Fr. Thomas Weinandy is a Capuchin friar who formerly served as chief of staff for the US Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine. He is also a current member of the International Theological Commission at the Vatican. Like Fr. Brian Harrison, OS, Fr. Weinandy is not a supporter of the Filial Correction despite his own misgivings. In an interview with Crux, he said of the correction, “I don’t think it was theologically helpful, or presented in an effective manner”. As a theologian with noteworthy credentials, strong views on other corrective efforts, and a prestigious position to lose, Father Weinandy might not, at first glance, appear to be the sort of priest one would expect to write and publish a strongly-worded letter to the pope about the “chronic confusion” he is causing in the Church.
And yet, he has. And it’s very well done.
We’ll examine the contents of that letter in a moment, but the reason he did so is what particularly fascinates me about this story. In his interview with Crux, he indicates that the need to say something had been on his mind for a while, but he was conflicted. So he asked for a sign from God — not just any sign, but something incredibly specific:
Weinandy said his decision to write the letter was not easy, and resulted from what he regards as a moment of inspiration.
It came last May, he said, when he was in Rome for a meeting of the International Theological Commission. He said he spent two different sessions in prayer at St. Peter’s Eucharistic Chapel, struggling to decide if he should speak up. In the middle of a sleepless night, he said, he basically gave God an ultimatum.
“If you want me to write something, you have to give me a clear sign,” Weinandy recalls saying. “Tomorrow morning, I’m going to Saint Mary Major’s to pray, and then I am going to Saint John Lateran. After that, I’m coming back to Saint Peter’s to have lunch with a seminary friend of mine.”
“During that interval, I must meet someone that I know but have not seen in a very long time, and would never expect to see in Rome at this time. That person cannot be from the United States, Canada or Great Britain. Moreover, that person has to say to me, ‘Keep up the good writing’.”
Sure enough, Weinandy said, exactly that happened the next day, in a chance meeting with an archbishop he’d known a long time ago but not seen for over twenty years, who congratulated him for a book on the Incarnation and then said the right words, “Keep up the good writing.”
“There was no longer any doubt in my mind that Jesus wanted me to write something,” Weinandy said. “I also think it significant that it was an Archbishop that Jesus used. I considered it an apostolic mandate.”
The letter itself (you can read the full text here) begins:
I write this letter with love for the Church and sincere respect for your office. You are the Vicar of Christ on earth, the shepherd of his flock, the successor to St. Peter and so the rock upon which Christ will build his Church. All Catholics, clergy and laity alike, are to look to you with filial loyalty and obedience grounded in truth. The Church turns to you in a spirit of faith, with the hope that you will guide her in love.
Yet, Your Holiness, a chronic confusion seems to mark your pontificate. The light of faith, hope, and love is not absent, but too often it is obscured by the ambiguity of your words and actions. This fosters within the faithful a growing unease. It compromises their capacity for love, joy and peace.
He goes on to give examples. Of Amoris Laetitia, he says that the pope’s “guidance at times seems intentionally ambiguous, thus inviting both a traditional interpretation of Catholic teaching on marriage and divorce as well as one that might imply a change in that teaching.” “The Holy Spirit,” he continues,
is given to the Church, and particularly to yourself, to dispel error, not to foster it. Moreover, only where there is truth can there be authentic love, for truth is the light that sets women and men free from the blindness of sin, a darkness that kills the life of the soul. Yet you seem to censor and even mock those who interpret Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia in accord with Church tradition as Pharisaic stone-throwers who embody a merciless rigorism. This kind of calumny is alien to the nature of the Petrine ministry.
His second criticism concerns the manner in which the pope approaches doctrine, which Fr. Weinandy says “seems to demean” its importance.
Again and again you portray doctrine as dead and bookish, and far from the pastoral concerns of everyday life. Your critics have been accused, in your own words, of making doctrine an ideology. But it is precisely Christian doctrine – including the fine distinctions made with regard to central beliefs like the Trinitarian nature of God; the nature and purpose of the Church; the Incarnation; the Redemption; and the sacraments – that frees people from worldly ideologies and assures that they are actually preaching and teaching the authentic, life-giving Gospel.
Third, he takes aim at the pope’s appointment of bishops who “seem not merely open to those who hold views counter to Christian belief but who support and even defend them.” Weinandy says that the pope’s silence in the face of the actions taken by the men he’s chosen “scandalizes believers” and “even some fellow bishops.” He says that this failure to address these matters “weakens the zeal” of those who “have championed authentic Catholic teaching over long periods of time, often at the risk of their own reputations and well-being,” and leads to the faithful suffering a loss of confidence in “their supreme shepherd.”
Fourth, Weinandy approaches the topic of unity within the Mystical Body of Christ. “You are commissioned by the Lord himself to promote and strengthen her unity,” he writes, “but your actions and words too often seem intent on doing the opposite.” Weinandy highlights the pope’s encouragement of “synodality” that decentralizes the doctrinal and moral teaching of the Church, leading to confusion and discord.
Finally, Fr. Weinandy addresses the climate of fear in the Church when it comes to the freedom to speak out about what is happening:
You have frequently encouraged, particularly during the two past synods, all persons, especially bishops, to speak their mind and not be fearful of what the pope may think. But have you noticed that the majority of bishops throughout the world are remarkably silent? Why is this? Bishops are quick learners, and what many have learned from your pontificate is not that you are open to criticism, but that you resent it. Many bishops are silent because they desire to be loyal to you, and so they do not express – at least publicly; privately is another matter – the concerns that your pontificate raises. Many fear that if they speak their mind, they will be marginalized or worse.
For his part, Weinandy told Crux that he’s not concerned about consequences for his own critique. “I am more concerned,” he said, “about the good that my letter might do”. He said that the reason he chose to go public with the letter is that it “expresses the concerns of many more people than just me, ordinary people who’ve come to me with their questions and apprehensions.” Unlike the pope, Fr. Weinandy appears to understand the importance of addressing those concerns: “I wanted them to know that I listened.”
In the conclusion of his letter, Fr. Weinandy asks a question — and reaches a conclusion — that many of us are forced to confront:
I have often asked myself: “Why has Jesus let all of this happen?” The only answer that comes to mind is that Jesus wants to manifest just how weak is the faith of many within the Church, even among too many of her bishops. Ironically, your pontificate has given those who hold harmful theological and pastoral views the license and confidence to come into the light and expose their previously hidden darkness. In recognizing this darkness, the Church will humbly need to renew herself, and so continue to grow in holiness.
There seems to be no other answer. As Catholic Herald deputy editor Dan Hitchens wrote at First Things this week:
[I]n this time of anxiety, the words of St. Vincent of Lerins may offer some comfort. If a heresy spreads and acquires strength, St. Vincent says, it is “because the Lord your God does make trial of you, whether you love Him or not.” St. Paul said that “there must needs be heresies, that they who are approved may be made manifest among you.” So each doctrinal crisis, St. Vincent tells us, is a chance to renew our love for Our Lord: “If the authors of heresies are not immediately rooted up by God … [it is] that it may be apparent of each individual, how tenacious and faithful and steadfast he is in his love of the Catholic faith.”
UPDATE: Fr. Weinandy has resigned his position as consultant to the US Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine at the specific request of the USCCB following the publication of his letter.
The whole letter is excellent, but–my goodness–that trenchant, beautiful sentence on how the Gospel liberates us from ideology is superb.
“Censor”? “Censure”?
Very nice. Now, we await the attacks on him.
They have already begun. Robert Mickens was first out of the shoot I believe with blather about ‘if he respected the Holy Father he wouldn’t have gone public’
Who is to keep a pope on the right track if not other priests. Bishops and prelates then? I was taught that I am to obey my catechism and focus on Jesus Christ first.
That’s why we have this corruption within the Church. The laity did not speak up.
How very homosexual of him.
Totally off-topic here: I’d love to see you serving Fr. RP at a Solemn High Mass.
It’s like they teach in Alcoholics Anonymous: If a member of your family is hurting you and your family with their alcoholism, the best thing to do is completely clam up and act like nothing is happening. And never, ever say anything in public about it. Wait, no, not that.
Robert MIckens would probably prefer that we all confine ourselves to muttering under our breath and forcing smiles. It isn’t healthy or holy. I’m glad he went public.
You may be referring to dysfunctional family and their members here. It is called enabling and occurs, when the enabler continues to “enable” as it would disrupt his or her ” false sense” of security or identity.
We have many of them in the Church hierarchy and in the pews as well.
Is it correct to conclude that silence in this case equals affirmation? It is like knowing about a murder taking place and saying nothing to help.
And I suppose Mickens would think it better to allow the frustration to well up within us, so that it turns to an ever-deepening anger that leads to hatred?
I’m sick of people trying to tell me that I am not allowed to feel a certain way, or that if I do I must keep silent and deny publicly the legitimacy of being angry at the pope. That kind of false piety does not help anyone, including Pope Francis.
Francis’ behavior is a scandal. He causes harm to people’s faith. The worst thing those of us who understand this could do is to tell those of weak faith that their concerns and frustrations are unfounded and even sinful.
If one remains silent, hides their lamp, one can very well lose their soul; for our actions can easily become our beliefs. I know for some, it may seem improbable, but it is
not worth the risk. There is nothing worth the risk of denying our Lord: NOTHING!
We must speak the Truth in and out of season, as our Lord says, with prudence of course, but never denying Christ and in particularly if given authority and credibility to do so.
Call upon our Blessed Mother for help in this matter, so that our speech and our actions is for Her Son.
Like they all called out Charlie Curran and the Humanae Vitae dissenters? Do most of you remember the vile disgusting things hurled at JPII or Benedict XVI? They were all over them without a word calling for respect from these people. Only the few small, predictable Catholic papers. There weren’t any blogs back then; it wouldn’t have been as bad if there were as there were even more uninformed Catholics 25-30 years ago.
This is a fantastic letter and I hope more will follow his example.
Be respectful of the Holy Father. Be loyal to him. Be loyal to the Chair of Peter. But urge him to please step up and be the leader and defender of Truth that we all need him to be!
It should ONLY be out of love for Francis and for the office that he holds that we ask for clarity. Not out of any urge to be “right” and have others be “wrong.”
I respect the office of the papacy .
Catholics are called to more than that. We are called to love our father.
I have already discussed this with my priest. First of all I’m a traditional catholic so I have a problem with this pope because he is a novus ordo priest. Additionally he is a radical Marxist liberation theology peronista. He has been attacking traditional Catholics right from the start ev n though the Vatican 2 doc’s always provides for us to be able to remember and celebrate the traditional mass if we chose to. My parish chooses to. We are also called first to remember our catechism and focus on our lord and savior Jesus Christ. The pope may be the vicar if the church but he is not God. Therefore as I stated earlier, I respect the OFFICE of the papacy.
I respectfully disagree. We must, as Ol Buck said, love our father. The pope, my father, is really not behaving like a father right now. He is frankly very disappointing as a father. He lets me down. He doesn’t teach me what I need to know to be a man of God. My father the pope owes me better than this, but he cannot or will not see that. Far easier for me if I could write him off as some stranger in Rome. I would be less hurt by him that way. But it’s not true, I have to live with the fact that he is my father.
For that reason, I also must hold him to account as a father. This is personal, this is a family matter. This is not the case of a low-level employee calling out the CEO, or a private calling out the general. This is about the relationship between a son and a father. Holy Father, you are hurting your sons and daughters. You are depriving us and misleading us. In filial love, I ask you to be to us a good father.
Then you do what you have to do and what you believe is right. Many Catholics don’t even view this pope as legitimate , so that’s something to think about. I’m not saying I feel that way but I believe something fishy happened to make poor Benedict resign the way he did. If a man is a heretic he is not my father.
Even if Francis truly were not the pope, we would not be condemned by God for acknowledging him as such. In obedience to God, I will continue to regard Francis as pope until the legitimate authorities that God has put in place to rule me definitively teach otherwise. Loyalty to the Roman Pontiff is a salvation issue, and it is no time for us as Catholics to start relying upon private judgment in this matter.
But I am neither your conscience nor your confessor. Follow the guidance of both, as should we all.
As I said before, I respect The OFFICE of the papacy.
About private judgement: we are called to judge what we see and hear if it goes against Church teaching. We are to leave the motive, and intention, of the person to God. We would be fools not to call Francis to defend his position because it goes AGAINST Church teaching – don’t forget that’s his JOB: to defend the Truth! He’s not doing his job – nothing wrong with telling him that. The state of his soul is not my business but what he says and does in public that harms others IS my business. That’s what I judge.
I completely agree. In referring to private judgment, I am mostly speaking here of the fact that we may not use our private judgment to determine if Francis is pope. I am able to make judgments regarding the pope’s teachings and actions and act on them accordingly (such as consciously choosing to protect myself and those under my authority from his teachings, for example). I have a responsibility to do this.
Me, too, Barbara.
Matt, do you believe God placed Bergoglio in the Chair of Peter?
According to what has become the standard method, it was in fact the College of Cardinals which selected Jorge Bergoglio as pope, and God accepts their choice. Therefore, Pope Francis is legitimately the Roman Pontiff. Whether this choice is pleasing to God is another matter entirely. The Catholic Church deserves the leaders that we choose.
Matt, you said, ” it was in fact the College of Cardinals which selected Jorge Bergoglio as pope…”
Yes, and the election was rigged. The St. Galen’s Gang has admitted it.
“…and God accepts their choice.”
How do you know that? Where is it written? Are you speaking for God?
“Therefore, Pope Francis is legitimately the Roman Pontiff.”
There is no question he’s the Pope. ‘Legitimately’ is in dispute.
“Many Catholics don’t even view this pope as legitimate , so that’s something to think about”
It’s really not.
No it’s not something to think about for me. I’m not going to love a heretic who claims that Muslims and atheists can go to heaven while he damns traditional Catholics to hell. If you don’t see a problem with this man then I’m sorry for you. I worship jesus Christ not Pope Francis.
That is ridiculous and not something he has ever taught. Muslims and atheists surely CAN go to Heaven if God so wills it. We ought never to presume that Hell is full… nor that it is empty. We ought to hope that it is empty, but never presume it. That is a judgment entirely up to our Lord and we should not be envious if He decides to be generous.
If god wills it. However we are the church militant and we are called to lead others to Christ, it to leave them in their unregenerate state as Pope Francis would have them do. Read your catechism.
Oh, Hell is not full. That is for sure. Everyone need be accommodated should a need arise.
LOL, James! Good one.
Think again.
Just an observation here; back to the letter written by Fr. Weinandy asking for a “sign”, I think implicit in our Lord’s answer to his prayer whether to write it or not, would indicate to me, that He regards Francis to be the Pope, and obviously in need of public correction by a credible theologian. Good will come of this….
This is well said. If this breaks the fever of ultramontanism and exposes the heterodox, so be it. JPII and BXVI did well to keep the Church together and gave us a way forward amid a world lost to secularism. They defined doctrine clearly and reined in the worst of abuses. The Pope Emeritus even started the process of a Reform of the Reform. That is wonderful.
But during that time evil persisted in the darkness. See the child sexual abuse scandal. See Vatileaks. See a whole host of quiet but persistent abuses in the curia in Rome but also at the diocesan level and in our halls of theology.
This pontificate has led to many putting all their cards on the table. That means pain in the short and even medium term. But we must trust the Spirit that it is good for the long term.
Pearls before swine, I am afraid.
Pray for Holy Mother Church and her loyal sons. Pray for their protection.
When a person with high authority, uses his authority to go against our Lord in teaching, in the very Magisterium, it is beyond ” not being a good leader.” It becomes of evil intent and for me, it is best to avoid all thoughts Francis, even in prayer.
I would run from this man, if he were across the street from my house. I would flee far and fast as not be near the same air he breathes.
Avoid the pope even in prayer? Am I misunderstanding you somehow? Catholic, you have a positive duty to pray for your pope. Doubly so when that pope is like Francis.
I have done so in the past, but it seems to fill me with more angst and fear when I have.
He is one of the most difficult people I have ever had to pray for, and I have prayed more easily for those who have injured me directly.
So, now I avoid, and prayer not to have angry thoughts towards the pope and have more pity for him.
I am not bragging, mind you, nor proud of this.
This man is like a fire storm……….all I can seem to do is ” run”.
Maybe you are praying for the wrong thing. To pray for the Pope means that we ask God, and Our Lady, to give Francis the grace to believe – the Faith – again. We would pray thus for anyone we knew who had lost his faith. We don’t have to like him at all. It is fine to have a holy hatred for what he is doing. He is at this point on the brink of Hell. Can’t we pray that he gets the grace to turn around before he dies? That is charity.
Pearls before swine….I am sorry, but I will not even given this man a second thought……..he is so disturbing.
Agreed. Not praying for my pope would amount to cutting off my nose to spite my face. If I wish to have a holier world, country, and family, if I myself wish to be holier, then I need my pope to be holy. I will continue to pray for this.
Right, because Satan rests on his shoulder.
And what of Pope Benedict’s decision to simply withdrawal as father of the family? To move to a garden villa and enjoy the finer things in life including many of the perks of a Pope while his replacement wreaks havoc on his own family? Either Pope Benedict was guided personally by Christ to withdraw… to draw out the rot in the Church or Pope Benedict is totally effeminate. In either case, events will quicken and worsen until God himself ends it. We are beyond the point of human correction, we are beyond personal letters and scholarly documents. As Christ indicated to his disciples, we should fast [every Wednesday and Friday] and pray earnestly every day in order to cast out the demonic spirits.
Or, there was a palace coup and Pope Benedict was overthrown and forced under house arrest in a Vatican convent where he will spend the rest of his natural born days. It is frightening to imagine the various scenarios of that drama.
Your attitude is laudable, Matt, but a father doesn’t treat his children as Bergoglio treats faithful Catholics. He is not my father.
Your choice in this matter is yours to make. But I would caution any fellow Catholic against making a statement that amounts to “I am not in communion with the Pope”.
Love is willing the best for another. Love is not syrupy emtionalism or disingenuous words. Love must be based in truth.
I would not argue against that. At all.
I see this quite differently.
I expect to see a “bad Pope” every once in a awhile so this Bergoglio character bothers me, but not to the same degree as an entire culture of error and cowardice does. What I cannot stand is watching a “bad Pope” lollygag along through his pontificate with {almost} no one of the Bishops willing to confront him.
His errors are those of one man. The screaming silence proves they are the errors of nearly 5,100.
I am with you there. But frankly, I think many have gone about standing up for Truth in the wrong way. They have done so in ways that attract attention and make it seem like they are rivals to the Holy Father, not his obedient servants and sons who are trying to help him.
This letter, I believe, is a gigantic step forward in expressing love and fidelity to the Vicar of Christ, while also challenging him to defend Truth.
I don’t think one person, not one, nobody, has made anything seem like rivalry to the Pope. Not a soul. Each and every attempt has been done with respect equal to what we read here. ANY resistance to the face is open to finding itself confronting the accusation you make here.
Good grief, what are Bishops supposed to do, rub Francis’s crap on their faces and kiss his toilet seat to boot?
I’ve frankly been a bit put off by all the showered praises the Dubia Cardinals have lavished on the man as he goes on trashing the faith. I’ve heard your accusation before but have never seen a convincing argument it has any credibility at all.
I’ll add that this letter here has some of the most “damning” and “insulting” passages in it by comparison to the other attempts made to get Francis to come back to God.
It is true that mostly it’s been folks on the Internet that have basically set up rival papacies, or fantasy ones. I guess mostly my issue is with +Burke. I don’t doubt his orthodoxy or love of the Faith, but sometimes I wonder if he does not also like the spotlight.
That stands in GREAT contrast to, say, +Sarah.
There’s precious little the Dubia Cardinals, or others for that matter, can do about certain crowds praising them and condemning Francis… just as there’s little that Francis can do when the La Croix crowd and certain others (you know who they are) twist and elevate certain things HE says and remain silent on others (like his condemnation of today’s gender ideology insanity)
Why would you wonder such a things about Cardinal Burke?
No one can hold a candle to the ” limelight” that drives this pope in many cases.
Interesting on how our “takes” of Burke differ.
My problem with Burke is that he seems so interested in shunning the limelight that I think he flees from action. And his virtual fawning over the Pope in the face of issues of such great import have in my mind dulled the edge of his critique.
Yes, and don’t forget that he put himself on the line in sending, and publishing, the Dubia. It’s been so long that we have forgotten how courageous this was – there was NOTHING before that. I believe Cardinal Burke is being very, very careful with what he says. What good would it do for him to blast out, which his introspective personality seems to rule out, and get himself blasted in return by the evil doers? He would be regulated to the fringe crazies and no one would listen to him.
I don’t think I have seen any examples of statements by PF that need to be twisted in order be troubling statements. Take a look at the website Dennzinger Bergoglio for as many examples as one could care to read. The fact that he sometimes blurts out a statement affirming Catholic teaching is not, in itself, a cause for rejoicing. It should be the norm.
As regards Bp. Burke, I think that it is his sincerity and humility that keeps him from getting “face time” at every opportunity.
“I don’t think I have seen any examples of statements by PF that need to be twisted in order be troubling statements.”
No, they need to be twisted in order to be orthodox statements! And if we don’t do this we are accused of a lack of charity and faith as we should assume all he says is orthodox because he is pope (apologist logic).
” The fact that he sometimes blurts out a statement affirming Catholic teaching is not, in itself, a cause for rejoicing.”
Indeed. It seems some do just that.
Every time now I hear this guy put forth something that sounds orthodox, I brace for what’s coming next.
It is true that mostly it’s been folks on the Internet that have basically set up rival papacies, or fantasy ones. I guess mostly my issue is with +Burke. I don’t doubt his orthodoxy or love of the Faith, but sometimes I wonder if he does not also like the spotlight.
That stands in GREAT contrast to, say, +Sarah.
There’s precious little the Dubia Cardinals, or others for that matter, can do about certain crowds praising them and condemning Francis… just as there’s little that Francis can do when the La Croix crowd and certain others (you know who they are) twist and elevate certain things HE says and remain silent on others (like his condemnation of today’s gender ideology insanity)
Amen!
“I’ve frankly been a bit put off by all the showered praises the Dubia Cardinals have lavished on the man.”
I’ve had those same feelings, Rod. The fawning is bewildering. I suppose it’s a cover against accusations of heresy, but it still has a certain odor.
The ” Holy Father” seems to be a rival of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
That is where the rival lies.
The Dubia cardinals have been respectful to the 100th degree, in fact two of them, I believe, giving their lives for Christ’s Church, while doing maintaining a filial respect to Francis.
I’m afraid I agree with you.
His flippant use of Scripture, casual assigning of guilt to JESUS, his suggestion that Mary thought God lied, and the rest of it is so monstrous I am always amazed that anyone would support him at all. This just goes to show what has happened inside the Catholic Church.
I love Francis only because Our Lord commands me; that means I pray for him, his office and for his salvation. I pray that he and I will see God face to face one day.
But I have absolutely no affection for him. None. Our Lord didn’t command me to do that.
Ol Buck, your words are charitable, but unrealistic. One cannot have respect for one who doesn’t deserve respect. I know it’s difficult to respect the Chair of Peter and not its occupant, but that’s the problem we are faced with. Pope Bergoglio is a monster who is hell bent on destroying Holy Mother Church and he’s well on his way. He gets nothing but contempt from me. It’s time to choose: Bergoglio or Christ.
Father Thomas Weinandy’s letter is excellent. The whole thing is a gem, but this stood out:
“Second, too often your manner seems to demean the importance of Church doctrine. Again and again you portray doctrine as dead and bookish, and far from the pastoral concerns of everyday life. Your critics have been accused, in your own words, of making doctrine an ideology. But it is precisely Christian doctrine – including the fine distinctions made with regard to central beliefs like the Trinitarian nature of God; the nature and purpose of the Church; the Incarnation; the Redemption; and the sacraments – that frees people from worldly ideologies and assures that they are actually preaching and teaching the authentic, life-giving Gospel. Those who devalue the doctrines of the Church separate themselves from Jesus, the author of truth. What they then possess, and can only possess, is an ideology – one that conforms to the world of sin and death.
Put the bolded sentences together and Father just told Francis that he is separating himself from Jesus for an ideology of sin and death.
Indeed, Father, such a clear-sighted believer as Fr Weinandy needs to be a bishop.
RC
God bless the Capuchin Fr. Weinandy, and maybe we can see him elected as pope , after Pope Francis resigns.
Amen.
Sooo true!
It’s like someone saying “How dare you call me a thug and a bully?!” then proceeds to beat up the person.
Amen FR.
God bless you bold, solid, priests. Young men like myself feel inspired and motivated for the church when we see brave men (like you and Fr. Weinandy) defending the flock from ravenous wolves. To the rest of the weak and silent shepherds out there, I say: Don’t be afraid. Man up. Gird your loins. Take up your staff of the Good Shepherd and strike the wolves right in the mouth!! *Bam!*
God Bless the courageous and faithful Fr Weinandy. His letter was an absolute masterpiece of a dead straight corrective bulls-eye to the nonsensical heretical bilge emanating from the Chair of Peter for the last 4.5+ years. Four words come to mind…”inspired”, “factual”, “understated”, “devastating”.
As brilliant as it was it is still unlikely to move PF. Why? He displays absolutely zero Catholic sensus fidelum
Father, A retired priest in our diocese said mass yesterday and in his homily he stated that all good Christians go to heaven, all good muslims go to heaven and all good atheists go to heaven. Where do I begin here? Go to the bishop? GO to the priest? Thanks Father
Ugh. Begin in prayer on your knees begging God to enlighten this poor heretical idiot through the intercession of the Most Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary.
There are no good Muslims and there are no good Atheists. For him to posit that there are must mean that he believes that one is saved via works according to natural virtue (which both Islam and Atheism do not tend, they tend against them by their nature and creed) without Faith. Complete and Total Heresy.
After you have prayed, then go to the Priest, then the Pastor and then the Bishop and expect nothing: the Prophet is expected to proclaim the Word of God regardless of the reception of the people to whom he proclaims.
May God have Mercy.
Putting aside atheists, can we really assert that there are “no” good Muslims? I guess it’s somewhat ambiguous what “good” means. But Redemptoris Missio clearly teaches that some Muslims could obtain Salvation:
“The universality of salvation means that it is granted not only to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have entered the Church. Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all. But it is clear that today, as in the past, many people do not have an opportunity to come to know or accept the Gospel revelation or to enter the Church. The social and cultural conditions in which they live do not permit this, and frequently they have been brought up in other religious traditions. For such people salvation in Christ is accessible by virtue of a grace which, while having a mysterious relationship to the Church, does not make them formally part of the Church but enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation. This grace comes from Christ; it is the result of his Sacrifice and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. It enables each person to attain salvation through his or her free cooperation.”
841 The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” That’s the Catechism. Is it wrong?
Now read Cantate Domino:
http://catholicism.org/cantate-domino.html
“It firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart “into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels” [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”
Note: “even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ”.
It’s one thing to say “We don’t know but we trust in the wisdom, justice and mercy of God” which I submit is at the core of the concept of “invincible ignorance”. Read here:
https://www.ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/P9QUANTO.HTM
“7. Here, too, our beloved sons and venerable brothers, it is again necessary to mention and censure a very grave error entrapping some Catholics who believe that it is possible to arrive at eternal salvation although living in error and alienated from the true faith and Catholic unity. Such belief is certainly opposed to Catholic teaching. There are, of course, those who are struggling with invincible ignorance about our most holy religion. Sincerely observing the natural law and its precepts inscribed by God on all hearts and ready to obey God, they live honest lives and are able to attain eternal life by the efficacious virtue of divine light and grace. Because God knows, searches and clearly understands the minds, hearts, thoughts, and nature of all, his supreme kindness and clemency do not permit anyone at all who is not guilty of deliberate sin to suffer eternal punishments.”
And also the next paragraph 8 in the link.
But it seems to me to be another species of fish to say “”The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.””
And CERTAINLY the recent interpretations commonly bantied about from ambos all over the world are in direct conflict with what any of this says, don’t you think?
And finally, who out there in the world is “not guilty of deliberate sin”? And what Sacrament do the Muslims have to erase that deliberate sin?
It is easy to say a “perfect man goes to heaven” but a “perfect man” has yet to be found except in Jesus and Our Lady isn’t a man!! {a little humor, there, hopefully…}
This is why it is said that there are no known saved outside of the Catholic faith.
And yet Pope Francis has called, has he not, saved those who “shed blood for the name of Christ” who are outside the Catholic faith? That seems to directly and boldly deny the teaching of Pope Eugene IV in Cantate Domino.
Truly, the CC desperately needs a sound Council and utterly faithful Pope to rule on what has become a rat’s nest of disputation, followed by Church discipline directed at anyone who preaches or teaches in violation of the true teaching of the Church.
So, just to clarify, you, at least, are taking the position that John Paul II, Pope Benedict and the Catechism are all wrong on this point?
Yes he is and so am I.
Dead wrong! There is much in the documents of Vatican II that is wrong. Muslims do not worship or adore the one merciful God. They reject Him in favor of their whoremaster thief and liar. Allah is not God. It is a made-up deity much like the stone gods of Greek antiquity. The ‘nice guy’ clerics of Vatican II are poison to the faith. Shun them.
Invincible ignorance applies to people like the Amazon tribes who have no access to the truth. Muslims have access to the truth, but ignore it to follow Muhammad, a flawed man who corrupted the Bible to manufacture his own religion. It is a false religion which had shed the blood of innocents from its very beginnings and continues to do so today.
The Catechism is the teaching of John Paul II and Cardinal Ratzinger. It’s neither magisterial nor infallible.
That’s false teaching.
You should have interrupted the Homily.
Outstanding! May Our Most Blessed Lord increase Fr. Weinandy’s strength and courage.
We are indeed tested by these heresies and bad Church leaders, not so that God may find out what sort we are, but that we ourselves can find out, and for us to understand better the strength of our faith in Christ. St. Vincent of Lerins was, of course, spot on.
RC
And more such heroes are going to appear, of course. We have to pray for their courage. AND we must have confidence in God. We’re all in His Hands (to use that old but true cliché), and remember that we are in His Grace, which is a true substance He pours upon us through the sacraments.
RC
Fr. Weinandy wrote an excellent letter. I hope that many more priests who did not sign the Correctio come forward with their own corrections of the Pontiff.
It is reassuring to know that God gave him a specific sign that it was His will to write the letter. But really, what is the Church coming to that priests need special signs from God before they are prepared to stand up to defend the faith? That is a mandate every one of us receives at our Confirmation – we don’t need special permission to do our duty.
Good point. It must be the threat of retribution is so real right now, that it takes a special amount of courage to overcome it.
As we see, he was right, since the USCCB already dismissed him.
With all due respect and admiration, Deacon Augustine, I strongly disagree with your statement. In today’s climate which says that everyone has the right to determine for themselves what is the right thing to do, we have too often seen and heard opinions expressed which were borne more out of prideful braggadocio or simple foolishness than out of wisdom. Each one of us is probably at a 7 or 8 right now on the exasperation scale and it would be easy to blast off a letter out of frustration.
Fr. Weinandy was wise to prudently test whether his motivation was truly inspired by God or by his own pride. God WILL answer us when we quiet ourselves enough to listen. I have had it happen numerous times — often just as boldly as what happened with Fr. Weinandy.
Well said, Granny.
That is a very interesting assessment.
I guess I can’t say I agree that it should be that way, since really, we are not dealing with esoteric and obscure teaching, but rather blatant and manifest attempts to destroy the Church by many in the hierarchy, but in light of the culture of effeminacy, lies and make-believe {dolled up as “charity” and “respect for office”, blah blah blah} in which these men apparently live, and in light of what must be a fact that almost all of them appear bewildered at how to simply be MEN, then your assessment makes good sense.
You force me to ponder; In truth, how can we expect the “good guys” to react as men when it is pretty obvious they have been coached and dare I say brainwashed into functioning as little girls for their whole careers? And I’m talking about the so-called orthodox guys, not the fiends that are hellbent at raping Holy Mother Church.
Catholicism for many has become a secular pseudo-religion for cowards and the effete, that is, people who stick their thumbs up in the air to test which direction the Democrats or Christian Democrats, or whatever leftist secular party is closest by are blowing their smoke so as to know which way to lean. A while back, Cardinal Burke himself gave an interview where he lamented the feminization of the Church. He was/is right.
In true charity, how can we expect some large group of these technically-male figures to rise to the occasion when they have been taught, modeled and formed to lay low and blend in with the secular crowd all their adult lives?
Maybe we ARE too hard on them? Maybe they are utterly incapable of a courageous act?
Wow. This just hit me and I’m going to have to mull it over some.
All the hyperbole aside, I believe you aren’t far off the mark. THE culture seems to have been that the importance of obeying your superiors, NO MATTER WHAT, has always reigned. Obedience and total submission is paramount and I expect that it is drilled into Seminarians incessantly.
What I was getting at, though, is that it is ALWAYS wise to test your own desire to step out and go against the tide. Pride can lead any of us to step out when it’s not God’s Will for us to do so. When it IS God’s Will — even though we will be maligned and possibly lose our jobs and (minimally) charged with causing scandal — we can sleep well knowing that God has given it His blessing. We know that He has our back in that situation.
Without His blessing, we could succumb to far worse as He will let us fail miserably.
What hyperbole?
Yours or mine?
Or somebody else’s?
Let’s see….Miriam-Webster defines Hyperbole as “extravagant exaggeration.” Statements such as “culture of effeminancy” and “functioning as little girls” and “secular pseudo-religion for cowards and the effete” are just a few statements that struck me as hyperbolic.
Usually I see your posts as being spot-on and well reasoned. Not so much this time. If you hadn’t tied it all together in your last paragraph, I would have chalked the entire post off as a rant. We have enough of that kind of stuff with other posters.
Are you KIDDING? Hyperbole?
I really don’t know what to say.
I think you really need to sit down and contemplate the positions of the prelature over the years and see if what I said was “hyperbole”.
I never implied that what you said didn’t have merit. It’s just the way you said it.
You called it hyperbole and said nothing about merit. Everything Rod says has merit. Classing it as hyperbole questions it’s merit and his character. That’s what I read. Rod doesn’t need any of your scolding, granny. He’s far more adept at reading the signs of the times than you appear to be.
Granny, you’re going to have to provide some objective support for your accusation of hyperbole. Every single word RodH posted is discernible truth and if you can’t see it plainly in our Church today, you need to take the rose colored glasses off and get a look at the world as it is. If your brand of charity requires political correctness, you can have it.
You make a very good point Granny that many of us can relate to. Not to make hasty decisions until we go into the quiet and wait on the Lord.
Granny does not make a good point.
Deacon,
I think it is wondrous that Father Weinandy asked for and got a definitive sign from on high. Father was ready to take the leap but was asking Our Lord for that final nudge. His faith is childlike and pure. This is the most heartening thing I’ve read in four years. I’m saddened at your looking at this with a jaundiced eye.
Pearl of York, it was not my intent to appear to view this with a jaundiced eye. I fully agree with what you have said about Fr Weinandy’s letter and actions. The lament I have about this is the state of the Church which would compel the need to seek such signs. A state which has only been confirmed by the swift response of the mental midgets in the USCCB who have sought his resignation. By their actions they have totally vindicated Fr Weinandy’s position.
I reread what you wrote Deacon and see where you are not as skeptical of Father Weinandy as was my first impression. So many other priests lack the faith to even ask for a sign is the painful truth. So many bishops are so worldly and craven with no introspection at all—asking for a sign would be ridiculous to them.
I re-read wot I rote as well, and I can now c y I gave that appearance. Not the most unambiguous writing I ever done! 😉
“But really, what is the Church coming to that priests need special signs from God before they are prepared to stand up to defend the faith?”
I think this every time I read of a Catholic anticipating some dramatic Marian event that will fix the Church.
Is this a time for miracles?
Or is this merely a time for simple love of God, that is, a time for obedience and courage, neither of which are miracles, but in the absence of both, when one sees them, seem to be quite miraculous?
One more theologian voicing the concerns of many, concerns that should be coming from the rank and file of Bishops!
Another theologian speaking out at risk while most of the Bishops hide, huddled behind their flowing vestments, cringing in the dark, scurrying about like rats when the light switch of truth is turned on. Truly, it is harder to stomach the “orthodox” yet silent Bishops than the heretics that fawn all over this Pope and puke out their wretched lies on the faithful.
Every reason he cites for Bishops remaining silent is a curse on those who do.
I doubt I will ever trust my Bishop again, for tho he is supposedly an orthodox Bishop he has remained silent through this entire affair, indeed, in a letter to me even defending the Pope.
I look at my grandson and I long for the day when Bishops like mine are gone, replaced by men of God who are courageous in standing for the truth and in teaching the Gospel in all clarity {CCC 1697}. I may not see it in my lifetime, but I pray that this the first of my grandchildren and hopefully many more as yet unborn see it in theirs.
How tedious of Fr. Weindandy to have gone through such lucubrations and illuminations in order to do what Our Lord wanted him to do in the first place. It is just such spiritual hand-wringing and sentimentalism that impedes the Holy Spirit. Be a man and a priest, and get to it without the pussyfooting obsequiousness. Pope Francis knows exactly what he is doing. You need to do likewise.
And you’re gone.
“I am 12 and just discovered thesaurus.com”
Paul,Here is the complete letter:
The good Capuchin Fr. Weindandy deserves your respect , not sarcasm.
Your Holiness,
I write this letter with love for the Church and sincere respect for your office. You are the Vicar of Christ on earth, the shepherd of his flock, the successor to St. Peter and so the rock upon which Christ will build his Church. All Catholics, clergy and laity alike, are to look to you with filial loyalty and obedience grounded in truth. The Church turns to you in a spirit of faith, with the hope that you will guide her in love.
Yet, Your Holiness, a chronic confusion seems to mark your pontificate. The light of faith, hope, and love is not absent, but too often it is obscured by the ambiguity of your words and actions. This fosters within the faithful a growing unease. It compromises their capacity for love, joy and peace. Allow me to offer a few brief examples.
First there is the disputed Chapter 8 of “Amoris Laetitia.” I need not share my own concerns about its content. Others, not only theologians, but also cardinals and bishops, have already done that. The main source of concern is the manner of your teaching. In “Amoris Laetitia,” your guidance at times seems intentionally ambiguous, thus inviting both a traditional interpretation of Catholic teaching on marriage and divorce as well as one that might imply a change in that teaching. As you wisely note, pastors should accompany and encourage persons in irregular marriages; but ambiguity persists about what that “accompaniment” actually means. To teach with such a seemingly intentional lack of clarity inevitably risks sinning against the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is given to the Church, and particularly to yourself, to dispel error, not to foster it. Moreover, only where there is truth can there be authentic love, for truth is the light that sets women and men free from the blindness of sin, a darkness that kills the life of the soul. Yet you seem to censor and even mock those who interpret Chapter 8 of “Amoris Laetitia” in accord with Church tradition as Pharisaic stone-throwers who embody a merciless rigorism. This kind of calumny is alien to the nature of the Petrine ministry. Some of your advisors regrettably seem to engage in similar actions. Such behavior gives the impression that your views cannot survive theological scrutiny, and so must be sustained by “ad hominem” arguments.
Second, too often your manner seems to demean the importance of Church doctrine. Again and again you portray doctrine as dead and bookish, and far from the pastoral concerns of everyday life. Your critics have been accused, in your own words, of making doctrine an ideology. But it is precisely Christian doctrine – including the fine distinctions made with regard to central beliefs like the Trinitarian nature of God; the nature and purpose of the Church; the Incarnation; the Redemption; and the sacraments – that frees people from worldly ideologies and assures that they are actually preaching and teaching the authentic, life-giving Gospel. Those who devalue the doctrines of the Church separate themselves from Jesus, the author of truth. What they then possess, and can only possess, is an ideology – one that conforms to the world of sin and death.
Third, faithful Catholics can only be disconcerted by your choice of some bishops, men who seem not merely open to those who hold views counter to Christian belief but who support and even defend them. What scandalizes believers, and even some fellow bishops, is not only your having appointed such men to be shepherds of the Church, but that you also seem silent in the face of their teaching and pastoral practice. This weakens the zeal of the many women and men who have championed authentic Catholic teaching over long periods of time, often at the risk of their own reputations and well-being. As a result, many of the faithful, who embody the “sensus fidelium,” are losing confidence in their supreme shepherd.
Fourth, the Church is one body, the Mystical Body of Christ, and you are commissioned by the Lord himself to promote and strengthen her unity. But your actions and words too often seem intent on doing the opposite. Encouraging a form of “synodality” that allows and promotes various doctrinal and moral options within the Church can only lead to more theological and pastoral confusion. Such synodality is unwise and, in practice, works against collegial unity among bishops.
Holy Father, this brings me to my final concern. You have often spoken about the need for transparency within the Church. You have frequently encouraged, particularly during the two past synods, all persons, especially bishops, to speak their mind and not be fearful of what the pope may think. But have you noticed that the majority of bishops throughout the world are remarkably silent? Why is this? Bishops are quick learners, and what many have learned from your pontificate is not that you are open to criticism, but that you resent it. Many bishops are silent because they desire to be loyal to you, and so they do not express – at least publicly; privately is another matter – the concerns that your pontificate raises. Many fear that if they speak their mind, they will be marginalized or worse.
I have often asked myself: “Why has Jesus let all of this happen?” The only answer that comes to mind is that Jesus wants to manifest just how weak is the faith of many within the Church, even among too many of her bishops. Ironically, your pontificate has given those who hold harmful theological and pastoral views the license and confidence to come into the light and expose their previously hidden darkness. In recognizing this darkness, the Church will humbly need to renew herself, and so continue to grow in holiness.
Holy Father, I pray for you constantly and will continue to do so. May the Holy Spirit lead you to the light of truth and the life of love so that you can dispel the darkness that now hides the beauty of Jesus’ Church.
Sincerely in Christ,
Thomas G. Weinandy, O.F.M., Cap.
July 31, 2017
Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola
“You need to do likewise.”
He just did.
Has Brian Harrison written or supported a correction to the Pope?
Fr. Brian Harrison was one of the signatories of the 45 Theologians letter of Theological Censures Against Amoris Laetitia: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/07/25/names-of-signatories-to-amoris-laetitia-letter-revealed/
OK, I thought he was connected somewhere but couldn’t remember where.
THANKS.
Breaking: This is from Catholic World Report: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/2017/11/01/fr-thomas-g-weinandy-explains-his-critical-letter-to-pope-francis/
“I (Carl Olson)spoke for a few minutes this morning with Fr. Weinandy, and he told me that since the letter’s publication, he has received many positive and encouraging notes from theologians, priests, and lay people. However, the USCCB asked him to resign from his current position as consultant to the bishops, and he has submitted his resignation. In making such a request, the USCCB, it would appear, reinforces Fr. Weinandy’s very point about fearfulness and lack of transparency.”
Emphasis above is mine.
Just got here and was about to post “how long till he is fired from something”. Then disqus updated with this comment.
Suddenly the USCCB finds a streak of authoritarianism? Ironic to the nth degree.How come they never come down this heavy on the real miscreants like James Martin, SJ, the sodomite pin-up boy? It’s been this way for 50 years. Heretics, modernists and dissenters have been allowed to run wild while anyone who stands up for traditional Catholicism is crushed.
If Fr. Weinandy had written that Humanae Vitae is a pile of garbage, he’d still have a job today. The USCCB is a bunch of worthless, empty cassocks who prostrate themselves before the zeitgeist.
Hirelings! It’d amount to spitting in the wind but posting this in all our churches, letter to editors, and send fake dollars for fake dogma to the annual Bishops Appeal, and just writing letters to each and everyone of them to get it off our chests would be a wonderful catharsis. Kiwiinamerica summed it up best – they finally found a spine in their closet. The older I get the more I can visualize Dante’s streets in Hell paved with the skulls of bishops. aarrggghhh.
I will say this softly so the USCCB doesn’t hear: The USCCB thinks with Fr Martin. He is their precious unofficialspokesman.
Yes, indeed. They are snakes who will have a very, very bad end. I stopped paying heed to the USCCB DECADES ago…they have been slurping the Modernist Kool-Aid since their inception as an ecclesial body.
Voila.
“and he told me that since the letter’s publication, he has received many positive and encouraging notes from theologians, priests, and lay people. ”
No inquiry, no request for a sitdown, nothing. Just the boot.
The Pope’s Idol Luther was treated with more mercy, to be sure.
Be patient. We’re waiting for the dialogue. Meanwhile, go travel, build a house, watch your great, great, great grandkids grow and then voila, we will have dialogue. True that we may not be alive by then, but hey, it could still happen just not in our lifetime.
Hello Fr ‘RP’,
Thank you for your work here at 1PV.
I have been a financial contributor to this site before and am considering becoming one of the 400. I believe this site has helped many of my friends and family wake up to what is happening in the Church today.
I must confess to hesitating many times regarding this feedback for fear of being misunderstood or it being taken the wrong way which seems ironic given the state of things at present.
I find it troubling that you write anonymously. Given that you are now a moderator and provide regular feedback and direction, would you consider it a good time to tell us who you are?
I am sure you have your reasons but then I am sure the untold number of silent bishops at present also have theirs.
Please receive this suggestion in good form but i do think it would help significantly to the transparent and honest format that was established by Steve who has put his name on everything from day one.
This issue has been my only obstacle in my hesitation to further support this very important website. I am from Australia and have had significant negative feedback regarding this site mostly due to the comments sections. There has been much positive feedback with regards to the articles and, as I mentioned, has been the reason for much ‘awakening’.
God bless and Thank you.
If I May……
“I believe this site has helped many of my friends and family wake up to what is happening in the Church today.”
In addition…..
…”has been my only obstacle in my hesitation to further support this very important website”
A matter of privacy is surely not sufficient an “obstacle” to prevent continued help for many of one’s friend’s and family?
….rhetorically put.
Good point Barry. It is more a hesitancy to really get behind 1PV when many of the feedback contributors do not put their names to their contribution and the tone can be quite different than where the original article had been heading.
I just think it is ironic when there often seems a criticism that more folk are not doing more or saying more when we still hide ourselves in online anonymity.
I would be interested to hear others feedback. I think the words of Fr ‘RP’ would be far more powerful if we knew who he was. How am I to know if he is even a priest?
Thank you.
It is a good point Shawn but you have entirely missed it!
I was referring to your inability to respect privacy, forgive me if my wording offered you
false support.
With respect, that was not my intention. May I refer you to “James” reply to you and ask
you to reflect on it’s obvious merits.
Classic! we speak English in Australia but it isnt the same version. When I said ‘good point’, that is what we say when we politely disagree with each other in Aus!
I think I understood your point.
I am not looking for support so no forgiveness needed. I just want to share a point of view that seems may not be popular amongst fellow readers.
I appreciate your comments, thanks.
OK, it’s all good…a sincere GOD BLESS Shawn, take care.
and to you brother!
Fr RP has explained in the past why he does not put his name to theses comments. You will find his explanation on his Disqus page. It’s tedious to keep asking.
Thank you Chloe. I hadnt realised.
For the ‘new’ people to 1PV, like myself, it may not be tedious though.
I post under my name Rod Halvorsen and have no problem doing it. Making Discus work properly so I don’t have to keep changing “handles” is another thing entirely…
LOL.
I’m curious to know why you would be suspicious about Father’s priesthood? What possible reason could anyone have to masquerade as a priest in a combox? Let’s step back and try to bring a little logic into this discussion.
Hello Barbara,
It is probably more of a caution with anonymous spiritual direction/advice. You may be fine with that but from my life experiences in my part of the world, sadly I take a little more for trust to be gained.
Steve assured me of the authenticity of the moderator and for that I am grateful and can rest my point.
God Bless
Shawn, welcome to 1P5. I raise my hand as one who is guilty of needing to tone it down from time to time! Being a Brit who has a fair few mates down under, I am surprised to hear concerns about the tone coming from your neck of the woods. In my experience Aussies tend to be the most straight-talking people in the Anglophone world – certainly compared to us poms – but its good to know that some of you have some class. 😉
God bless you and yours.
Thank you Deacon Augustine for your welcome,
My Grandfather came from Northern Ireland so I, by nature, prefer the fireworks. I just feel if we cut each other a bit more slack ( I also am guilty!), the site may be more attractive to those searching for some sanity.
God bless.
No sale, shawn. Steve has told you he has spoken to Father on the phone and assured you he is a priest. Now, you’re saying, by inference, that Steve lied to you. If you don’t like what’s going on here, you’re free to leave.
Are you the same dude as clintoncps that posted the similar comment up above?
no I am not.
Clinton is based in Canada.
Dear Friend,
This is clintoncps writing. I am based in Toronto, Canada. Clinton is a fairly unusual name, but it appears that there is another Clinton commenting on this article: welcome, Clinton!
I hope that we will all pray for Pope Francis and all who are being used to cause confusion in the Church. We know that the devil is the author of confusion, not the Holy Spirit. So may we all be delivered from the father of lies and take seriously our Lord’s call to repent and believe His good news!
Shawn, have you read the “featured comment” above?
Having inhabited religious life myself, I would caution any priest or religious to be very prudent in revealing their identity in times such as these — particularly this pontificate.
Years back I respectfully questioned the rude reception given a member of the Curia by our community during the pontificate of John Paul II and my immediate superior made life most unpleasant and it resulted in the loss of my place in religious life.
Vindictiveness and vendetta rule in ecclesia, shamed to say.
You either are baiting Father, or are naïve in the extreme.
Those who find the comments offered here to be “offensive” to any degree are governed by a ethos more suited to a tea party. There is a battle for souls transpiring with a virulence in history perhaps unmatched.
Surely in the “Land Down Under” the fraudulence of parlor niceties has been replaced by a willingness to see things as they are.
Thank you James.
I was not intending to bait Fr so I will accept your other option.
I appreciate your comments.
Father RP can no doubt speak for himself, but as the person who makes the decisions on moderators, I can tell you that I know who he is, I know what diocese he’s in, and I’ve spoken with him over the phone.
He is a real priest, and I vouch for him because, as you say, I *do* put my name on everything. (I also know the true identity of Jafin, our other moderator who uses a pseudonym here.)
Considering the fact that Fr. Weinandy was forced to resign from his position as consultant to the USCCB simply for publishing the incredibly respectful letter above, I continue to support the decision of Father RP and any other priest who would like to contribute their thoughts here anonymously.
I don’t think many of them fear retribution for their own sake so much as for their flocks. There is a scarcity of priests who truly care for souls. Knowing you will likely be dealt with unjustly simply because you stood up for the truth in a comment box doesn’t really make speaking in a comment box worthwhile. Like any father, a priest has to think of the souls in his care, for whom he is the spiritual provider.
There are witch hunts going on all over. I of course prefer transparency, but some discretion in this regard has become a necessary evil.
Thank you Steve.
I guess that is all I needed. You command alot of respect and I trust your discression.
Keep up the good fight brother.
Thank you, Shawn. And thanks for your consideration in supporting our work!
You may or may not support anonymity, but Fr RP’s listing his name here would be his resignation from the priesthood.
Martin Luther was then granted more papal mercy in his absolute heresy than any priest or bishop is in their orthodoxy today.
It is a disgrace the situation is like that in this time of mercy.
Point taken though.
RodH, what you say is not mere hyperbole– we have only to look
at the fate of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate under this
pontificate. Or the dismissal of Cardinal Burke. Or Cardinal Canizares-
Llovera (a.k.a. “Little Ratzinger”) being stripped of his Curia post and
shipped back to Spain. Or Cardinal Muller, forced to dismiss three
of his best priests from his staff at this Pope’s insistence before the
Cardinal himself was unceremoniously dumped from the CDF.
Sadly, our more Vicar-of-Bray prelates have taken their cue from
this Pope and have made themselves Francis’ willing enforcers.
Professor Josef Seifert was forced from his theology chair by the
Archbishop of Grenada for publicly questioning Amoris Laetitia.
And now our bishops at the USCCB have sacked Fr. Weinandy
for forgetting his place, pour encourager les autres.
Funny, I thought this was the “hagan lio” pontificate, where the
Church dialogues with the peripheries and accompanies everyone
with mercy, etc. Unless one actually professes what the Church
has always believed from the beginning– in which case, one has a
bullseye on one’s back.
I certainly hope there is a man among men who will be elected Pope and will have a long list of them who simply need to be laicized and excommunicated.
The Church gave up on discipline many years ago. It needs to be reinstated in the service of truth.
Notice how these men are persecuted by being fired, but none have been excommunicated…
For obvious reasons; They have done nothing wrong doctrinally. In fact, quite the opposite.
So the devil flails about and does what he can.
St Michael, pray for us.
How is anyone converted these days? Between the sham of this papacy and the constant battling over what is Catholic. The process of the Church being gutted of its Catholic identity is almost complete and we have no idea what to do. We have zero leadership. Zero. How is it any question why people attend the SSPX or are sedevacantist. There is something terribly wrong in Rome or they are terribly right. The time has come for us to either submit to this tyrant or find a way to fight back.
Julius, Our Lord is separating the sheep from the goats. He knows what he’s doing. Let’s follow Him and trust in Him.
Well said.
I and my wife converted with my family, we just after the election of Bergoglio and my adult kids since then. But then we studied the doctrines hard and they don’t pay too much attention to the Pope.
But i am with you. This is a very grave situation, because what I see in this Pope and his sodomy-supporting allies is liberal Lutheranism 100%. We ex-Lutherans can see it for what it is.
Priests live in fear. Bishops appear to be almost totally on-board with the destruction of the Catholic faith in whole or in large part and those that aren’t are quiet as Church mice.
The times are grave, for sure.
But I am still trying to draw my friends to the faith. I trust that the past crises are the model for the current one; they will end, hopefully quickly.
I keep remembering how the Apostles all stood under the Cross when Christ was crucified, singing praises to our Lord and rejoicing at the consolation of Israel.
Oh…that’s right…that didn’t happen. They fled and only one we know of was at the Cross with Our Lady.
Maybe that’s how we are going to get thru this crisis?
One bishop and Our Lady together?
In the meantime, we must pray, study the doctrines, serve and stand against the Lutheran heresies wherever they pop up and resist whoever may front them.
Please do remember, that Father RP cares for many souls in his parishes and they are blessed to have him.
He lays down his life for them every day, as he speaks the Truth for love of Christ and for them.
I consider myself part of his flock. We are privileged and blessed to have his guidance and counsel.
Thank you cs. I can now take Steve Skojec’s word for it,
God Bless
It is wise to discern these things Shawn, and I do appreciate your thoughtful questions.
God bless you.
Discretion would be more in the realm of Prudence than of evil. Even Jesus avoided unnecessary confrontation when things got too heated and His life was threatended before His hour had come. +
But the hour HAS come for us to speak out. Prudence does not mean waiting until it’s safe to speak, it means in this case to write to Pope Francis for the good of HIS soul. If this poor deluded soul dies in the state he’s in now we can reasonably fear for him. I do not know the mind of God, but we must pray for Francis for that very reason – not because we don’t like what he’s doing and we want God to change it. But because Francis SOUL is worth praying for.
Yes, Barbara, I totally agree with you. I pray, and have been praying for Pope Francis conversion for a long time. We want all souls in heaven with God!
My comment, however, was meant to clarify that “discretion” is never an “evil”. Discretion is necessary in every situation. Being prudent means not to act prompted by our emotions but on the wisdom of God. We have to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and wait for clear signs to go forward. I am quoting here the phrase I referred to for your consideration:
“There are witch hunts going on all over. I of course prefer transparency, but some discretion in this regard has become a necessary evil.”
God bless you. +
At what point does the hour come to speak out, if not now?
He DOES speak out. How would you feel if you were a member if his flock and list him because some people find anonymity distasteful.
Thank you, Steve for your clarity. The best I could come up with in response to people who demand a full frontal assault and no anonymity was to tell such people that they are essentially the guy at the after school fight yelling “hit him! Hit him!”. It’s easy to be brave when you have nothing at stake but priests and bishops–while standing for truth is non-negotiable–do have people for whom to care, souls to nourish spiritually (nothing is more important).
Father RP et al are exercising prudence given the circumstances in the Church. The barbarians have stormed the gates and taken over the castle if you will. They are rapidly purging the faithful clerics and laity alike. The sodomites are running the Conciliar Church trying to disguise it as the OTF. The shepherds have abandoned the faithful who are left with the faith absent the buildings (to paraphrase St Athanasius). This is going to get much worse before it gets better. Scales have tipped to the Prince of the World et al. Divine intervention will be required to correct it. Any cleric below the Cardinal level will have zero impact in Rome. Even Cardinals have had minimal impact if any at all. We the sheep need to pray, fast and do penance as instructed by Our Lady of Fatima. She and her Son will not abandon us. The mother of all corrections is dead straight ahead. Until then, may we have the courage and faith to resist the pretenders in Rome and pray for their chastisement and removal.
Jaflin and Fathers credibility I place faith in because of you and your staff Steve. Thus, I rely on them to tell us honestly what the Church teaches even under anonymous names because of your brand image. The Bishops that fall silent regarding Church teaching in the face of heresy I’m assuming have not even contacted you to at the least become anonymous defenders of the faith. If you can’t evangelize openly then evangelize anonymously but if you do neither you simply don’t believe in it
I agree that the commentary detracts from the value of the writing. Unfortunately there are too many uncharitable comments. But the writers have had their nose on the scent all along, from long ago. This blog is essential, unique and worthy of support. After reading this article I thought to finally contribute and donate for the first time ever. Probably long overdue.
I agree totally Emily. After a clarification from Steve on the authenticity of Fr RP, I have also done my bit.
Challenging but blessed days!
Considering how church politics works, unfortunately, it could be extremely dangerous for a priest to comment here regularly without anonymity.
I have said before that one of the benefits of this site is that it says openly what many want to scream from the rooftops, but can’t. This site helps remind us that we are not alone in recognizing the problems in the Church, specifically with Pope Francis. When you are certain something is terribly wrong with someone, yet everyone else seems completely enamored with them, it is enough to drive one insane. One Peter Five reminds us that the problem isn’t in our minds, but rather is very real.
The Church has been my life since I was 20 years old. It shaped my educational path, my entire work experience, and my personal life. Perhaps I could do something else, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin. More importantly, I do not think it is what God would want from me. The Church is everything to me. I must comment anonymously to protect my livelihood and vocation.
It is a sad state Michael. I suppose there may be a difference with regular commenting versus the role of moderating/advising. The latter may be better suited without the constraints of anonymity. It is not my show though!
Even associating with this site could be risky. Moderating for this site would be even more so- no site would have a moderator who doesn’t agree with them, and this site isn’t exactly popular among the bishops.
Being unpopular among bishops is quite the endorsement. I can’t think of anyone’s approval I’d less rather have.
What was it that the Pope keeps emphasizing? Aaah yes, dialogue. Perhaps the USCCB has gone mute and can only sign language with a push.
Disgusting!
Why should they ask him to resign? I don’t understand.
Because he is “divisive” and does not seem to be at one with his fellow workers in the vineyard. ‘Unity is all’ these faithless bishops tell us. The Truth is ONE already. About this dialogue nonsense – there is no dialogue between lies and truth. What is there to talk about? Dialogue with evil? Never.
Some people just love to argue and criticize everything…..!
Look, Fr. Thomas Weinandy is a wise and humble Priest, as such he would perhaps be
conscious of the stealth of Spiritual Pride AND have a keen sense of Responsibility for any
actions taken.
The fact that he looked for a “sign” is a mark of strength NOT weakness and duly upon
receiving a sign (what are the odds?) as comprehensive as he did (praise GOD) he acted
VERY clearly, VERY strongly.
The Bergoglio Dam (and it knows) IS cracking further…..
This reminds me of the Hollywood scandals unfolding. Are the Hollywood exposes tied to the Dubia in some strange way in the spiritual realm? Is the Spirit getting ready to clean house, but not before a final confrontation?
The literal dirtiness of many aspects of Hollywood seems to parallel the theological dirtiness of many aspects of Rome.
Luke 12:3 “Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.”
Eph 5:11-13 “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. “
Notice the “syncretism” in what is happening. In the US, we finally elect a man (an imperfect man as are all of them, of course) who is hated by all the people we once were told to look up to. He exposes the swamp dwellers for the liars and dissemblers they really are, all the media hacks, the army of Republican hypocrites like McCain and Collins, the Democrat satanists who control totally that party. Hollywood, so esteemed by too many Americans for so long, collapses faster than a house of cards, and exposes itself as the cesspool of hellish corruption many of us always thought it was. The Vatican reveals that it is in the hands now of men whose notion of Catholicism is more Lutheran than Catholic, and a heretical mob rises to defend this fact. As is the case with the degenerate Hollywood elite, corrupt priests and prelates tear off their masks and we see them for what they really are. There is a generalized revolution afoot, one that is making it easier everyday to know who are the thugs, political, cultural, and ecclesiastic, and who are the good guys.
I totally agree with you and do you remember the Remnant letter asking the new president to investigate the eerie connections between the Democratic Party and the resignation of B-16?
Deep State is not merely *American*. Think Soros. Think Freemasonry. Think international banks.
There is much more in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy. (Thanks, Bill,)
Hollywood has been at it much longer. The pigs out there perfected it.
And to think…we used to think our grandparents were naive…but they were condemning Hollywood in the 1920’s!!!!
We should have listened to them from the gitgo!!
Amen.
Answer the damn dubia, you lying, dissembling heretic!!
As somebody else said recently, the truth (i.e. doctrine) is always pastoral!
Tremendous.
As demonstrated above, the USCCB is no longer Catholic, but are in fact a group of Marxist political operatives acting as cheerleaders for Pope Francis to the exclusion of Jesus Christ or His Church and flock. To dismiss the man who just spoke for millions of hurting Roman Catholics is an act of sycophantic allegiance which is not at all noble in this case, but only annoying and nauseating. That trench between us is getting wider and wider all the time, keep digging, Bishops.
Thank you
Well said, Evangeline. Bull’s eye!
It is an excellent letter and the wording is very clear. Commendable is the courage of Fr. Thomas Weinandy.
BUT, honestly, how many of you would really expect Jorge Bergoglio to respond in a way to CLARIFY what was repeatedly asked of him? Do you really believe he would WILLINGLY CLARIFY according to our wishes? Did not one of his cohorts ask us “NOT to keep asking questions until we get the answers we want”?
I hope it should be clear by now: Jorge Bergoglio follows the principle of “‘Tis above all, to thy ownself be true.” He will simply ignore Fr. Weinandy.
Don’t be mistaken, I pray for his conversion every day, together with the conversion of Kim Jung-Un, Ruhani, the Saudis, Erdogan, Putin, Assad, Merkel and the Moslems..
Don’t tell me to consider how probable is my rate-of-success. I leave it to God and these creatures working or not working with His graces.
“Don’t tell me to consider how probable is my rate-of-success. I leave it to God and these creatures working or not working with His graces.”
Great line!
Let us pray for all of them!!
Welcome into the holy boat, Fr. Weinandy. I still can’t believe what great company I’m with in this boat! And as for any contributions to anything connected with the USCCB, “Sorry. I gave in the boat.”
Can somebody who knows start a signature gathering campaign for us to sign our names and reprove the USCCB? I’d like to add my address and the name of my diocese, too.
My practice now — 2018 will be my second year — is no money for my Archdiocese with a note of explanation. The Archbishop is a Bergoglian. I maintain anonymity and explain that knowing that my pastor is subject to vengeance since I am not.
There is no lack of vindictiveness and vengeance in our Church.
Last year I gave twice the amount I normally provide the Annual Appeal to two Catholic enterprises which will without doubt use the funds appropriately. I do not disclose their identities either.
While they proudly strut out of their closets, let us vest in prudence. Prayer and stealth will bring the adversary down.
May it crash with a mighty roar.
I decided this year to withdraw my support of Catholic Charities in my diocese after they were kind enough to provide a photo (in one of their propaganda flyers) of a hijab-adorned “refugee.” I inquired about their policies concerning this immigration question, but their answer was vague enough to suggest that my money would be better used elsewhere. I then increased my donation to a real charity, one that is not associated with the USCCB and that feeds the poor but does not push the Democrat Party’s agenda so beloved of our bishops.
I share your estimation of Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services as well.
Amen
I help with the count after Sunday’s donations are collected. Whenever there is a ‘special’ collection there are very few donations – many have stopped giving to these specious charities and causes. Give your money either exclusively to the upkeep of your parish, or to a traditional religious order like the Carmelites or Benedictines who practice their Traditional Rule.
I just give to keep the utilities of my parish on and to pay the priest. I don’t give to anything else
Perhaps a NEW Medal struck…?
With the following engraving: USCCB-REJECT! Festooned with colored ribbon
and promptly dispatched to Fr. Weinandy to be pinned to his Cassock.
Bravo!
Beautifully reasoned. Well written. Respectful to a fault.
Doomed to the circular file, as is the writer – if he escapes with his neck.
The Bishop of Rome, his sycophants in the episcopate, in the theological academy, in the clerical class and the Catholic media are unmasked as unworthy of their responsibilities.
In having abandoned the faithful they have brought judgement upon themselves.
Provided the gravity of their fault one might expect mercy to be less a commodity than they like to presume.
I would like to learn the names of our American bishops who called for and/or supported the demand for Fr. Weinandy’s resignation. I think I have a few likely names in my head, but I would love to see the list if such a thing exists.
It appears that the tectonic plates of the big schism are nearing the point of fracture, and each day more Catholics, at all levels, are realizing that they need to decide which side of the chasm they want to be on when it cracks open.
I want to know the names of the Bishops who resisted the Communists.
Those are the ones I want to know.
Oops…
Weren’t there any?
Blessed Theodore Romzha was martyred 70 years ago this day (Nov. 1, 1947). He died exactly 3 years after the Servamy of God Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky. This might help:
http://www.royaldoors.net/2013/08/the-new-martyrs-of-the-ukrainian-greco-catholic-church/
I think RodH may have been referring to the USCCB bishops who resisted the decision to have Fr. Weinandy submit his resignation, of which he believes there were none.
Correct.
And there were none if they don’t come out with a public statement of dissent.
Of course they didn’t…they’d have been the next to be sacked!
RodH: “I want to know the names of the Bishops who resisted the Communists.”
?????
THAT is how I shall view their silence; complicit.
Oh. Thank you.
Oh yes there were. Cardinal Minzenty comes first to mind. He gave his life to the Church. He is a martyr.
Start with Archbishop Daniel DiNardo, head of the USCCB.
As a Catholic who believes in the doctrines of the Church and hopes for the salvation of my soul, I am grateful that the Dubia, the Correctio, and now this letter from Fr. Weinandy have been published. The reason for this gratitude is simple: once truth has been articulated, then falsehood is already vanquished, no matter how long it may take for the stench of decomposing lies to completely dissipate.
All of the writers of the above documents are praying that Pope Francis will have a change of heart and will take up his mission as the principal defender — unto death — of the Catholic Church and the Apostolic Faith.
I remember the great joy with which I read a transcript of the very first homily given by Pope Francis, the day after his election as pope, in which he said:
“When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly. We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord.”
For over four years now, those clerical factions and tendencies that have maneuvered to take charge of the formal apparatus of the Church have been trying to build Her up without the Cross, and the worldliness and the shame of it have become a spectacle for all to see. And the more the harsh, calumnious attacks, the firings, the dismissals, and the forced resignations of faithful clergy and laymen take place, the clearer the pathetic doom of a regime without the Cross becomes. In the words of Bishop Athanasius Schneider:
“Such apodictic merciless judgments reveal not only intolerance, refusal of dialogue, and irrational rage, but demonstrate also a surrender to the impossibility of speaking the truth, a surrender to relativism in doctrine and practice, in faith and life (and) parades ultimately powerlessness before the eyes of the truth.”
May the Holy Spirit open the hearts and minds of all involved in the intentional defilement of the Bride of Christ, and help us to take up again the Cross.
Couldn’t agree more.
Seems it won’t be too long till every “official” “Catholic” institution will have fired every person on staff who is Catholic!
Maybe Pope Francis is sowing all of this confusion to separate the wheat from the chaff, the champions of the faith from the cowards and heretics. Then, unexpectedly, he’ll sack the Cupichs and DiNardos and replace them with men like Weinandy.
I had considered that before now myself, but that would be “wise as Serpents,
gentle as Doves”….on STEROIDS. And that’s just NOT how IT work’s sadly…
.
A simple premise: In the Christian School “the end does not justify the means”
We’ll, maybe it will be left to Divine Justice to separate them. The scales have certainly fallen from my eyes as to how pliable these careerist cowards seem to be.
We take comfort in the fact that all this confusion, pain, and damage IS
purifying the Church.
Certainly the sifting is occurring, to be sure, and the names of the heretics are now widely known.
Exactly. Cdl Burke likely sees no legal remedies at all after reflection– that would explain his inaction.
Meanwhile Bushop Schneider says “Prepare for Martyrdon.”
I think that and many other scenarios have been banging around our heads for a long time.
NOTHING makes simple, Catholic, doctrinal sense in the pontificate.
No.
“Something comes out of this synod that makes God very angry!”
This was the thought that passed through my mind during a discussion with my spiritual director a few months before the first synod. I’ve trusted thoughts like this ever since my first communion over 50 years ago, when I also received the gift of revelation.
I commented here a year ago and was called a troll for saying a correction is coming, a chastisement if you will. It’s amazing what another year brings. Now many are wondering if we are in “the end times”. I don’t KNOW if we are in the end times, personally I believe we are witnessing the great apostasy.
The Holy Spirit has placed me, a miserable sinner on a path to holiness, my time does not come till after the correction. Please pray for me that I have enough courage to do Gods will.
Leo
Amen! Alleluia! Thank you, Fr. Weinandy! God bless you!
He was fired by the USCCB because of this letter.
Bless the good Father for his courage. I am still at a loss to understand what there is to clarify. The Pope has been perfectly clear as to his agenda which is direct conflict with the previous magisterium of the Church. Face reality. As for the USCCB, Donald Trump has done more to save the lives of unborn children than they. Enough said. They are a disgrace as a group.
May God bless Fr. Weinandy abundantly. I have added his name to the Holy Hour I make especially for priests.
Isn’t that tempting God or putting the Lord to the test?
I have never personally asked anything like that from God. I ask for help and guidance all the time but not quite like that.
I have always tried to discern my own faulty will from that of God’s by asking for Him to confirm that I’m not just stepping out in pride. Our relationship is one where I readily admit my own stubbornness can get in the way and I need His confirmation in a bold way. He rarely stays silent — and when He does, I know it is my clue to stop in my tracks and WAIT for a response.
Here’s a recent example. Recently I became convinced that it was time to sell my house. I asked the Lord to show me who He wanted to buy the house. When I casually mentioned to a small group of prayer warriors to pray that I would be able to quickly sell my house, one of the prayer warriors spoke up, saying she wanted to buy it (even though she’d never been to my house). All right.
Two weeks goes by and there is an uneasiness that begins to creep into my thoughts about this buyer. I sensed that maybe this person is not the one who God had wanted to buy the house and asked God to confirm this for me. I specifically said that I knew HE had already picked out a Buyer and that I only wanted to sell to whomever HE wanted me to sell it to. I asked Him for the grace to know whether this woman was the right person by removing the sense of uneasiness from me. And, if there was someone else He had in mind to buy the home, that this new person would become very obvious. That was at 9:30 on a Saturday morning while I quietly prayed in my “prayer closet.”
At 1:30 that afternoon I received a call out of the blue. A young man (actually….I have to stop saying that…he’s 38!) who had been friends with my son and grew up in my neighborhood called — knowing I was a Realtor — to see if I knew of any houses in the neighborhood which would be going up for sale. It turns out that he’d been thinking of calling me for ONE WHOLE YEAR about moving to my neighborhood, but didn’t call until that day — the VERY day that I had asked God to show me who HE had picked out to buy my house.
Yes….he and his wife and two kids now live in my house. AND….as another aside (one of many) regarding this couple, it troubled me greatly that they are not practicing Christians. For some reason, I had just assumed that God would pick some really Godly couple to buy my house. In frustration one evening, I said to God: “Are you SURE you want these guys to buy the house? This is YOUR house. It’s your call, but I just don’t get it….”
The next day, the first reading at Mass was the passage in the Book of Acts where Peter has the vision of the sheet coming down from heaven with the animals on it. Understanding that these animals represent food that he is forbidden to eat, he declares (three times) that he has never eaten anything unclean and the message for Peter is that he is to preach to the Gentiles (which he had declared as “unclean.”)
One of the Devotionals I read each morning is from the St. Terese of Liseaux fraternity (forget their name for the moment). In the meditation that Fr. Bob wrote for that day he spoke of that passage in Acts, saying…..and this is a quote…..”Who are we to decide who gets to live in God’s house?” I nearly fell out of my chair and never doubted again for one moment that God DID want this young couple to be the new owners of my home.
So…yes…God does answer our heartfelt questions for direction. Often times in very direct ways.
There is nothing wrong with asking the Lord to confirm your path when you are unsure of the path you are choosing. In fact it is part of true discernment. Fr. Weinandy’s vocation isn’t that of critic of the Holy Father, so if he thought it prudent to ask the Lord for confirmation as to critiquing the actions of the Pope then that is exactly what he should have done.
And did not God answer Him immediately? And then Fr. Weinandy followed the Will of the Lord as he understood it to be and wrote perhaps the clearest and charitable critique yet.
Reminds me of Gideon in the Bible.
But then Gideon was fighting pagan Midianites.
Oh…uh…’scuse me.
Apparently so is Weinandy…..
.
If the Lord didn’t like it, he picked a strange way to show it.
Can we all say AMEN? Alleluia? Both? Rather than fire him, every Bishop who dares to claim to be Catholic should have asked to co-signed the letter. Time for each and everyone of us to write our Bishops in support of this beautiful letter?
My Bishop is Sean Patrick O’Mally. need I say more?
How appropriate that this happened on the Feast of All Saints!
Here is part of the Gospel of today (of course, it is the 8th Beatitude):
“Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.”
— Our Lord Jesus Christ
Yesterday many high up in the Church celebrated the 500th anniversary of Luther’s revolt and attack of the Church. Today, many high up in the Church fired a priest from his position for the crime of standing up for the Church. O, the times in which we live! Truly bizarre.
His reward is very great in heaven.
Heed the counsel of this good Franciscan Friar, Pope Francis! He TRULY represents the Saint from whom you stole your name.
Heartbreaking, he will be crucified. If you poke a stick into a nest of hornets, you know what happens. The same holds true for prodding a nest of demons. This brave OFM Cap (like Chaput) better put his hood up. He will be stung and he will be stung many times.
“Like Chaput”? In that he’s a Capuchin. Otherwise? No.
I have finally read the letter in full, and I’ll admit that I’m a little baffled — and actually somewhat amused.
Fr. Weinandy says that he does not support the Filial Correction, telling Crux “I don’t think it was theologically helpful, or presented in an effective manner.” For the life of me, I can’t understand that position when, to my eyes, his own letter seems to be almost fire-breathing condemnation in every sentence.
Don’t get me wrong — I applaud his forthrightness. I’m just a little confused as to how he could say that the Filial Correction wasn’t presented in an effective manner.
I’m sure some of you will be happy to enlighten me……..
Yeah, I didn’t get it, either.
I chalked it up to his fear then and his mastery over that fear now.
I seriously doubt Fr. Weinandy is afraid of anything or anyone. Jesus, I’m sure, but no one else.
He’s a theologian. His criteria are much different from ours. “I don’t think it was theologically helpful….” gets into issues I’m not competent to discuss.
I have several hundred people working for me, including many well-meaning, family dedicated Mormons. How are we to encourage people to explore Catholicism today, with the Church in this state? People need Christ and His truth more than ever, and the enemy has successfully turned Chrst’s Bride into a Tower of Babel. It’s so frustrating and so sad. A purification, schism, or miracle of some sort has to occur; how else will good, searching souls find the Truth? This situation cannot be sustained.
I agonize with you. My extended family thinks the CC is a ridiculous joke. and right now it is hard to argue with them.
I am a convert from a long line of anti-Catholic Protestants {ministers, too!}. I brought with me {over time} my entire family of wife and adult children.
Address the origin of Scripture, the teachings of the Fathers, the Councils and the Popes and see the consistency.
I’m not going to blow smoke at you. It isn’t easy with what the Church has poured forth since Vatican 2. There is no question, a rift between what was and what is has occurred. We have seen a collapse in courageous affirmation of Jesus Christ as King and Savior. We have seen the entire leadership polluted by a cowardly desire to be accepted by secular authorities. But if you read the New Testament, not to mention the history of Israel in the Old, you will see that times like this come and go.
And…don’t be afraid to get some understanding of Protestantism and LDS teaching. And don’t be afraid to condemn it!! You don’t have to froth at the mouth, but don’t shy from telling it like it is. The history and teachings of both, TEACHINGS, are variable and immoral.
Your word “explore” is a good one. Help them explore the faith and see what happens. In the end, the Lord Jesus must grant them the grace and open their eyes. Trust!!
Read the Bible, the Catechism of the Council of Trent, the CCC and get a copy of Denzinger Enchiridion Symbolorum.
God bless you.
Hang tight. It is going to be a rough ride for a while.
God bless you both.
(He means John and Rod.)
🙂 You too winslow. God bless you too. 🙂
Perfect, Rod. every word. As I said elsewhere, Our Lord is, at this moment, separating the sheep from the goats. When that has been completed, when all the goats have identified themselves, the rough ride will be over.
Wow–this priest was my teacher in grade school. I’m floored.
Well, send him a letter! I’m sure he’d love to hear from you!
Boy howdy would he!
It’s a good idea. I’d like to, although I’m not very articulate. I wonder how I could reach him. (Haven’t seen him in over 25 years, though I was impressed a few years ago to hear of the confession app he developed!) In any case, I will be offering up current hardships for him.
Send a letter addressed to him c/o the USCCB. You can get the address on the internet, Write ‘Please Forward’ on the envelope. Keep us posted on the results. 😉
HAHAHA!!!!!
That is priceless.
I actually acquired toady an e-mail address for a woman who will forward my (e-mail) letter to him. Anyone who is interested in contacting him can privately e-mail me at [email protected] and I can supply this address (I assume it would be okay to give it out.)
Amen!!!
LifeSiteNews.com has an interesting article about the USCCB asking Fr. Weinandy to resign:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-u.s.-bishops-ask-theologian-to-resign-after-letter-criticizing-pop
PS: So does 1P5: https://onepeterfive.wpengine.com/dialogue-priest-who-wrote-letter-to-pope-asked-to-resign-from-usccb/
Thank you, Father. My nightly 1P5 email did not have that article in it — it must have been added to the website later. My 1P5 and LifeSite emails arrive each night within minutes of each other. Both have good coverage of the shenanigans going on in the Church.
Our priests have more at stake than merely being denied promotions and personal accolades; they risk losing the wherewithal to feed and tend their sheep. As I explained to a newly ordained, late-vocation priest, who exclaimed, “I’ll never be able to be pope at my age, so what can they do to me?” : Another priest of our diocese merely made a comment that a deceased bishop, who had stood up for civil rights in the 60s and was also vigorously pro-life, would have been dismayed to see that the nation’s first black president is so pro-abortion. The bishop and the superior of his order called him on the carpet after an activist member of the laity complained and stripped him of his priestly faculties to say Mass and hear confessions for a year or longer.
In obedience, this veteran priest accepted the sentence, what else could he do? Defy them and offer Mass and hear confessions anyway? The sacraments would not be legitimate and he’d be liable to the millstone and the sea for leading little ones astray. Thus the faithful were effectively deprived a source of the Sacraments from a veteran, faithful priest –
and this in an era of priest shortage. THAT is what our priests and bishops face, and us. Whoever said it is up to the laity is right….we laity need the Sacraments and orthodox priests, and the hierarchy can do nothing to stop us, as (ironically) the ongoing case of National Catholic Reporter has made plain.
Can we be in any doubt that we live under totalitarian regimes again? Neighbour reporting neighbour to the thought police (in the Church or out) brings back the smell of Hitler and Stalin. A friend who grew up in Croatia told me that before the wall fell (and after too) she was afraid to speak to ANYONE. Most people were silent even in the family circle because each word could be their downfall. Sounds familiar now.
I can amen the words of your Croatian friend! And it must be said that especially Catholic intellectuals were on a very perfidious way persecuted, by the then communistic regime of the state known as former yugoslavia of communist Tito. Especially true and devoted Catholic intellectuals were persecuted, and that the reason why we have had so many of such as ‘dissidents’ in that time. They were called ‘dissidents’, of course, because that’s the only “right” word for the true Catholics, which can be used (useful), by a totalitarian satanical regime, especially one which is known communism. This while many of those Catholics, sometimes has nothing to do with politics. Some of them were expelled from the state, some imprisoned in the worst prisons such as Alcatraz, others were fleeing themselves to the foreign states, and others were held under the so-called ‘House arrest’.
Those example of Catholic martyrdom, especially among Croats are countless, and I could write a pretty thick book about my personal experiences, especially those of my father, may God bless his soul.
That’s brilliantly put. They’re not afraid for themselves. They’re afraid for us. Take these good priests away and what are we left with?
Why do you conceal the name of the bishop? He has no right to privacy in this matter. This was a public act of governance, and the public should know about it.
I find it curious that he does not like the filial correction but then writes much more strongly and to the point criticising the muddle and confusion that this Pope has caused.
We have Free Will, when The Lord gently leans on us ( who claim to follow HIM ) to cause A
specific result WE KNOW.
What saddens me is those of Clerical Station (never mind our sinful selves) who have felt HIS “weight”
yet resist HIS impulse out of faithless weakness to human respect.
Woe betide us for our shame will catch up and endanger the mitigation’s which aid HIS Mercy.
As I posted below. I really am beginning to believe they do not know how to stand up for God. Our bishops are so polluted by {sodomy? greed? power?} that they have lost their way entirely and now don’t even know how to function as simple men of integrity.
Read the story of Eli in the Bible! No discipline leads to THIS!!!
It sounds like his conscience was weighing on him.
I thought it ironic too but perhaps his thinking was (correctly), “This filial correction will go nowhere; Someone needs to write as a priest — maybe that someone is me.”
I thought his letter was quite harsh in light of all the hand-wringing that has gone on about the Dubia, Seifert and the Filial Correction being out of line for daring to question the Pope.
However, today while I was praying about this whole thing, I had the sense of Jesus flipping the tables with the money changers.
It came to my mind that the five simple “yes or no” questions of the Dubia got nowhere. Yet they were attacked.
Then Professor Seifert’s letter, which was not only eloquent, but only asked one question, got nowhere. He was fired.
The Filial Correction was, quite literally, a bombshell. These brave men had the temerity to sign their names to a document which actually used the word heresy……four times, I believe. And yet, the Vatican yawned.
Fr. Weinandy’s letter — which clearly had the Blessing of God — is like Jesus took the tables and just threw them up against the wall. The gloves came off this time, which is long overdue.
It seems as though each successive “correction” has been more and more firm. As though God is ready to clean house.
I sure hope so.
Father Weinandy,’s actions and its consequences are a visible sign that Jesus Christ is guiding His Church.
How ironic that Fr. Weinandy belongs to the religious order founded in the 12th century by a man called Francis, the saint given the mission by Jesus speaking from a crucifix to “go and rebuild my church which is in ruins”;the saintly man initially took that call literally!
Faithful priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals: it’s time to pile on. Release your own letters now. You signed up to take one for the team. Now do it.
Amen…I think the levee is breaking.
A few more and the dam will break. Weird how much this like Hollywood.
BE NOT AFRAID!!
I am going to write to the USCCB. Do you think they’ll take my complaint into consideration?
Oh, yes, by doggie. I bet they respond with a formal apology and reinstate Fr Weinandy.
😉
But go got it anyhow.
LOL!
I was being sarcastic, or is that not allowed?????
I hoped so!
🙂
They will answer after Francis answers the Dubia.
It doesn’t matter. Write them anyway. I’m writing to DiNardo.
Just Fabulous Father; “keep up the writing”.
I wonder if the Archbishop still wants Weinandy to keep up the writing?
I am in awe of how Fr. Weinandy was so specific to Our Lord in his request and how specific Our Lord was in answering it!!!! What a gracious God we have.
I know…how wonderful that is! A request from a humble and contrite heart is mighty.
Fr. Weinandy’s insight that Bergoglio is allowing the cockroaches to come out and dance around in the sunlight–and that ultimately this will aid the Church to reform–is borne out by Cardinal DiNardo’s calumnious, sly, effeminate statement.
I’m so grateful to Fr. Weinardy’s strong letter to this pope. Where are the scores of complaints from other clergy? I think it is not a coincidence that it took a Franciscan to challenge and question this pope’s antics–leaving no wiggle room. Maybe it was St. Francis, himself, who inspired him in the first place being he is the saint who gave the prophesy on an invalidly elected pope. (Works of the Seraphic Father by R. Washbourne).
Fr. Weinardy is certainly practicing his martyrdom. Good for him, and God bless him!
Since Vatican II and Ecumenism, the Church has been separating itself from the traditional Magisterium. We need more like Fr. Thomas Weinandy to speak out and defend traditional Church doctrine.
Father Weinandy, you are my hero! Stay strong, Padre, and may God bless you for your courage to follow His will in this!