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”.

SSPX Sisters of Carmel Leave Brilon Wald Opt for Bishop Williamson

The Carmel Sisters clarification, who will leave the SSPX before long, will be relocating their cloister to southern Germany. Furthermore, because of SSPX Bishop Williamson who was excluded because of disobedience,  is asked by the sisters to exercise jurisdiction. The sisters want to leave their enclosure in the future "regularly"  to ensure their livelihood.

The Communication was briefly the reason for the rift with the SSPX, but lacks concrete will. It is argued generally that, in the run of the German district of the SSPX company Sarto (publisher and bookstore) doubtful books are distributed and published in the finances are newspaper Ecclesiastical Umschau "continuously publishing offensive items by conservative representatives of the official Church." Otherwise they refer to unnamed “websites of resistance", where the “Liberalism" of the Society of St. Pius X.  has been “collected in evidence".

Sister Marie Theonilla worked before joining the camel as a hair stylist and was, after making her final vows. the German founding prioress Brilon Wald. The monastery has been unable to hold the many vocations of sisters. The women who left the convent before taking their vows have been critical, including the censorship of the Prioress. Back in the 80s and 90s the Prioress would cut the articles from publications of the Fraternity of St. Pius X before passing them on to the sisters. Currently, eight sisters live in the community, which was founded in 1984.

Their announcement concludes with an appeal for donations in the amount of 700.000, - € for a "small building”.

Text: Linus Schneider

Translated: Tankard

Link to Katholisches...

Arrested for Hoodie with Pro-family Message in Paris

Paris is tolerant. The city was ruled by the left for a year. One thing you must not do: is to be seen walking in the city center in a public park with a hoodie that has the symbol of the mass demonstration for family and against the legalization of gay marriage.  There were 1.4 million people protesting against the policy of the Leftist government of Hollande in the rally on the 24th of March at Manif pour tous  in Paris. The icon shows a stylized man, a woman and a child, holding each other's hands. The police then took Franck Talleu into custody as he was merely walking with his wife and his children through the Jardin de Luxembourg. The father was taken to the nearest police station. He was charged along with his clothes that “offended common decency”  because they "provoked opposition” on his hoodie and thus could "jeopardize public safety". On the 24th March, the Paris police hit the headlines with their crackdown on the protesters  when they used tear gas against peaceful demonstrators of families and their children.

Link to katholisches…

Photo from here…

Text: Giuseppi Nardi

*Edit: the original author, who writes in German, uses the word “gay" so I translate it that way.  Although I avoid the word myself, that’s what he calls it.

SSPX Protests Holds Prayer March in Freiburg Against Abortion

Leftists Weren’t Able to
Stop Them

E
Edit: it’s interesting to take note from time to time about the Society’s efforts in Germany where they still play a significant role in culture and politics on behalf of the Church against Her enemies.

[piusbruderschaft.de] On Friday, April 5th, the Society of St. Pius X held their yearly prayer march against abortion in Freiburg city center.

Lefto Fascists attempted to interfere with their free speech by disturbing the prayer march.  Through the professional intervention of the Freiburg police, the officially approved demonstration was allowed to continue without any further problems.  Left radicals, who put themselves in the way, were dispersed by three appeals to their sensibility with a special unit of police.

During the procession through the city center, the estimated 200 Catholics -- most young -- continued with their prayers and songs for the children murdered in their mother’s wombs.  The interlopers were kept well in check by the police.

Herr Walter Ramm, president of Action Leben, held a concluding speech at the Kartoffelmarkt.  From afar, the horns and shouts could still be heard.

See the collage at piusbruderschaft.de...

Second Annual Mass in Honor of Blessed Karl of Austria, Veneration of Relic, Conference & Luncheon, Sunday 21 April, 2013 - Christendom Restoration Society

Blessed Karl Habsburg

Sunday, 21 April 2013, 1:00 PM
(Holy Rosary & Confessions begin at 12:30 PM)
Veneration of the Relic After Mass 
Saint Titus Church 952 Franklin Avenue
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania 15001 

Celebrant: Fr. Gregory Plow, TOR
Franciscan University of Steubenville

Luncheon & Conference Immediately After Mass
in St. Titus Church Hall 

Featured Speakers:
Suzanne Pearson Founder of the Blessed Karl Shrine St. Mary's Church, Washington, DC
Topic: Blessed Karl's exile, death, and burial on the Madeira Islands

Raymond de Souza, KM Director of Evangelization and Apologetics, Diocese of Winona, MN and
EWTN Series Host
Topic: The Dictatorship of Relativism and 
the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Second Annual Mass in Honor of Blessed Karl of Austria, Veneration of Relic, Conference & Luncheon, Sunday 21 April, 2013 - Christendom Restoration Society

John Paul II Square Will be Dedicated by Pope Before Enthronement

And they found something in old storage.

This Sunday, Pope Francis will take possession of the Lateran Basilica of Rome.  Shortly before the actual enthronement occurs, however, there will be another ceremony: the square in front the Roman General Vicarate, which has been called “Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano”, will be renamed “Largo Beato Giovanni Paolo II”.  Pope Francis will unveil the new street sign on Sunday at 5pm, which will be followed by a solemn Mass in the Basilica of St. John Lateran for the enthronement of Pope Francis on the See of Rome.

John Paul II, the predecessor of the current Pope had died after a long illness on April 2 of 2005  On May 1st of 2011, he was beatified after one of the shortest processes of Church history.  An inscription on the plaque will recall this date.  At the ceremony, among other things, the Cardinal Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, Agostino Vallini, and the Roman mayor Gianni Alemanno will be present.

Link to Vatican Radio.de...

Adult Baptisms Grow 20% in France

French Catholics Demonstrate Against Gay Marriage on
April 6, 2013, Saturday

In France baptisms have grown in the last five years by 20 percent. There were about 5,000 adults baptized on Eastern Vigil in France.

This is from a press report of the French Bishops Conference on March, 25 2013.

The photo above was taken at a stations of the cross in France, protesting against gay marriage. This quote was from a commenter on the Facebook site of a defense of marriage site in France:

“Peace will return to the world when the White Flower against sits on the throne of France…” 

 XII century, Prophesy of St. Hildegarde. 

 Note: In many professes, the Grand Monarch will be called “Flower of the Lilly” or “white flower”. The florentine lilly is a symbol of the monarchy of France.

Source, Katholisches….

Archdiocese of Vienna: “Cardinal Schönborn Will be Treated Like a Film Star"

If not Pope yet, maybe just a film star? -- Eminence, isn’t this self-celebration on the internet site of your own Archdiocese not already painful enough?

Waiting on -- no, not Cardinal and soon to be film star Christoph Schönborn -- but 
the Holy Father. Even today Vienna asks, who the Cardinal gave his second vote to.
[Photo catholiccurch/Mazur]

Maybe Cardinal Schönborn is in mind to become a film star, since he’s come during a visit to his biological brother as a dancer at “Dancing Stars” on Austrian National Television: “If I won’t be Pope, I’ll be a (Dancing-) Star.” -- an evil and also untrue representation.

Such was the report of the internet site of the Archdiocese of Vienna unbelievable: “The bleachers on St. Peter’s Square are already built, camera teams while around and are seeking Cardinals ready to be interviewed”, thus wrote Michael Pruller, the press speaker of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn in an interview with Radio Stepensdom, the voice in Rome.”

Und further: “The media interest is huge, reported Michael Pruller. Many media wished they’d sent camera teams to Rome. Noramlly, there is a burial in such a situation, over which they could report.” -- Cardinal Schönborn had to fill in as a replacement for the missing funeral report.

Similarly exciting followed the art society site of the Archdiocese to the Archbishop in Rome: “Before yesterday evening, as the Cardinal in the Church of St. Bartholomeo, he brought over a delic of St. Restituta Kafka, while there were at least five camera teams outside the door, which filmed him like a film star, as he came out of the church and climbed into the car.” -- this was the same St. Sister Restituta, who was ridiculed during a Bolshevik-pornographic exhibition in the St. Barbara Chapel in St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

The film expert asked himself, what this “at least five camera teams” means: the mathematic ineptitude of the reporter or in the excstatic appearance of the Viennese Cardinal and just as wildly stampeding camera people, which could have confused the counting?

The Cardinal must have (!) refused "Dozens of interview questions”, which “began to address the internal proceedings of the Cardinal. Because these were also under the confidentiality ban.”

Our Contribution to the Return of Reality

Shortly will be the anniversary of Schönborns “Sin at Stuetzhofen”, where the Cardinal earned by kreuz.net’s advertisement of the term of endearment “Porno” -Cardinal (after his insult of Sister Restituta in Stepensdom), the name “Homoporn”-Cardinal:  the affirmation of the homosexual parish council in Stutzenhofen with the successive ouster of the Parish Pastor.

In remembrance of the matter there will be a review in the coming weeks.

Cardinal Schönborns prophesy that the scandal at the Homo-Parish Council will “be followed by me for long”, should not remained unfulfilled.

Link to kreuz.net...

Pope to Be Enthroned on Sunday, April 7

Edit: We were wondering when Pope Francis was going to be enthroned in his basilica. Here it is. The ceremony will take place tomorrow. It will be interesting to see the pageantry.

The ceremony takes place on Sunday 7 April at 17:30, in St. John Lateran. Pope Francis will co-celebrate the mass with Cardinals Vallini and Ruini

VATICAN INSIDER STAFF ROME

Tomorrow at 17:30 CET, Pope Francis will celebrate a solemn Eucharist and his enthronement as Bishop of Rome in the Arch-Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Cardinal Vicar, Agostino Vallini, Emeritus Vicar, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Bishops’ Council of the Diocese and the Council of Parish Prefects will be co-celebrating. Also attending will be Rome’s priest and students from the city’s Major and Minor Seminaries, the Redemptoris Mater, the Almo Collegio Capranica and the Oblates of the Oblates of Our Lady of Divine Love, as well as members of the Pontifical Chapel, in accordance with the Motu Proprio “Pontificalis Domus”. Communion will be offered by 75 permanent deacons and the Choir of the Diocese of Rome will offer musical accompaniment to the liturgy.

The Pope will be enthroned before the start of mass. After the enthronement, some Diocese representatives will pledge obedience and filial devotion to him on behalf of the Church of Rome. Representatives include: Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini; Mgr. Filippo Iannone; Vicar to Capitulate, Mgr. Luca Brandolini; Mgr. Pasquale Silla, parish priest of Santa Maria del Divino Amore in Rome’s Castel di Leva area (dean of parish priests); Fr. Daniele Natalizi, parish vicar of Santa Maria Assunta and San Michele in Rome’s Castel Romano area (the youngest in terms of ordination and age, he was ordained in 2012); Fr. Gianpaolo Pertici, Permanent Dean of the Nativita' di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo parish, in the Appio Latino district; Fr. Marco Bellachioma, a member of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual and diocesan secretary of the Italian Conference of Major Superiors (CISM); Sister Maria Giuseppina Abruzzini, a Salesian nun and diocesan secretary of the Union of Italian Major Superiors (USMI); Marco and Monica Curzi’s family with their four children: Francesco (11), Marta (10), Alessandro (9) and Paolo (6); Sofia Presciutti and Massimo Presti from the Diocese of Rome’s young people’s pastoral service.

The liturgy will be celebrated by 13 Seminarists from Roman Pontifical Major Seminary along with 2 Roman Seminarists from the Almo Collegio Capranica and assistant deacons Alberto Daniel Lopez Pantano (of Argentinean origin) and Fr. Giuseppe Conforti, both of whom will be ordained presbyters for the Diocese of Rome this coming 21 April.

Link to Vatican Insider….

Irish Bishops Threaten State They Will Opt Out of Civil Marriages if Aberrosexual Marriage is Passed

Edit: There must be something wrong with this poll. Maybe it was restricted to a small geographical locale in Dublin? The Irish Bishops have issued a stern warning, though… according to the Examiner. Ireland currently recognizes civil marriages between aberrosexuals.

Of course, Catholic priests won’t solemnize these “unions” and have vowed to withdraw from solemnizing civil unions at all.

'Any change to the definition of marriage would create great difficulties and in the light of this if there were two totally different definitions of marriage the church could no longer carry out the civil element,’ say the Irish Bishops.

A new opinion poll shows that 66% of Irish voters support changing the law to allow for full same-sex marriage.

The Behaviour and Attitudes poll for today's Sunday Times shows that support for the change is strongest amongst women and younger voters, while more than half of voters over 55 were also in favour of gay marriage.

Just over a quarter of those surveyed believe the law should remain unchanged, with provision for civil partnership.

Meanwhile, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is expected to re-affirm his support for same-sex marriage when he addresses the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA) conference in Dublin today.

It is the first time the conference has come to Ireland.

Mr Gilmore will deliver the closing address at the event, making it first time in its history that the conference will have been addressed by a country's deputy leader.

The conference is addressing how to advance equality in economically challenging times.

ILGA-Europe is the largest LGBTI non-governmental organisation membership network in Europe and represents over 350 organizations.

Back in November there were allegedly 53% supporting aberrosexual marriages, now it is apparently %66, although wikipedia insists that there is 73% support for it in Ireland. Now there is 66% apparently. Same-sex marriage removes biological identity... Another thing is that when sports stars endorse something, it’s probably not a very good idea. Of course, Jeremy Irons is more sensible on the issue.

Swiss Television Broadcasts a Documentary about the SSPX

(Econe) Télévision Suisse Romande (RTS), the public broadcaster for the French speaking Switzerland broadcast a short documentary about the SSPX on 23 March on their channel RTS.

Founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the SSPX has had no canonical recognition since 1975. One approach initiated, beginning in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI., which culminated in 2011 to a concrete agreement talks, has led to no result yet. Shortly before his resignation the Pope indicated that he would leave the question of his successor.

Benedict XVI. has offered the Society a canonical recognition by the establishment of a personal prelature. At the same time the Fraternity was given a “Doctrinal Preamble", whose signing was made a condition for the recognition. The Society currently rejects the formula contained therein with which it is to recognize the Second Vatican Council. The response of the Society to the “Doctrinal Preamble" is pending.

Link to Katholisches…

Instead of Guido Marini, Again a New (Old) Master of Ceremonies? -- Piero Marini in Audience with Pope Francis

(Vatican) Will Piero Marini soon be in charge of the Papal liturgies? The Papal Master of Ceremonies Monsignor Guido Marini, put into practice the Liturgical renewal of Pope Benedict XVI., is to be again replaced by Monsignor Piero Marini and thus his predecessor, will again be his successor? These questions were posed today by the church historian and Catholic blogger Francisco Fernandez de la Cigoña. "If that should happen, the pope would clearly express what liturgical taste is. The exact opposite of Benedict XVI." said de la Cigoña.

The Pope has every right to appoint a new master of ceremonies, or to resume the one he has. The Archbishop Piero Marini, the pope was received today by Francis in an audience, “must mean nothing, but it can mean a lot," said de la Cigoña.

Archbishop Piero Marini was master of ceremonies under Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI. replaced him in 2007 by Monsignor Guido Marini. Despite the similarity of names the two represent entirely different Marinis of liturgical sensibilities. The reigning master of ceremonies Guido Marini comes from the Genoese school of Cardinal Siri.

Should Piero Marini be brought back, "we know exactly what liturgy appeals to the Pope and what does not. Some idea we have already,” said the Spanish church historian.

The official daily newsletter of the Vatican Press Office on 4 April under "Audiences" reported:
The Holy Father Francis has received in audience this morning:

His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

The Pope receives in audience this morning:

His Eminence Cardinal James Michael Harvey, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

Link to Katholisches...

Francisco de la Cigoña on the Worth of the Papal Office

“Must the Pope bless every pizza at a restaurant in Trastevere before running cameras?”

(Madrid/Rome) The Spanish Church Historian Francisco Fernández de la Cigoña, who is the Spanish speaking world famous Catholic, non-Traditionalist blogger, is among the most bitter critics of Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio as Archbhishop of Buenos Aires. That of all things the Argentine Primate had, of all the Cardinals, been considered as the possible successor of Benedict XVI. the fisher of men, a few hours before the election of Pope Francis, while he criticized him in connection with the most recent occupation at the Cathedral of Buenos Aires, must have been quite a shock.

De la Cigoña has commented on the Habemus Papam therefore with as much professional discipline, as Catholic devotion: “Cardinal Bergoglio is dead, long live Pope Francis!”

On multiple occasions he has stressed since that there is little sense in criticizing someone during the first 100 days of their office. Much more, he published several times the statements of the new Pope, which made him “feel very good”. After 20 days of the new Pontificate it seemed that at least at one point the self-imposed threads of patience are torn. On Eastern Monday he published a long commentary under the title The Pope is Neither a Pastor Nor a Bishop. Then he addressed the most striking gestures of the Pontificate in the first weeks, which to give the to the faithful instead of blessing, a media staged, but less religious one with the thumbs up high after which the motto appeared “Everything is super, everything great”. Had anyone had noticed this, that this gesture is not universally hailed as positive throughout the world, like in Turkey, where it is understood as an invitation to homosexual depravity?

We have documented the following commentary by Francisco Fernández de la Cigoña in English from another German translation (since no one has a Spanish one yet):

 The Pope is Neither a Pastor Nor a Bishop


by Fernández de la Cigoña

As always I am opposed to giving you my personal opinions, which should not be shared. It is not the voice of the Church, if I also try to speak of this. Sometimes I am successful, other times not. Not from a lack of will, but from a lack of knowledge.

What is expected of Pope Francis, so to us, at least until now, have been sold this picture of the Pope as pastor or of the Pope as Bishop: he is so simple and so humble, that he doesn’t want to be Pope. And he conceals his Papalness, where only he can. With his shoes as with his ring, with his pectoral cross and with his clothes, with his living quarters and with his bearing… he lives with everyone, he talks with everyone and it seems, as if he wouldn’t know anything else. He has not once been a Primus inter pares. Not to the Cardinals, and not once to the Bishops, to the priests, the gardener…

At the end of his daily Mass he greets the concelebrants and the faithful, who have participated, at the chapel door as a pastor. He calls his friends on the telephone, in order to wish them Happy Easter, he hurries then to pay for his lodging and some days we will see him on television, as he is polishing his already famous black shoes. Some already play the game “Where is the ring?” with the question, if he will wear the ring of the Pope today, of a Bishop or even none.

Nothing of this must be the object of criticism, even when one must not be pleased by them, which not many do. And although he also is still does the opposite of those things, which happened in past pontificates: “He is also good and not Bendict or John Paul”. Even if the wish of Pope Francis may be strange.

We have been moved by a minimalistic Pope in his appearance as Pope. We were not accustomed to it. We normal Catholics, excepting those, who would only rely on our judgements, but dismiss the Church, have such a special respect for the representative of Christ, that all forms of earned respect seem too little. And in the course of the centuries many forms have taken root. Some were already untimely by the turn of the century, like the Sedia Gestatoria and the Tiara. It was time, that they were taken away to become museum pieces. Without that something is passed. I think however, that it is good, that the representative of Christ, should be addressed with respectful love. And that it would not be good for him to be stripped in this respect or that he should strip himself of these things.

In Spain we had a pitiful Bishop “shoe I will call Ramon”, who, though he is still living, will be forgotten by everyone. I will not say that this is the case, but there is already a certain similarity which horrifies me. It is not attractive for all, nor is it however repellent for many. To seek out those nearby is surely good, but without overfamiliarity and tastelessness.

God uses the unexpected ways, so that His Grace can enter the hearts of men. And some of them can without a doubt be the frugality and humility of a Pope. It can be. Surely it is, however, not. Does one receive these assurances when the Pope on one day blesses the pizza in a restaurant on Trastevere? And kisses the lady cook, because she has prepared it so well? And all of this before running cameras? I have the impression, it can be, that I am wrong, that everyone doesn’t like this, completely on the contrary.

The Pope has possession of an office, which ranges far above that of a priest or a bishop. Every one will feel according to his personal inclinations. Yet he must partly order the personal inclinations according to his immense responsibility, which has loaded this office on his person. And because the eyes of the whole World are upon him.

This is my opinion. Right or wrong. And this is how I sum it up as such.

Übersetzung: Giuseppe Nardi 
Bild: UCCR
Translation: Tancred 
Link to Katholisches…
AMGD

Cabbalistic-Occult Rituals in a Catholic Retreat House in Buenos Aires

Edit: this was posted earlier. It’s a report from the site Pagina Catolica.  We still don’t think anything has been done.  This is the article as it appeared on January 28th 2012.

(Buenos Aires) In various Argentine retreat houses, Catholic religious communities may offer Magic Seminars, in which occult teachings are introduced. Here are "alchemistical and cabbalistic rituals" which even yet profane the chapels and altars of the retreat houses.

The most recent incident took place last weekend in the Contemplative House of St. Francis of Assisi of the Capuchins in the Diocese by the same name in the Province of Buenos Aires. From the 24th to the 27th of January was "Maga Hania & Conspiradores" in the retreat house "in accion". An equivalent of 420 Euro allows those interested to be introduced to the "cabbalistic rosary" and "alchemistical novenas", in order to become acquainted with the "Alchemy of Love" and the occult secrets of the attractivenss of "Venus Aphrodite”.

The seminar program also included a "magian night ritual" in the "clothing of Aphrodite" in the swimming pool of the contemplative house, in order to obtain the "energetic controls" of the "currents of magnetic love". All of this are naturally for the "enlightenment of the world and of people”.

Link...