Is Pope Francis Hiding The Cross Before the Chief Rabbis? Inclination to Zionism

(Jerusalem)  Pope Francis hid his pectoral cross in order not to “insult”  the Chief Rabbi of Israel? He certainly offered at the grave of Theodor Herzl, a recognition previously inconceivable for the Catholic Church, including obeisance to Zionism. A recognition that the Church refused for over a hundred years for theological reasons. What are Pope Francis’ objective with it? Was the role of Rabbi Abraham Skorka especially to achieve the recognition previously refused by previous popes  of Zionism?

Meeting with  Chief Rabbi and the Hidden Cross

On Monday, Pope Francis paid the two Chief Rabbi’s of Israel a "courtesy call". The encounter took place in the Heichal Shlomo Center next to the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem instead. Contrary to expectations, both Chief Rabbis had appeared, and the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef.

His father, Ovadja Joseph,  who was   from 1973-1983 Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, had in 2009 as head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas movement  had forbidden Sephardic Jews from attending any meetings with Pope Benedict XVI.   Holy Land  (see separate report 700,000 Orthodox Jews at the Funeral of Grand Rabbi - Ovadja Josef Denounced Meeting with Benedict XVI as  "idolatry". ).

While his father as head of the anti-Zionist Shas movement refused a meeting, the son took part, considering   his institutional role as Chief Rabbi and thus as one of the two Israeli constitutional judges.

"Crucifixes Are an Insult to Jews"

Both incumbent Chief Rabbis, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau and the Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Joseph are sons of former Chief Rabbis. From the father of David Lau, Israel Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of 1993-2003 comes the statement: "Crucifixes are an insult to Jews. The cross is against the Jewish religion and the sight of the cross is forbidden for a Jew."

Did Pope Francis therefore hid his cross during his meeting with the Chief Rabbi? Or was it just a coincidence that the cross slipped just at this meeting behind the cincture?  During the meeting with the Chief Rabbis, the papal pectoral cross was behind the cingulum, so that, in any event, it was not even partially visible as a cross.

Sensational Bow of a Pope Before Zionism

Certainly not a coincidence, however, was the reverence that  Pope Francis demonstrated to Zionism before the meeting with the Chief Rabbis. The Pope put flowers down on the grave of Theodor Herzl, who is honored in Israel as the "Father of the Fatherland". Such recognition of Zionism, a political movement of Judaism, had still been made by no pope, because it has to do with politics and not religion. So the visit of the Pope in the Holy Land was paved by incoherence and other controversial statements that is precisely expressed in its preferred, though not theologically easily understandable attitude towards Judaism. Since the Holy Land trip it may  his  attitude is now favorable towards  Zionist Judaism. The role of his rabbinical friend Abraham Skorka seems to have been decisive for this recognition of Zionism.

The Church Rejects Zionism

The question is not trivial, since Pope Pius X in 1904 met with Theodor Herzl and rejected the creation of a Jewish state for theological reasons and this attitude of the Catholic Church has been determinative  ever since (see report  Pius X and Theodor Herzl - Gesture of Apology by Pope Francis ? ). The State of Israel was never officially been recognized by the Catholic Church, as also a part of Judaism rejects Zionism today. It was not until 1984, that the State of Israel was first mentioned by John Paul II in a papal encyclical. Only in 1994 diplomatic relations were established between Israel and the Holy See. Pope Benedict XVI. 2009 had   complied with all diplomatic usage to visit the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem.  However, from a recognition of Zionism or a visit to the grave of Theodor Herzl was not considered.  Zionism is a certain political movement within Judaism. For this reason alone, the popes refused recognition in the past, which would have at least met interference in political affairs.

But Pope Francis apparently wants to make policy, as his invitation by Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Abu Mazen shows in the Vatican. Thus, Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu, the "hawks"  in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip, were ignored. Whether the papal political activism will be successful remains to be seen. The question of what significance an invitation to   "common prayer," which appears to be the facade for  negotiations,  will form without falling into a soup of religious syncretism.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Images: Screenshots

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches….

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Pope Appoints Bishop Francis Voderholzer as Member of CDF

Previously suggested by Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller.

Created by Vatican Radio on May 28, 2014 at 23:18 clock

Vatican / Regensburg (Catholic news / RV). Pope Francis has appointed the Bishop of Regensburg Rudolf Voderholzer a member of the Vatican Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith. This became known this Wednesday. The Congregation is led by Voderholzer’s predecessor in the chair as Bishop of Regensburg, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Cardinal. In an interview with Vatican Radio, Voderholzer said Mueller has already indicated to him that the Congregation could well use another German theologian, and that Pope Francis also sees it that way. He wanted to see how much extra work that could be accomplished. Also Müller's pre-predecessor was adoptive Regensburger: Joseph Ratzinger, now Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. Voderholzer is an editor of Ratzinger's collected writings. Other members of the Congregation of Doctrine and the Faith announced this Wednesday are the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Archbishop of Poznan in Poland, Stanislaw Gadecki.

Photo: Regensburg Cathedral -
Image Source: Andreas Gehrmann
From Kathnews...

What Kind of Theology Did Pope Francis Represent in Yad Vashem?

(Jerusalem) To  Pope Francis’ address on May 26, 2014 at  the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem in Israel  the traditional site "Messa in Latino” published the commentary of a priest. He wrote several theological and less theological comments on the Pope's address, for which we ask for discussion. The full speech of Pope Francis has been published in English translation by the Holy See, as well, the speech will be viewed as a video ( here ). The intertitles are from the editorship.

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A Necessary Theological Clarification 

by a priest

The first step is to join in the outrage that  the Pope participated  about the murder of the Jews in the concentration camps during the Second World War . Any form of violence and terrorist oppression no matter by what political direction, or on account of which diabolical intention whatsoever, is to be unequivocally condemned. It is also important to remember again and again, so that the same is not repeated. As far as the connected theory. The practice is unfortunately different. The killing goes on even today in various parts of the world and even among us in the "civilized" parts of the world. The Nazis murdered secretly and illegally, while the scandalous murder of unborn children is done in broad daylight and in a "legal".

All Crimes Condemn - None Worse Than the Other

Neither the crimes against the Jews, the crimes of National Socialism, the crimes of Bolshevism, the crimes against the Christians by the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, crimes against Christians in Mexico, the crimes of the military dictatorships in Latin America, the crimes in the Far East, the crimes in Libya, Syria, etc., may be forgotten. There is no crime for the victims, which is worse than the others.

Nevertheless some of the Pope’s statements serve that  no matter how good the intentions may have been, that they perhaps meet  certain expectations, also giving rise to possible misunderstandings.

On Monday, Pope Francis at Yad Vashem literally:

“Adam, where are you?” (cf. Gen 3:9). Where are you, o man? What have you come to? In this place, this memorial of the Shoah, we hear God’s question echo once more: “Adam, where are you?” This question is charged with all the sorrow of a Father who has lost his child. The Father knew the risk of freedom; he knew that his children could be lost… yet perhaps not even the Father could imagine so great a fall, so profound an abyss! Here, before the boundless tragedy of the Holocaust, That cry – “Where are you?” – echoes like a faint voice in an unfathomable abyss…

Daring Heterodox Exegesis

Allow me humbly to point out that God, if He in the Book of Genesis asked this question, certainly thought neither of the Holocaust nor about Yad Vashem. Such exegesis is more than just a heterodox venture.

May I also humbly point out that God addresses His message to the people and not to the Son (just because the singular is used), because the (single) Son of the Father (the Trinity should be sufficiently present to  a pope) is Christ. But man is an adopted son of God and not of the Father, understood as the first divine person. Man is God's adopted son through the redemptive Incarnation of Christ. For the Jewish theology, God is neither a trinity nor does the adoption apply to all men, but only for a people, namely them. But that has been defined for two thousand years by the rejection of Jesus Christ and thus God. Theologically considered, blessings can hardly grown out of this rejection. Did the Pope at Yad Vashem present Jewish theology instead of Christian?

Conspicuous and Manifest Heresy?

To say that, as Pope Francis at Yad Vashem, that "perhaps not even the Father  could imagine  such a fall, such a precipice" "imagine" the humanity could provide an even more demonstrative and overt heresy dar.

God knows everything, that much Pope Bergoglio should at least know from the Catechism. To say that God was even prematurely to give  free will to the people because he "could possibly not imagine"  the consequences, is a downright obscene heresy and especially blasphemy. 

Through the modal adverb “maybe"  the heretical contents of the statement is in no way weakened. The assertion that there it is  only a possibility,  or one does not categorically exclude the possibility that God could not be omniscient, opens the door to doubt and is with certainty  not Catholic.

The Past is Passed, But Prevent Suffering Today

I finally allow myself, even if only in passing, also to point out that the "bottomless pit" of racism and state terrorism by Israel against the original indigenous people of the Holy Land, but also engaged against the present population of the occupied territories, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, is certainly well known to the Father and the whole Holy Trinity.  But "maybe"  Pope Bergoglio is not informed, though he stood at the new "Wailing Wall", who built the State of Israel. Instead of losing a word about the expulsion, oppression and harassment of Christians by Israel, or of the whole people of the Holy Land, the Pope laid a wreath on the grave of the founder of Zionism.

It’s also a dubious act, the new Papaboys do not want to see.

Introduction / Translation: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Messa in Latino

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches…

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Pope Has Read Archbishop Lefebvre’s Biography, And Liked It

From Rorate Caeli:

With the current pope, as he is a practical man, he looks at people. What a person thinks, what he believes, is at the end a matter of indifference to him. What matters is that this person be sympathetic in his view, that he seems correct to him, one may say it like this.

And therefore he read twice Bp. Tissier de Mallerais' book on Abp. Lefebvre, and this book pleased him; he is against all that we represent, but, as a life, it pleased him. When, as a Cardinal, he was in South America, the District Superior [Fr. Christian Bouchacourt] came to ask him for an administrative favor with no relation to the Church; a visa problem, of permanent residency. The Argentine government, which is very leftwing, makes use of the concordat that was established to protect the Church to bother us quite seriously, and tells us, "you say you are Catholic, it is thus necessary for you to have the signature of the bishop in order to reside in the country." The District Superior therefore went to him to present the problem: there was an easy solution, and that would be to declare ourselves an independent church [before Civil Law], but we did not want to do it because we are Catholic. And the Cardinal told us, "no, no, you are Catholic, that is evident; I will help you;" he wrote a letter in our favor to the government, that is so leftwing that they managed to find a opposing letter by the nuncio. Therefore, a 0-0 tie. Now he is the pope, and our lawyer had the opportunity of having a meeting with the Pope. He told him that the problem was still going on with the Society, and asked him to please designate a bishop in Argentina with whom we could sort out this problem. The Pope told him, "Yes, and this bishop is myself, I promised to help, and I will do it."

I am still waiting for it, but anyway he said it, just as he said that, "those people there, they think I will excommunicate them, but they are mistaken;" he said something else that was very interesting: "I will not condemn them, and I will not stop anyone from visiting them [lit. 'd'aller chez eux'.]" Once again, I will wait to see. 

[Source: French District of the SSPX]

Nuncio Intervenes Against Mass-Farce in the Archdiocese of Vienna

(Vienna) Because the competent Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn does not provide for order in his diocese, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen has intervened. The reason is a  Mass scandal in the Archdiocese of Vienna. In Lower Austrian Kottingbrunn, a liturgical  farce was posted on Sunday, June 2, 2013 which simulated  holy Mass.

With the consent of the absent pastor Walter Reichel,  a man and a woman simulated Holy Mass in liturgical vestments. The woman said even the Eucharistic Prayer. For one of the  faithful it was too colorful at  least at this point. He protested loudly in the church against the scandal and left the farce mass.  However, his outburst at the affair was of no avail. Archbishop Cardinal Schönborn acted as "ostrich" (Ariel Levi di Gualdo, see separate report Church is not Groaning Under Too Much but Too Little Authority - The Case of Martha Heizer, will be translated shortly.) and has remained inactive. Finally, the apostolic nunio has now intervened in Austria, Archbishop Zurbriggen has demanded that Cardinal Schönborn   take the necessary measures to stop the outrageous spectacle.

As it turned out, it is located in the almost 40 kilometers from Vienna Kottingbrunn where it is “customary" that laymen recite the Gospel and preach. The Mass scandal is justified alternately by the "shortage of priests" and the “appreciation of the laity."

Pastor Belongs to the “Disobedient" Priests

Pastor Walter Reichel is one of the signatories of the "Call to Disobedience" the priest rebels of the former Vienna Vicar General Helmut Schüller. Reichel was appointed in 1982 by Cardinal Franz König as pastor of Kottingbrunn, and who takes his rebellion seriously. In any “liturgy" he prays for an intercession of  "church reform.”  As to what that means, you may ask the Pastor’s Initiative.

After the excommunication of Martha Heizer, the chairman of the radically progressive club "We are the Church," with her ​​husband at home in the living room (Diocese of Innsbruck) celebrated a farce mass, so another scandal mass was made performed in Kottingbrunn. It is a signal that the bishops of Austria have lost partial control over their priests, and their visitation requirement is not yet fulfilled. When the Nuncio Archbishop demanded an explanation of Schönborn for the scandalous incident, he also had to admit that what had taken place  in Kottingbrunn  was an "unauthorized and misleading liturgy of the Word," although he found it difficult himself in the naming of the scandal. So wrote the cardinal, in which "worship” was spoken  in a "very misleading way, a kind of canon."

After the Heizer Case and Kottingbrunn: How Many Evils are There Diocese?

The simulation of a mass entails an automatic excommunication according to how case Heizer was revealed.
Above all,  to be cheated out of the graces of the Holy Mass and receiving Communion, because it is only a simulation, which is completely worthless in the substance, a farce mass for the faithful.

Pastor Reichel was finally quoted at the insistence of the Nuncio by Cardinal Schönborn in Vienna. As usual for Progressives he reveals nothing. It minimizes and insists that there had been a "Liturgy of the Word with Communion Celebration…  There were unequivocally  no spoken words of consecration,”  said  daily newspaper Die Presse, citing him .

Fraud with Mass Simulation - Failure of the Bishops

The fact that the liturgy of the word or “worship services” are a scam, is suppressed by the bishops.  It awakens  the impression equivalence in the minds of the faithful with a Holy Mass. This starts with the choice of words. In some parishes nothing  more than  “worship" is mentioned, so any difference between the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Word is equivocated. Outright fraud prevails when Mass offerings in memory of the deceased during “liturgies of the word" or “services" are accepted, as is detectable in the parishes as  practiced. The various stages of the simulation result in the pretense of grace flowing and cause confusion among the faithful. That in the case of Kottingbrunn the apostolic nuncio had to intervene to ensure that something is stirred which casts a revealing light on the state of the Austrian episcopate.

Text: Giuseppe Neared
image: Kottingbrunn
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotamail.com

Link to Katholisches…

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Bishop Voderholzer Will Be Assigned to the CDF

Edit:  We just saw on Katholisches that Pope Francis has named the Bishop of Regensburg Rudolf Voderholzer as a member of the Vatican Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith.  It will be announced on Wednesday, today.

Some may recall that His Lordship said Mass in St. Peter’s with unjustly disgraced Bishops Walter Mixa of Augsburg and Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg.

He received his episcopal consecration from the hands of the Old Liberal Cardinal Marx.

Fire in Dormition Abbey Near the Upper Room After Papal Mass

Edit: where the Apostles hid for fear of the Jews.

(Jerusalem)  On Tuesday, a fire broke out in the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition Abbey next to the Upper Room in Jerusalem.  On Monday, Pope Francis had celebrated Holy Mass in the completion of his Holy Land visit in the Upper Room with the Catholic bishops. Even in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, there was another fire following the Pope's visit (see separate report Fire in the  Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem just below).

According to the press agency EFE  witnesses reported that   shortly after the Pope left the place and the Franciscans had removed the barriers,”  a stranger set a fire between the pews. He  built a  pyre out of small crosses a pyre, which he lit “ (see image). The fire was noticed immediately and was quickly brought under control.

Group of Radical Jews Cursed Franciscans After Papal Mass

Other witnesses reported, according to EFE that after the papal Mass a group of radical young Jews insulted the Franciscans that they would “desecrate the Jewish holy place with their crosses  in which the Cenacle is.” Since 1948, the Jews worship the ground floor beneath the Upper Room as the alleged grave of King David.

A Benedictine monk of the Dormition Abbey said that "the police were notified immediately, which was due to the security arrangements for the Pope's visit to the same place. The fire department was able to tame the flames quickly. "

An Unidentified Man Lit “Pyre" of Crosses

"We do not know who did it.  A man was seen.  The climate is unpleasant, it was against the Pope's visit protests. We do not know whether there is a connection. It can also be that it was the act of someone deranged,”  said the Benedictine.

The Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said according to AFP: "According to initial reports took a man who was not a Jew, took a candle and lit a book in the Dormition Abbey." Rosenfeld added explicitly that someone from “within the Church" could one not  be excluded." The Israeli authorities are trying to dispel any suspicion of Jewish authorship.

Is the Dispute Over the Upper Room in the Background?

Witnesses, however, according to EFE, reported that after the concelebrated Mass of Pope  Francis in the Upper Room, a group of young ultra-Orthodox Jews, cursed the Franciscans present, accompanied by a rabbi.   Even prior to the Pope's visit to the Holy Land, there had been considerable debate in Israel about  the Upper Room.  The Catholic Church has been trying for years to get the power over the most holy place for Christianity. Opposition was loudest in those parts of the Jewish community for reasons of principle, but also with reference to the alleged David grave under the Cenacle.

For 200 years  the Cenacle  was in the hands of the Franciscans of the Holy Land. In the 16th century it was taken from them arbitrarily by the Ottomans, because alleged voices  claimed  that King David lay buried on the ground floor.   However, the local stone sarcophagus dates from the Crusader period. In 1948 Israel seized the building on the same grounds and set a synagogue on the ground floor, while the Upper Room was made into a  museum.

Catholic Church Hopes to Get back Cenacle

The Christians wish to have the Upper Room where the Last Supper took place, in which Jesus Christ instituted the sacramental priesthood and the offered sacrament of the Eucharist, where he performed the washing of the feet, appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, and in His Ascension on the Pentecost sent down the Holy Spirit  upon the disciples. On the ground floor, where the Jews worship is the alleged grave of David, was probably the oldest church in the world. Incised Crosses indicate a Judeo-Christian synagogue and thus is suspected to be the earliest church from the first century AD.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Infovaticana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches…

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FIre in Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem

(Bethlehem) moments of terror prevailed in Bethlehem when the Grotto of the Nativity was on fire. The fire in the crypt of the Church of the Nativity Bethlehem broke out a few hours after  Pope Francis returned to Rome.

The Catholic Church leader had visited the Holy Land for three days  from Saturday to Monday. On Sunday, he had also come to Bethlehem. He also visited the grotto below the  Cathedral built by Emperor Constantine the Great  and prayed at the spot Jesus Christ was born.

Regarding the cause of the fire, there is no certain knowledge. It is assumed that one of the oil lamps had ignited a tapestry. Within a few seconds  parts of the birth grotto were in flames. Because, besides the tapestries there was not much combustible in the grotto, the damage had been limited. "The shock we received when we saw the flames was great," said an Armenian monk. The cleanup is underway.  Like  the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, several Christian churches share in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Link to slideshow at Katholisches...

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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Poland's Communist Dictator Died Reconciled to the Church

(Warsaw)  two days ago the former self-confessed atheist and communist dictator of Poland, Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski (1923-2014), passed away on May 25th in Warsaw, provided with the last sacraments and reconciled with the Catholic Church.

Jaruzelski was born into a Catholic family of the Polish gentry. The family fled to Lithuania to escape German troops  where it was captured by the invading Soviet troops and deported to the Altai Mountains. Jaruzelski and his father had to do forced labor. To avoid this, the 20-year-old joined the Polish Bering-Army established in the Soviet Union, which fought alongside the Red Army against the Axis powers.

Despite Soviet Deportation He Entered Into the CP

After the Second World War, he was admitted to the General Staff Academy. After the Soviets had wiped out the Polish officer corps  in 1940 at Katyn, Moscow built from 1945 a new Army loyal to the regime.  Thus, Jaruzelski joined the ruling Communist Party in Poland in 1947, established with Soviet Help in 1945, which became in 1948 the Polish United Workers' Party  (PZPR). In addition to the military, Jaruzelski quickly made ​​a political career. In 1956 he was promoted to General, from 1964 he was a member of the Central Committee of the PZPR. He was defense minister in 1968 because of his loyalty to the regime and led to Poland by the crushing of the Prague Spring.

 Solidarity Suppressed With Martial Law

When the free trade union movement Solidarity  under Lech Walesa shook the communist regime in Poland, Jaruzelski himself  was at the head of the regime and could withstand this   for several years. In 1981 he became Prime Minister of Poland, took over the party leadership of the PZPR and imposed martial law, outlawing Solidarity  which was supported by Pope John Paul II,  and forced it underground. He was later to be justified that  the clampdown was in order to prevent a planned military intervention by the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact by an intra-Polish solution. From 1985 to 1990 the general was Polish head of state.

 His role in the Communist regime around the break-up of Solidarity and whether  democratic change followed because of his resistance is still controversial. In 1997 it became known that Jaruzelski had asked for military aid against the imposition of martial law in Moscow, should there be a need for it. In 2007 charges were  brought against him of Communist crimes. The former general was threatened with a conviction for high treason. Because of his poor health, the trial has been suspended.

Grace of Faith

As it is now from Poland,  the former Communist dictator died reconciled with the Catholic Church in his 91st year.The declared atheist and opponent of the Church was still touched at the end of his life   by the grace of God. He returned to the faith of his childhood, received the last sacraments, and died in the bosom of the Church. Perhaps this is thanks to the prayers of many Polish compatriots, who prayed for his conversion, which included the Polish Pope.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Semana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link Katholisches...

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Pope Describes Sex Abuse as a "Satanic Mass"

Vatican (Catholic news). According to a Spiegel Online report dated today, there has been on the return flight the three-day Middle East trip by Pope Francis a press conference. The Holy Father addressed child abuse among other topics, Pope resignation and celibacy. In terms of child abuse by clergy, he reiterated as his predecessor Pope Em. Benedict XVI. the Church's zero tolerance. "Sexual abuse is a terrible crime, because a clergyman who does such things, commits treason to the body of the Lord. It's like a Satanic Mass", said Spiegel, quoting the Pope. Currently there are three bishops being investigated, one has already been convicted. In addition, the Holy Father announced a Mass that he wants to celebrate with eight abuse victims next week. After that, he wants to talk to them in private conversations about their experiences. On the resignation Pope Francis said Benedict XVI has opened a door and set an example for future popes. A Pope would have to ask the question resignation when he realizes that his ability wanes. Also Pope Francis didn't rule out resignation for himself. He'll do what the Lord commissioned him, "... I will pray and try to fathom His will ..." said Francis. Celibacy was also discussed. Unmarried priests are a gift to the Church and not a dogma of faith.

Link to Kathnews...
By: Andreas Gehrmann
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

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Saint Pius X and Theodore Herzl -- Gesture of Apology by Pope Francis?

(Jerusalem), the Israeli daily newspaper Israel Hayomand internet radio station Arutz Sheva reported a few days ago on the Pope's visit to the Holy Land, the Catholic Church leader's intention to make a "gesture of apology" to the founder of Zionism, because of the "injustice" that Theodor Herzl had received from St. Pius X.. But what did St. Pius X did to the Zionist leader? Theodor Herzl himself reported.

Israel Hayom reported on May 23. "Next Sunday, Pope Francis comes to Israel, where he intends to make a historic gesture of apology for an injustice that was committed 110 years ago by the Vatican.

In 1904  the Zionist leader Theodor Herzl visited the Vatican to ask the Pope Pius X, to assist in the establishment of the modern Jewish state of Israel, the homeland of the Jewish nation. But Pius refused."

The Visit to Herzl's Grave

Now Francis plans on visiting Herzl Mountain to visit Herzl's grave    to lay a floral wreath on his grave stone as a sign of apology. 

"Should this be the reason for the visit of Herzl's grave, and not an intended by the Israeli government for state as a guest obstacle course, which one could hardly escape from diplomatic considerations, that would be serious,"  wrote the Catholic site Pagina Catolica of Argentina. "On the one hand Pope Francis can not ignore that Zionism is not the identical to Judaism, but represents a particular political nationalist direction, and that this Zionism has caused much suffering among Christians and still causes it. Secondly, such a gesture could be interpreted as distancing and condemning of Pope Pius X, even if this is not the intention of Francis," said Pagina Catolica .

"To create balance in a balancing act is difficult. Playing with compensations can be dangerous in the political ground," said the Catholic site. It seems difficult to imagine that such a gesture would not have been criticized on the Palestinian and Muslim side. As had been already criticized by the Jewish side, the papal commitment to two states in Bethlehem, his prayer at the separation wall and the call for a "just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict" in Jordan. Is the visit to Herzl's tomb "as compensation" for these statements, gestures and demands?

Israel Hayom reported that Pope friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka, who visited with the Pope and the Muslim Omar Abboud Jerusalem, the Israeli newspaper described the triad as "Holy Trinity", was announced a few months ago  as a "definitive gesture for Israel."

Theodor Herzl's Report on the Meeting with Pope Pius X in 1904

On the 1st of July 1956 in the journal La Terre Retrovée a text of Theodor Herzl was published about his meeting with Pope Pius X on January 26, 1904:

Yesterday I was with the Pope. The route was already familiar since I had traversed it with Lippay several times. Past the Swiss lackeys, who looked like clerics, and clerics who looked like lackeys, the Papal officers and chamberlains.

Pope Calls Mahmoud Abbas a "Man of Peace" at his "Presidential Palace"

Edit: How many Palestinian refugees could live in Abbas' palace?

 JERUSALEM (AP) — Pope Francis delivered a powerful boost of support to the Palestinians during a Holy Land pilgrimage Sunday, repeatedly backing their statehood aspirations, praying solemnly at Israel’s controversial separation barrier and calling the stalemate in peace efforts “unacceptable.”

 Palestinian officials hailed Francis’ decision to refer to the “state of Palestine.” In its official program, the Vatican referred to President Mahmoud Abbas as the president of the “state of Palestine,” and his Bethlehem office as the “presidential palace.” He pointedly called Abbas a “man of peace.”

 QF... The Blaze...

The Cross Can Not Be Abolished

"The cross, symbol of charity and love of enemies, has offered meaning and hope to people and families in the history of Europe's nations. The cross is the central symbol of our Christian influenced European culture. Whoever wants to banish the cross out of political arrogance from the public display, intends to apply atheism as the state religion, removing crosses from field and summit, which topples crosses from the steeples of churches and chapels, which prohibits religious processions, which discriminates against Christians and persecutes them, eventually even desecrating graves. Whoever banishes crosses from public life, is descended from a series of ideologues who have fought since the French Revolution to the present day, disregarding the human rights of Christians, and are still doing it. As Christians, we want to invoke the fundamental rights and the values ​​of the Constitution, which together with the commandments of God and with Christian symbols in the course of public life are for the benefit of all citizens. We ask our fellow citizens to give their votes to candidates who stand up for the universal Christian values.

Prof. Dr. Hubert Gindert

Chairman Forum of German Catholics "

From Kathnews

The "Hushed" Case of Father Calmel

Edit: who were the figures who resisted for a time, remained true to their vocations, and died serving the true Church, only to be obscured, ridiculed, ignored, unnoticed or placed aside? Surely, many in France know this man and felt the influence of his apostolic zeal. This is one of those great men, who fought an often lonesome fight in the Garden of Gethsemane. Fr. Roger-Thomas Calmel was persecuted mightily by the hierarchy.  He was a French Dominican and taught at a school for the Dominican Sisters of Fanjeux and established a lasting legacy there which lasts to this day.  Pertinacious Papist recently posted this, and we received an e-mail from a reader, Anthony.  God bless for this, here's the article by Cristiana de Magistris:

Dominican religious and Thomist theologian of great importance, director of souls, esteemed and sought throughout the whole of France, Catholic writer of a convincing logic and unambiguous clarity, Fr. Roger-Thomas Calmel (1914-1975) in the difficult years of the Council and the post-council period, was characterized by his counter-revolutionary action, through his preaching, writings and above all by his example, both on a doctrinal as well as a liturgical level. 

But on a particular point the resistance of this son of St. Dominic reached heroism: the Holy Mass. The Catholic Faith is founded upon the Mass because it is in the Mass that our Redemption was wrought by Christ upon Calvary and this is perpetuated in the holy Sacrifice offered day after day. 

1969 was the fateful year of the liturgical revolution, prepared for at length and finally imposed with authority upon a people who neither asked for nor desired it.    

            The birth of the new Mass was not peaceful.  Against the hymns of victory of the novatores, there were the voices of those who did not want to trample upon the past––of almost two millennia––of a Mass which dated back to the apostolic tradition.  This opposition was sustained by two Cardinals of the Curia (Ottaviani and Bacci), but remained completely unheeded.

            The date upon which the new Ordo Missae became effective was fixed for 30thNovember, the first Sunday of Advent, and the opposition was not going to be placated.Paul VI himself, in two general audiences (19th and 26th November 1969), intervened, presenting the new rite of the Mass as the will of the Council and as a help to Christian piety.

            On 26th November he said: “The New rite of the Mass:  it is a change in a venerable tradition that has gone on for centuries. This is something that affects our hereditary religious patrimony, which seemed to enjoy the privilege of being untouchable and settled. It seemed to bring the prayer of our forefathers and our Saints to our lips and to give us the comfort of feeling faithful to our spiritual past, which we kept alive to pass it on to the generations ahead.  It is at such a moment as this that we get a better understanding of the value of historical tradition and the communion of the Saints. This change will affect the ceremonies of the Mass. We shall become aware, perhaps with some feeling of annoyance, that the ceremonies at the altar are no longer being carried out with the same words and gestures to which we were accustomed—perhaps so much accustomed that we no longer took any notice of them. This change also touches the Faithful. It is intended to interest each one of those present, to draw them out of their customary personal devotions or their usual torpor…”.  And he continued by saying that it was necessary to understand the positive meaning of the reforms and to make of the Mass “a school of spiritual depth and a peaceful but demanding school of Christian sociology.”

       

Richard III to Be Buried at Leicester in the Rite of Cramner

Edit: it looks like Richard III is going to be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral, but there won't be a Catholic Mass, certainly not a rite he would recognize with ease. We suggested that he be buried in the Sarum Rite. Despite the gravity of the matter, there is almost a carnival atmosphere around the proper treatment of the remains.  Perhaps the local clergy are too embarrassed to say something?

London (CNN) -- It's been a long journey for Richard III, the 15th century king whose skeleton was found under a parking lot in the English city of Leicester. But on Friday, his final destination became clear.
The medieval monarch will be reburied in Leicester Cathedral, just a stone's throw away from where his remains were uncovered.
The discovery of his remains, complete with curved spine and staved-in skull, in the summer of 2012 sparked global headlines and a new battle -- over which city would host his remains in perpetuity.

Link ...

The Agape of the Courtiers --- Hosts in Plastic Cups on the Roofs of Rome

(Rome) The world of courtiers and their privileges, is a recent and a front row seat for the Holy Mass on the roof of the Vatican overlooking St. Peter's Basilica. The strange Agape for 18,000 euros with Holy Mass above the rooftops of Rome has been organized by the enterprising Francesca Chaouqui.  Monsignor Vallejo Balda gave out Holy Communion - in a plastic cup. These are two names in the Vatican, which have already been noticed.

On April 27, hundreds of thousands of believers from all over the world came to Rome. Many thousands had to sleep outdoors to attend and participate in the canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII.. The large crowd of Catholics pushed  to St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets. Such  efforts seemed  unreasonable to others. They were offered an exclusive opportunity to attend the papal Mass and the double canonization.The enterprising Francesca Chaouqui organized an exclusive front row seat for a select audience on the roof of a building that is owned by the Vatican. There were 150 guests given a place  in the "front row" and an especially reasonable distance from the common people. For the 18,000-euro canonization party panoramic views of St. Peter's Square and Basilica which were otherwise unattainable were  offered, all kneeling and without jostling and with an exquisite standing buffet by the renowned Roman Catering Services .

18,000 Euro Box Seats for the Canonization 

The distribution of consecrated Hosts from plastic cups, which happened already   last year during the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. The undignified handling of the body of Christ have happened already in the Vatican, when the courtiers dance.

An illustrious group gathered on the roofs of Rome. Among the 150 guests were the well-known television presenter and author Bruno Vespa, Marco Carrai, the right hand of Italy's new left-wing Democratic Prime Minister of Matteo Renzi, Maria Latella a close associate of Renzi's and Ernst von Freyberg, President of the Vatican bank IOR . The cost of the roof party, after all, was 18,000 euros,  was undertaken by over two sponsors, a health insurance  company for employees and an oil company.

Guests were brought Holy Communion up on the roof. That was taken care of by none other than Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and a member of the Pontifical Special Commission for the Reform of the Economic and Financial Affairs of the Holy See (COSEA).

The Collaboration between Mons Valleja Balda and Francesca Chaouqui

The COSEA had been established in July 2013 by Pope Francis, is directly responsible to the pope, and equipped with far-reaching powers. The appointment of the eight Commissioners was the reason for some guesswork. In the papal statement establishing the Commission it states that the members of the new Commission have access "to all documents, data and information," the Vatican Bank IOR, all balance sheets, of any authority and establishment of the Vatican and the entire movable and immovable property of the Holy See have worldwide. Each official secrecy has been lifted for the Commission.

Many were most puzzled about the appointment of Francesca Chaouqui. Chaouqui is neither an auditor nor a tax consultant, which would qualify her for the task of the Commission. Rather, she  is much more responsible for PR  for the international management consultant Ernst & Young and is therefore "in short, a lobbyist," says Vatican expert Sandro Magister (see separate reports, New Papal Commissioner and The Confessions of Francesca Chaouqui ).

The still existing Commission is composed of seven laymen and clerics. One cleric in the Commission, Msgr Vallejo Balda,  was handing out Holy Communion at the rooftop party. The Spanish priest approached Pope Francis soon after his election in the guest house of Santa Marta  and then made a ​​quick career. From him the idea was to set up a Special Commission and he gave the Pope the selection of Commissioners, whom Francis then appointed. The collaboration between Msgr Vallejo Balda and Francesca Chaouqui certainly seems variously shown by  the roof party.

"Mixture of the Secular and the Religious Stuff"

Meanwhile, the matter was has become known and "the Pope was outraged," wrote the weekly magazine L'Espresso , when he learned of the "Roof Story." Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, the Prefect for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See told the TV station Italia 1 : "I can not announce what the Pope has said. He has been informed and I can only say that he is not happy, to use a euphemism. But I can assure you that such episodes will not recur. "

Cardinal Versaldi claimed to have known nothing of the rooftop party. "Like many others, I too am surprised by this blend of the secular and the religious stuff." The Cardinal is, piquant detail not included,  the direct superior of Msgr Vallejo Balda. He is quoted by L'Espresso quoted as saying: "I'm not talking about the roof. Thank God we have other problems."

Chaouqui reacted in the usual way: All information would only be disseminated in order to "discredit" in the eyes of the Pope.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Infocatolica

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Katholisches...

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Pope Francis Excommunicates President of 'We Are Church'

Martha Heizer has been simulating masses regularly together with her husband. Now Rome has cracked down and excommunicated both - Faculty of Theology Innsbruck: Heizer is expected, due to a lack of studies to renounce her self-designation as "theologian"

Rome (kath.net) Pope Francis has excommunicated the President of the anti-Roman platform "We are Church," Martha Heizer (67), and her husband, Gert. This was reported by the "Tiroler Tageszeitung" on Thursday. Because the two Tyroleans regularly simulated Eucharistic celebrations, which is a serious offense ("delictum gravius") so were faced with excommunication, ie, they are excluded from the Church's sacraments. Bishop Scheuer wanted yesterday evening to deliver Rome's decree, but this was rejected by both. The President of the platform "We are Church" and those who helped launch the Church referendum were "shocked by the intervention" of Rome.

Already in 2011 Jozef Neviadomski, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Innsbruck and professor of dogmatics, pointed out that Frau Dr. Heizer is "presented in public media, 'as a theologian'". Such qualification confers on it "the aura of expertise, which she still - at least in an academic context - has never earned". Neviadomski pointed out that Heizer has "neither theology nor religious education studies," but she was been employed "for many years as an assistant in the area of ​​religious education at the Theological Faculty of Innsbruck" as a PhD educator. The Dean stated: "Your teaching has been considered quite valuable to the Faculty but was characterized by systematic usurpation of competences in things theology, a process that was not legitimized by an appropriate effort in study. The fact is that parts of the faculty had advised for years before the rejection of the self-classification as a theologian, that this had the potential for conflict, even as the affected person was its origin."


Link to Kath.net...

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Edit: But they're also sending a visitor to the Sister of the Immaculate, according to Rorate.
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