Priestly Celibacy "in the Example of Christ" -- Cardinal Secretary: "One can talk about it, but without haste"

(Rome) at the Pontifical Gregorian University  a star-studded conference on priestly celibacy was held in the past week. Celibacy was talked about from the 4th-6th February  as a constitutive element of the priesthood and defend to this. The planning for the conference began in the last period of the pontificate of Benedict XVI. It was carried out now at a time, since there is   grumbling around Pope Francis and a number of his collaborators, claiming he was thinking abandoning  priestly celibacy, which only the Latin Church had realized and preserved in the two thousand year history of Christianity. Therefore,  the opening address by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops and the closing speech by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin were awaited with particular anticipation.

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Both defended their remarks on priestly celibacy energetically and brought a wealth of theological arguments. Priestly celibacy has remained in practice, despite the challenges and many difficulties. 

"The tradition of priestly celibacy goes back to the Apostles and follows the example of Jesus Christ"

Cardinal Ouellet founded his remarks in the New Testament and the example of Jesus Christ, from which priestly celibacy is deduced. He confirmed, however, that the issue is conceived as "controversial" after 2000 years.

"The Church tradition of celibacy and abstinence of the cleric did not arise just at the beginning of the 4th century as something new, but rather, was - both in the East and the West - the confirmation of a tradition that goes back to the apostles. As the Council of Elvira in Spain 306  confirmed  that the priests have the duty to live in perfect continence, it is important to understand that this need in the early years of the Church was for both celibacy and the ban against marriage as well as also the perfect abstinence for those who were already married."

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

The remarks made by Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin were expected with more expectation. When the then Nuncio was appointed by Pope Francis at the head of the Roman Curia in September 2013, he stressed in an interview the striking fact that priestly celibacy was  "no dogma" and could therefore be "discussed". As the institutionally highest ranking appointee of Pope Francis and personally selected as well, his statements have special weight.

Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin: "You can talk about it, but without haste and constructively"

The Cardinal Secretary of State it was then, that where in the conference the door was closed, he yet  opened the door relatively the widest towards possible exceptions. The door to exceptions had already been opened in the Second Vatican Council. The most visible manifestation of this are since then in the Latin Church, permanent deacons who may be married at the time of the diaconate. These so-called "viri probati"  are considered by some since then as a "precursor" the abolition of celibacy   following the example of the Greek Church.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin

The Eastern churches have not kept celibacy and allowed wide exemptions. The bishops and monks are celibate, while the diocesan clergy is married. This has the consequence that all bishops come from the monastic life. Whoever is married at the time of consecration, he can remain as a secular priest. After the consecration, marriage or remarriage is excluded also in the Eastern Church. An inner-Church ascent for lowly married  secular clergy is not possible.

Cardinal Parolin said:

Celibacy is a vocation, which is seen in the Latin Church as particularly appropriate for those who are called to the priestly office. The celibate spirituality of the presbyter is a "positive" constructive intent, aiming that the people of God has always defended from the danger of corruption and bourgeoisification of the radical free shepherd.

And further:

To acknowledge the level, which this intent brings  with it, but it does not exclusively, as the Second Vatican Council in Presbyterorum ordinis said,  by declaring that it was not " demanded by the nature of the priesthood itself (is), as the practice of the earliest Church and the tradition of the Eastern Churches show where there are also married priests of the highest merit,  along with those who choose the celibate life out of the grace-like appeal together with all the bishops."

And as well:

The Catholic Church has never forced upon the Eastern Churches the celibate decision. On the other hand, it has allowed exceptions in the course of history as in the case of married Lutheran, Calvinist or Anglican pastors who - received into the Catholic Church - received a dispensation to receive the Sacrament of Orders. This happened already during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII. in 1951

Recently, 2009, the motu proprio Anglicanorum coetibus of Benedict XVI. allowed the establishment of territorial dioceses of the Latin Church allowed where  Catholic priests were consecrated to hold office who were former Anglican pastors.

In the wake of the massive emigration of Catholics from the Middle East, Pope Francis allowed in 2014 with the papal decree, Praecepta de clero uxorato orientali,  married oriental priests to act in the Christian communities of the diaspora and thus outside their historical areas, where previous bans forbid it.

In the current situation then,  a kind of "sacramental emergency" is frequently emphasized by the lack of priests, particularly in some areas. This has given rise to the question of contingency from multiple sides in the question  to consecrate the so-called "viri probati".

If the problem does not appear to be unimportant, it is surely not imperative to make hasty decisions and only due to emergencies. Yet it is also true that with the needs of evangelization, together with the history and the diverse traditions of the Church, the opportunity for legitimate debate leaves open the door, when they are motivated by the proclamation of the Gospel and are led in a constructive manner, while always preserving the beauty and importance of the celibate decision.

Celibacy is a gift that requires it to be accepted with joyful perseverance and maintained, so that it can bring real fruits. To live it profitably it is necessary that every priest all his life long feels as a disciple on the road, which sometimes requires the rediscovery and strengthening of his relationship with the Lord and also "healing".

The Department of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin " The in persona Christi ordained priests " in full length (the original in Italian).

Text: Giuseppi Nardi

Image: MiL/ Chiesa e postconcilio/ kairosterzomillenio (screenshots) 

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

"Homo-Bishop" Vera Lopez: "Pope Francis is, 'muy cuco'"

(Mexico City) Bishop Raul Vera Lopez of Saltillo in Mexico, because of his social commitment and recently his activism known through the Church for the recognition of homosexuality, is the media favorite ahead of a Pastoral Visit by Pope Francis in Mexico. On Sunday, El Universal , the largest daily newspaper in the country published an interview with him. The bishop described Pope Francis as "muy hábil, muy cuco", as "very clever, very clever."

Pope Francis has "numerous changes" ahead, but they seem "more cosmetic" says El Universal . It was a statement with which Bishop Vera Lopez disagreed because "the problem" is the priests: "We are the problem." [You got that right.]

As regards the remarried divorcees, the Bishop hopes for the synod, as Pope Francis "is very skilled, very skilled, muy cuco', as my people say, very smart." The people, says the bishop, would expect the Church to be more "human". He knew people who would leave the Church because of this matter. "That's what it's like with the gays," said Vera Lopez.

El Universal : Let's talk about this topic: you celebrating mass with the gay flag. Should the Church recognize the marriage between two persons of the same sex?

Vera Lopez: Their identity is their identity. I think we in the Church have to be much more objective and should examine the subject, but from a different angle.

"It is a question of mentalities"

El Universal : From the point of view that we are all children of God?

The Scriptures have been conceived as "too narrow," so the bishop. The biblical story is not about homosexuality but about unethical exploitation. The people of Sodom were barbarians, the city an economic center. There was much lack of respect for the person there. The narrative described moral decline. "Reading will show us," said Vera Lopez.

El Universal : So, it's a battle of interpretations?

Vera Lopez: No, it's a battle of mentalities, not the interpretations.

Bishop Vera Lopez belongs to a small circle of church and media representatives with whom Pope Francis will meet behind closed doors in confidential meetings during his Mexico trip.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: El Universal (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Newspaper of the French Bishops Seeks Lifting of Excommunication for Freemasons

(Paris) On the 26th of November 1983, the Roman Congregation reaffirmed with  Pope John Paul II's  express approval, a declaration of incompatibility of Freemasonry with the Catholic Church.

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The ruling was then deemed necessary by then Prefect of the CDF, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Since  January 1983,  membership was in the Masonic lodge was not explicitly mentioned in the new Code of Canon Law, as it occurred in several countries, there was the assertion, including Austria, that Freemasons were no longer excommunicated. Catholics, therefore, asked Rome for clarification, and that took place with particular haste in November of the same year.

"The negative judgment of the Church on Masonic associations, therefore, remains unchanged because their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them continues to be prohibited. The faithful who belong to Masonic associations are therefore in the state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion."

This excommunication was reaffirmed and clarified:

"It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgement on  the nature of Masonic associations  which would imply a derogation of what is ruled from above."

La Croix wants a lifting of the excommunication for lodge brothers

Beschürzte lodge brothers

Nevertheless, there are "wordly Catholics" who brush aside  the excommunication or deny it flatly. "Some people have no qualms about openly showing their disapproval. Belonging to the Masonic Lodge is more important than obedience to the Church," said Corrispondenza Romana .

The most recent example is La Croix , the daily newspaper of the French Bishops' Conference . On January 25, it complained that there are many severe "exclusions" which are really "painful" that only include "Masons," "who profess the Catholic faith".

According to La Croix there are "judgments", like  that justified by the CDF justified and "understood" for a time in which the lodges were avowedly been anticlerical. Today, however, that is, at least according to the newspaper of the French Bishops' Conference, no longer the case.

Instead of a justification for this assertion, La Croix  introduces that omnipresent commitment to "dialogue" onto the field: "Is it really applicable in a context such as the present, that condemnation no longer benefits dialog?" In order to "liberate"  the apron clad brothers from the self-imposed exile from church, the   newspaper refers to the "Holy Year of Mercy", "Why not finally eliminate this charge from the category of 'serious sins' for the Year of Mercy?"

The daily paper of the French Episcopal Conference can think of no reason why the Masons should be excommunicated. To be precise, the newspaper makes no attempt to find a reason. It merely refers to a "past" that is no longer applicable now without explaining when to what and why it should be changed.

"The answer is quite simple. The accusation of grave sin can not be eliminated because Freemasonry has neither changed nor has ever done anything to change. Its goal is to be the destruction of  organic and natural society. It supports  positions and behaviors that are absolutely incompatible with the Catholic faith from an ethical and social point of view and those things about which they rather avowedly disagree, such as divorce, abortion, homosexuality, gender ideology, euthanasia and many others," said Corrispondenza Romana .

If the distance were  reduced, it would be because the progressive part of the Church have come closer with their "holes" to the positions of the lodges, "if it is not  result in a deadly embrace."

The outspoken condemnation on April 28, 1738 by Pope Clement XII. with the Bull In Eminenti   has lost none of its  validity. Most importantly, it leaves no room for doubt. "It would not be bad if those  in the daily newspaper of the French bishops consider it and perhaps would read this excommunication on occasion," said Corrispondenza Romana .

Vienna cathedral minister Toni Faber and his Aproned Lodge Brothers 

Among those who flout the current condemnation of Freemasonry, is Vienna's cathedral pastor, Msgr. Toni Faber. In 2010 he was with the former Grand Master of the Austrian Grand Lodge guest on the private television channel TW1.

When asked about the statement of the CDF and the excommunication upon entry into a lodge,  Faber said: instead of Cardinal Ratzinger we are more obliged  "thankfully, to Cardinal König".  In Austria, "Thank God, it's always" been "that Masons who have asked the Cardinal  König: 'Is it permissible for me as a sincere Catholic to belong in the Lodge,' have always received approval from him."

Faber gave the impression that the attitude to Freemasonry is merely personal judgment call. The "approval" that Cardinal König gave, according to Faber, however, was null and void because he had no responsibility to make the decision.

Faber's outspoken representation illustrates that ecclesiastical regulations are thwarted in the highest places. Faber was open in the broadcast  about his personal contacts with "many" Freemasons, which he invariably called "convinced Catholics", only to boast about them, because he could be sure  to be fear nothing from the supervising office.

The alleged harmlessness of the lodges by Toni Faber in 2010, and now of La Croix is so far that one might wonder why  supposedly "upright" and "convinced Catholics" find it important to live in disobedience to their own Church, to belong to an allegedly so harmless a club.

The video broadcast with Cathedral Pastor Faber, first published on Youtube, since deleted, can still be seen on Gloria.tv in German. 

Text: Giuseppe Nardi Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com Link to Katholisches... AMDG

Franciscan Appointee Resists Media Storm in Chile

Edit: he's not going anywhere.

VATICAN CITY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - A man who says he was sexually abused by a priest on Sunday delivered two letters addressed to Pope Francis from Chilean Catholics asking him to remove a Chilean bishop accused of protecting a notorious pedophile.

Juan Carlos Cruz delivered the letters with Peter Saunders, a prominent and outspoken British member of a papal advisory commission on sexual abuse by the clergy. Saunders on Saturday refused to step down despite a no-confidence vote, and said only the pope could dismiss him.

The letters were left for Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, the president of the commission, at a Rome guest house where the commission was meeting. O'Malley was asked to give them to the pope, Saunders and Cruz said.

http://m.aol.com/article/2016/02/07/chilean-alleges-sex-abuse-cover-up-asks-pope-to-sack-bishop/21309129/

AMDG

The Pope's Second Marxist Eco-Religion Video

(Rome) After the "unspeakable" Video (Messa in Latino) in January there is now a second Pope's video is being released, which is being billed again as "The video of the Pope". This time with the prayer intentions of the Pope for the month of February. Again, Pope Francis has personally turned to the world with a message.

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The first video was posted on Epiphany, January 6 on the social networks. On February 6, there now followed by the second video.

The intention in the first video with Pope Francis was "dialogue." Whether good or bad, it is crucial that we talk together. These Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists were on an equal footing and the religions were represented as equivalent: the baby Jesus next Menorah, Islamic prayer beads and a Buddha statue. The Pope was accused of syncretistic tendencies. The theologian Klaus Obenauer wrote, the Pope must choose: either Nathan the Wise, or Jesus Christ .

No prayer intentions but ecosocial behavior instructions

The second video is about the environment, the preservation of the planet and against environmental pollution. In the video the Pope calls for a "change" that "Frees us from the slavery of consumerism."  A "new life" is needed. "Because we need a change which unites us all."

The video is indeed broader than "prayer intentions of the Pope," but the Pope does not call  to pray, he calls for behaviors. The Pope calls for, instead to prayer,  the integrity of creation in terms of environmental protection. His request is: "Take care of the common home". Like the first video there is no question of prayer and prayer requests.

The video was again being disseminated by  the Apostleship of Prayer , an initiative entrusted to the Jesuits. It was produced again by the media and advertising agency La Machi Barcelona, under the supervision of the Vatican Television Center CTV.

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Celibacy: Is Pope Francis Going to Ordain Married Deacons to the Priesthood in Mexico?

(Rome) The divorced and remarried and homosexuality are only two fronts. Behind the scenes there is struggling in the Catholic Church about much more. A meeting began at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome this afternoon, whose theme in view of the circumstances of the time has been particularly explosive: "Priestlly celibacy is a path of freedom." The Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Marc Ouellet will be siding with the defense of priestly celibacy in the Latin Church. "But Pope Francis gave the German bishops again to understand that he wants to break with this tradition", said Vatican expert Sandro Magister.

Novus Horror Missae: Clarification on Star Wars Mess

Edit: Michael Hichborn sent this to us last week. Better late than never. I would have thought that after Dale Fushek that people would have cooled on this sort of thing.

The following "explanation" of the liturgical banality appeared on the pastor's Facebook page.

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/msgrjamie.gigantiello?fref=ts

God bless,

I just got this statement ostensibly from St. Bernard of Clarivaux Church posted to the comments section of my article on the matter:

"At the parish of St. Bernard, we celebrate the Family Mass every Sunday at 11:30AM. At this liturgy, the children of the parish are invited to processes in with the priest and sit in the sanctuary until the conclusion of the Homily, at which point they return to their parents in the pews for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. At the Family Mass, different scenes taken from the popular culture and the daily experience of the children are used to assist the celebrant relay the message of that week’s Gospel to the children. The Family Mass is occasionally followed with, upon the conclusion of Mass, a social for the families held in the school auditorium or in the parish garden. Examples of such Family Masses include All Saints Day when the children dress in the costume of their favorite saint, Pumpkin Patch Sunday, Ice Cream Sunday Sunday, the Backpack Blessing Sunday which is held the week school begins, Monthly Class Mass, and other which are held for our children and families throughout the year.

In the instance of Star Wars, this is a very popular film series among children and their parents. The intention of this Mass is to be a way to enhance the children’s understanding of the difference between good and evil and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The children were invited to dress in costumes of characters from Star Wars and participate in the same way they normally do at each Family Mass. Upon the conclusion of the Mass, refreshments will be provided for the families in the school auditorium, along with appearances by some of the characters from the movie in the auditorium.

At St. Bernard Parish, we are always looking for ways to engage our young people and instruct them in the ways of our Catholic faith and tradition."

Possumus et Non Possumus- Sermon of Archbishop Luigi Negri in St. Peter's

(Rome) The highlight of the 4th International Pilgrimage Summorum Pontificum was  the Pontifical Mass in the Immemorial Mass of All Ages at the grave of the apostle Peter  in St. Peter's Basilica. The celebrant was Bishop Juan Rodolfo Laise OFMCap, Emeritus of San Luis in Argentina. The sermon was by Msgr. Luigi Negri, Archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio and Titular Prelate of Pomposa. The Archbishop of Ferrara belongs, because of his clear language,  authentic style and his willingness not to play favorites is one of the exceptional personalities in the European episcopate. His episcopal chair was therefore sawed violently last with sharp shots, as it was assumed that he wished for the imminent death of Pope Francis. 

In his speech without notes, he went to the twofold position of the Church in its evangelizing mission to humanity. It  should be seized by what it's received, and Christianize. It must at the same time keep away from  worldliness and resolutely reject what is contrary to the teachings of Christ, however. 

As Archbishop Negri held his sermon, found a few meters away, there  was great anxiety about the vote on the final report of the Family Synod. The Synod Fathers also included Cardinal Carlo Caffarra who originally should have given the sermon, which was then given by  Archbishop Ferrara  because of the scheduling conflict.

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IV. International Pilgrimage Summorum Pontificum ad Petri Sedem

Homily of Msgr. Luigi Negri

Archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio 
St. Peter's Basilica 
Saturday, October 24, 2015

Praised be Jesus Christ
forever, Amen.

The Gospel reading of today's liturgy recalls the great expectation of the salvation of all mankind, to the expectation of the poor, the humble and the distressed. This expectation is like the circles that are drawn in the water when suddenly something is thrown in, because anyone can enter the water and participate in such a manner in the newness of life, which is identified with the Messiah of Israel.

There we have it! The expectation was fulfilled! The wait is over, because the coming of Christ has torn the heavens for all time, and he has entered into history - with all its greatness and all its miseries, with all its limitations and all its temptations, but - in the totality of history even with the immense capacity of the human being, from  generation to generation, to responsibly confront the problem of the destiny of his life and the goal with which he is called to rediscover it: the kingdom of God, which is already among us.

Christ is the new life in our midst: life is fully realized in Him, in the mystery of His death and resurrection and His ascension, a secret that was all communicated in the depth of our faith and revealed in the strength of our love.

It is the new life, because there is only one salvation. It is a new extension of the intelligence and of the heart, towards themselves,  others and the whole reality expressing itself in a new sensibility. This new humanity is in us as a grace, as a gift of faith, as undeserved truth that is offered to us generously in response to the great expectancy that moves our being.

Given this grace we can not be complacent and indulge in a fatalism that is not Christian. We must assume our responsibilities, that grace - the principle of new life within us, a seat of the new life in us - can mature in our humanity, penetrate it and unfold, but especially that by it unfolding in our humanity to principle of mission, we can communicate. Faith is given to us so that we can share it.

In Redemptoris Missio St.John Paul II. explained that the faith is strengthened by giving. The gratitude for the grace that was given to us, in the depths of our consciousness and in our daily lives is the intention to contribute to the great mission of Christ and the Church. A task that we should cooperate in with all our strength, in whichever areas of everyday life and whatsoever circumstances we will find ourselves, and at whatever place and in whatever capacity.

The Christian people has a great calling:  to communicate Christ in the new life every human being, so that every person is grasped by this grace and he in turn can learn this newness. The Christian responsibility is therefore, mission. It is the great and extraordinary lesson of the Church in its two thousand year history, often achieved with difficulty, often marked by numerous imperfections, but also by a lot of glory.

The Church is the inexhaustible presence of Christ's life, which is offered to all, even those who sometimes do not even want it, but who are excited by our presence as a witness, to look to Christ, perhaps for the first time in a world in which we live, who is so far from the presence of the Lord.

This mission has its identity and morality expressed in two great words that could and had to be pronounced by the Church in Its history: The first word is POSSUMUS.

In this word, in this posture the Church encountered mankind from generation to generation. The faith is encountered in reason, Christian freedom is encountered in human law. The things of the life of peoples and nations were inculturated to the Catholic faith, and more than once, this Catholic faith has made a decisive contribution to the expression to the forms of civilizations and cultures.

The Church and the world  encounter in POUSSUMUS. Seeking humanity has met with the Church that proclaims the God Who reveals himself. The human, personal and social existence, the great history of culture and civilization gets its meaning by the great Catholic culture that is not yet over and speaks to us through the various cultural expressions. Mission has had the great ability in the horizon of possumus to make a significant contribution to the growth of the personal and social human life.

The Church could and yet had to inevitably say another word: This second word is NON  POSSUMUS.

The Church had said on many occasions that it is not allowed to supplant the Church's presence in the life of society, to suppress the rights of God, to extinguish the rights of the Church and thus inevitably to the degradation of humanity, of its contribution the human and social life. NON POSSUMUS. There has never been a  moment in history, no matter how dramatic it may have been, especially in western Europe, where the Church often as  not sometimes stood alone, took up Its responsibility and has denied the legality of certain ideologies, the legitimacy of certain cultural, social has denied and political requirements.

The Church has excluded itself in its NON POSSUMUS   dialogue with the people, but denies that the ideologies may impact on their lives. The Church opposes them because they discourage and damage people, because they are directed against the mystery of life and to the mystery of love. The sanctity of fatherhood and motherhood, the most significant events in human life are overturned, smashed and replaced by completely unacceptable forms of personal, family or social life.

The Church will never only say POSSUMUS, just as She could  never only be able to say NON  POSSUMUS.  She must make in Her missionary responsibility, the encounter between Christ and the hearts of people possible, She must know how to find the right rhythm for the openings and closures, for the intellectual and moral acceptance and the rejection of all that the right hand of God contradicts.  Because by acting against the rights of God, it creates the preconditions for a decline, for a dehumanization of the human and social life. Especially it makes the society in which the Church lives a terrible experience.

Therefore, woe to us brothers, if we therefore replace the binomial POSSUMUS - NON POSSUMUS by a unilateral POSSUMUS that delivers Christendom to the prevailing mentality that makes the goal even of our lives, that which is sought by the world in its negative and diabolical objectives: the elimination of Christ and the Church. We can not accept the all too many events, initiatives and experiments are strongly marked by this well-intended Catholic world, which desires to please the world and to gain its support or applause. [See the Professional Catholics employed by various organs of the establishment.]

We want to see the face of Christ. This face of Christ lights below us in the beauty of the liturgy, and it leads us to the final glory of His countenance. The face, which is both Judge and Savior. We just want to direct our hearts and intelligence every day on the much beloved face of the Lord. For from Him will be born in us and in the world, a new intelligence. A new heart that makes  us love all men, which comes as part of the mystery of Himself to us revealing Christ to the world. That makes us feel the usefulness of our time and our lives solely to confirm Christ and not as confirmation of our strength and power. That's what we want.

Do we trust the Holy Church of God, the Virgin Mary, so that with the joy that comes from faith, we can also carry the burden of sacrifice of our daily lives - the life of the whole Church as well as the life of every one of us - so that the binomial is inseparable, which seems impossible to the mentality of the world: joy and sacrifice.

So be it.

Translation: Paix liturgique / Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Paix liturgique

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Modernist Abbey Shuffles and Whitewashes Predators

Edit: in these sad days, there are no menacing Dominican Inquisitors come like avenging angels to clean house. The devil and his minions are free to do as they please, with some help from the secular media (and the established dinosaur "religious" media) the neglect of the laity, and the malfeasance of the clergy, including even the pope himself, who is no stranger to giving a pass to his very special friends.

Regardless of the large amount of evidence to the contrary, Saint John's Abbey has decided to declare some of its most notorious offenders as not credibly accused and is attempting to reject accusations by a recent victim, and the parents of a  deceased former victim, the late Ben Spanier.  As we predicted, Saint John's Abbey is reinstating one predator, Father Tom Andert O.S.B. to active ministry. (We'd think taking a student on a tour of "gay" bars, and admitting to caressing one victim's forehead, would be enough for a permanent suspension. Hey, it's not like he has a preference for the Latin Mass!) It is unclear at this point whether Andert will be restored to his position as Prior after an upcoming year long sabbatical. We expect that the Modernist Abbey is waiting for things to blow over. It's also attempting to whitewash the reputation of the late Father Allen Tarleton O.S.B..

So far it seems like a large part of the press is willing to help them paint over their dirt. This falls under the column of, "if it were a conservative or neo-conservative institution or prelate, the lefty press and the local authorities would be more forthcoming and intervene category." Surely, Pope Francis, who has an unalloyed fondness for HIS sexual predators and enablers, won't be moved to do anything.  Compare the treatment St. John's gets compared to Archbishop John Nienstedt.  Abbott John Klassen is not only shifting predators around, but he's getting help to do it by the same press that pilloried Nienstedt. The difference?  Abbot Klassen isn't likely to oppose sodomarriage or teach the Catholic Faith we fear.

If you'll recall, Andert was accused of being a sexual predator this summer and stepped down from his post as Prior.  Despite the suicide of Ben Spanier one of Andert's likely victims, an in house review board  found that the accusations against both Andert and the recently deceased and self-confessed predator,  Tarleton.

Tarleton has a history of sexual abide going back to his attendance at St. John's Preparatory School, a high school run by Saint John's, since the fifties. He even admits drugging at least one of his victims before preying on them. 

It's difficult to understand how Saint John's can credibly maintain that these men were laudable given what they've admitted and written, but we live in sad times.

[Saint Cloud Times] Allegations of sexual abuse against the former prior of St. John's Abbey have been found to be unsubstantiated, according to Abbot John Klassen.

The allegations were made by a former St. John's Prep student in July and accused the Rev. Thomas Andert of abusing the student in 1979-80. The abbey retained independent counsel to investigate the allegations and, after a six-month investigation, it concluded that the claims were unsubstantiated.

http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/02/04/klassen-allegation-against-andert-unsubstantiated/79828136/

Father Tom Andert's love letters to the late Ben Spanier:

http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/fr-tom-anderts-love-letters-scanned/

Abbey's attempt to sanitize deceased predator (Graphic!)

http://www.behindthepinecurtain.com/wordpress/category/allen-tarlton/

Here's Church Militant helping to cover this:

http://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/benedictine-abbey-accused-of-releasing-abuse-victim-information

Helpful info about Andert from Ben Spanier's grieving and very angry parents.  Frankly, I'm still shocked Andert has a job, but then I wake up and remember that this is Collegeville we're talking about.

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/12/18/spanier-parents-seek-change-at-st-johns-minnesota

AMDG

Pope Francis to Meet With Moscow Patriarch in Communist Cuba

MOSCOW — Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill I of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba for the first time next Friday as part of an effort to heal a schism that has divided Christianity between East and West for nearly 1,000 years.

The meeting, the first ever between a sitting pope and Russian patriarch, will take place at José Martí International Airport, where the two will sign a joint declaration. Pope Francis will fly to Cuba before traveling on to Mexico for a six-day tour of the country.

“This meeting of the Primates of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, after a long preparation, will be the first in history and will mark an important stage in relations between the two Churches,” said a joint press release.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pope-and-russian-orthodox-leader-to-hold-historic-encounter-in-cuba/2016/02/05/1bba6e78-cbfe-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_story.html

SSPX: 45 New Seminarians Take Cassock

Read some news reports and see images of the reception of the cassock ceremonies in the SSPX's seminaries.

Throughout the world in the SSPX's seminaries, a total of 45 seminarians have taken the cassock, or clerical habit, during the 2015-2016 academic year. We offer some news and images of this important event, a formative step towards the ultimate goal of the sacred priesthood.

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St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Winona, MN, USA

On February 2, Bishop Bernard Fellay (the SSPX's Superior General), blessed the cassocks for 10 seminarians and gave the clercical tonsure to 8 other young men during the Pontifical Mass of Candlemas. He was assisted by Fr. Yves le Roux (seminary rector), Fr. Jurgen Wegner (U.S. District Superior), and Fr. Patrick Abbet (seminary vice rector).

Despite the the snowfall of 10 inches—which made travelling difficult for various families—the sacred ministers and servers did make a short procession outside with the lighted candles, celebrating Our Lord as the Light of revelation for the Gentiles. Read more and see an image gallery at the seminary's website (stas.org)>