SSPX Reaffirms its Wish to Continue to Criticize Vatican II and the New Mass

Edit: The Society of St. Pius X and its Superior, Bishop Bernard Fellay, are reconfirming their allegiance to the spiritual legacy of their founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in their willingness to continue reaffirming the timeless traditions and dogmas of the Church and resisting those things which they say are inconsistent with it, like Religious Liberty, False Ecumenism and Collegiality. Bishop Fellay also identifies two Romes, which may as well refer to two parties working against each other during the discussions on the side of Rome.

The following letter, which comes from DICI, the Society of St. Pius X’s website, is going to reiterate the Society’s notion that the agreement they were expected, but not prepared, to sign is not something which they can accept. If you recall, the Society was being prepared to be brought into the official structure of the Church without the rigid and draconian restrictions on their religious liberty. As of present date, the CDF and the parities who have drafted the most recent Preamble for their signature, demand a level of obedience they expect from no other part of the Church at present date. We don’t know what this means, or if this is going to be accepted by those responsible in the Vatican for this reconciliation. Here’s an excerpt of the letter from Bishop Fellay:

Letter to Friends and Benefactors (April 2013)

15-04-2013

Dear Friends and Benefactors,

It has been quite a long time now that this letter has kept you waiting, and it is with joy, in this Easter season, that we would like to take our bearings and to present a few reflections on the situation of the Church.

As you know, the Society found itself in a delicate position during most of the year 2012, following the final approach of Benedict XVI in attempting to normalize our situation. The difficulties resulted, on the one hand, from requirements that accompanied the Roman proposal—to which we could not and still cannot subscribe—and, on the other hand, from a lack of clarity on the part of the Holy See that did not allow us to know precisely the will of the Holy Father or what he was ready to concede to us. The trouble caused by these uncertainties vanished as of June 13, 2012, with a clear confirmation, on the 30th of the same month, by a letter from Benedict XVI himself clearly and unambiguously spelling out the conditions that were being imposed on us for a canonical normalization.

These conditions are of a doctrinal nature; they entail the total acceptance of the Second Vatican Council and of the Mass of Paul VI. And so, as Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, Vice President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, wrote in a letter addressed to the members of the Society of Saint Pius X at the end of last year, on the doctrinal level we are still at the point where we started out in the 1970’s. Unfortunately we can only agree with this observation by the Roman authorities and acknowledge the current relevance of the analysis by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of our Society, which was unwavering in the decades following the Council, until his death. His very accurate insight, which is at the same time theological and practical, is still valid today, fifty years after the start of the Council.

And also:

“Compelled by the facts, it is necessary to conclude that the Council has favored, inconceivably, the diffusion of liberal errors. Faith, morals, and ecclesiastical discipline have been shaken to their foundations according to the predictions of all the popes. "

  Link to DICI….

Muslims Want to Use Hagia Sophia in Trebizond as a Mosque

Currently being considered is how to hide the Christian frescoes with curtains in the church of Trabzon (13th century) during Islamic religious services because of the ban on images in Islam.

Istanbul (kath.net / CBA / red) The authorities in Trabzon in northeast Turkey, want to share an old Byzantine church for Islamic worship. Currently being given is how they could disguise the Christian frescoes in the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon during Islamic worship because of the ban on images of carpets, Turkish media reported on Monday.

Much like the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, it was built in the 13th century in Trabzon as a church, and was later converted into a mosque and finally declared a museum. In the case of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, the authorities have in recent years repeatedly rejected the demand of Islamic groups seeking permission for Islamic services in the sacred building.

In 2006, an Italian priest Father Andrea Santoro, was murdered in another church in Trabzon. He was praying, kneeling on Sunday in his church, as the 16-year-old student, OUzhan Adkin, shot and killed him with two bullets from behind. As the bullets penetrated the priest’s back, Akdin had exclaimed loudly, "Allahu Akbar," "God is great", kath.net reported . Santoro's mother forgave the murderer of her son. The killer appears to be still serving his 18-year prison sentence for "premeditated murder”.

Link to kath.net...

Pope: Some Want to Turn Clock Back to 1968?

Edit: he's definitely referring to those who wish to turn back the clock to 1968. Obviously, if Vatican II has taught us anything of history it's that the Church is ancient, but ever young and always reforming. The following is from Radio Vatican:

Pope Francis said the Holy Spirit pushes people and the Church forward but we resist this and do not want to change. His remarks came during his homily at the Mass on Tuesday morning celebrated at the Santa Marta residence which was dedicated to Benedict XVI in honour of his 86th birthday. Susy Hodges reports:

Text follows:
Pope Francis dedicated Tuesday's mass to Benedict XVI 16th who turned 86 on this date. “May the Love be with him, comfort him and gave him much consolation,” he said.

Pope Francis’ homily at the mass was centred on the theme of the Holy Spirit and our resistance to it. It took its inspiration from the first reading of the day which was the story of the martyrdom of St. Stephen who described his accusers as stubborn people who were always resisting the Holy Spirit.

Put frankly, the Pope continued, “the Holy Spirit upsets us because it moves us, it makes us walk, it pushes the Church forward.” He said that we wish “to calm down the Holy Spirit, we want to tame it and this is wrong.” Pope Francis said “that’s because the Holy Spirit is the strength of God, it’s what gives us the strength to go forward” but many find this upsetting and prefer the comfort of the familiar.

Nowadays, he went on, “everybody seems happy about the presence of the Holy Spirit but it’s not really the case and there is still that temptation to resist it.” The Pope said one example of this resistance was the Second Vatican council which he called “a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.” But 50 years later, “have we done everything the Holy Spirit was asking us to do during the Council,” he asked. The answer is “No,” said Pope Francis. “We celebrate this anniversary, we put up a monument but we don’t want it to upset us. We don’t want to change and what’s more there are those who wish to turn the clock back.” This, he went on, “is called stubbornness and wanting to tame the Holy Spirit.”
The Pope said the same thing happens in our personal life. “The Spirit pushes us to take a more evangelical path but we resist this.” He concluded his homily by urging those present not to resist the pull of the Holy Spirit. “Submit to the Holy Spirit,” he said, “which comes from within us and makes go forward along the path of holiness.”

http://en.radiovaticana.va/m_articolo.asp?c=683419

Link to photo site...

Pope Condemns Calumny: Victims of Persecution by the Sanhedrin Yesterday and Today

Protomartyr

Edit: in today’s address, the Holy Father addresses one of the first victims of the Sanhedrin’s persecution of Catholics, St. Stephen, protomartyr and the sin of calumny, as if he could be addressing the false accusations of anti-Semitism. It’s interesting that there are many who wring their hands over these allegations, when a Christian is martyred every five to ten minutes for his faith, where Muslims are baptized in secrecy. Indeed, it’s very hard not to take the Holy Father’s words in any but the most encouraging ways. Here they are from Zenit:

[Zenit]Drawing from the First Reading account of Stephen, the first martyr, being dragged before the Sanhedrin, Pope Francis today strongly condemned the sin of calumny.

At his customary morning Mass in Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Holy Father noted that Stephen was accused of "false witness," and that his enemies chose "the path of calumny.”

Vatican Radio reported on the Holy Father's homily, noting that Francis described calumny as worse than sin and a direct expression of Satan.

"We are all sinners; all of us. We all commit sins. But calumny is something else. It is of course a sin, too, but it is something more. Calumny aims to destroy the work of God, and calumny comes from a very evil thing: it is born of hatred. And hate is the work of Satan. Calumny destroys the work of God in people, in their souls. Calumny uses lies to get ahead. And let us be in no doubt, eh?: Where there is calumny, there is Satan himself," he said.

Link to Zenit…

 It’s persecution like this which not only brings to mind martyrs of the past, the very first martyrs who fell victim to the Sanhedrin, but those martyrs of the recent past:



And it so happens that even the leadership of the Church raises a hand against its own champions, in order to shame them and destroy them if possible in an autolesionistic festering. How obedient and eager to serve Roman Catholic Faithful was back in 1997 when Father Paul Marx was unjustly accused of hating Jews:

We reject in the strongest possible terms any suggestion that HLI is anti-Semitic. The allegations of "bigotry" and "anti-Semitism," made by members of the chancery staff and by the news media against HLI are serious and defamatory.

We are deeply saddened that Archbishop Harry Flynn has reneged on his previous commitment to HLI and to Father Paul Marx to celebrate the opening Mass of our international conference of pro-life leaders.

We hold Archbishop Flynn in highest regard. Even as recently as February 24, 1997, we received a warm letter of welcome from him, which included high praise for Fr. Marx. Therefore, we wholeheartedly believe that his actions today are out of character and that he has been ill-advised and ill-served by members of his staff.

Furthermore, we deplore the manner in which this matter has been handled. Since November, we have repeatedly contacted the chancery to request a meeting between the Archbishop and any one of the members of our Board of Directors, all Catholic priests. These requests were repeatedly denied.

Then, upon receipt of false, inflammatory and defamatory information about HLI, rather than communicate directly with our office, the chancery communicated with us through the media, with a story that appeared in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Holy Thursday, casting aspersions on the integrity of Fr. Marx and HLI. This news report went statewide. Continuously, our requests to speak with the Archbishop have been denied.

At the same time however, it is evident that a "dialogue" has been conducted between members of the chancery bureaucracy and groups that oppose HLI and the pro-life cause. It is emphatically clear that such groups have an agenda of their own which has nothing to do with "interfaith cooperation." Has ecumenism come to mean abandoning one's own to the lies and calumny of the pro-abortion opposition?

One only need to examine the past — the HLI 1995 World Conference in Montreal for example — to see the well-orchestrated campaign against HLI, which has as its genesis a 1994 report about HLI by Planned Parenthood.

The charge of anti-Semitism is a smokescreen to hide the real agenda of the Culture of Death that HLI meets at World Conferences: Planned Parenthood, the Fight the Right Coalition, Refuse and Resist, Love and Rage, radical feminists, radical gay activists and anarchists.

The Archbishop has been deceived.

PRO-LIFE RABBI REFUTES HLI's JEWISH CRITICS

Front Royal, VA — Rabbi Yehuda Levin, Jewish Advisor to Human Life International expressed his extreme dismay at allegations of anti-Semitism made by the American Jewish Congress against HLI Founder and Chairman, Father Paul Marx.

"I've been involved with Father Marx in furthering protection for unborn Jewish babies in Israel and North America for more than ten years. Father Marx is providing seed money to mobilize public support for Jewish pro-life efforts. What kind of Anti-Semite does this?" said Levin.

Rabbi Levin pointed out the close working relationship that Fr. Marx has with other Jewish leaders such as Midge Dector, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, Norman Kurland and Dr. Judith Reisman. He also noted that for the past two years Fr. Marx has spearheaded interfaith cooperation with the Jewish community by signing the Judeo Christian Pro-Life Alliance, a document that binds both groups to work on behalf of the unborn of all faiths: Jewish, Christian or Muslim.

"I agree with my Jewish colleague Midge Dector, former contributing editor to Commentary magazine, that 'the charge of anti-Semitism has become, alas, a sinfully cheapened currency, and we feel that it is long since time to put a stop to its...tendentious circulation.'"

"Many secular Jews tend to be overwhelmingly liberal, even supporting abortion on demand. Why else would B'nai Brith or the American Jewish Congress or other such organizations not take a stand on saving the lives of pre-born babies, Jewish or non-Jewish" Levin added.

Rabbi Levin concluded with an invitation to members of the American Jewish Congress to join Human Life International's efforts to protect unborn Jewish babies and support their mothers.

Link to source at Roman Catholic Faithful…

 Image taken from here...

Kasper: “No Synodal Form of Church Leadership"

Edit: now that there’s been a change of management. Cardinal Kasper feels free reign to speak his mind.
“The world Church can’t be led in a Eurocentric way any more.” This is what the German Curial Cardinal Walter Kasper said in an interview with “Corriere della Sera”, that was published this Sunday. In a “globalized and complex world collegiality is the right direction”, said the former leader of Vatican Ecumenism. It is also important for the Pope, that he governs and has the last word. “But it is important that he has well informed advisors about him, who represent the entire world.” The Curia needs reform, “in order to become more efficient” [Less Catholic, he means.] That Pope Francis has chosen eight Cardinals to advice means “no synodal form of government as it is understood by the Orthodox”, specified Cardinal Kasper.

Link to Radiovaticana.va...

No Exaggerated Skepticism Toward the Bible

Archbishop Mueller said, as the Pope received the Biblical Commission, that a Fundamentalist understanding of the Bible as false as skepticism.

Vatican City (www.kath.net/ CBA) Catholic Biblical scholars may, according to the prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Doctrine, Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, not fall into a skepticism which questions all biblical statements. Such an attitude was necessary in order to overcome as a fundamentalist understanding of the Bible, he said on Friday upon the event of the reception of the Pontifical Biblical Commission by Pope Francis. The panel was convened from Monday to Friday at the Vatican for this year's General Assembly. The theme was "Inspiration and Truth of the Bible." Mueller is also President of the Biblical Commission.

Today's exegesis is being challenged by historical science, to judge biblical stories alone on the scale of their historicity, explained Müller. The other challenge for today's biblical scholarship exists in the numerous biblical depictions of violence. Many Christian readers were confused and helpless by their reading. At the same time, these texts would offer non-Christian readers an opportunity to brand Christianity as a violent religion, said the prefect of the CDF. Francis Pope has urged Catholic biblical scholars to be faithful to the Church in his speech.

Link to kath.net...

Amid Calls for Civil War, France is in Turmoil over Government Attack on Marriage

Edit: I just repeated the narrative on Galliawatch below. Amid the calls for civil war and Frigid Barjot now allowing protesters to call for the resignation of France’s President Hollande and the socialist government, there is a tumult that’s shaking all of France. Such is the French people's frustration with a government which refuses to listen to the voice of the people, as they continue to shove something down their throats they clearly don’t want. The police have also gotten more violent as they have in the past, even resorted to using tear gas against pensioners and little children. The events of the past weeks have also been intensified as the French media attacks the Grand Rabbi of France for some minor delicts (if we were to judge him by the same standards as Martin Luther King is generally judged) which seem motivated by the current campaign to show displeasure at any disapproval for the current campaign to destroy marriage.  Here is the report:

[Galliawatch] The Senate passed the bill on "marriage for everyone", i.e., gay marriage and adoption. The country is in an uproar. The bill now goes back to the National Assembly. I am referring you to Le Salon Beige for the photos. I'll try to have a coherent post up by tomorrow.



Click here for a series of photos of today's protest in Lyon (above). The photos can be enlarged by clicking. The police were taken by surprise by this spontaneous outburst of dissent directed at the government and the Senate, on the part of hundreds of citizens of Lyon.

In Paris, near the Luxembourg Gardens, where the Senate is located, thousands (some say 7500) protested. Below, the mayor of Montfermeil, Xavier Lemoine (in the tricolor scarf), carries a long banner that reads "Don't touch marriage. Take care of unemployment." Lemoine has said he will refuse to perform a parody of the traditional marriage ceremony. Click here for much more.

Below:

"Only one solution, dissolution".

Below, Frigide Barjot. Her tone was tougher than usual. She is quoted by Le Salon Beige:

"Hollande wants blood, he will have it! Everyone is furious. We are living in a dictatorship. (…) If there are cries for Hollande to resign tonight, unlike the other times, I will not prevent the slogans."

Apparently a deal was cut between the Socialist Party and Sarkozy's UMP party to accelerate the voting process. UMP deputy Philippe Gosselin declared:

"By accelerating the legislative procedure to escape the demonstration against 'marriage for everyone', scheduled for May 26, the president and his majority are readying for the worst: this is an incitement to civil war."

 Below, the "Hommen", a male parody of the Femen, create a fiery spectacle:

 

Below, Boulevard Saint Germain and the heart of the Latin Quarter.



Below, the police line up with tear gas.

Below, "a victim of Manuel Gaz' police force", according to Le Salon Beige. He's obviously seriously injured. LSB is calling Interior Minister Manuel Valls "Manuel Gaz"



The next Manif Pour Tous has been moved up to May 5 from May 26. This is an obvious response to the calendar changes made by the government.

I'm stopping at this point because the events are too turbulent to properly analyze in one post. But it is clear that this whole protest movement has gone far beyond the issue of gay marriage, although that is still the major focus. The various scandals in the government, the stubborn refusal by the government to listen to the people, and the economy are putting incredible pressure on François Hollande who seems to be inanimate at this point.

(One last note on another topic, the grand rabbi of France Gilles Bernheim has resigned amidst another scandal of lying and plagiarizing. I will try to have more details soon.)

Events are stampeding through the streets of France. The more Hollande resists, the more determined they become.

After Criticizing Islam and Sodom Courageous Austrian Pastor Fully Back on Duty

Edit: we’d noted earlier that a priest in the Austrian Diocese of Graz had been disciplined for doing his job. This interesting story comes in connection with another howling indecency by the Austrian Bishops in their approval for civil unions. Of course, there are at least three sources indicating that even the Pope himself may have approved of such a thing.

(Graz) The regular pastor, the Reverend Charles Tropper, who was dismissed for criticizing aberrosexuality and Islam from the Austrian Diocese Graz-Seckau (Styria) can now fully exercise again the priestly ministry in his parish of Veit am Vogau. At the end of August this year, however, he will be retired. This was announced this Thursday by Vicar General Henry Schnuderl. The pastor was, according to Schnuderl, guilty of making "terrible simplifications” and having an "uncultured style". Pastor Tropper had been secluded during the Holy Week and the Easter season under a sermon ban. Tropper was accentuated his position in a letter to the parish about Gomorrism and Islam. A homo-association made charges against the priest and had been ruled by the prosecution, after a preliminary inquiry, to be without substance. The Diocese, however, was called to intervene “in the necessity, of boundaries”. Link to katholisches...

New Group for “Summorum Pontificum” in Sorentino Italy

Edit: here is the following report from Missa in Latino with contact information for the local chapter. Young people have responded generously and organized to celebrate the Immemorial Mass of All Ages. Google translate:



Sorrento: formation of a stable group of faithful of "Summorum Pontificum."

Some young people of the beautiful city of Sorrento sent us this news to raise awareness of the future "stable group" of faithful aimed at the celebration of the Traditional Mass in the ancient Roman Rite according to the Motu Proprio "Summorum Pontificum" by Benedict XVI.

We support them with our prayers this holy initiative that demonstrates once again that young people want to approach more and more to the ancient liturgy as a means of personal sanctification.

AC
"Even in Sorrento is reviving interest in the Traditional Mass!

A consensus is forming a group of believers of all ages, but especially young people and up to forty years (and therefore have never seen the Mass 'in Latin' but show a particular interest!) Ready to propose a more authentic faith in application of the Motu Proprio 'Summorum Pontificum' of Pope Benedict XVI, who liberalized the traditional Mass. About the Archdiocese of Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia is interested in participating in these celebrations, please contact us at e-mail:

missagregorianasurrentum@yahoo.it .

The dates, times and venue of the celebrations are still to be determined.

Stand up, do not be afraid, because as Jesus tells us: "you vos manseritis in sermon meo, real discipuli mei et Eritis cognoscetis veritatem et veritas vos liberabit" (Jn 8:31-32).

The truth set you free! In Jesu et Mariae cordibus! The faithful of the stable group "Summorum Pontificum" Sorrento "

France: Calls to Dissolve National Assembly at Scandal Ridden Socialist Government

The furor (see English-language video above) over the revelations of the offshore bank accounts of former Socialist budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac, now banned from the Party, has produced a tidal wave of articles, speculation, recriminations against the government, calls for the resignation of the prime minister and, from Marine Le Pen, repeated calls for the dissolution of the National Assembly. In a brief video at Nations Presse, she commented on François Hollande's television appearance on April 10 during which he denounced the deeds of Cahuzac as an outrage to the entire nation. This was Hollande's second address to the nation in one week:

"He reiterated his desire to fight against tax havens, but you have the feeling that you've heard this speech fifteen times already. I'm surprised because I thought that at the G20 Summit on April 2, 2009, he had declared the end of tax havens. And now I see that in reality that was never done! When there is a rupture of confidence in the men who are leading us, when there is a total rupture of confidence as is the case with the political and economic policies that are being followed, then it is time to dissolve the National Assembly. But that was not the decision made by the president. I am sorry, because there too it was a measure that was, I believe, expected by the French people!”

Back on April 3, 2013, when the public was still reeling from this explosive scandal of tax evasion and lying, Gilbert Collard, deputy from le Gard, who ran on Marine Le Pen's coalition party in June 2012, commented on the responsibility of the government to step down. In the video below, the reporter asks him if he feels, as Marine Le Pen does, that the National Assembly should be dissolved and that the government should resign. He responds:

"The situation is no longer manageable, the government is dysfunctional, the government no longer governs, the president no longer presides, the National Assembly is monolithic - one side systematically says yes, the other side systematically says no. We must arrive at a process that defines our policies."

Link to Gallia Watch….

Vatican Downplays Expectation of a Papal Visit on Reformation 2017

Cardinal: Francis has been no response to the invitation EKD

Rome (kath.net / idea ) The expectation that Pope Francis is to come to the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 in Germany has been downplayed by the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch. The Pope had given no reply to the invitation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany Council Chairman, President i.R. Nikolaus Schneider (Berlin), said the Swiss Cardinal in an interview with Vatican Radio. In a private audience on 8 April Schneider had invited the head of the Roman Catholic Church, to participate in Wittenberg in the events commemorating the theses of the reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) 31 October 1517. The Vatican sees, among other things, no reason to “celebrate" the Reformation, its following schism and the religious wars of the 16th and 17th Centuries, but wishes only “recollect” it.

Schneider: It's about a Feast for Christ

The ELCG Council stressed that it was not the anniversary of the Reformation to go about celebrating "the birth of the Protestant church." Luther did not want to found a new church, but to reform the Catholic. It would also not hide the dark side of the Reformation and the Reformer. Rather, the anniversary should be designed as a Christian festival that every Christian can celebrate.

Koch: the Vatican is not a contact person for the ELCG

Koch also pointed out to Vatican Radio different responsibilities. The Vatican is not the actual contact person for the ELCG, but the German Bishops' Conference. Lutheranism, by contrast, has a “worldwide presence," said Koch. The Vatican engages in theological conversations especially with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). They had agreed together in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in1999. Koch himself took part last November while participating in the General Synod of the United Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) Timmendorfer Strand in Luebeck, but not at the subsequent ELCG Synod. The Lutheran Evangelical Church doesn’t understand itself as an autonomous church, but as a community of 20, United and Reformed churches.

Paper completed on Reformation Commemoration

As Koch said in the current interview further in view of discussions between the Catholic and the Lutheran church, the competent International Commission has prepared a document to commemorate 2017th year of the Reformation. It is expressed in the English title "From Conflict to Communion" (From Conflict to Community). The paper is finished, but is to be released only after the German translation is complete. Worldwide, the Roman Catholic Church has about 1.2 billion members. The number of Lutherans is [merely] about 74 million, which includes nearly 71 million to the LWF member churches.

Pope Francis receives EKD Church President Nikolaus Schneider - Pope meets with Francis first Protestant leader (Rome Reports)

Mellow Out Subcaths: Making Unfounded Accusations of Anti-Semitism

Edit: Seems to us that Subcaths can’t help themselves. We’ve already determined that they can’t be Vatican II, really, because they’re against free speech, and really despise Catholics who are exercising their rights as adults to have an opinion. They have to use their paid positions of authority to shout down people who have true and legitimate concerns about what’s happening within the Church and hierarchy.

These anti-Catholic bigots have launched an attack on Catholics in recent days by misrepresenting them, accusing them of committing crimes punishable in highly advanced and profoundly moral countries like Germany, France, Denmark and Holland. Let’s say never again, and speak out whenever you see a friend exhibiting this hateful bigotry and call them out on their anti-Catholic bigotry. When they’re not busy ignoring the wholesale and unavanged slaughter of Catholics worldwide in places like Indonesia and Nigeria, they’re attempting to pull a diversionary maneuver on concerned Catholics by slandering them.

On a slightly more serious note, in the last few days there has been a mounting campaign of character assassination by the approved bloggers of the National Catholic Register, book end to the National Catholic Reporter, being launched against certain persons because of a report against Marcelo González, an Argentine Catholic who’d made a report, later confirmed and apologized about by Father Ray Blake and the hermeneutic of continuity blog , on traditional blog Rorate Caeli.

Apologies are not forthcoming from other bloggers, however, who have not only refused to apologize, but have piled on further accusations as well against Mr. González in particular, and Traditionalists in general. Initially, a woman named Dawn Eden (Goldstein), is maintaining the familiar libel against Traditionalists and politically unprogressive individuals in general, as “Holocaust Deniers”. Not only did she cast some unfair accusations about Rorate’s coverage of the issue, and mistakenly associated them with the SSPX, but hadn’t even read the original document she’d used to accuse Mr. Gonzalez of being evil in its original language, since she doesn’t speak Spanish and read a google translation instead.

Furthermore, a hysterical Simcha Fisher utters a demand that there ought to be some kind of public outcry against the evils of anti-Semitism. We’ve noted in the past here on this blog that it’s difficult, if impossible, in great part because official mouthpieces don’t help much, that violations of Catholic doctrine, liturgical rubrics, veritable insults against Christ Himself, go unpunished and unanswered by those in positions of authority time and time again, while faithful priests are punished in turn, sometimes at the urging of people like NCR and Patheos bloggers. We expect that even if there is an official concern about unfounded charges of anti-Semitism by Neoconservative journalists, we’re not sure how they would enforce a principle which isn’t part of the deposit of faith or if a canonical proceeding could handle such a thing. In any event, many real violations of doctrine take place virtually every day and go unpunished, so we can’t imagine how this charge of anti-semitism could be enforced even if it were the problem the often emotive Simcha Fisher insists it is. .

If you wish to complain about the rude and frankly, libelous behavior of bloggers in various states of employment with the Catholic Church, we’d invite you to contact EWTN and National Catholic Register to lodge your complaints. (800) 421-3230.

Target’s New Advertising Campaign

“The Faith is Not to Be Negotiated Over” -- Pope Francis and the “Pretension” to Change the World

(Rome) A month after his election to Pope, there is word that Jorge Mario Bergoglio has not yet pronounced the concept religious freedom. Vaticanista Sandro Magister warned about this. Pope Francis did not even use the word, despite the associated expectations, even in his speech on the 22nd of March before the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See with the envoys from around the world.

Once he talked about it, but without mentioning it by the name of religious freedom, and then on Saturday, the 6th April in his morning, improvised short sermon in the chapel of the Vatican guesthouse Domus Sanctae Martae where he lives.

Pope Francis has still never mentioned Religious Freedom

He did so, but in a very special form. Pope Francis said not a word against the persecutors even against those who are trying to strangle the freedom of the believers in a subtile way.

He took a stand in his brief discussion on the side of the persecuted: “In order to meet a martyr you need not go into the Catacombs and the Colosseum: The martyrs are now living in many countries. Christians are persecuted for their faith, today, in the 21st Century, our church is a Church of martyrs. “

Then he identified with the early Christians, by quoting the words of Peter and John, "We can not but speak of what we have seen and heard" [Acts 4:20).

Church Church of martyrs, they are not negotiating the faith

To them there were no ifs and butts to derive a statement: “The faith is not to be negotiated over.”

He continued: "In the history of God's people, there was always this temptation: omit part of the faith, perhaps not much. But the belief is, as we confess in the Creed. The temptation must be overcome to take a little bit so as do like everyone, not to be so very strict, because right there is a journey that begins and ends in apostasy. In fact, when we begin to cut away a piece of the faith, to negotiate the faith in order to sell it to the highest bidder, we enter the road of apostasy, unfaithfulness to the Lord.”

This is religious freedom for Pope Francis, especially, "have the courage to bear witness to the Risen Lord." An unabridged, public faith. A faith that claims to change society, and thus the world.

The “pretension" to change the world - criticism of theory of laicism of the "neutral" state

“The Pretension" is also the title of the book, published a few days ago the sociologist of religion Luca Diotallevi. Practice it started hard criticism of theories of laicism. Theories that are widely apparent even within the Church, appealing improperly to rely on the Second Vatican Council. It specifically concerns the denial of a direct and inseparable link between the Gospel and the social order, which is justified by an alleged "neutrality" of the state.

Diotallevi poses the paradigm of secularism against the paradigm of religious freedom, as it is typical done in the Anglo-Saxon world, but with a theological basis, based on De Civitate Dei of St. Augustine, and eventually to the New Testament.

Accordingly, the Saeculum between the first and second coming of Christ, an encounter between time and eternity, a conflict between sin and grace. This conflict is also attended by the prince, whether thrones or dominions, of which the New Testament speaks, and those who are considered to be the powers of this world. It's the rebel forces, on the cross and resurrection of Jesus who are to win the final victory. A victory that has not yet found its fulfillment. In Saeculum these powers still fluctuate between the extremes of anarchy and absolute rule, while the Church, as a guardian of victory is constantly trying to keep her away from the one and the other extreme.

Diotallevi and historical theology of Joseph Ratzinger

According to Augustine, the New Testament view of history has developed in our day, especially as developed by Oscar Cullmann and Joseph Ratzinger, the latter also in a theology of history, is quoted by Diotallevi in detail.

The really original part of the book, however, is that in which Diotallevi identifies with the celebration of the Eucharist as the source and summit of this “pretension" of the Christian faith to have a design for the social order. Here too the author is seen in continuity with Benedict XVI..

"The Eucharist is the Church visible. It is the victorious work of God breaking into history and it serves as a vision for the people. It is between the two thieves where the scourged Jesus is crucified, with the centurion who recognizes Him and the earth which trembles,” says Sandro Magister. The educated pagans of the first centuries were not wrong when they spoke of the celebration of the liturgy to describe Christianity.

Books for those interested (so far only in Italian edition):

Luca Diotallevi La pretesa. Quale rapporto tra vangelo ordine e sociale? (Entitlement. Which is the relationship between the gospel and social order?) Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli, 2013, pp. 140, € 12.00.

These days, a book was published by the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola, the relationship between state and religion, which deals also critical of the prevailing model of secularism:

Angelo Scola: Non dimentichiamoci di Dio (God does not let us forget), Rizzoli, Milan, 2013, pp. 112, € 15.00.

From katholisches...

Text: Settimo Cielo / Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Asianews
Translation: Tancred

Sacrament Stolen From Tabernacle -- Satanists are Suspected

(Milan) In Missaglia in the Italian Archdiocese of Milan (Lombardy) unknown individuals violently forced their way into the parish church of San Vittore.  This church has the designation of a Papal Basilica Minor. They broke into the tabernacle and stole the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.  Otherwise they took some sacramental upbeats, among them a bronze cross, a small shrine and the door of the tabernacle.

There is a weighty suspicion that the perpetrators were either acting for or were Satanists, because besides the Sacrament no valuable objects were stolen.  The object of the act was clearly the body of Christ.

Pastor and Community are horrified: “The financial damage is the least, only the door of the tabernacle door which was ripped off, had any clear value.  Most horrible is the sacrilege, the profanation of the Blessed Sacrament.  The perpetrators took with them what was most valuable for the faithful, the consecrated body of Christ.  An act, which is difficult to discuss and has wounded us deeply”, said Pastor Albino Mandelli.

The crimes took place on the 5th of April in the morning and was discovered by the sacristan.  The Diocesan authorities were immediately informed.


Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Dekanat Missaglia Link to Katholisches...

Hungary Hands Over Public Schools to Religious Institutions

Socialists are upset because traditional morals and
values are now being taught in schools with government help.
 Isn't it the role of government to facilitate virtue?

>Edit: we’ve been following this for a while and it’s simply magnificent.  Of course, the Socialists are furious.  In other countries, the exact opposite is happening.

In a way, this is really a vindication of Cardinal Mindszenty who, despite being sold out by his superiors, held true int his passion against the Communist government of Hungary.

[TFP] The Hungarian government is transferring public schools to religious institutions, reported the French magazine L’Express.

This policy has infuriated socialist leaders within and outside Hungary and even in European countries where public education has had calamitous results. The angry complaints center on the fact that traditional morals are being restored with the help of Hungarian government policy.

Schools have brought back the singing of religious hymns as well as beginning the classes with prayer. And students’ parents get to choose the catechism to be taught to their children.

Churches retain their school subsidies regardless of the number of students. In the small town of Alsoörs, which L’Express presents as a typical case, out of a total of ninty-six families only two voted against transferring the school to the Church, underscoring the strong popular support this measure has.

Curiously enough, a Catholic priest, perhaps led by an ecumenical mentality or “dialogue” with the secularized world, after consulting with the bishop refused to take over a school.

The local Lutheran minister Miklos Rasky immediately agreed to do it and, very satisfied, said: “The current government is clinging to Christian values. This enables us to reconnect with our traditional role in the education field.”

The perplexed school teachers, the majority of whom are Catholic, were told by the pastor they will be replaced by Protestants.
Eighty schools have already been transferred by municipalities, which were also glad to no longer have to pay for these expenses that were unsustainable in the current crisis.

Leftist unions and political parties are also angry about the catechism classes now being given in schools that are still in state hands.

Education Minister Rozsa Hoffmann deplores the lack ofmoral values: “We want to restore them, whether it is protection of human life, respect for work and for the law, honesty and love of country. School is not just a place to gain knowledge: it must also transmit values,” he explained.

The education law fits into the context of the new Constitution which extols Christian values and rehabilitates the “Holy Crown” of Catholic Kings, the Hungarian incarnation of sovereign power.
Hungary Hands Over Public Schools to Religious Institutions

Sisters of Saint Joseph Crandolet Offer Gomorrist Workshop

Transvestite Barbara Satani will appear under the auspices
of this event.

Edit: while some people are straining at gnats, playing Simon Wiesenthal, we were just sent this and decided to present it, more or less as it appears without any editing of the text. A decadent midwestern Nunnery that has been run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph Crandolet, in a very quiet neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota, are hosting a workshop on depravities which the Apostle Saint Paul says Christians should be ashamed to discuss. They’ve been engaged in this sort of thing for years, engaging in sorceries and other blasphemies while presenting themselves as upstanding Catholics. We’re fairly certain that no one will do anything about it, but just for the record.

Heaven forfend if they were to suddenly offer a worship on Traditional Catholicism and invite the FSSP to help make over their wreckovated church.

It’s truly incredible that other religious orders have been disciplined for far less apparent reason, while they continue, year after year to insult Christ and His Church, while they misrepresent themselves as Catholic religious.

The event is expected to take place Wednesdays, May 8, 15, and 22, 6:30 to 8:30pm.



We are gendered beings. Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine energies are manifest in each of us and invite us to embrace a unique gender identity not necessarily limited by biology. This course will invite us to explore the Divine Feminine and Masculine as part of our gender identity, which is a gift to the world and ourselves.

Explore starting from “where you are at”—as someone who is consciously thinking about gender identity for the first time or someone who has engaged exploration of gender identity for a while. The evenings will provide information by presenters from the field, time for Q & A and discussion, and reflection exercises to integrate learning as part of coming to a deeper understanding of one’s own unique gender identity as gift.

Session 1 (May 8) will explore the masculine and especially feminine images of the Divine in the Scriptures, and discuss the relevancy of such imagery for our lives today.

Presenter: Carolyn Pressler is the Harry C. Piper Professor of Biblical Interpretation at United Theological Seminary, an ecumenical theological school founded in 1960. She teaches a range of courses in Older Testament, Hebrew and Biblical Theology, including, “Feminist Approaches to the Bible.” She is the author of two books, The View of Women Found in Deuteronomic Family Laws and Joshua, Judges and Ruth, and co-editor of a third volume, Engaging the Bible in a Gendered World: An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation in Honor of Katharine Doob Sakenfeld. Pressler is currently working on a commentary on the book of Numbers for the Abington Old Testament Series. Her numerous articles deal with gender studies and the Bible, biblical law, and the Psalms.

Session 2 (May 15) will address the question, “What is gender?” utilizing modern gender studies and psychology. For instance, gender is not necessarily defined by biological sex, sexual orientation or chromosomes. Gender is . . . spectrum . . . a range of expression . . . how you relate to yourself . . . personal identity.

Presenter: Alex Iantaffi, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor with the Program in Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota. He is also a licensed marriage and family therapist, and editor-in-chief for the International Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy. His therapeutic work is currently focused on transgender and gender non-conforming youth and their families, and on integrating body-based approaches to psychotherapy with narrative therapy.

Session 3 (May 22) will be a night of rich story-telling. You will hear from and be able to ask questions of a diverse panel of individuals who will share their journeys of coming to understand their respective gender identities—for example, as a transgender person, dual gender person, woman, man, etc.

Panelists:

Barbara Satin is a transgender activist from Minneapolis who focuses her energies on issues of faith and aging in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community both locally and nationally. Barbara currently works as a staff person with the Institute for Welcoming Resources, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization coordinating pro-LGBT efforts within faith communities throughout the U.S. She has served on the Executive Council of the United Church of Christ, the first transgender woman to have a national leadership role in the denomination.

Claire Avitabile graduated from Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in theatre. She currently works full-time at the Sabes Jewish Community Center as Director of Performing Arts. In 2006, Claire founded 20% Theatre Company and has been leading the company ever since as Executive Director. For 20% Theatre, she has directed ten productions, including the recently sold-out world premiere of The Naked I: Wide Open, which she published. The Naked I: Wide Open explored the land beyond "male" and "female" - showcasing a variety of monologues and short scenes about transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.

Anthony Neuman grew up performing with the Youth Performance Company in Minneapolis and The Phipps in Hudson, WI. He joined the cast at 20% Theatre in 2008 and now calls it "home." He was cast in a lead role of Standards of Care by Tobias K. Davis, and it changed his life. He has since performed in the sold-out 2009 production of The Naked I: Monologues from Beyond the Binary, and the recently sold-out world premiere 2012 production of The Naked I: Wide Open. Anthony also works with Freshwater Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

Series Facilitator: Jim Smith is Program Manager with DignityUSA, a nation-wide faith community of LGBTQ persons and allies, and is an active member of DignityUSA's Transgender Caucus. He is a retreat and spiritual director, a published author and a community activist in marriage equality. Other guests presenters will be a part of the sessions.

Photo, City Pages...

Swiss Parishes Accused of Illegal Handling of Church-tax Dollars

Edit:  the battle continues in the interesting Diocese of Church against the corruption of the Church-tax system which allows a bloated Old Liberal bureaucracy to oppress the Canton’s Catholics.  It’s an important battle as paying your Church-tax is a matter of Church membership in some parts of Europe.  The local Bishop has already indicated that being designated as a Catholic for tax purposes need not be the same as being a Catholic and that Catholics may opt out of the system if they wish.  Hardly surprising since so much of the official apparatus actually undermines the Church and the Bishop himself.

Schwyz, 04/08/13 (Kipa) Hot heads could be attending the next meeting of the Catholic Canton Swiss Church Council of 26 April. Delegates are confronted with the accusation of breaking laws because some Church congregations have withdrawn funds from Democratic scrutiny. The accusation comes from the former president of the Cantonal Administrative Court, Werner Bruhin. Today he faces the "Legal Department" of the Cantonal Church.

Aerial View of Schwyz  (Image: de.academic.ru /)

The Cantonal Church Council has determined that provide various parishes have made "significant contributions" to ecclesiastical foundations, writes Bruhin in the "Annual Report 2012" of the Cantonal Church. The money would not serve the ongoing maintenance of buildings, but inserted in endowment funds. This action by the church council is viewed as "problematic" if not "inadmissible”.

This “Fund” [Fondierung] approach undermines the principle of fiscal sharing. The purpose of which would be lost if communal revenue sharing funds of parishes and thus revenue sharing contributions are marked for "reinvestment" in favor of third parties, in this particular case, for the use of foundations. This “Fund" is contrary to the Budget Law, which advances in specialized lending are allowed only if the assigned revenue expenditure is temporarily covered. It is only permissible means for the ongoing effort to be devoted to the endowments, but not for Funds [Fondierung].

"Chur" tricked?

The Cantonal Constitution abiding by the Cantonal Church and the Church communities, have organized themselves according to democratic principles, Werner Bruhin wrote. If resources are moved to a parish church foundation, “then the parish can no longer have it available." Rather, the Board of Trustees determine the use of funds.

These have also have to “audit the episcopal approval for decisions". This goes beyond the current management, as had been agreed between the Diocese of Chur and the Cantonal Church. Furthermore, is the “the investment of collected tax funds in stock is prohibited,” insists Bruhin.

Church taxpayers are snubbed

The proceeding of the congregations could be met by many Catholics on its head and urge them to leave the Church, warns Bruhin. The tendency of the church exit could be increased, "if only Catholics bound to the Church are loosely related to taxpayers’ money being hoarded in funds over which the parish has no determination.”

According to annual report 2012, Switzerland's Cantonal Church late last year had about 400 less members than at the beginning of the year, although the population has increased slightly in the Canton. On 1 January 2013, the Catholic Church had just over 96,000 members in the Canton of Schwyz.

Bruhin hopes that the leaders of some parishes improve its "understanding of constitutional and democratic process." The Cantonal Church Council hopes that the situation will improve by "cooperation and education" and "a mechanism of sanctions will not have to be employed.”

(Kipa / gs / am)

Link to KIPA...

Fox News Attacks Catholic Church, Again

Edit: Not to be outdone by others, Fox News wants to join in on the Pope Bashig. Some may recall Sean Hannity’s disgraceful interview with Father Eutener where he insisted that he could call himself a Catholic in good standing and yet practice birth control or at least provide a sinful amount of adulation for those that do. It’s been pretty clear since then that these semi or faux-conservative type publications are either openly or passively hostile to Catholicism.

In this case, they’re simply declaring their allegiance to revolutionary principles like feminism and heaping the kind of contempt on the Catholic Church usually found only in America Magazine or the National Catholic Reporter.


VATICAN CITY – The Vatican's spokesman came to his press briefing Friday bearing flowers for female journalists to mark International Women's Day. "On behalf of all of us men, congratulations and happy Women's Day!" said a beaming Rev. Federico Lombardi.

A heartfelt gesture, to be sure, but one that came a day after an awkward acknowledgement: The upcoming election of the pope will be an all-male affair — except for the women who cook for, clean up after and serve the 115 cardinals who will pick the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, half of them women.

Lombardi's admission came when a reporter noted that one of the video clips the Vatican had provided of preparations in the Sistine Chapel featured a woman at a sewing machine, making the skirting for the tables where cardinals will sit. Aside from the seamstress, the reporter inquired, how many women are involved in the conclave process? Lombardi said the total number wouldn't be known until all Vatican personnel involved in the conclave take their oath of secrecy. But he noted that several women work at the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel, where the cardinals will eat and sleep during the conclave, which begins on Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/08/vatican-spokesman-brings-flowers-as-women-second-class-status-in-church-comes/#ixzz2PzftvWDD

Pope Francis: Chinese Church “Is in my heart"

Pope Franics received John Cardinal Tong, the Bishop of Hong Kong, on Tuesday.  The theme of the audience was the situation of persecuted Christians in the People’s Republic of China.  The Pope has said that the Chinese Church is in my heart.  “I pray daily for her”, says the Pope.

From katholisches… to be continued.  From Vatican Insider:

Cardinal Tong, the only Chinese cardinal to have participated in the recent conclave, talked with the new pope on a number of occasions in the days following his election. He revealed what the Pope said to him in those encounters, when he spoke during a solemn mass in Hong Kong’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on April 8 to celebrate the inauguration of the Petrine ministry of Pope Francis. encounters.

The Chinese cardinal resided in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where all the cardinals stayed during the conclave, from March 12, when the conclave began. He remained there until March 20, when he departed for Hong Kong, where he is bishop.

Pope Francis too resided in that same guesthouse and has actually decided to continue living there, instead of moving to the papal apartment on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace, because he wants to be near the people. As a result, he and the cardinal met several times in the days following his election.

In his homily in Hong Kong Cathedral, Cardinal Tong recalled how after his election as pope in the Sistine Chapel on March 13, at about 7 pm, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio took the name Francis. Then, after putting on his white cassock, “he first went to embrace Cardinal Ivan Dias who had difficulty in walking.” Tong noted how “the new Holy Father really cares for everybody, particularly the weak.”

Then, he said, Pope Francis “accepted the congratulations and loud applause of the cardinals” and then “one by one, we extended our personal greetings and embraces of love to him.”

When it came to his turn, Tong presented the new Pope with “a small bronze Chinese statue of Our Lady of Sheshan” and told him, “The Catholics in China love you and will pray for you. Also, we ask for your care for all Chinese Catholics, and please pray for us!”

Pope Francis smiled and responded, “Chinese Catholics have given many testimonies to the Universal Church”. Then to Tong’s surprise, “He kissed my right hand to show his love and devotion for the Church in China. This gesture moved me deeply.”

Next day, March 14, at 5 pm, he recalled that Pope Francis celebrated his first mass as Successor of Peter in the Sistine Chapel together with all the cardinal electors, and in his homily, “he shared with us his reflections about the Church. He highlighted three actions that the Church must take: Journeying with the Lord under the light, actively building up the Church, proclaiming the Gospel and professing our faith. All these focus on the Crucified Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Hong Kong born cardinal revealed that on March 15, early morning, when he was on his way to the chapel in the Domus Sanctae Marthae he happened to be on the same elevator as Pope Francis. The Argentinean-born Pope then told him that the statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, now standing in his own room, reminded him of the Jesuit Saint Francis Xavier who arrived in China more than 460 years ago, . “He told me he never forgets to pray for Chinese Catholics”, the cardinal said.

During Mass that morning, he said, “Pope Francis pointed out in his homily that St. Ignatius of Loyola taught us not to forget the Suffering Jesus whenever we encounter difficulties in life; in this way, God will help us to enter into the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection.” Then, towards the end of his homily, Tong said, “unexpectedly, Pope Francis openly thanked me for the statue of Mary.”

Later that same day, when Pope Francis greeted all the cardinals, one by one, in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Tong revealed, “I thanked him for remembering the Catholics in China.”

On March 20, the day after the papal installation, Cardinal Tong bade farewell to Pope Francis before departing for Hong Kong, and told him, “On behalf of the Church in China, may I congratulate you again and thank you for your care and prayers for the Church in China.” At that point, he said, the Pope “kissed my hand again to show his devotion to the Church in China, and told him, “The Church in China is in my heart”.