On August 23rd, 1973, four bank workers in Stockholm, Sweden, were taken hostage at gunpoint by Jan-Erik Olsson, a career criminal who was later joined by a friend of his from prison. After six days — during which the captives were treated harshly, terrified, strapped with dynamite, and kept in a vault — the standoff ended and the hostages were released. But then, something strange happened. Dr. Joseph Carver, a clinical psychologist, describes what came next:
After their rescue, the hostages exhibited a shocking attitude considering they were threatened, abused, and feared for their lives for over five days. In their media interviews, it was clear that they supported their captors and actually feared law enforcement personnel who came to their rescue. The hostages had begun to feel the captors were actually protecting them from the police. One woman later became engaged to one of the criminals and another developed a legal defense fund to aid in their criminal defense fees. Clearly, the hostages had “bonded” emotionally with their captors.
While the psychological condition in hostage situations became known as “Stockholm Syndrome” due to the publicity, the emotional “bonding” with captors was a familiar story in psychology.
[…]
In the final analysis, emotionally bonding with an abuser is actually a strategy for survival for victims of abuse and intimidation. The “Stockholm Syndrome” reaction in hostage and/or abuse situations is so well recognized at this time that police hostage negotiators no longer view it as unusual.
Dr. Carver describes four situations in which a foundation for Stockholm Syndrome is present. “These four situations,” he says, “can be found in hostage, severe abuse, and abusive relationships”:
- The presence of a perceived threat to one’s physical or psychological survival and the belief that the abuser would carry out the threat.
- The presence of a perceived small kindness from the abuser to the victim
- Isolation from perspectives other than those of the abuser
- The perceived inability to escape the situation
When Cardinal Gerhard Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, appeared live on Italian television last Sunday and criticized the dubia, saying that there would be “no correction” because Amoris Laetitia presents “no danger to the faith,” many Catholics found themselves examining his face to see if he was blinking out a distress signal in Morse Code. The bewilderment that has followed his interview continues to generate news, but the reasons why he would say something so obviously contrary to the truth — when Müller’s marginalization casts serious doubt on it being an exercise in fomenting power through the willful, positivistic subversion of reality — remains a mystery.
Nevertheless, I think the psychological descriptions above may shed some light on what we are witnessing. I’m certainly not trained in the subject, but I could not help but map the above-mentioned conditions for Stockholm Syndrome onto Cardinal Müller’s relationship with Pope Francis:
The presence of a perceived threat to one’s physical or psychological survival and the belief that the abuser would carry out the threat.
We have heard for some time about the “climate of fear” at the Vatican. This isn’t new — in an anonymous letter from a former member of the Curia penned in 2015, this exact term was used. More recently, we have seen this fear publicly discussed by not just journalists at LifeSiteNews and the National Catholic Register who have spent time in Rome, but Bishop Athanasius Schneider, who lived under Soviet communism and has compared the situation in Rome to his experiences. I have described what I call “The Dictatorship of Mercy” — the unrelenting Vatican agenda-by-diktat, couched in the terms of “mercy” and “accompaniment” but as authoritarian as any program implemented by an autocratic regime. We have been given several recent examples — from the exile of Cardinal Burke to the purges at the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Pontifical Academy for Life to the assault on the John Paul II Institutes for Marriage and Family to the unexplained, papally-ordered firings at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — that opposition will be crushed.
Müller himself is often disrespected and passed over by Francis and his closest advisors. In an interview in January, 2014, Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, a member of Francis’ inner circle, proffered naked scorn at Müller’s rejection of Holy Communion to the divorced and remarried, saying that the prefect “only thinks in black-and-white terms” and that “the world isn’t like that”. Archbishop Victor Fernández, another close friend of Francis who is believed to be the chief ghostwriter of Amoris Laetitia, gave an interview in May of 2015 that was perceived as a direct attack on statements made by the Prefect of the CDF. In May of this year, Maike Hickson reported that “Carlos Osoro, the archbishop of Madrid, Spain, forbade Cardinal Gerhard Müller from presenting his new book on hope at the Catholic University San Dámaso, because this book is — Osoro alleges — ‘against the pope‘.” In December, Kathpress.at, an official publication of the Austrian Bishops’ conference under the leadership of papal ally Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, edited an interview with Müller in such a way as to leave some of his most important remarks about Amoris Laetitia on the cutting room floor. And on multiple occasions, Francis has signaled his preference — or even deference — to Cardinal Walter Kasper on matters of theology, such that the openly heterdox prelate is known as “the pope’s theologian”.
Meanwhile, it should be remembered that Müller contributed an essay to the book, Remaining in the Truth of Christ — seen as such a threat to the synod proceedings that it was stolen from the Vatican mailboxes of the synod fathers — and signed on to the so-called “13 Cardinals Letter” that was alleged to have outraged the pope.
Taking all of this into account, Müller has plenty of reason to believe that he is under threat. What form it would take remains an open question, but if he had a fear of reprisal in some form, it would not be without merit.
The presence of a perceived small kindness from the abuser to the victim
This condition seems, at least superficially, slightly less applicable. That said, despite his (rather tepid) opposition to heterodox interpretations of Amoris Laetitia, Müller still has his job as Prefect — a job which he seems to take seriously, even when others do not. This alone could be perceived as a kindness, even an openness from Francis.
Isolation from perspectives other than those of the abuser
I have often described Müller to others as “essentially under house arrest.” The fear of monitored communications on the part of CDF officials has been noted in these pages before. The forced firings of competent staff members of the CDF at the pope’s command — without any justification — is a clear power play. One source of mine described the situation at the Vatican, as I have previously written, as “like an occupied state.” Even when travelling in Spain, Müller faced the insubordinant behavior of an archbishop — his hierarchical inferior — who would, it is reasonable to conclude, only have made such a gesture of disrespect if he were protected by Rome. (Osoro has since been rewarded with a red hat. Coincidence?) So while Müller has, in theory, freedom of movement and access to outside perspectives, the dominant power base in Rome — and the very man to whom Müller reports — falls under the category of the “abuser”.
The perceived inability to escape the situation
Sources close to Müller have told me that the prefect and his close advisers believe they can do more good for the faith, and for the orthodox members of the CDF, by staying put — even though the situation is less than ideal. I have heard rumors that the Cardinal even considered retiring, but was persuaded to stay by those who have expressed fears over who might take his place. So while Müller technically possesses the autonomy to leave, one senses that he feels trapped by a moral duty to mitigate the damage being done by Rome. However, it appears increasingly clear that in so doing, he is being co-opted into the very agenda he is ostensibly standing his ground to resist.
So is some version of the psychological effect known as Stockholm Syndrome beginning to affect Müller’s judgment and sabotage his own self-interest? More importantly, is this happening in such a way that Müller himself is now undermining the Catholic Faith he is duty-bound to guard and protect?
This seems an increasingly likely possibility.
In Edward Pentin’s January 9 report at the National Catholic Register on Müller’s surprising televised remarks last Sunday, some striking facts were brought to light. Most notable was the contradiction between the Cardinal’s words in the interview and his previous actions. Pentin writes:
His remarks also come after it has emerged the CDF had clear misgivings about the document before it was published — concerns which were never heeded. One informed official recently told the Register that a CDF committee that reviewed a draft of Amoris Laetitia raised “similar” dubia to those of the four cardinals. Those dubia formed part of the CDF’s 20 pages of corrections, first reported by Jean-Marie Genois in Le Figaro on April 7, the eve of the publication of the document.
Another senior official went further, revealing to the Register last week that Cardinal Müller had told him personally that the CDF “had submitted many, many corrections, and not one of the corrections was accepted”. He added that what the cardinal states in the interview “is exactly the contradictory of everything which he has said to me on the matter until now” and he had the “impression of someone who was not speaking for himself but repeating what someone else had told him to say.”
Remember, too, this largely-overlooked piece of information in our story of May 2nd, 2016:
In addition, it has now been reported that that Cardinal Müller was not given the copy of the final version of Amoris Laetitia – but only, instead, a much less problematic text – for his own final doctrinal review. It is once more due to the important work of Guiseppe Nardi that this important fact – which has subsequently been confirmed by other sources – was reported first in Italy, and has now been made known far and wide. While it seems clear that the orthodox forces – with Cardinal Müller at the top – are being increasingly ignored, pushed aside and even bypassed, the progressive forces are in fact being further promoted and now also encouraged in other ways.
So it is more than a little odd to see Müller defending the orthodoxy of the text. Further, Pentin also reported that in his most recent remarks:
[Müller] said he felt it was “a loss to the Church to discuss these things publicly”, adding that Amoris Laetitia is “very clear in its doctrine and we can interpret the whole doctrine of Jesus on marriage, the whole doctrine of the Church in 2000 years of history.”
But certainly, Cardinal Müller’s own public statements stand in rebuke of these comments. In this image made by 1P5’s Matthew Karmel, we see the clear distinction made by Müller in December of 2014:
It is clear that with divergent practices being implemented by various bishops around the world, the pope himself confirming that Holy Communion can be given to the divorced and remarried in certain circumstances, and the official interpreters of the exhortation trying to pass it off as “binding”, we are faced with nothing less than a “separation of the theory and practice of the faith.” If that is, indeed, a “christological heresy” — as Müller himself has claimed — it would therefore constitute a “danger to the faith” by any reasonable standard.
With the stakes thus clarified, certain conclusions are inescapable. If Cardinal Müller thinks he can stand athwart the darkness by staying where he is, trying to tamp down the fires of discontent stirred up by the dubia from within the Vatican apparatus by means of a more subtle, diplomatic approach, he is seriously mistaken. And if he is being told what to say, and willing to do so (recall similar reports that Msgr. Pinto from the Roman Rota was given a papal order to attack the Four Cardinals) then it is impossible for him to be trusted — and it suggests that he has come to identify, somehow, with those who have essentially held him captive in his increasingly ineffectual position. Recall this synopsis of a recent article at Crux, which struck me at the time as being a description of precisely what has been done to Müller, particularly as regards the accolades and responsibilities given by Francis to Kasper and Schönborn:
In a nutshell, Pope Francis’s approach to difficult personnel choices is to keep people in place, while entrusting the real responsibility to somebody else and thus rendering the original official, if not quite irrelevant, certainly less consequential.
Though our readers have often pointed out Müller’s own theological discrepancies, he has consistently been one of the better prelates in Rome during this pontificate. It was sad enough to see him treated this way by the reigning cabal; it is far more disheartening to see him now speaking on their behalf.
It is worth noting that Pentin also reports that some 30 additional cardinals
having seen an advance draft of the apostolic exhortation, wrote to the Pope expressing their reservations, especially on the issue of communion for remarried divorcees, warning that the document would weaken the three essential sacraments of the Church: the Eucharist, marriage, and confession. The Pope never responded to that letter either, a Vatican source told the Register.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but it’s well past time for these princes of the Church to man up. They have a moral duty to defend the Faith. Quiet murmuring does not a crown of martyrdom make. Will they or will they not defend their flock? Will they or will they not defend their mother?
Salvation history is quite literally at a turning point, and all that is required to help set things right is a bit of courage. How is it that there is so little to be found?
The answer to your last question is because the prelature has been formed by a culture of capitulation, one founded on the shocking {at least philosophical} change promoted by Pope John XXIII in his opening address to Vatican 2 where he states that in effect no longer will the Church condemn evil but only affirm the good. Such an approach denies the method of Jesus and the history of the Church. And now we see a generation of leaders who have been formed under such a paradigm.
As is said in tactical and military circles, “You will fight as you train”. And if we have trained our priests and prelates to quit, quit they will do.
Are you prior service? I really like your second to last sentence!
No. Picked it up in defense courses. And it is surely true even in the Church!!
DOD civilian?
No DOD.
And I understand that the opening address of Pope John XXIII (no longer condemning evil; opening to the world; no more doom and gloom, etc.) was written by Cardinal Montini–later known as Pope Paul VI.
I wish I could agree with you that “manning up” was all that is needed. If he is being blackmailed and threatened the source of this may not be Pope Francis alone. If, as is likely, Francis is a heretic and a freemason, then he is doing the bidding of his handlers. These handlers would be satanist money people with an ardent desire to destroy the Christian faith. I’d say it is 100% likely Pope Francis has serious money and resources(mafia types) at his beck and call. This is a guy you don’t want to mess with. I have already had conversations with someone I disagreed with on this blog, who basically told me my views were “dangerous”. If I, an insignificant piece of humanity is dangerous, how much more so is Cardinal Mueller, who, I am sure as a loyal Catholic, under ordinary circumstances would rise to the defense of the faith. No, Mr. Skojec, Cardinal Mueller is being threatened with more than a loss of his position, his red hat, or excommunication or even personal physical safety. It is the very foundations of the Catholic Church being threatened by people with the resources to do so.
In my opinion he is physically threatened. One may remember the very suspicious death of the Pope John Paul I who was upon to clean the IOR Vatican’s bank.
The Pope Benedict XVI certainly felt himself threatened when he declared “Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.”.
His amazing renunciation currently takes a new look in the light of the present climate of fear in the Vatican.
The late Vatican exorcist Mgr Amorth once recalled also the huge pressure exerted on JP II when he endeavoured to consecrate Russia to the IHM so that he didn’t dare to say the word “Russia” but used a sibyllin expression instead.
He later said: “I did all what was in my power” thus meaning that he had not the full power.
The “St Gallen mafia” now become useless in meddling in the pope’s election, has a lot of other urgent duties to perform upon express orders of the reigning pontiff.
I am afraid of what is next. Like the late Mgr Lefebvre once said: “The least whe are told (about what’s going on in the Vatican) is already hairraising, what if we were told the whole thing !”
As I have said before, Our Lady appeared to Lucia in 1929, when the Soviet Union existed, not Russia, but she explicitly requested that Russia be consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart then Russia would be converted and a period of peace would come upon mankind. I believe that request and the consequences were meant for our day. We must have a valid canonically elected pope to make the consecration with all the bishops of the world. Then, and only then will Russia convert to the Catholic faith through a miracle attributed to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. In order to get a valid canonically elected pope, the present pope must be purgred from the Vatican and all of his acolytes. I believe that Russia is Our Lady’s appointed knight to vanquish the freemasons in the Vatican. That would be how we could eliminate the current freemasons in order to elect a true Pontiff. I suspect Mother Angelica suspected the truth, which is why she considered the “vision of the pope in white” to be only part of the 3rd secret of Fatima.
I would say these men are extraordinarily dangerous. They have waited a very long time to have their day, and they finally have their man in place. He has gotten it done, he is getting it done. They are not going to go quietly into that good night, but I believe they are using every diabolical and cruel art to get what they came for, destruction, total. Ripping the faith and the church apart is their goal. They have been highly successful. Leaving men in place while putting instigators under them, is cruel and demonstrates a severely distorted psyche or demonic type. It is a sadistic mindset. He fires some without justifying why, gives no explanation, removes others to lay orders, some “retire”, and on it goes. He loves power, says “I am the pope..I need give no justification…” There is neither mercy nor humility in the man, only the sheer, raw pursuit of power over others and HIS will.
It is hoped Cardinals defy him. This is what it will take. Do they have the stomach for it? No one but God knows. The Four Cardinals have started the process. They know how this works. Surely they knew the possible outcomes, he would not answer being one. They knew what would be required. I believe they will issue a formal correction. But whatever comes after that, who knows. We await it and hope for it! God help us if it does not come. Let it not even be much more delayed!
The sheep are being scattered. We have suffered and are suffering. Chaos reigns. Do we follow Christ or this pope? I know what we will do in our house, but there are so many Neo-Catholics…
If need be, my wife and I have already decided we will go to the SSPX. It is the only viable option within reasonable distance from my house.
If it is then I’d say go. The only sacrament of their’s with questionable validity is marriage and you’ve already got that one! I’m fortunate to have the FSSP only 10 miles away. Do what you must!
but what will happen to the FSSP?
If the news reports hold true, Francis is just about to totally abrogate the TLM, and completely reverse Benedict’s support and permission to freely use the TLM.
The difference between 1964-1970, when the TLM was “abrogated” in stages, and now, is that now it is almost universally understood that the Pope HAS NO POWER TO DO SO. Summorum Pontificum says not only that the TLM was never abrogated, but that it CANNOT be abrogated. And, of course, there were always those who argued (correctly) that this was the case.
What you are proving by stating these facts is that the confusion in the Church was put in place decades ago.
This is true Arthur, but there are other ways to ‘discourage’ the TLM from being celebrated. I would strongly suspect very HEAVY HANDED ways. The ‘climate of fear’ that we now are witnessing in the Vatican can indeed filter down. Bergoglio is DESPERATELY as we speak putting all his ‘men’ in place at lightening speed. I believe he was ‘hired’ for this very job.
Technically not but in reality yes. It is not allowed by NO Bishops, who have no love for the Latin Rite, even where numbers have been sufficient for it to be celebrated. Unless actively brought back very soon the Latin Rite will be lost in Europe when my generation passes.
I agree with you, but that does not mean the Bergoglio will not try.
I am hoping that will not affect contemplative Orders of Priests who offer the TLM only.
I am sure that Francis would apply the abrogation/suppression to the Universal Church- no exceptions. I guess the SSPX would be the only place to go.
I thought the Anglican Ordinariate offer the TLM as well (if you have them there)?
I don’t have any near me. The closest one is over two hundred miles away.
And just obliterate the FSSP seminaries? like his henchman bishop did with the Doloran Fathers in Nebraska, in October?
And what about the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest parishes / seminary?
He can’t REALLY abrogate the mass, can he? He must know there will b a (public) outcry.
I wouldn’t put it all past him.
Or the Eastern rites
If that happened, it could bring to fruition the prophetic statement made by (was it ?) Pius XII that the red light on the sanctuary would go out and we would seek without finding the Lord. The Apocalypse also speaks of the cessation of the Sacrifice for a period. Please God, that is not upon us!
the NO church I left has a ‘new’ church building: the tabernacle is in a separate room – though who knows anyway, when you ponder the validity of their ordinations?
I think the “separate room” idea came after V2 from the decision regarding the really huge cathedrals in Europe where trails of tourists are constantly going through, that they would set up a separate Chapel for the Blessed Eucharist in these huge Cathedrals. This idea was then applied in cities elsewhere in the world where the Church is quite small with no trails of tourists marching constantly through, but it was decided to remove the Blessed Eucharist to a ‘room’ which often meant out of sight. People are silly sometimes!
Well, yes, silly could apply, but more likely it’s those who really don’t buy into the ‘real presence’. I read years ago that 70 some percent of ‘Catholics’ don’t believe in the real presence, and that includes clergy.
Yes. If we move our Lord to accomodate tourists, where’s the problem??
I have been in European churches with a see-through screen put up at the entrance, & that is as far as the tourism goes, no matter how much the revenue is needed.
And I agree about the True Presence; its probably 90% by now.
People certainly
don’t understand that when they’re at mass, they’re at calvary.
No, I’m not interested in looking to centre if the ‘altar’ at the ‘presider’s chair,’ nor being told (!!) to stand up after holy communion, as a ‘community.’
At Our Ladys Basilica in Knock Ireland we are invited by the priest to stand for the consecration and to sit as they distribute Holy Communion to the seated people. The Basilica has just been renevated and they didnt install kneelers. Come to think of it Fr. Thomas Rosica was concelabrating that day. Hes even got his influences into the west of Ireland.
I can’t stand ‘Father’ Rosica. I can’t stand standing. I can’t stand ‘concelebration.’ I can’t stand ripped out kneelers. And this, in a Basilica, not that it really makes any difference, but it serves as yet another bit of awfulness. ?
If he tries that, he’s going to have to do some VERY tricky verbal gymnastics to try to square that decision with those of his predecessors, not to mention it will be obvious to all that he has declared total war on Church tradition and would thus alienate the few people (traditionalists and conservative Catholics) who actually pay attention to what he says.
Of course, I don’t put anything past the man at this point. My prayer is that the Holy Ghost does whatever is necessary to stop Francis, and that if he actually dares to do this, priests who currently offer the Mass of the Ages have enough courage to refuse to comply, damn the consequences.
“…….damn the consequences……”
Everyone has their moment, when they draw the line in the sand”……..For many priests it will come LB236.
More laity are reaching their ” line in the sand” as well.
Francis has awakened a sleeping giant! Thanks be to the Holy Spirit.
Tricky verbal gymnastics are what modernists do best!
very good question. If PF abrogates availablilty to the true MASS, what will that do to the FSSP? I am afraid that PF is not at all considering what he can or can’t do and just concerned with what he WANTS to do. It looks like he thinks has a free hand to do whatever, simply because he’s the “Pope”.
Angelus Press published a treatise on that subject. I think it was called The Validity of Confessions & Marriages in the SSPX. Call 1-800-96-ORDER and see if they still have it.
It’s worth remembering that the recent gutting of the Congregation for Divine Worship was probably done for a reason – with liturgy in mind. What happens if changes are made to ensure that the idea of “Sacrifice” is removed definitively from the NO Mass, so it becomes a fraternal meal? I know it’s a difficult thing to talk about….but with ecumenical goals in mind it could happen.
We have locally some faithful priests none to happy about Pope Francis, however, if these priests were for some reason removed in the future or started betraying the Lord, I would also make my way to the SSPX.
You are fortunate to be within distance of one. Most of us aren’t, but that could change with God’s Blessing.
The only drawback is that the SSPX priest travels around the State of North Carolina and is only able to offer Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month. The other two Sundays…we would be on our own. This offers me very little consolation thinking of it.
What of those of us who hv no choice close enough….
See my reply just below to Ana Milan.
You’re blessed to have that option. I don’t have an SSPX Chapel close enough. H and I have even thought of finding a traditional Priest to come and celebrate Mass in our home. It would be risky and probably not even licit but these are desperate times, that will most probably become even more desperate. Think Catacombs.
If there is Catholic backing for a Just War, surely the time has come for men of courage & idealism to actually take up arms & enter the buildings, preferably to take captives but if resistance is strongly shown then those showing it would have to suffer the consequences. Needless to say, I don’t accept that any of them believe in God & must be driven from this once holy site.
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Dear Ana,
There is a danger that, in trying to resist heretical forces detected within the Church, we may end up encouraging behaviour that is itself sinful. To promote the idea of a violent overthrow of the current Vatican administration seems beyond belief. Is this what Jesus would advocate?
We will accomplish more by speaking the truth courageously, loving and praying for the conversion of those who are polluting the Church’s teaching, loving and supporting faithful bishops and cardinals, and continuing our Rosaries to the Mother of God in this centenary of Our Lady of Fatima’s apparitions.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Rom. 12:21
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” – 1 Peter 3:9
“To promote the idea of a violent overthrow of the current Vatican administration seems beyond belief. Is this what Jesus would advocate?”
Our Lord may not advocate it, but it’s a fact of history that it was common fare for centuries.
The history of the Church is replete with factions fighting over the papacy and throwing out various candidates.
One example:
Sergius III took the papacy by force of arms, and there was already a reigning pope: Leo V. Leo was in prison, and antipope Christopher had taken the throne.
Sergius came to Rome with an army, overthrew Christopher, and put him in prison with the pope. Then both of them were murdered.
Sergius was then the sole claimant to the papal throne. He then began the “Pornocracy Era” of the papacy and is commonly thought to be the father of a subsequent pope: John XI.
In fact, before Sergius took the papacy by force, he had been elected some years prior, and he himself had been deposed by the faction which then elected John IX.
We are not accustomed to this type of activity nowadays. I certainly don’t advocate it, but it cannot be plausibly denied that Catholics in the past were quite accustomed to it.
Most Catholics are not familiar with the history of the papacy and would probably be scandalized by some of what historically went on.
Another example:
Benedict IX was in his 20s when elected, and he wasn’t even a priest at the time, let alone a bishop. He was pope three separate times.
After his first stint, he was deposed; then after regaining the throne, he gave up the papacy for money, then took it back by force, then was deposed again.
There have been several other popes who have been deposed. Gregory VI, who more or less bought the papacy from Benedict IX, is another example.
Thank you for your comment, DJR. My response is simple:
If, as you yourself note, Our Lord might not promote the violent overthrow of the current Vatican administration, then neither should we.
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” — Matt. 26:52
May the Lord bless us and deliver us from all temptation. Mother Mary, cover us with your Mantle of Protection.
Just to clarify, my statement was that Our Lord “may not” advocate overthrow of the current system. I don’t know whether He does.
Our Lord knows everything. Obviously there are things happening within the Vatican of which we have no knowledge, and it’s quite possible that such an overthrow may be His will in order to punish. I have no idea, but the Bible is chock full of such instances.
There were two exiles of the Israelites, the temples were destroyed several times, et cetera.
The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New.
The fact that something like that seems quite foreign to us in our era does not mean it is, in all instances, wrong.
Even popes themselves have done it.
Does that mean they were right? Have no idea. But I do know that it is an historical fact that it has happened.
Re the quote from Our Lord, all well and good, but that quote cannot plausibly be applied to every situation.
St. Joan of Arc was commanded by God to lead armies, which means taking up the sword.
And who did God command St. Joan to attack? Answer: other Catholics.
Our Lord commanded St. Joan to go to battle with her armies to kill other Catholics.
St. Joan is canonized.
St. Dominic preached the crusades. St. Pope Pius V called a crusade.
Little St. Jose Sanchez del Rio took up arms in defense of the Faith. He was canonized last year. On the Internet, you can see pictures of him, with guns and ammunition, by just googling his name.
The list could be multiplied.
ETA: By stating the above, I don’t mean to imply that I think people in the Vatican should be overthrown. However, it is possible that it is God’s will, and in that event it wouldn’t be a sin for people like Ana to advocate it.
But we don’t have any way of knowing whether it is God’s will, or at least I don’t. What I do know, however, is that it is possible for it to be God’s will.
Our sacred history demonstrates that such a possibility can exist.
yes
That is an appropriate response for an individual. That is not the proper response when the whole of Christendom is threatened. Pope Pius V, when threatened with an invasion by Moslems did not hesitate to recruit princes and nations to the defense of Christendom. Our crisis is far more serious than anything faced by the Europe of Pope Pius V. It requires a commensurate response.
My dear OnePeterFive friends, it is very clear and apparent that the Faithful have already drawn
the lines of division. Either we remain with Christ and His Church
regarding the constant teaching of Faith and Morals by the Magisterium
which includes all prelates, clergy, and laity, or we side with the Evil
One. Either way, the Sensus Fidelium is clear among those who know
Church teaching- Bergoglio is a heretic- just not one that the proper
Ecclesiastical Authorities have yet publicly and solemnly declared so.
A MAJOR schism is coming. And, most likely, we will have a pope emeritus
(Benedict), one still claiming the papacy (Francis), and one whom a
faithful group of Cardinals will elect (anyone’s guess). Avignon, here
we come again.
Mary, Mother of God and Destroyer of Heresies, please, please, please, PRAY FOR US!
We’ve been expecting this scenario for some time now. The outcome of the formal correction is vitally important & must be made public. As you say Al, we are all lining up on one side or another. PF cannot win but these miscreants are so in debt to Satan they will not give up.
I have just read that PF intends to ditch Summorum Pontificum @magister.blogautore.espresso.republica.it. This will truly cause consternation but is quite within his demonic reasoning – he is in a great hurry to get things finalised. As we stand at the Gates of Hell let us redouble our Rosaries & add the Rosary in honour of the Holy Face which is said to have been revealed in our century to overcome this evil & cancel out all residue from sin. Cardinal Burke drew my attention to it some months ago so I have added it to my long list at this perilous time.
If Francis actually does this, the Schism will be complete as my wife and I will most certainly start attending the SSPX Mass in our area. I am so damn angry right now I cannot out of charity put into writing what I really think.
More reason for the four Cardinals to move fast & hold a council (of whatever name) to clearly state that we mustn’t follow this Pontiff & administration. That would take away his claim to infallibility & he could be removed – forcibly if necessary. It would also mean that any Papal Exhortations, appointments, press interviews that went against the teaching of the CC would be null & void. The Traditional Orders could be fully assimilated & the start of Our Lady’s Triumph could begin.
If they fail in their efforts then maybe a militia force could be organised to do the necessary to capture this tyrannical Satanic sect so they can be tried before an Ecclesiastical Court where all their crimes before & after VII would be made public. Before anyone quotes the Human Rights Act let them consider how God’s Rights & ours have been callously trampled into the ground by this NWO sect who do so on the edict of the God of Surprises (we know who that is) whose Year of Mercy has been demonstrably not merciful in any shape or form.
Now you sound like St. Joan of Arc!
I single handedly fought the Russian Mafia who set up a brothel in our community several years ago. The excuse I was left on my own was that my neighbours were afraid of reprisals. Well there were countless reprisals as you can imagine but in the end & with God’s actual help I am still residing here & their memory is in the past, their other houses in the area having been exposed by the investigation. It has to be said that no man came forward at the time either to confront them.
Good for you! Now if you’ll just head on to Rome, to give some cardinals some back bone……..
Good idea. I hear there is a spiritual brothel operating out of the Casa Santa Marta.
I guess you won’t be joining me then?
Dear Ana, thank you.
Wow. I think there’s no way this could happen. The Pope cannot be deposed. Full-stop. Clarifying doctrine is possible but not what you proposed.
Michael, Ana is merely speaking from the heart. Emotions run high right now- and I am not excluded from that.
Gotcha!
Actually, the Pope can be deposed, but there are very strict criterion on how to do it.
There are several popes who have been deposed. There are also valid popes who took the papacy during the reign of already existing popes.
There are several anomalies in the history of the papacy.
Sergius III took the papacy by force of arms, and he is considered a valid pope, yet there was still an existing pope when that happened: Leo V.
well, then follow him/ Good luck!
The elephant in the room is that he most probably isn’t a legitimately elected pope so doesn’t deserve our deference. No Pope would behave in the manner he does or use the foul language he spits out. He’s actively causing the demise of the One Holy Catholic & Apostolic Church – the True Church – & nothing is being done about it save issuing the Dubia & maybe nothing else. Do you really believe that PF is at all interested? Think about it! If this isn’t a Just War then nothing is.
I suppose I’ll find out if I’m right or wrong, but I can’t see our Almighty Father nor Christ really just wanting us to sit & shut up. Trust, yes. Be doormats? No…
The silence of the apathetic is crucifying the CC. They will also have to answer for their lack of affection for Him alongside these deviants. The Maltese episcopate has now fallen, who will follow is anyone’s guess. The Chinese are calling for NWO & open borders. There is no mistaking their motives. The formal correction needs to be publicly carried out before Rome burns & the rest of us with it. We must try by every means possible to make sure that it is.
We don’t know whether a Pope can be deposed. It depends on the tactics and strategy. We do know a manifest heretic cannot be Pope. Also, he can be ignored. If no one follows his orders and pretends he doesn’t exist, what could he do? As Stalin asked, “How many legions does the Pope have?”
As I’ve said, if the Swiss Guard comes aboard, the King is toast.
Dear Ana, Without trying to sound arrogant about the situation here. The year of mercy involved a pilgrimage to pass through a door of mercy, which had been set up near our parish.
We didn’t go because the door of mercy is the confessional, however about 70 of the parishioners went.
Before this event the number of penitents was sadly low, after this event, the number of penitents remains sadly low.
We were twice turned away from the only Holy Door of Mercy in Malaga Cathedral which is a good distance from us. The first time it was closing for lunch & the second time Mass had begun, the Door closed one hour before its time & we were not even allowed to attend Mass. The security guard looked like a Muslim & there were Muslim beggars outside who were allowed to spend the entire day there. They were also insisting that everyone produce their ID which many came without not thinking it necessary. No information on their website about this. I thought anyone could go through the Holy Door. It would be up to them to have the right intention.
weird???
Dear Ana,
This doesn’t surprise me, its odd that sometimes we have to battle with other Catholics for them to be Catholic.
“…the door of mercy is the confessional…”
Yet another piece of common sense lost on the South American Jesuit.
I wonder what he does when he isn’t contriving another chunk of nonsense.
Wonder what the Knights of Columbus think !!!!
Aren’t they the defenders of the Church?
This is exactly what I feared – pressure on Mueller from the very top.
Also, as explained in the EWTN video at the 20 mark, is there a connection between the moving of cases of clergy abuse from the CDF, C. Mueller ???
The 4 Cardinals and the Dubia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUvcqiIEvko&t=1201s
This video is a must watch.
Thanks for that video link. I don’t get to see that programme because of the time line difference, but it certainly covered a lot of ground.
Yes, there has to be a connection but what is most disturbing, of course, is the way in which PF used his authority & refused to give any explanation for his decision to a high-ranking Cardinal. One would expect a consultation with Cardinal Müller would have been in order prior to taking the decision to sack these three priests. Ending the meeting abruptly by saying “And I am the pope, I do not need to give reasons for any of my decisions. I have decided that they have to leave and they have to leave.” was an unwarranted slap in the face of Cardinal Müller & not at all charitable or ‘merciful’ to the priests involved either.
You’re welcome. Keep checking the World Over programs – many are available on youtube. I find Raymond Arroyo good and fair in his questions.
See an excellent video on the false narrative of climate change – another of PF’s agenda items. See: http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/fetzen-fliegen/item/1821-statement-of-elizabeth-yore-international-child-rights-attorney
Another good site is Voice of the Family – a coalition of some 25 pro-life intl. groups.
One more good site : The Remnant – The Pope’s Encyclical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcDFehYqkt0
Video
We are most grateful for all of these excellent sites that are doing good reporting. These discussions and sharing is good, so that the truth may be known. God bless.
Yes, although we need to be careful & intelligent, I was pleased to read Bishop Schneider’s words “Thank God for the internet.”
Dear Al, Maybe I can help you. You most probably want to vomit, this may be wrong but quite often I have this urge, when for example seeing disrespect within the mass or reading about those who wish to destroy the truth of the true faith. The pack of wolves are in our parish and most probably in most parishes.
Why haven’t you done so already? What blocks you to celebrate with SSPX?
Currently, the NO parish I attend has a very holy priest who completely restored the church to its pre-Vatican II state including the communion rail. He also celebrates the NO Mass Ad Orientum on the original high altar (tabernacle in the center of the high altar!), and he got rid of the NO movable altar. He also celebrates the TLM every Sunday without fail. He uses only boys as altar servers, and EVERYONE kneels to receive Holy Communion.
That is why I have not gone over to the SSPX. I dread the thought of the day my pastor is moved. Currently, the diocesan See is vacant and we await the appointment of a new bishop- something I fear the most- especially if Francis appoints a liberal one.
Ok, then there is no need to move. Hope all it works out for you well. Especially the Church needs now our prayers more than ever before…
You are not alone, Al. Keep the Faith!
Ana, do you believe this to be a reliable source? Would Francis be bold enough to do such a thing?
Ditch Summorum Pontificum?
…the straw that broke the camel’s back…I surely hope not, but this is pope of “surprises” and “messes.”
I consider Sandro Magister to be one of the most reliable Catholic journalists there is, along with Edward Pentin. His papers were taken from him by Vatican officials he was so accurate but were later restored because of the uproar it caused &, of course, they had no right in the first place to do so.
Thank you for mentioning the devotion to the Holy Face!
The Formal Correction cannot be (and I don’t mean “should not be”) private or secret. And neither can the response. You can’t secretly correct the preaching of heresy!
Yes, praying the Rosary and fostering devotion to the Holy Face are two things that are extremely important in these sorrowful times. Thank you for the added encouragement, Ms. Milan.
Praying for everyone here at OnePeterFive!
+God bless
+JMJ+
As I’ve been saying for awhile now (though not sure it was here), its Arianism and the Western schism rolled into one.
I think you are right about the schism. A HUGE number of Catholics seem to have no idea what is going on, but there ARE definitely lines being drawn up among those who do.
I would remind Cardinal Müller that the Nuremberg Defence, “I was just following orders” has been attempted before and failed with the tribunals of human justice. Perhaps it will receive a more merciful hearing for him when presented before the Throne of Divine Justice.
Time to be a man, Cardinal Müller, “For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin…” Hebrews 12:4
I continue to try to believe that Muller is going stealth. Many of them are. I don’t like it — I’m Irish — I go nuclear. However there are better ways, ways that are more effective. Take the long view. Ecclesiastics live in a different ecosystem than we do. We have to trust that there is operative a means that will bring this tragedy to a good end. It is a chess game. Bergoglio is a flamboyant and over confident buffoon. We will see who accomplishes what in the end. It ain’t going to be pretty for a while.
Does anyone remember the very VERY first appearance of PF on the balcony after election? He looked like a robot, gazing out at the masses. It was creepy, and I didn’t even know anything about him at that point. Please, someone take a look and see if you agree.
Yes, I remember that day exactly. We were on vacation and as we watched him go out on that balcony and give his introductory speech I turned to my husband and remarked, “He sounds like a Marxist.” The old liberation theology, humanistic, progressive (godless) claptrap that suffuses for charity in these times. My hunch has turned out to be true, and worse…
That is exactly how I felt. I thought he looked malevolent. And when he knelt down for the blessing from the crowd (or did he just bow?) his papacy was over for me.
Perhaps he
Me too– i had a terrible feeling from that moment onward-
Braving the truth I admit to weeping on March 13, 2013. It was right up there with September 11, 2001. I have never gotten over it. And even if the required corrective comes to pass, I don’t know if I ever will. We have been poorly served. We have been boldly betrayed.
Reptilian cardinals…
I have said it a MILLION times on this and other faithful forums……….I was lucky enough to be able to watch his entrance to the balcony live. I had a very gut wrenching feeling when he appeared and even said to my H………..”There’s something wrong here…….VERY WRONG”.
Ok, bad, but thank u – because I was SURE I couldn’t hv been alone in that!!
Same as the others here…I vividly recall having a feeling of emptiness and unease upon my first sight of him on that balcony. At the time I attributed that to his being pretty much unknown outside of Argentina. I was also nervous upon hearing of his Jesuit affiliation.
As soon as I heard he was a Jesuit, I knew we were in for trouble.
I live in County Cork, James, so that makes me a biteen Irish. My Irish DNA tends towards the morose and fatalistic side. I cannot forget the words of Our Lady of Akita and this present moment:
“As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests.”
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a
way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.”
“The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them”
Then too, recall Revelation 13:7
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.”
I sure hope you’re right. I know you’re right about the buffoon. 🙂
Did the nuns ever teach you this one, Al?
“An army of youth flying the standards of truth,
We’re fighting for Christ, the Lord.
Heads lifted high, Catholic Action our cry,
And the cross our only sword.
On earth’s battlefield never a vantage we’ll yield
As dauntlessly on we swing.
Comrades true, dare and do ’neath the Queen’s white and blue,
For our flag, for our faith for Christ the King…” – Daniel J. Lord S.J., “For Christ the King” (1932)
Somehow those good ole nuns in full habits did not teach me that one.
The Benedictines taught us that one in the mid-50s. Odd it comes to mind these days. Peace.
The lyrics are wonderful, but it was that militaristic beat that gave it the punch! We used it at the May Crowning. Quite the contrast to “O Mary We Crown Thee with blossoms Today.”
We sang it at the May Crowining too right after (I believe) “O Mary We Crown Thee with Blossoms Today”. The connection between the two songs remains and one left the May Crowning not only with a sense of combat awaiting, but eager for it.
You are right, it was after “O Mary…” I think it was the recessional. And it did innerve you! Of course the Church was indeed the “Church Militant” and not a crowd in protracted adolescence in the midst of terminal identity disorder.
Sometimes, briefly – very briefly – there is something so absurd about the present situation that it is laughable – until it’s not.
I believe even in the blackest moments trials may still evoke the God-given grace and consolation of humour:
“In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames.
In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked. “Turn me over,” he said to the judge. “I’m done on this side!” And just before he died, he said, “It’s cooked enough now.”- St. Lawrence, Martyr (August10) –
You guys in Ireland are lucky to have some great songs and hymns.
To deny the Sanctity of the marital act, which is life-affirming, and life-sustaining, and can only be consummated between a man and woman united in marriage as husband and wife, is to deny that God Is The Author of Love, of Life, and of Marriage. To deny that God Is The Author of Love, of Life, and of Marriage, is to deny The Divinity of The Most Holy And Undivided Blessed Trinity, and thus deny Salvational Love, God’s Gift of Grace and Mercy. Denying The Divinity of The Most Holy And Undivided Blessed Trinity is apostasy.
To condone certain same-sex sexual relationships that are, according to Jorge Bergoglio, “private”, do not include children, and are not called marriage, is an act of apostasy. (See page 117 of the book On Heaven and Earth)
This act of apostasy is sufficient to declare the election of Jorge Bergoglio, invalid.
True, but other issues also exist that call into question whether or not Bergoglio was validly elected.
True, but this evidence is conclusive.
I have no doubt about the conclusiveness of the evidence. However, it appears at this point in time that the Four Cardinals will pursue the Dubia route before pursuing the invalid papal election route.
Amen! May Mother Mary pray for us, watch over us, and help us to remain faithful.
God bless you!
+JMJ+
Al, I may be mad but I did read somewhere recently that the Papacy will end up in England once she converts. If this does come to pass I would go back. Until then France is home.
The thing that baffles me is that we’ve not heard a peep about this from Cardinal Sarah. The current controversy is exactly under his competence since what is being discussed is, in large part, regarding discipline of the sacraments. Does anyone remember hearing anything from him about AL? Last thing I recall is his desire to see ad orientem during Advent being squashed and his keynote being taken by PF. Anything else from there? He’s about the only loud voice left to hear from with any hope. There are many smaller voices, but his would be something. Or else he may be under house arrest as well… wouldn’t be surprising.
You’re correct. Cardinal Sarah has been quiet as a mouse since Francis put the smack down on him for ad orientum remarks.
Or perhaps he is following Jesus’ instructions “Be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.” The metal of many will be made clear very soon. Cardinal Sarah, you have my prayers.
That is my hope and why I continue to keep them all in my prayers.
I haven’t given up on Cardinal Muller as well, even though I was greatly disappointed in his recent statement.
Things are not so simple, when it comes to defending the faith, promoting Christ’s teachings. But, it should be.
http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/top-vatican-cardinal-not-even-pope-can-change-divine-law-communion
I’d Ike to add that I personally believe the future of the Church is in Africa. Based on what I have read and seen they,Imo, have the most conservative and we’ll read prelates,imho. Also most of the African prelates don’t agree with the modernism we are experiencing due to the faithfulness to the catholic faith and general taboos of the various African cultures…which nearly all place a premium on children, family, and sacrifice for community. The continent is not free from problems but many of the nation’s are tired of certain “Western” imports and dictates as how to live life and who to live it for
It seems that way to me too. I’d add Poland to places where the faith is still strong. Weaker than it should be, but still quite strong.
Cardinal Sarah in his book “God or Nothing” quotes Pope Francis several times on matters which are entirely orthodox. In September 2016 Cardinal Sarah published his book “La Force du Silence” in French. I have read that it will be available in English in April 2017. It is very long and very dense on the subject of silence. I am two thirds of the way through it and so far have found no quotes from Pope Francis but plenty of quotes from everyone else including earlier Popes. In all he expresses entirely orthodox views and in particular obviously wants a reform of the Novus Ordo Mass. Keeping silent as he proposes is perhaps the most effective way of dealing with the present appalling situation – but when he does speak it will be all the more effective.
Just as an example of his writing I quote the following:
31. Je
ne cesserai jamais de remercier les bons et saints pretres qui
donnent avec generosite leur vie entiere pour la regne de Dieu. Mais
je denoncerais sans relache ceux qui sont infideles aux promesses de
leur ordination. Pour se faire connaitre ou imposer leur vision
personelle, tant sur le plan theologique que pastorale, ils parlent
encore et toujours. Ces clercs repetent les memes choses banales. Je
serais incapable d’affirmer qu’ils sont habites par Dieu. Qui peut
sentir le jaillissement pur de leur interiorite comme une source qui
viendrait des profondeurs divines? Mais ils parlent, et les medias
aiment les entendre pour recupeter leurs inepties, en particulier
s’ils se declarent favourables aux nouvelles ideologies
posthumanistes, dans le domaine de la sexualite, de la famille et du
marriage. Ces clercs considerent la pensee de Dieu sur la vie
conjugale comme un ‘ideal evangelique’. Le marriage n’est plus une
exigence et une volonte de Dieu dont le modele s’exprime dans le lien
entre le Christ et l’Eglise. Certains theologiens poussent
l’outrecuidance et l’arrogance jusqu’à exprimer des opinions
personelles difficilement conciliables avec la Revelation, la
tradition, le magistrat pluriseculaire de l’Eglise et l’enseignement
du Christ. Ainsi a grand renfort de bruits mediatiques, ils vont
jusqu’à contester la pensee de Dieu.
If that is not a comment on a certain person and AL I do not know what is.
Wow… hard to read that any other way at the present time, isn’t it?
There certainly is a place for silence in this noisy world but these subjects are too dangerous to keep silent about. We must keep our voices raised in opposition to what these LGBT Marxist/Masonic/Modernist cowards are up to & to be willing, vocally & physically to defend the Word of God. When other Christians see that we are not afraid to do so many will join us, as everyone will be caught in the fall-out if we don’t. It will be the Holocaust of Holocausts & time is running out.
I am sure this is good, but it’s really late and I am too tired to pop this into Google translator:-)
My translation would be as follows (I think this is more of an attack on the followers of Cardinal Kasper including PF):
I will never cease to thank the good and holy priests who generously
give their entire lives to the kingdom of God. But I would denounce
without ceasing those who are unfaithful to the promises of their
ordination. In order to make known or impose their personal vision,
on the theological plane as well as the pastoral, they still talk and
always talk. These clerics repeat the same banal things. I would be
incapable of saying that they have God living in them. Who can feel
that the outpouring of their inner selves is a source which comes
from divine depths ? But they talk, and the media loves to hear
them in order to pick up their ineptitudes, especially if they say
they are favourable to new post-humanist ideologies, in the domain of
sexuality, the family and marriage. These clerics consider the
thoughts of God on marriage as a ‘Gospel ideal’. Marriage is no
longer the demand and the will of God whose model is expressed in the union of Christ and the Church. Certain theologians push their
effrontery and arrogance so far as to express personal opinions which
are difficult to reconcile with Revelation, tradition, the
plurisecular magisterium of the Church and the teaching of Christ.
Thus greatly reinforced by the noise of the media, they go as far as
challenging the teaching of God.
“But I would denounce without ceasing those who are unfaithful to the promises of their
ordination. ”
Then DO IT.
Just more nonsense drivel spouted off by yet another “orthodox” “leader” of the Church who is JUST AS AMBIGUOUS AS BERGOGLIO IS…ON SIMPLY A DIFFERENT TOPIC.
I am SICK of Catholic prelates.
ETA: How much ya want to bet that if we asked him who he was talking about he would 1} NOT answer the question {Silence, y’know!} or 2} Say “No one specifically” or 3} Deny it was about Jorge if pegged on it.
To repeat…
I am SICK of Catholic prelates.
Cardinal Sarah seems SO intelligent. He does seem one who may be able to be silent and pray and pray. I wonder where he is, though????? Scary?
Where are you Cardinal Sarah???
I truly believe his time will come and we will see the metal of the man. One does not pray as contemplatively as he and not see things clearly. Wait on the Lord and Cardinal Sarah will speak when the time is right. As I said above….I believe he will give his support to the four cardinals.
Read his book God or Nothing. Its is basically an autobiography until you get to the last chapters. In the last chapters he has lots to say.
Thanks weemary I do have his book.
It is no surprise that there are no comments in this book by Francis on silence, who speaks incessantly. Cardinal Sarah has also been marginalized by Francis’ removing about 27 members of the CDW in order to control him as well. There is not a doubt in my mind that Cardinal Sarah is praying assiduously in silence about these goings on and when a correction comes I believe that he will also be one of the cardinals whose name will be on the correction supporting the four along with many others. Will those who speak out against AL be like their Christ and become lambs to the slaughter? Perhaps, but they will have all of heaven with them.
As luck would have it I read the next two pages of Cardinal Sarah and found that he does have a quote from Pope Francis. Pope Francis said that a shepherd leads his sheep from the front i.e.facing ahead and Cardinal Sarah uses this in support of his desire to see the Canon of the Mass said ‘ad orientem’.
Yes, he never stops talking. “Talkativeness is the throne of vainglory on which it loves to preen itself and show off…It is a sign of ignorance…the darkening of prayer. Silence is the mother of prayer…hidden progress…the secret journey to God.”
John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent.
He’s busy writing another book, I see.
Interesting title.
Who knows what is going on. It is time though, to start praying and sacrificing for Cardinal Mueller and the other cardinals. That is what we are called to do. I am not very heroic when it comes to sacrifice but I think as of tomorrow, I will make like this is Lent and find something to sacrifice, and maybe try to deny myself little things for this intention. Faithfulness to the rosary too. Please consider extra prayers and small sacrifices and charitably informing more friends and family of the situation in the Church.
I’ve prayed the St. Michael chaplet every night and fast from soda 3 weeks out each month since last October. May God strengthen each of our prayer lives
I’ve had occasion to pull out the ‘Stockholm Syndrome” diagnosis more than once since these dark days descended upon us in March 2013. “Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy” has also come to mind in describing the mode of “pastoral” practice nurtured by Pope Bergoglio.
It is amazing to me that employing such descriptive does not have the slightest hint of hyperbole about it.
Given the great risk endured by any and all clergy and religious who stand opposed to the tyranny of heterodoxy it is vital that those members of the laity gifted with the ability to live life without their heads in the sand not ever succumb in thought, word or deed to this class of belligerents. Never let them off the hook.
If your pastor is swimming in the Bergoglian end of the pool start with the collection plate. If the bishop is a sycophant withdraw your contribution from the annual appeal of your diocese. Redirect funds to any Catholic enterprise you are confident is not in a lip lock with fraudulence.
In the meantime let us pray that the boys enduring life in the higher reaches of the ecclesiastical jungle know how to take through the limbs with stealth and eventually have the opportunity to give it back to the predators with the power of the Truth.
I believe that this same syndrome has had a profound effect on BXVI as has been hinted at before. But, yes I agree, it’s time for the cardinals to really earn their red hats here. But even tho the pope and his minions will most probably read this, what makes you think those cardinals living in fear will ever see articles like this one. Their communications may also be very filtered. Just my thoughts.
Who knows for certain why Cardinal Muller seems to have done an about face here.
The article certainly makes me pause.
Nevertheless, Cardinal Burke remains steadfast and that is enough for me.
I pray he offers the correction soon. Too much time given allow Francis and his bunch time to “needle” and manipulate these prelates as may have happened to Muller.
And then……we will truly see who steps up to the plate for Christ.
Let is be shown to the faithful. It is time.
It looks like Satan’s poisonous laver is hitting exponential dimensions on earth before his downfall. Mary is there for us with great power – She knows it and will use all her Heavenly Influence on behalf of her children. Keep “hoping against all hope” as did the very few faithful in the three days Jesus was in the sepulcher. And as always, constant prayer.
Team Bergoglio is a place for sycophants and boot-lickers. I hope and pray that Cdl. Mueller hasn’t become one of them, but there are little, if any grounds for confidence.
I think many have forgotten that there was a great outcry and anger online when he was appointed to be prefect of the CDF. Cardinal Müller was seen as a terrible choice because of his personal theology which contained heresy concerning the Eucharist, his support of Liberation Theology, and his hostility towards the SSPX. People where saying that someone who promoted the heresy of Liberation Theology should not be head of the CDF. He was a Modernist. To his credit, for the most part, under Benedict, he was on good behavior and defended Church doctrine. His put his personal theology aside. But now when the wind is blowing a different way, we see him abandon Church doctrine. He was who I thought he was. A Modernist, who never should have been head of the CDF.
I want to say that Steve did an excellent psychological analysis on this and I would like to add a note via the Diabolical:
A note on this:
“Salvation history is quite literally at a turning point, and all that is required to help set things right is a bit of courage. How is it that there is so little to be found?”
Often times what undermines a man’s courage is doubt, particularly self-doubt about one’s own reasoning. The devil likes to wear people down by constant little assaults on their own ability to reason properly, it is carried out through very difficult confrontations with people whom one respects, or loves either personally or out of duty, who oppose what one thinks. Over time, one begins to wonder if one is correct in their thinking due to the many lies and half-truths (the most dangerous lies) that are brought against the position that the one holds: especially the evil lies of the enemy that are whispered in their minds. All of the external pressures combined with the constant assault of Satan on the mind begin to wear the person down.
I’m not making an excuse for Cardinal Müller, I’m just pointing out what is most likely occurring through Satan’s diabolical appeal to the good: What will happen if you are replaced by some one else who doesn’t hold to the truth? Are you so sure that you’re correct on this subject, could there be room to maneuver taking a different approach? What will happen to the Church should the Pope (!) be proven to be a heretic, and with so many willing accomplices…souls will be lost!!!? God put you in this position at this time to keep the Church together, don’t let yourself be caught up in a loosing proposition, see how many are against you, you can’t win this fight!…but if you stay in place you can still do much good…etc., etc.
My Parish continues to pray for Cardinal Müller by name for his strengthening in the Truth at every holy hour and I ask all of you to do the same.
Courage literally means strength of the heart, pray that he and all the others like him (which I believe are many) receive the Clarity of Mind from God that they need to grow Strong in their Hearts to resist the lies of Satan even to the loss of their office, their reputation, and the shedding of their blood.
Make no mistake, the horrible attacks and temptatious lies they suffer each day from Satan are very great indeed, and they appear to be succumbing to them. Let us not give them up as lost (those who have been defending the truth and are now wavering) rather let us double are intercessions on their behalf. One sincere and stalwart act of Faith can destroy all that the Devil has accomplished, and he knows that and is strongly desirous that we should stop praying for the Faith of men like Cardinal Müller.
The reason why Cardinal Burke et al. are so steadfast in their pursuit of the Truth is because they have Clarity of Mind, this is where their courage comes from. They know with DIVINE CERTITUDE that they are correct. We must pray for those who do not have it or have had it compromised, and we must pray for ourselves, that we too continue in it, and gain greater Clairity every day. The Church (on Earth) needs a new Epiphany, the great Enlightenment that has been prophesized so many times; Let us pray for it personally and corporately daily. Amen.
PS: Remember that the Devil and all of his agents, human and angelic, are the most bold and threatening when they are near defeat! They redouble their efforts and appear the most confident when they are terribly afraid of losing everything they have gained. In my estimation they are currently very afraid of losing everything, which is why they are so aggressive and bold. Strengthen and Maintain your Faith! Every other pursuit must take second place, in this way your Salvation will be assured and the current assault of the Enemy of Souls will be Crushed. All who can do penance must do so now, and for this Victory. Pray, Fast, Abstain, Repent and turn away from the pleasures of this World for the Victory of Christ. Amen, Amen, Amen.
A TENFOLD AMEN, Fr.! Our Lady of Fatima, PRAY FOR US!! Our Lady of America PRAY FOR US!! “By thy holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from evil!”
Amen, Father! Thank you for your insight.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
+God bless
+JMJ+
Thank you for this little fervorino, Father!
Thank you Father RP for your words of wisdom.
Your words are like the perfect pitch from a violin, a crimson sunset.
You speak Truth to the soul and it is beautiful!
God bless you,
As always,
A grateful soul
As I said before you are doing fine, we need more captains like you. Thank you Father. You give all of us hope. One other thing I heard that for the lowest level angel they have more power than all the other demons . So we know we have the angelic powers that are superseding on our part. The demons are no match for one low level angel so we are in good hands. We need to keep praying. God help us!
Excellent, Fr. RP! In battles against the devil and his minions, including Bergoglio, a strong counter-attack works best. Bullies are cowards.
Who can we send to check on the well being of Cardinal Muller and while we are at it Our Holy Father, Benedict?
Good idea. Who, though?
An amazing article. Just what I considered to the end.
Not at all surprising unfortunately. Chances of any meaningful resistance coming from the Cardinals including Cardinal Burke is unlikely for reasons mentioned by Fr. RP below.
Since what is happening now was proclaimed by Our Lady of Fatima 100 years ago (and in other of her appearances), and while the remedies to our current problems were provided but studiously ignored by the Popes since Vatican II, it now high time that a divine intervention occur in order to prevent further devastation to the Church and to souls. Let pray for Pope Francis and all the Cardinals and Bishops that they may come to understand the will of God.
Thanks Steve. You have just finally explained why women who have been neglected or abused by either or both their parents go for jerks, and get stuck on the first guy in their lives to pay the slightest attention to them. The mental contrast between a lifetime of feeling worthless creates a kind of brilliant mental chiaroscuro effect in which the slightest flicker of light blazes like a sun in the darkness.
~
The presence of a perceived threat to one’s physical or psychological survival and the belief that the abuser would carry out the threat.
The presence of a perceived small kindness from the abuser to the victim
Isolation from perspectives other than those of the abuser
The perceived inability to escape the situation
Extending your analysis of such women, it would also explain why some will lurch from one abusive relationship to another in quick succession. I have had to help a number of these in my parish over the years and often wondered what it was that just kept perpetuating the cycle of apparently seeking out abusive relationships. This could well be the explanation of the phenomenon.
Dear Hilary,
I think your article is excellent and very thought-provoking. Thank you. The reason I am writing now, though, is to say that the image you have chosen to accompany your comments, which does not show your face but rather highlights other of your features, was somewhat surprising to me. I wonder if you might consider using a more appropriate image in future. I would have preferred to e-mail you more discreetly about this topic, but I could not find an e-mail address for you and am not an experienced social media user.
With respect and fraternal affection,
Your brother Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Clinton
We MUST pray for these good Cardinals for the grace to defend the Bride of Christ, come what may. I am really wondering if these good Cardinals actually realize just WHO they are up against? This WAR that we are presently in is not between flesh and blood, but between PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS. This is a WAR against Satan himself, and it is THEY who are in the trenches. It is our job to pray for them unceasingly. The battle is becoming bloody indeed.
Many of us have lost jobs in the Church, myself included, for speaking out against the obvious problems of papal-positivism (during this pontificate) at the expense of scandalizing the Catholic faithful. In a more naive day, I believed I’d finally found a “safe” place to work in my field, for the Catholic Church. But then it became disturbingly apparent that so many trade their own economic comfort-zones — this includes Catholic editors and directors, chief- and marketing executives, hosts, producers, and many more — looking the other way when it’s time to face Truth and act accordingly. Of course no one wants to lose his or her job, or the perceived profitability of certain product lines, but that’s the test isn’t it? In what circumstance will we as Catholics trade 30 pieces of silver for acknowledging Truth? I want to end on the right side of history, and if losing a comfortable Catholic paycheck puts me on that road, good. At last, and for far less money, I’m practicing my craft for another Catholic company who isn’t afraid of Truth, and doesn’t sell out to counterfeits.
Thanks for posting this. OK, this point needs to be addressed.
I’ve been repeating a mantra of mine for a long time and that is simply this: We in the secular world have lives and the heavy responsibility to care for our families, something the priests/prelate simply do not have. They have…themselves.
Now, we are rightly called to stand up for Jesus Christ in our secular lives, work, etc EVEN IF IT COSTS US. That is simply the carrying of the Cross. It is our duty AND our privilege. I wager to say there are many of us who have paid a price for speaking out or refusing to countenance un-Christian activity in the marketplace.
The Church, our Blessed Lord and even the prelates and priests of the Church have every right to expect that of us. It is our job as…CHRISTIANS. As I said, our duty before God and the Church. Our privilege.
SO JUST EXACTLY WHY DOES NONE OF THIS APPLY TO PRIESTS AND PRELATES?
From what I can tell, if standing up for the clear teaching of our Blessed Lord is ANY standard to be met, we need a wholesale draining of the swamp of the vestment clad. That, folks, isn’t likely to happen in the lifetime of anyone able to read this.
Put another way;
Ask yourself this:
AFTER THE DISPLAY OF VAST EFFEMINATE COWARDICE WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE PRELATURE IN THIS CURRENT AFFAIR, WILL YOU EVER BE ABLE TO TRUST YOUR BISHOP AGAIN WITHOUT SOME SORT OF CRYSTAL CLEAR BEGGING FOR PARDON FROM HIM? If you trusted him before…will you trust him NOW?
As the Scripture asks: “Who will stand for me in the Gap?”
Clearly not very many Catholic prelates.
Thank you. Without revealing my profession (which I’ve been engaged in for over three decades) on this forum, I am coming to realize first-hand that standing up to falsehood in the Catholic Church brings on more venom than doing so in former secular environments — lots of isolation, self-doubt, debt, fear, professional invisibility, loss of colleagues and friendships, and dread. It’s as if Satan is the puppeteer, causing all to fall on our heads at once. I can empathize with Cardinal Muller. He is likely being cornered and questioning his very sanity, even his faith. We must be patient with him — all is not as it appears. These are the desperate moments, which I’m in the midst of right now, in which we much scream out loud to Christ continually for His help. I do it all day long, and I know He hears me. Bit by bit, he lays more of a popcorn trail for me to follow, professionally and personally. Things fall into place according to His will. But fear and trembling are much of my experience, day and night. How frail our day-to-day existence is without the constant intervention and help of God. I long for the stress to end one day, eternally.
The heterodox in every facet of Church life are shameless in their abuse of power.
There are not a small number of former religious who had to reconsider their vocations in order to be faithful Roman Catholics. And rest assured, the screening process of most communities deliberately serves to exclude candidates who are unambiguously Roman Catholic – and I’m not referring to traditionalists. You need be “of the left” to a discernable degree. In my former community you were held suspect if you were thought to be a Republican.
We are in a state of extreme self-mutilation.
Now the fear has spread to the Vatican –
Climate of fear in Vatican is very real
https://catholiccitizens.org/news/69323/climate-fear-vatican-real/
Steve, your psychoanalysis of Muller may be quite correct – it would certainly explain his contradiction of his own previous stances.
However, his latest interview may also be explained by more mundane motives. The abiding principle of the Conciliar church since Vatican II, and one that is built on a false syllogism, is that “Unity is more important than Truth”. It is a principle that invaded the Church from neo-evangelicalism and bore similar results in those communities. The whole ecumenical post V2 edifice has been built on this falsehood and above all else it has been the main criterion by which men were selected for the episcopate during ALL the post-conciliar pontificates.
Muller is as enslaved to this principle as are his more liberal brethren. It could well be the case that he thinks that ditching the dubia is a price worth paying in order to preserve the unity of the Church – even though that “unity” is only a charade which is designed to keep up appearances.
The willingness to confront the Pope among the bishops will always be compromised while the great majority are imprisoned by this false premise. We are blessed to have a few brave shepherds who have been able to free themselves from this falsehood.
Deacon, do you think the current fashion for ultramontanism also may be in play here? I thought Müller was not in that camp, but who really knows other than himself?
I am sure it is, not least because the Pope is the visible centre of unity for the Church.
NO. They will NOT defend the Faith even when the Pope says Jesus became sin.
To defend the faith, one knows he’s walking the plank. It means great temporal, personal and emotional loss — humiliation, irrelevance, replacement, invalidation, rejection. IS THIS NOT WHAT THEY DID TO CHRIST, LITTLE BY LITTLE, UNTIL THEY KILLED HIM OUTRIGHT? Think about it — He didn’t live a carefree existence here on earth. It was fraught with rejection and loneliness, among other forms of horror. Defending Catholic truth and doctrine is not kids-stuff — it takes a strong stomach to endure the reality of what one’s decisions will entail. When virtue isn’t exercised in smaller situations, it simply won’t be in existence for the larger ones. “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.” (Luke 16:10) At this pivotal juncture in salvation history, “by their fruits” we can –and do — surely know them. The separation of the sheep and the goats has begun indeed.
Steve, what’s REALLY going on with this Knights of Malta story???
https://www.ewtn.co.uk/news/europe/pope-ordered-card-burke-to-clean-out-freemasons-from-the-knights-of-malta
I don’t know yet, but I’m not buying it.
J.M.J.
The man with arguably the greatest case of Stockholm Syndrome is Papa Benedict, living amid the Vatican sociopaths and with the creepy Archbishop Ganswein as keeper (See the January 03, 2017 post about him on Torch of the Faith.). It would go far in explaining his weird public praises of Francis not long ago.
It’s high time that some pre-Bergoglio bishop or cardinal stand up and publicly proclaim that Francis is NOT Pope and then publicly anathematize (that is, formally curse) the man’s diabolical pride and all that feeds it to the detriment of his immortal soul. While His Humbleness is drawing breath for a fit of rage, this bishop or cardinal then needs to call forth Benedict to once again rule the Church that he so foolishly abandoned in 2013.
Our Lady of Fatima ora pro nobis!!
I feel that many Catholics have a form of Stockholm Syndrome where they’ve been so conditioned by the post-conciliar revolution that they go on to defend it saying whatever it takes to make their point regardless of how absurd.
Good early Sunday morning Steve,
Any dear friend of Liberation Theology, as Gerhard Cardinal Mueller can only be, as objectively understood through his relationships, (see here: http://www.traditioninaction.org/HotTopics/a01z_002_Kramer.html ) cannot in truth be a son of Holy Mother Church as positive atheism (Marxist born Liberation Theology) and Christianity are at antithetical and eternal odds, as the City of the World and the City of God. Mueller is a wolf who has been masked in sheep’s clothing and as is always the reality, in due time the mask comes off as the truth shines light into the shadows of one’s once covert ideological agenda. There are no redeeming qualities to be found in this wolf, identifying the enemies of Holy Mother Church as who they are, Hegelian ideologues all dressed up in the robes of the Church as Pope Leo XIII warned us was happening and would only worsen if they weren’t identified and banned from the Church, as in “Humanum Genus”, 1884. The “Stockholm Syndrome” about which you write, is a purely psychological ideology, a colloquial construction of language if you will, which in truth plays no role within the transcendent realm of the spiritual order of things. This ideological “syndrome” if it is real, plays out in the natural order when an human person is likely not in the state of grace and is therefore easily overcome by the Evil One and his willing human person minions. How could it be that a person in the state of grace, who is actively receiving God’s mercy and sanctifying grace, be overcome in the natural order of human existence in such a psychological manner? The human person in the state of grace may indeed suffer greatly, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, as Saint Maximilian Kolbe in the midst of the satanic Nazi camp, but he is with certitude not overcome by the evil in his midst and as a result his fruits are not evil as those of Mueller are being revealed to be. This speaks volumes of Mueller. May God have mercy on me and on Gerhard Cardinal Mueller. In caritas.