Francis Names New Undersecretary of the CDF

(Rome) Pope Francis appointed a new Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. After the upheavals at the head of the Congregation at the beginning of the summer, which reinforced the renovation the end of the summer.

As announced yesterday in the Daily Bulletin of the Vatican Press Office, Francis appointed the Italian priest Matteo Visioli as secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine for the Faith.

Visioli, born in Parma on July 20, 1966, was ordained a priest for his homeland. After studying theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, he earned a degree in theology in 1994 and canon law in 1996. In 1999, he completed his specialization in church law with a doctorate.

From 1999 to 2008, he was a diocesan Vicar for Relations Between Church and World, and from 2001 to 2008 he was also a member of the Committee for the Church Property of the Italian Bishops' Conference. As a priest he worked in Collecchio and San Martino Sinzano.

Most recently, he was president of the non-profit organization Caritas Children, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Care, director and lecturer of the Interdiocesan Higher Institute of Religious Studies of San Hilario de Poitiers and lecturer for Church Law at the Gregoriana and at the Generalities Marcianum of Venice. He is the author of numerous scientific publications in the field of church law.

Don Visioli assumes the position of Monsignor Giacomo Morandi, who Pope Francis had appointed in October 2015  to be the Undersecretary of the Congregation for the Faith. The dismissal of Cardinal Gerhard Müller as Prefect of the Congregation of Doctrine on this last 30th of June resulted in a personal shuffle with several promotions. The then secretary of the Congregation, Jesuit Luis Ladaria Ferrer, was appointed Prefect by Francis, and Msgr. Morandi has been appointed Secretary. At the same time Francis raised him to be the titular archbishop of Caere.

There has been no change for the traditional Dominican, Father of the Archbishop, Father Augustine Di Noia. Pope Benedict XVI had appointed him deputy of the Pontifical Commission, Ecclesia Dei , in June 2012, after the failed talks with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X. From there, Pope Francis withdrew him a few months after his election, and appointed him to be the associate secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. From 2002 - 2009 Father Di Noia had already been the undersecretary of this congregation.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi 
Photo: Youtube (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Vatican Has Detained Diplomat Because of the Possession of Child Pornography

(Rome) The Vatican press office yesterday announced that the Holy See had arrested a member of its own diplomatic service on suspicion of possession of child pornography.

On August 21, the US Department of Foreign Affairs informed the Vatican by diplomatic means that the suspicion of infringement of the legal protection clause against child pornography could have been violated. The violation, according to the note, could have been made by a representative of the Washington-accredited Diplomatic Corps of the Vatican.

As is the case with diplomatic practices, the suspected diplomat was immediately withdrawn and is currently awaiting further investigations in the Vatican.

The information from the US was handed over to the Vatican's judicial authorities, which initiated investigations. The Vatican promoter iustitiae, comparable to a public prosecutor, has now turned in an international appeal for assistance to the US.

The Vatican press office has recalled that all investigations are subject to the presumption of innocence.

"The former apostolic nuncio for the Dominican Republic, Monsignor Jozef Wesolowski, was the first prisoner in the Vatican because of the possession of hundreds of child pornography pictures", said Europa Press. The former Vatican diplomat, who denied the allegations, was removed from office by Pope Francis in 2013 and charged. In 2014, he was laicized according to surveys of the Congregation of Doctrine for the Faith. He was not arrested due to his health, but he was placed under house arrest in the Vatican. The trial was discontinued because Wesolowski died in August 2015 at the age of 67.

Text: Andreas Becker 
Image: Wikicommons

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Auxiliary Bishop Dick: "The Aversion to the Old Rite is so Strong That it Can Not be Celebrated at All"

"Communion of Saint Catherine of Sienna" by Domenico Beccafumi (1520)

"In practice, however, the aversion to the form of the old rite is so strong that it can not be celebrated at all. Here the Pope's intention was not taken up."

Msgr. Klaus Dick, auxiliary bishop of Cologne, in an interview of the Tagespost for the 10th anniversary of the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum and its implementation in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Image: Wikicommons

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Study Warns Against Growing Influence of Islamic Brotherhood in Austria

Austrian Ministry of the Interior: The aim is "the gradual Islamization of society"

Vienna (kath.net) In Austria, there are "considerable connections" to the Muslim Brotherhood. This is according to "Kurier," citing a study by the George Washington University, which even expressly warns against activities of the Muslim Islamic Muslim Federation in Austria. The Muslim Brotherhood has "considerable connections and influence" and the close association of persons and organizations would occupy key positions for the life of Muslim immigrants in Austria. As a source for the report "The Muslim Brotherhood in Austria," which was created with the help of the University of Vienna, the Federal Office for Constitutional Protection and Counter-Terrorism (BVT) and the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), existing publications, newspaper articles, social media articles and court records were used.

The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928 and has spread since the late 1950s and early 1960s in many Western countries. The goal is "the gradual Islamization of society", stated the Austrian Ministry of the Interior. "The Muslim Brotherhood is aimed at a division of society and a strengthening of the influence of political Islam," says the study. A Criticism is that a critical confrontation with Islam would be prevented by "islamophobia." "This goes all the way to the justification of violence - an attitude that is a stimulating environment for radicalization," says Vidino.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Steubenville Fires Evil Leftist English Prof

Edit: another USCCB- friendly blogger and leftist barnacle.

Update: The Franciscan University of Steubenville has assured LifeSiteNews that Rebecca Bratten Weiss is no longer teaching at the university.

Update 2, 5:45 PM Eastern: Franciscan University's Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Daniel Kempton, sent a statement that is reproduced in full at the bottom of the article.

September 14, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – One of the greatest threats to the prolife movement in the past 40 years has been the “Seamless Garment.” It’s a strategy and a slogan aimed at dissolving prolife sentiment like a pinch of salt in a vast swimming pool of almost unrelated issues. The heart of the life issue is simple: Should the government let individuals take human lives in pursuit of their sexual freedom? That’s what abortion is. It was foisted on America by unelected judges, and dangled out of the reach of citizens and voters. So laymen rose up, with a little assistance from clergy, and chose to fight. In much the same way, 150 years ago, Christians looked at the unjust laws permitting slavery, and formed the abolitionist movement.

And today as in 1830, many chose not to fight. They were too addicted to a cozy relationship with liberal politicians, who promised to take the burden of the corporal works of mercy away from Christians—handing them over to the government and the taxpayer. So they wouldn’t do the obvious thing—and reject those politicians. Instead they developed the elaborate, tortured rationalization that we call the Seamless Garment. As Jason Jones wrote at LifeSiteNews in 2015:

https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/the-seamless-garment-at-steubenville

AMDG

Catholic Traditionalist Rapper Attacked With Hammers at Paris Cafe

Edit: the following is a report from a music journalist who took note of the event and is concerned by the thuggery, and well he should be.  The event took place last year in March.

We've known about this entertainer for a while. It looks like he's continued to be active in the years since his big hit celebrating France's tradition and religion.

Being hit in the head by a hammer is always a life changing experience. He seems to have been very quiet in the year since this happened:

Publié le 15 mai 2016 - par Kevin Morvan - 29 commentaires - 8 912 vues

While all the media were bashing us with "Black M" [He is a French rapper of African background.], that the politicians of the left (Taubira, Cambadélis, Lang ...) and the pseudo-philosopher but real cosmopolitan Bernard Henri-Lévy were whining about the cancellation of the concert planned in Verdun in the context of the commemoration of the centenary of the war of 14-18 and shouting at the return of a fascist fantasy, a rapper called "Goldofaf" (mixture of Goldorak and faf) was brutally assaulted on May 13 in the evening at the terrace of a cafe in the 15th arrondissement of Paris by individuals armed with hammers and truncheons who left him covered in blood.

http://www.contre-info.com/le-chanteur-goldofaf-agresse-a-coups-de-marteau-par-5-antifas

What is the difference between "Black M" and "Goldofaf"?

There is a fundamental opposition between these two individuals, one spitting on France and the "kouffars", was dubbed and widely promoted by the media system. Less popular, the second poses as an unconditional defender of France and the Catholic tradition. While "Black M" is greeted with open arms everywhere and can give concerts where he wishes (after the Verdun episode, maybe things will change slightly but I doubt it), patriotic rappers such as " Goldofaf "or" Kroc Blanc "can not occur on stage, except in private events whose address will of course be disclosed at the last moment in order to prevent ultra-left nervis from playing the cries of "No pàsaran", "No freedom for the enemies of freedom".

We have the right not to love rap at all, not to be a Catholic and counter-revolutionary like "Goldofaf". However this rapper, and the same goes for the other singers of the movement, disturbs the oligarchy. The aggression he was targeted with is unacceptable (if "Black M" had been beaten, I would have also condemned the act but all the television stations would have spoken of it certainly blaming the occurrence upon the intolerance of the "fachos." This is the silence of the media, and as the saying goes, which does not say consent.) This is enough of the impunity of the ultra-left, of these sectarian groups that behave like real militias and manipulate idle youths and then push them against an imaginary threat. An embrigade that is being done at the moment, including in the lycées, against the backdrop of fighting the El Khomri law. Although I have no illusions, I urge the authorities to react to find the perpetrators as quickly as possible and wish a sound recovery to this artist for this crime committed in behalf of the current ideology.

Here is the famous reprise of "Engraved in the rock" by the anti-French group Sniper, which Goldofaf had released a few years ago and which allowed him to gain notoriety.W

https://youtu.be/GSUR6pn607w

https://ripostelaique.com/silence-mediatique-le-rappeur-patriote-goldofaf-agresse-a-paris.html

AMDG

Communist Revolutionary Begs Pope Francis' Forgiveness

"Timochenko" in letter to the pope: former terrorist group wants to renounce any expression of hatred or violence - Pope trip "will leave a deep impression on Colombia's history"

Bogota (kath.net/KAP) The leader of the Colombian ex-guerrilla FARC, Rodrigo Londono Echeverry, has asked Pope Francis for forgiveness in a letter for the suffering that his organization caused in more than 50 years of civil war. "Your repeated references to God's infinite mercy make me plead for forgiveness for any tears or pain that we have inflicted upon the Columbian people or its citizens," wrote the "Maximo Lider" in a Friday, in the Colombian media, to the Pope, who is still in the South American country until Sunday.

Londono alias "Timochenko" or "Timoleon Jimenez" apologized for not being able to meet the pope personally for health reasons. He assured him, however, that the FARC wanted "to deny any expression of hatred or violence" and had the firm intention to forgive all those who were their enemies so far. "We feel the repentance needed to see our own mistakes and to ask for forgiveness for all the victims of our actions," the opposition politician said.

The basic intention of his grouping was a good one, "Timochenko" emphasized that justice was being sought for the excluded and persecuted of Colombia, as well as the overcoming of inequality and disadvantages. "We are dreaming that you and your father will understand us," the party leader now told Francis. He expressed his happiness and gratitude for the Pope's comments, according to which the exploitation of poor countries by rich people was just as displeasing as the rejection of diversity, or the contempt for human dignity by striving for profit.

Lodino's admiration for Francis was expressed in the most direct terms. "Since you took the first step into my country, I feel that something will finally change," says the Marxist leader. The pope is leaving a deep impression in the country's history, mobilizing all sections of the population and giving them a message, and shows the "tears of the emotion of men, women and children who admire your smile, your goodness and the splendor in your eyes. Only a saint like you does that," wrote Lodono, who also compared the pope with his surname Francis of Assisi and Jesus.

The FARC had agreed to sign the peace treaty with the Colombian government, but some members of the government had refused to ratify their consent by being absent, complained the former Guerrilla. He asked Pope Francis, "with the great power of his prayer," to keep the Colombian people from "frustration" after the negotiations of peace had been an enormous force, Londono wrote. The FARC also prays for it.

The government and FARC had signed the peace treaty in November 2016, after four years of negotiation in Cuba. It was only through the signing that the guerrillas could be disarmed and demobilized, which in the summer became once again an opposition party with the same party leadership as a political force under the leadership of London.

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Poll: Most Committed Polish Would Attend Immemorial Mass of All Ages If Given the Opportunity

Edit: just received this poll result from Una Voce Miami.

Ten years after the motu proprio, we have decided to complete our 2009-2011 European survey campaign regarding the reception of Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio. This campaign covered the continent's principal Catholic countries, whether in the wake of papal visits (Portugal, United Kingdom, Spain) or at the request of our local partners. However, it had overlooked the highest-ranking country in terms of Church vitality: Poland. We therefore decided that the time had come to survey the country of Pope John Paul II.

Rather than commissioning a survey from a commercial institute, we followed the advice of Una Voce Poland and turned to the Institute for Catholic Church Statistics (ISKK). It was founded in 1972 by the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (the Pallottines) and works for the Polish Bishops’ Conference. The institute’s Catholic character means that the survey was taken directly on a group made up of committed Catholics (1) which gives this poll an original importance since it deals only with practicing Catholics. After gathering over 800 responses, they selected 635 that matched the distribution of committed Catholics in the Polish population.

I - THE RESULTS

Survey conducted by the ISKK (Institute for Catholic Church Statistics) from May 13 to June 4, 2017. Online panel method on a cross section of 635 committed Catholics. (1)

> 1: Do you go to Mass? (1)
Every Sunday and holy day: 93.6%
Nearly every Sunday: 5.8%
Once a month: 0.6%

> 2: In July 2007 Pope Benedict XVI said that the Mass could be celebrated both in its modern form, termed “ordina ry” or “of Paul VI”—with the priest facing the people—and also in its traditional form, termed “extraordinary” or “Tridentine”—in Latin, the priest facing the tabernacle. Were you aware of this?
Yes: 89.5%
No: 6.9%
No answer: 3.6%

> 3: What is your opinion of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form (in Latin and facing the tabernacle)? (Note: the total is above 100% because the pollster allowed multiple answers)
It is an expression of fidelity to the Church’s tradition: 49.9%
It is something normal: 37.3%
It does not correspond to contemporary culture: 17.6%
It is a strange practice: 4.2%
Other: 16.7%
Hard to say: 12.1%

> 4: If the older Mass were celebrated (in Latin and facing the tabernacle) in YOUR parish, would you attend?
Weekly: 28.9%
Once in a while: 51.6%
Never: 15.1%
Hard to say: 4.4%

II - JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE . . .

Polish Catholicism, a leaven of victorious resistance to Communist dictatorship, went through a triumphant era in the late 20th century. From a doctrinal and liturgical point of view, it was less exposed to the “Springtime of the Council” and its abuses. Even today, Gregorian chant and Communion on the tongue remain the norm in most of the country’s parishes.

In this rather conservative and isolated context, it is interesting to note that the extraordinary form —so often presented as a reaction to abuse— would draw one worshipper in four every Sunday if it were part and parcel of ordinary parish life. A result that corresponds to the average found in the other countries (19% in France in 2008; 25% i n Germany in 2010; 27.4% in Spain in 2011; etc.).

III - PAIX LITURGIQUE'S DETAILED COMMENTARY

1) The Poles are aware of the extraordinary form’s legitimacy

In Poland, nine committed Catholics (1) in ten know that the extraordinary form has full citizenship in the Church. This is a very high result. Besides the fact that it seems normal for committed Catholics to be informed on the different aspects of the life of the Church, one may also think that after ten years knowledge of Benedict XVI’s motu proprio has made some headway: in the first place through local word-of-mouth, then through the place that the extraordinary form has on social networks, and also thanks to the work of associations such as Una Voce Poland that organize lectures, ceremonies, and pilgrimages to promote the Latin and Gregorian liturgy.

2) A Catholicism preserved from the liturgical wars

The answer to question #3, which was slightly modified by the ISKK pollsters as compared to our usual item (2), brings out the fact that only one in 25 committed Catholics sees the older liturgy as a “strange practice.” Furthermore, less than one in five (17.6) considers that it does not conform to contemporary culture. In any event one may imagine that for some this answer is not a negative, since it only notes the incapacity of the contemporary world to make room for tradition.

On the other hand, the fact that one committed Catholic in two sees the extraordinary form as “an expression of fidelity to the Church’s tradition” is unambiguous. This survey therefore shows us the face of a church which, while it certainly has suffered along with the whole Church from the break imposed by the liturgical reform, nevertheless has by and large remained immune to a “progressive” opposition against the older liturgy as well as to the rupture that has harmed, and continues to harm, our Western European churches. 

3) 8 Polish Catholics in 10 . . . 

. . . would gladly attend the extraordinary form if it were celebrated in their parish: 28.9% would prefer to do so and 51.6% would do so once in a while. The close to 30% of Massgoers who would attend the traditional Mass every Sunday if it were celebrated conveniently in their parish (19% in France in 2008, 40% in Italy, 25% in Germany, etc.) shows the true weight of the extraordinary form. This again confirms the existence of a vast silent mass (at least one in four Catholics) that aspires to more sacrality and solemnity in its liturgical and spiritual life. Only 15% of practicing Polish Catholics express no attraction to the extraordinary form, which leaves a great field for the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum to make its way, patiently, among that country’s parishes.

4) The scientific confirmation of all our earlier surveys

The fact that, thanks to the ISKK’s specific competency, this Polish survey bears only on practicing Catholics makes it a reliable benchmark for analyzing the results of our earlier national surveys. All of our other surveys targeted Catholics generally, i.e. both Massgoers and non; at our request the polling institutes highlighted the answers specific to practicing Catholics. Because of the dramatic drop in even monthly Mass attendance among West European Catholics, however, the samples of Massgoers might be considered too small to be fully representative.

In reality, scientists are well aware that the more samples are numerous, the more the statistics are reliable. The consistency of the results obtained in the seven countries of our earlier surveys —France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Spain— was already a significant statistical element. Their agreement with the results of the Polish survey, obtained from a cross section exclusively made up of practicing Catholics, strongly confirms their validity.

-------
AMDG

Egyptian Police Interrupt Liturgy -- Arrest Priest

Egyptian policemen prevented the Holy Mass from being celebrated for the Copts of Al Furnace.

(Cairo) The 400 Coptic Christians of Al Furn in the Middle Egyptian province of al-Minya went to the building which they use for the celebration of Holy Mass. On 20 August, however, they were in for a surprise. Instead of the priest, the police were waiting for them.

Before them, their priest, Boutros Aziz, had already been arrested and denied access to the church. Likewise, the police denied access to the building to the faithful. According to the police, Coptic Christians do not have "permission to pray".

The governor al-Minya is known for such and similar incidents against Christians. It is not a single case. The discrimination of Copts has "tradition" here. Last January the Christians of Alkarm were attacked by Muslims. A 70-year-old Coptic Christian woman had her clothes ripped off by attackers and left her in the street.

In this part of Middle Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, which burned dozens of churches in 2013, destroyed hundreds of houses and businesses of Christians. The Muslim Brotherhood justified the antichristian pogrom as "retaliation" for their followers killed by the Egyptian army after the violent dismissal of President Mohammed Mursi, a Muslim Brother himself.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi

Image: Watani (Screenshot)

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Non Serviam

Professional Catholic Cancer Bill Donohue Attacks Steve Banon

Edit: professional Catholics are the worst of the worst and anyone who's been around this site for more than a few years knows that we really despise Bill Donohue. Like an inner-city youth leader defending the crimes of local "youth", he's on the scene to defend his constituents, no matter what evil they've perpetuated, he'll jump to their defense. Instead of attacking the people pointing out how the Bishops hate their host nations, despise the West, despise the Catholic Faith, why not defend the Catholic Faith, instead, even though it's not as lucrative...

Steve Banon is absolutely correct about the bishops. They are a political extension of the DNC and like the DNC they see their political power enhanced by the invasion of immigrants. This is manifestly true and it's the mission of Pro-Catholics like Donohue to keep the laity from seeing this obvious fact.

[Catholic League] Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a remark made by Steve Bannon that will air on “60 Minutes” on Sunday:

There is nothing wrong about criticizing the bishops for any position they take on public policy, though when invidious motives are ascribed to them, such conjecture is unacceptable. That is what Steve Bannon has done with regard to their statements on immigration.

It is certainly true that most of the bishops promote a liberal position on illegal immigration. That is open to fair criticism, but to say that their motive is to “fill the churches” is inaccurate and unfair. Indeed, it feeds the worst impulses of anti-Catholics. The bishops are making their case based on their compassion for the dispossessed.

Link to Pro-Catholic Website... Notice how these leftist journalists are practically jumping to the defense of the Catholic Church. And he's a boomer.

AMDG

Kreuz.net: Austrian Catholic Site Owner of 'kreuz-net.at' Found Guilty For Incitement

Edit: they haven't gone after him yet for kreuznet of 2012.
Four months for "degrading humiliation of homosexual men" on private website - judgment not legally binding
Vienna (kath.net/KAP) The responsible person of the Internet portal "kreuz-net.at" was convicted on Tuesday of the Viennese regional court for criminal cases for incitement to a four months of imprisonment. The Austria Press Agency (APA) reports this after the end of the trial, which should have taken place already in July and had to be postponed due to the lack of the defendant. The punishment was conditionally reviewed by the operator of the website, with a probationary period of three years. The judgment is not final.


The subject of the proceedings was a contribution to homosexuals published in December 2015. Among other things, it was said that syphilis is "God's punishment" for "homo-unbreeders". The accused pled "not guilty". At the hearing, according to APA, his defender Kurt Kadavy stated that the term "homo-fornicator," was "not a term of pleasantry", but "in the Catholic context, fornication is a theological concept which means a serious sinful behavior, namely, sexual intercourse outside the sacrament Marriage". "Homo" was preceded by the term "only to specify", added the defendant.

"God's punishment", according to Catholic morality, is the consequence of serious sins. Whoever does not do penance for this in his lifetime can not find an entrance into Eternal Life, said the accused. He conceded that the contribution was "pointed, no question". But he is not punishable. Whether the defendant had written the article himself, the operator of the website did not want to answer several questions asked by the judge.

"If you do not see that is detrimental, and if you do not understand that the state needs to protect this group from doing so, then there is nothing left but to condemn it," according to APA, said Gerald Wagner, the negotiating judge. There was undoubtedly a "degrading humiliation of homosexual men." The judge said that in his understanding this is a broad condemnation such as wishing syphilis upon them.

The Internet portal "kreuz-net.at", which can also be accessed under "kreuz-net.info", claims to spread "Catholic news". It is a private website. [It's a lot better than the internet commerce site kathnet.]

Previously, another website with the similar name "kreuz.net" had already been targeted in 2012 for anti-Semitic and homophobic contributions to the Austrian and German constitutional protection. [If you recall, the German Bishops made common cause with Green Volker Beck to destroy anyone associated with it.] The public prosecutor's office in Vienna undertook an investigation against the anonymous site operators. The head of the Media of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, Paul Wuthe, called for the blocking of the page in November 2012. The judiciary is engaged and has an active interest. A few weeks later, at the beginning of December, the site went surprisingly off the net and is still no longer accessible.

Shortly afterwards, a new website called "kreuz-net.info" went online at the beginning of 2013 under the Internet address "kreuz-net.at". As a media owner, editor and site manager, the now convicted person before the Viennese regional court does not appear to be legally convicted.
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

Communist Symbol Projected on the Facade of Bogota's Cathedral -- Few Days Before Pope Visit: FARC Now a Political Party

(Bogota) The Pope's visit to Colombia, which began on Wednesday, caused the entire country to be in a state of unrest. While, for political and religious reasons, some criticism of the Pope's visit was practiced, the symbol of the Marxist guerrilla organization FARC was projected on the facade of the Cathedral of Bogota during the night of the 1st of September. With this emblematic provocation, the FARC presented itself to the public as a political party at the end of its founding party.

At present, almost everything revolves around the communist "Narcoguerillas." Colombia's left-wing president Juan Manuel Santos (Social Party of National Unity, Partido de la U) had signed a peace agreement with the Marxist underground organization FARC in November 2016, although the people had rejected such an agreement only a few weeks earlier in a referendum.

Former flag of the FARC

The FARC rebels, defeated militarily by Santos' predecessor Uribe, have been seeing their future as a political party since then. After the failure of the armed struggle, they want to take part in the country's policy in a new way. Critics accuse Santos of looking at future left alliances in order to cement his own power and prevent the return of the political right to government.

The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army) had been established as the militant arm of the Colombian Communist Party in 1965 to forcibly seize power in the country, based on the Cuban model and Soviet support. The 50 years of FARC terrorism has cost more than 200,000 lives. Only the hard military attitude of President Alvaro Uribe Velez (2002 - 2010) put an end to the ghost. His successor, Santos, Uribe was not allowed to stand for a third mandate according to the constitution, went the other way and put the FARC into the political system of the country. The motto is, from a guerrilla movement to political party. Many Colombians disagree, as the result of the referendum last year showed.

The Pope as the most important public ally of the left "peace treaty"

Santos found on the international level in Pope Francis the most important ally. The head of the Catholic Church, because of his sympathy for leftist groups, also known as leftist radical groups, supports the integration of the communist narcoguerrillas, so named because it was financed mainly from drug trafficking.

Francis made a visit to the country dependent on the acceptance of the peace agreement. Another aspect, which caused considerable reservations in some parts of the Colombian population against the imminent Pope's visit.

In addition to the political aspects, there are also strong religious reservations in Colombia against Pope Francis. Among Latin Americans, their attitude to various, relevant, topics is seen more critically than in Europe. At the end of July, José Galat Noumer, one of the most famous Catholics of Colombia, former Rector of the University of La Gran Columbia and a successful Catholic television entrepreneur, was excommunicated for "persistent criticism of the pope." Apparently, direct intervention from the Vatican at the Colombian Bishops' Conference was decisive. Before the Pope's visit they wanted to make a clean table.

The criticism has not been silenced, however, as a report from the Radio network RCN Radio showed at the weekend. A priest, who wanted to remain anonymous in order not to endanger his participation in a debate with Pope Francis, exercised severe criticism of the "direction" which Francis is giving to the Church. He knows at least 90 other priests who share the same opinion. He wanted to present his reservations to the Pope during the meeting, which is scheduled for the first day of his visit. He would also tell him that "many believe that he is associated with Freemasonry."

FARC is constituted as a political police: Start with "typically left-radical provocation"

As RCN Radio reports, "many" Colombians are convinced that Francis is "a communist".

This critical climate was further heated up by an incident last weekend. In the late evening of September 1, the new political symbol of the FARC was projected onto the façade of the Bogota Cathedral, the Church of the Primate of Colombia, and the mother church of the whole country.

New FARC symbol: red rose with red star

The previous, warlike Eastern Bloc iconography with Kalashnikov was abandoned. Instead, the new logo shows a stylized red rose, including the lettering FARC. In the middle of the rose is a five-pointed, red star. Observers speak of a conscious approach to the symbolism of the Socialist International to find international support for the entry into representative parliamentarism. The Red Star stands for the ideological conviction. The name FARC has been retained. According to the founding meeting, which took place from 27 August to 1 September, FARC is no longer for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), but for Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Comun (Alternative Revolutionary Force Colombia," is meant).

After the collapse of the Eastern bloc and the end of the Soviet Union, the never-forbidden Communist Party of Colombia almost disbanded. In 1993 it distanced itself for the first time from its military arm FARC. Last July, the "reconciliation" and the announcement that a "new party" together with the FARC was to be launched and to stand in the 2018 parliamentary elections.

Founding party meeting with an anti-Christian or "pro-Church" provocation

"Total rejection," Msgr. Mercado said, is a challenge for FARC

The new party was presented to the public on 1 September as the beginning of the founding party. A festival was held at Plaza de Bolivar in the center of Bogota. On this occasion, the new symbol of the left-wing party was projected onto the façade of the cathedral. A "typical, left-radical provocation" as it is called in Bogota. A few days before the beginning of the Pope's visit it was, as some say, a provocative but equally emblematic gesture.

It is provocative because Colombian bishops, because of their painful experience with communism and their hostility to the church, rejected the peace agreement a year ago during the referendum. Emblematic, because indirectly, Pope Francis has been called as a kind of godfather of the transformation process from guerrilla organization to a political party. President Santos and government representatives are not tired of establishing a link between the two events. The FARC confirmed this view with the light projection. The Vatican has so far denied such a connection and speaks of a "pastoral visit."

Image of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá

Procession of the Miraculous Image of Chiquinquirá to the Cathedral of Bogota

Just a few hours before the incident, the miraculous image of Our Lady of Chiquinquira, the patroness of Colombia, had been carried in procession in the same place. The image of Our Lady rarely leaves its usual place of storage in the Basilica of Chiquinquira. Because of the imminent Pope's visit, however, it was temporarily transferred to Bogota and displayed in a chapel of the cathedral. There, Pope Francis will visit. There, the faithful can also revere it, after the Pope's visit, it will be brought back to the Chiquinquirá, some 135 kilometers from Bogota.

The Metropolitan of Bogota, Mons. Pedro Mercado, showed his anger on Twitter with a "total rejection" of a photo of the FARC projection on the facade of the cathedral.

The sometimes contemptuous reactions that followed on Twitter reveal the spirit accomplished by the adherents of  FARC who have now become part of the global left, for which Pope Francis shows such astonishing sympathies.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: Twitter / Wikicommons (screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG

University of Parma Opens Prayer Room and "Multiconfessional 'Space of Silence'"

(Rome) The University of Parma has decided to set up a prayer room for Muslims on the university campus.

The prayer room will be located right next to the Catholic chapel. To this end, the Library Library of the Institute of History has been reorganized. The premises have already been allocated to the Islamic Student Union, which had previously submitted a corresponding application.

The Senate of the university imposed some restrictions. No handouts and posters, nor discussions or other rallies may be held. Although food and drink may be taken in  the future prayer room, the shoes must be taken off and placed in front of it. The Senate, which had to approve the decision of the board of directors, hopes thereby to prevent Islamic or other political agitation by Muslim students at the university.

At the same time, the university's administrative board, which issued the permit, decided to adopt another "multicultural" project: the creation of a "multicultural space of silence".

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: MiL

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Cardinal Caffarra Dies -- 2nd Dubia Signatory Called

(Rome) As the Press Office of the Archdiocese of Bologna announced, Carlo Cardinal Caffarra, the emeritus archbishop of Bologna, died today at the age of 79 years. With him, the second signatory of the Dubia (doubts) of the controversial post-synodal letter Amoris laetitia has just been recalled from this world within two months .

Born on June 1, 1938, at Parma in Italy, he was one of the most prestigious representatives of the Catholic Church. His pastoral work was based on solid legal and moral theology. For John Paul II, he prepared the foundation of the Pontifical Institute for the Study of Marriage and Family, of which he was the first president from 1981 to 1995. In 1983, he became Consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and in 1995 he became Bishop of Ferrara-Comacchio. In 2003, he was appointed archbishop of Bologna, the center of the "Red Belt", once the Communist, now left-democratic region of Italy.

The opponents of the Church, as well as his personal enemies, had to respect him, since they found in him a serious opponent, who intellectually knew how to represent the cause of the Church brilliantly and wisely, and did so without fear.

This fearlessness prompted him, in September 2016, together with three other cardinals, to convey his doubts about the post-synodal letter on marriage and the family of Amoris laetitia. The doubts were formulated as questions, and asked the Pope for an answer, which has remained unanswered to this day.

Last April, in the name of the four signatories, he had asked the Pope to give an audience in order to discuss the open questions. The Cardinals did not receive any reply.

On the 16th of September, as the highlight of this year's international pilgrimage of tradition to the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, he was to celebrate a pontifical High Mass in St. Peter's. This pilgrimage was held for the 10 years of the Motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.

In the press release of the Archdiocese, which Cardinal Caffarra led for 20 years until his age-related retirement by Pope Francis in 2015, it is said that he "faithfully served his Lord throughout his life" with "love, generosity and intelligence." Since his retirement, the Cardinal lived in the archdiocesan seminary. In the last few years, Katholisches.info reported extensively on the Cardinal's work.

Starting tomorrow, 4 pm, Cardinal Caffarra will be laid out in the Sala Bedetti in the Archbishop's Palace. On Friday, September 8 at 9 pm, the late Cardinal will be prayed for in the cathedral.  The funeral takes place in the Cathedral of Bologna on Saturday, 9 September at 11 am and is to be celebrated by his successor as Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Cardinal Zuppi.

Cardinal Caffarra will be buried at his own request in the crypt of his episcopal church.

Requiescat in pace

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: Corrispondenza Romana

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMDG

Critic of Pope Francis' Visit: "Many Are Convinced, That He's Connected to Freemasonry"

Criticism of the Pope's visit to Colombia: it concerns the repression that Francis is imposing on the Church, but also the political attitude he takes to the domestic political conflict with the Marxist guerrilla organization FARC. A priest told RCN Radio: "Many pray for not coming."

(Bogota) The evidence of priests who are dissatisfied with the direction given by Francis to the Church is the result of the large number of reports on the forthcoming visit to Colombia from the 6th to 11th of September. A priest, who will participate in a direct encounter with Francis, will present his reservations to him on this occasion and also say that "many" are convinced that Francis "is connected with Freemasonry."

RCN report

The radio network RCN Radio reported on the weekend of this criticism by a priest who wanted to remain anonymous because of the "revolution of tenderness." There is still another reason for anonymity, however. He is only one of "at least 90 priests," who are personally known to him, who are "dissatisfied" with the path taken by Pope Francis for the Church. RCN Radio reported under the title:

"In the Catholic Church, there is also rejection of the Pope's visit."

"At least 150 heresies" - "Believers pray that pope does not come"

The broadcaster reported:

"Even Catholic priests are among the people who oppose the papal visit to Colombia, because they are convinced that Francis has damaged the church's Magisterium with his testimony, especially on issues such as homosexuality and the family."

"For 20 years," he has been a priest and works in Bogota, according to RCN radio,

In Bogota, Medellin, and Bucaramanga, he knows at least 90 priests who think as he does and do not agree with how Pope Francis holds the reins of the Church in his hand. "

The priest assured the broadcaster that "there are believers who pray for the pope not to set foot on Colombian soil."

The priest said:

"Priests of different dioceses, I can not name their names for obvious reasons, are completely against the visit of Francis. Many prayer groups pray that he will not come. "

In the statements made so far by Francis as a pope, at least "150 heresies" are contained: "claims that contradict the religious doctrine."

"Many believe that the Bishop of Rome is associated with Freemasonry"

Great damage had been done, above all, to the authority of the Church to judge things and to give guidance.

"In my parish, a homosexual came to confession and told me that he was homosexual and lived with another man. I told him that this is sin. He then replied that the pope said something else, that it was not for me to judge. "

As the example shows, the Pope prevents me from fulfilling my task, because my authority is undermined in moral questions, to be able to say what sin is."

The priest will be a group that will meet with Francis on the first day of the Pope's visit. He would avail himself of this opportunity to present his reservations. He was determined to tell him that "many believe that the Bishop of Rome is associated with Freemasonry." In order not to miss this chance of being allowed to address the pope, he could not give up his identity beforehand.

Political criticism of the Pope's visit: "Many consider him a Communist"

Criticism of the Pope's visit comes not only from the inner church side because of the way in which Francis performs the service of Peter. In Colombia, there are reservations about the Pope's visit because of his political attitude to the "peace agreement" between the government of the left-wing Prime Minister Santos and the Marxist guerrilla organization FARC.

There is "much" in Colombia, according to RCN Radio, who consider that Francis is a "false pope", others who consider him a "communist" who "only" comes to Colombia to legitimize the agreement with the FARC." The FARC had been founded as an armed arm of the Colombian Communist Party in the early 1960s.

The radio network RCN Radio was founded in 1948 on the occasion of the Eucharistic Congress held in Colombia and covers the entire country. The Radio network has belonged since 1973 to the Colombian entrepreneur Ardila Lülle.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo: CEC / RCN Radio (Screenshots)
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG