Edit: yes, why do they? Here's an article by Damian Thompson:
[Spectator] When Fidel Castro died, Pope Francis ‘grieved’. That’s right: he grieved for the man who – in addition to murdering and torturing his opponents – spent half a century persecuting the Catholic Church in Cuba.
But perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised: when Francis visited the island last year, he was gushingly appreciative of the regime’s hospitality and pointedly ignored dissidents. Even the liberal Washington Post accused him of ‘appeasing the Castros in repressive Cuba’.
It all reminds me of the way, in my youth, churchmen soft-pedalled their criticism of Communist regimes because, whatever their ‘flaws’, they were supposedly on the side of the oppressed. Is that fair? I asked my guest on this week’s Holy Smoke podcast, Edward Lucas of the Economist, a leading authority on east-west relations.
You really have to hear what he said. Warning: if you are one of those hand-wringing clerical boobies who think Marxist tyranny is no worse than the excesses of free-market capitalism, then you won’t enjoy this podcast. Listen here:
Edit: this is a truly amazing and authentic Christian witness in one of the darkest places in the earth. Someone in Scotland must be doing some powerful prayer to be fortunate enough to have such apostles in their midst. At one point, they were being thrown out of their housing, because of their "anti-gay" views as of 2015. They appear to be absolutely fearless.
AN anti-gay Catholic monk sparked an unholy row when he barged his way into a church service screaming: “This is a synagogue of sin.”
Fanatical Damon Kelly, who leads a bizarre sect known as the Black Hermits, claimed he was “doing God’s work” by disrupting the Sunday prayers at two churches in Argyllshire.
Damon Kelly stormed into two churches shocking worshippers as he ranted he was doing “God’s work”
And yesterday as he appeared at Dunoon Sheriff Court the 54-year-old dodged jail as he ARGUED with a sheriff in the dock.
The court heard how the 54-year-old who was staying at a hotel in the town charged into St John’s Presbyterian Church dressed in black robes shouting and ranting in front of shocked churchgoers, the town’s sheriff court.
Then hours later he caused another rammy as Church of Scotland parishioners at a kirk in nearby Kirn were worshipping.
While Pope Francis continues his silence, the Jesuit General has commented on the Dubia (doubts), the controversial post-synodal Letter Amoris laetitia of four cardinals Brandmüller, Burke, Caffarra and Meisner.
On 14 October, Arturo Sosa Abascal was selected 31 Superior General of the Jesuits. The Venezuelan Jesuit has now entered into the public for the first time and does so with a defense of Pope Francis, who also belongs to the Jesuit Order.
So far, the new "Black General", as the Father General of the Jesuits is also called, has only been known for statements from the distant past. This includes primarily an essay on "the Marxist mediation of the Christian faith" from 1978. Whether he meant, or perhaps still thinks that the Communists "think as Christians think" is not known. At least it resembles Pope Francis, according to the recent interview with Eugenio Scalfari, on November 11 published by La Repubblica.
The Superior General of the Jesuits was interviewed by the Vaticanist Luigi Accattoli for the weekly supplement La Lettura the Corriere della Sera which appeared yesterday. "We can not resign ourselves to this world of injustice," the title says, referring to a quotation from the 31st Jesuit General. In the interview, the 68-year-old Venezuelan also explains "the roots of the new mission of the Church".
The Cardinals have either not understood the pope, or ...
Iinterview with P. Sosa Abascal (Corriere della Sera)
The new Superior General has entered the dispute about the confusion surrounding Amoris laetitia to help the beleaguered pope. The support is doubly anchored. The reigning pope himself is Jesuit. His Order is also bound by a fourth, special vow of loyalty and obedience to the Pope. The Jesuits form a kind of praetorian guard of the first Jesuit of the Church's history, who sits on the papal throne.
What the Jesuit General Sosa Abascal says of the Dubia of the four cardinals, should reflect on the matter, should reflect what the Pope thinks about it. Father Sosa admits only three possibilities of which there is no room for papal self-criticism: the Cardinals either did not understand the pope, or they were playing an evil game. If there is "ambiguity" in some passages of the Pontifical Letter Amoris laetitia, which could be the reason for the confusion and conflicting interpretations of the past few months, Sosa Absacal can not detect it.
Luigi Accatoli: What do you think of the letter of the four cardinals, including the Italian Carlo Caffarra, who asked the Pope to clarify five "doubts" on the letter Amoris laetitia? Francis has not yet replied, and they have published the letter. Are you concerned about these developments?
Arturo Sosa Abascal: I'm not worried. These four have taken the liberty of the word to which the Pope had invited them to do. I like this happening. In our language, as Jesuits, it is said that it is necessary to know the opinions of all in order to make a real distinction. Of course, the game must be loyal, if someone asks for clarification, because he has not understood, we move within the framework of loyalty. It would be different if someone used the criticism as a tool for an advantage, or asking questions cause trouble."
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Corriere della Sera / Wikicommons (screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com Link to Katholishes...
AMDG
SAN DIEGO, California, November 28, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy is calling on his city's priests to embrace "LGBT families," and to allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion in certain cases.
Following a much-hyped diocesan synod on the family last month, Bishop McElroy encouraged priests to publish a diocesan notice in their bulletins saying the Church will "assist those who are divorced and remarried and cannot receive an annulment to utilize the internal forum of conscience in order to discern if God is calling them to return to the Eucharist."
"The Synod proposed a spirituality of family life which is deeply inclusive," and embraces "LBGT families," the statement went on to say. "During the coming months Bishop McElroy will be working with a committee of synod delegates who will focus on the implementation of these goals."
Edit: there was a real attempt to roll back the mentally sick seminary formations that complained about "rigidity" and wanted to do away with rules. You always knew you were dealing with a communist of he complained about "rigidity". Now we have a pope who does this repeatedly. Surely he must be a communist. It could also be noted that clergy who complain about rigidity are suspect when it comes to the concrete demands of living a celibate life. Examples abound.
[Rorate] One of the increasingly prominent themes of the Franciscan pontificate is the need to combat "rigidity" among seminarians, the need to teach them "discernment" (especially by Jesuits) and the need to exercise "vigilance" over new vocations, so that "quality" is valued over "quantity". In early 2015, Francis spoke about the "problem" posed by "traditionalist" diocesan seminarians and their "imbalances" as reflected in the liturgy. Later that year (November), during an address to a major conference on priestly formation he again returned to this theme, using even stronger language that compared "confident, rigid, fundamentalist" seminarians to criminals and insinuated that they might be mentally ill:
Speaking off the cuff, Francis told a story about when he taught the novices of the Society of Jesus. A “good” boy didn’t pass the psychiatrist’s test and she said to Bergoglio: “These boys are fine until they have settled, until they feel completely secure. Then the problems start. Father, have you ever asked yourself why there are policemen who are torturers,” the doctor apparently asked Francis. The Pope told clergy that they must think twice when a young man “is too confident, rigid and fundamentalist”. Hence, his invitation to them to beware when admitting candidates to the seminary: “There are mentally ill boys who seek strong structures that can protect them”, such as “the police, the army and the clergy”.
Edit: here's an update on John Vennari. Please help him if you can. [CFN] Here is a recap and slight update regarding my medical condition. Thank you for showing such overwhelming concern for my situation.
On Aug. 11 I received a grave prognosis. I have a cancerous tumor in my colon and the cancer has spread to the peritoneum.
The only thing the cancer institute offers is chemotherapy. And even this is not something that will cure, but only contain it for a time.
As I am not interested chemotherapy, I am now pursuing alternative/natural means under the guidance of competent medical personnel, including an MD. It is a comprehensive protocol that has been helpful to others, but also involves an abrupt change in dietary and daily routine. I tell people I'm like a right-handed guitarist who suddenly must learn to play left-handed. It's all a matter of developing new habits. So far so good. Link to CFN site...
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said the death of Cuba's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro was "sad news" and that he was grieving and praying for his repose.
Francis expressed his condolences in a Spanish-language message to Fidel's brother, President Raul Castro on Saturday.
The pope, who met Fidel Castro when he visited Cuba last year, said he had received the "sad news" and added: "I express to you my sentiments of grief."
Fidel Castro, who was a professed atheist, was baptized as a Catholic and educated in schools run by the Jesuits, the religious order of which the pope is a member.
(Rome) Cardinal Raymond Burke, the eminent religious lawyer, does not hesitate tocontradict the assertion of Pope Francis, that the traditional Roman rite was "only an exception for nostalgics". Also one of the most famous liturgists, Don Nicola Bux, raises his contradiction.
Since 10 November, the new Pope's book (Nei tuoi occhi è la mia parola) "My Word is in Your Eyes" in bookstores. In this interview book with the Pope's confidant, Father Antonio Spadaro SJ, Pope Francis addresses the Latin Mass:
"The Latin Mass? Only one exception. Pope Benedict has made a proper and generous gesture to accommodate a certain mentality of some groups and persons who are nostalgic and have distanced themselves. But it is an exception. "
This was contradicted yesterday by Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the most renowned canon lawyers, referring to the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontifikum of Benedict XVI.
The Pope is also contradicted by one of the most famous liturgists, Don Nicola Bux. The interview was conducted by the Internet newspaper La Fede Quotidiana :
FQ: Don Nicola, is the traditional Roman rite an exception?
Nicola Bux: That's not what the Motu Proprio by Pope Benedict XVI says. Rather, one reads explicitly that the two rites have the same dignity. This is what the Pope writes, not me. Therefore, we can not say with the document at hand, that it is an exception, unless one wants to come to a conclusion which is directed against the pope's document.
FQ: Whence this "exception"?
Nicola Bux: I do not know. We are probably in the area of interpretations, which, however, are not confirmed in the document of Pope Benedict XVI.
FQ: of the traditional Roman Rite: Many young people approach it recently with interest. Why?
Nicola Bux: I can confirm that there is a renewed interest, especially among young people. I am of the opinion that this has to do with the fact that there is a need for mysticism, a quality which the traditional rite preserves and encourages. Of course it can be said that this rite has no monopoly on mysticism, and it is also possible to celebrate the traditional rite sloppily.
FQ: Preaching: Can we say that it is a "political" statement, as Francis has asserted it?
Nicola Bux: This definition seems ambiguous and requires clarification. When it comes to reading the day-to-day readings of current affairs from the concrete life, it is legitimate to speak of politics. I would like to say: When one is immersed in the life of our time. The sermon, however, must not enter a directly into political life in the sense of party politics. Not that.
FQ: As a theologian: Are there divine penalties around the polemics surrounding Father Cavalcoli?
Nicola Bux: In the Scriptures, the Old and the New Testament, we find different moments in which there is an open question regarding God's punishment. In the Gospel, for example, there is the episode of the Tower of Siloah and the massacres directed by Pilate. It can be concluded, "If you are not converted, you will perish in the same way." A natural catastrophe or violence by humans is not necessarily to be seen as a punishment for sin, because they involve innocent people, but as a reminder to do penance. Jesus has said it: the Father rains upon the good and bad. The point is that many think that God -- if He exists -- has nothing to do with their lives, though they promptly complain when a catastrophe befalls them, and ask where God was.
Vatican City (AFP) - A top African cardinal has described the threat posed by Islamic extremism and western liberal culture as the twin "Beasts of the Apocalypse" comparable to Nazism and communism.
In an intervention at an ongoing synod of bishops on the future of Catholic teaching on the family, Guinean cardinal Robert Sarah reportedly described Islamist militants and western thinking on abortion and homosexuality as sharing "the same demonic origin".
"Theological discernment allows to see in our times two unexpected threats -- almost like the Beasts of the Apocalypse -- from two opposite positions: on one side the idolatry of western freedom, on the other religious fanaticism," said the cardinal, who is one of the leaders of the Church's conservative wing.
(Rome) Pope Francis has named his confidante, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, as a new member of the Congregation of the Faith. Will Francis now "care" for the Congregation of the Faith?
As the Daily Bulletin of the Holy See announced yesterday, Pope Francis has announced an appointment for the Congregation of the Faith. The emphasis is on "one". Although the head of the Church created 17 new cardinals last Saturday, he only appointed a new member of the Congregation for the Congregation of the Faith, and he is not part of the neocardins.
Cardinal Beniamino Stella, Prefect of the Congregation of Clergy was appointed.
Cardinal Stella comes from the circle of the Vatican diplomats of Cardinal Angelo Sodano. After various diplomatic missions abroad, he was rector of the Pontifical Diplomatic Academy from 2007 to 2013.
Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Prefecf of the Congregation of Clergy was the first "Ratzingerian" among the Vatican leadership who had to vacate his place at the Roman Curia under Pope Francis. Beniamino Stella became his successor. In addition, the Pope appointed him a member of the Congregations for the Bishops and Catholic Education. On 22 February 2014 Francis created him as a cardinal.
It was not until 2016 that the pope turned his attention to the appropriate institutions at the Curia. He appointed Stella to the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City, the newly established Communications Secretariat, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Order of the Sacraments, and now also the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The example of the Congregation for the Divine Worship shows that papal resettlement is intended to contain the cardinal prefect Robert Sarah and to restrict him in his sphere of action.
It is characteristic of the climate in the Vatican that the appointment of Pope-confidant Stella causes observers to "fear", the Pope could now be "caring" about the Congregation of the Faith.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Vatican.va (screenshot)
Trans: Tancred Vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
(Rome) The Consistory where Pope Franzcis created 17 new Cardinals on Saturday, brought two innovations.
The head of the church renounced the previous practice, which Francis himself had cultivated during the cardinal ceremonies of 2014 and 2015, to spend the two days before, together with the cardinals who came from all over the world.
The deletion of this point was considered an attempt by the pope to avoid "embarrassing" situations. Since it is considered obvious that the pope does not wish to address the ambiguities in the controversial post-synodal Letter Amoris laetitia, this could embarrass him with the Cardinals. The four signatories of the formal objection against Amoris laetitia are also in the College of Cardinals. But other Cardinals may ask the Pope for information or clarification to the Dubia (doubts) of the four cardinals Brandmüller, Burke, Caffarra and Meisner.
The second innovation was a visit by Pope Francis with the Neo-Cardinals at Benedict XVI. the monastery Mater Ecclesiae .
The reigning pope led the 17 newly created cardinals to the Vatican Gardens to give his official predecessor a courtesy visit. The same had not happened so far. At the express request of Benedict XVI, , the former Pope personally took part in 2014 and 2015 in the Cardinal Consistory in St. Peter's.This should signal continuity. The role of Benedict XVI. remained, however, that of an extra for the eyes of those present and the lenses of the photographers and comedians.
Benedict XVI had declined participation, this time for age reasons. For this reason Francis led the new Cardinals to the monastery.
The corresponding pictures were published by the Vatican. ROMEreports reported on the visit.
Positive growth in the Fraternity of Saint Peter. Deaconal Ordination
in Lindau
(Wigratzbad) The Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) has published the latest statistics of its personnel. The community of world priests, who cultivate the traditional Roman Rite and teach tradition, currently has 270 priests, 23 deacons and 132 seminarians.
The priestly brotherhood was established in July 1988 as a clerical society of apostolic life. It was founded by six members of the Society of Saint Pius X, who did not want to take the step to break with Rome, which was undertaken by the bishops who were participated in the episcopal consecrations not allowed by Pope John Paul II.
During the founding month, the founders were received in audience with Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. They wanted to continue the work of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in an ecclesiastical framework and in unity with Rome. Rome offered them a quick canonical recognition. As early as 18 October 1988, the Holy See established then as a society of papal law. 2003 was the final recognition by Rome.
As a result of the events of July 1988, a new space in the Church had apparently emerged for another priestly society, which was bound to tradition. While the Society continued its growth outside of Church recognition, the new establishement of the Society of Peter grew within it. It was not just a matter of course.
425 Members in 117 Branches
Obviously there was and is need. The Fraternity occupies a special task in priestly education. In Germany a priest's seminary is held in German and French, in the USA and in Australia, two seminaries in English. In Mexico, a Spanish priestly seminary is under construction.
Since its inception the Society of Saint Peter has experienced steady growth. Over the past twelve years, an average of eleven new priests have been consecrated to the Society every year. In 2016, 16 new priests were consecrated. In 1988 there were six founding fathers at the beginning. In 1992 the Society already had over 100 members, In 1997, 200, 2006, 300 and 2014, 400. Today, there are 425 members.
The Society has 117 branches worldwide, including 82 canonically built houses. From these, 226 locations are supervised in 124 dioceses. The number of parishioners supported by the Society is 38. 51 Society Brothers come from the Federal Republic of Germany, 13 from Austria and three from Switzerland. The German district is responsible for 68 locations in 23 dioceses.
Founded in 2007, the Confraternity of Saint Peter , an association for the faithful, who feel particularly indebted to the FSSP and want to support their apostolate through prayer and sacrifice, counts 5,231 members. 856 of them come from the German-speaking areas.
Prayer Site Wigratzbad to the Fraternity of Saint Peter
Diocesan Prayer Site Wigratzbad
In the German-speaking world, it is the special wish of many faithful, considering the generous and paternal gesture by Bishop Konrad Zdarsa of Augsburg. Since the oldest priestly seminary in the Society is located in Wigratzbad, and this place is especially connected to a place of prayer, there is a desire that the diocesan place of prayer be entrusted to the Society. Since 1976, the prayer site has been managed and supervised by a diocesan priest, who is the director of the prayer place. In 2011, the acting Prayer Director was appointed. The relationship with this priest and the seminary has not been entirely friction-free due to incomprehensible unkindness.
Through the seminary there are many priests and seminarians who are available for the pastoral care, service of the altar and the care of the pilgrims. Liturgical points of friction, as they were provoked by unnecessary reconstruction work of the altar room of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sacred Heart of the Virgin Mary, are to be automatically repaired. In times of priest shortage, the diocese would have more priests available for other tasks, the Wigratzbad prayer site would be in the best hands and would create a precious spiritual center of Roman tradition in the diocese, which is rich in other pilgrimage churches.
(Rome) On Monday the 21st of November, Pope Francis Francis will publish the Apostolic Exhortation Misericordia et Misera at the end of the extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy. This was announced by the Vatican Press Office in yesterday's bulletin. Internet blogs, which are close to the Priestly Society of St. Pius X, report that Pope Francis will come out with a bang on Monday.
According to the announcement, the pope would announce the reunion of the full unity of the priestly society established by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, with the Holy See. At the same time, he would be able to build canonically the Pius Brotherhood as a personal prelate. Is it only speculation? Since last April the signs of such recognition have been condensed.
The Society, founded in 1970, was denied canonical recognition in 1975. Since then, their status has not been clarified. Officially, it does not exist as a separate legal entity for the Holy See. An open break took place in 1988. Rome declared the founder, Archbishop Lefebvre, and the four consecrated bishops as excommunicated, for their valid if unauthorized episcopal ordinations. The validity of the celebration of the sacraments by priests of the Society, without the permission of the Church, was repeatedly questioned. According to Benedict XVI, the excommunication was annuled. At the same time, doctrinal conversations were held between the Holy See and the Pius Brotherhood. In 2012 the recognition of the Society by Rome seemed to be near, but at the last moment was stymied because internal Church resistance. Since then it has been assumed that the failure of recognition is a reason that Benedict XVI. had resigned.
Under Pope Francis came an unexpected resumption of contacts. In September 2015, Francis proclaimed, with the proclamation of the Holy Year of Mercy, that during the jubilee the sacrament of penance by priests of the Society was "valid and permissible". The Society then expressed its thanks for the "paternal gesture".
According to sources close to the Society, the canonical establishment was intended as a personal prelature. Thus the Society after the Opus Dei would be the second ecclesial community to have this new legal status. It envisages that a priest with the rank of a bishop stands at the head, and the members of this family are largely excluded from the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishops.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: CWW (Screenshot)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
[Vox] In an interview with Raymond Arroyo on EWTN's The World Over, Edward Pentin stated that his sources have confirmed with him that "Pope Francis not happy at all," with the letter of the four Cardinals on the matter of heretical clauses and sacrilegious actions in Amoris Laetitia. Pentin continued that he, the Pope, is "boiling with rage." He had been "given two months," to respond to the four, and has refused.
"Boiling with rage."
How very sad.
To you priests and bishops in Rome who are faithful to the Church and know first hand what is happening there, whom do you really serve by your silence?
Do you serve Christ and through Him, His flock for their salvation?
What are you afraid of?
Your priesthood is worth nothing if you allow this to continue.
Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam: The new State and Party Chief Will Visit Pope Francis on November 23rd
(Rome) In 2016, the "Ostpolitik" was reactivated by the Vatican. This "New Ostpolitik" mainly concerns the relationship with the People's Republic of China . Yet it still seems ready to embrace another communist country: Vietnam.
This refers to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the Communist Party of Vietnam which rules dictatorially as the Unity Party. The Communists have dominated North Vietnam since 1945 and United Vietnam since 1976.
Asthe Vietnamese press agency VNA news site, Vietnam Plus reported yesterday, Vietnam's state and party leader Tran Dai Quang I will pay a state visit to Italy. "On 23 November he will also visit the Vatican as a guest of Pope Francis."
There is no freedom of press in Vietnam, which is why the news is official. The phrase "as a guest of Pope Francis" indicates that this is not an official visit, but rather one of the privileges of Francis, which Francis prefers in contrast to his predecessors, and which account for more than half of all audiences. In contrast to the official audiences, the Vatican does not share anything that happens in private audiences.
The first meeting of a communist Vietnamese president with a Pope took place in 2009. Nguyen Minh Triet met with Benedict XVI. in an official audience. It was an encounter that was interpreted as a sign of the desire to normalize relations.
Tran Dai Qaung has made his career in the police and intelligence, most recently holding a general's rank. Since 1997, he became a member of the political office of the Communist Party Vietnam. In 2006, he became Deputy Secretary of Defense, 2011 Security Minister. In 2011, he was elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party.
Since 2 April 2016, Tran Dai Quang is State and Party Chairman and Chairman of the National Security and Defense Council.
The regime praises the religious freedom that prevails in the country. However, most Christians disagree.
Edit: this was posted before the USCCB results that ++Cupic tried to spin.
(Washington) The episcopate of the USA is rumored to be against Pope Francis. The latest evidence of this is a warning from Pope-confidant Bishop Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and designated Cardinal, that the elections on the presidency of the bishops' conference are "no referendum on the pope". It was a warning that was not entirely in vain.
Weight shift
Cupich was designated by Pope Franziskus as a left-wing successor to Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, one of the most important bishops' seats in the world. The appointment was understood by the other bishops as a definitive hint. Further appointments followed. Observers see in this the Pope's intention to renovate the "conservative" bishops' conference.
In the 1970s it was still different in the USA. Leading bishops were in a progressive hand. It took 25 years to implement a change of direction. John Paul II was more hesitant in bishops' appointments in the US, while Benedict XVI. with Cardinal Burke was more determined. Pope Francis knows fewer considerations, which is why his transformation, should he consistently push it forward, has to take place over a much shorter period.
At first he drove Cupich like a nail into the Bishops' flesh. When the other bishops did not send the new Archbishop of Chicago as a representative to the family synod to Rome, Pope Francis himself personally appointed him. Next Saturday, he created him as a cardinal. Another stage of weight shifting.
Cupich becomes Cardinal, Chaput does not
The cardinal -in-spe has been thanked for his loyalty. Cupich defended the controversial post-synodal document Amoris laetitia and has been rewarded by Francis with the dignity of Cardinal. He wanted what the pope wanted, said Cupich. Since the pope still does not say what he wants, Cupich's statement shows that he has access to information which is denied to the public.
Bishop's Conference in Baltimore
In contrast, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, whose guidelines issued for his archdiocese that despite Amoris laetitia, reaffirms the Church's teaching marriage and morality, has been passed over again by Francis at the Cardinal appointments, although Philadelphia is one of the Archdiocese traditionally associated with the cardinalatial dignity.
Archbishop Cupich has now given an understanding of what Pope Francis apparently thinks and expects. He criticized his confreres among the bishops and told them and the public why they were opposing Francis: "because they do not understand what it means to be bishop of the Catholic Church."
These words are part of an interview Cupich gave the US Jesuit magazine America. The occasion was the Autumn Assembly of the Bishops' Conference, which began yesterday in Baltimore.
The main point of the interview was the presidential election in the US and the situation in the American Episcopate (USCCB). As for the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the USA, Cupich emphasizes "the deep divisions" in American society.
Election of a new President and his Deputy
On the situation in the Episcopal Conference, he said that the election of the President was not a "referendum on the pope". Cupich urged his confreres to "support the successor of Peter."
At the Autumn Assembly, the bishops elect the successor to Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz of Louisville as President of the Episcopal Conference and his deputy. One term only lasts three years in the USA. Re-election is not intended. It is customary for the deputy to become the new president.
Cardinal DiNardo
This office was held Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, during the term of office 2013-2016. In November 2013, the "Conservative" DiNardo won 62 percent against the "Conservative" Chaput of Philadelphia, who received 38 percent of the votes. As early as the summer of 2013, Chaput had already expressed the opinion that Church-minded Catholics have "difficulties" in understanding Pope Francis.
Ten candidates are running for the office of the president. Cardinal DiNardo is considered a favorite. [He won] He was one of the thirteen cardinals, who in October 2015, at the beginning of the Second Episcopal Synod, complained about the Synod Rules of Procedure in a letter to Pope Francis, and criticized the impression of the "prefabricated results".
Archbishop Chaput was also a candidate. The nine non-electors will automatically be considered applicants for the Deputy Office. After the vote setback a year ago over the synodals, Archbishop Cupich prefers not to be counted again. It was eagerly awaited whether Chaput would be elected deputy president this time, presumably to be president in 2019.
The Compromise
There were "some bishops," who are very "regrettable," says Cupich, "who oppose the pope" or "work against him." He is supposed to be the chief. The bishop's office can only be exercised with the collegiality. He explained that Archbishop Chaput was not a suitable (vice) president of the bishops' conference.
Instead, he looked towards the south-west, without naming a name, but on the other hand, a theme of central importance to Pope Francis. Cupich expressed the hope that all the bishops of the United States would work for "illegal immigrants and their families" to "defend and voice them". [+Gomez]
Archbishop Jose Gomez
Donald Trump had announced the expulsion of 2.5 million illegal immigrants. According to official estimates, at least eleven million illegal immigrants remain in the US. President Obama has also deported millions of illegals. Since Obama is of the political left, this point has not been addressed by the left-wing media. Under a President Trump, this is likely the change abruptly, as the Jesuit magazine America well suggests.
What Cupich did not say so clearly, the magazine sought to explain. They recommended the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Jose Horacio Gomez, as a suitable candidate. Gomez belongs to Opus Dei, and the group of "conservative" bishops. Within the framework of the given majority relations, Cupich was looking for the candidate, who could be interpreted most closely in the sense of Pope Francis. Above all, it was to prevent Chaput.
Gomez is a native Mexican who came to the USA due to his pastoral activity and was granted nationality in 1995. Latin Americans represent 40 percent of Catholics in the United States. His election America let to be understood, would be a signal of an anti-immigration policy.
Archbishop Cupich also mentions "violence, violation of human rights, environmental degradation, poverty, arms trafficking and corruption."
The elections that took place today brought a compromise with which both sides can live. The open confrontation was avoided. The new president was, as expected, Cardinal DiNardo. The new deputy, and most likely, the next president in 2019, will be [is] Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles. Both are decisive defenders of the right to life and the family.
The intricacies of why he prefers Archbishop of Chicago Gomez to Chaput are to be sought in the inner church parties. They have much to do with Pope Francis and his political course, which he would like to inject in the world church. Neither Gomez nor Chaput are representative of this course. In contrast to Gomez, Chaput has already indirectly challenged the Pope. Moreover, because of his Mexican origins, Gomez is simply easier to "integrate" into the course desired by the Pope.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Infovaticana / Wikicommons
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com Link to Katholisches...
AMDG
