak of them with their tongues.

St. Teresa of Avila was once saw a vision of a priest at Mass being attacked by the devil.

"with the eyes of the soul [she saw] two devils of hideous aspect who seemed to have their horns around a priest's throat while he celebrated Mass.

Our spiritual gifts do not need to be so sophisticated to sense a devil. St. Teresa of Avila describes the disquiet in the soul which every one of us in a state of Sanctifying Grace experiences when a devil is present.

This disquiet is such that I know not whence it comes: only the soul seems to resist, is troubled and distressed, without knowing why; for the words of Satan are good, and not evil. I ask myself whether this may be so because one spirit is conscious of the presence of another.

While I believe Cardinal McCarrick should be swiftly defrocked, that action is not going address the real problem.  The real problem is behind the reason priests with sexual addictions rise and are protected in the ranks of the hierarchy.   Unless and until the protection of these priests and bishops is addressed, these stories will continue to trickle out.  McCarrick is the tip of the iceberg.

It's hard not to disagree with Randy Engel that sexual perverts are protected because they have evidence that would convict too many of their colleagues and superiors.

I have zero confidence that this will happen with the current Holy Father who has repeatedly demonstrated that priests whose fruits are sexual immorality will rise to power and priests who object to it will be ousted.   This is a perfect execution of the corruption that protected Cardinal McCarrick for decades.

Fr. James Martin Outs Himself as a Sexual Predator Enabler

Lousy catechesis in the Catholic Church has enablers that come in all shapes and sizes.

A lot of times, priests and bishops suffer from cowardice and spiritual sloth.

A good amount of cognitive dissonance comes from priests who are sexually active or wish they were.

Every once in a while, you bump into a priest/bishop/Cardinal whose lies are seductive, sophisticated and pathological.

They even lie when there's no reason to lie.   Then they lie about their lies.

Everything Fr. James Martin says or writes is saturated with this kind of dishonesty.

Martin has written an exhaustive thesis on how and why Uncle Teddy got away with his sexual crimes.    It's every excuse in the book, except the real reason:   There are hundreds of Uncle Teds in the episcopal see and Rome is filled to the rafters with them--so if you want to be a priest, you've got to keep under their radar.  

Before Pope Francis, they were at least an underdog, though they still held powerful positions in Rome and had the capacity to destroy a vocation.  Some priests claim they are capable of murder and this is one of the reasons why the Church has been unable to drive them out.    They certainly have been given more power under Pope Francis, which is not at all edifying.

Fr. Martin admits he heard all the stories of Cardinal McCarrick's sexual assaults.   He even knew where Cardinal McCarrick was committing sexual assaults.

But, he never personally knew a victim, so the sexual assaults were ok to sweep under the rug because he admired him for his kindness and social justice work.

For the record, Cardinal McCarrick was also someone whom I, like many American Catholics, admired for both his pastoral work and social justice advocacy. Whenever I met him, he was also unfailingly kind, and I saw him extend that same kindness to others. 

The overwhelming vibes Cardinal McCarrick gave off that he was a sexually-active homosexual might have had something to do with the admiration, too. After all, that is Fr. James Martin's entire shtick.

This is enabling at its best.

I cannot help but wonder how many other sexual predators in the Church he hasn't reported?

The Results of Theological Forum Shopping

"Wishing Things Were Different"

An elderly Catholic gentleman wrote to Fr. Kenneth Doyle's Question Corner asking whether choosing cohabitation over marriage for financial reasons was really fornication.

Some priest had apparently pastorally tried to rectify the situation by explaining the spiritual dangers, but the gentleman went forum shopping and another priest told him 'not to let the moral situation bother their conscience'.  His girlfriend subsquently died without having her mortal sin absolved.

How many times have we seen this horror show?

A good shepherd attempts to ensure two elderly Catholics die in a state of Sanctifying Grace and a heretic priest lies to them and they eventually die in a state of mortal sin.  Robbed of salvation.

I can think of nothing worse than a physician of the soul who lies to their patient about something lethal.  

I was very relieved to see Fr. Doyle confirm that cohabitation indeed breaks the Commandments.

He then went on to say something that has me scratching my head:

I wish things were different. I wish, in your situation, there were a way for a priest to offer a marriage blessing while conducting a sort of "commitment ceremony" so that you would be married religiously but not civilly (and thus not adversely affect your individual financial benefits.) But there is not.

Let me put words in his mouth. I 'think' he's saying he wishes religious marriages were separate from civil marriages, but his description of leaves a lot to be theologically desired. If a couple is not married in the eyes of the law, how could the Church perform a ritual to 'bless' it?  

Here two people make a decision to engage in a scandalous public witness to children and the uncatechized.     Who would wish for a ritual?!

Is it me?

I wonder if this man realizes the implications of what transpired?    Prayers ascending for both of them.

Archbishop Diarmiud Martin Claims the Paraclete Christ Died to Send Us Alienates Youth

How is it possible this consecrated man has come to a conclusion the problem is the revelation of Truth by Holy Spirit?

 ‘Catholics must learn new ways in which they can win young hearts,’ says Diarmuid Martin 

The problem isn't the Truth, it was, and remains, the starvation and depravity of It.

Irish Catholicism today is “foreign” to young people and needs to wake up to the situation, according to Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin.

“Change is painful; there is, however, no alternative,” he said. “Irish religious culture is changing.

The main body of the membership of Irish Catholicism and its leadership belong to an age and cultural group that is in many ways foreign to the culture of young people. The Irish church needs to waken itself to the urgency of this situation,” he said.

“This will not be easy. There is uncertainty about how to proceed,” he added, noting that there would be “a sort of passive resistance”.

The problems we see now are the effects of mortal sin upon the intellect.     Archbishop Martin's statement does not leave a listener edified about the origin of his theological and intellectual chaos.

I can't believe his allegation that something new has developed since the time of Christ would have any credibility with anyone in a State of Sanctifying Grace.

The answers is teaching the beauty and attraction of Truth, which leads people to the absolution of sin and the properties of Divinity that cures people of their diabolical disorientation.  Without fail.

St. John Paul II had no problem attracting youth to the Truth.

"Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us."

As It was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.

Here's something we won't read in the Pilot...

If there weren't pics, I would think it was fake news, but alas, the lavender mafia really did incorporate homoerotica into a Mass.

This is what happens when the father of the house is falling down on the job.   Criminals recognize the children can be raped and pillaged without consequence.

Isn't this criminal indecent exposure in front of minors?   Someone should send it to the police and recommend the computers of the priests be confiscated and sent for forensics for kiddie porn.   Sexual sociopathy if I ever saw it.

Message to Old Ladies at the Novus Ordo: Give It a Rest.

Crisis has a good article written by Tony Esolen on the antics of old ladies in the Novus Ordo. 

I'm an old lady myself, so I couldn't be more appreciative for the prayers of older women--especially daily Mass go-ers. I truly believe they provide the gas in all of our engines.

But, let us face it: some of the behaviors are obnoxious and counterproductive. Especially in parishes where a mild-mannered priest has permitted the dynamic to get out of control in every ministry in the parish. Tony describes it well...

I kneel and try to pray before Mass. I’m trying to say those preparatory prayers that used to be in the old missal, but seem to have been banished, certainly from the experience of the churchgoers, because the place is usually abuzz with conversation. Mainly I hear whispers from old ladies. It would tend to be old ladies, since as to their demographic opposites, young men, they have been wiped out in a massacre, and are nowhere to be found.  

A woman ascends the pulpit. She says her name, and welcomes everybody. I do not want to know her name, and I am trying to pray. She announces the names of the readers, the Eucharistic ministers, and the altar servers. She announces the name of the priest. At one church, I am urged to get up (if I can; they make allowances for people with disabilities) and greet the people around me by name. I do not want to do this. I find it false. I do not remember the names of strangers, and I do not like to give my name out to strangers, either. It’s an act of aggressive etiquette, parading as bonhomie. I do not go to church for bonhomie. For that, if I ever wanted it, I would go to a bar and order gin and tonic.  

The choir, milling about up front, finally put themselves in order. Then comes the hymn....

Do finish reading his fun description, to which we can all relate!

These folks have never taken the voyage to the mystical world where Christ and His Angels and Saints are present. They have no idea what it's all about. Tony gives a perfect description for the corny clamor, heresy and worship spaces full of cartoon-like banners: painful and frustrating.

 I actually wonder whether priests in these parishes have ever journeyed to the mystical world. Is his service to God limited to the recitation of a formula to Transubstantiate? I cannot fathom any priest who knows and lives in the spiritual world who would resort to the insipid cornballery in their Masses. I find it impossible to believe that they would see what we see, feel what we feel, experience what we experience and still lead their people in an hour of asshattery.

I'm blessed to be in a parish where banality and abuses are non-existent. The prayers, homily, music is rich in Catholic tradition. There are no Eucharistic Ministers at daily Mass but they do serve at Sunday Mass when the House is rocking. Yes, I'm one of those Catholics that moseys on over to the line where the priest or deacon communicates the Blessed Sacrament.

I've actually been feeling a little guilty for sneaking out of the lines of lay people in this parish. The parishioners are very traditional, devout Catholics. Several women are veiled, a lot of homeschoolers, etc. So, a few weeks back, I decided to throw caution to the wind and stay in the line where the woman was two inches away with the ciborium of the Divinity of Christ.

Big mistake.

I approached with my hands folded and extended my tongue. She had Christ in her hand and she kept gesturing towards my hands. After Christ was hostage to a few rollercoaster dips in her hands, I sighed in exasperation and opened my hand She could detect my frustration and said "I didn't know what to do". I said "I don't receive in the hand. My hands are not consecrated." I walked away thinking "Come to think of it... neither are yours! What am I doing!!!!"

Old ladies are not doing the Church a favor when they are the face of every opportunity in the parish. Men and young people do not want to hang out with old ladies. And the dull as dishwater religious entertainment is painful. Give it a rest. Worthy is the Lamb.

Will Pope Francis Beatify Apostate Fr. Arrupe?

Another disturbing development in the Pope Francis papacy.  


Aside from St. John Paul II''s concerns about Fr. Arrupe's spiritual malfeasance, I know very little about Fr. Arrupe.  But, it seems to me Catholics with long histories of condoning gay sex are rallying around the cause for his sainthood, so I'm extremely suspicious about what exactly is on the trajectory for beatification.

Beatifications are not infallible, so even if Pope Francis puts heresy on the fast track for beatification, I am assuming the episcopal see has enough faithful prelates to gum up the canonization.

I should think the 'cause' will be short-lived as it would be impossible to get beyond this phase:

Cebollada, who is responsible for overseeing the sainthood causes of Jesuits, told CNS that he has met with the judicial vicar of the Diocese of Rome to discuss the initial phase of gathering information regarding Arrupe’s life and works.  

He also is tasked with collecting all of Arrupe’s writings, which will be studied by theological censors who will “testify whether or not there is anything against the faith or tradition of the Church.”

IMHO, this is right up there with the daffy theologians who have been looking everywhere but infallible teaching to see if women can be ordained to the diaconate.

Last week, fur was flying when 'the Vatican' published an 'ecumenical declaration' written by a few episcopal apostates opining the Catholic Church may ordain women to the diaconate in the future.

Even should Pope Francis announces the Catholic Church can ordain women to the diaconate and does a victorious pirouette atop the obelisk in St. Peter's Square, it isn't going to happen.

The diaconate requires an ordination and Catholic teaching that women can and will never be ordained in the Catholic Church is infallible and irreversible. In the first place, even Pope Francis has confirmed he assents to the infallible teaching that only males can be ordained.

All the intemperate off-the-cuff sophomoric and bad theology our families and salvation have been burdened with during this papacy, none of it has crossed the lines of formal heresy.

Rising to the level of formal heresy would end a papacy.   The devil knows the key to his success is longevity, so he will continue to use pride, cowardice and ineptitude to fracture Christ's people from the teachings of the Church without crossing over to formal heresy.    Neither of the above initiatives survive such scrutiny.  And the devil knows it.

I do think we will see many heretical and apostate initiatives get traction in the theological chaos imposed by Pope Francis.  These initiatives will have the capacity to rob people of salvation, but the traction will never reach the goal line.   The goal line isn't even on the devil's radar.   When apostate and heretical initiatives start to threaten his longevity, he'll abandon them and start another one.

Pleased to meet you!
Hope you'll guess my name!
Ahh, but what's puzzlin' you, is the nature of my game...

This is what President Trump is Up Against.

Please allow me to introduce myself...

Joy is a Net of Love

They Have no Wine.

Several months back, I needed to place a call to a parish to get a copy of Sacramental records.     They were grumpy.     I understand something upsetting or frustrating may be going on, so it didn't ruffle my feathers -- I simply added them to my prayer list.

At the same time, it was a good reminder of the importance of being on our game in every encounter. Our own distractions can lead to (unintended) thoughtlessness and missed opportunities.     It can hurt fragile or wounded people and even discourage them from approaching.  

I see myself as someone with fine-tuned awareness -- and this is usually my downfall.    My children and grandchildren are the center of my universe.   The skill of fake it till you make it comes naturally to me.    I've mastered the life-skill of being present and putting worry and frustrations into the locked Pandora's Box so they don't detect it.     I've always watched everything I say and do in their presence.   Imperfectly sometimes, but careful listening and communication is more front and center than the average person.   I practice the art of doing things I don't want to do, with joy (when appropriate), to please another person.

I've noticed lately that St. John Paul II has been making me more aware of the folly of my own distractions.  I constantly find myself being a polite minimalist in encounters with strangers and they'll suddenly mention something St. John Paul II said or did.   I've had enough of these conversations to know that's his calling card.   When I tune in and respond, bare witness to his powerful intercession, the power of the Sacraments, Church teaching, Christ, Mary, they always reveal something I would have completely missed had I kept my distracted trajectory.    And it isn't subtle.  Here's something from a conversation yesterday: "And I have to tell you that your words are a direct answer to an anguished prayer I had this morning..." 

Of course, they weren't my words.   I prayerfully acknowledged the opportunity and asked the Holy Spirit to help me accomplish and say what was needed.

In spite of all the tools Christ left me and help from the angels and saints, I'm surprised by number of times I fail God's providence.   I fail to move myself out of the way.     I know it, I feel it, I see it, I experience it, but I can't seem to keep both feet planted in that mystical world.    

So, while I can empathize when I come across the path of another distracted soul, there are certain jobs that come with greater responsibilities.

 If you're working in a parish or chancery office, are feeling crabby and can't fake it, one might wish to excuse oneself from greeting people or answering phones.     Take a spa day.   This is the moment we have a fish near the net.    A phone call to a parish or chancery is not the time to give a taste of the blood in the water form the sharks.     We've got to do a better job reeling people in.

And, let us face it.   We've got problems with social media.     The insufferable communists inside and outside of the Church and Trump Derangement Syndrome add a little extra challenge.  The sedevacanists have gone completely mad.  Ironically, this is giving Pope Francis ammunition to discredit the Catholic fiat of living every day in a state of Sanctifying Grace.

 Fr. Longenecker's post articulates some of the Catholic blog concerns I've had in responding to the spiritual malpractice happening in Rome.   I love his analogy to the Chronicles of Narnia.

There are several things I take issue in his article.   It's a little unclear what kind of 'extreme views' he is referring to.  I zealously disagree with his assessment that Catholics who speak about how Catholic teaching guides one's political convictions as "right wing politics".     Catholic teaching gives clear, lucid directions on political judgments and priorities.    If one opines contrary to the guidelines in Catholic teaching, one is not thinking as the Catholic Church instructs.  There is actually nothing 'right wing' about that outcome.  It's either Catholic or it isn't.

It's also a theological error to refer to false religions as 'denominations', as if there is a smorgasbord of religions that are salvific.

I do agree with Fr. Longenecker about the burdens and unhealthy environment caused by the condition of the world and Church.    I believe its getting in the way of attracting people to the Sacraments.

I love the genius of C.S. Lewis:

Finally Aslan says, “You see. They will not let us help them. They have chosen their own cunning instead of belief. Their prison is only in their own minds, yet they are in that prison: and so afraid of being taken in that they cannot be taken out. But come. I have other work to do.”

Time, treasure and talent is too precious to waste.   For the sake of naïve people who may get sucked into a rabbit hole, I do spend a little time debunking even those who are unwilling to be helped.    There is also merit to teaching observers how to theologically discredit someone who is hopelessly lost.  There is always a chance that disarming a captive of the devil will force them to take a good look at the foolishness and tiptoe away.     But, for now, there is simply too much diabolical disorientation to manage and we've got to use sound judgment to pick and choose our battles wisely to help with the work on redemption.

There has been no time to teach heroism of the faithfulness of doing ordinary things, the tasks of home, the good we bring to others around us, teaching the difference between real joy and pleasure, the orientations of sanctification, wholehearted acceptance of the will of God, seeing God behind each thing, deepening our friendships with Christ and Mary, the treasures of the Church, Saints, Angels, love, family, friendship.

Our people are out of wine and we have other work to do.

Michael Sean Winters dreams of the day he can knit by the guillotines.

He's having a grim Fourth of July. 

“Normally, when I get into a debate with a conservative friend and we are at an impasse, with no hope for resolution, I try to ease the tension with levity, and say, "Well, when the revolution comes, I will put in a good word for you and your family." To my friends in the Republican political and legal establishment who have not stood up to Trump: When the revolution comes, you are on your own, and I will be clamoring not for mercy but for a seat next to the guillotine, where I can do my knitting."

As luck would have it, the snowflakes don't own guns. The only tools they have in their closet for a murdering tyranny is 'medical' marijuana and hats shaped like their genitalia.

Pope Francis Confirms Marriage Can Only Be Between One Man and One Woman. Crickets from Fr. James Martin?

This was a pleasant surprise, eh?

By virtue of its very definition, marriage can only be between a man and a woman, Pope Francis has said in a new book-length interview. “We cannot change it. This is the nature of things,”

His statements on abortions were equally strong. This is certainly an improvement from the lousy articulation of moral theology we're accustomed to! I wonder what the wake up call was? Crickets from Fr. James Martin.

I checked to see if the gays at the National Catholic Reporter had anything to say about it, and was immediately greeted by this photographic indictment on what's wrong with the presbyterate. Good grief. I hope they don't send that motley crew of screwball theologians to the borders. Any lucid Catholic Mexican would clutch their children and run for their lives. The excommunicated gay group "new ways ministry" and DignityUSA, Wearechurch, Global Network of Rainbow Catholics all raised objections. Judging by the picture of Pope Francis giving the stinkeye, it would appear he's in the doghouse. This clarification follows the removal of five images of same sex couples in the parish prep booklet for World Meeting of Families in Dublin. Images of heterosexual couples replaced the images of gay couples.

Sadly it appears that both Archbishop Martin and Bishop Leahy have been pushed aside by the traditional conservative wing which opposes the very necessary reforms which Pope Francis is trying to introduce.

If its one thing the bishops can be relied upon, they're pushovers when it comes to exposing their spiritual malpractice. Kudos to LifeSiteNews. The following text was also removed:

“While the Church upholds the ideal of marriage as a permanent commitment between a man and a woman, other unions exist which provide mutual support to the couple. Pope Francis encourages us never to exclude but to accompany these couples also, with love, care and support.”

Maybe the Pope is tired of being the posterboy for approving mortal sin? Maybe he had a visit from someone above? Maybe it's our prayers waking him up to the consequences of his own carelessness and praising and appointing heretics? Whatever's happening, it sure is a refreshing change. Prayers ascending.